The 2025 College Football Playoff is right around the corner, and news surrounding the highly anticipated tournament is nonstop with bowl season officially in full swing.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league:
Notre Dame restructures HC Marcus Freeman’s contract
Freeman has received multiple overtures from NFL teams to leave college football behind, per Sports Illustrated, but he won’t be doing so. Instead, he’ll return to Notre Dame for another shot at a national championship.
The school confirmed that Freeman received a restructured contract with “top-tier” compensation. Additionally, Freeman had another year added to the end of his contract, which now runs through 2031.
While it is not known exactly which other NFL teams Freeman rejected, he had recently been linked to the New York Giants and even spoke about that connection in an interview with the New York Post.
Freeman, who played linebacker for Ohio State before moving into coaching, served as an assistant coach for Cincinnati, Kent State and OSU before becoming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame. Notre Dame missed the CFP in 2025. The year prior, Freeman’s squad took on OSU in the national championship.
Clemson moves on from OC, safeties coach
The Clemson Tigers fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and safeties coach Mickey Conn on Monday, head coach Dabo Swinney announced.
Riley left TCU to join Clemson ahead of the 2023 season, and helped the Tigers secure an ACC championship in 2024 and a College Football Playoff that same season.
“I appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of our players and our program,” Swinney said about Riley. “Garrett is smart, he’s got great work ethic and he’s a great coach, but it just didn’t work like we both wanted. He’s got an amazing career ahead and he’ll be a great head coach in the future.”
Despite North Texas’ thrilling win in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 27, there has been a surge of Green Wave players entering the transfer portal. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker headlines that list. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound Mestemaker — the nation’s leading passer in both yards (4,379) and touchdowns (34) — has three years of eligibility remaining.
Other names include defensive lineman Joshua Pierce, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, per 247Sports. He totaled 14 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble this season. Wide receivers Miles Coleman, Wyatt Young and Terrence Lewis also plan to find a new home, per On3 and 247Sports. Coleman totaled 550 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season, while Young put up 1,264 yards with 10 touchdowns. Lewis, a 6-foot, 170-pound true freshman, had 11 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns this season. Another Mean Green true freshman star, running back Caleb Hawkins (1,804 yards and 29 touchdowns this season), is also hitting the portal, per On3.
Penn State will hire USC’s defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn, to the same role for 2026, per Centre Daily Times.
Lynn played for Penn State from 2008 through 2011 before signing with the NFL’s New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. He then turned his attention to coaching, first becoming UCLA‘s defensive coordinator before moving on to USC for the same position. He now finds himself at his third Big Ten school — his alma mater. Under Lynn in 2025, USC ranked 48th in yards allowed per game (348.8) and 49th in points per game (22.4).
Quarterbacks making $5 million?
The going rate for a high-profile QB in the transfer portal could be $5 million for a single season, according to ESPN. Sam Leavitt, Dylan Raiola, DJ Lagway and Josh Hoover are among the star signal-callers currently in the portal.
Michigan State hires Mike Bajakian as QB coach
The Spartans are reportedly hiring Bajakian, UMass‘ offensive coordinator, as their quarterbacks coach under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Bajakian was previously an offensive assistant at Utah in 2024, preceded by being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern from 2020 to 2023, among other positions. Bajakian coached under Fitzgerald, who was previously the Wildcats’ head coach, from 2020 to 2022.
Ohio removes coach John Hauser’s interim tag
Hauser will be Ohio’s head coach moving forward after having his interim tag removed on Dec. 26. Hauser was named the Bobcats’ interim coach on Dec. 1 and led the team to a 17-10 victory over UNLV in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23.
“This is a special place for my family and me, and we are proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about Ohio University and its football program,” Hauser said in a statement. “I look forward to hitting the ground running with the team as we look to build on the program’s tradition of success in 2026 and beyond.”
Hauser came to Ohio in 2022 as the Bobcats’ safeties coach. He was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator in 2023 and defensive coordinator before the 2024 season. Hauser also was the associate head coach this season. The Bobcats (9-4) allowed only 295.2 yards per game this season, the eighth-best mark in FBS; the 17.46 points allowed per game was 11th nationally.
Ohio was in the market for a coach after it fired Brian Smith on Dec. 18 for cause after engaging in “serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University.” The now-fired Smith was in his first season as Ohio’s head coach, going 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play this season.
Castellanos has dropped his appeal for another year of college eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The NCAA initially denied Castellanos’ waiver request for a fifth season. Castellanos, who transferred to FSU last December after one year at UCF and two at Boston College, argued that college football’s sanctioning body should grant him another season because he played in only five games with UCF in 2022. Castellanos played against Tulane in the American Conference title game after starter John Rhys Plumlee aggravated a hamstring injury. Backup Mikey Keene opted out of the game because he wanted to preserve a year of eligibility before entering the transfer portal.
Castellanos completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards this season, with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also led the Seminoles (5-7) with 557 yards rushing and nine scores.
Wilson claims that the athletic department at Georgia is trying to illegally punish him for entering the transfer portal in a lawsuit filed by the linebacker in state court in Boone County, Missouri. Wilson transferred to Missouri in January after signing a 14-month deal with Georgia’s booster collective to capitalize on his name, image and likeness. He received $30,000 in an initial payment on a $500,000 deal before entering the transfer portal.
Georgia filed a lawsuit last month claiming that Wilson owed its athletic department $390,000 in liquidated damages for leaving the team. Wilson’s counterclaim says that his former school is using such damages to “punish” him for his decision to leave.
Georgia spokesperson Steve Drummond said the school had no comment because it involves pending litigation. “When the University of Georgia Athletic Association enters binding agreements with student-athletes, we honor our commitments and expect student-athletes to do the same,” Drummond said of the school’s initial lawsuit.
Delaware State HC DeSean Jackson staying put
The Hornets have signed their head coach to a contract extension that keeps Jackson with the team through the 2028 season, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. This season, Delaware State went 8-4 overall and 4-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in what was Jackson’s first season at the helm. A three-time Pro Bowler who primarily shined as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles (2008-13 and 2019-20) and Washington Commanders (2014-16), Jackson was previously the head coach at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in 2024.
Ohio State HC Ryan Day taking over offensive play-calling
Day will call the offensive plays for OSU in the CFP, beginning with the Buckeyes’ quarterfinal matchup against Miami (Fla.) in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Brian Hartline was the offensive play caller during the regular season but accepted the head coaching position at South Florida on Dec. 3; Hartline will remain on the Buckeyes’ staff through the CFP as their wide receivers coach.
Day said putting together the game plan remains a group effort with co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, Carlos Locklyn (running backs), Billy Fessler (quarterbacks) and Tyler Bowen (offensive line) equally involved. Day called plays on offense the first five years he was Ohio State’s head coach. He turned over those duties to Chip Kelly in 2024 and gave them to Hartline this season when Kelly left for the NFL.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (12-1) go into the quarterfinals with the fifth-ranked offense of the remaining eight teams, averaging 429.5 yards per game. No. 10 Miami (11-2) advanced with a 10-3 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 20.
The Tar Heels have their new offensive coordinator, hiring former Missouri State and Louisville head coach Petrino, per On3. UNC fired 2025 offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens earlier in December after a single season in the role. Petrino was most recently the interim head coach for Arkansas following Sam Pittman’s firing in September.
UNC’s offense was one of the worst in the country, ranking 131st out of 136 FBS teams in total offensive yards per game (288.8) and 129th in average first downs. They were also just 121st in points.
Ex-Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin gets bonus for Rebels’ CFP win
Kiffin is no longer in Oxford, but he’s still profiting off Ole Miss‘ success. The new LSU head coach earned a $250,000 bonus from Ole Miss’ 41-10 win over No. 11 Tulane in the first round of the CFP on Dec. 20, thanks to his contract with the Tigers. When Kiffin became LSU’s head coach, the program added to his contract that he would receive whatever bonus money he would’ve received at Ole Miss during the CFP. Kiffin announced his intention to leave Ole Miss for LSU on Nov. 30, with the Rebels not allowing their head coach of six seasons to coach them in the postseason.
In other news, five Ole Miss coaches who are joining Kiffin’s coaching staff at LSU are staying in Oxford through the CFP: offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald and slot wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan.
Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham staying put
The Sun Devils have signed Dillingham to a new contract that pays him $7.5 million per season, per ESPN. The 35-year-old, who’s an ASU alum, is in his third season as the head coach of the Sun Devils, with the program winning the Big 12, reaching the CFP and finishing 11-3 in 2024; Dillingham won 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year honors. This season, Arizona State is 8-4 overall, 6-3 in Big 12 play and wraps up its season in the Sun Bowl vs. Duke on Dec. 31.
Texas keeping QB Arch Manning, bringing back Will Muschamp as DC
Manning is returning for his redshirt junior season with Texas, according to ESPN. He has totaled 2,942 passing yards, 24 passing yards, seven interceptions and a 145.8 passer rating through 12 games, while completing 61.4% of his passes in what’s his first season as a full-time starter. He has also rushed for 244 yards and eight touchdowns.
In other news, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian announced that former coordinator and linebackers coach Muschamp is returning to the school to be the team’s defensive coordinator. Muschamp was previously on the Longhorns’ staff in 2008 as the team’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He helped them win the Big 12 Championship Game in 2009 before advancing to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama. Muschamp was supposed to be the successor to then-head coach Mack Brown whenever he decided to retire. Instead, Muschamp was hired by Florida in 2011 and went on to have various others stops in the SEC.
No. 13 Texas (9-3) will finish out the season against No. 18 Michigan (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Kentucky HC Will Stein adds to his staff
Stein has hired Cutter Leftwich to be Kentucky’s offensive line coach and Joe Price III to be the wide receivers coach. Leftwich currently is Oregon‘s assistant offensive line coach and run game coordinator; Stein had already hired Pat Biondo from Oregon as Kentucky’s general manager.
Leftwich has worked with Oregon’s offense two of the past three years, with a year at North Texas as an offensive line coach. Stein worked with Price at UTSA and said he’s thrilled to add him to his Kentucky staff. Price has spent the last six seasons at UTSA, the last three as associate head coach, pass game coordinator and receivers coach.
HC Skip Holtz leaving UFL for potential college football opportunities
The Birmingham Stallions‘ head coach announced that he’s stepping down from his position but not retiring from coaching. Holtz said he’s “excited about the next steps” in his journey as he takes time to “pause” and “reflect” on potential college football head-coaching opportunities.
Holtz has been the Stallions’ head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since the 2022 revival of the USFL (now the UFL) with Birmingham, most notably, winning three consecutive championships from 2022-24. Last season, the Stallions went 7-3 before being eliminated in the USFL division title game.
Alabama committed to HC Kalen DeBoer
Amid speculation that DeBoer was a top candidate for the Penn State head coaching job (which has since been filled by Iowa State’s Matt Campbell) and that his name had been floated for the Michigan head coaching job (which has since been filled by former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham), Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne posted on social media on Dec. 14 that the university was committed to keeping their coach.
“We are proud to have Coach DeBoer leading our football program at The University of Alabama,” Byrne wrote. “He is an incredible coach and does an excellent job with the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Just as he is committed to this team, we are committed to him.”
DeBoer also posted a statement, shutting down rumors that he was moving on. “My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of president (Peter) Mohler, Greg Byrne, the board and so many others. … I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”
Former Tulane HC Jon Sumrall endorses Will Hall as next HC with donation
Tulane announced on Dec. 15 that Sumrall and his wife made a $100,000 contribution to the Green Wave Talent Fund, an initiative meant to expand NIL opportunities for student-athletes and bolster the staff’s ability to recruit and compete. The move was made in support of the program’s next head coach, Will Hall, and will “directly strengthen Tulane’s ability to recruit, retain, and develop championship-caliber student-athletes,” per the school.
Tulane decided on Dec. 8 to make Hall, its passing game coordinator and receivers coach, its next head coach after the 2025 season ends in the CFP under the outgoing Sumrall, who accepted an offer on Nov. 30 to take over at Florida but had been permitted to continue coaching Tulane through the postseason. This season, Sumrall led Tulane (11-2) to its second American Conference championship in four years and first CFP appearance in school history.
The 45-year-old Hall will become the third Tulane coach since Willie Fritz left for Houston after the 2023 season.
Utah HC Kyle Whittingham steps down, Morgan Scalley promoted
After 21 seasons at Utah, Whittingham is stepping down after coaching in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve, the program announced on Dec. 12. The school then announced on Dec. 13 that Scalley, the Utes’ defensive coordinator, will take over as their full-time head coach thereafter. Scalley, who was a defensive back at Utah from 2001-04, has been on the Utes’ coaching staff since 2007 and their defensive coordinator since 2016. He was reportedly the successor-in-waiting for when Whittingham ultimately stepped down from his position.
Whittingham, 66, departs after a total of 32 years with the Utes, previously serving as a position coach from 1994-2004. Utah recorded a winning record in 18 of his 21 seasons, going 177-68 in that span.
Sellers is finalizing a deal to return to South Carolina for the 2026 season, according to ESPN. In what was his redshirt sophomore season, Sellers totaled 2,437 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 139.8 passer rating in 2025, while completing 60.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 270 yards and five touchdowns in what was a 4-8 season (1-7 in SEC play) for the Gamecocks. Sellers, a former four-star recruit, has been South Carolina’s starting quarterback the past two seasons and a touted NFL quarterback prospect.
Finley is set to enter the portal, according to On3, and will be required to file a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility, as he looks to continue his career elsewhere after stints at LSU, Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky. Finley also transferred to Tulane after Western Kentucky in 2024 but was suspended indefinitely before the season and never played a game for the Green Wave. In 2025, Finley saw action in seven games and compiled 1,244 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 1-6 record. He became eligible for a seventh season after suffering a season-ending injury with Western Kentucky in 2024 after playing in three games.
Indiana extends DC Bryant Haines
Indiana is extending Haines to a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid assistants in college football. Haines confirmed that he signed a new contract. Haines has been a fixture on head coach Curt Cignetti’s coaching staff, serving as his defensive coordinator the past two years at Indiana (2024-25) and the previous two at James Madison (2022-23). He also coached under Cignetti at Elon (2017-18) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2014-15).
The Hoosiers held then-No. 1 Ohio State to 10 points in the Big Ten Championship Game. Indiana is the No. 1 seed and the only undefeated Power 4 program in the sport heading into the CFP.
In other news, Hoosiers defensive end Stephen Daley is expected to miss the CFP after getting injured during the top-ranked Hoosiers’ Big Ten title game celebration, Cignetti announced on Dec. 10. Daley appeared to land awkwardly on his right leg while high-fiving fans moments after Indiana took down OSU to capture their first Big Ten title since 1967. Daley was a lightly recruited player in his home state of Virginia but played a key role for Cignetti after transferring from Kent State to Indiana this season. He had 38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup this season, earning all-Big Ten honorable mention honors.
Indiana has a first-round bye and will face No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
The Cougars announced that they’ve hired Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore as their next head coach. Moore was Missouri’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons (2023-25), while previously being an offensive assistant at Fresno State for six seasons (2017-22). Washington State lost head coach Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State in the wake of Matt Campbell departing Ames to take over at Penn State earlier this month.
Nebraska hiring DC Rob Aurich, OL coach Geep Wade
San Diego State‘s Aurich will join Nebraska in the same role, and the team also hired Georgia Tech‘s Wade to coach the offensive line. Aurich was on the Aztecs’ staff for two years, with this his first as defensive coordinator. The Aztecs had one of FBS’s top defenses this year, and Aurich was a nominee for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. SDSU led the country with three shutouts and held eight of 12 opponents to 10 or fewer points. It ranked in the top 10 nationally in 10 categories while posting the fifth-best scoring defense in Mountain West history. The 12.5 points per game allowed in 2025 ranked fifth nationally and was a 17-point improvement from the 2024 season.
Wade, an FBS offensive line coach for 11 seasons, has developed linemen who have combined for 23 all-conference awards, including nine All-ACC awards from 2023 to 2025.
Nebraska is coming off of a 7-5 season where it finished 10th in the Big Ten while allowing 312.3 yards per game, 171.3 of which were rushing yards, along with 2.2 rushing touchdowns per game.
Tennessee hires DC Jim Knowles
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has hired Knowles as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Heupel moved quickly after firing coordinator Tim Banks, and the Vols coach said that hiring Knowles was a priority from the start.
“Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff,” Heupel said of the Vols’ first-round loss to Ohio State a year ago.
Knowles has coached 38 years in college football, with 18 as a defensive coordinator. He spent this season at Penn State and was at Ohio State between 2022 and 2024, helping the Buckeyes win the 2024 national championship. During his time at OSU, the Buckeyes allowed only 14.9 points and 278.7 yards per game over a three-year span with Knowles. Ohio State went 36-6, and Knowles coached 11 NFL draft picks.
Michigan fires HC Sherrone Moore
The Wolverines have fired Moore “for cause” after two seasons as their head coach, according to ESPN.
“Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” the school said in a statement. “This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior. Biff Poggi has been appointed head football coach in an interim capacity, effective immediately.”
Moore had been on Michigan’s coaching staff since 2018, previously serving as the team’s offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach before becoming the full-time head coach for the 2024 season. Michigan is 9-3 overall this season, ranked No. 18 and went a combined 17-8 under Moore over the past two seasons.
Baylor names new AD
Baylor athletics administrator and graduate Doug McNamee was named the school’s athletic director on Dec. 8. He replaces Mack Rhoades, who stepped down for personal reasons last month after nine years; Rhoades had also been chairman of the CFP selection committee.
McNamee was the senior associate athletic director for external affairs at Baylor in 2018, when he was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-facing units, including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticketing. He played a key role in the fundraising, planning and opening of McLane Stadium over a decade ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
