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Tag: College Football

  • USF announces complete 2026 football schedule

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida has announced its complete football schedule for 2026.

    USF will open the season, its last in Raymond James Stadium before opening its on-campus stadium in 2027, on Sept. 5 at home against Florida International.

    An early-season American Conference game is scheduled for Sept. 12 at Army.

    The Bulls also play home, non-conference games vs. Delaware State on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 17, with the Kent State game designated as Homecoming.

    The Bulls’ lone non-conference road contest takes place at Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 26.

    USF will play a total of eight conference games, including home games with Temple, Alabama-Birmingham, Memphis and its season-ending game against Tulane.

    The Bulls went 9-4 last year, with a third consecutive bowl appearance. USF also made the program’s first College Football Playoff ranking appearance and was ranked four times in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 poll.

    The team has a new coach this season, Brian Hartline, after Alex Golesh left to become the head coach at Auburn.

     

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • University of Cincinnati sues ex-QB Brendan Sorsby after his transfer to Texas Tech

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    The University of Cincinnati is suing Brendan Sorsby, accusing the former Bearcats quarterback of breaching his name, image and likeness contract following his transfer to Texas Tech.

    The university filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Wednesday.

    According to the lawsuit, Sorsby signed an NIL agreement in July 2025 covering the 2025 and ’26 seasons and that there would be a $1 million buyout if Sorsby transferred, payable within 30 days. Sorsby announced on Dec. 15 that he was entering the transfer portal and announced on Jan. 4 that he would be attending Texas Tech.

    Sorsby received the most lucrative deal of the portal period — a reported $5 million — to return to his home state for his final season.

    “Cincinnati Athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them. We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same,” the university said in a statement. “In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati Athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause. Cincinnati Athletics intends to enforce that contractual commitment.”

    Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, said pursuing legal action against his client is misguided and that Sorsby intends to fight the lawsuit and any resulting damages.

    Sorsby passed for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He also ran for 580 yards and nine TDs. The Bearcats started 7-1 before losing their final five games.

    Slavin said Sorsby was paid $875,800 by Cincinnati under its revenue-sharing structure for the 2025 season.

    “In that time, he generated millions in value for the program. Attempting to recover those funds now sends the wrong message to current and future student-athletes and risks damaging the long-term credibility of Cincinnati football,” Slavin wrote in an email. “This is further disappointing given that Brendan parted ways with UC in what was a mutually agreeable manner. The money the university seeks to recover from him is nothing more than an unlawful penalty under Ohio law.”

    This is at least the third case this year in which a school has sought a legal remedy related to an NIL deal with a quarterback.

    Duke sued Darian Mensah were engaged in a legal fight until reaching a settlement last month. Mensah signed a two-year contract in July 2025 before he led the Blue Devils to their first outright Atlantic Coast Conference title since 1962. A judge granted Duke’s request for a temporary restraining order to block Mensah from doing anything beyond entering his name into the transfer portal until both sides came to an agreement.

    Mensah ended up transferring to Miami.

    Demond Williams Jr. had planned to transfer from Washington, then changed his mind two days later as the Huskies were preparing to file a lawsuit to enforce a buyout of nearly $4 million.

    Sorsby began his career at Indiana before transferring to Cincinnati. In 35 career games, including 31 starts, he has passed for 7,208 yards and 60 touchdowns, along with 1,295 rushing yards and 22 TDs.

    Sorsby and the Red Raiders, who won the Big 12 last season and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history, will play at Cincinnati on Oct. 24 during the university’s 100th homecoming celebration.

    ___

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  • SMU’s $50 million pledge is a threat to TCU, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M et al

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    TCU tight end DJ Rogers (0) rums upfield in the first half of an NCAA football game between TCU and SMU at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.

    SMU lost the Iron Skillet to TCU in 2025, but a recent gift of $50 million from alums ensured that it will be a factor in college athletics.


    Christopher Torres

    ctorres@star-telegram.com

    FORT WORTH

    The insanity and absurdity will one day slow down, or stop, but SMU is making sure rather than join the family of schools in search of a “solution,” it will play by a series of regulations that exist in the land of make believe.

    SMU bought its way into power college sports, and now the Mustangs will attempt to buy its way to national titles.

    On Friday, SMU announced that four families donated $50 million, as well as an initiative to raise an additional $50 million by the end of the year. All of these millions are designated to fund “scholarships, NIL advancement and revenue sharing,” SMU said in a statement.

    (If you are part of the group that believes $100 million could do so much for groups that desperately need it, you are correct, but we can’t lose sight on the importance of beating Wake Forest in football).

    The statement did not specify how much of this potential $100 million will go to football players, but 85 to 90 percent feels about right. Misplaced priorities aside, this type of money will be felt immediately in recruiting, and in the 2027 season on the field.

    Where does TCU matchup with SMU?

    Whatever margin between TCU and SMU that existed for the majority of this century is gone. These are two private schools in the same major metro area that compete in the third and fourth most visible conferences in college sports. Flip a coin as to which one – the ACC or Big 12 – is “superior.”

    For years TCU justifiably didn’t give SMU much thought because there was no need, a line of thinking that now is out-dated. There is no way to slalom around what $100 million that is dedicated to the recruitment of players will do to an athletic department, and university.

    A winning football team does a lot for a school. Ask TCU.

    The momentum SMU created since it joined the ACC two years ago is undeniable, and this sort of donation ensures it won’t fade. That type of spending will find the most talented players available. And the players who aren’t immediately available. At least the players who like money.

    The announcement in the summer of 2025 that schools could pay a maximum of $20.5 million to all of its students athletes was greeted with relief. That relief lasted a good four weeks. Turns out that $20.5 million is not a ceiling but a floor, and looking for more millions is putting a tremendous strain on all athletic departments.

    The challenge for TCU, and so many other schools in major college sports, is finding more money to keep up with the money. This requires a few wealthy boosters who do not mind giving away their millions in return for the hope that their alma mater can win sporting events, usually football.

    Fishing for NIL dollars has become the priority for coaches, athletic directors and university leaders all over the country. All parties agree it’s insane, and no one is doing much to change it.

    A school like TCU has plenty of money, but a smaller number of boosters. Eventually, even the wealthiest, most able and eager donor tires of seeing the same number pop on their caller ID. According to some of the influential TCU types, they are done fielding these calls. At least one prominent booster has made it clear their donations are not to be used for NIL.

    “Donor fatigue” is a common expression in power four athletic departments, not just TCU. This includes the big ones in TheBIGSEC10.

    At least for now, SMU is not going through this.

    SMU’s efforts will factor nationally

    The money that SMU is receiving can do for the Mustangs what it did for Miami. From 2006 to 2023, Miami was a damaged, outdated brand. Didn’t matter the head coach, Miami was well behind ‘Bama, Ohio State and the rest of the teams it once routinely beat.

    The transfer portal plus NIL brought back The U, and made Miami ACC proof. Miami is 23-6 in the last two seasons, and reached the national title game in January where it lost to Indiana. It was Miami’s first appearance in a national title game since 2002.

    Miami plays in a “lesser conference” but the type of money it reportedly spent made the ‘Canes attractive to any player who is being courted by Texas, Ohio State, LSU, USC or any of the behemoth brands from the SEC and Big 10 that are the premier destination for the top players.

    As long as you have access to the playoffs, and are offering top dollar, the talent will follow.

    That is what the gift to SMU could potentially do for the Mustangs, and everyone in college football has to deal with it.

    Mac Engel

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.
    Support my work with a digital subscription

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    Mac Engel

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  • Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire wants identity for the Red Raiders that isn’t money

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    DALLAS

    Joey McGuire received a text message three days after Texas Tech’s season ended in the Orange Bowl from one of his best players.

    “Coach, I got to see how bad you’re hurting. You need at some point to take a deep breath and understand we did something that nobody has ever been able to do at Texas Tech, and you have to appreciate that.”

    The text came from Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey. This was a message the Texas Tech football coach needed to hear, but it was not one that he expected from a player who was preparing for the NFL Draft.

    “Culture” is an overused, sports cliche, but that text message is an example of what coaches and players mean when they use the term.

    The finale to the Red Raiders’ historic season was a 23-0 loss to Oregon on New Year’s Day, the quarterfinals of the playoffs; the way the game played out bruised an otherwise a near flawless year that made Texas Tech nationally relevant. The Red Raiders finished No. 7 in the final rankings.

    “The one thing I hate is we played really, really well on defense, and just picked the wrong day to play our worst game on offense,” McGuire told the Star-Telegram on Monday night before an alumni event in Dallas.

    “I hate it for those guys. It kills me for (quarterback) Behren Morton. The ending for him, because he’s done so much for this university.”

    The goal now for McGuire and his program is to modify a narrative that Tech aggressively molded, and became a defining point for their 2025 season: Money, and no one does NIL better than the Red Raiders. The altered narratives now are to convince college football is that this success is sustainable.

    “Before this last year, everybody just hoped we could do it,” McGuire said. ”We’ve done it, so now expectation is we can do it again, because we know that it can be done.”

    And to convince college football that the Red Raiders are more than the bag.

    “Last year, we opened our doors, and we were very up front with that we were going all in,” McGuire said. “This year, the story has to be that we’re here to stay, and this is how we’re doing it versus that it was about the money, or stuff like that.

    “Let other people talk about that. Let them call the other teams out there, and let them talk about the money they spent. We’re not hiding from the money we spent, but we’ve got to create a narrative that guys are coming here because they want to be here, that this is a great place for players, and guys are playing the best years of their career here.”

    Texas Tech wants to be more than just the money

    At the alumni event was Tech’s most famous fan, Fort Worth resident Cody Campbell. He took pictures with his fellow Red Raiders, and signed autographs. Everyone at The Rustic was aware that much of Tech’s football status today is thanks to his generosity.

    Along with Phil Knight at Oregon and the late T. Boone Pickens at Oklahoma State, Campbell has become one of those rare men whose support for his alma mater is known throughout college football. It helped Campbell’s visibility that he personally funded an aggressive ad campaign that aired on college football game broadcasts during the ‘25 season to lobby congress for reform in major NCAA sports.

    BTW – That reform remains stuck in a “discussion” phase between college leadership and our elected officials, and is currently moving at the pace of highway construction.

    McGuire is not naive, or blind, to any of this.

    “I understand where everybody is coming from. I get it,” he said. “If this was the best team that ‘money could buy,’ it had a 3.23 (grade point average). These guys are graduating. A lot of these guys could have just done the bare minimum. A lot of our guys were offered more by other programs but chose to be here. (Nose tackle) Lee Hunter was offered a lot more than what we paid him.

    “The culture was really strong in our building, because they bought in to what we’re doing. That’s what people are missing.”

    Tech must offer something other than money, although that does really help, because a lot of other places can offer bags of cash, too.

    Tech’s goal now is to prove this is sustainable, and this program is more than just a check book.

    Mac Engel

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.
    Support my work with a digital subscription

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    Mac Engel

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  • No. 12 Florida handles South Carolina, 76-62

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Alex Condon had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Rueben Chinyelu also notched a double-double and No. 12 Florida handled South Carolina for the second time in three weeks, 76-62 on Tuesday night.

    Chinyelu finished with 15 points and 17 boards for his 16th double-double of the season. The Gators won their sixth consecutive game and improved to 11-1 since losing at Missouri to open Southeastern Conference play.

    This one was much closer than the previous meeting, a 47-point blowout in Columbia, South Carolina, in late January. 

    Still, the Gamecocks (11-14, 2-11 SEC) trailed by 10 points early and never mounted much of a threat in Gainesville, where Florida improved to 12-1 this season.

    It was lopsided enough that 7-foot-9 walk-on center Olivier Rioux played the final minute after the home crowd chanted for him.

    The best rebounding team in the country dominated inside, with Florida (20-6, 11-2) mounting a 47-30 rebounding advantage and outscoring South Carolina 44-28 in the paint.

    Thomas Haugh added 10 points for Florida, which is trying to win the SEC’s regular season for the first time since 2014 and stay in the Sunshine State to open the NCAA Tournament in Tampa.

    South Carolina leading scorer Meechie Johnson, who had 10 points in the first meeting, led the Gamecocks with 22 this time around.

    Florida held a moment of silence before the game for Bill Donovan, the father of former Gators coach Billy Donovan who died Saturday following a heart attack. Florida’s court is named after Billy Donovan.

    Up next: 

    South Carolina hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.

    Florida plays at Ole Miss on Saturday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Thomas, Lewis help No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 in Nashville

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each scored 13 points and No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in the Nashville Hoops Showdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    • Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9).

    • He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9). He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    Amare Bynum had 15 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes in their latest nonconference game in nearly 40 years.

    It was tied at 37 at the half, with Virginia erasing an early Ohio State lead

    Ohio State opened up a six-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers had a 6-0 run to tie it.

    With just over a minute remaining, Lewis forced a turnover and then went the length of the floor for a layup to give Virginia a 65-61 lead. He then hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

    Prior to the game, Ohio State said John Mobley Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury sustained Wednesday night against Southern California. Mobley started the Buckeyes’ first 24 games, averaging 15.1 points.

    The Cavaliers are 10-2 away from home, including 3-1 in neutral-site games.

    Up next

    Ohio State: Hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

    Virginia: At Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • No. 14 Florida beats 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Xaivian Lee scored 22 points, Urban Klavzar added 19 and No. 14 Florida beat 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83 Saturday for its 10th victory in its last 11 outings.

    Lee and Klavzar took advantage of Florida’s paint presence and hit a combined nine 3-pointers.

    Thomas Haugh (17), Alex Condon (14) and Rueben Chinyelu (10) also scored in double figures for the Gators, who ended a six-game skid against the Wildcats at home.

    Florida (19-6, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) had been 1-4 against Kentucky (17-8, 8-4) under coach Todd Golden. But the Gators led wire to wire in this one and finished with a 45-37 rebounding advantage. Condon and Chinyelu grabbed 11 boards each, both finishing with a double-double.

    The matchup featured a unique subplot. Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen, who spent the last three years at Florida and helped the Gators win the national title last March, was “welcomed” back with a chorus of boos.

    Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 19 points while getting taunted with chants of “Gator traitor” throughout. Collin Chandler added 18, and Otega Oweh chipped in 13.

    Florida opened up a double-digit lead early but didn’t put Kentucky away until a second-half spurt that included inside buckets from Condon and outside shots from Klavzar, who finished 5-of-11 shooting from behind the arc.

    The Gators had several former players on hand for the sold-out game, including NBA rookies and Walter Clayton and Will Richard. Clayton, the MVP of last year’s Final Four, and Richard were greeted with standing ovations when they walked to their courtside seats and when they were recognized in the first half. Matt Walsh (2002-05) and Matt Bonner (1999-2003) also made the trip to Gainesville.

    Up next

    Kentucky: Hosts Georgia on Tuesday.

    Florida: Hosts South Carolina on Tuesday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Minnesota revises Fleck’s contract with new $700K annual bonus, ranking him 10th in Big Ten at $7.9M

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    Minnesota revised coach P.J. Fleck’s contract to include an annual raise and additional incentives, a move approved by the university’s board of regents on Thursday.

    Fleck, who is entering his 10th season with the Gophers, will get a $700,000 management bonus on top of his existing $6 million salary and $1.2 million retention bonus to bring his total compensation for 2026 to $7.9 million. That ranks 10th among head coaches in the 18-team Big Ten, according to the university.

    The annual retention bonus increases by $100,000 annually over his current deal, which was extended last year through the 2030 season.

    The contract adjustment also gives Fleck more favorable incentives, with $150,000 for winning five conference games, $300,000 for winning six, and $750,000 for winning seven or more. Those amounts are not cumulative. Previously, he would have earned $100,000 for winning eight Big Ten games and $100,000 for winning nine.

    Fleck is 66-44 at Minnesota, including 7-0 in bowl games. He’s the fifth-longest tenured coach in program history.

    In:

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  • San Jose State announces hiring of six new football assistants to coaching staff

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    After a disappointing 2025 season, San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo made a number of coaching staff changes official on Thursday, including promoting ex-Oakland Raiders linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu to defensive coordinator.

    Filimoeeatu took over as the Spartans’ interim defensive coordinator for the final two games of the 2025 season following the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Derrick Odum after a 55-10 loss to Nevada on Nov. 17.

    Filimoeatu, who played parts of two seasons as a backup for the Raiders in 2014-15, spent the last two seasons as San Jose’s inside linebackers coach and run game coordinator.

    San Jose State, which finished 11th in the 12-school Mountain West Conference after going 3-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play, made five other coaching staff additions on Thursday.

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  • College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams

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    IRVING, Texas — The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion.

    What You Need To Know

    • The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn’t come up with a compromise for expansion

    • The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season

    • The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future

    • The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number

    The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the same for the 2026-27 season. The decision provides additional time for evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the future.

    The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number.

    The SEC pushed for 16 teams, with an emphasis on at-large bids — a format favored by the Power Four leagues other than the Big Ten and most of the smaller conferences that are hoping for access into whatever comes next.

    The Big Ten has pushed for a bracket of up to 24 teams with multiple automatic qualifiers from each conference. It could do away with the need for conference title games and replace them with seeding games to determine, say, two or three of the automatic spots.

    “After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said. “This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year of evaluation will be helpful.”

    The 2026-27 season’s format will feature 12 teams based on conference champions and final ranking by the CFP selection committee. First-round games will be played on campus sites, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals hosted by the CFP bowls, and the national championship game, which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 25, 2027.

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    Associated Press

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  • Judge grants Duke’s bid to block QB Darian Mensah’s transfer until Feb. 2 hearing in contract fight

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    A judge has granted Duke’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking quarterback Darian Mensah from enrolling to play football at another school until a court hearing set for early February.

    The school filed a lawsuit Monday in Durham County Superior Court against Mensah seeking to block his efforts to transfer and reach a contract with another school to play elsewhere next season. The complaint came three days after Mensah reversed his previously announced plan to return to the Blue Devils after leading them to the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

    Judge Michael O’Foghludha signed an order Wednesday that prevents Mensah from enrolling elsewhere, signing a licensing deal with another school or taking any other action breaching the two-season contract Mensah signed with Duke running through 2026.

    The order, formalizing a verbal ruling from Tuesday’s hearing, didn’t grant Duke’s additional request seeking to block Mensah from entering his name into the transfer portal entirely. But he otherwise can’t take additional steps in the process of reaching a deal to play at a new school, with the order designed to “preserve the status quo” until a Feb. 2 hearing.

    “Mr. Mensah has an existing contract with Duke which the university intends to honor, and we expect he will do the same,” Duke said in a statement Wednesday. “The court-ordered temporary restraining order issued (Tuesday) ensures he does not violate his contract. The university is committed to supporting all our student-athletes, while expecting each of them to abide by their contractual obligations.”

    The school argued its contract with Mensah — signed in July 2025 — paid him for exclusive rights to market Mensah’s name, image and likeness (NIL) tied to playing college football. Duke’s lawsuit argued that the contract requires parties to go through arbitration before any dispute can be resolved.

    “This case arises out of the decision of a star quarterback in the increasingly complex world of college athletics,” the complaint states in its opening. “But at its core, this is a simple case that involves the integrity of contracts.”

    In an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday, sports-law attorney Darren Heitner, who has worked with Mensah, noted Duke’s request for a temporary restraining order preventing Mensah from entering the transfer portal had been denied. Later in the day, however, Heitner said on social media that Mensah “is not, for the time being” allowed to enroll or play football elsewhere before a decision by a different judge set to preside over the next hearing.

    Mensah, who transferred in from Tulane and even faced his former team, finished second in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by throwing for 3,973 yards while ranking tied for second with 34 passing touchdowns.

    The Mensah-Duke case is the latest in what is becoming a more frequent occurrence in the revenue-sharing era of college sports: legal fights over contracts between schools and players seeking to transfer.

    Earlier this month, Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced plans to transfer before changing his mind two days later, coming amid multiple reports that the school was prepared to pursue legal options to enforce Williams’ NIL contract.

    And in December, Missouri pass rusher Damon Wilson II filed a lawsuit claiming the athletic department at Georgia was trying to illegally punish him for entering the portal in January 2025.

    ___

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    By  EDDIE PELLS

    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season and wins first national title, beating Miami in CFP final

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    Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone, and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season, and the national title.Related video above: Assembly Hall on Indiana University’s campus for the school’s watch partyThe Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.Indiana would not be denied.Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 10-point lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who bloodied Mendoza’s lip early, then came to life late behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.In a bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field, and the coach drew up a quarterback draw.Mendoza, not known as a run-first guy, slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. —

    Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone, and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season, and the national title.

    Related video above: Assembly Hall on Indiana University’s campus for the school’s watch party

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 10-point lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who bloodied Mendoza’s lip early, then came to life late behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field, and the coach drew up a quarterback draw.

    Mendoza, not known as a run-first guy, slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

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  • 1/19: The Takeout with Major Garrett

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    1/19: The Takeout with Major Garrett – CBS News









































    Watch CBS News



    Minneapolis ICE protests continue in face of Trump’s Insurrection Act threat; Indiana and Miami students reflect on lead-up to football championship.

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  • 1/19: CBS Evening News

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    Watch CBS News



    Lake effect snow sweeps Eastern U.S.; Trump ties Greenland threat to perceived Nobel Peace Prize snub.

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  • Winners, losers as Indiana tops Miami 27-21 to win first CFP championship

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    The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship is headed to Indiana.

    Top-seeded Indiana won its first ever football championship on Monday, outlasting the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in a game that started murky but ended in a thriller.

    Things started relatively slow for both sides, as Indiana took just a 10-0 lead into halftime with Miami’s offense getting nothing going on the ground or over the top.

    But, as usual in low-scoring college first halves, the script flipped in the final two quarters. Miami woke up to put the pressure on the Hoosiers, but Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza stepped up and Hurricanes QB1 Carson Beck couldn’t.

    Beck had the chance to deliver a game-winning drive, but forced a deep pass that was picked off. Indiana held on 27-21, winning the program’s first ever football title in its debut appearance while Miami’s wait since 2001 persists, despite being at home in Hard Rock Stadium.

    Let’s analyze the game further with winners and losers as Indiana ends the season unbeaten at 16-0:

    WINNER: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

    The Heisman winner and potential No. 1 pick had all the eyes on him tonight. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but he displayed the grit and poise needed at the next level.

    Mendoza threw for 186 yards on 16 of 27 completions, while also rushing for the key 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

    He’ll still need to polish his game more to truly thrive in the NFL, especially if the Las Vegas Raiders believe he’s the QB1 that can elevate their trajectory. But for now, he can bask in the moment.

    LOSER: Carson Beck, Miami

    On the other hand, it was a slightly different story for Miami’s QB1. Carson Beck, 23, could’ve had his moment to change the narrative on his college career — and boost his potential draft odds in the process.

    He overcame a slow start and displayed much better command in the second half, finishing with 232 passing yards and a touchdown on 19 of 32 completions. But the lone pick might just summarize his five-year collegiate run best — a competitive college option but not at the level required to win the majors.

    WINNER: Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami

    Most eyes were on Mendoza’s legitimacy to go No. 1, but Miami had an opportunity to show off some of its skill players as well.

    Malachi Toney, a rising 18-year-old wideout, seized his moments and will be one to watch for the future. Junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. also stood out, and he could even be NFL ready if he declared.

    Fletcher Jr. reflected Miami’s stagnant offense in the first half but helped open it up in the second, ending the game with 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He enjoyed a career-best 57-yard run, also the second-longest touchdown in a BCS final.

    LOSER: Third-down efficiency

    Indiana’s defense ranked among the top in several defensive statistics this season, and getting off the field on third downs was a major reason why.

    The Hoosiers at one point limited Miami to being 0-for-6 on third downs. Miami finished with a 3-for-11 rate, while Indiana went 6-for-15. Miami’s defense delivered an underrated performance, but Mendoza helped chip at the margins where Beck couldn’t.

    Had the Hurricanes improved their rate in the first half, apart from the doinked field-goal try, this could’ve been a different ball game.

    WINNER: Curt Cignetti, Indiana

    In an era where there’s a power vacuum at the college football summit, Indiana might have something brewing. The Hoosiers are far from a football powerhouse, but they’ve flipped from being terrible to national champs in two years under Curt Cignetti.

    The 64-year-old is revered by his players and has built a sturdy culture beyond Mendoza, with more youngsters hoping to develop through the program now.

    If the Hoosiers can capitalize off this success, they can be a dominant figure for years to come. It’ll start with getting their next QB1 right, though.

    CNBC senior sports reporter Michael Ozanian explains why the University of Texas’ athletic program is valued at $1.48 billion.

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    Sanjesh Singh

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  • Winners, losers as Indiana tops Miami 27-21 to win first CFP championship

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    The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship is headed to Indiana.

    Top-seeded Indiana won its first ever football championship on Monday, outlasting the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in a game that started murky but ended in a thriller.

    Things started relatively slow for both sides, as Indiana took just a 10-0 lead into halftime with Miami’s offense getting nothing going on the ground or over the top.

    But, as usual in low-scoring college first halves, the script flipped in the final two quarters. Miami woke up to put the pressure on the Hoosiers, but Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza stepped up and Hurricanes QB1 Carson Beck couldn’t.

    Beck had the chance to deliver a game-winning drive, but forced a deep pass that was picked off. Indiana held on 27-21, winning the program’s first ever football title in its debut appearance while Miami’s wait since 2001 persists, despite being at home in Hard Rock Stadium.

    Let’s analyze the game further with winners and losers as Indiana ends the season unbeaten at 16-0:

    WINNER: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

    The Heisman winner and potential No. 1 pick had all the eyes on him tonight. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but he displayed the grit and poise needed at the next level.

    Mendoza threw for 186 yards on 16 of 27 completions, while also rushing for the key 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

    He’ll still need to polish his game more to truly thrive in the NFL, especially if the Las Vegas Raiders believe he’s the QB1 that can elevate their trajectory. But for now, he can bask in the moment.

    LOSER: Carson Beck, Miami

    On the other hand, it was a slightly different story for Miami’s QB1. Carson Beck, 23, could’ve had his moment to change the narrative on his college career — and boost his potential draft odds in the process.

    He overcame a slow start and displayed much better command in the second half, finishing with 232 passing yards and a touchdown on 19 of 32 completions. But the lone pick might just summarize his five-year collegiate run best — a competitive college option but not at the level required to win the majors.

    WINNER: Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami

    Most eyes were on Mendoza’s legitimacy to go No. 1, but Miami had an opportunity to show off some of its skill players as well.

    Malachi Toney, a rising 18-year-old wideout, seized his moments and will be one to watch for the future. Junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. also stood out, and he could even be NFL ready if he declared.

    Fletcher Jr. reflected Miami’s stagnant offense in the first half but helped open it up in the second, ending the game with 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He enjoyed a career-best 57-yard run, also the second-longest touchdown in a BCS final.

    LOSER: Third-down efficiency

    Indiana’s defense ranked among the top in several defensive statistics this season, and getting off the field on third downs was a major reason why.

    The Hoosiers at one point limited Miami to being 0-for-6 on third downs. Miami finished with a 3-for-11 rate, while Indiana went 6-for-15. Miami’s defense delivered an underrated performance, but Mendoza helped chip at the margins where Beck couldn’t.

    Had the Hurricanes improved their rate in the first half, apart from the doinked field-goal try, this could’ve been a different ball game.

    WINNER: Curt Cignetti, Indiana

    In an era where there’s a power vacuum at the college football summit, Indiana might have something brewing. The Hoosiers are far from a football powerhouse, but they’ve flipped from being terrible to national champs in two years under Curt Cignetti.

    The 64-year-old is revered by his players and has built a sturdy culture beyond Mendoza, with more youngsters hoping to develop through the program now.

    If the Hoosiers can capitalize off this success, they can be a dominant figure for years to come. It’ll start with getting their next QB1 right, though.

    CNBC senior sports reporter Michael Ozanian explains why the University of Texas’ athletic program is valued at $1.48 billion.

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    Sanjesh Singh

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  • Indiana and Miami students reflect on season lead-up to football championship

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    The No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers will take on the No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes in the championship game on Monday night. Indiana student Francisco Cáceres and Miami student Shea McDonald join “The Takeout” to discuss what the season has been like for both schools.

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  • USC football breakdown: How the Trojans look at running back, receiver and tight end

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    USC receiver Makai Lemon addressed reporters in a press conference shortly after he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. It felt like a step toward closure on his time with the Trojans, but also reassurance for the future at USC.

    “I realized that I can be a resource to help the younger guys, knowing that they look up to me in certain ways on and off the field,” Lemon said. “Just try to be the best example and the best person that I can be to lead the younger guys and make sure that they go in the right direction.”

    Lemon and fellow receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who also declared for the draft, were two of the biggest offensive pieces this season. The Trojans have no choice but to move forward, and their former receivers have set a standard for the returners and incoming skill players to recognize.

    The wide receiver room is brimming with both returning and new talent. Tanook Hines, who started at receiver last season, is coming back and six receivers join the Trojans from the 2026 signing class, which was ranked as the best in the nation.

    There’s also plenty of returning talent at running back in Waymond Jordan and King Miller, who both started at the position at different points in the season. Riley Wormley, who received increased playing time in the Alamo Bowl, is also coming back and two incoming freshmen will join the group, too.

    The tight end group will be the most changed next season, especially after losing Lake McRee and Walker Lyons, who both started at the position this season.

    USC’s offense will still be humming; it’s just a matter of which pieces get plugged in and where.

    As the first transfer-portal window has wrapped – although exceptions are always possible – here’s a full breakdown of the movement at USC’s skill positions entering spring, the second in a six-part series examining the post-portal scholarship outlook for every part of the roster. 

    Running back

    Returning: Waymond Jordan, Jr.; Riley Wormley, Fr.; King Miller, R-Fr.; Cian McKelvey, R-Soph.

    Arriving: Deshonne Redeaux (Oaks Christian); Shahn Alston (Harvey)

    Departing: Eli Sanders, R-Sr. (NFL Draft); Bryan Jackson, So. (Portal, Wisconsin); Harry Dalton, Fr. (Maryland)

    Wide receiver

    Returning: Zacharyus Williams, Soph.; Jay Fair, Sr.; Tanook Hines, Fr.; Corey Simms, Fr.; Cameron Sermons, Fr.; Seth Zamora, R-Fr.Brady Jung, R-Fr.; Collin Fasse, R-Fr.

    Arriving: Terrell Anderson, So. (transfer, NC State); Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (Mater Dei); Ethan Feaster (DeSoto); Trent Mosley (Santa Margarita); Luc Weaver (Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks), Roderick Tezeno (Opelousas); Ja’Myron Baker (Sierra Canyon)

    Departing: Corey Nerhus, R-Sr. (eligibility); Makai Lemon, Jr. (NFL Draft); Ja’Kobi Lane, Jr. (NFL Draft); Jaden Richardson, R-Sr. (NFL Draft); Josiah Zamora, R-Sr. (eligibility); Asante Das, R-Sr. (eligibility)

    Tight end

    Returning: Joey Olson, R-Fr.; Carson Tabaracci, R-Jr.; Walter Matthews, R-Fr.; Fisher Melton, Fr.; Taniela Tupou, Fr.

    Arriving: Tucker Ashcraft, Jr. (transfer, Wisconsin); Mark Bowman (Mater Dei); Josiah Jefferson (Southwestern College)

    Departing: Lake McRee, R-Sr. (NFL Draft); Walker Lyons, Soph. (Transfer, BYU)

    Top questions

    Can the run game be restored?

    The running backs dealt with season-ending injuries to the one-two punch of Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders, leaving space for King Miller to step up and become arguably the most valuable walk-on in the country with 972 yards in 13 games.

    Jordan was USC’s golden goose, and likely will be that again this season. He’ll also be prepping for an NFL career. The Trojans may choose to use Jordan and Miller as their two primary running backs, and mix in sophomore Riley Wormley and incoming freshman Deshonne Redeaux to prep for the future.

    How will Tanook Hines embrace his leadership role?

    Hines is the only starting receiver to return from the 2025 season, and he’ll be back without Lemon and Lane by his side.

    He had two games of 100-plus yards, against Oregon and in the Alamo Bowl against TCU. Quarterback Jayden Maiava targeted him more than any other receiver against TCU, and Hines finished with 163 yards on six catches as a result.

    Hines gained immense experience in his first year of college football. It’s up to him how he uses it to affect the team as a sophomore.

    Which two tight ends will USC choose?

    Head coach Lincoln Riley effectively used sets involving two tight ends this season, and he had two great ones to work with in McRee and Lyons. Carson Tabaracci and Taniela Tupou both played in the Alamo Bowl, which indicates that they could be next in line.

    A position battle could ensue, however, if the coaching staff likes what it sees in Wisconsin transfer Tucker Ashcraft or incoming freshman Mark Bowman. Both are big bodies with talent who could get reps early if they can learn the system quickly.

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    Haley Sawyer

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