2025 College Football Thread

[JWags85]

A less generous read on Kiffin here  - and he doesn't strike me a someone who's earned the benefit of the doubt - is that he's a guy who complains about the chaos of the NIL/portal era while actively worsening the chaos of the NIL/portal era.
The proverbial arsonist complaining about why it's so hot around here.
 

I mean, is that any worse than any coach and their handling of the current dynamics of the sport?  You can complain or disagree about any number of things, but at the end of the day your job and your livelihood and your reputation depends on winning games, so why would you not actively participate in all aspects of the sport as it exists.  I know there is the "stick to your morals" stance, but if its the "legal" realm of the sport, I think its a bit Pollyana to expect a coach to have some sort of high and mighty stance that undoubtedly leads to a disadvantage compared to their peers and rivals. 

Kiffin is far from an angel or moral sage, but I don't think he's even a flagrant standout in the realm of what's wrong with NIL and the NIL landscape.

[Pakuni]

I mean, is that any worse than any coach and their handling of the current dynamics of the sport?  You can complain or disagree about any number of things, but at the end of the day your job and your livelihood and your reputation depends on winning games, so why would you not actively participate in all aspects of the sport as it exists.  I know there is the "stick to your morals" stance, but if its the "legal" realm of the sport, I think its a bit Pollyana to expect a coach to have some sort of high and mighty stance that undoubtedly leads to a disadvantage compared to their peers and rivals. 

Kiffin is far from an angel or moral sage, but I don't think he's even a flagrant standout in the realm of what's wrong with NIL and the NIL landscape.

I guess the Demond Williams details will all come out eventually, but right now it appears Lane recruited a player who wasn't in the portal and after he signed a contract to remain with his current program. A contract his current program insists is legally binding.
While I'm not naive enough to think players not in the portal don't get recruited, this appears to be the first (publicized, at least) instance of a coach encouraging a player to breach a contract.
That seems a bridge that other coaches haven't yet crossed and about as flagrant as it gets, but maybe there's more to the story.
If Lane had the personality of Dabo Swinney, no one would give him the benefit of the doubt on any of this stuff.

[WhiteTrash]

What fun it must be to be a Washington fan. Your QB and the school are lawyering up against each other. Good times.

I'm a 'live by the terms of your contract' kind of guy, but this can't be good for team building. I'd guess if I was a UW fan, I'd hope they can get a pound of flesh from Williams on his way out the door.

[Hards Alumni]

What fun it must be to be a Washington fan. Your QB and the school are lawyering up against each other. Good times.

I'm a 'live by the terms of your contract' kind of guy, but this can't be good for team building. I'd guess if I was a UW fan, I'd hope they can get a pound of flesh from Williams on his way out the door.

Someone had to the be the one to go to bat for everyone else.

[Pakuni]

What fun it must be to be a Washington fan. Your QB and the school are lawyering up against each other. Good times.

I'm a 'live by the terms of your contract' kind of guy, but this can't be good for team building. I'd guess if I was a UW fan, I'd hope they can get a pound of flesh from Williams on his way out the door.

It's getting weirder.

Demond Williams Jr. has been dropped by his agent, Doug Hendrickson, in the wake of the former Washington quarterback's announcement that he will enter the transfer portal.

"I have made the decision to end my representation of Demond Williams Jr. effective immediately due to philosophical differences," Hendrickson posted Thursday on social media. "Demond is an incredible talent and we wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors."

Williams announced Tuesday he would enter the portal, just days after he signed a contract in the mid-$4 million range to return to the Huskies for the 2026 season, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47551538/agent-drops-demond-williams-jr-amid-qb-portal-dispute

Also, pretty good read from Thamel on how the Williams situation isn't being viewed as just the usual portal business.

What happens next with Williams will speak volumes about the future of college football and the enforceability of contracts, providing a bellwether for this new era of college sports.

"This is a very bright line," a high-ranking college official said. "Are we going to respect each other's contracts? This is a very simple thing. If we can't protect this, nothing else matters."
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47541426/demond-williams-jr-case-test-viability-signed-contracts-college-sports

[tower912]

Man. The portal sounds like so much fun.

[Pakuni]

Man. The portal sounds like so much fun.

Would Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon and Indiana fans complain about what the portal has wrought?

[tower912]

So, you are saying there are winners and losers and it is no panacea.   Glad we agree.

[Pakuni]

So, you are saying there are winners and losers and it is no panacea.   Glad we agree.

No, not what I'm saying at all.

[tower912]

I know. 

[Pakuni]

Oklahoma hires Jason Witten as an assistant coach.
Jason Witten has a son who's a 2027 5-star recruit.
Hmmm.

[Pakuni]

LOL

https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2009429367726985268?s=20

[Shaka Shart]

Lanning also has found snippets to reflect on the CFP journey.

"It was pretty fun stepping in that hotel room last night," said Lanning, who traveled to Atlanta with his wife and three sons. "I just kind of joke with our boys and said, 'If your dad was a dentist, you wouldn't be doing this right now.'"

Yeah Dan, they'd probably be too embarrassed to be seen with you

[JWags85]

Oklahoma hires Jason Witten as an assistant coach.
Jason Witten has a son who's a 2027 5-star recruit.
Hmmm.

Kind of shiesty, but probably one of the least egregious hiring family to land a recruit.  Bringing in a 11x Pro Bowl TE, who has also been a very good HS football coach for the last 4-5 years, to coach TEs? Actually makes sense.  I think whats even more interesting is that, though kind of out of right field, if they hired him without him having a highly touted recruit at home, I don't think many people would be shocked.

[Shaka Shart]

They should have just given his brother a track scholarship

[MU82]

Is it me, or does running out of the wildcat formation fail more than it succeeds?

You've got a good running QB in Chambliss. Why take him out of the play, essentially making it 10-on-11? I don't get it.

[wadesworld]

Miami's WRs do a great job run blocking.

I don't know what Toney's NFL potential is, he looks undersized and he wasn't a super highly rated high school recruit, but he's an awesome, versatile college receiver.

[MU82]

In the world of college sports sleaziness, the Witten hire isn't top 100,000 all-time.

[MuggsyB]

This game got pretty interesting.  But can Ole Miss find a way to play some defense???

[wadesworld]

I miss having a computer decide which two teams will play in a single game to (maybe) decide a national champion.

[MuggsyB]

Wow. Brutal penalty there.  Looked accidental. 

[MuggsyB]

That was an unreal catch but it won't count. 

[wadesworld]

Miami's WRs do a great job run blocking.

I don't know what Toney's NFL potential is, he looks undersized and he wasn't a super highly rated high school recruit, but he's an awesome, versatile college receiver.

Okay eff it. I want Toney on the Packers for Saturday's game. I don't care that that was incomplete, he's the best receiver in the history of football.

[MuggsyB]

Ole Miss deserved to lose. 

[MuggsyB]

Wasn't Notre Lame complaining about Miami making the playoffs?