Category: College Football

Georgia, Kirby Smart Agree to Extension to Make Him Highest-Paid Coach
2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Georgia, Kirby Smart Agree to Extension to Make Him Highest-Paid Coach

The University of Georgia and head football coach Kirby Smart have agreed to a two-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid head coach in college football, according to a report from Seth Emerson of The Athletic.

Smart's contract now runs through December 2033 and will pay him an annual salary of $13 million per year, a $1.75 million annual raise from his original deal, and bonuses up to $1.55 million.

In his eight years leading the football program at Georgia, the Bulldogs have become the standard in the SEC. Smart is 94–16 overall since taking over in 2016 and has led the program to three national championship games, winning two of them. In total, Smart is 9–2 in bowl games in his time with the Bulldogs.

Smart is the best coach in college football, and has been for the last few years. He is now being compensated like it with his new deal, which makes him the sport's highest-paid coach.

In addition, Georgia announced a contract extension for athletic director Josh Brooks, whose contract aligns with Smart's through 2030. Brooks will now be paid an annual salary of $1.275 million per year, and will increase by $100,000 each year. He will also be eligible to earn bonuses up to $200,000 per year throughout the life of the contract.

Georgia finished with a 13–1 record last season, with the lone loss coming to Alabama in the SEC championship game, which kept the Bulldogs out of the College Football Playoff. Georgia went on to defeat Florida State in the Orange Bowl 63–3.

College Football, Georgia Bulldogs, Kirby Smart
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Announcers in ‘EA Sports College Football 25’ Will Depend on ‘Magnitude’ of the Game
2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Announcers in ‘EA Sports College Football 25’ Will Depend on ‘Magnitude’ of the Game

The highly anticipated upcoming college football video game from EA Sports will add a touch of realism with its broadcast experience.

Kirk Herbstreit, one of the announcers who leant his voice to College Football 25, told USA Today this week that he and partner Chris Fowler won’t be the only announcers players hear in the game. There will be multiple broadcast teams that will change based on the “magnitude” of the matchup, according to Herbstreit.

“Chris and I won’t be on every every game,” Herbstreit said. “You’re going to have different broadcast partners for different games. Depending on the magnitude of the game, that will dictate who’s calling the game.”

EA Sports senior vice president Daryl Holt declined to elaborate on what other announcers could be in the game but told USA Today that more details about the game should be coming in the “next few weeks.”

Fowler and Herbstreit are the broadcast team for ABC’s primetime game of the week. Their ESPN colleagues Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Jesse Palmer and Kevin Connors have previously confirmed that they’ll be featured in the game. Davis and Howard are part of the College Gameday team, Palmer is a studio analyst and color commentator, and Connors is an anchor.

Fowler said Wednesday that he spent 115 hours recording his lines for the game, reading the names of 700 college football players.

College Football, EA Sports, Video Games
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Chris Fowler Shared Wild Details of 115 Hours Recording Calls for ‘EA College Football 25’
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Chris Fowler Shared Wild Details of 115 Hours Recording Calls for ‘EA College Football 25’

With the release date of EA Sports' College Football 25 video game inching closer, ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler posted that he officially completed his announcing parts for the game.

Over the course of two years, Fowler recorded around 115 hours of audio, including about 700 college football stars' names. Unlike the previous edition of the game, which last came out in 2013, this edition will be able to include the players' names because of NIL rules.

Fowler explained just how detailed the analysis for the game will be as he listed numerous scenarios in which him and his broadcasting teammate Kirk Herbstreit recorded content for.

"It is an incredibly detailed process," Fowler said. "I couldn't be more impressed with everyone at EA. Total pros who care so much about the quality and sweat the details."

The game is expected to be released on July 19 after years of anticipation. A cover athlete is supposed to be announced some time in May.

College Football, NCAA, Video Games
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PODCAST: CFB Super League Ridiculousness + Audience Q&A
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

PODCAST: CFB Super League Ridiculousness + Audience Q&A

Time to take some questions from the audience about the upcoming G5 football season and more. Obviously, the expansion of the College Football Playoff opens the door for at least one team from the G5 to make that tournament. Who might that program be in this first year of the 12-team format?

Could all of that change with the potential creation of a G5 super league? Is this the potential impetus for the G5 to make their own playoff? Eric Henry of 247Sports joins once again for a discussion of what this offseason prognostication means for the sport. Happy football watching! Look for more audience participation and Q&A opportunities in future episodes of the show.

Happy football watching!

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247Sports, College Football, College Football Playoff, College Football Super League, Football, G5 Football Daily, G5 Football Daily Podcast, G5 Football Playoff, G5 Playoff, Henry, Joe, Means, ONE, Review, to
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Shedeur Sanders Takes Shot at Former Teammate Who Criticized Deion Sanders
30 Apr 24 Jimm Sallivan

Shedeur Sanders Takes Shot at Former Teammate Who Criticized Deion Sanders

Colorado's hire of coach Deion Sanders away from Jackson State in Dec. 2022 instantly transformed the Buffaloes into one of the most closely followed teams in college football. Their fanbase expanded overnight as they reeled in television audiences in sizes usually reserved for Alabama or Ohio State.

However, Sanders's methods alienated some—and not just people within the game itself. Many observers took issue with his wholesale turnover of Colorado's roster, which began with the most infamous video of Sanders's tenure.

On Tuesday, Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders responded dismissively to one such criticism of his father's methods. In The Athletic, now-UTEP (and former Austin Peay) defensive back Xavier Smith charged the elder Sanders "(destroyed) guys' confidence and belief in themselves)."

"Ion even remember him tbh. Bro had to be very mid at best," Sanders wrote on social media.

The shrug-like tweet drew widespread condemnation, accruing almost three times as many quote-tweets as retweets in about an hour.

Sanders' on-field skills are obvious, but his tact may need some tinkering in 2024 as he presumably eyes the 2025 NFL draft.

Austin Peay, College Football, Colorado, Shedeur Sanders, UTEP, Xavier Smith
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Jalen Milroe Brushes Off Question About Michigan Cheating
30 Apr 24 Jimm Sallivan

Jalen Milroe Brushes Off Question About Michigan Cheating

Jalen Milroe doesn't want to discuss Michigan's sign-stealing scandal from the 2023 season. Alabama's quarterback was asked if he believed the Wolverines cheated and demurred, brushing the questions off and crediting them for winning the national championship. It was a textbook lesson in how to avoid making waves during an interview.

On Tuesday, Milroe was a guest on Barstool Sports' Bussin' With the Boys and was asked if he thought Michigan cheated. His replied, "Doesn't matter, they won."

That is an incredibly savvy, well-handled response from Milroe. It's impressive.

Milroe led Alabama against Michigan in the semifinal of the College Football Playoffs. The sophomore famously came up just two yards short of tying the game in overtime, as Michigan stopped his quarterback sneak shy of the goal line. That gave the Wolverines a 27-20 win and a berth in the title game, where they trounced Washington 34-13.

Overall, Milroe performed well in his first year as the Crimson Tide's starter in 2023. He completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,834 yards, with 23 touchdowns, six interceptions, a passer rating of 172.2 and 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. His QBR of 80.5 ranked 13th nationally, and he earned second team All-SEC honors.

Milroe is returning under a new head coach in 2024, as Kalen DeBoer has taken over for Nick Saban. It will be fascinating how things change with a new staff and a new offense. Milroe has the inside track to start, but it's already clear he can handle the media responsibilities of a starting quarterback at Alabama.

Alabama Crimson Tide, College Football, Jalen Milroe, Michigan Wolverines
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Ex-NFL Coach Dirk Koetter Returns to Boise State as Offensive Coordinator
27 Feb 24 Jimm Sallivan

Ex-NFL Coach Dirk Koetter Returns to Boise State as Offensive Coordinator

Boise State is hiring former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator, Jay Tust of KTVB in Idaho first reported and Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde confirmed.

Koetter is a veteran coach in both college and the NFL, spending time as either a head coach or offensive coordinator for 35 years. He is most known for his time in the NFL, leading Tampa Bay from 2016 to ’18 after nine years as an offensive coordinator for three NFL teams.

Koetter previously spent three years as Boise State’s head coach between 1998 and ’00, and returned to the school as an offensive analyst and eventual interim offensive coordinator in 2022. He’s also been the head coach at Arizona State.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter looks on from the sidelines during a game.

Former Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter will be Boise State's new offensive coordinator.

Jonathan Dyer/USA Today sports

The Broncos enter 2024 with a new head coach, as Spencer Danielson takes over after finishing last year as the interim head coach. The former Boise State defensive coordinator went 3–1 as the interim coach last season, including wins in the Mountain West championship and in the LA Bowl.

Danielson comes from a defensive background, so he will task Koetter to run an offense that includes new quarterback Malachi Nelson, a former top recruit who transferred to Boise following one season at USC.

Breaking, College, College Football, Wire
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Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart Inks NIL Deal With Private Jet Company
27 Feb 24 Jimm Sallivan

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart Inks NIL Deal With Private Jet Company

Jaxson Dart is one of college football’s most notable returning quarterbacks entering the 2024 season. On Tuesday morning, one of the most intriguing college football NIL deals to date was announced with the Ole Miss gunslinger.

Dart has signed a deal with Nicholas Air, a private air travel company, as noted by sports business reporter Darren Rovell. The deal will grant Dart private jet use for “travel, training and philanthropy,” per Rovell.

Nicholas Air is no stranger to deals with Ole Miss football greats. Both Archie and Eli Manning have endorsed the company, along with the likes of golfer Daniel Berger, journalist Tom Brokaw and actress Nicole Kidman.

According to his representation at ESM, Dart’s endorsement is the first NIL deal with a private jet company. It serves as further proof that the NIL world continues to ramp up, especially as it comes on the heels of a federal court decision that granted an injunction preventing the NCAA from enforcing NIL rules.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is among those who have urged caution around the impact of NIL and transfers on his program and the sport as a whole. Even so, he didn’t hesitate to use Dart’s new arrangement for recruiting purposes.

Dart had his best collegiate season in 2023, completing 65.1% of his throws for 3,364 yards with 23 touchdown passes and five interceptions, leading the Rebels to an 11–2 record and Peach Bowl win over Penn State.

He and Ole Miss will open their 2024 season at home against Furman on Aug. 31.

Breaking, College, College Football, Wire
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