When Sherrone Moore was fired for conducting a relationship with executive assistant Paige Shiver, at Michigan, the university commissioned Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to find out what athletic department officials knew about the affair before Shiver admitted to it—and when.
The university has not yet released any public findings. But certain details first reported by The Wall Street Journal and The Athletic and confirmed by Front Office Sports suggest there was widespread speculation within the department about the relationship for more than a year, and that athletic department leadership, including AD Warde Manuel, was aware of this speculation.
Ultimately, however, the university’s board has no plans to discuss the future of athletics personnel issues at its meeting Thursday, the source said. A university spokesperson echoed these comments.
The spokesperson also referred to a statement provided to FOS Tuesday saying: “Because this matter is the subject of pending litigation, the university will not comment further on issues related to that relationship.” As for the report itself, the spokesperson said the documents were private because they were “protected by attorney-client privilege.”
Shiver’s attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, told FOS that Michigan “should immediately release the findings and recommendations from the $12 million Jenner & Block investigative report. We have been unable to get information regarding this investigation, which is why we filed several FOIAs, and why last week, Ms. Shiver filed a FOIA lawsuit against the University of Michigan. We’re just demanding transparency and accountability.”
Jenner & Block did not immediately provide comment.
Jenner & Block conducted two separate, but related, investigations into Moore’s conduct and the athletic department’s handling of the situation. The findings raise questions about whether athletic department leadership failed to take proper action on the concerns reported to them.
The investigation found that multiple members of the athletic department, including players and staffers, voiced concerns to athletic department officials about the conduct of Moore and Shiver, the source told FOS. The details were first reported by The Athletic.
The investigation also turned up a letter that Manuel had written in a note in August 2024 that he had told Moore he could not travel with Shiver, the source confirmed. The detail was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
During an interview with Good Morning Americain April, Shiver suggested that the Michigan athletics leadership knew about the affair. “He controlled everything that was going on in my life and they didn’t do anything about it,” she said.
Another source told FOS in December that the school had received a tip about the relationship and opened an investigation in November., but that there was no actionable evidence until Shiver herself admitted to the affair in December.
Over the past week, multiple reports surfaced suggesting Michigan would consider whether to part ways with Manuel. The university’s board of regents will convene for a previously scheduled meeting Thursday; there are no plans to have conversations about athletics personnel, according to the source. The university spokesperson had previously said the same to FOS; public meeting minutes also don’t show any conversations scheduled regarding Manuel’s future with the Wolverines.
Manuel said Tuesday during a local radio show that he expects to continue to be Michigan’s athletic director—though he has had conversations about his future.
There's absolutely nothing boring about Pitt football in style, seasons, and wild mood swings.
That's why it's among the ACC's biggest wild cards.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi proved that Pitt can win an ACC Championship, but lately, just when it seems like something fun is about to happen ... nope.
Can the Panthers Put It All Together and Win an ACC Championship?
Nov 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) throws a shuffle pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium.
It wasn't all that long ago when the Panthers won the 2021 ACC Championship, and that's why it always seems like they're this close to pulling off something big.
Coming off a 3-9 clunker, the 2024 Pitt team started 7-0 and looked like a true championship contender - and then lost its last six games.
The Panthers started 2-2 last season with heartbreaking close losses to West Virginia and Louisville.
They found their quarterback in Mason Heintschel during a five-game winning streak, and everyone started to get on board. And then they closed losing three of their last four.
This season's team has enough talent back to be terrific at times, but it's Pitt. It's going to be an interesting ride.
Best Case / Worst Case: Win the ACC Championship/Struggle to stay in the ACC race
Key Player: Mason Heintschel, QB Soph.
2025 Record: 8-5
Biggest Question: Can Pitt do all the little things right and win all of the games they're supposed to?
Pitt Key 2025 Stats
Average Yards Per Carry: Pitt 3.5, Opponents 2.7
Sacks: Opponents 44 for 325 yards, Pitt 31 for 274 yards
1st Quarter Scoring: Pitt 100, Opponents 48
Offense
Offensive coordinator Kade Bell has found his stride.
There are plenty of things to work on, but he's got the quarterback, the style, and the pop to make Pitt a threat to crank up the production every time out.
Now the Panthers have to be more consistent, and they have to be stronger against the better teams. They have the personnel to do it.
What’s Working
Mason Heintschel. The 6-2, 215-pounder isn't all that big, and he doesn't run, but the guy can spin it.
With a big-time arm and a maturity to his game, the sophomore came up large last season with 2,354 yards and 16 touchdowns, even though he didn't fully take over the job until mid-October.
He's the franchise, and Texas State transfer Holden Geriner is coming in to be the emergency option.
The ground game will take off. Heintschel will get the spotlight and the press, but the Panther rushing attack has the potential to carry its weight after a rough season.
The 1-2 rushing punch of Ja'Kyrian Turner and Western Kentucky transfer La'Vell Wright should combine to push for 1,500 yards.
When Pitt scores, Pitt wins. It was a true feast-or-famine team, going 8-0 when scoring 30 or more, and 0-5 when scoring fewer.
Over the last four years, Pitt is 22-1 when coming up with 30 or more, and that one loss was in the six-overtime insanity against Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
What Needs Work
Third down conversions. The Panthers were explosive, and scoring wasn't much of an issue, but they were the worst in the ACC in third down conversion, hitting them just 33% of the time.
The offensive front should be better, but it still has a long way to go. Three starters are back, with 6-7, 325-pound tackle Ryan Bare the best of the bunch, and with help coming in from the transfer portal.
However, it's still going to take some work after the Panthers were among the worst in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss allowed.
Avoid the mega-turnover games. The Panthers were tied with Syracuse with the most turnovers - 23 - giving it up five times against Louisville, and five more times in the Military Bowl against East Carolina. They lost both by one score.
Player to Watch
Ja'Kyrian Turner, RB Soph. He's only 5-9 and 180 pounds, but he's tough, lightning quick, and he'll be used even more after leading the team with 745 yards and seven touchdowns, and catching 25 passes for 150 yards.
Nov 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
It's always bringing the heat as one of the best pass rushing and attacking defenses in America, and it's always giving up a ton of passing yards, and it's always coming up with takeaways.
The aggressive style doesn't stop now, especially with a relatively loaded group of veterans who should keep the production going.
What’s Working
The pass rush. Every year under Pat Narduzzi - seriously, every year.
The Panthers find the right players for the system - the statistical stars don't really translate to the next level - and they keep coming in waves.
Be stunned if Pitt isn't first or second in the ACC in tackles for loss per game again.
The defensive front will be a plus. The production comes from all sides, with ends Isaiah Neal and Jimmy Scott combining for eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss, and the defensive tackles can move, too.
Nick James and Sean FitzSimmons are veterans who should combine for way over ten tackles for loss.
The takeaways allow for the offense to take more chances. No one likes turning it over, but Pitt is almost always able to let the offense go full throttle thanks to a defensive style that takes it away every game.
The Panthers only failed to come up with a turnover in one game last year - the 61-9 win over Duquesne from the FCS.
What Needs Work
The linebacking corps. The combination of Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles was dominant, and now Louis is a Miami Dolphin and Biles is a Texas Longhorn.
Alex Sanford Jr. is a ready-made outside linebacker from Purdue, and the return of Braylon Lovelace in the middle - coming off an 80-tackle season with two sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss - will be a steadying force.
Giving up yards is part of the cost of doing business for the Pitt corners, and it'll be trial by fire for the new starters.
Shadarian Harrison got his feet wet on one side with 30 tackles and an interception, and in comes big transfer Raion Strader from Auburn along with Kanye Thompson from Syracuse.
The amazing run defense has to keep holding up. Thanks to all the tackles for loss, Pitt usually has a strong statistical run defense.
When opposing ground games are working, they keep handing it off. Pitt went 6-0 when teams ran it fewer than 34 times, and was 2-5 when offenses ran it more.
Player to Watch
Alex Sanford Jr., LB Sr. How ridiculous was Rasheem Biles last year in Pitt's Money position?
101 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, two interceptions - both for touchdowns - four broken up passes, and two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a score.
Just do that, Alex, in that same Money spot - he came up with 46 tackles last year for Purdue.
Keys to the Season
Keep quarterback Mason Heintschel from getting popped.
The offense has to keep up the pressure - the scoring has to be consistent.
Be sharper - fewer penalties, fewer turnovers, more third down conversions.
Player Who Needs To Shine
Mason Heintschel, QB Soph. Pitt usually has a few quarterback options, but with all due respect to Texas State transfer Holden Geriner, the entire season is about Heintschel.
He had problems against Notre Dame and Miami, and his production fell off late, but when he was on - he lit up NC State for 423 yards, and cranked out 300 yards in four of his first five starts - he was special.
Biggest Concern
Running through the tape - have a good November.
Over the last three years, Pitt is 3-10 in the final month of the regular season.
Pitt lost a few early games, found their groove, got to 7-2, and then it all fell apart, losing three of the final four.
To be fair, two of those losses were to Notre Dame and Miami, but the Panthers weren't even close.
The 2024 team started 7-0 and finished 7-6.
What does this November look like? Florida State, at Louisville, at Cal.
Biggest Game
at Virginia Tech, October 2 As long as Pitt doesn’t biff the home games against UCF and Syracuse, it has a serious shot at starting 6-0 if it can get by the Hokies.
With the next road game at Boston College, 7-0 isn’t a crazy dream before going to Miami.
Transfer Portal
Pitt got better this offseason.
It brought in several players who fit the style - lots of help for Mason Heintschel - and went heavy with bulk talent over star power.
There were a few massive losses - there's no replacing Francis Brewu or Rasheem Biles on the defensive side - but overall it was a good run in the portal.
Best Signing
Raion Strader, CB (Auburn) The Pittsburgh native started out his career at Miami University and was fantastic with 110 tackles and a ridiculous 31 broken up passes in two years.
He left for Auburn, but didn't do much last year. Now he's back home as a perfect fit for the Panther secondary.
Biggest Loss
Francis Brewu, DT (Notre Dame) Losing Rasheem Biles to Texas is every bit as big, but it's a bit easier to find playmaking linebackers than disruptive forces at tackle.
Brewu isn't massive, but the 6-1, 280-pounder can move, with 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and ten tackles for loss over the last two years. He'll be great for Notre Dame.
Other Names to Know
Alex Sanford Jr., LB (Purdue)
Jeremiah Warren, DT (Illinois)
DeMarco Ward, LB (Memphis)
CFN Season Prediction
It's interesting with Pitt, because in some ways, it's among the most predictable of ACC teams.
You know what it's going to do on both sides of the ball. It's just a question of execution.
But on the flip side, it's nasty to figure out this bunch over the last few years, because it will lose to mediocre teams like 2025 West Virginia and 2024 Virginia, and Cincinnati and Wake Forest in 2023 (all of them finished with losing seasons).
CFN Prediction: 7-5
Here's the massive plus - and remember that Duke and Virginia played in the ACC Championship last year. Who do the Panthers miss?
Clemson, Duke, NC State, SMU, Virginia, and a great-looking Wake Forest team. (And Stanford, too, by the way.)
And the biggest miss this year is Notre Dame, who was on last year's schedule.
The problem is the ACC road slate - at Virginia Tech, Boston College (both should be far, far better), Miami, Louisville, and Cal.
That doesn't even include home dates against UCF, Syracuse, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.
So like the last two years when Pitt hovered around the seven-to-eight win mark, expect that again.
Preseason PAC-12 honors are rolling in for Fresno State Football as the Bulldogs are now just weeks away from the opening of Fall Camp.
Athlon Sports released its 2026 All-PAC12 teams, highlighted by 16 selections from Fresno State.
Senior star cornerback Simeon Harris leading the way for first-team selections.
The All-Mountain West honorable mention led the conference in interceptions, helping to revamp the Bulldog defense along with fellow first-teamer defensive lineman Deijon Laffitee.
Sophomore Left Tackle and Buchanan grad Brayden Walton also snagging first team honors, helping to anchor Coach Entz's rushing attack, which gained its most yards on the ground since 2018.
Second-team selections were highlighted by Seniors Rayshon Luke and Josiah Freeman.
Diamond 'Dogs named summer league All-stars
A handful of Diamond Dog pitchers have been named All-Stars in their respective collegiate summer leagues.
Erik Rico, Jordan Haver, Parker Heintz and Moose Cuellar each found success in preparation for the 2027 season.
Rico emerged as one of the top pitchers in the West Coast League, owning a team-leading 1.08 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
The Redwood grad hopes to build off his freshman year, where he held opponents to a .242 batting average.
Fresno State fan experience advisory council selected
Fresno State Athletics has officially announced the members of its inaugural Fan Experience Advisory Council.
The group of Red Wave supporters hope to reshape game-day experiences across Bulldog Athletics in the new Pac-12 era.
It will also provide feedback, ideas, and perspective on topics including theme night and entertainment.
The council was meant to represent a wide range of backgrounds, professions, ages, and fan perspectives.
No pressure, Morgan Scalley, but win the Big 12, go to the College Football Playoff, and be legendary along the way.
Try this for a coaching run at Utah.
Ron McBride won 88 games in 13 years before being replaced by some Urban Meyer guy who went 22-2.
Meyer didn't coach in the Fiesta Bowl at the end of the 2004 season, but Kyle Whittingham did - he did okay for himself over 21 years before moving on to Michigan.
Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley watches the team warm up before a game against the Cal Poly Mustangs at Rice-Eccles Stadium
As good as he was, it's been forgotten that Whittingham needed a few years to get up to speed, going 15-10 in his first two full seasons.
Scalley will be expected to make Utah amazing immediately, with a relatively favorable schedule and ton of young talents ready to show what they can do.
For all of the discussion about Texas Tech last season, and BYU just missing out on the playoff, Utah went 10-2, was a dominant force by the end of the season, and the only losses were to the Red Raiders and Cougars.
Best Case / Worst Case: Win the Big 12 Championship/Be realistically out of the College Football Playoff hunt before October.
Key Player: Zereoue Williams, OT Sr.
2025 Record: 11-2
Biggest Question: Can the new coaches and players keep the elite production going?
Utah Key 2025 Stats
1st Quarter Scoring: Utah 113, Opponents 41
Sacks: Utah 34 for 252 yards, Opponents 14 for 80 yards
Rushing Touchdowns: Utah 41, Opponents 18
Offense
Utah didn't go far to get its new offensive coordinator.
Kevin McGiven made Bronco Mendenhall's offense crank out the numbers at Utah State last season.
The Aggies finished third in the Mountain West in total offense with 410 yards per game, and were second in scoring, averaging 31 points per outing.
No, he wasn't with Mendenhall at New Mexico in 2024, but it's the same sort of style that made a superstar out of ...
What’s Working
Devon Dampier. When he's on, he's among the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football.
He ran for almost 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns at New Mexico, and last season he ran for 835 yards and two scores, and threw for close to 2,500 yards and 24 scores, with the Utes.
The running game should be even more amazing. The Utes averaged six yards per carry thanks to Dampier, and leading rusher Wayshawn Parker, a quick back who led the Big 12 averaging 6.6 yards per carry on his 981 yards.
Backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin averaged 8.4 yards per carry with 513 yards and ten scores.
The Utes landed a few wonderful receivers from the portal. JJ Buchanan took off to Michigan, but Utah State star Braden Pegan followed McGiven over to Salt Lake City.
Getting Kyri Shoels from San Jose State and Ricky Johnson from Mississippi State might not be an upgrade overall from last year's Ute receiving corps, but these guys catch passes.
What Needs Work
The offensive line. Yeah, okay, it's Utah. It's got a big front five, and it'll be just fine with upperclassmen about to step into big roles, but losing NFL blockers Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu is a problem.
Cedric Jefferson is a ready-made starting tackle from Montana State, and there has to be a spot somewhere for guard Isaiah Kema from Ohio State, but true freshman Kelvin Obot might be the new star at one of the tackle gigs.
Always dominate on third downs. This means Dampier has to be consistently accurate, and the running game has to turn in good plays early to set up easy third down chances.
Utah led the Big 12 and was third in the nation converting 53% of its third down tries, but Texas Tech allowed the Ute attack to convert 29% of the time.
That was one loss, and the other loss came to BYU when the offense had its second-worst third down day when Dampier was under center.
Be mistake-free. That's asking for way too much, and turnovers certainly weren't a problem, but again with the losses to Texas Tech and BYU, those were two of the three days the Utes gave the ball away multiple times.
The season-high 12 penalties against the Cougars didn't help.
Player to Watch
Braden Pegan, WR Sr. The 6-3, 210-pound veteran led the Utah State offense with 60 catches for 926 yards and five scores. He's a matchup nightmare with his size - Dampier will keep pushing the deep shots to him.
Dec 31, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) and offensive lineman Roger Alderman (75) celebrate after a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half during the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium.
Colton Swan moves up from coaching up the linebackers to being Morgan Scalley's defensive coordinator.
He has to make this group better with a whole slew of new players.
The transfer portal isn't helping as much as it is for the offensive side. It's mostly up to in-house players to take over and improve a defense that finished a pedestrian eighth last year after ending up third in 2024.
What’s Working
The linebackers are good. Leading tackler Johnathan Hall is back after making 67 stops with six tackles for loss, and while Cyrus Polu, Trey Reynolds, and Elijah Elliss were backups, there's great upside with this group.
Utah, as always, has the beef up front. It might not be experienced, and there might need to be a decent rotation, but the tackles are full of plenty of 300-pounders to work with.
6-6, 305-pound Karson Kaufusi, 6-2, 298-pound Pupu Sepulona and transfers Jireh Moe (San Jose State) and Lucas Samsula (Wyoming) are all young, and they'll all grow into the gigs.
Scoring defense. Yes, this is a new group with a ton of new parts and lots of work to do on the depth, but for all of the flaws and yards allowed, it gave up 14 points or fewer seven times, and the team was 9-0 when allowing fewer than 24.
What Needs Work
The Utah secondary lost a ton of talent. No, the Utes didn't lose a ton of talent to Michigan, but they took a hit here.
Smith Snowden was a whale of a corner for the Utes, and Salesi Moa was an elite recruit who never saw the field.
Veteran safety Tao Johnson left for UCLA, and backup corners Don Saunders (Purdue) and Jason Stokes Jr. (Colorado) also left.
The run defense has to be far, far better. Utah was third in the Big 12 against the run, allowing 1,559 yards, and last year it was 14th, giving up 2,355 yards.
The Utes allowed over 200 rushing yards five times last season. It gave up over 200 once in 2024, and in 2023, the defense didn't let anyone get past 150 yards.
How fast can the pass rushers step up? John Henry-Daley made 11.5 sacks last year - he's off to Michigan.
Ethan Day is coming in from North Texas, and Kash Dillon was third on the team with 3.5 sacks, but there's not a lot experience-wise to count on from the other side.
Player to Watch
Johnathan Hall, LB Sr. A bulked up safety, the 6-1, 226-pound Hall has gotten better and better over the last three seasons. He has the quickness to make 16 tackles for loss, and the upside is there to be more of a pass rusher, but no matter what, he'll be the all-around statistical star in the middle of the linebacking corps.
Keys to the Season
Get the offensive line up to the 2025 level as soon as possible - if it's possible.
Be better overall against the run, and be consistent about it.
Don't get too crazy about changing up the style with the coaching changes. All the new assistants have to fit in right away.
Player Who Needs To Shine
Zereoue Williams, OT Sr. There's a chance this is Kelvin Obot's left tackle job after fall camp, but no matter who takes this spot, it'll be asking a lot to replace Caleb Lomu.
One of them might take over for Spencer Fano at right tackle if it's not Cedric Jefferson.
Williams is a 6-8, 305-pound mountain who served last year as Lomu's understudy. He might be tall and rangy, but he can run block.
Biggest Concern
Bring back the nasty on defense. There were times when the Utah defense was a brick wall, and the other side had no chance whatsoever.
UCLA couldn't move a lick, Arizona State couldn't go anywhere, and to be nice about it, Utah's defense made Colorado look like it wanted to go do something else with its life.
And that needs to be more of the norm.
Utah gave up over 420 yards five times last season. It gave up more than that a grand total of zero times in 2024, and twice in 2023.
Biggest Game
BYU, November 7 You can make a case for either one of the back-to-back road games against Arizona or TCU, and the date against Arkansas in Week 2 is big, but ...
Come on. Utah needs to win the home game against the hated rival before going to Tucson and Fort Worth.
Transfer Portal
The loss of players to Michigan and Kyle Whittingham was minimal - just five players at last count. It wasn't nearly as bad as, say, Matt Campbell taking 24 Iowa State players with him to Penn State.
Overall, the portal experience was a net negative, but only slightly. The star power isn't there, but there's depth.
Best Signing
Ethan Day, EDGE (North Texas) There was a little bit of production in his two years at Wyoming, and then he turned into a star last season at North Texas with 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss.
Biggest Loss
Tao Johnson, S (UCLA) A key part of the Utah defense over the last three years, he leaves after making 154 tackles with six tackles for loss, three picks, and 13 broken up passes.
Other Names to Know
James Chenault, CB (USF)
Lucas Samsula, DT (Wyoming)
Steve Chavez-Soto, RB (San Jose State)
CFN Season Prediction
This isn't the Utah team of last year, and the Big 12 is dangerous from top to bottom, but the chip on everyone's shoulder is for real.
Yes, there are a whole slew of backups needing to play key roles now, but they're going to bring the energy to go along with the great production from the backfield.
But, like it is for everyone, it's all about the schedule. Utah doesn't have to deal with Texas Tech.
Not playing Kansas State this season will be huge as the season goes on, and missing Arizona State is a plus, too.
CFN Prediction: 10-2
Arkansas will be a terrific early test, and dealing with a trip to Iowa State for the Big 12 opener will be tricky. But BYU and Houston are home games, and Colorado and Cincinnati aren't bad to deal with on the road.
There will be slip-ups, and they'll likely come late at Arizona and TCU.
But the schedule progresses well enough that the team should be jelled by the time the Big 12 season starts, and there's no reason to shoot for anything less than last year's 10-2 regular season record.
By the way, do that, and it'll almost certainly be a better season record-wise than what Whittingham is about to have at Michigan.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer (10) lines up behind the offensive line during the University of Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game at the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday April 18, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Oklahoma Sooners have a good shot at having an elite offensive line in 2026.
The Oklahoma Sooners‘ offensive line is taking its development seriously this offseason, and the latest move should catch the attention of anyone watching this group heading into 2026.
Several Sooners linemen spent time with Brian Baldinger, the former NFL offensive lineman and renowned film analyst, at the OL Masterminds summit. For a young group facing enormous expectations, the investment in outside coaching and film study could pay dividends when the season kicks off.
Before the 2026 season begins, there will be some uncomfortable conversations about which position groups on this Oklahoma team face the most pressure. The offensive line is right up there.
The Sooners didn’t necessarily underperform last season, but they could have been better at times. This year, they bring back many of their young guys who have shown flashes of potential as studs, and the expectations will follow.
Offensive line is one of those position groups in college football (and even in the NFL) where, if things aren’t working up front, nothing else works. They’re required to block in both the pass and run games. When that breaks down, the entire offense stalls.
Who is Brian Baldinger, and why does this matter?
For those unfamiliar, Baldinger is one of the best offensive line teachers in all of football. He played at Duke, went undrafted, and still carved out an 11-year NFL career. Baldy started 47 games and appeared in 143, playing tackle, center, and guard. He knows what he’s talking about when it comes to offensive line play, and he’s become one of the most respected film analysts in the sport at that position.
Baldinger’s breakdown work has earned him credibility across the football world. He’s given credit to elite pass rushers like Maxx Crosby over the years for how they attack offensive linemen, so his understanding of the position goes both ways.
What the Sooners did at the summit
There’s video circulating right now of the Oklahoma linemen sitting next to Baldinger, watching film together. He’s breaking down plays for them and asking questions about why they’re doing certain things in certain situations. He wants to understand it from their point of view. The Sooners are explaining their reasoning, and Baldinger is teaching through that dialogue.
This is exactly the type of thing you want to see from your offensive line. It’s not flashy. It won’t produce an immediate, visible change on the field. But for a group as young as Oklahoma’s, spending time with someone who has played the position at the highest level and can dissect it on film is invaluable.
Why this matters for 2026
The Sooners’ offensive line is going to be one of the most important position groups on the roster in 2026. They’re young, they’re talented, and they’re going to be asked to grow up fast against quality competition. Seeking out a resource like Baldinger and the OL Masterminds summit shows a level of initiative that bodes well for the fall.
This isn’t the kind of offseason move that generates headlines or hype. But it’s the kind of work that builds a foundation. Oklahoma’s offensive line has the talent. Now they’re putting in the extra work to match it.
The Big 12 logo is displayed on a broadcast media staffer’s vest during the Big 12 championship game between BYU and Texas Tech held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
In the two years of a 12-team College Football Playoff format, the Big 12 is clearly behind its Power conference compatriots.
The league has produced two CFP teams over the past two years — both times it was the conference champion — and so far, the Big 12 is 0-2 under the current format.
Since the College Football Playoff came into existence on 2014 with a four-team format, the Big 12 is the only Power conference to not produce a national champion, while the Big Ten has four, the SEC six and the ACC two.
Big Ten schools have won the past three national championships, the SEC won four straight before that and though it’s been eight years since an ACC school won the title, Miami made the national championship game last year.
Can the Big 12 make some gains in the national perspective during the 2026 season?
This past week, ESPN released its initial rankings for the Football Power Index, a predictive measure designed to project a team’s performance, and the numbers show the kind of battle the Big 12 faces in trying to catch up to the other power leagues.
Big 12 teams in ESPN’s Football Power Index
Rank — Team — FPI score
10. Texas Tech — 20.0
20. BYU — 13.1
31. Utah — 8.5
34. Arizona — 7.2
35. Houston — 7.1
37. Baylor — 6.5
38. TCU — 6.4
41. Kansas State — 5.1
44. Arizona State — 4.8
45. Colorado — 4.5
46. Cincinnati — 4.4
54. Oklahoma State — 3.3
55. Kansas — 2.8
57. UCF — 2.1
66. West Virginia — 0.2
72. Iowa State — minus-0.9
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates after a play against BYU during the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
What does ESPN’s FPI project for the Big 12 race?
Unlike last year when the FPI metrics had five teams with a 10% or better shot of winning the Big 12 going into the season, there are only two teams with 10% or better odds — defending champ Texas Tech at 45.9% and last year’s runner-up BYU at 16.5%.
Utah is next at 5.9%, while three others come in with 4% or better odds — Arizona (4.2%), Houston (4.1%) and TCU (4.0%).
Could the Big 12 be a top-heavy league this year? The FPI formula only has nine Big 12 schools with a 60% chance or better of winning six games and becoming bowl eligible.
What does ESPN’s FPI think of the Big 12’s College Football Playoff hopes?
Only three Big 12 schools have better than 10% odds to make this year’s CFP — Texas Tech leads the way at 57.9%, with BYU (25.7%) and Utah (11.1%) quite a ways behind the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech won the Big 12 a year ago and earned a bye to the CFP quarterfinals, but the Red Raiders fell 23-0 to Oregon in their playoff matchup.
By comparison, the SEC has 12 schools with better than 10% odds to make the College Football Playoff, the Big Ten has seven and the ACC has four, dwarfing the Big 12.
How does the Big 12 compare to Big Ten, SEC, ACC in ESPN’s FPI?
The Big 12 has only two teams in the FPI’s top 25 rankings, with five more added in the top 40.
The SEC takes up nearly half of the top 25 in the FPI formula, with 12, led by four in the top 10 in Texas (No. 2), Georgia (No. 5), Alabama (No. 8) and LSU (No. 9).
The Big Ten has seven teams in the FPI’s top 25, including the No. 1 team in Ohio State. Two other conference programs are in the top 10, including Oregon (No. 4) and defending national champion Indiana (No. 6).
The ACC, meanwhile, has three teams in the FPI’s top 25, including Miami in the top 10 at No. 7.
After Big 12 favorites Texas Tech and BYU, the league has nine teams come in between spots No. 31 and No. 46, showing the kind of parity that’s apparent in the league.
The SEC is the only conference with all of its members in the top 50 of the FPI’s rankings.
Even with all of its representation in the top 25, the Big Ten overall is the most-top heavy power league. There are seven Big Ten teams in the FPI’s rankings from No. 60 to No. 71, after 10 made the top 39.
The ACC also has the two lowest power conference schools in FPI’s formula. Stanford comes in at No. 80 and Boston College at No. 78 — that counterbalances the ACC having eight teams in the top 36 spots.
During the 2026 regular season, Big 12 schools will have 13 opportunities to face other power conference programs. Can they improve the league’s perception — and its odds to make national noise come playoff time?
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
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Lynne Sladky, Associated Press
Dec 6, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart looks on during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2025 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Georgia Bulldogs are losing some recruiting battles to some pretty bad programs considering where they’re at. Now they’ve lost out on Censere Gaylord.
His decision leaves the Bulldogs without a single cornerback commitment among their 18 pledges, a glaring hole in a class that currently ranks No. 16 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC.
BREAKING: Four-Star CB Censere Gaylord has Committed to Washington, he tells me for @Rivals
The 6'0 173 CB chose the Huskies over Georgia and Georgia Tech
Gaylord holds a 91.78 composite rating on Rivals Industry, ranks as a top-112 player nationally according to 247Sports, and checks in as the No. 13 player at his position and the No. 12 prospect in the state of Florida. By every measure, he was one of the premier defensive backs available in this cycle.
Georgia appeared to be in a strong position. The Bulldogs hosted Gaylord for three visits, more than any other program in his final group. Washington and Georgia Tech each received visits as well, but Georgia logged the most face time. Despite that investment, Gaylord chose the Huskies.
Why this stings for the Bulldogs
The visit total is worth noting. When a program leads in official or unofficial visits and still loses a prospect, it can raise questions. That said, this likely comes down to factors outside Georgia’s control. We don’t know exactly what Washington offered Gaylord from an NIL standpoint, and that package could have been significantly larger than what the Bulldogs put on the table.
Location clearly wasn’t the deciding factor, either. Georgia sits much closer to Bradenton than Washington does, separated by roughly a day’s drive compared to a cross-country flight. If proximity to home mattered to Gaylord, the Bulldogs would have had a built-in advantage. They didn’t, which suggests other elements of Washington’s pitch resonated more.
Georgia’s cornerback need is real
The bigger concern here is the positional void this creates. Georgia does not have a single cornerback in its 2027 class. Zero. Out of 18 commitments, none play the position. That’s a problem for a program that expects to compete for SEC titles and College Football Playoff berths every season.
Gaylord represented the top option to fill that gap, and now the Bulldogs will have to pivot to other targets. The 2027 cycle still has time to develop, and Georgia’s brand, coaching staff, and track record of developing defensive backs into NFL stars remain powerful recruiting tools. But there’s no sugarcoating this one. Losing the top available cornerback after investing three visits is a setback, and the remaining targets on Georgia’s board just got a lot more important.
Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) in the huddle with wide receiver Javonnie Gibson (11), Isaiah Sategna III (5) and tight end Jaren Kanak (12) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Oklahoma Sooners are extremely grateful to have wide receiver Isaiah Sategna back for 2026.
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Isaiah Sategna had options this offseason. He could have entered the NFL Draft. He could have transferred. Instead, he chose to return to Norman, and he recently explained why in a video produced by the program.
Given what Sategna did last season, it’s easy to see why Oklahoma wanted him back so badly. He finished 2025 with 67 catches, 965 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns, averaging 14.4 yards per catch.
The jump from his 2024 season at Arkansas, where he had 491 receiving yards, to nearly 1,000 yards in his first year with the Sooners was massive. Now the question becomes whether he can take an even bigger leap in 2026.
Sategna is the engine of this Oklahoma passing attack
There’s no sugarcoating it. Without Sategna, the Sooners will struggle offensively. He was the passing offense last season. He made the plays when it mattered most, including the game-winning touchdown against LSU. He contributed to special teams with several significant punt returns, too. He was the guy Oklahoma leaned on deep into the year, and he delivered over and over again.
The Sooners do have depth at the position. Trell Harris plays a similar style and could step up if needed, and McKenzie Alleyne provides another option in the room. But Sategna is the centerpiece. Replacing his production and his big-play ability would be a tall order for anyone on the roster.
Why 2026 could unlock another level for Sategna
The good news for Sategna is that he won’t have to carry the same burden alone this fall. Playing alongside Parker Livingstone and Harris could take pressure off him and free him up in ways he wasn’t last season. If opposing defenses have to account for multiple threats, Sategna should see fewer double teams and more favorable matchups downfield.
If John Mateer is healthy this year and improved from 2025, that only adds another dimension to the offense that benefits Sategna. With more weapons around him, a 1,200-yard season is within reach. That kind of production would make him one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft. Oklahoma is glad to have him back. And if everything breaks right, this could be the year Sategna turns himself from a breakout player into a household name.
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