IN THIS ISSUE

Best Links:

• A new org is being formed to enforce revenue-sharing issues. And it’s not the NCAA.

• Will there be a CEO of College Sports?

• College coaches propose NFL-style OTAs as a replacement for spring games.

• Roster Management is the hardest part of college coaching today.

Deep Dive:

Twenty-seven FBS programs are changing head coaches for the 2025 season—a number that would be shocking if it weren't for the deeper story it tells about the evolution of college football. Behind these changes lies a complex web of strategic moves that reveal where the sport is headed.

• Head coaching changes reflect an overall change to programs

• Offensive coordinators lean heavily toward a new reliance on Air Raid

• Defensive coordinator changes bring an NFL approach to college football

BEST LINKS

New organization being formed to enforce revenue-sharing rules, not NCAA? This week, a committee of power conference administrators took significant steps toward creating a new entity that will govern the evolving professionalized aspects of college sports, a milestone moment in the industry’s history. LINK

Job Listing: Chief executive officer, College Sports - There will be a college sports CEO -- who they are and how they'll execute an impossible task is up in the air. LINK

College coaches mull NFL-style OTAs as a replacement for spring games amid roster tampering and injury concerns.- Prominent Football HCs are “campaigning to transform the allotted 15 days of [spring] practices into NFL-style organized team activities in June or July,” LINK

Mississippi State Baseball HC Chris Lemonis tells D1Baseball’s Mark Etheridge that roster management is “the hardest part of our job right now. We spend so much time building rosters with recruiting – it’s portal, it’s high school, it’s juco. Right now, with a 34-man roster coming you feel when players show up, they need to play right away. There’s less of a developmental aspect.” LINK

DEEP DIVE

How New Leaders, New Systems, and New Philosophies Will Reshape College Football

College football is about to experience its biggest coaching shakeup in modern history.

Twenty-seven FBS programs are changing head coaches for the 2025 season—a number that would be shocking if it weren't for the deeper story it tells about the evolution of college football. Behind these changes lies a complex web of strategic moves that reveal where the sport is headed.

Here's what's happening…

The Move Nobody Saw Coming

Bill Belichick is going to coach college football.

The mastermind behind the Patriots dynasty isn't just dipping his toes into the college ranks—he's diving headfirst into the ACC, taking over for Mack Brown at North Carolina. This isn't simply a coaching change; it's a seismic shift that signals how the walls between NFL and college football have finally crumbled in the NIL era.

The implications are staggering:

• NFL-caliber preparation comes to college football

• Pro-style development becomes a recruiting tool

• The ACC gains instant national relevance

• The college coaching hierarchy gets completely upended

The Group of Five Revolution

The American Athletic Conference is staging a quiet rebellion.

Six AAC programs are changing leadership in 2025—a mass exodus that suggests the conference is done playing “little brother” to the Power Four. The most fascinating story? Scott Frost's return to UCF, where he once led an undefeated season before his ill-fated tenure at Nebraska.

This revolution extends beyond the AAC:

• The Mountain West landed former Florida head coach Dan Mullen at UNLV

• The MAC is bringing in innovative offensive minds

• Conference USA is betting big on up-and-coming talent

• The Sun Belt is positioning itself with proven winners

The Coordinator Uprising

Programs are tired of recycling the same head coaches.

The 2025 carousel shows a clear trend: innovative coordinators are getting their shot at the big chair. Zac Kittley's move to FAU and Blake Harrell's promotion at East Carolina represents a new way of thinking about program building.

Why this matters:

• Fresh offensive schemes are prioritized over head coaching experience

• Defensive innovation is being valued equally

• The traditional coaching ladder is being rebuilt

• Programs are betting on potential over proven records

The Strategic Dance

Not all moves are created equal.

Charles Huff's transition from Marshall to Southern Miss and Barry Odom's jump from UNLV to Purdue show how coaches use smaller programs as stepping stones. But it's Bronco Mendenhall's lateral move from New Mexico to Utah State that captures the importance of finding the right fit over chasing prestige.

The Power Four Plot Twist

The traditional powers aren't sitting still.

While the Group of Five leads in volume, the Power Four changes might be more significant. Wake Forest bringing in Jake Dickert from Washington State creates a fascinating domino effect. In contrast, West Virginia's decision to bring back Rich Rodriguez feels like a calculated risk that could redefine the program.

What This Means for 2025

The recruiting landscape is about to change dramatically.

These coaching changes will reshape college football in ways we're only beginning to understand:

• Belichick's North Carolina will attract NFL-minded talents

• Frost's UCF could reignite their Group of Five dominance

• Rodriguez's return might resurrect West Virginia's offensive innovation

• The Group of Five talent gap could start closing

The Bottom Line

Change this dramatic doesn't happen by accident.

These 27 programs aren't just changing coaches—they're betting that college football's future demands completely reimagining how programs are built. Some will succeed spectacularly, and others will fail just as dramatically.

The only question is: Which revolution will come first?

The Offensive Evolution: 2025's Coordinator Chess Match

The head coaching carousel is just the beginning of college football's transformation.

Beneath the headlines about Belichick and Frost lies an even more fascinating story: the complete reimagining of offensive football through 45 coordinator changes. These moves aren't just about new playbooks—they're about programs betting their futures on radical offensive evolution.

The SEC's Offensive Arms Race

Alabama just changed everything.

Ryan Grubb's arrival in Tuscaloosa to replace Nick Sheridan signals the end of traditional SEC football. The architect of Washington's explosive passing attack isn't coming to Alabama to run between the tackles—he's coming to revolutionize how the conference thinks about offense.

The ripple effects are already visible:

• Oklahoma counters with Ben Arbuckle's air raid from Washington State

• South Carolina brings in NFL veteran Mike Shula

• The ground-and-pound SEC is officially dead

The Air Raid Takeover

The most aggressive offensive system in football is going mainstream.

Look at these moves:

• Zach Kittley brings his Texas Tech air raid to Florida Atlantic

• Seth Doege takes his passing revolution to Arizona

• Drew Hollingshead installs his version at Coastal Carolina

• Mack Leftwich maintains the system at Texas Tech

The NFL Influence

Pro-style concepts are infiltrating college football at an unprecedented rate.

The evidence is everywhere:

• Freddie Kitchens brings his NFL experience to North Carolina

• Pep Hamilton imports his pro concepts to Maryland

• Mike Shula returns to college with an NFL-refined system

• Gus Malzahn brings his NFL-influenced tempo to Florida State

The Innovation Factories

Certain programs are positioning themselves as offensive laboratories.

Florida State hiring Gus Malzahn isn't just about winning games—it's about creating an offensive identity that can compete with anyone. Ohio State's promotion of Brian Hartline suggests the same thing: the future belongs to the innovators.

The Transfer Portal Effect

These coordinator changes will reshape the transfer portal landscape dramatically.

Consider the implications:

• Quarterbacks will follow innovative offensive minds

• Wide receivers will chase air raid systems

• Running backs will look for pro-style schemes

• The portal will become coordinator-driven

What This Means for 2025

College football is about to get a lot more explosive.

The combination of NIL money, transfer portal freedom, and these offensive innovations means one thing: scoring records are about to fall. Programs aren't just changing coordinators—they're betting their futures on offense.

Traditional football isn't just evolving.

It's being completely reimagined.

Winners and Losers: The Players Caught in the Coordinator Crossfire

Some players are about to have career years.

Others might wish their coordinators never left. Here's who stands to gain the most from 2025's offensive revolution—and who might need to hit the transfer portal.

The Big Winners

Julian Sayin just won the coordinator lottery.

Ohio State's young quarterback gets Brian Hartline as his offensive coordinator—the coach who turned Ohio State's receiver room into an NFL factory. Hartline's promotion means one thing: Sayin is about to put up video game numbers.

The domino effect creates more winners:

• John Mateer follows Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to Oklahoma, bringing system familiarity to the SEC

• Dante Moore finally gets his shot at Oregon with Will Stein's system fully installed

• Carson Beck reunites with Shannon Dawson at Miami, recreating their Georgia magic

The Adjustment Period

Alabama's offense is about to go through growing pains.

Ryan Grubb's air raid system is proven, but it's also complex. The transition from Nick Sheridan's system won't happen overnight. Every player on Alabama's offense will need to:

Learn entirely new terminology

• Master different route concepts

• Adjust to a faster tempo

• Develop new practice habits

The Transfer Portal Candidates

Florida State's offensive overhaul under Gus Malzahn will create winners and losers.

Players who thrive in Malzahn's hurry-up, no-huddle system will emerge as stars. Those struggling with the tempo might post their names in the portal by October.

Watch these position groups closely:

• Running backs who can't pass-protect

• Wide receivers who struggle with option routes

• Quarterbacks who can't process quickly

• Tight ends who don't block in space

The NFL Stock Watch

North Carolina's offensive personnel just got a massive boost.

Freddie Kitchens brings NFL concepts and NFL eyes to Chapel Hill. Every practice becomes an NFL audition. Every game film becomes NFL scout bait. Players who master his system will shoot up draft boards.

The same opportunity exists at:

• Maryland (Pep Hamilton)

• South Carolina (Mike Shula)

• Florida State (Gus Malzahn)

The Bottom Line

The 2025 season won't just reshape college football's offensive landscape.

It will reshape careers.

Some players will emerge as superstars in these new systems, and others will transfer to find better fits. But one thing is sure: the game is changing, and the players who adapt fastest will rewrite record books.

The Defensive Revolution: 2025's Scheme Wars

Defense isn't dead in college football.

It's evolving into something we've never seen before. The 2025 defensive coordinator carousel isn't just about new faces—it's about programs completely reimagining how to stop modern offenses.

The Power Moves

Clemson just changed the game.

Tom Allen's arrival from Penn State signals a seismic shift in the Tigers' defensive philosophy. They're not just getting a coordinator—they're getting an architect of modern defense who turned Penn State into a fortress.

But that's just the beginning:

• Ohio State gambles on NFL mastermind Matt Patricia

• Penn State counters by stealing Jim Knowles from Ohio State

• Florida State brings in Tony White's aggressive 3-3-5

The NFL Invasion

The pros are coming to college defense.

Look at these moves:

• Steve Belichick brings the Patriots' system to North Carolina

• Chris Ash imports his NFL experience to Notre Dame

• Matt Patricia brings two decades of pro knowledge to Ohio State

• Todd Grantham returns from the NFL to Oklahoma State

The Scheme Revolution

Traditional defense is being completely reimagined.

The evidence is everywhere:

• Tony White brings his shape-shifting 3-3-5 to Florida State

• Ryan Walters imports his aggressive man-coverage scheme to Washington

• Alex Grinch installs his quarters-based aggression at UCF

• Austin Armstrong takes his SEC defense to Houston

The Innovation Labs

Certain programs are becoming defensive laboratories.

Penn State's hire of Jim Knowles isn't just about stopping offenses but creating a defensive identity that can counter modern attacks. Notre Dame's move to get Chris Ash suggests that defense needs to evolve or die.

The Winners and Losers

Some defensive units are about to take quantum leaps.

Clemson's defense gets Tom Allen's proven system for creating chaos. Penn State inherits Jim Knowles' nation-leading scheme. But others face steep learning curves:

·       Ohio State's defenders must master Patricia's complex NFL concepts

·       Florida State's players need to adapt to the 3-3-5's demands

·       Washington's secondary has to excel in Ryan Walters' man coverage

What This Means for 2025

College football is entering uncharted defensive territory.

The combination of NFL influence, innovative schemes, and modern offensive challenges means one thing: defense is about to get a lot more sophisticated. These aren't just coordinator changes—they're complete defensive reimaginings.

The arms race is heating up.

And defense is finally catching up.

The Reality Check: Who Will Actually Succeed?

Not all defensive schemes are created equal.

The 2025 coordinator carousel brings both proven winners and questionable gambles. Let's separate the real defensive architects from the paper tigers.

The Proven Winners

Tom Allen isn't just a good hire for Clemson—he's the perfect hire.

His track record speaks for itself:

• Transformed Penn State's defense into a national force

• Consistently developed NFL-caliber talent

• Proved his system works against modern offenses

• Brings championship-level experience

Jim Knowles gives Penn State immediate credibility. His Ohio State defense led the nation in 2024, and his complex coverage schemes have consistently frustrated even the most sophisticated offenses.

The High-Risk Bets

UCF just made a massive gamble.

Alex Grinch's arrival comes with serious red flags:

Failed to produce elite defenses at Ohio State

• Couldn't stop anyone at Oklahoma

• USC's defense regressed under his watch

• Only sustained success came at Washington State

• Consistently struggles against run-heavy teams

The Knights are betting that Grinch's quarters-based aggression will work in the Big 12. History suggests otherwise.

The Unknown Quantities

Matt Patricia brings NFL credentials to Ohio State—and NFL questions.

His defensive approach:

• Worked brilliantly with the Patriots

• Failed spectacularly with the Lions

• Hasn't been tested against college offenses

• Requires NFL-level practice time

• Demands veteran-level understanding

The Buckeyes are betting that Patricia's complex NFL system can be adapted to college. That's a big ask with limited practice time and constant roster turnover.

The Quiet Innovators

Tony White's move to Florida State deserves more attention.

His 3-3-5 system has:

• Consistently overachieved with lesser talent

• Proven effective against spread offenses

• Shown flexibility against multiple schemes

• Developed overlooked players into stars

The Seminoles aren't just getting a coordinator—they're getting a defensive innovator who could transform ACC football.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 season will expose pretenders and elevate contenders.

Clemson and Penn State made the safest bets, bringing in coordinators with proven track records. UCF and Ohio State took the biggest risks, gambling on coordinators who either haven't proven themselves (Grinch) or haven't coached college ball recently (Patricia).

The defensive revolution is coming.

But not everyone will survive it.

The Future of College Football

The 2025 season will rewrite every rule we thought we knew about college football.

Bill Belichick is bringing NFL excellence to North Carolina. Ryan Grubb is revolutionizing Alabama's offense. Tom Allen is transforming Clemson's defense. These aren't just coaching changes—they're the first tremors of an earthquake about reshaping college football's landscape.

Some programs made safe bets on proven winners. Others gambled everything on innovative but unproven systems. The ones who guessed right will dominate the next decade of college football. The ones who guessed wrong? They'll be starting this whole process over again in 2026.

But that's the beautiful thing about college football's evolution: it never stops. Today's innovative offense becomes tomorrow's conservative approach. Today's defensive genius becomes tomorrow's dinosaur. The only constant is change.

The 2025 season won't just be about wins and losses.

It will be about which vision of football's future is right.

THAT’S A WRAP

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