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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where James Franklin ranks in ESPN college football coach ranking
Penn State head coach James Franklin is entering his 12th season at the helm of the program, and he may be facing the most pressure yet after bringing Penn State to the cusp of an appearance in the national championship game last season. The Nittany Lions are predicted to be a Big Ten heavyweight with a legitimate national title aspirations as they look to take the challenging next step as a program Franklin has been harping about for years. No matter what you think about Franklin entering the 2025 season, the numbers do back up the idea that he is among the best in the game. And according to Bill Connelly of ESPN, the numbers have Franklin ranked as one of the four best coaches in college football in 2025. Connelly's mathematical formulas, used to rank just about everything you can imagine in college football, have calculated Franklin to be the fourth-best active college football coach for the upcoming college football season. Two ranked ahead of him, Ohio State's Ryan Day (no. 1) and Georgia's Kirby Smart (no. 3), have national championships to their name. The other, Josh Heupel of Tennessee (no. 2), is questionable if not laughable. Even if you rank Heupel ahead of Franklin, is he really the second-best coach in the sport? Probably not. While a small handful of active head coaches currently own national title rings (Clemson's Dabo Swinney joins Day and Smart and may have the Tigers ready to roar back to the national title conversation soon enough after year's ACC championship and playoff appearance), the tenure of Franklin is a bit of a complicated one when determining his success. Penn State has consistently been one of the winningest programs in the country since his arrival, but Franklin's jarring record against top-ranked teams is an unavoidable narrative that is increasingly more difficult to combat even for Franklin's biggest defenders. Arguing that Franklin has been a bust for a head coach is ill-advised as he has taken Penn State to a Big Ten title and wins in the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl (twice), and Cotton Bowl, and has helped[d produce some incredible talent for the NFL. But it is also fair to suggest Franklin has failed to getting Penn State to the elite level the program is striving for. After so many years and shortcomings against the same hurdles in the same fashion, the case has been made. But maybe in 2025, Franklin will finally break free of that narrative once and for all. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Louisville football could be sleeper in ACC race: Transfer QB Miller Moss holds key
CHARLOTTE, NC — This episode of The C.L. Brown Show was taped live on location at the ACC Kickoff and features college football reporter David Ubben of The Athletic, Fiesta Bowl CEO Erik Moses and California head coach Justin Wilcox. Ubben tells why, even though Clemson is the favorite, he wouldn't be surprised if Louisville finds itself competing in the ACC championship game. Moses explains why even if the College Football Playoff expands, first-round games belong on campus. As Wilcox brings Cal to its first game at Louisville, he tells why he always expects a quarterback under U of L coach Jeff Brohm to play well. A new episode of this podcast, hosted by Courier Journal sports columnist C.L. Brown, posts each Wednesday. You can listen to The C.L. Brown Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Audible, CastBox and iHeartRadio, among others. More from C.L. Brown Louisville football doesn't need to top Clemson. Being second in ACC should rate CFP bid Pat Kelsey has Louisville basketball recruiting at all-time high Kentucky basketball's Mark Pope has landed homegrown stars. Tyran Stokes would be big win Fear shouldn't derail Run 4 Roses basketball tournament or city of Louisville Kentucky football's Mark Stoops is on ropes. But don't count him out in SEC Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football: Jeff Brohm team will be factor in ACC race
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 10 — Joey Harrington
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 10 — Captain Comeback, Joey Harrington Player Overview Joey Harrington was the first player the Ducks marketed on a big-time level, signifying a change in the atmosphere of Oregon athletics. He didn't disappoint. Growing up in Portland, Harrington was always a Duck fan and had wanted to be the quarterback for the Oregon Ducks for most of his life, making him easy to root for. He was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" during his tenure with multiple fourth-quarter rallies. In his senior season, Harrington led the Ducks to their best-ever single season (at the time) with a 12-1 record and a win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Harrington was also Oregon's first-ever Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in the voting in 2001. Joey Harrington Career Stats 38 games, 445-for-813 passing (54.7 percent), 6,057 yards, 52 TD, 21 INT Joey Harrington's Single Best Season 2001: 11 games, 186-for-322 passing (57.8 percent), 2,415 yards (219.5 ypg), 21 TD, 5 INT, 4th in Heisman voting Joey Harrington's Historical Stats and Records Joey Harrington NFL Draft Harrington was picked as the No. 3 selection overall by the Detroit Lions in 2002. Joey Harrington's NFL Success Unfortunately, Harrington was drafted by the Lions when they were a complete dumpster fire of a franchise. They had the No. 3 pick for a reason, but things never got better. The Lions failed to build an offensive line to protect Harrington and the Oregon legend had to play with a new offensive coordinator for every single season of his professional career. He played four seasons with the Lions, one for Miami, and one for Atlanta. Joey Harrington's Lasting Oregon Legacy Harrington is still a fan favorite 25 years later and was inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He was the first quarterback to lead the Ducks on the national stage and could have easily won a National Championship if the College Football Playoff existed back then, instead of the flawed system that was the BCS. Although he didn't win the Heisman, Harrington showed that a quarterback could be successful on that level for the Ducks and set the stage for Marcus Mariota a decade later. He also made the "O" sign a thing as he led the band into the fight song after every victory. Harrington was also the first Duck to be on the cover of EA Sports College Football '03. In short, he made being an Oregon Duck cool before anyone else. There have been a lot of great Oregon quarterbacks to come through Eugene over the past 25 years, but Harrington laid the groundwork for them to achieve the level of success that they did. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Boise State Heads Into 2025 College Football Season As Favorite In G5
GLENDALE, ARIZ. - Maddux Madsen of the Boise State Broncos throws a pass during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl ... More against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024. (Photo by) Boise State traveled to Eugene on the second Saturday of the 2024 college football season and led No. 7 Oregon early in the fourth quarter. The unranked Broncos went down in defeat on a field goal as time expired, though Spencer Danielson' team served notice that it would be one to be reckoned with. While the Ducks ascended to No. 1 by the end of October and eventually lost the national championship to Ohio State, the Broncos galloped through the Mountain West, climbed to No. 8 and their way to State College where they lost (31-14) to the Nittany Lions in a College Football Playoff game that was a one-score affair with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The defeat halted an 11-game win streak and concluded a 12-2 season. No longer with the services of Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 selection of the Las Vegas Raiders after leading the nation with 186 yards rushing per game, the easy question is whether Boise State has enough offensive production to reign supreme and represent the Group of Five in the 12-team CFP once again. If you believe the three major print preview publications (Athlon, Lindy's and Phil Steele) that began to appear on magazine shelves around Memorial Day then, yes, the Broncos will be at the top of the G5 chart once again. There is no reason to think otherwise as they head into their final season as a member of the Mountain West before moving to what will be a nine-team Pac-12. Even with Jeanty, defensive end Ahmed Hassanein and safety Seyi Oladipo in the NFL, Danielson is not lacking when it comes to returning playmakers. Indeed, quarterback Maddux Madsen will operate behind an experienced line and again have Matt Lauter, one of the nation's top tight ends, among his targets. The running game should more than hold its own thanks in part to portal acquisition Malik Sherrod (Fresno State) and the continued development of Sire Gaines, who got his feet wet last season. Meanwhile, a defense that averaged 3.9 sacks per game to rank second nationally, should again be stout despite key losses. That is thanks to thee return of, among others, end Jayden Virgin-Morgan (team-high 10 sacks), safety Ty Bennefield (leading tackler) and corner A'Marion McCoy (14 PBUs). For the third time in five full seasons the Broncos open in the Sunshine State when they meet USF for a Thursday evening affair August 28 in Tampa. A tricky spot in the schedule is a trip to Notre Dame on Oct 4, which comes one week after hosting Appalachian State, whose 2024 slip below .500 is likely temporary. Tulane among others to watch While Phil Steele has Toledo (No. 25) and Memphis (No. 27) at least knocking on the door of G5 supremacy, only three other teams -- James Madison, Navy and Tulane -- are in the top 60 of each publication, which serves to underscore the thought of how wide open it is among the non-power conference. There is agreement when it comes to the Green Wave, who are ranked tightly from No. 43 to No. 48 while the Midshipmen range from No. 40 to No. 54. Phil Steele has JMU at No. 32, far ahead of Lindy's and Athlon, which have the Dukes at No. 58 and No. 59, respectively. Tulane is 32-10 with three American championship game appearances (one win) in as many years, including Jon Sumrall's first as coach in New Orleans last season. While the defense has four of its top five tacklers returning, the offense endured major blows with the departures of quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke – Guess who's coming to Yulman Stadium on September 13? -- after placing sixth nationally in pass efficiency, and running back Makhi Hughes, who left for Oregon after rushing for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns in two seasons. In addition, the top three wideouts expired their eligibility and the No. 1 tight end transferred to Miami. TAMPA - Head coach Jon Sumrall of the Tulane Green Wave looks on in the second half of the Union ... More Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl against the Florida Gators at Raymond James Stadium on December 20, 2024. (Photo by) Kaden Semonza (Ball State) and Brendan Sullivan (Iowa/Northwestern), who arrived in June, will battle it out at QB and behind a line in need of three new starters. In addition to Duke and reunion with Mensah, the schedule the first four weeks also includes the opener versus Northwestern and a trip to Ole Miss. Navy won 10 games last season, including over service academy rival Army and against Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl. While the offensive line had three starters graduate, much of the offense returns, including quarterback Blake Horvath, who was the American's third-leading rusher and totaled 30 touchdowns. Though the top three tacklers, led by linebacker and the American's leading tackler, Colin Ramos, graduated, there is plenty of talent and depth returning on a defense that was third in the conference in allowing 22.2 points a year ago. The back end of Navy's schedule is demanding with a trip to South Bend, a visit from USF, Thanksgiving turkey in Memphis, and the traditional clash with Army, which will be in Baltimore for the first time since 2016. James Madison is 28-9 in its three seasons of FBS affiliation, each as a member of the Sun Belt in which they are 17-7. Bob Chesney took over for Curt Cignetti, who did wonders at Indiana, and went 9-4 as a first-year FBS coach in 2024. The big question heading into preseason camp is the health of quarterback Alonza Barnett. The junior threw 26 TDs and only four INTs before tearing an ACL in the regular-season finale. Hence, it should not surprise if Matthew Sluka, who played under Chesney at Holy Cross for two seasons before transferring to UNLV last year, takes over the offense at least initially. The Sun Belt's top scoring defense (20.5) a year ago had four of its top six tacklers depart and new DC Colin Hitschler's unit will be challenged in the season's opening month with trips to Louisville and Liberty as well as a conference opener versus Georgia Southern.
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Connor Stalions fires back at TCU coach's sign-stealing narrative
Brett McMurphy has just started his new job at On3 and felt like he had a bit of a juicy story, even if it's one that's already been told. All the way back in October 2023, a TCU contingent told ESPN that the Horned Frogs were aware of Michigan football's Connor Stalions and his sign-stealing ways, and that they had devised a clever plan which made the Wolverines' machinations backfire on them. Now, years removed, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes is adding gasoline to the flames by telling McMurphy and On3 at Big 12 media days about the countermeasures that the Horned Frogs took against the Wolverines in that 2022 Fiesta Bowl. 'We had some intel that (the sign stealing) was going on,' Dykes told On3 from Big 12 media days. 'Look everybody does it to an extent, but we had some intel that it was kind of next level there.'Dykes' solution? 'We changed some signs, we left some the same,' Dykes said. 'We found out early enough (before the game) where we could change a lot of our signals and then we had some dummy signals and some things where we checked a dummy signal to a signal that we knew they knew. 'We got some favorable matchups because of that and, yeah, there was some big plays in the game. No one who was a part of that Michigan football team had been able to fight back on the allegations publicly. But now, as he waits for the NCAA to levy its punishment for the advanced scouting scandal, Stalions isn't letting this one go by idly. Stalions took to X (formerly Twitter) to rebut McMurphy's story on Dykes, responding to the article post in great, great detail about why this account from the Horned Frogs coach is erroneous. To be 'tipped off' that your next opponent is good at stealing signals is like saying you were tipped off that you had an upcoming game. To save everybody's time so we can move on from the same recycled story from Coach Dykes, I'll provide some more details and we can wrap this up: We lost because we turned the ball over & had a poor game tackling. And TCU played well. Congratulations. The same way we won the Natty (when I was not with the program) because we blocked well, tackled well, and took care of the rock. Welcome to the game of football. Since people are so intrigued by signals…The entire Air Raid communication system is the offensive coordinator signaling to the QB, then the QB signaling to the Receivers. USC, TCU, etc. It's all the same. They're all the same signals too. And TCU kept everything from the coordinator to QB the same, but had dummy signals & some new signals from the QB to Receivers. But that didn't matter because I'm watching the coach and seeing what they changed in real time. Similar to Ohio State 'changing their signals.' They changed their route concepts & some run concepts — not their formations & pass protection signals, which is all I cared about. To say anyone 'fooled' me is admitting that you have no idea how signal deciphering & protecting works. No team has ever 'changed' signals — meaning they don't recycle the same signal to have a different meaning because that would confuse the 18-year olds on the field more than it would confuse me. They simply create new signals. And if I see a new signal, I'm not guessing what it means. There were games where I relayed information 0% of the time, all the way through 99% of the time. No one is forcing you to signal. Rutgers & Minnesota huddled (didn't signal). Nebraska didn't signal until the 2nd quarter when they were down 14-0. Even we, Michigan, didn't signal on offense. If you don't want teams to steal your signals, then don't signal. Any team that signals on offense is trying to force the defense to signal so they can steal it. There's really no other advantage unless you're trying to prevent a sub, or it's 2-minute. If that weren't true, you'd see the entire NFL go up tempo to find advantages. But you don't. And it's still going on today in college with coach comms. Notice how teams still signal — it's because they're going up tempo. The continuous attempt to correlate signals to any wins & losses at Michigan is funny. There were 7 games in my time at Michigan where I knew almost every signal the whole game: 2021 MSU, 2022 MSU, 2022 PSU, 2022 OSU, 2022 TCU, 2021 Georgia, and 2021 Wisconsin. We lost 3 of those games because we didn't tackle well, and Georgia was historically good. We won the four other games because we dominated the line of scrimmage & tackled well. Blocking, ball security, tackling, run fits & coverage tools. That's football. This is not rocket science. That is true -- it wasn't so much that TCU took great advantage of Michigan being in the wrong place throughout the game. The Wolverines struggled throughout the entire College Football Playoff semifinal with the fundamentals, and ultimately found themselves making mistake after mistake -- from J.J. McCarthy's two interceptions, to a fumble at the goal line, to running the Philly special on a fourth down. Then, when TCU had the ball, Michigan struggled to finish tackles or whiffed entirely. It wasn't a case of catching the Wolverines off guard; it was a case of Michigan not being able to get out of its own way. Even still, the game came down to the maize and blue's final possession. Of course, narratives will persist, regardless, especially since Stalions didn't start going on the record until Netflix's 'Sign Stealer' was released in August 2024. He's since made a trio of podcast appearances and is becoming more and more of a social media presence.
