Tag: usa today sports

Florida football among USA TODAY Sports winners from bowl season

The Gators emerged as one of the winners this bowl season according to USA TODAY Sports.

It was a rollercoaster 2024 campaign for the Florida football program, one that saw its head coach on the verge of an exit at one point during the season only to turn things around in 180-degree fashion during the late stretch.

By the end of the 12-game regular-season schedule and a Gasparilla Bowl appearance, the Gators defied many prognostications by finishing with a robust 8-5 overall record. Billy Napier and Co. began the fall with many expecting half of that win total, but he and his team proved the naysayers wrong with a four-game winning streak to close things out.

Those results pushed Florida up to No. 17 in the SP+ and No. 19 in the Football Power Index while climbing the other metrics. The strong finish also did not go unnoticed by USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg, who mentioned the Orange and Blue in his bowl season winners and losers column.

Florida among USA TODAY Sports winners

“It’s been quite a postseason for the SEC — more on that in a minute — but Florida’s win against Tulane caps a terrific second half and should inflate the Gators’ bandwagon heading into next season. Once on the brink of throwing in the towel on the Billy Napier era, the school’s decision to bring Napier back in 2025 sparked a major turnaround,” Myerberg notes.

“One of the biggest reasons for optimism, rising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, threw for 305 yards as Florida pulled away from the Green Wave in the third and fourth quarters to win eight games for the first since 2020.”

Other winners include the final four teams in the College Football Playoff, the American Athletic Conference, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Michigan Wolverines.

SEC, other USA TODAY Sports losers

The losers from the bowl season were headlined by the Southeastern Conference, which saw its dominance evaporate in the opening two rounds of the CFP.

“The league is 8-6 overall in the postseason, joining the Big Ten as the only Power Four leagues with a winning record in bowl play. The SEC can tout strong bowl wins by Florida, Arkansas (Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl), LSU (Baylor in the Texas Bowl) and Mississippi (Duke in the Gator Bowl), not to mention two playoff wins by Texas,” Myerberg points out.

“But the head-to-head results against the Big Ten are embarrassing: Missouri beat Iowa, but South Carolina lost to Illinois, the Alabama lost to Michigan, Texas A&M lost to Southern California and Ohio State creamed Tennessee.”

Other losers include the Atlantic Coast Conference, Alabama and the Colorado Buffaloes.

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.

Omarion Hampton a first-round 2025 NFL Draft pick according to USA TODAY Sports

Omarion Hampton will play in the NFL next fall, but which team will choose him in April’s draft?

The North Carolina Tar Heels played to another disappointing finish during their college football season, losing three-consecutive games to finish 6-7.

UNC went through three different starting quarterbacks in Max Johnson, Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell. North Carolina limped into the Fenway Bowl – and lost 27-14 to UConn, its fifth-straight defeat in bowl season.

Despite the Tar Heels’ continued struggles on the football field, there was one to keep watching them: star running back Omarion Hampton.

With the 2025 NFL Draft just three months away, Hampton is being mocked as a first-round pick – by two separate media outlets – in USA TODAY Sports’ collection of mock drafts.

The Draft Network has the Los Angeles Chargers taking Hampton 22nd overall, while NJ.com sees the Green Bay Packers choosing Hampton 24th overall.

Hampton would undoubtedly thrive in either the City of Angels or in cold, snowy Wisconsin, but the Chargers and Packers both have plenty of running back talent on their rosters.

Los Angeles is starting former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins. Behind Dobbins is former Miami (FL) and Rutgers back Gus Edwards, former Michigan back Hassan Haskins and Troy standout Kimani Vidal.

Green Bay is starting one of the NFL’s best running backs in Josh Jacobs, but the depth behind him is thin in NFL experience with Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks and former USC back MarShawn Lloyd.

Hampton continued showing why he’s one of the best backs in college football this season, rushing for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hampton climbed the UNC record books and collected his second-straight 1,000-yard season, which included a pair of 200-yard outings.

Whichever NFL team selects Hampton in April is getting a talented, hard-working back who’s just as good a person as he is a football player.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

USA TODAY Sports sees DJ Lagway in mix for 2025 Heisman Trophy

Just days after this season’s Heisman Trophy announcement the media is already looking ahead to next year. DJ Lagway’s name is consistently mentioned.

The Heisman Trophy is the most coveted award in college football, annually given to the top player in the sport. This past season saw Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter earn the honor after a phenomenal 2024 campaign.

But enough about him. What is in store next fall for the prestigious prize?

The sports media wasted no time looking ahead to 2025 for the next Heisman Trophy contender. Among them was USA TODAY Sports writer Austin Curtright, who penned his favorites for the award earlier this week.

Included among the 11 players listed was Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], who is in the midst of a stellar true freshman campaign that has been anything but smooth sailing. However, with just a bowl game remaining, he did plenty to build his cred.

“Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway showed flashes of brilliance for the Gators after taking over the starting job after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury,” Curtright begins.

“Lagway’s play was crucial for the Gators reaching seven wins, leading them to ranked victories against LSU and Mississippi in back-to-back weeks,” he continues.

“His stats have been solid entering Florida’s bowl game. He has completed 93 of 157 passes for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions and will hope to build on a season of flashes as a sophomore.”

2025 Heisman Trophy contenders

Along with Lagway, quarterbacks Cade Klubnik (Clemson Tigers), Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee Volunteers), Arch Manning (Texas Longhorns), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU Tigers), Drew Allar (Penn State Nittany Lions), John Mateer (Washington State Cougars) and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina Gamecocks) also made the cut.

Running back Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) was also included along with wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State Buckeyes) and Ryan Williams (Alabama Crimson Tide).

Other Heisman predictions for Lagway

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.”

Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassand also included Florida’s signal-caller in his way-too-early outlook on the prestigious award.

“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 Billy Napier’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.”

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.

USA TODAY Sports unanimously picks Florida over Tulane in Gasparilla Bowl

The experts are feeling very bullish about the Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl next Friday.

Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are heading to a bowl game this year after missing out on college football’s postseason in 2023. This time around, the Orange and Blue will be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl for the second time in four years, with the Tulane Green Wave slated as their opponent.

The Green Wave went 9-4 this fall but faltered down the stretch, losing their last two including a blowout loss in the American Athletic Conference title game. The Gators finished just 7-5 but beat a pair of top-25 schools en route to three straight wins to wrap up the regular season.

So how do the experts feel about this game? Who has the edge in this battle between these two bayou-based schools?

USA TODAY Sports picks for Florida-Tulane

Six members of USA TODAY Sports’ writing staff consisting of Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken unanimously picked Florida to prevail over Tulane in Tampa.

Gasparilla Bowl game ranking

According to Timanus’ rankings of 35 non-playoff postseason matchups based on what he believes will have the highest entertainment value, the Florida-Tulane matchup in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl comes in at No. 28.

“The matchup here is a lot less attractive than the records might indicate,” he notes. “The Green Wave’s promising year wound up in a series of disappointments including transfer exits, while the Gators made a surprising push late and will now look to carry that momentum into the offseason.”

How to watch Gasparilla Bowl

The Gators will face the Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl held inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Friday, Dec. 20. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

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.

USA TODAY Sports ranks Florida-Tulane matchup in Gasparilla Bowl

The Gasparilla Bowl might be a bit of a mismatch — in Florida’s favor — according to USA TODAY Sports.

College football’s bowl season is finally here and this year the Florida Gators will face the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl. For Billy Napier and Co., this game is the culmination of a monumental effort this season to get over the hump and back into the postseason.

The Orange and Blue finished with a 7-5 overall record thanks to three straight wins to wrap up the regular-season schedule — including two over-then-top-25 teams. The achievement ends a three-year losing streak, which was the longest the program had endured since the 1940s.

The Green Wave went 9-4 this fall including a blowout loss to the Army Black Knights in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game last weekend.

USA TODAY Sports writer Eddie Timanus recently put together his rankings of 35 non-playoff postseason matchups based on what he believes will have the highest entertainment value. His was pretty bearish overall.

Gasparilla Bowl ranking

According to Timanus’ rankings, the Florida-Tulane matchup in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl comes in at No. 28 out of the 35 total games listed.

“The matchup here is a lot less attractive than the records might indicate,” he notes. “The Green Wave’s promising year wound up in a series of disappointments including transfer exits, while the Gators made a surprising push late and will now look to carry that momentum into the offseason.”

How to watch Gasparilla Bowl

The Gators will face the Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl held inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 20. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

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.

Where does Oklahoma vs. Navy in Armed Forces Bowl rank among bowl games?

Where does USA TODAY Sports rank Oklahoma vs. Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl among this year’s bowl games?

If you’ve been itching to see some throwback football, this year’s Armed Forces Bowl may be just what the doctor ordered. The Oklahoma Sooners will take on the Navy Midshipmen in a game that could resemble the “three yards and a cloud of dust” era of the game.

The Navy Midshipmen launch ground offensives to find success. Navy boasts one of the nation’s best rushing attacks with their triple option look. They’re averaging 247 rushing yards per game, which ranks eighth in the nation. Their 46 rushing attempts per game is No. 5 in the nation.

Oklahoma would prefer to have a bit more of an aerial attack, but where they’ve had success over the last month of the season, dating back to the loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, is with the ground game. They used it to beat up Alabama to the tune of 257 yards rushing and a 24-3 win. The Sooners run game is averaging 154 rushing yards per game, which is No. 24 in the nation ahead of bowl season.

There may not be a whole lot of passing but it’ll still be a fun matchup. The Sooners and Midshipmen have only played once, with Navy earning a 10-0 win back in 1965. Can the Sooners even the all-time series in a game USA TODAY Sports believes is the 16th best bowl matchup of the 2024 bowl season?

Aside from ruining things for Alabama, the Sooners’ first ride through the SEC was quite bumpy. Preparing against an academy option attack is always a challenge, and the Midshipmen could make a game of it as long as they don’t put the ball on the turf. – Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma’s run defense, one of the best in the nation, will be tested. The Sooners have been stout up front, and their second—and third-level defenders have provided excellent run support all season. They should be able to stifle Navy’s rushing attack, but if the offense can’t get going, we may be in store for a low-scoring game.

The Sooners would like to get the passing attack going with Michael Hawkins Jr. to get him more experience, but with the wide receivers that have entered the portal, there will be a lot of inexperience on the outside for the Sooners. So you may see a battle of run games in Fort Worth on December 27.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

UNC football drops one spot in USA TODAY Sports re-rank after Conference Championship week

Not playing in Conference Championship week actually hurt the UNC football team.

Despite enduring another football season of mediocrity, the North Carolina Tar Heels will play in a bowl game for the sixth-consecutive year.

UNC will be shipping up to Boston on Saturday, December 28 for an 11 a.m. kickoff against UConn in the Fenway Bowl. North Carolina finished its regular season 6-6 (3-5), tied for third-to-last in the ACC, while the Huskies ended their regular season 8-4 as an independent.

Despite not playing during Conference Championship Weekend on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Tar Heels actually fell a spot – to 73rd – in the latest USA TODAY Sports re-rank.

UNC found itself sandwiched between East Carolina (72) and Virginia. ECU will join North Carolina in bowl season, with the Pirates playing NC State in the Military Bowl, while UVA misses a bowl game for the third-straight season.

The Tar Heels are currently trying to lock in Bill Belichick as head coach, but they’ll be playing in the Fenway Bowl under interim head coach Freddie Kitchens, who is the Tar Heels’ tight ends coach and run game coordinator.

UNC started its season with three straight wins, beating Minnesota, Charlotte and NC Central, but struggling for large parts of each. North Carolina’s struggles came to a boil shortly after, experiencing a 4-game losing streak that spanned from James Madison to Georgia Tech.

After their first bye week, the Tar Heels began a 3-game winning streak at Virginia. UNC traveled to Florida State to open November, entered another bye week, then clinched bowl eligibility against Wake Forest.

For a team with only six wins like North Carolina, winning a bowl game is the perfect cap on an otherwise-disappointing season.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions

How much did Billy Napier earn after clinching bowl eligibility?

Taking a look at Billy Napier’s bonus after clinching a bowl game for the Gators.

As the 2024-25 college football season progresses towards its end, head coaches around the country are chasing glory, with the College Football Playoff on the horizon, but also significant financial incentives.

This year, coaches from public schools in the Bowl Subdivision have already claimed over $14.7 million in bonuses, a figure that approaches last season’s record-breaking total of over $15.5 million, as tracked by USA TODAY Sports.

These bonuses are linked to various performance metrics, team wins, bowl game qualifications and conference championships, emphasizing the high stakes of modern collegiate football.

Among these coaches is Florida football head coach Billy Napier and this is what the Gators’ skipper earned after getting his sixth win of the season.

Billy Napier’s bonus breakdown

Napier, in his tenure with the Gators, has not only aimed to revitalize the team’s standing in the SEC, but also secured himself a bonus of $100,000 after defeating the Ole Miss Rebels, leading his team to their sixth win that ensured bowl eligibility. This bonus structure not only boosts morale but also aligns Napier’s personal achievements with the broader goals of the Florida football program, fostering a culture of success and ambition.

This incentive is part of a broader strategy to motivate coaches to push their teams to excel, not just on the field but in the broader context of collegiate athletics’ competitive landscape.

A look at SEC rivals and other notable coaches

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.

Complete look at Tennessee football’s assistant coach salaries in 2024

A look at Tennessee’s assistant football coach salaries in 2024 from USA TODAY.

USA TODAY released its annual coaching salary database on Wednesday.

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks is the Vols’ highest-paid assistant coach. He earns a total pay of $1,500,000.

Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and defensive line coach Rodney Garner are earning $900,000. Joey Halzle, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is making $850,000.

First-year linebackers coach William Inge is earning $720,000, while outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler is making $575,000.

Tennessee’s remaining assistants are earning the following: Kelsey Pope ($550,000, wide receivers), Willie Martinez ($540,000, secondary), De’Rail Sims ($350,000, running backs) and Alec Abeln ($250,000, tight ends).

Entire college football assistant coach salaries from USA TODAY can be viewed here.

Tennessee finished the 2024 regular-season 10-2 (6-2 SEC) and will play at Ohio State in the first-round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21. The Vols are in their fourth season under head coach Josh Heupel.

Rodney Garner. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Complete look at Florida football’s assistant coach salaries in 2024

Take a look at where the Florida Gators rank when it comes to paying their assistant football coaches. Are they getting a good ROI?

USA TODAY Sports released its college football assistant coach salaries for FBS schools in its annual update following the 2024 season, including the Florida Gators.

This season, Billy Napier and his staff faced the monumental task of surviving a gauntlet of a schedule — and succeeded! — finishing the regular season schedule with a 7-5 record and a date set with the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Did the Orange and Blue get good value for what they spent on the coaching staff? With the data that USA TODAY Sports has provided, one might be able to derive their own conclusion on Florida’s fiscal status.

Overview of Florida’s assistant coach staff

Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong leads the pack salary-wise, getting paid $1.2 million per season which ranks 45th in the country. Offensive coordinator Rob Sale is not too far behind, coming in at No. 65 with a salary of just a hair over a million per year.

Executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ron Roberts is third on the team with a $751,500 compensation package (ranked 138th) followed by secondaries coach Will Harris ($626,500, 199th), defensive line coach Gerald Chatman ($576,500, 236th), edge defender coach and alumni liaison Mike Peterson ($551,500, 244th), co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway ($551,500, 245th), wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales ($501,500, 286th), offensive associate head coach and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke ($451,500, 335th) and assistant offensive line coach Jonathan Decoster ($351,500, 445th), respectively.

The Gators spent a collective $6,565,000 on their assistant coach staff in 2024 while paying Napier $7,370,00 this past year. They also chipped in $400,000 for their strengths coach, per the data.

Top, bottom of college football salary scale

The top-paid assistant coach in the sport is the LSU Tigers defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who earned $2.5 million in overall pay. The bottom of the list is occupied by the Utah State Aggies quarterback coach Hayden Kingston, who earned a meager $50,000 and was ranked 1107th in the country.

A total of 245 coaches from various schools — both public and private — had no data.

Florida Gators assistant coach salaries data

Coach Total Pay Rank Max Bonus
Austin Armstrong $1,201,500 45 $480,000
Rob Sale $1,001,500 65 $400,000
Ron Roberts $751,500 138 $300,000
Will Harris $626,500 199 $250,000
Gerald Chatman $576,500 236 $230,000
Mike Peterson $551,500 244 $220,000
Russ Callaway $551,500 245 $250,000
Billy Gonzales $501,500 286 $200,000
Jabbar Juluke $451,500 335 $180,000
Jonathan Decoster $351,500 445 $140,000

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.