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- Chris Klieman Quit Because Of The Portal. Billy Napier Just Got Hired Because Of His Worst Stat.
Chris Klieman Quit Because Of The Portal. Billy Napier Just Got Hired Because Of His Worst Stat.
The CFP still can't decide between 12, 16, or 24 teams. And Marcus Freeman is in the clear.
Mark Haines
January 13, 2026
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IN THIS ISSUE
Happy Tuesday.
The portal grind is in full swing, and this week gave us a perfect snapshot of where college football is right now: Chris Klieman walked away from Kansas State because he couldn't stomach another December of "putting compensation packages together." Meanwhile, Washington's Demond Williams Jr. flipped twice in 48 hours - and The Athletic's Ralph Russo thinks that chaos might actually be progress.
Also this week: Marcus Freeman is in the clear after that wrestling tournament incident. The CFP expansion debate is heating up - Sankey wants 16, Petitti wants 24, and if they can't agree by Jan. 23, we're stuck at 12. And Cal is now selling phone plans. Yes, really. Roll on you bears!
Today's Deep Dive: Billy Napier was 6-24 against ranked teams. At Florida, that got him fired. At JMU, he might not face a single one. Same coach. Different context. We break down why this hire makes more sense than the headlines suggest.
Let's get into it.
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BEST LINKS
No Charges For Marcus Freeman After Wrestling Tournament Incident
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office declined to file charges against Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman over an alleged physical altercation at his son's wrestling tournament. From the statement: "While the evidence suggests that a touching may have occurred, an inadvertent touching is not sufficient." Freeman remains in the clear heading into 2026. [MORE]
Chris Klieman Opens Up On Why He Walked Away From Kansas State
The former K-State coach told The Mercury that the NIL and portal grind pushed him to retire: "You get done playing Colorado, and come Monday, man, there's 20 (players' agents) that want to know a number, or they're ready to go into the portal." Klieman said December and January became nothing but "putting compensation packages together" rather than actual recruiting. "I don't have to be a part of it if that's the way it's going down." [LINK]
The Athletic: The Portal Isn't Killing College Football, It's Just Messy Evolution
Ralph Russo argues that high-profile transfer sagas like Washington QB Demond Williams Jr.'s 48-hour flip don't signal an existential crisis. In fact, Williams backing out of his deal may prove the new revenue-sharing rules have teeth - breaking it could have cost him millions. Russo's take: "College football is evolving, and the occasional high-profile quarterback drama will neither accelerate the process nor stop it." [LINK]
CFP Expansion Debate: 16 Teams vs. 24 Teams Ahead Of Jan. 18 Meeting
ESPN's Heather Dinich reports the SEC's Greg Sankey supports a 16-team format while the Big Ten's Tony Petitti wants 24. The compromise being discussed: start at 16 in 2026, then expand to 24 after two or three seasons, a timeline that would let conferences eliminate championship games. If no deal by Jan. 23, the playoff stays at 12. Also from Dinich: Power 4 conferences are expected to align tiebreaker rules to default to CFP rankings, avoiding another Miami-ACC mess. [LINK]
Cal Launches "Bears Mobile" Phone Service With Game Day Perks
Cal, T-Mobile, Collegiate Mobile and Learfield are teaming up on a phone service for students, employees and fans. Plans range from $15 to $45 per month, with a portion supporting Cal Athletics or scholarship funds. Subscribers get extras like sideline lounge access, seat upgrades, and signed gear giveaways. Roll on you bears. [LINK]
DEEP DIVE
The Stat That Got Billy Napier Fired at Florida Is The Same Stat That Makes Him Perfect For James Madison
Billy Napier just got hired at James Madison.
Most fans saw the headline and thought: "The guy who failed at Florida?" But one stat explains why this hire makes more sense than anyone realizes.
6-24 against ranked opponents.
That's Napier's career record against ranked teams. It's brutal. It's the reason Florida fired him. And it's completely irrelevant to his new job.
At Florida, that was a death sentence.
Napier faced 25 ranked opponents in less than four seasons with the Gators. The SEC forced him into a weight class he couldn't compete in—and the results were predictable.
But at Louisiana, he only faced five ranked teams in four years. His record there:
41-12 overall
16-3 in late-season games
Back-to-back Sun Belt titles
Ranked in the AP Top 20 twice
At JMU, ranked opponents are rare.
The Dukes went 40-10 in their first three FBS seasons. They just made the College Football Playoff. And the Sun Belt doesn't have an Alabama problem.
Napier's job isn't to elevate JMU. It's to not break what's already working.
Same coach. Different context. Perfect fit.
The stat that ended his Florida career is the same stat that makes him ideal for JMU. He dominates when he has the roster advantage. He collapses when he doesn't.
JMU gives him the advantage.
The clock starts now.
THAT’S A WRAP
Thanks for reading.
Friday, we're back with more deep dives on the coaching carousel—breaking down the new hires, who's set up to succeed, and who's already on the clock before they've coached a single game.
If you found this useful, forward it to a friend who lives and breathes college football. It's the best way to help us grow.
See you Friday.
— Mark
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