Category: NCAAF

College football fans were thrilled that Nick Saban will be joining ESPN’s College GameDay in 2024

Saban can’t stay away from college football Saturdays.

Nick Saban’s retirement after 17 years at Alabama came as a huge shock to much of the college football world. But it turns out that we’re still going to see plenty of Saban on Saturdays.

In a statement that seemed inevitable, ESPN announced Wednesday that Saban would be joining the College GameDay crew as an analyst alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso and Pat McAfee. Rece Davis will remain the host of ESPN’s famed pregame show.

From the moment Saban announced his retirement, it seemed obvious that he was going to make a move to TV. It was only a matter of if Saban would take some time off before jumping into a broadcasting role, but the seven-time champion appears ready to go for this upcoming season.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

Saban has made guest appearances with GameDay in the past and was generally well received. College football fans were also pleased with the addition.

Air Force vs. Fresno State: Both squads looking for conference win two

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home WHO: Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW) WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT WHERE: Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA TV: Mountain West Network STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial …

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home

WHO:  Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW)

WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT

WHERE:  Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA

TV: Mountain West Network

STREAM: FuboTV — Get a free trial

Line: The Bulldogs are favored by – 4.5

Both teams enter this matchup with identical records, both situated at the bottom of the Mountain West standings. The Air Falcons recently broke an eight-game losing streak with a road victory over the UNLV Rebels. On the other side, the Fresno State Bulldogs are coming off a close loss to Boise State (72-68). The previous two games at the Save Mart Center were decided by four points, suggesting another closely contested battle tonight.

Keys to the Game:

Second Chance Opportunities:

In what is expected to be a slow-paced, physical, and scrappy game between two inconsistent teams, the battle for rebounds becomes crucial. The teams’ occasional struggles in rebounding make second-chance opportunities a key factor for victory. The performances of Junior Enoch Boakye and Senior Eduardo Andre will likely play a significant role for the Bulldogs. Keep an eye on Senior Leo Colimerio, a wing with great size, who could make an impact, especially against smaller lineups.

Guard Play:

The success of the Bulldogs heavily relies on the performance of their three Senior guards – Isaiah Hill, Isaiah Pope, and Donavan Yap Jr. The offense operates at a different level when these guards are aggressive and actively looking to score. The pivotal factor will be the version of Isaiah Hill that shows up today – whether he’s the guard capable of driving to the rim and creating his own shot, as seen against San Jose State, or the play-making guard looking to set up teammates. Donavan Yap Jr. has been a consistent scorer, especially in late-game situations, and if he gets going early, it could give the Bulldogs an early advantage. Additionally, Pope’s contributions in creating plays and crashing the glass have been crucial, scoring nine or more points in each of the last five games as well. 

Predictions:

Both teams, with eight wins, have had their struggles this season. Air Force comes off a notable win, while the Bulldogs are recovering from a hard-fought loss. The Bulldogs have played solid basketball at home recently, a trend expected to continue tonight. The Bulldogs’ guards, with their dynamic play, are predicted to be the difference-makers in this closely contested game.

 

Final Prediction:

Air Force 63 – 72 Fresno Stat

 

5 candidates to replace Jim Harbaugh after reports he’ll leave Michigan for the Chargers

Jim Harbaugh is going back to the NFL. Where does Michigan turn?

Jim Harbaugh’s time at Michigan has reportedly reached its end.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday night that the coach is headed back to the NFL to join the Los Angeles Chargers.

It’s not the most stunning development as rumors of Harbaugh returning to the NFL have persisted for year. While the Wolverines basked in the aftermath of their title run, Harbaugh was reportedly flirting with a few teams and the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be just as interested. On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the two sides were in “striking distance” of a deal to bring Harbaugh back to California.

Now Michigan finds itself in a truly tough position as it seeks to replace him.

Anyone who takes this job will not only be following the footsteps of the man who brought Michigan its first championship since 1997, but also doing so amid an NCAA investigation into the team’s sign-stealing scandal. More problematic is the timing of the opening.

The coaching carousel has pretty much ground to a halt after the fallout from Nick Saban retiring. So who can Michigan turn to now?

Likely one of these five candidates listed in no particular order.

Brock Purdy’s Younger Brother Chubba Decommits from SJSU and transfers to Nevada

Brock Purdy’s Younger Brother Decommits from SJSU and transfers to Nevada

The news of Brock Purdy‘s younger brother, Chubba, transferring from Nebraska to San Jose State lit up the Bay Area last weekend.

The idea of Chubba dominating on a Saturday followed by Brock on a Sunday was storyline gold. Seriously, what could be better than that?

But all those imaginations won’t become reality now that Chubba has decommited from SJSU and transferred to Mountain West-foe Nevada.

The news isn’t surprising after Chubba deleted his initial commitment post on Sunday, Jan. 21 — the same day SJSU announced the hiring of new head coach Ken Niumatalolo who will be taking over for Brent Brennan.

A former four-star from Gilbert, Ariz., Purdy played two years at Florida State, compiling 317 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 147 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Then, after transferring to Nebraska in 2022 for two years, he threw for 529 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions while also rushing for 353 yards and three scores. He was 0-4 as a starter.

Purdy’s commitment to Nevada also comes on the same day SJSU running back Quali Conley entered the transfer portal. 247 Sports’ crystal ball puts Conley’s chances at transferring to UA at 100%.

If Conley becomes a Wildcat, it could signify former SJSU associate head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator Alonzo “Zo” Carter joining Brennan in Tucson.

So now, if Niumatalolo doesn’t bring in a quarterback through the transfer portal, SJSU’s options are Oregon transfer Jay Butterfield, freshman Anthony Garcia, redshirt freshman Tyler Voss, and redshirt sophomore Walker Eget.

[lawrence-related id=58874]

Also noteworthy, is that Niumatalolo won’t be running his patented triple option offense at SJSU this season and, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, “is expected to target an offensive coordinator for some type of wide-open and pass-heavy system.”

Niumatalolo utilized the triple option in his 25 years of coaching at Navy. In his 15 years as a head coach from 2007-2022, he became the winningest head coach in program history, went to 10 bowl games, and from 2015-19 was a three-time recipient of the American Athletic Conference coach of the year award as the Midshipmen had four AP Top 25 poll finishes.

BREAKING: San Jose State to hire Ken Niumatalolo as next head coach

BREAKING: San Jose State to hire Ken Niumatalolo as next head coach

Ken Niumatalolo, the most successful head coach in Navy history, should be taking over San Jose State “within the next 48 hours” according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Niumatalolo’s hiring comes nearly a week after former SJSU head coach Brent Brennan left to become Arizona’s head coach to replace Jedd Fisch who departed to Washington.

Niumatalolo went to 10 bowl games in his first 12 seasons, and from 2015-19, he was selected as the American Athletic Conference coach of the year three times and led the Midshipmen to four AP-Top 25 poll finishes. But after going 11-23 in the three seasons that followed, Niumatalolo was let go after losing to rival Army on Dec. 10, 2022.

Niumatalolo, who finished 109-83 in those15 full seasons at Navy, then traveled westward and took up up a leadership role on Chip Kelly’s staff at UCLA in 2023 and was set to be the tight ends coach in 2024.

“He’s a voice for all of us,” Kelly told The Washington Post prior to the 2023 season. “He also meets with our coaching staff, and just talking about leadership, not talking about scheme, not talking about X’s and O’s, but has brought a lot of different stuff to our staff from that standpoint and has really made an impact.”

With Thamel also reporting that “Niumatalolo will not be running the triple option” at SJSU, there will be several conversations centered around the “X’s and O’s.”After all, Niumatalolo only ran the triple-option at Navy as a head coach and member of the offensive staff from 2002-07.

So if Niumatalolo won’t be running his coveted attack, what will he run? Furthermore, what will his staff look like? It hasn’t been determined which SJSU coaches will follow Brennan to Arizona.

But that shouldn’t distract how good of a hire— on paper— this is for SJSU.

Jeff Konya, SJSU’s Director of Athletics, found a proven winner that could convince fans and the donor base that the program won’t plunge back to irrelevance. Plus, Niumatalolo also understands the struggles SJSU is facing in the NIL space.

Because Navy players are considered federal employees, they aren’t able to rake in NIL deals, which put the program at a disadvantage behind other teams in the AAC.

“But even some of the lower-tier guys for us, we can’t compete with that,” Niumatalolo told ESPN back in 2022.

The hiring also illustrates how far SJSU has come pre and post Brennan era.

Brennan’s hiring in 2017 was a byproduct of potential candidates turning the job down out of the fear the tenure could be disastrous to the point where they’d never get another head coaching opportunity again.

So Brennan, then an outside wide receivers coach at Oregon State, got the gig and produced just three wins in his first two seasons. Then came an encouraging 5-7 season in 2019 followed by the prized 2020 Mountain West Championship.

From 2020-23, Brennan became the first SJSU head coach to make three bowl games and those three bowl appearances marked SJSU’s first time making three bowl games in the span of four years.

“I don’t know how long this will go,” Niumatalolo said in the above mentioned Washington Post article. “Chip and I have talked. I want to make one more run at it, and I feel like coming here has helped me from that perspective.”

And now Spartan Nation hopes Niumatalolo gained the “perspective” necessary to continue the program’s golden era.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

Fans are pumped San Jose State may hire Ken Niumatalolo, despite reports he won’t run the triple option

Ken Niumatalolo without the triple option? Is that even legal?

It’s only been two years since Ken Niumatalolo was a college football head coach and his absence remains palpable.

Thankfully, that may be coming to an end. According to multiple reports, San Jose State is turning the focus on its coaching search towards Niumatalolo, the former Navy coach who’d grind opponents down with his triple option offense.

Niumatalolo went 109-83 at the service academy, winning the American Athletic Conference in 2015, 2016 and 2019 while delivering six bowl victories to Annapolis in 16 season before he was let go in 2022.

He’d been out of the college game since then until UCLA announced he was joining Chip Kelly’s staff as tight ends coach this month. Oddly enough, If he does become a head coach again, we’ll have Nick Saban to thank.

After Saban retired at Alabama, the Crimson Tide hired Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer. Washington then hired Arizona’s Jedd Fisch leading the Wildcats to hire San Jose State’s Brent Brennan.

While you process that, here’s another piece of information that’s hard to digest: Niumatalolo reportedly won’t bring his triple option offense to San Jose.

College fans were equally thrilled about Niumatalolo potentially getting back on the sidelines as they were devastated he’d be doing so with out the scheme most closely associated with his teams.

Ohio State reportedly hiring Bill O’Brien as its next offensive coordinator stumped college fans

You can bet college football fans had thoughts about this reported hire.

One of the big remaining college football jobs has reportedly been filled by a major name.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Thursday night that Ohio State football has hired former Penn State coach and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to be its next offensive coordinator.

As the Buckeyes figure out a plan to try and meaningfully contend for a national title with Ryan Day at the helm, hiring a veteran coach like O’Brien is the kind of major move that signals a seriousness to make those results better sooner than later.

Well, if you think O’Brien is the right guy for the job, that is.

While he found success in various stops, O’Brien has become one of the more polarizing figures in football and is coming off a dreadful year in New England leading the Patriots offense.

While O’Brien has found positive results at the college level, fans were very skeptical this move would do much to help the Buckeyes separate themselves from the pack (and the Michigan Wolverines).

Brent Brennan is leaving SJSU for Arizona. What did legacy did he leave behind?

Brent Brennan is leaving SJSU for Arizona. What did legacy did he leave behind?

Brent Brennan is leaving SJSU for Arizona. What did legacy did he leave behind?

SJSU reporter Matt Weiner weighs in on Brent Brennan leaving SJSU.

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

The news Spartan Nation always braced for, but never wanted to face

After seven years at San Jose State, head coach Brent Brennan is heading to Arizona to takeover for newly minted Washington head coach Jedd Fisch, according ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

 

Few can fault any Spartan fan who finds this news difficult to stomach.

Brennan was arguably the most successful only head coach in program history to lead SJSU.

He was the first head coach to make three bowl games which marked the program’s first time reaching three bowl games in the span of four years.

Each of those bowl appearances, however, forced SJSU fans to face the gutting reality they face today.

In 2020, after SJSU celebrated an undefeated regular season and won the Mountain West Championship, Brennan interviewed with Arizona for the head coaching vacancy before it went to Fisch.

And after SJSU went 7-5 in 2022 and made the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Brennan interviewed for the vacancy at Stanford.

Then last month, Brennan was a finalist for the vacancy at Oregon State before it went to Beavers’ defensive coordinator Trent Bray.

That last one felt like a particularly close call.

For starters, Brennan was fresh off leading SJSU from the abyss of a 1-5 start to a 7-5 season that included a co-Mountain West Regular Season Title.

Furthermore, Brennan coached wide receivers at OSU from 2011-16. The ties ran so deep he named his dog after OSU’s mascot “Benny” and filled his current staff with former Beavers’ coaches like SJSU offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven, defensive coordinator Derrick Odum and defensive line coach Joe Seumalo.

So now the question is: Who will Brennan take to Tuscon?

Is it McGiven? Odum? Wide receivers coach Eric Scott? Running backs coach Alonzo “Zo” Carter?

After all, Fisch brought his entire offensive staff to Washington.

Better yet, who will take over for Brennan?

And who ever that head coach is will be the latest interwoven in the domino effect of Nick Saban retiring unexpectedly.

Let’s trace how wild this is.

On Jan. 10 Saban retired from Alabama. Then on Jan. 12 Kalen DeBoer leaves Washington to fill in for Saban. Which results in Fisch heading to Washington on Jan. 14. Now, on the lord’s day of Jan. 16, 2024, Brennan is heading to Arizona. A place he was a graduate assistant at under Dick Tomey in 1999.

Some Wildcat fans may see Brennan’s 34-48 overall record at a Group of Five, 0-3 bowl record and feel as is the resurgence is over. So much for winning as many games last year —10 — as it did from 2019-22. And so much for fleeing the formerly known PAC-12 for the BIG-12.

But those people should take a deeper look. Not just at how Brennan went 3-22 in his first two seasons. Rather, the resources he had to work with for what followed.

Brennan went to those three bowl games without an NIL presence, laughably outdated facilities until last August and a meager operating budget.

Those shortcomings are the results of the incompetency of previous administrations who treated deep-pocketed alums like ghostly afterthoughts.

The nadir came in the early to mid-2000s when SJSU academics and brass formed a coalition called ‘Spartans4Sanity’ that —insanely enough — campaigned and petitioned to axe the football team because of the money it was losing the school.

In other words, 34-48 and three bowl appearances, albeit zero wins, is pretty damn good.

U of A fans should at the very least give him a shot. SJSU fans, meanwhile, are left with mixed emotions.

What about SJSU players and recruits? On Sunday, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s younger brother, Chubba, announced he was transferring from Nebraska for SJSU. Does this mean he transfers elsewhere and a mockery is made of those great storylines and press?

[lawrence-related id=58894]

Beyond Purdy, who else will transfer or decommit?

Any starters transferring doesn’t bode well for a team that won’t return its starting quarterback, running back, four offensive lineman and safeties.

Though Brennan never said it outright, SJSU was as a stepping stone to a Power Five. If it wasn’t, he would’t have interviewed after his best seasons.

That’s not an indictment of a poor character. During his time at SJSU, Brennan hired a sports psychologist and got each player the meditation app “Headspace” because he knew the stresses that weigh on the minds of student-athletes.

Rather, Brennan using SJSU as a stepping stone is the indictment of a man with ambition, success and the agency to do what he feels is best for him.

Even if it that stone crumbles into debris and irrelevancy.

SJSU’s Brent Brennan linked to Arizona head coach vacancy

Could Brent Brennan leave SJSU for Arizona? A look inside.

Will head coach Jedd Fisch’s departure from Arizona to Washington result in San Jose State football head coach Brent Brennan heading to Tuscon?

That’s the question that’s on the mind of Spartan Nation.

According to Wildcat Authority ($) Brennan and Arizona officials have had “preliminary contact” about him becoming the next Wildcats head coach.

This makes a lot of sense that these two are talking. This is not the first time that Brennan and Arizona have flirted in a similar situation. It was just a few years ago, after SJSU won the 2020 Mountain West Championship when Brennan was a finalist for the Arizona job before Fisch was named the head coach.

Then it was less than two months ago when Brennan was a finalist for the Oregon State job before the Beavers went with defensive coordinator Trent Bray to replace then-head coach Jonathan Smith who left for Michigan State.

Wedged between those two instances was 2022 when Brennan interviewed for Stanford’s head coaching vacancy before it went to Troy Taylor.

Brennan’s made it clear SJSU isn’t a long-term plan. So is this when he succeeds in taking that step up to the Power Five?

After all, the seventh-year SJSU head coach has the impressive track record of being the only skipper to lead the Spartans to three bowl games. He did so with a meager operating budget and laughably outdated facilities until last summer.

Although it may not be a deciding factor, it’s worth noting he was a graduate assistant under Dick Tomey at U of A in 1999. But Brennan’s ties ran even deeper with OSU — he coached receivers there from 2011-16 — and still lost out.

The reason why Brennan lost out then, could be why he loses out now.

OSU went with Bray, who had zero head coaching experience, for the sake of continuity and ambition to prevent a mass transfer portal exodus. This time around, U of A could do the same with its offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll who has no head coaching experience.

So what will be the difference? As opposed to the OSU scenario, the Wildcats don’t have the pressure of an upcoming bowl game and may feel it’s worth risking continuity and an exodus for a coach with a proven track record.

If it’s not Carroll, perhaps U of A goes with Brennan over UNLV head coach Barry Odom (one year of head coaching experience) and Texas State head coach GJ Kinne (one year of head coaching experience). Or Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, Liberty’s Jamey Chadwell and Washington State’s Jake Dickert.

Considering what Brennan accomplished at SJSU, he could be fit to continue the Wildcats’ rebuild as they head from the formerly known Pac-12 to the Big 12. After going 10-31 from 2019-22, Arizona went 10-3 in 2023 and capped the season with a 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]

 

This article was updated at 11:49 am PST

UNLV’s Barry Odom Name Linked To Washington Job

UNLV’s Barry Odom Name Linked To Washington Job Could the Rebels need a new head coach? Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Coaching season is getting silly, again Former Fresno State head coach Kalen DeBoer just led Washington to the national title …

UNLV’s Barry Odom Name Linked To Washington Job

Could the Rebels need a new head coach?

Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Coaching season is getting silly, again

Advertisement

Former Fresno State head coach Kalen DeBoer just led Washington to the national title game, and now he is upgrading again by reportedly taking the Alabama job. It is not officially, official, but it is a done deal.

Now all the eyes of college football turn their eyes to the Pacific Northwest for who can take over for DeBoer’s Huskies. It will take a certain type of coach to lead Washington not only to the Big Ten but attempt to maintain its status as a national title contender team.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel tossed out a list of possible candidates and a few have Mountain West ties. There is former Fresno State and current Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who is an obvious choice.

The other name that will make UNLV fan’s head steam is reading that Barry Odom’s name is on the list.

Odom led UNLV to one of the best seasons ever in Las Vegas so to see his name on this very early list is not surprising. The turnaround has to make him enticing, as does his solid success as the Missouri head coach and helping Arkansas’s defense improve over the past few years.

Going to a soon-to-be Big Ten program has to be attractive to Odom. It will be a massive pay raise and going up against better competition. Jayden Maiava leaving and ultimately ending up at USC is a blow to the Rebels next year and might be a reason for Odom to look elsewhere.

However, there is no indicator that Odom is looking for a new job but getting a massive call up to a bigger league and everything that comes with it would be hard to turn down.

This list does not mean that Odom is a candidate by any stretch but it is a name that could be connected to this job.

At this time, there is no need for UNLV fans to panic about losing Odom, but maybe keep those alerts on for Thamel tweets about this job search.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1376]