BIG 12 PREVIEW: THE .333 CLUB NOBODY WANTS TO JOIN

BEST LINKS

Behind Cal's Transfer Portal Disaster: Donor Ultimatums and a Football Program in Turmoil

• Cal's football program has lost 22 players to the transfer portal, 18 of whom are on offense, including star running back Jaydn Ott and all five running backs on the roster.

• High-profile donors have issued an ultimatum demanding that newly appointed GM Ron Rivera (a Cal alum and former NFL coach) be given more authority over the football program.

• The program faces multiple internal challenges, including staff turnover (the complete replacement of the offensive coaching staff), cultural issues with new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin "accelerating the team's unraveling."

• LINK to article

Lee Corso to sign off as 'College GameDay' analyst in August

• Lee Corso will retire from ESPN's "College GameDay" in August 2025 after nearly 40 years with the show, with his final broadcast scheduled for August 30th.

• Corso is best known for his iconic headgear picks segment (which began in 1996), in which he's made 430 selections with a 286-144 record, along with his catchphrase, "not so fast, my friend."

• Throughout his broadcasting career, Corso has become deeply respected by colleagues like Kirk Herbstreit (who called him "like a second father") and Rece Davis. The show has won nine Emmy Awards during his tenure.

• Link to ESPN article

• Link to Corso’s best segments

DEEP DIVE

The Big 12 Hot Seat Chronicles 

This week, we're examining the precarious positions of Brent Brennan at Arizona and Scott Satterfield at Cincinnati—two coaches who inherited successful programs only to watch them rapidly decline under their leadership. Both men face pivotal 2025 seasons that will likely determine their futures, with massive roster overhauls and challenging schedules providing little room for error. The magic number? Six wins. Anything less than bowl eligibility, and these coaches might be updating their résumés by December. Dive into our linked detailed analyses to see the statistical breakdowns, key players to watch, and precisely what must change for these coaches to save their jobs.

Is Brennan's Ship Already Sinking?

Brent Brennan sits at a brutal crossroads heading into his second season with the Arizona Wildcats.

After inheriting a 10-win Alamo Bowl championship team, Brennan's disastrous debut season resulted in a shocking 4-8 record, plummeting his Arizona winning percentage to .333, well below the .511 minimum standard established by Coaches Hot Seat.

The Portal Hail Mary: 53 New Players

If there's one area where Brennan deserves credit, it's recognizing that a total roster overhaul was necessary.

This offseason brought a staggering transformation to the program:

• 23 high school recruits joined the ranks

• 5 community college players transferred in

• 25 four-year transfers (ranked 15th nationally by Rivals) arrived to save the day

The transfer additions specifically target glaring weaknesses:

• RB Ismail Mahdi (Texas State): 2,300+ yards over two seasons

• QB Braedyn Locke (Wisconsin): Potential starter with P5 experience

• LB Blake Gotcher (Northwestern State): Led Division I with 162 tackles

A Schedule With No Mercy

The conference schedule offers no relief for a coach already on the hot seat.

Road games include:

• Iowa State (11-3 last season)

• Rival Arizona State

• Colorado with Coach Prime

• Cincinnati and Houston

Home matchups provide little comfort:

• Oklahoma State

• BYU

• Kansas

• Baylor

The Bottom Line: It's Bowl or Bust

Brennan's career pattern shows brief flashes of potential surrounded by long stretches of underperformance.

The bar for 2025 is painfully apparent for Arizona fans: reaching bowl eligibility (6-6) would represent significant progress, while anything less likely means another coaching search by December.

For our complete breakdown of the quarterback competition, defensive concerns, and detailed analysis of why Brennan's .333 winning percentage may doom him, read our full Arizona Wildcats 2025 Football Preview here.

This Is Scott Satterfield's Final Chance

Scott Satterfield has 12 Saturdays to save his job.

After back-to-back losing seasons and a dismal 8-16 record (.333 winning percentage), the Cincinnati head coach enters 2025 with patience wearing dangerously thin among Bearcats faithful who still remember the Luke Fickell golden era that saw them crash the College Football Playoff.

The Financial Stakes Are Enormous

Cincinnati invested heavily in Satterfield when they hired him.

The numbers tell a sobering story:

• Six-year, $3.4 million annual contract running through 2028

• 100% buyout clause for early termination

• Record $7.25 million assistant coaching pool

• Total coaching investment of $10.65 million annually

This massive financial commitment only heightens the pressure to produce results immediately.

Key Players Who Will Determine Cincinnati's Fate

Will these impact players elevate the program or continue the downward trend?

Offensive firepower that must deliver:

• Brendan Sorsby (QB): 2,453 passing yards with 16 TDs through the air in 2024

• Corey Kiner (RB): Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons (1,153 yards in 2024)

• Xzavier Henderson (WR): Led team with 52 receptions for 632 yards

• Tawee Walker (RB): Power transfer from Wisconsin

Defensive anchors that must hold strong:

• Dontay Corleone (DL): Standout NFL prospect on the defensive front

• Jack Dingle and Jared Bartlett (LB): Veteran linebackers expected to lead

• Matthew McDoom (CB): Transfer from Coastal Carolina, bolstering the secondary

A Schedule That Offers Both Opportunity And Peril

The 2025 slate features pivotal matchups that will define Cincinnati's season.

Must-win home games include:

• UCF (October 11): Winnable rivalry game with Big 12 implications

• Baylor (October 25): Critical swing game against rebuilding Bears

• BYU (November 22): Late-season opportunity that could determine bowl eligibility

• Non-conference layups that cannot slip away (Bowling Green, Northwestern State)

Season-defining road tests loom large:

• Nebraska (August 27): Season opener at Arrowhead Stadium sets the tone

• Kansas, Oklahoma State, Utah, and TCU all present significant challenges

The Bottom Line: It's Now Or Never

The clock is ticking loudly in Cincinnati.

Industry projections suggest another 5-7 finish, but program expectations demand at least 6-6 and bowl eligibility. With a buyout that becomes increasingly prohibitive the longer Cincinnati waits, 2025 represents an actual inflection point for Satterfield and the program.

Read our full Bearcats Football Preview here for our complete breakdown of Cincinnati's coaching staff overhaul and statistical analysis of what must change in 2025.

THAT’S A WRAP

While Arizona and Cincinnati grapple with their coaching hot seat situations, they're far from the only programs facing turbulence this offseason.

Cal's program appears to be imploding with an unprecedented 22 players fleeing to the transfer portal—including star running back Jaydn Ott and every running back on the roster. Behind the scenes, high-profile donors are issuing ultimatums about newly appointed GM Ron Rivera's authority, while Bryan Harsin's arrival as offensive coordinator has reportedly "accelerated the team's unraveling."

On a bittersweet note, college football prepares to say goodbye to a legend as Lee Corso will make his final headgear selection on August 30th, concluding nearly four decades with ESPN's College GameDay. The iconic analyst, known for his "not so fast, my friend" catchphrase and impressive 286-144 record on headgear picks, leaves behind a legacy that includes nine Emmy Awards during his tenure.

Our Big 12 previews continue next week. We start with a focus on the Baylor Bears, a team that Hot Seat Team Member Jeff follows with particular passion. Will Baylor join Arizona and Cincinnati in our .333 Club, or will they chart a different course in 2025? Stay tuned to find out!