2025 College Football Thread

[Litehouse]

ESPN pays nearly $1.3 billion a year to broadcast the 11 CFB playoff games, about $118 million per game, of which the Peach Bowl is one.
Average ticket sale price (before secondary market) for last year's Peach Bowl was $315. Attendance was 71,105. That's another $22.4 million revenue. Add  a cut of parking, concessions, sponsorships, and $8 million for the labor seems awfully cheap. Obviously there are massive costs associated with putting on that game, but I'm guessing that $8 million isn't going to break the bank.

But it's not the actual Peach Bowl, it's just Baylor at Auburn for an early September non-conference game that the Peach Bowl organizers are paying to move to Atlanta.  Maybe Auburn would normally get the $4M and they're just using this opportunity to pass the money straight to the players.

[Uncle Rico]

https://bsky.app/profile/diannarussini.bsky.social/post/3m3zkns6dqc2z

Huh

[WhiteTrash]

https://bsky.app/profile/diannarussini.bsky.social/post/3m3zkns6dqc2z

Huh

Agreed, kind of strange. He's done a decent job at Texas, but I don't think he has done enough for Texas to feel like they have to pay up for him. I also don't think he's done enough to warrant an NFL job. Feels like a leverage play against Texas, but I'm not sure he truly has leverage.

[Uncle Rico]

Agreed, kind of strange. He's done a decent job at Texas, but I don't think he has done enough for Texas to feel like they have to pay up for him. I also don't think he's done enough to warrant an NFL job. Feels like a leverage play against Texas, but I'm not sure he truly has leverage.

I think he's looking at an 8-4 record and knows that won't cut it after entering the season number 1 in the nation and looking around to get off the bus before it crashes

[WhiteTrash]

I think he's looking at an 8-4 record and knows that won't cut it after entering the season number 1 in the nation and looking around to get off the bus before it crashes

Madison would take 8-4.

[Uncle Rico]

Madison would take 8-4.

It's supposed to be windy and rainy tonight in Eugene.  That's Badgers weather.

[Pakuni]

But it's not the actual Peach Bowl, it's just Baylor at Auburn for an early September non-conference game that the Peach Bowl organizers are paying to move to Atlanta.  Maybe Auburn would normally get the $4M and they're just using this opportunity to pass the money straight to the players.

Ah, I misunderstood.
That said, I still don't think the numbers are outrageous given the revenue college football games generate, from broadcast rights, to ticket sales, to merchandise, concessions, parking , etc.
According to this, LSU got $5 million for participating on the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic in 2024 and $5.1 million for its opener against FSU the year before that.

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2025/08/26/lsu-football-clemson-payout-money-brian-kelly-dabo-swinney-2025/85824849007/

[Pakuni]

Agreed, kind of strange. He's done a decent job at Texas, but I don't think he has done enough for Texas to feel like they have to pay up for him. I also don't think he's done enough to warrant an NFL job. Feels like a leverage play against Texas, but I'm not sure he truly has leverage.

Agree that he may not have done enough at Texas to warrant a big extension/pay raise. At the same time, you've got to wonder if Texas looks at the big jobs that are/will be open (Florida, Penn State, possibly Auburn, probably FSU, possibly LSU) and decides now's not the time to be looking for a new coach.

[WhiteTrash]

Agree that he may not have done enough at Texas to warrant a big extension/pay raise. At the same time, you've got to wonder if Texas looks at the big jobs that are/will be open (Florida, Penn State, possibly Auburn, probably FSU, possibly LSU) and decides now's not the time to be looking for a new coach.

You should be an agent. That is a good point. Plus, if Madison opens up.....

[JWags85]

I think he's looking at an 8-4 record and knows that won't cut it after entering the season number 1 in the nation and looking around to get off the bus before it crashes

Bingo.  I haven't looked at the recruiting rankings in a bit but I know they don't have a top 5 class.  So if he's thinking it's gonna be a disappointing year, and unless Arch takes a big leap they probably aren't a top 5 team next year, and suddenly his stock isn't so high anymore. The last 2 Texas coaches had their careers tank when they fizzled at UT.  Maybe he's proactively looking at a soft landing on his own terms

[JWags85]

Also, Ole Miss D looking stout. OU held to 12 yards rushing so far.  Ole Miss goes SUPER aggressive on 4th and 1 from their 20, fumbles the snap, gives it to OU in the red zone.  IMMEDIATELY pushes them back 15 yards and holds them to a FG. Monstrous

  If Lane can pull this off on the road in Norman, hell of a response to last weekend in Athens and right into 4 games where they will be heavy favorites to end the year. 

[Uncle Rico]

Also, Ole Miss D looking stout. OU held to 12 yards rushing so far.  Ole Miss goes SUPER aggressive on 4th and 1 from their 20, fumbles the snap, gives it to OU in the red zone.  IMMEDIATELY pushes them back 15 yards and holds them to a FG. Monstrous

  If Lane can pull this off on the road in Norman, hell of a response to last weekend in Athens and right into 4 games where they will be heavy favorites to end the year. 

It's not going well anymore

[Uncle Rico]

UCLA story was neat while it lasted

[tower912]

IU still ticked at Purdue alum John Wooden.

[MuggsyB]

Only a 97% chance for Oregon to beat, I repeat beat, the freaking weasels????  According to the "FPI"??  Who runs this organization?  Someone please explain how it's not a 100% forgone conclusion?  Ty. 

[Uncle Rico]

Only a 97% chance for Oregon to beat, I repeat beat, the freaking weasels????  According to the "FPI"??  Who runs this organization?  Someone please explain how it's not a 100% forgone conclusion?  Ty. 

Nothing is a 100% in sports.  It's not complicated.

[MUBurrow]

Maybe he's proactively looking at a soft landing on his own terms

And if I'm UT, I probably let him. He's a good coach, but I'm not sure he gets them to a level consistently beyond what Mack Brown was doing, for example. And I don't want to hold a guy's demons against him, but Sark definitely has his, so the kind of deal that would make him wave away other offers is too risky for too low a return IMHO.

[WhiteTrash]

Nothing is a 100% in sports.  It's not complicated.

Nothing? I mean there was 0% chance that Virginia would lose to Chaminade. Virginia won while former President Dewey watched.

[The Sultan]

And if I'm UT, I probably let him. He's a good coach, but I'm not sure he gets them to a level consistently beyond what Mack Brown was doing, for example. And I don't want to hold a guy's demons against him, but Sark definitely has his, so the kind of deal that would make him wave away other offers is too risky for too low a return IMHO.

I mean, who are they going to get who's better?

[Pakuni]

Bingo.  I haven't looked at the recruiting rankings in a bit but I know they don't have a top 5 class.  So if he's thinking it's gonna be a disappointing year, and unless Arch takes a big leap they probably aren't a top 5 team next year, and suddenly his stock isn't so high anymore. The last 2 Texas coaches had their careers tank when they fizzled at UT.  Maybe he's proactively looking at a soft landing on his own terms

From what I've been able to find, Sarkisian's buyout is $55 million. I imagine that might decline annually, but even if it drops 20% next year, why wouldn't he just stick around, force them to fire him and walk away with a bag?
Not just Sarkisian, but I'm not sure why any P4 coach would ever leave except for a better P4 program.

[tower912]

Trinidad Chambliss is a big story around here.   I may have to pay attention to Ole Miss now.

[WhiteTrash]

I mean, who are they going to get who's better?

That is always the wrong question to ask.

[The Sultan]

That is always the wrong question to ask.

Not really. If you can't reasonably improve the position, why would you move on from the guy who got you to the CFP just last year? Texas always thinks they can pull a successful coach from elsewhere, but that rarely happens.

[Uncle Rico]

Bama on the struggle bus at South Carolina

[MuggsyB]

Oregon looks abysmal.  WTF?  Clearly overconfident.