A season ago, McSorley was the assistant QB coach. His new role hasn't been announced.
McSorley, of course, was a fan favorite quarterback for the Nittany Lions. He's a smart guy to keep around. He knows how things are done at Penn State, and he has solid name value, too.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia expressed his frustration with the Heisman Trophy voting shortly after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named the 2025 winner Saturday night in New York.
In an Instagram story posted following the ceremony, Pavia wrote, “F-all the voters,” alongside a reposted image from comedian Theo Von. The post came after Pavia finished second in the Heisman balloting behind Mendoza.
The Commodores quarterback was on stage at the Lincoln Center alongside Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin during the ceremony.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia with some choice words after finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting 😳
Mendoza received 643 first-place votes and 2,362 total points to win the award. Pavia finished second with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes, followed by Love (719 points) and Sayin (432).
Despite the runner-up finish, Pavia delivered one of the most productive seasons in Vanderbilt history. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and nine scores. His 4,018 total yards of offense and 36 combined touchdowns both led the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt, under coach Clark Lea, reached the 10-win mark in the regular season and remained in the College Football Playoff conversation late into the year, which is a significant step forward for a program long absent from the national spotlight.
With his college eligibility exhausted, Pavia is preparing for the next phase of his football career. However, he said Saturday he plans to play one final game for Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on New Year’s Eve.
Indiana enters the College Football Playoff at 13-0 behind Mendoza, the program’s first Heisman winner, after capturing its first outright conference title since 1945.
Jeff Monken paused more than once Saturday night, searching for language that could match the weight of what had just happened.
Army had fought Navy for four quarters. It had led late. It had chances. And yet, when the clock hit zero, the Black Knights walked off the field with a 17–16 loss that will linger far beyond December.
“It’s a little difficult to put into words, the pain of that loss,” Monken said during his postgame press conference. “I felt terrible for our team, our players, our seniors. Such a hard-fought game by both teams.”
Army moved the ball effectively in the first half, but settled for a critical short field goal inside the five yard line. Monken said afterward the missed opportunity loomed large.
“In this game, we talked about it, about the importance of getting seven points and not settling for three. Just disappointing.”
The second half told a different story. Army’s offense stalled, struggling to sustain blocks and generate rhythm. A critical interception turned into Navy’s final touchdown, a sequence Monken said changed everything.
“He (Cale Hellums) really needed to just step up in the pocket and throw it to Brady (Anderson),” Monken said. “He was open. And he just, for whatever reason, got antsy.”
Despite the offensive struggles, Army’s defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, holding Navy to 17 points and creating pressure throughout the night.
“I felt like they played well, played hard, gave us a chance to win,” Monken said.
The loss cut deeper because of what the game represents.
“It’s a 365-day-a-year rivalry, and it all culminates on one day,” Monken said. “You just give it everything you’ve got.”
Army did. It just did not make enough plays.
And that, Monken admitted quietly, is the part that hurts the most.
The Heisman Trophy presentation brings together the best of college football with the backdrop of lower Manhattan in the heart of New York City. There is a special feeling that comes with covering the events of the weekend.
As a Heisman voter over the past eleven years, there hasn't been a dull moment. I was asked this week by Texas Tech alum Stacy Gibson, "What exactly is the criteria for voting?"
Great question, and the answer is simple: A player who exemplifies the best of college football both on and off the field—one who is a game-changer and has the ability to lift a team up when needed. They are also a steward of the game, and the winner moves on to be part of the sport’s highest fraternity.
Here's how I voted for this year's finalists.
My third-place vote went to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. The gunslinger helped guide the Commodores to a record-setting 10-2 record this season and put on a show in the process. As a dual-threat, there's no shortage of highlights to be had from the New Mexico State transfer.
What Pavia did against top opponents was a major reason he was in my top three. The SEC is best-on-best every single week, and there's no doubt Pavia is featured in that category. To account for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns is not an easy feat.
My second-place vote went to Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. To take over an offensive unit that won a national championship and lead them to a 12-0 undefeated regular season without skipping a beat was phenomenal. To do that while completing nearly 80 percent of all passes is absurd.
Sayin earned his spot for continuing to shine when top receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were out. His 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns, along with having single-digit incompletions in every game, is unheard of in the modern era. He averaged 5.9 incompletions per game this season. That's pretty consistent for a quarterback.
My top Heisman pick for this year was Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Every time the Hoosiers needed a spark, the Cal transfer was the one to make it happen. He'll be remembered for his touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State. But there were other highlights along the way, such as the Big Ten Championship game and making history.
There was definitely a case for all four finalists and even Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez. Every player in the top ten of voting was special, but Mendoza leading Indiana to history was unforgettable.
This year's College Football Playoff will be great to watch with another champion getting put in the books under the 12-team format.
The road to the 2025 Heisman Trophy was a winding one, with preseason favorites struggling and new contenders exiting the race as quickly as they entered, but one player refused to waver.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza placed himself in the upper echelon of Heisman contenders in the opening weeks of the season and never moved, as the Hoosiers knocked off every team in their path on the way to a surprise Big Ten championship.
Early on, it looked as though Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore might compete for college football’s prestigious award. Then came Alabama’s Ty Simpson. After Simpson slipped up, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin asserted himself and briefly became the favorite in some eyes. By Saturday’s ceremony, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia was seen as Mendoza’s top challenger.
Ultimately, the award went to the Cal Berkeley transfer who helped turn Indiana from a feel-good story into a legitimate national championship contender.
Here's a closer look at why Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
It's no secret there were not many truly dominant players in college football this season. Sometimes, that's just the way it shakes out. Mendoza may not have gaudy stats that rival some of the great Heisman Trophy seasons in recent memory, but he checked every box, between the numbers, consistency, winning, eye test and clutch moments.
The numbers checked out. Mendoza was not a high-volume passer, finishing with fewer passing yards than Sayin and Pavia, but that was more the result of Indiana's gameplan and tendency to jump out to sizable leads. Mendoza's 9.4 yards per attempt led all Power Four starting quarterbacks, and his 33 touchdown passes led all FBS quarterbacks, all while tossing only six interceptions and completing more than 71 percent of pass attempts. Mendoza also had six rushing touchdowns that Sayin didn't.
Voters can't just blindly follow the numbers. Did Mendoza pass the eye test? How much was he a product of his situation? By all estimations, Mendoza passed the eye test. He flashed remarkable accuracy all season long, showed a willingness to throw downfield and do it well and consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
Mendoza's win-sealing pass to Charlie Becker in the Big Ten championship was labeled as his "Heisman moment," but the real moment likely came against Penn State, when he hit Omar Cooper Jr. for an unbelievable go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to keep the Hoosiers' unbeaten season alive. While Sayin's stats rivaled Mendoza's, you would be hard-pressed to find a moment like that, even if Ohio State's dominance was partly the reason.
The Heisman Trophy shouldn't automatically go to the best player on the best team. In recent years, it hasn't — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Travis Hunter all won the award after losing multiple games. Pavia had a chance, too, but quiet performances against Missouri, Alabama and LSU were tough to overcome without a College Football Playoff appearance to his name.
Mendoza didn't win the Heisman because he and Indiana beat Ohio State, but outdueling Sayin head-to-head confirmed for many voters that Mendoza had checked every box needed to be checked to claim the most prestigious honor in college football.
Here is a look at how Mendoza's stats compared to Pavia and Sayin this season. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza made history as the first player in Indiana history to win the Heisman Trophy, adding another layer onto the best season the program has ever had.
The regular season is over. Now, it's time for college football teams to go bowling.
There are 36 standalone bowl games and 11 College Football Playoff games on the 2025-26 schedule, giving fans plenty of entertainment over the next month.
Bowl season will begin with the Celebration Bowl and LA Bowl on Dec. 13. The CFP will once again follow the 12-team format, starting with first-round games on Dec. 19 and 20 and concluding with the national championship game on Jan. 19.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025-26 college football bowl schedule, including TV and streaming options for each game.
College football bowl games will be spread across multiple networks, including ABC, CBS, ESPN and Fox. Cord-cutters can stream nearly all of this season's bowl games on Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule just lets his opinion fly when it comes to most aspects of college football.
The same can be said for the College Football Playoff, a highly-debated system that can be tweaked as it continues to evolve.
Rhule appears to be one of those supporters.
"Obviously, when I was at Temple, I would have argued the other way,” Rhule said, per KETV. “Now that I’m in the Big Ten, though. It’s not even the games you win and lose in the Big Ten. It’s the toll it takes on your team to play in the SEC and Big Ten. We play nine conference Big Ten games and travel all across the country. As a result, we only have three teams in."
“It’s almost like ‘Why are you going through the gauntlet of playing in the Big Ten and SEC?’ I watch the tape and I’m studying other conferences all the time," Rhule said. "The SEC and the Big Ten, in my opinion, are just harder conferences. I’d like to see more teams from those conferences, opposed to other ones."
Rhule says when you match the teams team-for-team, position-for-position and skill-for-skill that the Big Ten and SEC far outweigh some of the others.
"Expanding [the College Football Playoff] would be really cool. I think some play-in Games would be really cool," Rhule added. "Some teams benefited from not being in a conference championship game, so I think in college football, the one thing we’d like to see is uniformity. We all play the same amount of conference games and here’s how the Conference Championship Game works."
Ultimately, though, Rhule supports whatever Commissioner Tony Petittiwants to do.
"Let’s have automatic qualifiers and have No. 1 play No. 2 and have No. 3 play No. 6. No. 4 play No. 5. Play your way on it.’ You should have to win your way in, and I’d love to see it. It would be such a great step forward," Rhule said.
Whether Rhule's words are heard in the immediate future, though, remains to be seen.
Can anyone stop the North Central juggernaut in the NCAA Division III football playoffs?
The defending national champion has blown through the regular season, with only one opponent getting within 30 points of the Cardinals. After reaching the Stagg Bowl the last five years and lifting the trophy three times in that span, North Central has established itself as D3's top program.
That doesn't mean anyone will be rolling over for the Cardinals, though, and the most storied program in D3 football should be the top contender. Mount Union has 13 Division III titles, more than twice as many as any other school, and is looking to win the Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2017 after falling to North Central in the final last season.
The Purple Raiders will join a list of contenders including Johns Hopkins and Bethel hoping to find a way to solve North Central.
The Sporting News has all the details on the 2025 Division III football playoffs, including a complete schedule with live stream information.
The first round through the semifinals will stream live on ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
Accolades and awards season has arrived. Before we award the Heisman Trophy, the All-American team is one that will be debated and, in some cases, contested.
Each outlet put together a compelling roster. Of those five rosters, 13 players can hang their hat on being a consensus pick. The remaining roster spots are not necessarily contested; they just were not the consensus.
The consensus All American Team
On offense: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza (IND), running backs Jeremiyah Love (ND) and Ahmad Hardy (Mizzou), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (OSU) and Makai Lemon (USC), tight end Eli Stowers (VANDY), offensive lineman Spencer Fano (UTAH), Emmanuel Pregnon (ORE), Logan Jones (IOWA), Olaivavega Ioane (Penn St), Carter Smith (IND)
On defense: Edge rushers David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Cashius Howell, interior defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (OSU) and A’Mauri Washington (ORE), linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (OSU), and CJ Allen (GEORGIA), safeties Caleb Downs (OSU) and Louis Moore (ND), and cornerbacks Mansoor Delane (LSU) and Leonard Moore (ND).
In the case of Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Makai Lemon, Jeremiah Smith, Eli Stowers, David Bailey, Kayden McDonald, Cashius Howell, Jacob Rodriguez, Arvell Reese, CJ Allen, Leonard Moore and Mansoor Delane, all were consensus picks.
Quarterback, offensive line, the second interior defensive lineman, and safety were much less agreed upon. In some cases, these variances are understandable. In the case of quarterback, there were not five different answers. It was two answers divided five ways.
CBS and On3 had Diego Pavia as their pick at quarterback. However, USA Today, The Athletic and Pro Football Focus all had Fernando Mendoza as their pick. Considering the Heisman race, this is an important position. While the pick feels like a coin flip, Mendoza has the better Heisman odds and has his team in the No. 1 spot.
Offensive lines are always a bit of a mixed bag. Like quarterback, there really is no bad answer. At tackle it comes down to three names for two spots. Spencer Fano, Carter Smith and the odd man out, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa. At guard, there are more names, but the same scenario. Emmanuel Pregnon and Olaivavega Ioane win the starting spots, but also Beau Stevens (IOWA), Febechi Nwaiwu (OKLA), and Kade Pieper (IOWA) were considered.
Center is again a three-headed situation. Miami’s James Brockermeyer, Iowa’s Logan Jones, and Florida’s Jack Slaughter. Logan Jones was considerably more consistent, but Brockermeyer and Slaughter make significant cases for the lone center spot.
Interior defensive lineman not named Kayden McDonald was the strangest part of the evaluation. Five outlets, five different names. All five names are deserving of the accolade, but only one can hold the spot. Landon Robinson of Navy, Tyrique Tucker of Indiana, Lee Hunter of Texas Tech and AJ Holmes Jr of Texas Tech all were considered, but ultimately went to A’Mauri Washington from Oregon.
Safety, like quarterback only came down to two names. Two names that otherwise would be the consensus if not for The Athletic and PFF having one off choices. Caleb Downs and Louis Moore make up the safety roster spots for CBS, USA Today and On3. The Athletic had Downs and Dillon Thieneman (ORE), while PFF had Moore and Bishop Fitzgerald (USC).
Snubs and overlooked candidates
The term “snubs” might not apply here as the term suggests ‘didn’t make it but should have’. Obviously, many college football players with good production might wonder why they didn’t make it. That is to be expected. However, after searching for names not mentioned among the five, like Rueben Bain Jr of Miami or LJ Martin of BYU, there are reasons there are names ahead of them.
Drew Mestemaker, the North Texas quarterback has a legitimate complaint. Competition level being the prime reason against. Mestemaker was the only division 1 quarterback to put up over 4,000 yards. The next closes was 3,681 yards from Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson. You have to go all the way down to the No. 11 spot to find a Heisman hopeful or a playoff quarterback in Julian Sayin. Sayin was only a few yards ahead of the QB winner, Mendoza.
There were three running backs to outperform Jeremiyah Love in yards. Once yards and touchdowns are viewed together, Love is the clear RB1 with Ahmad Hardy being a pretty close second for the RB2 spot. However, right after that there are names that were very much in the conversation. Cam Cook of Jacksonville State led the nation in rushing with 16 touchdowns being nothing to sneeze at.
After Love, the aforementioned LJ Martin and his 1,305 yards to go with 12 touchdowns was also a factor. However, the biggest would-be snub at running back would have to be Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss. Lacy is one of only two backs to score 20 or more rushing touchdowns. His almost 1,300 yards on the ground separates him from Caleb Hawkins (N. Texas), the other back with 20+ touchdowns.
Despite having a comparatively down season (when compared to 2024) Jeremiah Smith absolutely still makes the cut. He and Makai Lemon are without a doubt WR1 and WR2. Danny Scudero (San Jose State), Skyler Bell (UConn) and Wyatt Young (N. Texas) all have more yards than Lemon or Smith, but the 13.6+ yards per reception and their 11 touchdowns separates them from the pack.
Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr was not the defensive end snub one might think with only 4.5 sacks registered in 2025. While Bain should expect to hear his name called early on day 1 of the NFL Draft, his sack numbers by season’s end were not close enough to challenge Bailey and Howell.
However, Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker, does have a complaint to file. Despite the competition gap, Tucker led the nation in sacks, not Bailey. Tucker also leads all qualified candidates with four forced fumbles. Tucker also had more tackles than both Bailey and Howell.
At linebacker, there were two names ahead of everyone else. Jacob Rodgriguez and Arvell Reese. Along with CJ Allen, they form a consensus linebacker group. However, Colorado State’s Owen Long led the nation in tackles with 151. Which was 34 more tackles than the fan favorite Rodriguez.
Each name mentioned here is deserving of credit and accolades based on highly productive seasons. However, there are only so many spots per position. Each All-American team posted by CBS, USA Today, On3, The Athletic and PFF are good rosters and none had any player named who was not within range. The composite team takes all of those names mentioned at five different outlets and creates best fit result or as close to consensus as any outlet is bound to provide.
The thrilling 2025 college football regular season has concluded, leaving a wake of unforgettable moments, historic upsets, and dominant individual performances. Now, as the dust settles and the College Football Playoff field is set, the spotlight turns from team standings to the players who defined the year.
The release of the finalists for college football’s most prestigious annual awards officially kicks off the final leg of the season. The race for the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been one of the closest in recent memory, featuring unexpected challengers like Indiana’s transcendent quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt’s dynamic signal-caller Diego Pavia, alongside other elite talents like Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin.
The receiving corps was just as electric, with a fierce battle for the Biletnikoff Award—honoring the nation’s most outstanding receiver—headlined by Ohio State’s phenomenal sophomore Jeremiah Smith and USC’s versatile playmaker Makai Lemon.
It is time to celebrate the athletes who rose above the competition, rewriting record books and delivering iconic performances for their universities.
Here are the complete lists of finalists and announced winners for each of college football’s top individual honors.
Marcus Freeman may still be coming to terms with Notre Dame’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff, but the Irish coach is already drawing attention at the professional level.
There were rumors he could end up with the Chicago Bears after the season, but there's reportedly another team with serious interest. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Freeman has emerged as a candidate for the New York Giants’ head coaching vacancy.
Russini reported that Freeman is on a short list that also includes Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. She also linked Texas' Steve Sarkisian to the Tennessee Titans opening earlier this year.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman is among the names on the candidates list for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy, I’m told.
Freeman is an attractive option for a few different reasons. He's expected to draw interest from multiple NFL teams after leading Notre Dame to the national championship game last season and compiling a 10-2 record this year. The 39-year-old coach has steadily elevated the program since taking over in 2022, establishing Notre Dame as a consistent national contender.
Whether Freeman would consider a move to the NFL remains unclear. He signed a contract extension last year that runs through the 2030 season, signaling Notre Dame’s long-term commitment to him. Freeman has frequently emphasized his belief in the program and his desire to bring a national title to South Bend.
Just like the college carousel, the NFL moves quickly, and opportunities at the professional level are rare. As recent coaching cycles have shown, contract terms often become secondary when coveted positions open, leaving Freeman with significant decisions ahead as interest builds.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is finalizing a deal to remain in Columbia for the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
This is a move that would keep one of college football’s most talented dual-threat quarterbacks out of the NFL Draft for at least one more year.
Sellers had been widely viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and, at times, a candidate to be selected near the top of the board. Instead, he is expected to return to South Carolina and is reportedly in the final stages of an agreement to run it back with the Gamecocks.
Sources: South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers is nearing a deal to return to the school for his redshirt junior year in 2026. He’s indicated to the staff he’ll be returning. The sides are the expected to finalize a deal soon. pic.twitter.com/mIOodckfMe
Seller, who has been part of the program for three seasons, has started the past two years and emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Over that span, he has completed 63.2% of his passes for 4,971 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while adding 944 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground.
His production dipped this past season following a breakout first year as a starter. Sellers completed 60.8% of his throws for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns as the offense regressed overall.
Now entering his third season as the starter, Sellers will work under his third offensive coordinator in three years, with Kendal Briles taking over after stops at Baylor, Arkansas and Florida State.
South Carolina is banking on continuity at quarterback and another step forward as Sellers looks to refine his game and lead the Gamecocks again.
There aren’t many stories in college football better than Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Mendoza, who transferred to Bloomington from California in the offseason, has been electric for Indiana on its way to the program’s first-ever 13-0 season and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. The quarterback has emerged as one of the best players in the sport, leading the nation in passing touchdowns in his first year in Bloomington.
Here’s more about his hometown, high school and where the Hoosiers’ superstar came from.
He was born in Miami and attended Christopher Columbus High School there. He is also of Cuban descent, with all four of his grandparents having been born and raised in Cuba before emigrating to Miami.
Mandy Mendoza is a central figure in Fernando’s life and a powerful inspiration for his charitable work. She is recognized for her courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive autoimmune disease. The family often speaks about how her perseverance has shaped Fernando’s resilient mindset and work ethic.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
Mandy has been instrumental in the creation of Fernando's NIL merchandise line, as a portion of all proceeds is dedicated to the National MS Society. By publicly sharing her story, she has helped transform her son's athletic success into a significant platform for MS awareness and fundraising. She resides with the family in Miami.
Alex Mendoza (Father)
Alex Mendoza is the father of Fernando and has played a key role in supporting his son's football career and the family's transition to a high-profile college football environment. He has been described in media reports as a quiet but consistent source of support, often managing the complexities surrounding Fernando's college career and his off-field business endeavors.
Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza sees his mom and dad for the first time after winning a Big Ten Title pic.twitter.com/XevCQJn0yZ
Alex, along with Mandy, raised Fernando in Miami. The Mendozas have deep roots in the city, with Alex supporting Fernando through his high school years and during the period he spent at Cal before his transfer to Indiana.
Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was a notable quarterback for the Explorers, although he was not a heavily recruited prospect, which has added to his compelling underdog story.
Mendoza was part of the 2019 team that won the Florida 8A State Championship as a sophomore. Though he was the third-string quarterback, he gained valuable experience and started a few games that year due to injuries.
Mendoza played in 17 games in high school, the majority of starts coming his senior year. In 2021, he completed 107 of 169 passes (63.3% completion rate) for 1,169 yards, with 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
He led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. As a recruit, Mendoza initially committed to Yale before flipping to California.
Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?
Mendoza did not play other sports in high school.
Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers
Mendoza was rated as a two-star or low three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and was not highly sought after by Power Five (now Power Four) schools.
Rated as only a two-star or low three-star prospect, Mendoza did not attract the attention of top FBS schools for much of his high school career, despite leading his team to a state championship appearance. His initial and most notable offers came from smaller Division I programs, including Yale, Penn, and Lehigh. Believing this was his highest ceiling,
Mendoza committed to Yale before his senior year. Crucially, the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) was the only Power Five school to extend a scholarship offer to Mendoza, and it came very late in the cycle after another quarterback de-committed. Seizing the opportunity to play at the highest level, Mendoza flipped his commitment from Yale and signed with Cal, signaling that his remarkable career.
Fernando Mendoza is not your typical college football star. He helped lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1967, sure, but there’s more depth to the Indiana QB than what’s apparent on television.
Off the field, Mendoza has taken an interest in business, real estate and finance. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cal in just three years and has interned for real estate firms. His LinkedIn is quite active, too.
At Indiana, he is enrolled in business coursework. Here’s everything you need to know about Mendoza’s LinkedIn page and his degrees from Cal and Indiana
Mendoza is active on LinkedIn and posts frequent updates on his page — from attending baseball games to announcing NIL partnerships with major brands like Adidas and more.
Mendoza's LinkedIn includes an in-depth "About Me" section:
"Process-driven and detail-oriented leader studying Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business after graduating from UC Berkeley in three years," His page reads.
"As a quarterback for Indiana Football, I apply a strong foundation in leadership, time management, and communication to excel both on and off the field. I’m passionate about leveraging my background in business, real estate, and finance to build a career that combines strategic thinking, teamwork, and community impact.I take pride in fostering positive team culture, adapting to new environments, and driving success through preparation, accountability, and collaboration."
According to Mendoza's Indiana bio, he earned his undergraduate from Cal in business administration in just three years. At Indiana, he is pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management, commonly referred to as an MBA. His listed date of completion is Dec. 2026.
What did Fernando Mendoza study at Cal?
Mendoza's LinkedIn page also feartures various insights on what he has studied during his collegiate career. He has some impressive coursework listed from his days at Cal, like Analytical Geometry and Calculus, Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business, Introduction to Economics and Principles of Business.
What does Fernando Mendoza study at Indiana?
Mendoza is enrolled in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. According to Carolyn Goerner, who is faculty chair of Kelley Executive Education Programs and clinical professor of management at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, IU students enrolled in the program's MBA program can take a variety of courses. The school partners with various organizations like the NFLPA, Major League Baseball, the WNBA to customize a curriculum, while also requiring the 10 core courses required to earn an MBA.
"In terms of the electives, that's where folks can get some more flexibility," Goerner told The Sporting News via a phone interview. Our program tends to offer electives as they relate to what our partner organizations want, and so that's really the flex coming in here. So we've actually sat down with our professional sports associations and done the surveys [asking] what are your what do your folks need as they're transitioning out of sport, and then kind of put the courses together accordingly."
While Mendoza himself is expected to have a career in the NFL after his playing days at Indiana, Goerner says the program has helped former IU athletes in the next stages of their careers.
"A couple of our NFL players have started foundations," Goerner said. So they've gone through the whole 'how do I figure out a nonprofit and make that work?' A lot of the folks come through, and what winds up happening is just a series of businesses. So there's not just one thing, but a number of enterprises. ur goal is to set them up so that they can know what the financial statements say and how to make decisions around them. Know how to evaluate people who might be working with them, and really just have a good sense of how to partner smartly with folks as they move through a variety of different ventures."
Mendoza has interned for two different places, in the summer of 2023 and 2024. His first internship, with Acre Investment Company is described on LinkedIn as "a Northern California based investment firm pursuing value-add commercial and residential real estate opportunities."
According to Mendoza’s LinkedIn page, he worked in commercial real estate with Acre, where he researched available properties nationwide, compiled data for those listings, and helped streamline the acquisition process for future business endeavors.
In the summer of 2024, Mendoza interned with Newmark, a commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors and global corporations. Per his LinkedIn page, Mendoza conducted property tours, researched commercial real estate in the Bay Area, and participated in various workshops and networking events.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza could potentially become the Hoosiers’ first-ever Heisman winner. The redshirt junior is having the best season of his collegiate career, throwing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He led Indiana to its first Big Ten title since 1967 in his first season as the Hoosiers’ starter. Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana. Although it may seem as if he was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, he was anything but.
Here’s how a former two-star recruit with just one power-conference offer became the odds-on favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza started his high school career at Miami’s Belen Jesuit Prep School before transferring to rival Christopher Columbus High School as a sophomore. A private all-boys school, Columbus has a strong reputation both athletically and academically. It has produced numerous college and NFL stars, including Mike Shula, Alonzo Highsmith, Brian Griese and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
Under head coach Dave Dunn, the program has won three state titles: in 2019 — when Mendoza was a backup as a sophomore — and again in 2022 and 2023.
"He's deadly serious about becoming a great football player," Dunn told The Sporting News. "He would eat lunch with me every day just to go over, like, whatever it was that day. It might be practice film from that morning, we'd watch opponent film. He would have a question or an idea that we would go over on the board."
When Columbus' starting quarterback got hurt in 2019, Mendoza showed flashes of his ability in clutch moments. Leading up to a game against Dillard High School, Dunn says Mendoza was out sick all week. Mendoza's father, Fernando IV, played offensive line with Cristobal at Columbus, and was a national and collegiate rower. The older Mendoza called Dunn that week to ensure his son would be in school on Friday to suit up, in case the coach needed him. Lo and behold, he did.
"The only other quarterback we had gets a concussion in the game," Dunn said. "We are down by seven. I think there's maybe 20 seconds to go, and we had the ball. His first pass ever—he did not practice the whole week—he threw a touchdown pass."
Although Columbus missed the extra point and lost the game, Mendoza's performance impressed Dunn.
"I'm like, 'this kid's, he's unbelievable,'" Dunn said. "It was literally, like an eight-day period of him not practicing, coming in the worst possible situation, and putting us in position to win the game."
"It's the exact same stuff you see on TV when he's playing for IU right now," Dunn continued. "Knows where to go with the football. Deadly accurate, very decisive. All the qualities you want in a quarterback."
Mendoza became a starter for the Explorers as a junior and senior in 2020 and 2021. Although he threw for 2,195 yards with 24 touchdowns over those two seasons, his college recruitment was relatively quiet.
His offers included the likes of Yale, Penn, Lehigh, Bryant and FIU. He attended camps at Miami, FIU and LSU, but COVID disrupted his process. Columbus played just eight games in 2020, choosing to opt out of the FHSAA postseason due to COVID concerns. There was also far less in-person scouting that year. He was rated as a two-star per the 247Sports Composite, ranked as the No. 140th overall quarterback for 2022.
"It was beyond frustrating," Dunn said of the lack of interest from major schools in his quarterback.
But Fernando wasn't fazed by the lack of interest from major schools.
"He had faith that it eventually would work out," Dunn said. "[He knew] how hard everybody was working for him. At the end it was his faith in the process was what was able to kind of pull him through that tough time."
He was committed to Yale for most of his recruiting process until Cal — his first and only offer from a power-conference school — came along late. Current Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was Cal's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-2022, learned about Mendoza from a well-known quarterbacks coach in South Florida, David Lee.
"He called and said, 'I don't know where you are with the recruiting, you probably have a guy committed there at Cal, but there's a guy down here I've been training, and COVID adversely affected his recruiting."
The Bears had planned on signing 4-star QB Justyn Martin, but he flipped to UCLA in the fall of 2021.
"'When I work him out, I swear, he's actually really good at football,'" Musgrave continued, recalling what Lee told him about Mendoza.
Lee writes quarterback scouting reports for the Miami Dolphins, and is credited with helping bring the Wildcat to the NFL.
"There aren't a lot of tall guys playing quarterback anymore," Musgrave said of Mendoza as a passer. "They're smaller guys that can move and run around and ad-lib, which is great — that's one way to skin the cat, but another way to skin the cat is to be a precision passer from the pocket, and that's what he is. He's deadly accurate down the field, intermediate. He throws with anticipation."
Mendoza visited Cal during the last week in January and flipped his pledge to the Bears a few days later on National Signing Day.
Why did Fernando Mendoza transfer from Cal to Indiana?
As a true freshman at Cal, Mendoza shined bright in simulated late-game situations during practice.
"This kid would make some throw or some scramble or great fade or post down the middle," Musgrave said. "And just feather it perfectly. Or drive it and frozen rope it right in for a touchdown. I mean, time after time after time in those clutch situations."
Mendoza took a redshirt in 2022 before starting for Cal in 2023 and 2024. He threw for 4,712 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with the Bears, having three different offensive coordinators during his time at Berkeley.
But at Indiana, Mendoza has elevated himself as a passer. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has produced top-five scoring offenses two seasons in a row. His offensive coordinator, Mike Shanahan (coincidentally, no relation to that Mike Shanahan), has been with Cignetti since he was a head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016.
"I just think it's the combination of the stability of the coaching staff at IU," Dunn said. "And the system from year to year that has allowed him to flourish."
Just like he did in high school and at Cal, he's come through clutch in late-game situations. He's led game-winning drives on the road against Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. The road game against Penn State on Nov. 8 is one that vaulted him to the front of the Heisman race. Trailing 24-20 with two minutes left, Mendoza led the Hoosiers on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
His touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone is one of the best throws of the season.
Dunn texted Mendoza after the game, congratulating him on the win.
"I said 'epic composure, leading your team down the field.' He texted me back, 'just like [the] Deerfield Beach game junior year, just louder.'"
Mendoza’s impressive season has him climbing up draft boards. He is a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining, but he could declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
"He would want to be compared to Tom Brady, because that's his idol," Dunn said of his NFL outlook. "I will not throw that comparison out there."But, he's a big, strong, intelligent quarterback that will do everything possible to make himself ready to play on Sundays and make his team better."
ESPN's latest mock draft has him going No. 1 overall to the New York Jets, CBS puts him at No. 2 overall to the Raiders.
"He's not going to be surprised by anything on the field," Musgrave added, comparing him to Matt Ryan, whom he coached with the Atlanta Falcons. "He prepares, and when he sees something on the field, he's got a real fast processor. He's got a real lightning quick chip there in his brain. He can process what he sees and be decisive in a nanosecond."
Army vs. Navy is one of college football's oldest and greatest rivalries. Who will stand tall when M&T Bank Stadium hosts both programs?
Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Jeff Monken has coached Army to the Fenway Bowl, the Black Knights’ second straight bowl game since 2020-21. Last year's AAC champions are led by QB Cale Hellums, a dual-threat QB who has more rushing than passing yards.
Navy also has a dual-threat QB in Blake Horvath, who has rushed and thrown for over 1,000 yards. The Midshipmen will compete in a second straight bowl game for the first time since 2016-17.
Here is everything that you need to know in order to listen to Army vs. Navy on the radio.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
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Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
There is no greater tradition in college football than when Army and Navy face off. Expect fireworks this year at M&T Bank Stadium.
The rivalry started in 1890. Navy holds the all-time record against Army, 63–55–7. The former won last year and attempts to win two straight for the first time since 2014-15.
Last season, Army won the American and was 11-1 entering this matchup before falling to Navy. This season, the Black Knights enter the game at 6-5, rallying to win three of their last four. QB Cale Hellums has more rushing yards than he does passing yards. Right behind him in the former category is Noah Short.
Navy attempts to win another matchup for the Midshipmen’s third straight win. It would give them momentum heading into the Liberty Bowl. Blake Horvath is a dual-threat QB, throwing the ball and rushing it for over 1,000 yards.
The Sporting News has all the details on how to watch Army vs. Navy.
Fans can watch Army vs. Navy from home on CBS's broadcast and Paramount+.
Paramount+ gives subscribers the ability to watch basketball, football, golf and soccer, and they won't have to break the bank in order to follow along with the latest sporting events. Paramount+ does have a FREE trial, so new subscribers can enjoy it for one week before making a payment.
The game is also available via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Army vs. Navy start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Army vs. Navy kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
Where is the Army-Navy game in 2025?
Location: M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore, Maryland
The Army vs. Navy game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The home of the Ravens can hold up to 71,008 people.
Army vs. Navy radio station
Radio station: SiriusXM channels 82 (Army broadcast), 83 (Navy broadcast)
You can listen to Army vs. Navy live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 82 (Army broadcast) and 83 (Navy broadcast).
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Diego Pavia's magical run at Vanderbilt is ending in New York.
The Commodores quarterback was named one of the four Heisman Trophy finalists for 2025, and Pavia has a legitimate chance to win the award this season. Since Pavia is currently in his sixth collegiate season, a Heisman Trophy victory would make him one of the oldest winners in the award's history.
Pavia has already cemented his place in Vanderbilt history with his 2025 performance, but a Heisman Trophy victory would make him a legend in more ways than one. Here's a look at how Pavia can make history.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia is 23 years old and will turn 24 on Feb. 16, 2026. He is the oldest of the four Heisman Trophy finalists in 2025 and would be one of the oldest Heisman Trophy winners in the award's history.
Pavia has been playing college football for six years, as he began his career at the New Mexico Military Institute, then transferred to New Mexico State University and, finally, to Vanderbilt. In his entire college football career, Pavia's best season was his sixth, when he produced career-high numbers across the board for the Commodores.
The oldest player to ever win the Heisman Trophy was Chris Weinke, who was 28 when he won the award for Florida State in 2000. Weinke initially pursued a career in baseball, but then transitioned to football after failing to make the major leagues. Weinke enrolled in Florida State at 25 years old, and during his senior season, won the Heisman as a 28-year-old quarterback.
Only two other Heisman Trophy winners besides Weinke were even 23 years old at the time of their award. One was Oklahoma RB Billy Sims, who had just turned 23 years old when he won in 1978, and the other was HB/QB Les Horvath, who won the award in 1944. Both players were the oldest players to win the award at the time of their announcements.
The three youngest players to win the Heisman Trophy have all done so in the last 20 years. Lamar Jackson, Jameis Winston and Mark Ingram II are the only three players to win the Heisman before turning 20 years-old, as they were all within a month of their 20th birthdays when they won their respective awards.
After both decimated the competition through the NCAA Division III Tournament, which team will stand tall when Wheaton faces UW-River Falls in the quarterfinals?
Wheaton (11-2) has won nine in a row. The Thunder beat Crown, Wartburg, and DePauw to advance to the quarterfinals. The last game saw QB Mark Forcucci throw four touchdown passes for 293 yards. Seth Kortenhoeven had 106 receiving yards, and Matt Crider rushed for 120.
UW-River Falls (11-1) is riding an eight-game winning streak. The Falcons breezed past Chapman and Saint John's (MN) in their first two playoff games. Against the latter, Kaleb Blaha managed three touchdown passes for 245 yards. Three receivers and two running backs scored, sharing the wealth.
Here is everything you need to know about Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls will be available to watch via ESPN+.
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Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. CT
The Wheaton vs. UW-River Falls quarterfinal game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Fernando Mendoza has had a magical 2025 season, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 regular season and the program’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945. Along with breaking program records as a team, Mendoza has produced a historic season of his own.
The redshirt junior quarterback, a transfer from California, shattered Indiana’s single-season passing marks by completing 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards and a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. He also proved to be a threat with his legs, adding 240 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, putting him second nationally in total touchdowns accounted for (39). His remarkable campaign earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year honors, along with the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He also became just the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
As one of the top players in the nation, Mendoza’s rapid rise has made him a face of the collegiate game’s new financial era. His personal brand — which includes a recent high-profile endorsement deal with Adidas and his exclusive “Mendoza Mania” merchandise line — has soared throughout the season.
Here’s a breakdown of how much the Indiana star has brought in.
According to the latest industry valuations, the Indiana star’s Name, Image, and Likeness (N.I.L.) portfolio is valued at an estimated $2.6 million, positioning him among the top five highest-valued college football players in the country.
On3 has the quarterback ranked fifth in college football and seventh in its N.I.L 100. He is listed below only four FBS players:
Arch Manning, Texas ($5.3 million)
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ($4.2 million)
Carson Beck, Miami ($3.1 million)
Bryce Underwood, Michigan ($3 million)
His valuation spiked from an estimated $1.6 million earlier in the year to $2.6 million after the Hoosiers' perfect regular season.
“Excited to share that I’ve accepted an opportunity to join adidas!” said on LinkedIn. “I’m very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way and excited to bring my passion for sport, leadership, and work ethic to the Three Stripes. Let’s get to work.”
He joins a star-studded adidas lineup that includes Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Nebraska's Dylan Raiola and Arizona State's Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson.
In collaboration with his brother Alberto, who is Indiana's backup signal-caller, Mendoza launched a brand-new "Mendoza Mania" Collection on the Indiana NIL Store.
The initiative carries a deeply personal meaning for Mendoza: a portion of all proceeds from the collection will benefit the National MS Society, honoring his mother who continues her courageous fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
Fernando Mendoza's mom lives with MS.
She's his best friend and inspiration for everything he does.
If you do anything today, take two minutes and listen to Fernando talk about his mom and how much she means to him. pic.twitter.com/tWHvC7QjxN
This compassionate focus transforms the quarterback's commercial venture into a vehicle for impact, lending deeper purpose to every piece of "Mendoza Mania" merchandise sold.
By leveraging his national spotlight, Mendoza is driving crucial funds and awareness for the National MS Society's mission to cure the disease and empower those affected to live their best lives.
Mendoza's net worth is not publicly available. Though, sources report that his net worth is in the hundred thousands, reaching up to $1 million.
This will continue to rise as Mendoza leads Indiana through the College Football Playoff, and down the road, becomes a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
Two unbeaten programs face off in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs when North Central faces Bethel.
North Central is unbeaten this year and looks to keep it that way as it tries to win a third national title in four years. The Cardinals dominated against Hanover and beat Wisconsin-La Crosse to advance. QB Garret Wilson ran for a touchdown and threw one to go with 168 passing yards last week.
Bethel scored 51 against Coe and took down Wisconsin-Platteville in a tighter game last week. Against the latter, Zackary Bothun rushed for over 120 yards, while QB Nathan Uselding had one touchdown and threw over 298 yards.
Here is everything you need to know about North Central vs. Bethel, including TV and streaming options for the game.
North Central vs. Bethel will be available to watch via ESPN+.
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North Central vs. Bethel start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
The North Central vs. Bethel quarterfinal game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.
The next round of the NCAA Division III playoffs is underway. Can Johns Hopkins continue its momentum, or will it be Susquehanna that shines bright?
Johns Hopkins beat Springfield and dominated Salisbury to advance. It’s the third consecutive season the Blue Jays have made it to the quarterfinals. QB Bay Harvey had five touchdowns. He threw three and rushed for two.
Susquehanna beat Washington & Jefferson, Christopher Newport, and Eastern to advance. The shutout win against Eastern saw Susquehanna's defense allow just 136 total yards while forcing three turnovers.
The River Hawks avenged a regular-season loss to CNU earlier in the playoffs; can they do the same Saturday nearly three months after falling 40-22 to Hopkins?
Here is everything you need to know about Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna will be available to watch via ESPN+.
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Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 12 p.m. ET
The Johns Hopkins vs. Susquehanna quarterfinal game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Maryland.
A competitive matchup is expected in the FCS quarterfinals as No. 8 UC Davis gets ready to host unranked Illinois State.
Unexpectedly for UC Davis, the program will get to host a home game in the quarterfinals, which is a welcome advantage. The Aggies are on the hunt for their first-ever semifinals berth, and their 47-26 win over No. 9 Rhode Island in the second round is a good indicator of their postseason strength.
Meanwhile, Illinois State is still riding the high of its stunning upset over top seed and defending national champion North Dakota State last weekend. Despite being the away team in this matchup, the Redbirds are battle-tested and dominant on the road.
These two faced off in last year's playoffs, with the Aggies coming out on top. Who will take the win this time?
Here's everything you need to know about UC Davis vs. Illinois State, including TV channel and streaming options for the FCS quarterfinal game.
Where to watch UC Davis vs. Illinois State today: TV channel, live stream
UC Davis vs. Illinois State will not be broadcast on traditional television. College football fans can stream the action live on ESPN+.
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UC Davis vs. Illinois State start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 5 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. CT | 2 p.m. PT
UC Davis vs. Illinois State will kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California.
For the first time in the history of both programs, Montana and South Dakota are gearing up for a familiar showdown in the FCS quarterfinals.
No. 3 Montana has had a dominant season, going undefeated until the program dropped a loss to in-state rival Montana State to wrap up their conference schedule. The Grizzlies' offense has been rolling, with quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat leading a top-10 FCS passing attack.
South Dakota returns to the FCS playoffs after a solid 10-4 season this fall. The Coyotes are led by Aidan Bouman under center, who has quickly become one of the program's most decorated play callers. Phenom running back L.J. Phillips Jr. has also helped the team's success, climbing the top-10 single-season all-time list for rushing yards at USD.
This weekend will mark the 21st meeting between these two programs, but the first time in the playoffs; who will keep their season alive?
Here's everything you need to know about Montana vs. South Dakota, including TV channel and streaming options for the FCS quarterfinal game.
Where to watch Montana vs. South Dakota today: TV channel, live stream
Montana vs. South Dakota will air nationally on ABC. College football fans can also stream the game on the ESPN app or Fubo.
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Montana vs. South Dakota start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. CT | 1:30 p.m. MT
Montana vs. South Dakota will kick off at 3:30 ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana.
Who will advance in the FCS playoffs when Tarleton State faces Villanova in the quarterfinals?
Tarleton State beat North Dakota in the second round, while Villanova took out Harvard and Lehigh to open the postseason.
Villanova has won 10 straight games. Mark Ferrante continues to lead the Wildcats to prominence. QB Pat McQuaide has a reliable target in Luke Colella, while Ja'briel Mace, David Avit, and Isaiah Ragland are threats at the RB position.
The Texans are in the FCS playoffs for the second straight year. The co-winners of the UAC have won three straight. Victor Gabalis has a reliable target in Peyton Kramer as well as Cody Jackson.
Here is everything you need to know about Tarleton State vs. Villanova, including TV and streaming options for the game.
Where to watch Tarleton State vs. Villanova: TV channel, live stream
Tarleton State vs. Villanova will air on ESPN with Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray and Lauren Sisler on the call. College football fans can stream the game on the ESPN app and Fubo, the latter offering a free trial.
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Tarleton State vs. Villanova start time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Tarleton State vs. Villanova will kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas.
One of college football's most iconic rivalries will rekindle this weekend as Army and Navy go head-to-head for the 126th time.
Though Army started its season poorly, the program rebounded with a handful of key victories over Kansas State, Temple and UTSA which secured bowl eligibility. The Black Knights' physical ground game and clock control should be an advantage as they prepare to face UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27.
Meanwhile, No. 22 Navy has been a revitalized program this fall, proving itself an AAC threat with signature wins over South Florida and Memphis. The Midshipmen enter this matchup a 4.5-point favorite, with business to handle before the Liberty Bowl where they will face Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
Navy leads the all-time series 63-55-7. Who will take the win this year?
Here's everything you need to know about Army vs. Navy, including TV channel and streaming options for the classic rivalry matchup.
Army-Navy will air nationally on CBS. Cord cutters and those interested in following the action can also stream the game live on Paramount+ or Fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Listen to Army-Navy live on SiriusXM on either channel 83 (Midshipmen's broadcast) or channel 82 (Black Knights' broadcast).
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"First off, I want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for putting me in this position," Jacas wrote. "Without him this wouldn't be possible. To my family, teammates, coaches, and the whole Illinois support staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment for making me the man I am today. Your hard work will never go unnoticed and I will forever be grateful for that. The lessons I've learned from this program have helped me grow as an athlete and a person—on and off the field."
Jacas then went onto reflect how much the Illinois football program shaped him as a man, serving as a springboard for what's to come.
"To Illini Nation, thank you for making Illinois home for the last [four] years. From packing out Gies Memorial Stadium to rushing the field, you guys were there through the highs and lows. The relationships and the memories that were made I will cherish for a lifetime. As it comes to an end of my college career this is just beginning of a new journey. With that being said, I am proudly announcing that I will be pursuing my life long dream of playing at the next level and declaring for the 2026 NFL draft."
Jacas finished his Illini career with the second-most sacks in team history with 27, totaling 11 this past season to lead the Big Ten.
Although he will miss a chance to win back-to-back bowl games come Dec. 30, he goes out as one of the greatest players in Illinois history regardless of era.
Without question, Jacas leaves Champaign as a program-changing player and a star in the making.
For now, his NFL journey is almost a reality. In four months, the college football world will find out if the pro game is just as special for Jacas.
If the Illinois football program needed a huge boost in the weeks leading up to the Music City Bowl against Tennessee Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) it got it in the form of its three-year starting quarterback Luke Altmyer leaving no doubt how he wants his college career to be remembered.
"I love to play, man," Altmyer said in a 37-second video. "I love to compete. That's what I bleed. That's what I love. That's what I breathe. That's what I prepare for."
Altmyer said there was no way he couldn't complete the story with teammates who gave him so much guidance and support during a stretch that saw Illinois reach unfathomable heights in such a short amount of time – the laundry list is truly endless.
"Any opportunity I get to go out there and start a football game to play — especially with these guys, who I love so much, man — I don't take it for granted," Altmyer said.
Neither does his coach, Bret Bielema. Bielema spoke fondly of Altmyer after the Illini accepted their bowl invite. Bielema hinted the Mississippi native might play, but wanted to let the 21-touchdown signal-caller do the honors.
"I just got a text from [Luke's mom] Betsy Altmyer when I was walking in here and she said she thought half of Mississippi was going to be there in Nashville," Bielema said this past Sunday. ""I was just glad one was going to be there from Mississippi."
Bielema opted to take the high road when discussing the near season-altering poach the Volunteers had reportedly done to lure Altmyer away from Champaign.
"Honestly, I've never spoken about that conversation in any way, shape or form with Luke," Bielema said. "One of the things I've really appreciated about Luke's demeanor, his personality, is he's just the same guy every day. To get one more game with him, to have an SEC opponent for him, is really pretty cool."
Now, Altmyer will have a chance to write his own story, the way he was always intended to be done: authentically.
"To go out of here as one of the most decorated players in Illinois football history, more than that he just stands for all these great things here at Illinois," Bielema said. To have that moment for him is something I'll cherish more than anything."
Should Altmyer ride off into the sunset victorious, it would truly be the end of an era in Champaign.
For the second straight year, there are 35 bowls outside the 12-team College Football Playoff. It's an unpredictable business picking the postseason, mainly because of the transfer portal, coaching changes and opt-outs, many of which have not been announced.
We picked all the regular-season matchups involving teams in the AP Top 25 during the regular season. We had a S/U record of 194-57 and an ATS mark of 118-127-6.
We will update our picks to reflect all those changes with the portal and opt outs, but here are our postseason picks for now, including every 2025-26 bowl game and the College Football Playoff's first round.
Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk: Washington (-8.5) vs. Boise State
Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m., ESPN
Washington won the last meeting 56-19 in 2023. The Huskies scored 40 or more points in three of their last four games. Dylan Riley can help Boise State shorten the game with a rushing attack that averages 188.4 ypg. It won't be enough for a victory.
Pick: Washington 31, Boise State 24
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy (-3.5) vs. Jacksonville State
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 9 p.m., ESPN
The Trojans and Gamecocks were runner-ups in their respective conferences. Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook had 1,659 yards and 16 TDs this season. Troy allows 182.3 rushing yards per game.
StaffDNA Cure Bowl: South Florida (-7) vs. Old Dominion
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m., ESPN
The Bulls hired Brian Hartline, and the Ohio State offensive coordinator inherits a talented roster. We're hoping Byrum Brown – who led the FBS with 347.2 yards of total offense – plays in the game. Old Dominion closed the season on a five-game winning streak under Ricky Rahne.
Pick: South Florida 31, Old Dominion 26
68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana (-3) vs. Delaware
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Delaware is making its first bowl appearance under Ryan Carty against the Ragin' Cajuns, who are making a fifth straight bowl appearance with coach Michael Desormeaux. Both teams allowed more than 30 points six times, so gear up for a high-scoring game.
Pick: Louisiana 33, Delaware 27
X-Box Bowl: Arkansas State (-2.5) vs. Missouri State
Thursday, Dec. 18, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota transfer QB Jacob Clark led the Conference USA with 24 TD passes for Missouri State, which is making its first bowl appearance. Arkansas State is 1-1 S/U in bowl games under Butch Jones.
Pick: Missouri State 24, Arkansas State 20
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Western Michigan (-4) vs. Kennesaw State
Friday, Dec. 19, 12 p.m., ESPN
It's a fun quarterback matchup. Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry averages 18.8 carries per game for the MAC champions. Kennesaw State's Amari Odom had 18 TDs and six INTs for the Conference USA champions.
Pick: Western Michigan 21, Kennesaw State 20
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: NC State (-5) vs. Memphis
Friday, Dec. 19, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
NC State closed the season strong with back-to-back victories where they averaged 31.5 points per game. The Tigers averaged 34.3 points per game – but the defense allowed 32.7 points in three straight losses to end the season.
Pick: NC State 30, Memphis 24
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State (-2.5) vs. Washington State
Monday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m., ESPN
The Cougars allowed just 20.2 points per game as part of a wide-open Pac-12 schedule and scratched into a bowl game under Jimmy Rogers, who left for the Iowa State job. Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes had 27 total touchdowns for the Aggies this season. This will be Bronco Mendenhall's first bowl appearance with Utah State.
Pick: Utah State 27, Washington State 21
Bush's Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville (-9.5) vs. Toledo
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2 p.m., ESPN
Jason Candle left Toledo to be the coach at UConn. Louisville had an up-and-down season under Jeff Brohm. Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is an NFL prospect. Will Toledo be able to slow down the tandem of Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown?
Pick: Louisville 34, Toledo 17
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky (-3) vs. Southern Miss
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Braylon Braxton led the Golden Eagles with 23 TDs and seven interceptions this season. Charles Huff left to take the Memphis job. The Hilltoppers are 4-2 S/U in bowl games under Tyson Helton.
Pick: Western Kentucky 29, Southern Miss 20
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl: UNLV (-4) vs. Ohio
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 9 p.m., ESPN
The Bobcats have won six consecutive bowl games, but head coach Brian Smith is on leave for an undetermined period of time. Parker Navarro and Sieh Bangura combined for 22 rushing TDs this season. The Rebels will be a challenge under first-year coach Dan Mullen.
Pick: Ohio 27, UNLV 24
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Cal (-2.5) vs. Hawaii
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is a talented freshman QB who averaged 288.2 passing yards with seven TDs and two interceptions in Cal's last five games. Micah Alejado averaged 275.2 yards with 12 TDs and four interceptions in Hawaii's last five games. These two QBs will let it loose on Christmas Eve.
Pick: Hawaii 34, Cal 31
GameAbove Sports Bowl: Northwestern (-12.5) vs. Central Michigan
Friday, Dec. 26, 1 p.m. ESPN
The Chippewas will challenge Northwestern with Joey Lapas, who led the MAC with a 160.9 passer rating. Northwestern has split its last eight games against MAC schools, so it's not a shoo-in. The defense – led by star safety Robert Fitzgerald (109 tackles) will be the difference.
Pick: Northwestern 24, Central Michigan 14
Rate Bowl: Minnesota (-3.5) vs. New Mexico
Friday, Dec. 26, 4 p.m., ESPN
P.J. Fleck wins bowl games. He's led the Gophers to six straight bowl victories, and he is 7-2 in the postseason as a head coach. Will New Mexico – led by Jason Eck – cap off a 10-win season here? The Lobos have allowed 113.4 rushing yards per game and closed the season on a six-game winning streak.
Pick: New Mexico 28, Minnesota 26
Servpro First Responder Bowl: UTSA (-9.5) vs. FIU
Friday, Dec. 26, 8 p.m., ESPN
Jeff Traylor can lead the Roadrunners to a third straight bowl victory with quarterback Owen McCown, who had 27 TDs and seven interceptions this season. First-year coach Willie Simmons had an impressive season with the Golden Panthers. Kejon Owens (1,298 yards, 11 TDs) keys a strong rushing attack. FIU closed out the regular season with four straight victories.
Pick: UTSA 34, FIU 28
Go Bowling Military Bowl: Pitt (-6) at East Carolina
Saturday, Dec. 27, 11 a.m., ESPN
Pitt ranked 17th in the FBS in points per game, and quarterback Mason Heintschel enjoyed a strong freshman season. First-year coach Blake Harrell led the Pirates to eight victories, and five different receivers have 300 or more yards for quarterback Katin Houser. The Panthers' linebackers will be a test.
Pick: Pitt 31, ECU 20
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State (-1) vs. Clemson
Saturday, Dec. 27, 12 p.m., ABC
Penn State has a new coach, but the Nittany Lions will be looking to send off interim coach Terry Smith with a victory. Will star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen play in the game? Clemson allowed 13.2 points per game in its last four games – all victories. The Tigers have not lost a bowl outside the New Year's Day Six since 2010.
Pick: Clemson 28, Penn State 21
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: UConn (-2.5) vs. Army
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2:15 p.m., ESPN
UConn features some playmakers in quarterback Joe Fagnano (3,448 yards, 28 TDs, 1 INT) and receiver Skyler Bell (101 catches, 1,278 yards, 13 TDs). Army rushes for 256.9 yards per game. Army coach Jeff Monken is 5-1 S/U in bowl games.
The Cougars were snubbed from the College Football Playoff, too. Which team gets the running game going? Quarterbacks Haynes King and Bear Bachmeier can take over a game with their legs, and both teams will rely on that in the much-celebrated Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Yellow Jackets were 3-1 ATS as an underdog this season.
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice: Fresno State (-3.5) vs. Miami, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m.., The CW
E.J. Warner – the son of Kurt Warner – led the Mountain West with a 69.4% completion percentage this season. He also had 11 interceptions. Miami is coming off a 23-13 loss in the MAC championship game. Matt Entz reached the nine-win mark in his first season with the Bulldogs.
Pick: Fresno State 21, Miami 20
Isleta New Mexico Bowl: No. 23 North Texas (-6) vs. San Diego State
Saturday, Dec. 27, 5:45 p.m.., ESPN
North Texas lost the American Conference championship, but we're hoping Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker play in the bowl game. Mestemaker led the FBS with 4,129 passing yards, and that offense will give the Aztecs trouble. San Diego State allowed more than 20 points four times this season under Sean Lewis. The Aztecs were 1-3 S/U in those games.
Pick: North Texas 34, San Diego State 24
Taxslayer Gator Bowl: Missouri (-7) vs. No. 19 Virginia
Saturday, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Virginia had its playoff hopes dashed in the overtime loss to Duke, and Missouri's defense will be a problem. Ahmad Hardy had 1,560 rushing yards and 16 TDs for the Tigers this season. Will he play in the game? The Tigers were 4-0 ATS when favored by a TD or less this season.
Pick: Missouri 28, Virginia 19
Kinder's Texas Bowl: No. 21 Houston (-3) vs. LSU
Saturday, Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
The Tigers will start the Lane Kiffin era next season, and the coach is sure to be watching against Houston. The Cougars scored 14 points or less in two of their losses, and LSU still has a nasty defense.
Pick: LSU 23, Houston 16
JLab Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern (N/L) vs. Appalachian State
Monday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m., ESPN
This game was necessary to fill bowl slots. The Eagles won the regular-season meeting 25-23. JC French IV passed for 352 yards for Georgia Southern. Appalachian State is 7-1 S/U in bowl games since joining the FBS. Who wants to be there more?
Pick: Georgia Southern 30, Appalachian State 28
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech (-7)
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m., ESPN
Coastal Carolina reached a bowl game, but the Chanticleers allowed 51.7 points per game in their last three games. It's hard to trust them in a matchup against the Bulldogs, who can cap an eight-win season under coach Sonny Cumbie.
Pick: Louisiana Tech 35, Coastal Carolina 21
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl: Tennessee (-5.5) vs. Illinois
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee is coming off a bad loss to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale. Illinois closed the season with three wins in four games. This could be a grind-it-out game, but Joey Aguilar will make enough explosive plays in the passing game to give Josh Heupel his third bowl victory in four years.
Pick: Tennessee 31, Illinois 28
Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 16 USC (-6.5) vs. TCU
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 9 p.m., ABC
The Trojans can get to 10 wins under Lincoln Riley, who is 2-1 in bowl games with the Trojans. Jayden Maiava had a 159.5 passer rating. TCU is 1-3 S/U when it allows 27 points or more. A shootout might not favor the Horned Frogs here.
Pick: USC 33, TCU 24
Reliaquest Bowl: No. 14 Vanderbilt (-4) vs. No. 23 Iowa
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m., ESPN
Will the Commodores' high-powered offense – led by Diego Pavia – put the finishing touch on a historic season with a victory against the Hawkeyes? Iowa did not allow more than 28 points in a game this season. Iowa also was 3-1 ATS as an underdog. The Hawkeyes have split their last four bowl games against SEC opponents.
Pick: Iowa 28, Vanderbilt 25
Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl: Duke (-1.5) vs. Arizona State
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m.., CBS
Duke won the ACC championship game. Jeff Sims' long-winding career continues with the Sun Devils here. Kenny Dillingham will get enough production out of Raleek Brown (1,141 yards, 4 TDs) to make it interesting, even though the Blue Devils are 4-2 S/U as a favorite of a TD or less.
This will be the most watched bowl game outside the College Football Playoff. Arch Manning and Bryce Underwood will look to build momentum for next season, and there will be opt-outs on both sides. Can Michigan get a running game going against the Longhorns – who allowed just 98.1 rushing yards on 3.1 yards per carry this season?
Pick: Texas 28, Michigan 20
SDS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: No. 15 Utah (-14) vs. Nebraska
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Utah finished with 10 wins under Kyle Whittingham – and they will run right at a Nebraska defense that allowed 222 rushing yards per game in blowout losses to Penn State and Iowa to close the regular season. Still, Matt Rhule has a chance to win a second straight bowl game. TJ Lateef did not throw an interception after taking over for Dylan Raiola.
Pick: Utah 30, Nebraska 20
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Texas State (-10.5) vs. Rice
Friday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ESPN
Texas State averaged 40.3 points per game in its last three games – all victories. Rice lost three of its last four games but slipped into a bowl game with a 5-7 record. The Bobcats beat the Owls 45-21 in the First Responders Bowl in 2023.
Pick: Texas State 38, Rice 21
Autozone Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati (-1.5) vs. Navy
Friday, Jan. 2, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Cincinnati fizzled at the end of season, but Brendan Sorsby still finished with 3,380 total yards and 36 TDs. The Bearcats will test the Midshipmen with big plays, but Navy is 6-1 S/U in its last seven bowl games. Blake Horvath – an Ohio native – leads another victory.
Pick: Navy 24, Cincinnati 22
Duke's Mayo Bowl: Mississippi State (-3) vs. Wake Forest
Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m., ESPN
The Bulldogs lost seven of their last eight games for a 5-7 record, but they will take advantage of the opportunity to play an extra game. Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne (907 yards, 10 TDs) has a chance to get Jake Dickert to nine wins in Year 1. This is a toss-up SEC-ACC matchup, and Dickert gets the mayo bath.
Pick: Wake Forest 31, Mississippi State 23
DirecTV Holiday Bowl: No. 17 Arizona (-1.5) vs. SMU
Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m., Fox
Arizona was one of the hottest teams in the FBS at the end of the season with five straight victories. Noah Fifita (2,963 yards, 26 TDs, 5 INTs) and SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (3,363 yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs) should put on a show. The Wildcats were 4-1 S/U when favored by a TD or less.
Pick: Arizona 37, SMU 30
College Football Playoff predictions (first round)
First-round game: No. 9 Alabama (-1.5) at No. 8 Oklahoma
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m., ABC
The Crimson Tide are road favorites at Oklahoma in a classic 8/9 game. Oklahoma won close games down the stretch, and their defense has limited the Crimson Tide to 75 rushing yards and forced three turnovers in the last two meetings. Are we discrediting that Sooners' defense? Look for Kalen DeBoer to pull a first-round surprise.
The quarterback matchup between Marcel Reed and Carson Beck is intriguing. How will Reed handle Miami's pass rush, which features Rueben Bain Jr.? Beck had 10 TDs and one interception in his last four games. Would the former Georgia quarterback get a shot at his former team down the line in the semifinals? This should be a tight game to the finish, but Texas A&M has the home-field advantage of Kyle Field.
First-round game: No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss (-16.5)
Saturday, Dec. 20, 4 p.m., TNT
The Rebels beat the Green Wave 45-10 in the regular-season meeting. Ole Miss had 548 total yards of offense, too. How will the Rebels respond to not having Lane Kiffin on the sideline? It's going to be tough for Ole Miss to slow down Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, but that's still a big number against a team that won five straight games to close the season.
First-round game: No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon (-20.5)
Saturday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m., ABC
The Ducks were 5-2 ATS as a home favorite this season, and they have only allowed 14.5 points per game since losing to Indiana. That includes just two rushing TDs on 3.2 yards per carry. James Madison running back Wayne Knight (1,263 yards, 9 TDs) averages 6.6 yards per carry, but the Ducks will be amped for a home playoff game at Autzen Stadium. It's a lot to overcome.
Heisman finalist Fernando Mendoza is well known for what he can do on the football field. The Hoosier quarterback helped lead Indiana to a 13-0 start to the season and first Big Ten title since 1967.
But behind Mendoza's success on the field, is a strong family. Mendoza has a younger brother, Alberto, and comes from two parents, Fernando Sr. and Elsa.
Let's take a look at Mendoza's family, as well as where he grew up and more.
Yes, Fernando and Alberto Mendoza are brothers. Alberto is his younger brother, who is currently a redshirt freshman at Indiana.
Fernando Mendoza brother: Alberto Mendoza
Alberto Mendoza also played high school football at Columbus in Miami, Fla., like Fernando. He is a former 3-star recruit from the Class of 2024.
As a backup for the Hoosiers, he has thrown 18 completions for 139 yards with three touchdowns. In fact, having his little brother in Bloomington was a big reason for Mendoza transferring to Indiana.
"I think having my little brother there, who’s my best friend and the person who pushes me the hardest, it was great to have that," Mendoza said via the IndyStar. "To see his perspective on the coaching staff, the culture," Fernando Mendoza told the IndyStar in January following his transfer.
After Alberto threw his first career touchdown pass against Kennesaw State earlier this season, both Mendoza brothers were fired up:
"I also know, at a certain point, that you had another goal in mind: to make the NFL," Mendoza's mother, Elsa penned in a recent letter she published to her son via The Players' Tribune: And in talking to Alberto about his development at IU, you became convinced that playing for Coach Cignetti and his staff was the right path forward."
Fernando Mendoza's parents are Elsa and Fernando Mendoza. His mother, Elsa, played tennis at the University of Miami. His father is a doctor in Miami, with a Specialty in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. After Indiana's Big Ten championship over Ohio State, Mendoza celebrated with his parents:
"I'm so proud, so happy. He deserves it all."
MUST WATCH: You could feel the emotion from @IndianaFootball QB Fernando Mendoza's parents, Elsa and Fernando, when they spoke with @ACwishtv following IU's win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. pic.twitter.com/9hjXZtdpcn
Fernando Mendoza's mother, Elsa, played tennis at UM in Coral Gables, where she earned two degrees. According to the Palm Beach Post, his mother taught him how to throw a football.
In Elsa's Players' Tribune letter, she joked that she wished her son would take up tennis, like her:
The truth is, it was more like an accident … from me being selfish. My dream was for you to play tennis like I did. And at UM there was this drill they’d run us through, where we’d practice throwing a ball across the net, to work on our serve. “Step and throw, step and throw.” So that’s what I’d tell you and Alberto! And now of course every quarterback coach jokes with me, “That’s the WORST thing you could have told them.” But you made it work.
Elsa is one of Fernando's biggest motivators. Mendoza's mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which affects the central nervous system.
"At this point, she has a tough time moving around and stuff like that, but her happiness, her joy and her determination is what inspires me every single day and that's what pushes me," Fernando said in a video for Hoosiers Connect, Indiana's official NIL collective. "You know, if I'm in a workout and I'm feeling tired, you know, a little thought in my mind goes, 'Maybe you should skip out on this set' or something like that, I'll be like, my mom is out here every single day putting a ton of work, a ton of dedication and still with a great attitude, a great positive attitude in everything she does."
Why is Fernando Mendoza's mother in a wheelchair?
Fernando Mendoza's mother is in a wheelchair due to her MS. Her son has been motivated to use his platform at Indiana to help those with the disease. At Indiana, he hosted a fundraiser aiming to raise $100,000 for MS research, programs and services.
Fernando Mendoza dad: Fernando Mendoza Sr.
Mendoza's father is a doctor at Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists in Miami, Fla. He specializes in Emergency Medicine within the hospital.
Mendoza played offensive line at Columbus high school, alongside Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. He also rowed crew on a national and collegiate level.
Fernando Mendoza's grandparents have been big inspirations for the Indiana quarterback. They are former immigrants, and Mendoza's parents are both first-generation Americans.
Where are Fernando Mendoza's grandparents from?
All four of Mendoza's grandparents immigrated to the United States from Cuba. In high school, Mendoza helped organize a Cuban Relief Service trip with his grandfather, Alberto Espino. According to The Athletic, the experience was eye-opening for both Fernando and his brother:
Fernando and his younger brother, Alberto, a redshirt freshman quarterback at Indiana, traveled to Cuba with his maternal grandparents in 2018 to see where their roots started. They did service work with Catholic charities in their grandfather’s hometown of Santiago. They took supplies and candy to elementary school kids. It was an eye-opening experience for them, said their mom, Elsa.
It showed the Mendoza boys “what just 90 miles and different government ideologies can make,” their dad said.
Fernando Mendoza nationality
Fernando Mendoza is Cuban-American.
Where is Fernando Mendoza from?
Fernando Mendoza grew up in Miami, Fla., but he was born in Boston, Mass. while his father was in residency there. Unsurprisingly, Mendoza became a huge fan of Tom Brady at a young age.
It's that time of year again — the 35th annual College Football Awards will recognize the country's best players on Friday.
The end of the regular season signals the perfect time for college football's biggest individual award shows, with ESPN's College Football Awards kicking things off this week. 22 national winners will be recognized across a variety of prestigious categories.
The Maxwell Award is the biggest honor that will be handed out Friday night. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are all up for the Player of the Year honor, which will be an interesting indicator for who might become this year's Heisman Trophy winner.
You won't want to miss this.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 College Football Awards, including TV channel and streaming options for the 35th edition of the annual show.
Where to watch College Football Awards: TV channel, live stream
The 2025 College Football Awards will air live on ESPN. Kevin Negandhi, Molly McGrath and Booger McFarland will host the event with Jen Lada joining as an analyst.
Viewers can also stream the show live on Fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try before you buy.
College Football Awards show start time
Date: Friday, Dec. 12
Time: 7 p.m. ET
The College Football Awards show will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 12. The two-hour program is slated to end at 9 p.m. ET.
College football award finalists 2025
Chuck Bednarik Award: Defensive Player of the Year
Lane Kiffin’s long-anticipated return to Ole Miss is officially on the calendar. The SEC announced Thursday that LSU will visit Oxford on Sept. 19, 2026, marking Kiffin’s first game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since he left the Rebels for Baton Rouge.
The Week 3 showdown immediately becomes one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 college football season. Kiffin and the Tigers go up against the program he rebuilt and then stunned with his departure.
During his six-year run, Kiffin guided Ole Miss to unprecedented heights, including multiple 10-win seasons and the program’s first College Football Playoff berth. But his exit delivered just days after an 11-win regular season still stings in Oxford. He was met with hostility 0and middle fingers as he boarded a plane bound for LSU.
Kiffin’s return is expected to draw one of the most insane atmospheres in stadium history. The Rebels will be led by Pete Golding and will welcome their former coach as a rival for the first time. With tensions amplified by the way he left the program and by LSU’s aggressive pursuit of him after firing Brian Kelly, Kiffin has to deliver right away.
Both teams are projected to contend in the newly expanded nine-game SEC slate. The matchup carries major early-season implications and no shortage of emotion.
Nearly a third of SEC schools hired a new head coach in the span of about six hours on Nov. 30, and the domino that set each move in motion was Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin finally ripped the band-aid off by announcing his decision to become the next head coach at LSU, but the writing had been on the wall. Florida moved on from Kiffin, hiring Jon Sumrall, which prompted Auburn to pivot to Alex Golesh and Arkansas to then pivot to Ryan Silverfield.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, promoted one of Kiffin's top assistants, defensive coordinator Pete Golding, to head coach.
Kiffin will meet three of those coaches in 2026, including a meeting in Oxford that could be one of the highlights of the college football season.
Here's a complete look at LSU's opponents for 2026 and when Kiffin could reunite with Ole Miss.
Lane Kiffin will return to Oxford to face Ole Miss in 2026, setting the stage for one of the premier events of the college football season regardless of how well each team is playing.
LSU will play Ole Miss on Saturday, September 19 in Oxford.
Ole Miss schedule 2026
Date
Opponent
Sept. 5
vs. Louisville (Nissan Stadium)
Sept. 12
vs. Charlotte
Sept. 19
vs. LSU
Sept. 26
at Florida
Oct. 3
Open
Oct. 10
at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17
vs. Missouri
Oct. 24
at Texas
Oct. 31
vs. Auburn
TBD
TBD
Does LSU play Tennessee next year?
LSU will play Tennessee in 2026.
It's been 19 years since a young Kiffin left the Volunteers after one season to coach the Raiders in the NFL. One would think tensions have diminished since that point, but Kiffin saw golf balls and a mustard bottle fly toward him last time he coached in Knoxville while with Ole Miss.
LSU's date with Tennessee won't be as anticipated as the matchup with Ole Miss, considering some Volunteers players weren't even alive when Kiffin coached the team, but many fans haven't forgotten yet.
A non-conference matchup with Clemson at home is coming on Friday, Sept. 5 as Kiffin's earliest major test.
To no surprise, LSU's SEC slate is daunting, but the bulk of the Tigers' toughest matchups come at home against Alabama, Texas and Texas A&M. LSU's road slate is a bit lighter but includes games at Tennessee and Ole Miss, with the latter guaranteed to have all eyes on it as Kiffin returns to Oxford.
Michigan has fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause, per a report.
ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news on Wednesday afternoon. The news comes shortly after Michigan's early signing period, as Moore was just finishing up his second season with the Wolverines.
On Friday, Moore was charged with home invasion in the third degree, stalking, as well as breaking an entering. Moore was arrested by police on Wednesday evening.
According to the school, the firing comes amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a UM staffer.
Michigan announces that Sherrone Moore has been fired for cause & school found “credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
UM athletic director released a statement after reports came out. Manuel added that More's conduct is a clear violation of university policy, and the school has "zero tolerance" for such behavior.
Statement from University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel:
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately. Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate…
On Thursday night, Michigan's president, Domenico Grasco, released a statement, saying "There is absolutely no tolerance for this conduct at the University of Michigan. None."
Moore had just finished his second season as Michigan's head coach, finishing with an 18-8 record. The Wolverines lost 27-9 to Ohio State to finish 9-3 on the season. Moore has been married to his wife, Kelli Moore since 2015. The couple shares three daughters together.
Beyond his suspension earlier in the 2025 season, Moore had faced two prior penalties: a one-game ban for the 2023 season opener stemming from recruiting violations, and an outstanding one-game suspension tied to the sign-stealing investigation that was scheduled for the first game of the 2026 season.
TMZ has released audio of a 911 tape, allegedly tied to Moore's arrest on Wednesday. On the tape, you can hear the dispatcher say that a woman on location was "being attacked," and that the man at the location has "been stalking her for months."
TMZ released an extended clip of the audio later Wednesday, where the dispatcher is heard describing a call from "S1's wife" in Ann Arbor saying that the suspect is "suicidal for losing his job today." The dispatcher added that S1 walked out with a knife, and that a U of M detective was on the way.
Latest Sherrone Moore arrest updates
Friday, Dec. 12. 1:38 p.m: According to Nicole Auerbach, the magistrate told Sherrone Moore that he is not to use alcohol, marijuana or any other substance that's not prescribed to him while out on bond. Moore must also wear a GPS tether, continue all mental health treatment and have no contact with the woman.
Moore's next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026, per Auerbach.
Friday, Dec. 12. 1:34 p.m. TheWashtenaw County prosecutor said Sherrone Moore is alleged to have broken into the woman's residence, grabbed butter knives and threatened to harm himself, including telling the alleged victim she would have to watch.
Per Nicole Auerbach, the prosecutor also said that Sherrone Moore and the woman had an intimate relationship for a number of years, and the victim "broke up with the defendant on Monday morning. She presented herself to (the school) and corroborated the fact they had a relationship."
Here is video from the allegations being laid out by the prosecutor.
Allegations laid out by prosecutor against Sherrone Moore
Says Moore barged into house, grabbed multiple knives and threatened to kill himself in front of alleged victim pic.twitter.com/bDzyKBqNTj
Friday, Dec. 12. 12:53 p.m.: Moore has been formally charged by Washtenaw County with home invasion in the third degree, stalking as well as breaking and entering:
Friday, Dec. 12. 12:29 p.m.: Moore is set to be arraigned in Washtenaw County court at 1 p.m. ET.
Sherrone Moore's arraignment appears set for 1 p.m., per a release: "The Court has received information a complaint will filed by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office. As soon as we have charging information that will be shared."
Thursday, Dec. 11 4:03 p.m.: NBC's Nicole Auerbach reported on Thursday afternoon that Michigan was aware of Moore's mental health issues, but Warde Manuel fired him without any HR reps or security guards present.
Michigan had been alerted prior to Wednesday that Sherrone Moore was dealing with mental health issues yet Warde Manuel fired him alone with no HR rep and no security present, source told @NBCSports.
Hours after his firing, Moore was arrested and is currently in protective custody.
1:34 p.m.: According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, who initially reported Moore's firing, Michigan did have an initial investigation into the head coach's alleged misconduct.
That investigation didn't yield anything, but in "very recent days," credible information emerged that was "overwhelming in nature." Per Thamel, who appeared on the Pat McAfee show on Thursday, that changed the investigation, which ultimately led to his firing:
"My understanding is that there was an initial investigation into this and nothing credible was found..
Within the past day or two credible information emerged that was overwhelming in nature..
12:26 p.m.: Per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Moore is expected to appear in court for his arraignment on Friday, Dec. 12:
Update from Pittsfield Township police on the Sherrone Moore situation: "This investigation is ongoing and under review by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor. The suspect remains in custody at the Washtenaw County Jail and is expected to appear in court for arraignment on 12/12/25."
11:20 a.m.: According to ESPN's Dan Wetzel, no decision on charges stemming from Moore's arrest by police is expected on Thursday. Moore remains in custody, and is still being actively investigated by police:
The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office tells ESPN that no decision on charging Sherrone Moore is expected today. The former Michigan coach remains in custody.
"The matter involving Mr. Moore remains under active investigation by law-enforcement, and as a result, we do not…
According to Wetzel, Moore was detained by police in Saline, Mich. on Wednesday evening.
Breaking: Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was detained by police in Saline, Mich. this evening and turned over to police in Pittsfield Township for investigation into potential charges, reporting with @PeteThamelpic.twitter.com/KTuzlmNXQ7
Moore was detained by police Wednesday afternoon and was in custody in the Washtenaw County Jail as of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to online court records. He was booked at 8:30 p.m., according to court records.
Saline police chief Marlene Radzik confirmed to The News earlier Wednesday that nearby Pittsfield Township's police department was handling a complaint involving Moore. After 10 p.m. Wednesday, Pittsfield Township police confirmed it handled an assault investigation, without naming Moore. Police said the investigation began around 4:10 p.m., minutes before UM announced Moore's firing.
In a statement to the media, Pittsfield police chief Patrick Gray stated that "the incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community."
He added that an investigation is ongoing. Saline, Mich. lies about 9.5 miles south of Ann Arbor.
Firing him for cause means the school has a legitimate reason to dismiss Moore. In this case, an inappropriate relationship with a staff member likely resulted in a breach of contract, allowing the school to terminate him without paying a buyout.
There are various clauses within a head coach's contract that subject coaches to firing for cause. Oftentimes, the coach is contractually obligated to represent the university with high standards. Michigan State fire Mel Tucker in 2023 after an investigation revealed that he sexually assaulted a Title IX advocate, Brenda Tracy, who previously spoke to the MSU football program. The Spartans had to vacate 14 wins under Tucker earlier this year.
There is a chance that firing Moore for cause means the school would not have to pay him his buyout of $13,897,916.
Who is Michigan's interim coach?
Michigan's interim head coach is former Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi. The longtime Michigan staffer had coached under Jim Harbaugh and re-joined Moore's staff midseason.
When Moore was suspended earlier in the 2025 season, Poggi took over for two games and led the Wolverines to a 2-0 record. Combined with his tenure at Charlotte, Poggi has an 8-16 career record as a head coach.
While Poggi will man the Wolverines for now, leading the coaching search is athletic director Warde Manuel, who remains in the position after a Michigan board member call on Thursday.
Despite contrary reports, Warde Manuel remains the Michigan athletic director as the school begins a search for its next coach, per @RossDellenger.
Michigan board members and university officials held a call earlier today that was related to the situation following Sherrone… pic.twitter.com/M730wZLXRN
In two years as Michigan head coach, Moore finished with a record of 18-8. He was 16-8 in his two-year tenure as the official head coach, with two additional wins coming as acting head coach when Jim Harbaugh was suspended.
He led the Wolverines to an 8-5 record (5-4 Big Ten) in his first full season, a campaign defined by two monumental victories. Moore secured a fourth consecutive win over No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus and followed it by defeating Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Michigan also won all four of its rivalry trophy games that year.
In 2025, Michigan finished the regular season 9-3 and will face Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31. The Wolverines’ three losses all came against ranked opponents — No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 16 USC and No. 1 Ohio State — and they managed just two total touchdowns across those games.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
The coaching carousel received a jolt Wednesday when Michigan announced it was firing head coach Sherrone Moore for cause. Moore, who had just wrapped up his second season with the Wolverines, posted an 18-8 record as head coach.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced the decision Wednesday afternoon, saying Moore had engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer. Moore was also arrested on Wednesday evening as part of an investigation into a alleged assault. He was charged with home invasion in the third degree, stalking and breaking and entering on Friday afternoon.
Moore finished the 2025 regular season 9-3. Michigan is set to face Texas in the Citrus Bowl.
Here’s what to know about the charges facing Moore, his status with Michigan and more.
According to Michigan, Moore was fired for "credible evidence" that Moore had engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with a UM staffer.
Michigan announces that Sherrone Moore has been fired for cause & school found “credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
The Wolverines' athletic director, Warde Manuel, released a statement on Wednesday afternoon:
Statement from University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel:
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately. Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate…
On Thursday, Michigan President Dominico Grasso also released a statement in a letter to the Wolverine community, saying there is no tolerance for Moore's behavior.
Moore just finished his second season with Michigan, taking over for Jim Harbaugh after he left for the NFL two seasons ago. He finished 18-8 as a head coach in Ann Arbor.
What did Sherrone Moore do?
It has been reported that Moore, who is married with three children, is accused of engaging in a relationship with a Michigan staff member. Such a situation likely resulted in a breach of Moore’s contract with the university. Beyond that, however, few details of the situation have been made public.
Moore had been suspended twice previously under the sign-stealing investigation involving former UM assistant Conner Stalions, missing two games this season. He was also set to serve a one-game suspension to open the 2026 season. In 2023, he served a self-imposed one-game suspension for violating COVID recruiting rules.
We have seen other coaches fired for cause in recent years. Michigan State fired Mel Tucker in 2023 after an investigation found Tucker sexually harassed Title IX advocate Brenda Tracy, who had previously worked with the program. Tracy was a sexual assault survivor stemming from the Baylor football Title IX scandal.
Washington State fired Nick Rolovich for cause in October 2021 after he refused to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Florida fired Jim McElwain for cause in 2017 after the head coach claimed he and his family had received death threats amid the program’s struggles. An investigation later found that no such threats had been made.
What is Sherrone Moore being charged with?
According to On3Sports, Moore is being charged with home invasion in the third degree, stalking and breaking and entering:
Moore was accused of "unlawfully entering the dwelling of a victim with whom Mr. Moore had a dating relationship," the Washtenaw County prosecutor's office said, per ESPN.
At his arraignment, the magistrate told Moore that he is not to use alcohol, marijuana or any other substance that's not prescribed to him while he's out on bond, per Nicole Auerbach, and Moore must wear a GPS tether, continue all mental health treatment and have no contact with the woman involved in the incident.
Moore's next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026, per Auerbach.
ESPN had reported that Moore was a suspect for an alleged assault on Wednesday.
Sherrone Moore 911 call
TMZ has released audio of a 911 tape, allegedly tied to Moore's arrest on Wednesday. On the tape, you can hear the dispatcher say that a woman on location was "being attacked," and that the man at the location has "been stalking her for months.
On Friday afternoon, ESPN's Pete Thamel confirmed his arraignment is set for 1 p.m.:
Sherrone Moore's arraignment appears set for 1 p.m., per a release: "The Court has received information a complaint will filed by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office. As soon as we have charging information that will be shared."
Per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Moore is expected to appear in court for his arraignment on Friday, Dec. 12:
Update from Pittsfield Township police on the Sherrone Moore situation: "This investigation is ongoing and under review by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor. The suspect remains in custody at the Washtenaw County Jail and is expected to appear in court for arraignment on 12/12/25."
ESPN's Dan Wetzel first reported the news of Moore's arrest. As of Thursday morning, he remains in police custody. No decision on formal charges for Moore are expected by Thursday, per police:
The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office tells ESPN that no decision on charging Sherrone Moore is expected today. The former Michigan coach remains in custody.
"The matter involving Mr. Moore remains under active investigation by law-enforcement, and as a result, we do not…
According to Wetzel, Moore was arrested in Saline, Mich., on Wednesday evening.
Breaking: Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was detained by police in Saline, Mich. this evening and turned over to police in Pittsfield Township for investigation into potential charges, reporting with @PeteThamelpic.twitter.com/KTuzlmNXQ7
According to Tony Paul of the Detroit News and court records, Moore was placed in the Washtenaw County Jail, roughly 10 miles south of Ann Arbor, on Wednesday evening. Police confirmed to Paul that they made an arrest stemming from “an assault investigation” but did not specifically use Moore’s name in the statement.
On Thursday, NBC's Nicole Auerbach reported that the university knew that the former head coach was dealing with mental health issues, yet Manuel fired Moore with no human relations representative or security guards present.
Michigan had been alerted prior to Wednesday that Sherrone Moore was dealing with mental health issues yet Warde Manuel fired him alone with no HR rep and no security present, source told @NBCSports.
Moore was arrested hours after his termination. He is expected to be arraigned on Friday afternoon.
Sheriff at the 14-A district court has told us arraignments will not begin this afternoon until 1:00 p.m. That, of course, includes Sherrone Moore.
It is not yet clear if it will be a video arraignment or in person, the expectation is it will be on video.
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) December 12, 2025
Will Michigan AD Warde Manuel be fired?
While rumors are circulating that Manuel will be fired, Michigan will be starting its coaching search with him remaining as athletic director.
Michigan board members and university officials held a call earlier today related to the situation with Sherrone Moore, sources tell @YahooSports. Despite reports to the contrary, Warde Manuel remains the athletic director as the school begins a search for its next coach.
Earlier on Thursday, Michigan board members and university officials held a call related to the situation and made the decision.
Sherrone Moore assault allegations
Pittsfield police released a statement saying it brought a suspect into custody "for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault," according to ESPN. The statement went on to say "this incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community."
The police did not name Sherrone Moore as the suspect, but the details of the arrest align with the reports that police detained Moore. The situation and investigation remain ongoing.
According to ESPN, Moore was accused of "unlawfully entering the dwelling of a victim with whom Mr. Moore had a dating relationship," the Washtenaw County prosecutor's office said. He was charged with felony third-degree home invasion, stalking in a domestic relationship and breaking and entering.
At his arraignment, the prosecutor said Moore allegedly broke into the victim's apartment, "grabbed several butterknives and a pair of kitchen scissors and began to threaten his own life."
Allegations laid out by prosecutor against Sherrone Moore
Says Moore barged into house, grabbed multiple knives and threatened to kill himself in front of alleged victim pic.twitter.com/bDzyKBqNTj
Yes, Moore is married. He has been married since 2015, to his wife, Kelli Moore. The couple has three daughters together.
Who is Sherrone Moore's wife?
Moore's wife is Kelli Moore. The two married in 2015, when Moore was the tight ends coach at Central Michigan.
Sherrone Moore contract details
Moore signed a five-year contract with Michigan in Jan. 2024. His salary was $6.1 million annually, with a $500,000 retention bonus every year. His deal ran through the 2029 season.
His buyout by USA Today is listed as $13,897,916. According to CBS Sports, his buyout is 75% of his base salary, including the additional compensation remaining on his contract. If Moore is fired for cause, the school could potentially avoid paying out the remainder of his contract.
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