Tag: College Football

ESPN botched Fresno State’s mascot name on its Potato Bowl broadcast with a NSFW error

OH NO.

Monday’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl featured one of the strangest typographic errors in ESPN broadcast history.

During Fresno State’s bowl game against Northern Illinois, the ESPN graphic did not list Fresno State’s mascot as the Bulldogs.

No, not in the slightest. The actual mascot listed is absolutely not safe for work.

ESPN listed Fresno State as the “Bulldongs.” Yes, the “Bulldongs.”

We’re not kidding. Somebody somewhere in Bristol or wherever these graphics were created inserted an extra “n” in the word “Bulldogs.”

If you were watching Monday’s game and felt like you were losing your marbles by seeing the word “Bulldongs” on your television screen, you were not. This is what it actually said.

And, somehow, the graphic was not fixed!

Quite literally, the entire game was full with “Bulldongs” on people’s television screens.

We don’t know whether to laugh until we fall over or cringe until we evaporate into thin air.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

Tracking the biggest names to enter the college football transfer portal after the 2024 season

Transfer season is now in full swing. Here are the biggest name to enter the portal so far.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.

The 2024 college football regular season came to an end on Saturday, and that means it’s time to kick off the chaotic cycle that is the transfer portal.

We’ve only had a few years of seeing unlimited transferring within college football, but the portal is only growing in size every year as players look for new opportunities elsewhere, whether it’s due to coaching changes, a lack of playing time or other factors.

The portal has only been open for a few days as things currently stand, and we’ve already seen quite a few big names opt to transfer. More will likely come following the conclusion of conference title games and the College Football Playoff.

With some help from On3, here are the top players who have entered the portal so far. We’ll update this post as more players make their intentions known.

Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos

Committed to Florida State on Dec. 11, 2024

Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea

Committed to UNLV on Dec. 18, 2024

Georgia CB Julian Humphrey

Committed to Texas A&M on Dec. 15, 2024

NC State WR Kevin Concepcion

Florida International WR Eric Rivers

Committed to Georgia Tech on Dec. 18, 2024

Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson

Committed to Texas A&M on Dec. 15, 2024

Florida International QB Keyone Jenkins

Jenkins withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 17, 2024

UCF DB Antione Jackson

USC QB Miller Moss

Committed to Louisville on Dec. 14, 2024

Liberty QB Kaidon Salter

Committed to Colorado on Dec. 18, 2024

Western Kentucky QB TJ Finley

Committed to Tulane on Dec. 17, 2024

Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold

Committed to Auburn on Dec. 14, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDj9Ji7RNDD/?hl=en

Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr.

Committed to Wisconsin on Dec. 16, 2024

Missouri DE Williams Nwaneri

Committed to Nebraska on Dec. 14, 2024

Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman

Committed to Houston on Dec. 11, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDIy8DlIJ-V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Alabama RB Justice Haynes

Washington State QB John Mateer

Committed to Oklahoma on Dec. 16, 2024.

Duke QB Maalik Murphy

Committed to Oregon State on Dec. 19, 2024

Georgia Tech WR Eric Singleton Jr.

Committed to Auburn on Dec. 23, 2024

Tulane QB Darian Mensah

Committed to Duke on Dec. 11, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDexWPFRjx1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Cal QB Fernando Mendoza

https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/p/DDfg8IDxPVY/

Florida State QB Luke Kromenhoek

Committed to Mississippi State on Dec. 17, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDr7c5NRbA6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

USC WR Duce Robinson

Committed to Florida State on Dec. 22.

https://www.instagram.com/247sports/p/DDk08IbSSC1/

USC WR Zachariah Branch

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDsazzez1j3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

USC S Zion Branch

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDscjGNSg8R/?hl=en

Kentucky WR Dane Key

Committed to Georgia on Dec. 17, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDLEsjgBpyF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Kentucky WR Barion Brown

Committed to LSU on Dec. 14, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/lsufootball/p/DDlK2wYRRCA/

Texas State DL Ben Bell

Oklahoma WR Nic Anderson

Committed to LSU on Dec. 16, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/p/DDNejBcyjRU/

Purdue S Dillon Thieneman

Committed to Oregon on Dec. 14

https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/p/DDkvE6Axeqv/

Nebraska DL Princewill Umanmielen

Committed to Ole Miss on Dec. 14

Arizona S Genesis Smith

Withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 19, 2024

Arizona CB Tacario Davis

https://www.instagram.com/247sports/p/DDc-f2GRu1m/

Virginia Tech OT Xavier Chaplin

Committed to Auburn on Dec. 17, 2024

UCF DL Lee Hunter

Committed to Texas Tech on Dec. 18, 2024

Mississippi State WR Kevin Coleman

Committed to Missouri on Dec. 14, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/nsafootball/p/DDkotMLBu4Z/

SMU QB Preston Stone

Committed to Northwestern, as of December 21, 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDavUQ8goaK/

Penn State QB Beau Pribula

Committed to Missouri on Dec. 22

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD5vvN-tsIE/

Florida State EDGE Patrick Payton

Committed to LSU on Dec. 22, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD4z5hwRu1Z/

Alabama DL Jehiem Oatis

Committed to Colorado on Dec. 17, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDqYOJhMTYZ/

Purdue TE Max Klare

Klare committed to Ohio State on Dec. 23, 2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD7_xpzxcRY/

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

Florida wide receiver Marcus Burke to enter transfer portal

Florida’s wide receiver room continues to add depth each season under Billy Napier, leading to some attrition and the departure of Marcus Burke.

The latest Florida Gator to hit the transfer portal is redshirt junior receiver [autotag]Marcus Burke[/autotag], a rare holdover from the Dan Mullen era who played rotational snaps in 2024.

Burke joined the program as a four-star recruit in 2021, playing in three games and redshirting as a true freshman. His first career catch was a 61-yarder against South Carolina, and he also caught a 12-yard pass in that game. Burke’s role increased in Year 2 with the Gators, playing in eight games and starting one; however, he only hauled in four receptions for 30 yards.

Billy Napier continued to use Burke in his first year as head coach, leading to career highs in receptions (6) and yards (98). Although Burke fell down the depth chart this season, he scored two touchdowns this season for the Gators. He finished the season with seven catches for 69 yards on 18 targets and only played in six games.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Burke is seeking a regular opportunity in a Division I rotation with hopes of getting a taste of the pros.

Florida’s options at receiver in 2025

With 18 receivers on the Florida roster, the position room was one of the deepest for the Gators in 2024 and should only get stronger next year.

While Florida stands to lose seniors Elijhah Badger, Chimere Dike and Ja’Quavion Fraziars, it’s only losing redshirt freshman Andy Jean and now Burke to the transfer portal.

Florida’s top receiver, Eugene Wilson III, returns with three more years of eligibility after injury led him to taking a redshirt. Behind him are rising fifth-year Kahleil Jackson and rising redshirt sophomore Aidan Mizell, as well as true freshmen TJ Abrams and Tank Hawkins.

The Gators also welcome an elite receivers class in the spring, led by five-star recruits Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson. Naeshaun Montgomery and Muizz Tounkara are also coming in and could see snaps as first years.

Florida also figures to bring in a transfer or two at the position, including UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant and potentially five-star Tennessee receiver Johntay Cook.

Eight more walk-ons fill out the position room, but it remains unclear how many will return with NCAA roster limits changing this year.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Former Charlotte QB commits to Florida via transfer portal

The Gators bolstered their QB room with former Charlotte 49er Deshawn Purdie, who committed to the Gators via the transfer portal on Sunday.

Florida football bolstered its quarterback room on Sunday when former Charlotte 49ers signal-caller [autotag]Deshawn Purdie[/autotag] committed to the Gators via the NCAA transfer portal.

The true freshman had just recently entered the de facto free agency system and Billy Napier wasted no time pouncing on the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound passer. Purdie completed 100 of 200 attempts for 1,802 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2024 campaign while also tossing six interceptions; his 18.0 yards gained per pass completion led all FBS players.

The Baltimore, Maryland, product put up his best numbers this past fall at the Florida Atlantic Owls, going 16-for-30 for 396 yards along with three touchdowns and a pick in the eighth of his nine total appearances.

Purdie got a taste of Gainesville last weekend and the program’s first impression apparently left a lasting one. When asked what he appreciated about Florida, he had a lot to offer.

“The coaching and their drive to be great. They have a good chip on their shoulder. The coaching staff and players, I loved to see them work, how they come together, have fun at practice and everyone comes together as one,” Purdie pointed out.

“It’s not just the coaches,” he continued. “The director of personnel (Jacob LaFrance), the recruiting (staff), the staff that is there for support. There is just a lot of support from the staff, and I love to see that type of support in a building, and the amount of respect they have for each other. What really stuck out to me was the in-building experience.”

Purdie was rated by 247Sports at three stars as a transfer, ranking No. 292 overall and No. 31 at his position. During the 2024 recruiting cycle, the same service also assigned him three stars and ranked him as the No. 112 quarterback in the class.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Tight end Cameron Kossmann commits to Florida football

Following his official visit, Kossmann has committed with the Gators after previously being committed with Penn.

Tight end Cameron Kossmann has committed to the Florida Gators following an official visit this past weekend.

Kossmann was previously committed to Penn in October, but his recruitment gained new momentum last Tuesday when Florida extended an offer to him,

Kossmann, a 6-foot-6-inch, 240-pound tight end out of Marquette Senior High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, paid a visit with Florida on Dec. 20 coordinated by tight ends coach Russ Callaway.

Just a day after he stopped in Gainesville, Kossmann committed to the Gators.

Florida’s 2025 class now boasts 25 verbal commitments, a diverse group of athletes poised to sustain the team’s competitive edge. Among these are high-profile recruits such as five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson and four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III.

The addition of Kossmann complements a Gators recruiting class rich in both skill and potential.

Recruiting summary

Kossmann is ranked as the No. 172 tight end in the 2025 class and the No. 47 recruit in the state of Missouri by 247Sports.

Kossmann initially committed to Columbia on Aug. 12, but decommitted on Sept. 25. He then pledged to Penn on Oct. 24, only once again to reconsider his decision. Ultimately, Kossmann decommitted from Penn and finalized his commitment by signing with Florida on Dec. 23.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

UMass EDGE defender Kofi Asare transfers to Florida football

Gators add depth to the edge position with latest UMass transfer Kofi Asare.

UMass transfer edge rusher Kofi Asare announced on Sunday via social media that he will transfer to the Florida football program.

Asare, a redshirt sophomore during the 2024 season, had 30 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Minutemen. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound edge rusher visited Gainesville on Saturday and it didn’t take long to decide to join the Gators.

“I just had some talks with my family, and had a coach with coach Billy Napier, and it sounded right,” Asare told Swamp247 following his official visit.

“There’s no more time, no more waiting. I just have to make that decision. This feels like home. It was a good moment with coach Napier in there with me. Coach P (Mike Peterson), he was turnt too when I was doing my photoshoot, telling me, ‘you look good in that black (jersey).”

Florida has been looking to strengthen their pass rush, especially following the departures of Justus Boone, Quincy Ivory, Jack Pyburn and TJ Searcy.

The addition of Asare is crucial for providing the depth needed in Florida’s group of edge defenders.

Following his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 11, Asare had offers from Florida, Georgia State, Iowa State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, USF, Virginia and Washington State.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida moves up in Football Power Index after Gasparilla Bowl blowout

Florida is a top 20 team according to ESPN’s Football Power Index following the Gasparilla Bowl and CFP first round.

Florida football earned its first postseason victory in five years last Friday when it defeated the Tulane Green Wave, 33-8, in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators came close to pitching their first shutout since 2021 in an otherwise dominating defensive effort.

The win capped a four-game winning streak to wrap up head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s third season on the sideline in Gainesville — one in which he was perilously close to losing his job early on. The program gave him a vote of confidence in early November and since then, the team has turned things around on and off the field.

Not only did Florida get its postseason action this weekend, but the opening round of the College Football Playoff also took place. As a result, there were some changes in ESPN’s Football Power Index rankings as of Sunday.

Florida football’s FPI ranking, rating

Following the win, the FPI lifted Florida up to No. 22 — three spots better than our last update — with the team’s overall rating rising from 11.8 to 13.0. That puts the Gators between the No. 18 USC Trojans and No. 20 Colorado Buffaloes.

While the final rankings will not be available until the championship game is played, that is the end of the line for the Gators. It was a long road that saw them start the season at No. 20 in the FPI but quickly fall down the rankings, only to return to the top 25 at the end of their schedule.

SEC teams in FPI

After the opening round of the CFP, the Texas Longhorns remain ranked No. 1 with a 26.2 overall rating, followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide (4th, 23.9) and Georgia Bulldogs (5th, 22.1) among the top five schools. The Ole Miss Rebels (20.7) moved up a spot to No. 7 while the Tennessee Volunteers (19.9) fell two places to No. 9, wrapping up the SEC teams in the top 10.

Next up are the South Carolina Gamecocks (14th, 14.9), Texas A&M Aggies (16th, 14.4), LSU Tigers (17th, 13.6), Florida (19th, 13.0) and the Missouri Tigers (21st, 12.2) round out the top 25.

The remainder of the conference schools in the FPI are the Oklahoma Sooners (26th, 10.8), Auburn Tigers (28th, 9.6), Arkansas Razorbacks (36th, 8.2), Vanderbilt Commodores (40th, 6.4), Kentucky Wildcats (48th, 4.7) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (67th, 0.2).

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Gators leap into top 20 of SP+ rankings after Gasparilla Bowl victory

After the opening round of the CFP and Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl blowout, the Gators are a top 20 team in ESPN’s SP+ rankings.

Florida football almost earned its first shutout since 2021 on Friday in the Gasparilla Bowl, allowing a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion to the Tulane Green Wave in its 33-8 victory.

The win gives the Gators an 8-5 record in a season that many expected a far much worse finish for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his crew. A four-game winning streak that included a pair of top-25 teams as well as a conference championship game participant not only helped save the skipper his job but reignited the fanbase in a way unseen in several years.

It was a long and winding road for Florida this fall and ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings have been tracking its progress all season. Following the opening round of the College Football Playoff, he released his latest numbers which were quite favorable for the Orange and Blue.

Florida football’s SP+ ranking, rating

After Florida’s win over Tulane, Connelly’s rankings raised the Gators from No. 22 in the last update out of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision schools with a 12.0 overall rating to No. 17 with a 15.7 rating. That places Napier and Co. between the No. 16 LSU Tigers (16.4) and No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (15.5).

On offense, the team fell two spots to No. 36 but still gained 0.5 points for a 32.5 rating. The defense made a big jump, moving up from No. 33 to No. 23; however, the rating fell from 22.0 to 19.0.

The special teams unit, which spent a few weeks as the top-rated corps in the country at the start of the schedule, remained at No. 3 while holding onto a whopping 2.1 points for the position room.

About SP+ rankings

“SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing,” according to ESPN. “It is not a résumé ranking that gives credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system is.

“It is simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you’re lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you’re strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise.”

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt torched Lane Kiffin complaining about the CFP field

Log off, Lane Kiffin.

Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin learned the hard way on Saturday about how being a bad sport can rub people the wrong way.

Kiffin has been complaining on social media this weekend about how the College Football Playoff first-round blowouts were proof his team should have gotten in over the ones who did and struggled.

Well, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt wasn’t having any of Kiffin’s snarky posts.

“Way to keep us on the edge of our seats Committee …. Riveting” was the sarcastic quip Kiffin shared for Saturday’s lopsided SMU-Penn State game, and Klatt fired back with a devastating retort.

“If your team played half as well as you tweet you would likely be in,” Klatt sent back to Kiffin in a post of his own.

Yowza. If you are Kiffin, you might want to log off a bit after Klatt completely shut him down for being such a jerk.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

The Fortnite OG Kickoff during College Football Playoff coverage had fans baffled

What the heck is the “Fortnite OG Kickoff?”

If you’ve been watching 2024 College Football Playoff coverage this weekend, you’ve probably heard one of ESPN’s broadcast personalities reference something called Fortnite OG.

Yes, the multiplayer video game apparently has a nostalgic update (if you can honestly say a throwback to the year 2017 is nostalgic), and it is sponsoring kickoff coverage for College Football Games this weekend.

The “Fortnite OG Kickoff” is officially one of the strangest things to come out of college football this year, and fans have absolutely noticed just how bizarre all of this is.

Watch an example of how this sounds from the ESPN booth at Friday night’s Indiana-Notre Dame game.

Now watch it again from Clemson-Texas with the context that the first video isn’t a prank edit.

If you giggle every time you hear this or want to put your television on mute whenever the “Fortnite OG Kickoff” comes on television, you can’t deny this is, well, a conversation starter.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is sure tired of hearing about it.

Other reactions vary from genuine bewilderment to shameless enjoyment.

If you thought Al Michaels’ ad reads were funny, welcome to the era of the  “Fortnite OG Kickoff.”

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393249]