Whenever a sports team plays a particularly important game, usually in the playoffs, it likes to give fans something at the gate. The idea is to encourage those fans to use that item while making more noise that they might at a game with lower stakes.
Notre Dame is taking advantage of hosting a first-round College Football Playoff game by presenting its own free giveaway to fans who will witness the Irish play Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium. Those fans will receive a rally towel with a print appropriate for the game and what’s at stake.
It’s hard to know how often the Irish will get to host one of these games in the future. Therefore, they know it’s up to them to pull out all the stops to make sure it’s as unforgiving an environment to the Hoosiers and their fans as possible. Here’s the video that unveiled the towel:
This will be a collector’s item for certain, but only those attending the game are guaranteed to have one.
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As we kick off the 2024 coaching carousel, here are the open jobs so far.
Few things remain recognizable in college football in 2024, but at least one thing remains constant: The coaching carousel is always spinning.
Inevitably, teams will choose to part ways with their current coaching staff and embark on a new, more exciting era while hoping they don’t find themselves back in the same spot just a few years later.
One coach was fired before the 2024 season even began, as Utah State’s Blake Anderson was let go in July for allegedly failing to follow his contractual obligations regarding the reporting of sexual misconduct allegations. And Fresno State’s Jeff Tedford resigned in July due to health reasons.
The timing of coaching searches in the sport will certainly change this season thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff. Coaches of teams participating in the 12-team field won’t be available until after the first round at least, which comes after early signing day the first week of December.
But that won’t stop athletics directors from making mid-season changes in an attempt to get a leg up in the coaching market. With that in mind, here’s every coach who has retired, resigned or been fired so far in 2024.
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State
BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Jeff Tedford of the Fresno State Bulldogs suffers through a Gatorade bath during the second-half of the game against the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Boise, Idaho. Fresno State won the game 28-16. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
At the age of 63, Tedford resigned from his post at Fresno State on July 15, paving the way for linebackers coach Tim Skipper to take the reins on an interim basis. Tedford, who was previously the coach at Cal for some of the Golden Bears’ best seasons, went 44-22 with three bowl wins at Fresno.
Update: Dec. 4, 2024 — Matt Entz, who won two FCS titles at North Dakota State in the span of five seasons, will be the Bulldogs’ new head coach. He was most recently the linebackers coach at USC.
Blake Anderson, Utah State
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Anderson was fired ahead of the 2024 season in July after being placed on administrative leave, with Utah State writing in a press release that he “failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values.” Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling took over as interim coach for the 2024 season.
Anderson, who previously coached at Arkansas State from 2014-20, went 11-3 with a Mountain West title in his first season in 2021 but finished 6-7 with bowl losses in each of the last two seasons.
Update: Dec. 6, 2024 — After just one season at New Mexico, Bronco Mendenhall jumped to a seemingly bigger and better job in the Mountain West, taking the reins at Utah State. To replace him, New Mexico hired Jason Eck, who guided Idaho to back-to-back appearances in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
Will Hall, Southern Miss
Sep 16, 2023; Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Will Hall looks on from the bench in the second half against the Tulane Green Wave at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Southern Miss pulled the plug on the Will Hall era on Oct. 20, the morning after a 44-28 home loss to Arkansas State. Hall, a former offensive coordinator at Tulane and Louisiana, was 14-32 across four seasons. The lone bright spot was 2022, which featured a 7-6 finish after a win in the LendingTree Bowl.
Update: Dec. 8, 2024 — Somehow, Southern Miss was able to hire Charles Huff as its next head coach. Despite Huff leading Marshall to a Sun Belt championship, the Herd decided not to renew his contract and let him walk to a fellow team in the conference. To replace Huff, Marshall hired N.C. State defensive coordinator and West Virginia native Tony Gibson.
Mike Houston, East Carolina
Sep 14, 2024; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates head coach Mike Houston looks on against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Houston had a ton of success as a coach before arriving in Greenville, North Carolina, taking Lenoir-Rhyne to the Division II national championship, taking The Citadel to the FCS Playoffs and winning an FCS title with James Madison in 2016.
He never quite replicated that sort of winning for the Pirates. ECU went 8-5 and won the Birmingham Bowl in 2022 but followed that up with a 2-10 finish in 2023. East Carolina got off to a 3-4 start before Houston was fired on Oct. 20 after losing 45-28 to Army. For fans of the ECU, Houston’s biggest sin was how the Pirates performed against in-state opponents, going a combined 0-7 against N.C. State, Appalachian State and Charlotte during his tenure.
Update: Nov. 27, 2024 — After going 4-0 since taking over for Houston on an interim basis, ECU made former defensive coordinator Blake Harrell the full-time head coach.
Mike Bloomgren, Rice
Oct 26, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Rice Owls head coach Mike Bloomgren watches from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
It felt like Bloomgren lived on the hot seat for a few seasons at Rice, but the Owls finally cut him loose on Oct. 27 after a 17-10 loss at UConn. Bloomgren, a former understudy of David Shaw at Stanford, never had a winning season in seven years at Rice and went 24-52.
Update: Nov. 26, 2024 — Rice hired Scott Abell away from his post at FCS side Davidson, where he had an 86-52 record and three playoff appearances in seven seasons.
Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State head coach Brian Bohannon on the sidelines during the football game against Middle Tennessee at MTSU, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Kennesaw State announced on Nov. 10 that Bohannon resigned, but the coach said that he was fired. Nevertheless, he’s out after leading the Owls for 11 years, from the inception of the program to its transition to FBS. Bohannon led the Owls to three Big South Championships and a pair of appearances in the FCS quarterfinals, but never won at the same frequency at the FBS level. The Owls were 1-8 this season when Bohannon was let go.
Update: Dec. 1, 2024 — Kennesaw State has hired Jerry Mack as its next head coach. The 44-year-old was working as the running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season and was previously an assistant at Tennessee, Rice, South Alabama and Memphis. He was last a head coach from 2014 to 2017, where he led FCS North Carolina Central. He had a 31-15 record in four seasons, appeared in a Celebration Bowl and was named MEAC Coach of the Year in 2016.
Mike Neu, Ball State
Ball State head coach Mike Neu leads his team out to face Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
A former MAC MVP for Ball State, the Cardinals let Neu go after a 51-48 overtime loss to Buffalo that ensured a third straight bowl-less season. Neu went 40-63 in nine seasons leading Ball State.
Update, Dec. 4, 2024 — Ball State didn’t look far for its next coach, poaching Mike Uremovich away from FCS Butler where he went 23-11 in three seasons.
Stan Drayton, Temple
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Stan Drayton of the Temple Owls looks on against the Miami Hurricanes in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Owls beat FAU on Nov. 16, but Temple decided to fire Stan Drayton the next day anyway, beginning its third coaching search since 2018 when Geoff Collins left for Georgia Tech. Drayton, a longtime college and NFL running backs coach before getting the top job at Temple, went 9-25 in just under three seasons as a head coach.
Update, Dec. 1, 2024 — The Owls have hired Sam Houston’s KC Keeler as their next head coach. Keeler, a 65-year-old Pennsylvania native and former head coach at nearby Division III Rowan and FCS Delaware. At Rowan, he led the Profs to five appearances in the national championship game and won FCS titles in 2003 at Delaware and in 2021 with Sam Houston. He helped the Bearkats transition from FCS to FBS over the past two seasons, going 9-3 this year.
Don Brown, UMass
Oct 14, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen head coach Don Brown looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Massachusetts 63-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Two days after a 35-34 overtime loss to Liberty, Don Brown’s second tenure as the head coach of the Minutemen came to an end. Brown led UMass to an FCS title game appearance back in 2006, but he nor the Minutemen have been able to recreate winning ways. UMass was 6-28 over the past three seasons under Brown, with just two wins against fellow FBS opponents.
Update, Dec. 4, 2024 — 38-year-old Joe Harasymiak is the new coach at UMass. He was previously a head coach at FCS Maine from 2016 to 2018, and was most recently the defensive coordinator at Rutgers.
Tom Herman, FAU
Nov 1, 2024; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Tom Herman on the sidelines during the second half against the South Florida Bulls at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Herman will continue to make a lot of money to not coach. Amidst a five-game losing streak and an 18-15 loss to Temple, FAU cut Herman loose on Nov. 18, less than two full seasons into his gig in Boca Raton. Herman was 6-16 over the past two seasons, never recreating the success he had at Texas or Houston, where he went 5-1 in bowl games.
More importantly, the firing of Herman means that every FBS program with Owls for a nickname has fired their coach this season (FAU, Kennesaw State, Rice and Temple).
Update: Dec. 2, 2024 — FAU hired 33-year-old Zach Kittley as its next head coach. He was previously the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Texas Tech, and before that worked at Western Kentucky, Houston Baptist.
Biff Poggi, Charlotte
Oct 19, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Charlotte 49ers head coach Biff Poggi looks on during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
The Biff Poggi experiment has come to an end in Charlotte. Poggi, a 64-year-old Baltimore native with an affinity for sleeveless shirts, was previously a very successful high school coach in Maryland and an assistant at Michigan before the 49ers took a gamble on him less than two years ago. Aside from notching two wins against in-state foe East Carolina, there wasn’t much success for Charlotte under Poggi, who didn’t make life easier for himself as he publicly called out fans and media members. The 49ers went 6-16 in Poggi’s two seasons, and he was fired after a 59-24 loss to South Florida that eliminated Charlotte from bowl eligibility.
Update: Dec. 7, 2024 — Charlotte lured Tim Albin away from Ohio after he won a MAC title this year with the Bobcats. Albin went 33-19 in four seasons leading Ohio, where he took over after Frank Solich retired.
Jim McElwain, Central Michigan
Sep 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas head coach Jim McElwain during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Central Michigan announced on Nov. 20 that McElwain is retiring from football after coaching the Chippewas for six seasons. He led Central Michigan to a 9-4 mark and a Sun Bowl win in 2021, but hasn’t been able to sustain that success, posting three straight losing seasons.
Before Central Michigan, McElwain coached at Colorado State and Florida. The 62-year-old has a 77-63 overall record. He was the SEC Coach of the Year in 2015 and he also had stops at Alabama and Michigan as an assistant.
Update: Dec. 9, 2024 — Matt Drinkall is the new head coach at Central Michigan. He was previously an offensive assistant at Army for the past six years.
Kevin Wilson, Tulsa
Sep 14, 2024; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane head coach Kevin Wilson during warmups before a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
Tulsa fired Wilson after less than two full seasons on the job on Sunday, Nov. 24 after losing 63-30 at USF. Wilson, who coached at Indiana from 2011 to 2016, went 7-17 while leading Tulsa.
Update: Dec. 8, 2024 — Tre Lamb makes the jump to FBS after coaching at Gardner-Webb and ETSU. He’s gone 21-16 with two playoff appearances in his last three seasons at the FCS level.
Mack Brown, North Carolina
Nov 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tarheels head coach Mack Brown during warmups before a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Myers-Imagn Images
Mack Brown’s second run at North Carolina is ending, despite the 73-year-old coach recently saying he intended to return. The school announced it fired Brown in Week 14, and it’s the first Power Four opening of the 2024-25 coaching carousel.
After previously coaching the Tar Heels from 1988-1997, Brown returned for the 2019 season and coached the team to six bowl game berths in that stretch, including this season. He has a 113-78-1 overall record with North Carolina and was 44-32 in his second stint, but in the last couple years, the program has struggled, finishing 8-5 in 2023 and currently having a 6-5 record in 2024 ahead of the regular-season finale against NC State.
Sep 30, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn walks the sideline during the second half against the Baylor Bears at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN reported on Saturday, Nov. 30 that Malzahn is resigning as UCF’s head coach to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. UCF went 4-8 this season — its worst mark in four seasons under Malzahn — after losing 28-14 to Utah in its regular season finale.
Malzahn took the reins of the Knights in 2021 and helped them transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. In four seasons, he went 28-24 with three bowl appearances. Before his tenure at UCF, Malzahn was at Auburn for eight seasons and Arkansas State for one. He was the offensive coordinator for Auburn’s national championship team in 2010.
Update: Dec. 12, 2024 – UCF has hired Scott Frost to replace Malzahn, bringing Frost back to the Knights for a second stint after going 19-7 in two years with an undefeated 2017 campaign.
Ryan Walters, Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Ryan Walters of the Purdue Boilermakers is seen during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 30, 2023 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
According to reports from NBC and ESPN, Purdue gave Ryan Walters his walking papers on Sunday, Dec. 1. The Boilermakers were, quite simply, one of the worst teams in all of college football this season, going 1-11. The team wasn’t much better last season, going 4-8. So, for the second time in two years, Purdue is looking for a head coach. Walters took over in 2023 after Jeff Brohm left for Louisville.
Update: Dec. 12, 2024 –Purdue has hired former Barry Odom to replace Walters. Odom spent the last two seasons at UNLV where he went 19-8 with back-to-back Mountain West title game appearances. The Oklahoma native returns to a Power 4 school after going 25-25 in four years with his alma mater Mizzou with two bowl berths (both losses).
To replace Odom, UNLV lured former Mississippi State and Florida coach Dan Mullen away from ESPN.
Neal Brown, West Virginia
Nov 12, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown watches during warmups prior to their game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
According to multiple reports on Sunday, Dec. 1, WVU is firing Brown, less than a year after giving him an extension. The Mountaineers finished this regular season, Brown’s sixth in Morgantown, with a 6-6 record after they got blown out 52-15 by Texas Tech in the regular season finale. Brown finished above .500 in a single season just once at WVU. That was last year when the Mountaineers went 9-4 and beat North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Nov 18, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; FIU Panthers head coach Mike MacIntyre during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 44-20. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
After three consecutive 4-8 seasons, MacIntyre is out at FIU. The former Colorado and San Jose State coach was one of several coaches in the FBS fired on Sunday, Dec. 1. FIU hasn’t had a winning season since 2018.
Update: Dec. 7, 2024 — Florida native and former Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons is the new leader at FIU. Simmons went 45-13 in five seasons as the FAMU coach, winning a Celebration Bowl and making a playoff appearance. He spent this past season as the running backs coach at Duke.
Shawn Clark, Appalachian State
Head Coach Shawn Clark speaks to reporters after the AppState Mountaineers’ football practice at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
App State fired Shawn Clark on Monday, Dec. 2, after a 5-6 season, the first losing campaign of his five-year tenure. The Mountaineers with 20-7 in Clark’s first two seasons on the job, but have gone 20-17 in the three seasons since — including a pair of losing records in Sun Belt play and two seasons without bowls. In a statement, App State athletic director Doug Gillin made it clear that the standard at App was not being met.
“The expectation for App State is to annually compete for a conference championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff,” Gillin said.
Clark is an App State alum who played offensive line for the Mountaineers in the 1990s and had been an assistant coach in Boone for four seasons before taking the reins of the program in 2019 following the departure of Eli Drinkwitz.
Update: Dec. 7, 2024 — Dowell Loggains is the new head coach at App State after spending the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at South Carolina. Loggains has never been a head coach before, but previously worked for five different NFL teams.
Dave Clawson, Wake Forest
Lance King/Getty Images
After 11 seasons, Clawson stepped aside as Wake Forest’s head coach for another role in the program’s athletic department. The team finished 4-8 in Clawson’s final season on the sideline.
Update: Dec. 18, 2024 —Wake Forest hired Washington State’s Jake Dickert to replace Clawson. Dickert, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to interim to full-time head coach, had a 23-20 record during his four years in Pullman.
Jake Dickert, Washington State
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Dickert, who oversaw the Cougars’ transition through the demise of the Pac-12 this season, is leaving for a Power Four role at Wake Forest to replace the retiring Dave Clawson.
KC Keeler, Sam Houston State
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
Keeler, who won FCS national titles at Sam Houston and Delaware, returned to his home state of Pennsylvania to become the head coach at Temple. To replace him, the Bearkats hired former offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who most recently held the same role at Wisconsin.
Tim Albin, Ohio
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
After winning his first MAC title at Ohio, fourth-year coach Tim Albin left to become the head coach of Charlotte. Albin was elevated to replace a retiring Frank Solich in 2021, and the Bobcats opted for the same strategy this season, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Smith. This was Smith’s first season in that role, but he’s been on Ohio’s staff since 2022.
The edge defender exodus in Gainesville continued on Tuesday with TJ Searcy’s transfer portal announcement.
Sophomore edge defender [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag] is the latest Florida Gator to announce his departure from the program and enter the transfer portal.
“After much prayer and great consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal,” Searcy said in a written statement posted to social media. “I’m excited for the next chapter of my journey and look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Searcy played the third-most snaps (362) among Florida edge defenders this season, earning a 70.0 overall grade on defense from Pro Football Focus. He was Florida’s best edge defender in coverage (77.9), according to PFF.
A consensus four-star recruit out of high school, Searcy signed with Florida as a member of the class of 2023 and played in all 12 games as a true freshman. He earned Freshman All-SEC honors and ended his time in Gainesville with 60 total tackles (29 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Florida’s options at EDGE in 2025
Searcy is the sixth edge defender from Florida to leave the program for the transfer portal, following [autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Capers[/autotag] (walk-on), [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag], [autotag]Quincy Ivory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Pyburn[/autotag].
Those departures may indicate that veteran edge defenders George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp intend to return, although neither has officially announced a decision. Behind those two are Kamran James and LJ McCray, and Florida is adding four-star recruit Jayden Woods to the position room.
The only scholarship loss from this group through graduation is specialist [autotag]Ja’Markis Weston[/autotag]. Walk-on [autotag]Tyreik Norwood[/autotag] also concluded his eligibility.
Walk-ons [autotag]Titus Bullard[/autotag], [autotag]Charles Emanuel III[/autotag] and [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag] could also return.
There’s also a chance Florida will be active in the edge defender market during the winter transfer period. Amaris Williams, a former five-star recruit and Florida commit, is leaving Auburn and is a priority target.
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Austin Barber, standout offensive lineman for the Gators, announces his return for the 2025 season.
Florida football offensive lineman Austin Barber announced on Tuesday in Tampa that he will be returning to the Gators for the 2025 season.
“Yeah, I’m gonna come back for my final year here at the University of Florida,” Barber said. “I’m excited to be back with the team and all these guys I have been here with.”
Barber, a redshirt junior, has distinguished himself with his work ethic and effectiveness, especially in high-pressure situations. His performance this season has been great, helping the Gators achieve one of the lowest sack rates in the SEC.
Barber’s skills in both pass protection and run blocking have made him one of the team’s most reliable and versatile linemen.
According to Pro Football Focus, Barber had a pass-blocking grade of 70.2, a run-blocking grade of 66.9 and a total offensive grade of 66.7.
Barber started all 12 games at left tackle, logged a total of 664 snaps and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in Week 4.
The Jacksonville native’s return for his fifth and final season is expected to not only bolster the Gators’ offensive line but also provide a mentorship role for the younger players stepping into the program.
With Barber’s leadership and talent anchoring the line for one more season, the Gators’ offensive unit is positioned to be a formidable force in the SEC.
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Here’s what Billy Napier had to offer upon arrival in Tampa on Monday.
The opening kickoff of the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl is just a few days away and ahead of the matchup between the Florida Gators and Tulane Green Wave, the former schools’ head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] spoke to the press about his program’s preparations.
A lot has happened since the Orange and Blue wrapped up its regular season with three straight wins, punctuated with a road victory over the Florida State Seminoles to wrap it up. Between the early signing period and the transfer portal, Napier and Co. have had their hands full.
Below is a look at everything he had to offer on Monday upon arrival in Tampa ahead of the Gasparilla Bowl.
On the bowl game preparation
“Yeah, I’ve been very pleased. I think, in particular, the last couple days, pretty sharp this morning, and we basically have executed a Sunday to Wednesday routine, and then we’ll kind of reboot a little bit. We’ll walk through tomorrow and then have Thursday, and Friday play the game. So in general, very pleased with the attitude of the players.”
On what Tulane to matchup
“Yeah, well, first of all, well-coached, I think they’ve got a formula that works for them, you know, from a winning perspective, I think they play really good defense, they’re committed to the run. And I think, you know, Summrall l has had terrific track record as head coach, you know, to compete for the conference championship this year as a first-year coach I thought was impressive.
“And then, you know, familiar with him from his background in the SEC and then certainly watch closely what he was able to do at Troy, so they’ve got a really good football team. I mean, I think in that part of the country, you can put a talented roster together. I’m very familiar with that.”
On excitement of playing in bowl game
“Yeah, I mean, I would tell you, man, our guys were excited when we found out we were going to be in Tampa. It was a big deal and to play on the 20th, I mean we’d be lying if we weren’t happy with that. I think these guys have an opportunity to finish the right way in our state, then be home for Christmas and have a couple weeks off before we get back out in January.
“So good to be in Tampa. Obviously, Gator Nation will be on full display, it’ll be a great opportunity for our fans to come out.”
How much momentum UF has coming in
“Well, in general, I think we’ve, we’ve gotten to a place where we think we could beat anybody, you know. I think this team has a ton of confidence. I think that comes from the work. I think they realize the results that they’ve gotten are because of the mindset and the approach they’ve taken towards the work.
“So we’ve seen that carry over. Lot of other things have happened in a positive light as well. Signing Day went well, I think we’ve been able to retain a huge portion of our roster for next year, and then obviously we’ll be adding a few more pieces here down the stretch.”
On Jake Slaughter’s affect on team
“Well, number one would be his impact on the rest of the team. You know, I think his example, his selflessness, his humility, he’s just a guy who has care for his teammates and then just a very consistent, dependable worker, durable and just a blue-collar guy. But he’s a great communicator, and then I think he has a way about him that inspires confidence to the players around him.
“So I think he’s helped that room as a whole. That room is as healthy as it’s been since we’ve been here, not only the caliber of player but just the culture in that room. And he’s been at the center of that.”
On adjusted transfer portal, early signing day window
“Well, I would tell you, we took one step in the right direction. We didn’t have to go on the road recruiting, and we got signing day moved up. Just imagine if we had just had signing day just a couple days ago, right?
“So I think we literally would be two days away from signing day, right, in last year’s format, so we got that out of the way, then that allows you an opportunity to meet with your players. We didn’t have the conference championship conflict, and certainly that would be a challenge.
“But I think most of the times, those teams are in a good place, you know, and they’re focused on winning that game, and they can kind of transition later on. So look, it’s not perfect. I think there’s some things to consider, but we’ve got a conflict, right? We’ve got an academic calendar that conflicts with, you know, kind of this finding a new home, right? Decide where you’re going to play next year.
“So I’m thankful for the players in our team that decided they’re coming back next year, and obviously we had a really good group decide they’re coming, so look, it’s one year at a time. It’s one team at a time. That’s my attitude towards it.
“So you know, we’ll get this one out of the way, and then we’ll regroup here. January 12, whoever shows up, we’ll coach that group next year.”
On Cam Jackson playing in bowl game
“Well, you know, Cam has been a little bit limited in bowl practice, you know, he got banged up in the Florida State game. But just in general, for him to, you know, finish the season with his team, be around for bowl practice, and obviously he’s a Senior Bowl invite. He’ll be an NFL draft pick.
“But look, these guys enjoy being around each other. I think that’s part of the positive here is, like, you got, you know, sometimes you’ll have a guy pack it up and head off and start training, but I think these guys enjoy each other’s company, you know.
“And I think this team, when we look back at it, I think this ’24 team, what they were able to accomplish, the way they finished, I think would be significant in the future.”
On whether Florida’s finished with retention aspect
“Yeah, I think for the most part. I mean, you know, nothing surprises me anymore. I think we got, for the most part, most of that is done. You know, there’s a handful of things that we got to get resolved, but look, until they show up for class in January, you know, I think it’s not a done deal, right?
“In a perfect world you would have some type of document you could sign that would kind of lock them in, but we don’t have that so, but we gotta, we still have some work to do. We want to add a couple more players to our team, some positions in particular, but in general, I’d say – Mike Hodges is a legendary coach in Georgia high school circles that he used to say, don’t let the 5%, you know, distract you from the 95% that are doing it the right way.”
On Slaughter flying under the radar
“Well, it’s I mean, he started some last year, right? So I think next year is where he’ll really go off, if I had a bet. But look, he finished the year last year as the starter, was somewhat of a returning starter.
“But look, I think the statistics speak for themselves. To be a first-year starter, to be the highest-graded center in the country by PFF, and obviously well-respected out there as a player. So look, Jake’s gonna play this game for a long time, and he ain’t worried about that, I can promise you that, but it has been good to be able to recognize him in front of his peers.
“And, you know, it’s pretty cool to be an All-American, right, and, not many of those and, and he’ll always be able to look back at that and be proud of it.”
How to watch Gasparilla Bowl
The Florida-Tulane game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 20, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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Despite much speculation, it was an easy decision for All-American center Jake Slaughter to return to Florida in 2025 for his senior year.
Once early signing day was over, Florida football head coach Billy Napier said the focus of the program would shift to retaining players on its current roster. On Monday night, Napier landed a return commitment from the biggest target on that list, All-America center [autotag]Jake Slaughter[/autotag].
On the same day the Associated Press named Slaughter a First Team All-American, he decided to put off his pro career to finish what he started in Gainesville. Slaughter’s coming back for the 2025 season. Nick de la Torre of Florida Victorious confirmed that news.
“The draft is always there but my thought was always that there’s so much more we have to do here before I’m done,” Slaughter said. “There’s so much improvement that can be made, not just in my own game but as a football team. That was a big reason. There’s so much left on the table for us.”
The 2024 Gators didn’t take steps forward throughout the season; they took leaps and bounds after a disheartening first month of the year. By the end of the season, the Gators believed they could compete with any team in the country — even with a battered defense.
The emergence of DJ Lagway as an elite starting quarterback had a lot to do with it, but the team improved in other areas, too. The most consistent piece of the team was the offensive line, anchored by Slaughter, who morphed into one of the best centers in the country. Draft experts have him pegged as a mid-round pick, but that’s before workouts and the combine.
For Slaughter, it’s not so much about improving his draft stock but rather bringing the program back to prominence. He’s been in Gainesville for the worst of it and wants to see things through to the end; and he might not be the only one with that mindset.
“We were playing complementary football, winning games, going toe-to-toe with anybody in the country. That was a big part,” he said. “The belief that this team has. All the other guys that are in a similar position as me and are coming back next year. We want to do something pretty special.”
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The Pop-Tarts Bowl social team created an Oppenheimer parody of the new trophy, which doubles as a functional toaster.
Even if you haven’t seen Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning blockbuster, you have to appreciate the creativity on display.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is the gift that keeps on giving, and we hope there are more parodies on display in the time to come.
Perhaps they’ll do a Gladiator parody next? Imagine it.
A big Pop-Tart gladiator standing in the coliseum, swinging a foam sword around after “vanquishing” a Toaster Strudel. Are you not entertained by the Pop-Tarts Bowl?! Okay, maybe not. This is still pretty fun.
The postseason honors keep coming for Florida center Jake Slaughter, who was named an AP All-America First Teamer on Monday.
The Associated Press named Florida center [autotag]Jake Slaughter[/autotag] to the All-America First Team on Monday.
It’s Slaughter’s third All-America honor after being named to the first team by Pro Football Focus and second team by CBS Sports/247Sports. USA TODAY Sports included him on the All-SEC First Team, as did the AP, but the SEC did not name Slaughter in the All-Conference three-deep list. He was also snubbed as a finalist for The Rimington Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate center.
Slaughter is the third center in program history to be named to the AP All-America First Team, following in the footsteps of Bill Carr (1966) and Maurkice Pouncey (2009). He’s the second Gator to make the list under Billy Napier after guard O’Cyrus Torrence earned his brick in 2022. Torrence was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Slaughter anchored Florida’s offensive line, playing 728 of 746 offensive snaps this season. Pro Football Focus graded him as Florida’s best offensive player (81.2), pass blocker (83.8) and run blocker (79.1) this year. Those figures rank fifth, 18th and sixth, respectively, among FBS centers who played at least 475 snaps.
He allowed just eight quarterback pressures — six hurries, one sack — earned a 98.7 efficiency rate and drew threw penalty flags all year.
Slaughter has one year of eligibility remaining but could opt to turn pro as a redshirt junior. The transfer portal is also an option, but he’s a player Florida would fight to keep if losing him came into question. Slaughter must decide by Jan. 15.
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Danny Wuerffel discusses his foundation, offers advice to future NFL stars w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to retired NFL quarterback and Heisman Award winner Danny Wuerffel.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Wuerffel discussed his inspiration for ‘The Wuerffel Foundation’s The Pickle Bowl: Heisman Edition at Life Time Pickleball NYC gathered past winners for a good cause. He also shared advice to today’s college football stars heading into bowl season and potential careers in the NFL.
“Well, during COVID, I started playing with my son to have something to do, and I’ve fallen in love with the sport,” Wuerffel explained. “I play a lot and enjoy it, but I’ve also been leveraging this sport of pickleball to support our work at the foundation. This event came together in a really fun way in New York City with the Heisman guys here. So we got a bunch of Heisman guys out playing and having fans jump in and hit some balls with us, and just a really fun, exciting way to gather and celebrate and, you know, raise money for a good cause.”
Wuerffel recruited fellow Heisman award winners Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Eric Crouch, Charlie Ward, and Johnny Rodgers, along with pickleball pros Ryan Sherry and Kate Fahey, for the event. His foundation’smission is to inspire greater service and unity in communities.
“We’re a very blessed group, and to come back to this group every year to celebrate in New York has been fantastic. And then to add this pickleball event. A lot of the guys play and enjoy it,” said Wuerffel. “So this gives us an opportunity to add one more fun event. We’re grateful to the Heisman Trust for helping support it and making it happen in a lifetime. Just really excited.”
After being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1997, Wuerffel played six years in the league with four teams, including the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins. He shared some advice for the many college players ending their collegiate careers over the next month with hopes of making it to the NFL.
“I mean, enjoy it. It’s a really unique time. Everybody’s usually dreamt their whole life of playing in the NFL, but there’s something special about college.” said Wuerffel. “Enjoy it. Finish strong, and I hope the guys stick and do the bowl games, and we have a great ending to a great college football season.”
DJ Lagway is among the top candidates to contend for the 2025 Heisman Trophy according to Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season is still a long way away — after all, there are still plenty of bowl games and the CFP that need to be played before the end of the current campaign. However, that has not stopped some from looking ahead to what next fall has in store.
What has been decided already was the 2024 recipient of the Heisman Trophy, which went to Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter. The award represents the pinnacle of collegiate honors and is coveted by every person who plays the sport.
So who will bring home the bacon next season? Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassand published his way-too-early outlook on the prestigious award after the announcement and included Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] among his frontrunners.
“Lagway’s move into the starting lineup was instrumental in Florida’s late-season improvement that included big-time wins over LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State and also likely saved coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s job after a 3-3 start,” Lassan notes. “The sophomore-to-be has enormous upside and talent that will only get better with more snaps in ’25.”
CBS Sports writer Blake Brockermeyer also included Lagway in his list of 14 players who have a strong possibility of winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
“Lagway has been as advertised as the top-ranked QB in the 2024 class and just earned 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team honors,” Brockermeyer wrote.
“He’s trending towards being a very high pick in two seasons if he continues to develop but until then he’s got the chance to be the face of a Florida turnaround and one of the best QBs in the country. The big-framed dual-threat QB has plenty of big-name teams on the docket next year to deliver a Heisman moment or two.”
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