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Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Coaches Poll Top 25 Prediction: 2025 Preseason College Football Rankings
There's a bit of bet-hedging the preseason AP and Coaches Polls are almost mirror images of each other. But this year, there's a chance the two might be different general, the coaches are more likely to give respect to what happened last year, while the AP types occasionally get a wee bit wackier. When we do this each year, there normally isn't much variance between the two. But because the top five - forget about the top 15ish - isn't totally obvious, the preseason Coaches Poll Top 25 prediction will vary more from the AP Top 25 Prediction. This year should a bit more interesting because the coaches should know a bit more than usual, considering they're all in tune with the ins and outs of the crazy transfer portal year was easy. Everyone loved Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, and Alabama. But everyone knew who the starting quarterback for those five would be. That's not quite as easy this year. Make the assumption that the coaches go with the teams that have the veterans under what will the 2025 preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll Top 25 probably be? Below isn't the actual 2025 Preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll. It's our prediction of what this might be, and we'll probably change it in August.- CFN 2025 Preview: All 136 Team PreviewsTop Predicted Also Receiving Votes: Iowa, USC, Florida State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, Navy, Washington, Minnesota 25 Kansas State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 17 Final: T29 24 Boise State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 31, Final: 9 23 Iowa State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: T35, Final: 15 22 Oklahoma 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 16, Final: NR 21 Florida 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: NR Final: NR 20 Indiana 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: NR, Final: 10 19 SMU 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 29, Final: T11 18 Ole Miss 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 6, Final: 13 17 Tennessee 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 15, Final: 8 16 Missouri 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 11, Final: 20 15 Texas A&M 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 20, Final: NR 14 Arizona State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: NR, Final: 7 13 Illinois 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: NR, Final: 16 12 South Carolina 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 39, Final: 19 11 Michigan 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 8, Final: T29 10 Miami 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 19, Final: 18 9 LSU 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 12, Final: 26 8 Clemson 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 14, Final: T11 7 Oregon 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 3, Final: 4 6 Notre Dame 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 7, Final: 2 5 Georgia 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 1, Final: 6 4 Penn State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 9, Final: 5 3 Alabama 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 5, Final: 17 2 Ohio State 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 2, Final: 1 1 Texas 2024 Coaches Preseason Ranking: 4, Final: 3 Related: AP Top 25 Poll Preseason Prediction: 2025 College Football Rankings © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Scott Frost 'didn't really want' to leave UCF football for Nebraska in 2017
Last December, UCF football addressed its future by turning to its past, bringing in former Knights coach Scott Frost to once again lead the program. With the benefit of hindsight, Frost would have never left Orlando in the first place. As he prepares to enter the first season of his second stint at UCF, Frost expressed regrets over departing for Nebraska after the 2017 college football season, claiming he 'didn't really want' to accept the job at his alma mater. "I said I wouldn't leave (UCF) unless it was someplace you could win a national championship,' Frost said in an interview with The Athletic at Big 12 media days on July 8. 'I got tugged in a direction to try to help my alma mater and didn't really want to do it. It wasn't a good move. I'm lucky to get back to a place where I was a lot happier." REQUIRED READING: Meet Cody Campbell, the billionaire Texas Tech booster with plan to save college sports Frost engineered one of the more remarkable turnarounds in recent college football history during his first stop at UCF. He inherited a Knights program that went winless the season before his arrival and, by his second season at the helm, posted an undefeated season in 2017. That ended with the school claiming a national championship after the Knights were the only undefeated team in college football that season. That December, one month before UCF finished off its unblemished season with a Peach Bowl victory against Auburn, Frost was hired at Nebraska. It was a homecoming for the Lincoln, Nebraska native: He was the quarterback of the Cornhuskers' most recent national championship team, which was awarded the Coaches Poll title for the 1997 college football season. (Michigan was awarded the Associated Press title). A hire that seemed perfect in theory — a native son with an impressive resume and a thorough understanding of the program — was something more disastrous in practice. REQUIRED READING: Big 12 quarterback rankings: Experienced signal-callers headline 2025 season Frost went just 16-31 in his time at Nebraska, including a 10-26 mark in Big Ten play. Under their former star quarterback, the Cornhuskers never won more than five games. One day after a 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern in 2022, Frost was fired, three games into his fifth season. After working last season as an analyst for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, Frost will look to reignite a UCF program that has struggled in its first two seasons in the Big 12, going 10-15 overall and 5-13 in conference play during that time. He's one of two first-year Big 12 coaches who's back at a school he previously led to overwhelming success, with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia being the other. Frost returns to the Knights carrying at least one lesson he took from his failure at Nebraska. "Don't take the wrong job,' he said to The Athletic.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What to Know About Illinois Fighting Illini In 2025
The Illinois Fighting Illini are certainly a team that has come out of the woodwork in recent years. Under the reign of Bret Bielema, they have gone from conference laughingstock to a potential emergent powerhouse. With the likes of Luke Altmyer leading the pack at the QB position and linebacker Gabe Jacas anchoring the middle of a stout defensive front, the Illini are built to succeed now. The only thing that could potentially stand in their way is themselves. However, with one of the easiest Big Ten slates, they can finally start dreaming of a potential CFP bid in Champaign. Despite the fact that they have lost several key players both offensively and defensively, look for certain stars to step up and elevate their game as well. And who knows? Should they not slip, perhaps their dreams will become reality. 2024 in Review The Fighting Illini's 2024 season may have been one of their most successful in recent history. For the first time since 2011, the Illini were a 10-win program, going 6-3 within the conference. At the end of the year, the Illini were ranked #20 in the College Football Playoff Poll, #21 in the AP Top 25 Poll, and #21 in the Coaches Poll. After their success in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl however, they moved up to #16 in the AP Top 25 after vanquishing #14 South Carolina 21-17. That finish proved to be their second-highest ranking in the last 35 years and only their 12th ever appearance in the AP Top 25. Most importantly, they got back to 10 wins, tying a program record and also having a program-tying four wins against AP Top 25 opponents. Their Citrus Bowl win was the first bowl win since 2011 and their highest ranked non-conference victory since 1990. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of this shocking Illini season is that they were known for their comeback victories. Including their Citrus Bowl victory, the Illini led the nation in fourth quarter comebacks with 5 and consequently also led the nation in one-score victories as well because of their late heroics. Most of these victories stem from quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has led five game-winning drives in his Illinois career, most importantly, four coming in Big Ten wins. Now that Altmyer and 18 other starters from last year, there is hope that 2025 can be an even bigger breakthrough. Head Coach Profile Bret Bielema may just be one of the most well-renowned modern college football coaches. Whether it be his successful stint with Arkansas, or now revitalizing this Illini program, he has been making history no matter where he goes. Consider this: Bielema's 28-22 record in four seasons with the Illini is the second- best record through 50 games for any Illini coach, only behind Mike White of the '80s. Most impressively he is the first Illinois head coach to even win eight games twice in his first four seasons in almost 35 years. Furthermore, his 18 Big Ten wins, critical in this expanded format, are the second-most ever in four seasons behind John Mackovic with 22. Most impressively, however, might just be his performances on the road. No other Illini coach in their first four years has won more Bielema's four ranked road/neutral games. His 10 wins in Big Ten road games is tied for second best, only behind Mike White and tied with Lou Tepper and John Mackovic. Heading into his fifth season, Bielema's job is certainly safe. However, this could be a landmark year if he does what no other Illini coach has ever dreamed of accomplishing. Top Offensive Player Now that the Fighting Illini have lost two of their leading receivers from last season, the onus now falls on Luke Altmyer to continue his exploits in terms of leading this team to improbable heights. The former Ole Miss QB has certainly performed to expectation thus far in his short Illinois career. However, he might have to exceed them for Illinois to finally break through to the CFP. He certainly has proved he has the traits to do so. Last season, Altmyer was one of only four Power 4 QBs with 20+ touchdowns and fiver or fewer interceptions in the regular season. He also ranked 33rd in passing efficiency, a respectable placement considering the efficiency of the Illini offense itself. However, something that may seem slightly lees impressive to some is that despite finishing in the Big Ten's top five in terms of passing touchdowns, that number was only good for 31st in the nation. That tally must go up for the Illini to continue to sustain this recent success. Breaking in a largely green receiving will not necessarily help matters for Altmyer. However, the positive takeaways from Altmyer's 2024 season could pay dividends this year. Altmyer has continued the trend of recent passing efficiency success, with his 144.0 rating being the second best in the past three years. This continues a trend of efficiency within the Illini offense itself as OC Brian Lunney has been at the helm for three of the four best passing efficient offenses in program history. Lastly and perhaps, most importantly amidst Altmyer's accolades is his pedigree against Top 25 opponents. His 3 wins against Top 25 opponets are already the same number as several other Illinois QBs over the past 50 years. The sky's the limit for Altmyer and this year will ultimately prove if he can take off. Top Defensive Player The Illini defense was exceptional last year at almost every single level. However, there was one player who anchored it all: Gabe Jacas. In the middle of the Illini's front seven, he had one of the most successful seasons for an Illini defender in their history. In an All-Big Ten Third team worthy season, Jacas had a remarkable campaign. Against ranked opponents alone, he had 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. However, that only paints half the picture. His 3 forced fumbles overall were tied for 25th in the nation as well as his 8 sacks, which were also good enough for fifth in the Big Ten. Seven of those eight sacks came against Big Ten competition to boot. His 74 tackles were second overall on the team, and he led them in tackles for loss, sacks and QB hurries as well. In their bowl victory, he had a career high 3 TFLs to help them clinch the victory. Furthermore, in an impressive ranked win over Michigan, he had a career 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs, and his fourth ever forced fumble in his career. However, the most impressive aspect of his career, is that he has been able to vault himself up to ninth in the Illinois football history books in terms of sacks with 16 to his name. Turn in a couple more sterling performances, especially when it matters, and his name could be one of legend in Champaign. 2025 Schedule Outlook The Illini may have gotten off easy in terms of their schedule this season. Avoiding Penn State and Oregon is one thing. Not facing more than two potential ranked opponents is another. However, that does not mean there could be cause for some slip ups, either. A couple of games that should be highlighted on the schedule are obviously the Week 7 matchup with Ohio State but also Week 5 against USC. Those could be the only two chances for the Illini to truly prove they are CFP worthy to the committee. Both USC and Ohio State should both be squarely within the AP polls at the time of these games so two big wins there could really boost their CFP hopes. They get both games at home so at the very least they have that advantage. Another intriguing game is their first Big Ten game of the season against the Indiana Hoosiers. One could definitely say that the winner of that game has the best fighting chance out of the Big Ten's Big Three to make the CFP. Indiana were the true surprise team, riding the high of Curt Cignetti and his JMU transfers to CFP glory. Illinois will be looking to do the same, on the road in what should be an electric environment. However, as last year proved, they are not averse to anything. This should be a thrilling campaign for Illinois fans if everything goes as planned. Everything is right there for the taking. They just can't let anything slip.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What is BYU's honor code? What to know as Jake Retzlaff considers transfer
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff is facing a potential suspension for being found in violation of BYU's honor code. Retzlaff plans to transfer from the Cougars' program — according to a report from ESPN — to avoid what would "likely" be a seven-game suspension from the university. Retzlaff was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home, per a civil lawsuit filed in May. Retzlaff's lawyer, Mark Baute, denied the allegations. The woman who accused Retzlaff withdrew her civil suit on Monday, June 30, per ESPN. REQUIRED READING: BYU QB Jake Retzlaff faces suspension, future uncertain after sexual assault civil suit Regardless of the status of the suit, having sexual relations outside of marriage is against the BYU honor code — meaning Retzlaff would still be subject to punishment from the university for being found in violation. Here's what you need to know about the BYU honor code, and how it has affected athletes in the past: What is BYU honor code? The BYU honor code is a code of conduct to which all members of BYU — faculty, administration, staff and students — voluntarily adhere. The university, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mandates that associates of the university "conduct their lives in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ" and "strive to maintain the highest standards in their personal conduct regarding honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others." Per BYU, students must: Notable BYU players who have violated honor code In 2004, BYU officials dismissed or suspended four football players due to actions during an off-campus party, which included alcohol and extramarital sex. Two additional players were placed on probation. Brandon Davies is another notable example found to be in violation of BYU's honor code. He was suspended in early March of his the 2010-11 men's basketball season for having premarital sex with his girlfriend. BYU was ranked No. 3 in the Coaches Poll at the time. He was later reinstated by the team as a junior, and played two more seasons for the Cougars — seasons in which he was named to the All-West Coast Conference team. He went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. Running back Jamaal Williams was forced to sit out the 2015 college football season after an honor code violation in which he said he had a girl in his dorm room. Williams opted to stick with the Cougars rather than transfer and proceeded to become a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Retzlaff in 2024 guided BYU to an 11-2 record, including an Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado. He completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also rushing for 417 yards and six touchdowns in his first season a full-time starter. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: (4673) and and en Español
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida baseball falls just short in final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll top 25 of 2025
The 2025 college baseball campaign is officially in the books following the completion of the College World Series on Sunday, in which the LSU Tigers prevailed over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in two games. Following the official end of the season, the final edition of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released, with those two teams at the top of the rankings in their respective spots. But one may ask, "Where did the Florida Gators finish?" Just to recap, Kevin O'Sullivan's squad, which endured a rollercoaster ride of both success and futility this past spring, finished the campaign with a 39-22 overall record and an even 15-15 mark in Southeastern Conference play. They made it just two games deep into the SEC Tournament, getting knocked out by the Ole Miss Rebels in the second round before losing two of three — both to the East Carolina Pirates — in the Conway Regional, marking the end of this year's run. As a result, the Orange and Blue finished just outside of the Coaches Poll top 25 with a de facto No. 26 ranking thanks to 85 votes. The conference had eight member schools among the top 25 and four others, including Florida, that earned votes. Take a look at the full final rankings below. Final 2025 College Baseball USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Schools Dropped Out No. 18 Florida; No. 20 Alabama; No. 21 Northeastern; No. 22 Dallas Baptist; No. 23 Kansas; No. 25 TCU; Others Receiving Votes Florida 85; Alabama 73; Northeastern 55; Dallas Baptist 53; Oklahoma 28; Wake Forest 24; TCU 22; Kansas 18; Virginia 14; North Carolina State 14; East Carolina 14; Western Kentucky 12; Oklahoma State 12; Mississippi State 11; Creighton 11; USC 9; Austin Peay 4; Arizona State 4; East Tennessee State 3; Troy 2; Cincinnati 2; Little Rock 1; Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
