Early access for EA Sports College Football 26 is just one day away, and the worldwide launch of the video game is set for this Thursday.

The new and improved video game will have more than 2,800 new plays, over 10,000 players and at least 300 real-world coaches, the first time that EA Sports has included college football coaches in the series.

The game will also feature “new situation and stadium-specific music, fight songs, and dynamic commentary,” according to EA Sports’ website.

As college football fans across the country wait to play with their favorite teams and players, we have already taken a look at how each team stacks up. While each team’s full roster with overalls won’t be known until the game’s release, here’s a peek at the highest-rated player at every offensive and defensive position in EA Sports College Football 26.

Defensive positional overalls

Free Safety: Caleb Downs, Ohio State (96 overall)

Middle Linebacker: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas (95 overall)

Left Defensive End: T.J. Parker, Clemson (95 overall)

Right Defensive End: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina (94 overall)

Cornerback: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (94 overall)

Defensive Tackle: Peter Woods, Clemson (94 overall)

Strong Safety: Dillon Thieneman, Oregon (93 overall)

Right Outside Linebacker: Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss (93 overall)

Left Outside Linebacker: Gabe Jacas, Illinois (92 overall)

Offensive positional overalls

Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (98 overall)

Halfback: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (95 overall)

Left Tackle: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (94 overall)

Right Tackle: Spencer Fano, Utah (94 overall)

Right Guard: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M (93 overall)

Tight End: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (93 overall)

Quarterback: Cade Klubnik, Clemson (92 overall)

Left Guard: Cayden Green, Missouri (92 overall)

Center: Jake Slaughter, Florida (92 overall)

A full list of the top 100 players in EA Sports College Football 26 is here.

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The Palm Beach County Sports Commission, which established the Lou Groza Award in 1992 that is presented annually by the Orange Bowl, announced last Tuesday that the award will be featured in College Football 25. It will be EA Sports’ first release of the college football video game since 2013.

READ: Charlie Baker believes antitrust settlement will ‘reshape the future of college sports’ in memo sent to members of NCAA

“EA Sports College Football 25 is one of the most anticipated and long-awaited video game titles in history and we are incredibly excited that the Lou Groza Award will be a part of the game,” Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission George Linley stated in a release. “The Lou Groza Award is the pinnacle of collegiate football kicking, and we could not be more excited that college football fans from around the world will have a chance to vie for a Groza Award of their own.”

EA Sports released a full reveal of the modes and features within College Football 25 on May 18 after unveiling an official teaser trailer in February. The video game has been among the most-talked about topics in college football as it will return to consoles for the first time in more than a decade. It will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

READ: Report: Former Nebraska, Washington RB Will Nixon transferring to Syracuse

According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Lou Groza Award is the only award under the National College Football Awards Association that will be included in College Football 25, which On3 also reported in March that other honors such as the Biletnikoff Award and Outland Trophy will not be included in the game.

The Heisman Trophy will be included in College Football 25, the Heisman Trophy Trust announced in a social media post in March.

Former Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson, who announced his transfer to Alabama in April, received the Lou Groza Award last season after setting an NCAA record of 25-straight field goals, and he finished 27-of-28 on field goals and 35-for-37 on extra points.

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NCAA President Charlie Baker sent a memo to members of the NCAA on Friday, and he stated the settlement of the House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA cases will help “in our ongoing effort to create a stable, sustainable and equitable model for the future of college sports.” The Ohio State athletic department published the memo, and a full read of it is below.

READ: Report: Former Nebraska, Washington RB Will Nixon transferring to Syracuse

The NCAA and each of the Power 5 conferences jointly announced Thursday that schools can share “up to $22 million with student-athletes per year.” Baker acknowledged there will be future compensation for Division I student-athletes and back damages, though, he thanked everyone within Division I for their “dedication and hard work in getting us to this point.” Baker stated “there is still much work to be done” and NCAA members’ “continued support and collaboration will be crucial.”

Baker stated the “nearly $2.78 billion” in back damages from the settlement will be split 42% paid by the NCAA and 58% among the Division I conferences “based on their distributions over the past nine years.” It will be paid over 10 years, about $280 million per year.

“This will be funded through careful expense management, new revenue initiatives and the use of reserves,” Baker stated.

Baker bulleted three “specific contributions” from a trio of sources, as outlined below.

• Football Bowl Subdivision conferences: $95 million annually (33%).
• Football Championship Subdivision conferences: $37 million annually (13%).
• Nonfootball Division I conferences: $34 million annually (12%).

Had the settlement not happened and trials unfolded, Baker stated the NCAA could have been on the hook to pay potentially $9 billion in “treble damages,” which he stated “would be financially devastating and unsustainable.”

READ: College Football Playoff, TNT Sports reach 5-year sublicensing agreement; TNT Sports to begin broadcasting 2 first-round games in 2024

Baker also listed “several critical objectives” reached through the settlement, as outlined below.

1. It replaces potentially crippling lawsuits with a negotiated settlement and a 10-year injunction.
2. It enables student-athletes to receive up to 22% of the average DI Power 5 athletics revenues — in addition to tuition and other benefits currently provided. Adding all these benefits together, many A5 schools would be devoting nearly 50% of athletics revenue to student-athletes. 
3. It ends decades of antitrust litigation, stabilizing college sports while permitting conferences and the NCAA to enforce rules that set a level playing field and emphasize the educational mission of college athletics.
4. It binds DI together, enabling the NCAA to contribute $120 million annually for 10 years toward back damages.

While Baker stated in closing that the settlement is “a massive step forward for student-athletes and college sports,” he accompanied that sentiment by acknowledging “it does not address every challenge.” Baker stated pending legal issues “such as those related to employment with the NLRB and the Johnson case” are among the obstacles still in need of a solution.

There is the possibility that “if the NCAA outperforms revenue projections and has unplanned surplus net assets, there will be an opportunity to determine how those additional assets can be used to offset the local impact of the damages payment,” Baker stated. 

The NCAA aims “to provide more direct benefits to student-athletes,” and Baker stated “this is a vital opportunity to positively reshape the future of college sports” amid the challenges ahead.

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

Here is Baker’s full memo, via Ohio State.

“Good afternoon,

“I would like to share an update on an important step forward in our ongoing effort to create a stable, sustainable and equitable model for the future of college sports. We have now reached a proposed settlement in three major cases — House, Hubbard and Carter — involving back damages and future compensation for Division I student-athletes. 

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you in Division I for your dedication and hard work in getting us to this point. Your efforts have been instrumental in negotiating this complex settlement and in shaping a more stable future for Division I college athletics. We acknowledge that there is still much work to be done, and your continued support and collaboration will be crucial as we implement these changes.

“The media has covered these lawsuits extensively, with varying degrees of accuracy. The plaintiffs’ demand for back damages is substantial. In the House case alone, the plaintiffs sought approximately $3 billion. If the NCAA were to lose at trial, the courts could impose “treble damages,” potentially resulting in a $9 billion judgment. Such a verdict would be financially devastating and unsustainable.

“The lawsuits address three main issues: compensation for academic-related expenses; name, image, and likeness opportunities; and restrictions on scholarships. We have managed to negotiate the total back damages for these cases down to nearly $2.78 billion, to be paid over 10 years, equating to approximately $280 million annually.

“To address this obligation, we have developed a plan where the NCAA will contribute $1.2 billion over 10 years, representing 42% of the total back damages. This will be funded through careful expense management, new revenue initiatives and the use of reserves.

“The remaining 58% will be distributed among the Division I conferences based on their distributions over the past nine years. This translates to an annual contribution of $165 million, or a 20% total reduction in distributions.

“Specific contributions are as follows:

• Football Bowl Subdivision conferences: $95 million annually (33%).
• Football Championship Subdivision conferences: $37 million annually (13%).
• Nonfootball Division I conferences: $34 million annually (12%).

“While these contributions represent only 1%-2% of total revenues for FCS and nonfootball conferences, individual conferences will need to manage these contributions based on their members’ budgets. I understand this change will not be easy to manage, but given the challenges facing college sports over the last few decades, change is inevitable. I believe the change before us now presents massive new opportunities for student-athletes and all of Division I. 

“And to be clear, the financial estimate is just that. If the NCAA outperforms revenue projections and has unplanned surplus net assets, there will be an opportunity to determine how those additional assets can be used to offset the local impact of the damages payment (e.g., supplemental, pay down).

“Additionally, the forward-looking aspect of this settlement includes a revenue-sharing model allowing schools to provide more direct benefits to student-athletes, including for NIL. This model, starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year, proposes that 22% of average Autonomy 5 revenues can be shared with student-athletes, potentially amounting to $1 billion to $1.5 billion annually.

“This settlement achieves several critical objectives:

1. It replaces potentially crippling lawsuits with a negotiated settlement and a 10-year injunction.
2. It enables student-athletes to receive up to 22% of the average DI Power 5 athletics revenues — in addition to tuition and other benefits currently provided. Adding all these benefits together, many A5 schools would be devoting nearly 50% of athletics revenue to student-athletes.
3. It ends decades of antitrust litigation, stabilizing college sports while permitting conferences and the NCAA to enforce rules that set a level playing field and emphasize the educational mission of college athletics.
4. It binds DI together, enabling the NCAA to contribute $120 million annually for 10 years toward back damages.

“This is a massive step forward for student-athletes and college sports, but it does not address every challenge. There are still pending legal issues, such as those related to employment with the NLRB and the Johnson case. 

“While challenges remain, this is a vital opportunity to positively reshape the future of college sports. In the weeks ahead, the DI governance team will be working through all relevant committees to discuss next steps with you all. 

“There is a lot of work to be done, and we look forward to getting it done with you in the coming months. 

“Sincerely,

“Charlie Baker”

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NCAA President Charlie Baker and each of the Power 5 conferences — the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern — jointly announced Thursday that they’ve agreed to settlement terms regarding antitrust and class-action lawsuits. According to Ralph D. Russo of The Associated Press, the NCAA and Power 5 will pay nearly $2.8 billion, expected to be paid over 10 years, to settle several antitrust claims, notably House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA, and the joint statement claimed it “is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come.”

Among the longstanding aspects that made up the foundations of the NCAA is set to change: schools can directly pay players.

Here is the full joint statement from Baker, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petititti, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

“The five autonomy conferences and the NCAA agreeing to settlement terms is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come. This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students. All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”

READ: College Football Playoff, TNT Sports reach 5-year sublicensing agreement; TNT Sports to begin broadcasting 2 first-round games in 2024

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. also reportedly released a statement, calling the settlement “necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics.” Here is his full statement according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports.

“The settlement, though undesirable in many respects and promising only temporary stability, is necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics. To save the great American institution of college sports, Congress must pass legislation that will preempt the current patchwork of state laws; establish that our athletes are not employees, but students seeking college degrees; and provide protection from further antitrust lawsuits that will allow colleges to make and enforce rules that will protect our student-athletes and help ensure competitive equity among our teams,” Jenkins stated via Yahoo! Sports.

Among the expected outcomes from the settlement include the NCAA and universities sharing revenue directly with student-athletes. There could be “millions of dollars” paid to players as soon as fall 2025, according to the AP.

The model for revenue sharing with student-athletes “will cost major conferences a cumulative $1 billion-plus annually,” according to Yahoo! Sports, and schools can share up to $22 million with student-athletes per year — a figure that “was derived from 22% of an average of power conference revenues” and subject to change and exceptions.

According to Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel of ESPN, any Division I athlete dating back to 2016 is eligible to receive a share as part of the settlement class. These athletes therefore drop their claims in three antitrust lawsuits — House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA — and cannot sue the NCAA for other antitrust-related reasons.

Roster size could also be affected as a result of the changes expected after the settlement. According to Yahoo! Sports, scholarship restrictions could be eliminated while roster limits would be implemented.

Bankruptcy was reportedly at risk had the settlement not been reached among the NCAA and Power 5 regarding the lawsuits.

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

The ability for student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness began when the NCAA implemented policy in July 2021. Since, college athletics has seen a flurry of changes in almost the past three years, including in areas such as the conference realignment and the transfer portal. Texas senator Ted Cruz hosted an NIL roundtable on Capitol Hill in March discussing its impacts and urging Congress to pass college athletics legislation.

According to Yahoo! Sports, there is likely a five-to-eight month time period before finalization of the settlement to account for official filing, judge approval and individual plaintiff objections among other things.

Final details will be submitted to the court and Judge Claudia Wilken in the next 30 days, according to ESPN.

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Beginning with the 2024-25 seasons, TNT Sports will broadcast two first-round games, according to a release. TNT Sports will air two quarterfinal games additionally in 2026-28 through the agreement.

Additional details about programming plans for the College Football Playoff “will be announced at a later date,” according to a release.

“It is exciting to add TNT Sports, another highly respected broadcaster, to the College Football Playoff family,” Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Bill Hancock stated in a release. “Sports fans across the country are intimately familiar with their work across a wide variety of sports properties over the past two decades, and we look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas they bring to the promotion and delivery of these games.”

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

According to a release, TNT Sports will be “the primary network” televising its select games, and it will also distribute coverage among its additional platforms.

The playoff field expanded from its original four teams to 12 for the first time since it was implemented before the 2014 season.

What’s different under the new format include a range of changes. Notably, the entire first round will be played on-campus while the four highest-ranking conference champions will make up the first four seeds and receive byes in the opening round.

“We’re delighted to reach this agreement with ESPN, providing TNT Sports the opportunity to showcase these College Football Playoff games on our platforms for years to come,” TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser stated in a release. “TNT Sports aims to delight fans and drive maximum reach and engagement for these marquee games.”

The first round of the expanded playoff is scheduled for Dec. 20-21, then the quarterfinals will take place at familiar New Year’s Six locations, including the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, before the semifinals at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025, and Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, 2025, all leading up to the national championship in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025.

READ: Colorado announces season-ticket sellout for 2nd-straight season

It’s been a historic offseason for the College Football Playoff. It and ESPN agreed to a new media rights deal in March that will keep the playoff on the network through 2031.

The College Football Playoff also signed a six-year contract establishing a revenue distribution plan. That solidified the 12-team format through at least 2026, and the possibility of more teams joining the field could be a reality come that season.

ESPN “will also continue to manage the sponsorship program for the presentation of the CFP,” according to a release.

“ESPN is pleased to sublicense to TNT Sports a select number of early round games of the College Football Playoff, an event we’ve helped to grow – alongside the CFP – into one of the preeminent championships,” ESPN executive vice president of programming & acquisitions Rosalyn Durant stated in a release. “We’re confident in the reach and promotion that this new agreement will provide as we enter the new, expanded playoff era.”

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Set to launch worldwide on July 19, a full reveal of the modes and features of EA Sports College Football 25 was announced on Friday.

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes will be available in College Football 25, according to a release. Those two modes will allow players “to construct their own powerhouse program as a created coach or vie for the Heisman as a player” in what the video game introduces as CampusIQ, which will be “a suite of features that brings to life the true depth of college football through wide open, fast-paced gameplay across all 134 FBS schools in all areas of the game.”

READ: ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery introduce Venu Sports streaming service

Over 10,000 players have opted into College Football 25, it was announced in March. Any student-athlete who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used will receive $600 and a copy of the video game.

College Football 25 will also offer “the all-new Road to the College Football Playoff and College Football Ultimate Team” that will “bring fresh online experiences and ways to play.”

“EA SPORTS College Football is BACK! We’ve felt the passion and anticipation of college football fans every step of the way since we first announced this game, and we’re ecstatic to finally be able to show everyone what we’ve been building,” EA Sports SVP and Group GM Daryl Holt stated in a release. “College Football 25 is built with authenticity at its core, inspired by experiences our fans have loved from our games, and fully evolved to reflect modern college football – all of which will immerse them in the sights, sounds, and true-to-life gameplay of the sport they love.”

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

EA Sports unveiled the cover of College Football 25 on Thursday, showcasing Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. They will star on the covers of the Standard and Deluxe editions.

“Donovan, Quinn and Travis are extraordinary talents who impressed and entertained millions of college football fans on the field last season and are poised to do so again this year,” Holt stated in a release. “We’re proud to be able to incorporate thousands of current athletes in College Football 25, and featuring this trio of playmakers and their iconic college programs on the cover is a perfect fit as we usher in a new era for EA SPORTS and college football. I can’t wait for the world to learn more about the game tomorrow.”

ESPN broadcasters such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will “call marquee matchups,” along with other broadcast teams such as Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack will comprise the virtual booth and “take the mic for all other games.”

Among the gameplay features include Homefield Advantage, which will allow players to “through distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.” Additional features consist of Pre-Snap Recognition and the Wear & Tear System, which means virtual player stamina is affected by more play so it will be important to “manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best when it counts the most.”

The traditions within college football that make it one of a kind will be immersed in College Football 25. Along with team mascots and fight songs, the video game will include “unique team run-outs, rivalry rituals, synchronized crowd-chants, loudness meters as well as real game-day audio.”

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes are also offered in the video game alongside Road to the College Football Playoff, where players will “experience a new way to play competitively across consoles” and “earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions,” as well as College Football Ultimate Team.

College Football Ultimate Team will allow players to “build your dream team of college football stars and legends” in Solo Challenges or H2H seasons, and they can test their skill across consoles “in more competitive formats like College Football Ultimate Team Champs and Champs Gauntlet.”

EA Sports College Football 25 is available for pre-order now. According to Matt Brown of Extra Points, the video game will not be available for PC at launch. EA Sports is also offering an MVP bundle on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S that will include deluxe editions of College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25 “with 3-day early access and unlocks a multitude of benefits across both titles.”

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CEO Pete Distad, who has previous experience at Apple and Hulu, announced Thursday that the name of the platform will be Venu Sports.

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

The collaborative relationship “will bring together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks and certain direct to consumer services in a compelling new streaming sports service to allow underserved fans to get the most out of every game,” according to a release. The platform will include content from all major professional sports leagues and college sports.

Customers who purchase subscriptions can access Venu Sports directly “via a new app,” and subscribers “would also have the ability to bundle the product, including with Disney+, Hulu or Max.”

“We are excited to officially introduce Venu Sports, a brand that we feel captures the spirit of an all-new streaming home where sports fans outside of the traditional pay TV eco-system can experience an incredible collection of live sports, all in one place,” Distad stated in a release. “As preparations for the platform continue to accelerate, we are singularly focused on delivering a best-in-class product for our target audience, built from the ground up using the latest technologies to engage and entertain discerning sports fans wanting one-stop access to live games.”

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

FOX, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery will have equal ownership shares in Venu Sports, according to Stephen Battaglio of the Los Angeles Times.

The formation and launch of Venu Sports “is subject to regulatory approval and the finalization of definitive agreements amongst the parties,” according to a release.

Venu Sports aims to provide a way for viewers to access “an extensive, dynamic lineup of sports content to serve sports fans, particularly those outside of the traditional pay TV bundle,” according to a release. It targets a younger audience and individuals who aren’t subscribed to major or traditional television streaming services.

According to Joe Reedy of The Associated Press, FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit against ESPN, FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu in February. FuboTV seeks cash damages and to prevent Venu Sports, or have restrictions imposed on the joint service to ensure competition within the market.

ESPN and the College Football Playoff reached an agreement on a new media rights deal in March keeping the Playoff on the network through 2031.

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Beginning this season, the “SEC on ABC franchise” will debut with the Miami–Florida matchup Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m., according to a release. The SEC on ABC brand will include “a new graphics package, theme music and more.”

According to a release, all special date games and ESPN’s broadcast schedule for the first three weeks of the season will be revealed May 30. The network’s Bowl Season schedule will also be unveiled June 6.

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

READ: Joe Alt cherishes Notre Dame career, hopes to put ‘best foot forward’ with Los Angeles after No. 5 overall NFL Draft selection

ESPN’s College GameDay, which will welcome former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on set this fall, will begin the season in Dublin, Ireland, at noon on Aug. 24 when Florida State matches up in Week 0 with Georgia Tech. It will be the first time the show originates from outside the United States.

Saban and College GameDay will return stateside Aug. 31 from College Station where new Aggies head coach Mike Elko and Texas A&M will face Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.

ESPN will also broadcast the Southeastern Conference debuts for Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners will open at home Aug. 30 against Temple at 7 p.m., and Texas will host Colorado State on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

Deion Sanders and Colorado will also make their debut in the Big 12 Conference Aug. 29 when the Buffaloes host North Dakota State at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

READ: Former Penn State SAF King Mack transfers to Alabama

ESPN’s run of teams in new conferences continues in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Aug. 30 when Stanford, departing the Pac-12 Conference, plays TCU at 10:30 p.m.

ESPN will also carry Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama debut against Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31.

ABC will begin its Week 1 coverage in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where Dabo Swinney and Clemson will take on Kirby Smart and Georgia at noon.

Here is ABC and ESPN’s Weeks 0-1 schedule.

Week 0

Florida State at Georgia Tech — Aug. 24 at noon on ESPN

Florida A&M at Norfolk State — Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Week 1

North Dakota State at Colorado — Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPN

Temple at Oklahoma — Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

TCU at Stanford — Aug. 30 at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN

Clemson at Georgia — Aug. 31 at noon on ABC

Miami at Florida — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Colorado State at Texas — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

Western Kentucky at Alabama — Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Notre Dame at Texas A&M — Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

USC at LSU — Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Boston College at Florida State — Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

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Colorado and Nebraska both announced Monday that their Week 2 meeting on Sept. 7 will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CDT on NBC. It will be NBC’s first time broadcasting a game from Memorial Stadium since Thanksgiving Day in 1965.

READ: Joe Alt cherishes Notre Dame career, hopes to put ‘best foot forward’ with Los Angeles after No. 5 overall NFL Draft selection

Second-year head coaches Matt Rhule of Nebraska and Deion Sanders of Colorado will meet again after the Buffaloes earned a 36-14 win in Week 2 last season in Boulder. According to Sean Callahan of HuskerOnline via On3, that game drew more than eight million viewers. This fall, they’ll face one another in the first-ever evening matchup between the two programs at Memorial Stadium.

According to a Colorado release, NBC’s broadcast will be part of the Upfront program, which is “a presentation showcasing the network’s concentrated portfolio of sports, entertainment, news and streaming platforms to advertisers,” and it will pair with the network’s Week 1 broadcast of Fresno State–Michigan in Ann Arbor. Colorado was part of Upfront last season when it opened the campaign against TCU on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.

READ: Former Penn State SAF King Mack transfers to Alabama

READ: Conference USA expanding to add Missouri State in 2025

Colorado and Nebraska’s history dates back to their time together in the Big 12 Conference — which the Buffaloes will rejoin this fall.

Nebraska has a 49-21-2 advantage in the all-time series, though Colorado has won all three meetings since moving to the Pac-12 Conference following the 2010 season. They’ve split the past six games at Memorial Stadium since 2002.

Sanders and Colorado had nine games not on regional or conference networks in 2023, marking the most in program history according to a release. September’s game against the Cornhuskers will also be the first time the Buffaloes are broadcast on NBC since the Fiesta Bowl in 1995.

Rhule and Nebraska are looking to build off a 5-7 record in their first year together in 2023. Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg, who started eight games last season and led the team with 967 passing yards and seven touchdowns, and the Cornhuskers were No. 9 in the Big Ten Conference averaging 312.8 total yards per game. They also appeared in primetime on NBC last season at Wisconsin in Week 12.

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On Monday, Snoop Dogg and the Arizona Bowl announced a multi-year sponsorship which will title the game scheduled for Dec. 28 the “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop.” It is the first alcohol partner as the presenting sponsor in an NCAA bowl game.

READ: Marvin Harrison Jr. brings ‘consistent and disciplined’ approach to Arizona after No. 4 overall pick in NFL Draft

Snoop Dogg said in a social media video that he’s “ready to bring the juice back to college football.”

“College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences, so it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football when it was focused on the colleges, the players, the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry,” Snoop Dogg said.

READ: Drake Maye believes he can ‘fit right in’ New England after No. 3 overall draft pick

READ: Former Oregon State, Nebraska coach Mike Riley appointed to CFP Selection Committee

Launched in February, Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop is an all-natural, lightly carbonated cocktail and “the first ready to drink product from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s new premium spirits company,” according to a release. It’s inspired by Snoop Dogg’s hit “Gin & Juice” from his debut album Doggystyle which released in 1994.

According to a release, charity events and a SNOOPER Bowl will also be held around Tucson.

Snoop Dogg is involved in a wide range of areas, from music to sports to philanthropy and more.

Snoop Dogg leads the Snoop Youth Football League, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing inner-city children between 5 and 13 opportunities to participate in football and cheerleading while also “teaching them the values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and self-respect, while also stressing the importance of academics,” according to the organization’s website.

More than 40 alumni of the SYFL have gone on to the NFL.

“Being a fan, coach, supporter of all levels of the game, I’ve sent many players through my SYFL to colleges and the NFL, so it’s only fitting that I step up and help get this thing right,” Snoop Dogg said.

READ: Georgia approves new contract for Kirby Smart; Smart becomes college football’s highest paid coach

The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop will pit one team from the Mountain West Conference and another from the Mid-American Conference. Last season, Wyoming scored 10 points in the fourth quarter while shutting out Toledo to win the bowl 16-15.

“We’re thrilled about our groundbreaking partnership with Snoop and Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop,” Executive Director of the Arizona Bowl Kym Adair stated in a release. “This year, the Arizona Bowl is bringing sports, libations, and entertainment into a singular bowl game, and we are changing the definition of what a brand partnership is in the NCAA.”

Playfly Sports, a sports media, marketing and technology business that provides sponsorship sales representation and sponsorship consulting, secured and finalized the agreement between Snoop Dogg and Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, according to a release.

“From the outset, we leveraged fan data to understand the valuable intersection between college sports and entertainment, redefining how the two can intersect,” Playfly Founder and CEO Mike Schreiber stated in a release. “This partnership is a testament to our innovation and commitment to providing an unforgettable fan experience.”

The post Snoop Dogg, Arizona Bowl announce collaboration renaming bowl to Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Mike Riley, who was the head coach at Oregon State from 1997-98 and 2003-14 and Nebraska from 2015-17, will now be part of the 13-member selection committee. Riley will replace Washington athletics director Pat Chun who was named to his new position in March and recently stepped down, according to a release.

READ: Georgia approves new contract for Kirby Smart; Smart becomes college football’s highest paid coach

“We are pleased to have Mike join the committee,” Executive Director of the CFP Bill Hancock stated in a release. “He has significant experience as a player and coach, and he loves college football. He will bring a unique perspective to the committee. Plus, he is a delightful human being.”

READ: MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone to transfer to UCF

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Riley has more than 48 years of college and professional coaching experience, and he’s been head coach in five different professional leagues including the NFL, Canadian Football League, World League of American Football, Alliance of American Football and the United States Football League.

Riley spent time as an assistant coach at USC before landing his first head coaching gig at Oregon State. Following three years as head coach of the San Diego Chargers, he returned to Oregon State where he collected school records of 93 career wins in 14 total seasons as head coach.

Riley most recently was head coach of the New Jersey Generals in the USFL from 2022-23.

Riley is an Alabama alum where he played defensive back. He was part of the Crimson Tide’s 1973 national championship team under head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

The post Former Oregon State, Nebraska coach Mike Riley appointed to CFP Selection Committee appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Former Toledo running back Peny Boone posted Wednesday on social media a photo of himself in a UCF uniform captioned “Committed.” Multiple reports have confirmed Boone’s transfer.

Boone originally transferred from Toledo to Louisville following the end of last season. After spring practice, Boone reentered the transfer portal and connected with the Knights.

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Boone, who spent the past two seasons with the Rockets after beginning his college career at Maryland, ran for a conference-leading 1,400 yards finishing third in the NCAA with an average of 7.22 yards per carry in 2023.

The Detroit native was Toledo’s third-leading rusher in 2022 collecting 443 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Boone totaled 18 rushing touchdowns in his Rockets career.

At Maryland Boone ran for 258 yards and two touchdowns across the 2020-21 seasons.

Boone was part of two state championship teams at Martin Luther King High School on his way to becoming a four-star recruit part of the class of 2020.

Boone figures to pair up with returning UCF running back RJ Harvey, who earned an All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention nod last season after running for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The portal opened for the spring window April 16 and closed Tuesday, and players can still commit to new programs after the portal’s closing. According to Chris Hummer of 247 Sports, more than 2,100 Division I undergraduate players are in the transfer portal.

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