2025 College Football Playoff Buzz: North Carolina Hires Bobby Petrino as OC

The 2025 College Football Playoff is upon us, and news surrounding the highly anticipated tournament is nonstop with bowl season officially in full swing.

Here's the latest on what's happening around college football:

North Carolina hires Bobby Petrino as OC

Petrino will be the Tar Heels' new offensive coordinator, the program announced. This comes in the wake of North Carolina firing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens in December.

"We are fortunate to add an elite coaching talent in Bobby to our staff," North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "He brings an extensive background and a proven record of success on offense at every level of football. Bobby has consistently built great offenses everywhere he has been, and we look forward to having him work with our program."

Petrino, who had previous college head-coaching stints at Louisville (twice), Arkansas (twice, the second time being on an interim basis this season), Western Kentucky and Missouri State, will take over a Tar Heels' offense that was last in the ACC in total yards (288.8 per game) and 17th in points (19.3 per game) this season. North Carolina finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in ACC play this season, its first under Belichick.

Notre Dame adds Partridge, shuffles staff

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is shuffling his defensive coaching staff by putting former defensive line coach Al Washington in charge of the linebackers and hiring Charlie Partridge to coach defensive linemen. The moves come less than two weeks after Freeman decided to remain Notre Dame's head coach on a restructured contract.

Washington will reman Notre Dame's defensive run game coordinator and will replace Max Bullough as linebackers coach. Bullough recently left to become the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan State, his alma mater. Washington was Ohio State’s linebackers coach from 2019-21 before joining Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame. He also coached linebackers at Michigan in 2018.

"When the linebackers role came open, we immediately thought of Al," Freeman said in a statement released Wednesday. "With his previous experience coaching linebackers he will be a great asset to that room, and taking on this role will continue to enhance his skillset as he ultimately looks to elevate in his career."

On Thursday, Notre Dame announced the hiring of Partridge who had spent the past two seasons coaching defensive linemen with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He spent the previous 26 seasons as a positional coach, special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator and head coach at the college level. His most recent college experience came at Pittsburgh where he worked as assistant head coach/defensive line coach from 2018-23. He also worked for the Panthers as the defensive line coach in 2017.

Missouri QB Beau Pribula visits Washington 

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula reportedly visited Washington on Wednesday. Pribula entered the transfer portal after Missouri's regular season concluded and missed the Gator Bowl. His recent Seattle trip is intriguing as Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. recently announced his intent to enter the portal after signing a contract to return to Washington in the last week. 

Michigan QB Bryce Underwood, Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy not entering portal

A pair of the top teenagers in college football are staying put. Both Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy will stay at their current schools. Underwood made the announcement in a social media post on Monday, while Lacy reportedly signed a new deal to stay at Ole Miss. Underwood was the top recruit in the Class of 2025, helping Michigan go 9-4 as a freshman. Lacy was named an All-American this year after transferring from Missouri. 

Trinidad Chambliss to stay at Ole Miss, if he gets another year of eligibility 

Ole Miss has picked up another big win. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has agreed to a deal to remain with the program for the 2026 season if his eligibility waiver request is granted, Yahoo Sports reported. Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss from Division II Ferris State in 2025, is currently in his fifth season of college football. He helped Ole Miss upset Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, advancing the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals. 

There had been some rumors that Chambliss could've followed former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU. Now, Chambliss' future at Ole Miss hinges on whether the NCAA will approve of his waiver request for a sixth season. Ole Miss is reportedly hopeful that a resolution to the matter will be made this week. 

Utah hires its offensive coordinator

Utah hired Kevin McGiven to be its next offensive coordinator. McGiven was at San Jose State from 2018-2024, now he'll join Morgan Scalley's staff. 

Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby makes decision

Sorsby, following a standout second year, has reportedly made his decision to play a fifth collegiate season after committing to Texas Tech weeks after entering the transfer portal.

Sorsby, the top available player in the portal, also visited LSU, and even weighed the possibility of entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Sorsby led the Bearcats to a 7-1 start before finishing 7-5 in 2025, and recorded 36 total touchdowns to go with 2,800 passing yards and a career-best 580 rushing yards.

Michigan hires former Kansas City Chiefs coach

Michigan hired Kansas City Chiefs Assistant defensive line coach Alex Whittingham as its linebacker coach. Whittingham is the son of newly-hired Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham had been in Kansas City since 2018. 

Ole Miss staff uncertain after Kiffin-to-LSU move

With Ole Miss preparing for Miami (Fla.) in the Fiesta Bowl, head coach Pete Golding said Saturday it'll be up to LSU to determine how many of new coach Lane Kiffin's assistants can continue to coach their former team.

"They have every opportunity like they have up to this point to be able to make that decision," Golding said during a College Football Playoff media video conference, per ESPN. "So week in and week out, I don't dictate whether they do that or not, because they're not employed by me. Up to this point, that's how it's been, and that's my expectation."

The news comes two days after Ole Miss and Golding's 39-34 upset CFP win over Georgia in a battle of the No. 6 vs. No. 3 seeds in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 31. 

Kiffin's staff is expected to include current Rebels offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald and running backs coach Kevin Smith.

Kotelnicki returning to Kansas

Andy Kotelnicki will return to Kansas as associate head coach after not being retained as offensive coordinator at Penn State, Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold announced Friday.

Kotelnicki and Leipold have worked together a combined 11 years at Kansas, Buffalo and Division III UW-Whitewater. Kotelnicki was Kansas' offensive coordinator for three years before leaving for Penn State after the 2023 season.

"I care deeply about the University of Kansas, and my family and I are thrilled to be back at a university that has been so good to us," Kotelnicki said. "Working alongside Coach Leipold has been one of the highlights of my career, and I’m excited to rejoin him and the entire staff at KU. I’m very grateful to Coach, Athletic Director Travis Goff and Chancellor Doug Girod for welcoming us back. I can’t wait to get to work."

Kotelnicki's 2022 and ‘23 offenses were two of the three highest-scoring units in Kansas history, and the ’22 offense averaged a school-record 7.0 yards per play.

"We are excited to welcome Andy and his family back to Lawrence," Leipold said. "Andy is familiar with our staff and culture, has run successful offenses for nearly two decades, and his experience over the past two seasons at Penn State will add to our program in a variety of ways.'

Michigan hires Utah OC Jason Beck

New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham is adding to his coaching staff with a familiar face, as Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck is reportedly joining him on the Wolverines, per Whittingham himself during an appearance on ESPN.

Beck was on Whittingham's staff for the 2025 season only, but made an impact, with Utah's offense ranking among the best in the FBS: it was fifth in total yards per game (478.6), second in rushing yards per game (269.8) and fifth in scoring, at 41.1 points per game.

The 45-year-old Beck was previously the offensive coordinator at Syracuse and New Mexico before arriving in Utah on Whittingham's staff, and was BYU's quarterback from 2004 through 2006 before beginning his coaching career with the Cougars as a graduate assistant in 2007.

Robinson to stay with Florida State

Florida State has its difference-maker back for 2026: Wide receiver Duce Robinson is returning to school.

Robinson announced Thursday that he was passing up the NFL draft to return to FSU for his senior season. The 6-foot-6, 223-pound Robinson was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in receiving yards (1,081) and had six touchdowns in 2025. He averaged 19.3 yards per reception.

"This has truly been one of the best years of my life," Robinson said in a video posted on X. "I’m really excited to be able to be a Seminole again in 2026."

He was Florida State’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Tamorrion Terry in 2019 and the 14th one in school history.

A first-team All-ACC selection, Robinson had five 100-yard receiving games. He also was praised by coach Mike Norvell for his perimeter blocking.

Northwestern hires Chip Kelly

The Wildcats are hiring Kelly as their new offensive coordinator, per ESPN. Kelly will replace offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zach Lujan, who previously held the position under head coach David Braun at Northwestern since 2024. After serving as Ohio State's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in a 2024 season that saw the Buckeyes win the National Championship, Kelly became the offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2025 NFL season but was fired after the team's 2-9 start.

Kelly previously had head-coaching stints at UCLA (2018-23), the San Francisco 49ers (2016), Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and Oregon (2009-12). Northwestern went 7-6 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play this season.

Indiana WR Cooper to play in Rose Bowl

Omar Cooper Jr.’s game-winning catch for No. 1 Indiana against Penn State is the kind of play that gets remembered forever, especially if the Hoosiers go on to claim their first national title.

Cooper is ready for the next step in that College Football Playoff push, a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl versus Alabama on Thursday, having recovered from a right leg injury that knocked him out of the Big Ten championship victory over Ohio State in the first quarter on Dec. 6.

"I feel a lot better this week," Cooper said. "And this past week, this whole month has been just trying to get rest as much as I can, and then trying to work slowly back into seeing what I can do until I’m able to fully practice and everything. So this month has been nice for me specifically, and I was grateful to have it, and now I’m healthy."

The fourth-year junior had 58 receptions for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2025 regular season.

Notre Dame restructures HC Marcus Freeman's contract

Freeman has received multiple overtures from NFL teams to leave college football behind, per Sports Illustrated, but he won't be doing so. Instead, he'll return to Notre Dame for another shot at a national championship.

The school confirmed that Freeman received a restructured contract with "top-tier" compensation. Additionally, Freeman had another year added to the end of his contract, which now runs through 2031. 

While it is not known exactly which other NFL teams Freeman rejected, he had recently been linked to the New York Giants and even spoke about that connection in an interview with the New York Post.

Freeman, who played linebacker for Ohio State before moving into coaching, served as an assistant coach for Cincinnati, Kent State and OSU before becoming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame. Notre Dame missed the CFP in 2025. The year prior, Freeman's squad took on OSU in the national championship.

Clemson moves on from OC, safeties coach

The Clemson Tigers fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and safeties coach Mickey Conn on Monday, head coach Dabo Swinney announced.

Riley left TCU to join Clemson ahead of the 2023 season, and helped the Tigers secure an ACC championship in 2024 and a College Football Playoff that same season.

"I appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of our players and our program," Swinney said about Riley. "Garrett is smart, he’s got great work ethic and he’s a great coach, but it just didn’t work like we both wanted. He’s got an amazing career ahead and he’ll be a great head coach in the future."

Mass exodus at North Texas

Despite North Texas' thrilling win in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 27, there has been a surge of Green Wave players entering the transfer portal. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker headlines that list. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Mestemaker — the nation's leading passer in both yards (4,379) and touchdowns (34) — has three years of eligibility remaining.

Other names include defensive lineman Joshua Pierce, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, per 247Sports. He totaled 14 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble this season. Wide receivers Miles Coleman, Wyatt Young and Terrence Lewis also plan to find a new home, per On3 and 247Sports. Coleman totaled 550 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season, while Young put up 1,264 yards with 10 touchdowns. Lewis, a 6-foot, 170-pound true freshman, had 11 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns this season. Another Mean Green true freshman star, running back Caleb Hawkins (1,804 yards and 29 touchdowns this season), is also hitting the portal, per On3.

Penn State to hire USC's DC

Penn State will hire USC's defensive coordinator, D'Anton Lynn, to the same role for 2026, per Centre Daily Times.

Lynn played for Penn State from 2008 through 2011 before signing with the NFL's New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. He then turned his attention to coaching, first becoming UCLA's defensive coordinator before moving on to USC for the same position. He now finds himself at his third Big Ten school — his alma mater. Under Lynn in 2025, USC ranked 48th in yards allowed per game (348.8) and 49th in points per game (22.4).

Quarterbacks making $5 million?

The going rate for a high-profile QB in the transfer portal could be $5 million for a single season, according to ESPN. Sam Leavitt, Dylan Raiola, DJ Lagway and Josh Hoover are among the star signal-callers currently in the portal.

Michigan State hires Mike Bajakian as QB coach

The Spartans are reportedly hiring Bajakian, UMass' offensive coordinator, as their quarterbacks coach under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Bajakian was previously an offensive assistant at Utah in 2024, preceded by being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern from 2020 to 2023, among other positions. Bajakian coached under Fitzgerald, who was previously the Wildcats' head coach, from 2020 to 2022.

Ohio removes coach John Hauser's interim tag

Hauser will be Ohio's head coach moving forward after having his interim tag removed on Dec. 26. Hauser was named the Bobcats' interim coach on Dec. 1 and led the team to a 17-10 victory over UNLV in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23.

"This is a special place for my family and me, and we are proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about Ohio University and its football program," Hauser said in a statement. "I look forward to hitting the ground running with the team as we look to build on the program’s tradition of success in 2026 and beyond."

Hauser came to Ohio in 2022 as the Bobcats' safeties coach. He was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator in 2023 and defensive coordinator before the 2024 season. Hauser also was the associate head coach this season. The Bobcats (9-4) allowed only 295.2 yards per game this season, the eighth-best mark in FBS; the 17.46 points allowed per game was 11th nationally.

Ohio was in the market for a coach after it fired Brian Smith on Dec. 18 for cause after engaging in "serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University." The now-fired Smith was in his first season as Ohio's head coach, going 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play this season.

Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos drops lawsuit, declares for NFL Draft

Castellanos has dropped his appeal for another year of college eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. 

The NCAA initially denied Castellanos' waiver request for a fifth season. Castellanos, who transferred to FSU last December after one year at UCF and two at Boston College, argued that college football’s sanctioning body should grant him another season because he played in only five games with UCF in 2022. Castellanos played against Tulane in the American Conference title game after starter John Rhys Plumlee aggravated a hamstring injury. Backup Mikey Keene opted out of the game because he wanted to preserve a year of eligibility before entering the transfer portal.

Castellanos completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards this season, with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also led the Seminoles (5-7) with 557 yards rushing and nine scores.

Missouri DE Damon Wilson II files lawsuit against Georgia over transfer portal

Wilson claims that the athletic department at Georgia is trying to illegally punish him for entering the transfer portal in a lawsuit filed by the linebacker in state court in Boone County, Missouri. Wilson transferred to Missouri in January after signing a 14-month deal with Georgia's booster collective to capitalize on his name, image and likeness. He received $30,000 in an initial payment on a $500,000 deal before entering the transfer portal.

Georgia filed a lawsuit last month claiming that Wilson owed its athletic department $390,000 in liquidated damages for leaving the team. Wilson's counterclaim says that his former school is using such damages to "punish" him for his decision to leave. 

Georgia spokesperson Steve Drummond said the school had no comment because it involves pending litigation. "When the University of Georgia Athletic Association enters binding agreements with student-athletes, we honor our commitments and expect student-athletes to do the same," Drummond said of the school's initial lawsuit.

Delaware State HC DeSean Jackson staying put

The Hornets have signed their head coach to a contract extension that keeps Jackson with the team through the 2028 season, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. This season, Delaware State went 8-4 overall and 4-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in what was Jackson's first season at the helm. A three-time Pro Bowler who primarily shined as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles (2008-13 and 2019-20) and Washington Commanders (2014-16), Jackson was previously the head coach at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in 2024.

Ohio State HC Ryan Day taking over offensive play-calling

Day will call the offensive plays for OSU in the CFP, beginning with the Buckeyes' quarterfinal matchup against Miami in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Brian Hartline was the offensive play caller during the regular season but accepted the head coaching position at South Florida on Dec. 3; Hartline will remain on the Buckeyes' staff through the CFP as their wide receivers coach.

Day said putting together the game plan remains a group effort with co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, Carlos Locklyn (running backs), Billy Fessler (quarterbacks) and Tyler Bowen (offensive line) equally involved. Day called plays on offense the first five years he was Ohio State's head coach. He turned over those duties to Chip Kelly in 2024 and gave them to Hartline this season when Kelly left for the NFL.

The No. 2 Buckeyes (12-1) go into the quarterfinals with the fifth-ranked offense of the remaining eight teams, averaging 429.5 yards per game. No. 10 Miami (11-2) advanced with a 10-3 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 20.

North Carolina hires Bobby Petrino as OC

The Tar Heels have their new offensive coordinator, hiring former Missouri State and Louisville head coach Petrino, per On3. UNC fired 2025 offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens earlier in December after a single season in the role. Petrino was most recently the interim head coach for Arkansas following Sam Pittman's firing in September.

UNC's offense was one of the worst in the country, ranking 131st out of 136 FBS teams in total offensive yards per game (288.8) and 129th in average first downs. They were also just 121st in points. 

Ex-Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin gets bonus for Rebels' CFP win

Kiffin is no longer in Oxford, but he's still profiting off Ole Miss' success. The new LSU head coach earned a $250,000 bonus from Ole Miss' 41-10 win over No. 11 Tulane in the first round of the CFP on Dec. 20, thanks to his contract with the Tigers. When Kiffin became LSU's head coach, the program added to his contract that he would receive whatever bonus money he would've received at Ole Miss during the CFP. Kiffin announced his intention to leave Ole Miss for LSU on Nov. 30, with the Rebels not allowing their head coach of six seasons to coach them in the postseason.

In other news, five Ole Miss coaches who are joining Kiffin's coaching staff at LSU are staying in Oxford through the CFP: offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald and slot wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan. 

Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham staying put

The Sun Devils have signed Dillingham to a new contract that pays him $7.5 million per season, per ESPN. The 35-year-old, who's an ASU alum, is in his third season as the head coach of the Sun Devils, with the program winning the Big 12, reaching the CFP and finishing 11-3 in 2024; Dillingham won 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year honors. This season, Arizona State is 8-4 overall, 6-3 in Big 12 play and wraps up its season in the Sun Bowl vs. Duke on Dec. 31.

Texas keeping QB Arch Manning, bringing back Will Muschamp as DC

Manning is returning for his redshirt junior season with Texas, according to ESPN. He has totaled 2,942 passing yards, 24 passing yards, seven interceptions and a 145.8 passer rating through 12 games, while completing 61.4% of his passes in what's his first season as a full-time starter. He has also rushed for 244 yards and eight touchdowns. 

In other news, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian announced that former coordinator and linebackers coach Muschamp is returning to the school to be the team's defensive coordinator. Muschamp was previously on the Longhorns' staff in 2008 as the team's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He helped them win the Big 12 Championship Game in 2009 before advancing to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama. Muschamp was supposed to be the successor to then-head coach Mack Brown whenever he decided to retire. Instead, Muschamp was hired by Florida in 2011 and went on to have various others stops in the SEC.

No. 13 Texas (9-3) will finish out the season against No. 18 Michigan (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Kentucky HC Will Stein adds to his staff

Stein has hired Cutter Leftwich to be Kentucky's offensive line coach and Joe Price III to be the wide receivers coach. Leftwich currently is Oregon's assistant offensive line coach and run game coordinator; Stein had already hired Pat Biondo from Oregon as Kentucky's general manager. 

Leftwich has worked with Oregon's offense two of the past three years, with a year at North Texas as an offensive line coach. Stein worked with Price at UTSA and said he's thrilled to add him to his Kentucky staff. Price has spent the last six seasons at UTSA, the last three as associate head coach, pass game coordinator and receivers coach. 

HC Skip Holtz leaving UFL for potential college football opportunities

The Birmingham Stallions' head coach announced that he's stepping down from his position but not retiring from coaching. Holtz said he's "excited about the next steps" in his journey as he takes time to "pause" and "reflect" on potential college football head-coaching opportunities. 

Holtz has been the Stallions' head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since the 2022 revival of the USFL (now the UFL) with Birmingham, most notably, winning three consecutive championships from 2022-24. Last season, the Stallions went 7-3 before being eliminated in the USFL division title game.

Alabama committed to HC Kalen DeBoer

Amid speculation that DeBoer was a top candidate for the Penn State head coaching job (which has since been filled by Iowa State’s Matt Campbell) and that his name had been floated for the Michigan head coaching job (which has since been filled by former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham), Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne posted on social media on Dec. 14 that the university was committed to keeping their coach.

"We are proud to have Coach DeBoer leading our football program at The University of Alabama," Byrne wrote. "He is an incredible coach and does an excellent job with the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Just as he is committed to this team, we are committed to him."

DeBoer also posted a statement, shutting down rumors that he was moving on. "My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of president (Peter) Mohler, Greg Byrne, the board and so many others. … I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama."

Former Tulane HC Jon Sumrall endorses Will Hall as next HC with donation

Tulane announced on Dec. 15 that Sumrall and his wife made a $100,000 contribution to the Green Wave Talent Fund, an initiative meant to expand NIL opportunities for student-athletes and bolster the staff's ability to recruit and compete. The move was made in support of the program's next head coach, Will Hall, and will "directly strengthen Tulane's ability to recruit, retain, and develop championship-caliber student-athletes," per the school.

Tulane decided on Dec. 8 to make Hall, its passing game coordinator and receivers coach, its next head coach after the 2025 season ends in the CFP under the outgoing Sumrall, who accepted an offer on Nov. 30 to take over at Florida but had been permitted to continue coaching Tulane through the postseason. This season, Sumrall led Tulane (11-2) to its second American Conference championship in four years and first CFP appearance in school history.

The 45-year-old Hall will become the third Tulane coach since Willie Fritz left for Houston after the 2023 season. 

Utah HC Kyle Whittingham steps down, Morgan Scalley promoted

After 21 seasons at Utah, Whittingham is stepping down after coaching in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year's Eve, the program announced on Dec. 12. The school then announced on Dec. 13 that Scalley, the Utes' defensive coordinator, will take over as their full-time head coach thereafter. Scalley, who was a defensive back at Utah from 2001-04, has been on the Utes' coaching staff since 2007 and their defensive coordinator since 2016. He was reportedly the successor-in-waiting for when Whittingham ultimately stepped down from his position.

Whittingham, 66, departs after a total of 32 years with the Utes, previously serving as a position coach from 1994-2004. Utah recorded a winning record in 18 of his 21 seasons, going 177-68 in that span.

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers staying put

Sellers is finalizing a deal to return to South Carolina for the 2026 season, according to ESPN. In what was his redshirt sophomore season, Sellers totaled 2,437 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 139.8 passer rating in 2025, while completing 60.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 270 yards and five touchdowns in what was a 4-8 season (1-7 in SEC play) for the Gamecocks. Sellers, a former four-star recruit, has been South Carolina's starting quarterback the past two seasons and a touted NFL quarterback prospect.

Georgia State QB TJ Finley headed for portal

Finley is set to enter the portal, according to On3, and will be required to file a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility, as he looks to continue his career elsewhere after stints at LSU, Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky. Finley also transferred to Tulane after Western Kentucky in 2024 but was suspended indefinitely before the season and never played a game for the Green Wave. In 2025, Finley saw action in seven games and compiled 1,244 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 1-6 record. He became eligible for a seventh season after suffering a season-ending injury with Western Kentucky in 2024 after playing in three games.

Indiana extends DC Bryant Haines

Indiana is extending Haines to a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid assistants in college football. Haines confirmed that he signed a new contract. Haines has been a fixture on head coach Curt Cignetti's coaching staff, serving as his defensive coordinator the past two years at Indiana (2024-25) and the previous two at James Madison (2022-23). He also coached under Cignetti at Elon (2017-18) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2014-15).

The Hoosiers held then-No. 1 Ohio State to 10 points in the Big Ten Championship Game. Indiana is the No. 1 seed and the only undefeated Power 4 program in the sport heading into the CFP.

In other news, Hoosiers defensive end Stephen Daley is expected to miss the CFP after getting injured during the top-ranked Hoosiers' Big Ten title game celebration, Cignetti announced on Dec. 10. Daley appeared to land awkwardly on his right leg while high-fiving fans moments after Indiana took down OSU to capture their first Big Ten title since 1967. Daley was a lightly recruited player in his home state of Virginia but played a key role for Cignetti after transferring from Kent State to Indiana this season. He had 38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup this season, earning all-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

Indiana has a first-round bye and will face No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Washington State hires new HC

The Cougars announced that they've hired Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore as their next head coach. Moore was Missouri's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons (2023-25), while previously being an offensive assistant at Fresno State for six seasons (2017-22). Washington State lost head coach Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State in the wake of Matt Campbell departing Ames to take over at Penn State earlier this month. 

Nebraska hiring DC Rob Aurich, OL coach Geep Wade

San Diego State's Aurich will join Nebraska in the same role, and the team also hired Georgia Tech's Wade to coach the offensive line. Aurich was on the Aztecs' staff for two years, with this his first as defensive coordinator. The Aztecs had one of FBS's top defenses this year, and Aurich was a nominee for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. SDSU led the country with three shutouts and held eight of 12 opponents to 10 or fewer points. It ranked in the top 10 nationally in 10 categories while posting the fifth-best scoring defense in Mountain West history. The 12.5 points per game allowed in 2025 ranked fifth nationally and was a 17-point improvement from the 2024 season.

Wade, an FBS offensive line coach for 11 seasons, has developed linemen who have combined for 23 all-conference awards, including nine All-ACC awards from 2023 to 2025. 

Nebraska is coming off of a 7-5 season where it finished 10th in the Big Ten while allowing 312.3 yards per game, 171.3 of which were rushing yards, along with 2.2 rushing touchdowns per game.

Tennessee hires DC Jim Knowles

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has hired Knowles as the team's new defensive coordinator. Heupel moved quickly after firing coordinator Tim Banks, and the Vols coach said that hiring Knowles was a priority from the start. 

"Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff," Heupel said of the Vols' first-round loss to Ohio State a year ago.

Knowles has coached 38 years in college football, with 18 as a defensive coordinator. He spent this season at Penn State and was at Ohio State between 2022 and 2024, helping the Buckeyes win the 2024 national championship. During his time at OSU, the Buckeyes allowed only 14.9 points and 278.7 yards per game over a three-year span with Knowles. Ohio State went 36-6, and Knowles coached 11 NFL draft picks. 

Michigan fires HC Sherrone Moore

The Wolverines have fired Moore "for cause" after two seasons as their head coach, according to ESPN.

"Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member," the school said in a statement. "This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior. Biff Poggi has been appointed head football coach in an interim capacity, effective immediately."

Moore had been on Michigan's coaching staff since 2018, previously serving as the team's offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach before becoming the full-time head coach for the 2024 season. Michigan is 9-3 overall this season, ranked No. 18 and went a combined 17-8 under Moore over the past two seasons.

Baylor names new AD

Baylor athletics administrator and graduate Doug McNamee was named the school's athletic director on Dec. 8. He replaces Mack Rhoades, who stepped down for personal reasons last month after nine years; Rhoades had also been chairman of the CFP selection committee. 

McNamee was the senior associate athletic director for external affairs at Baylor in 2018, when he was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-facing units, including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticketing. He played a key role in the fundraising, planning and opening of McLane Stadium over a decade ago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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