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Trends and Loose Talk In College Football

In Today's College Football, Limited NIL Resources Are Forcing Coaches to Rethink Their Entire Defensive Philosophy

Trent Dilfer just dropped a fascinating truth bomb about how NIL is fundamentally changing college football schemes that nobody is talking about, especially at the Group of Five level, where resources are limited.

• The financial reality is stark: Dilfer explains that running a "Mint" defense (2-gap system) would cost UAB approximately $2 million in NIL money. At the same time, they only have $1 million available for their entire team.

• Position economics have changed everything: Elite "Jack" position players (hybrid DE/LB with specific physical traits) now command $750,000 in NIL money at the Group of Five level and $1.5 million in Power Four conferences.

• "Moneyball" strategy is the only viable path: Instead of the brick wall Mint defense they'd prefer, UAB has adapted to a four-down structure with "twitchy, explosive get-off guys" because that's what their NIL budget can afford.

This represents a fundamental shift in how coaches must approach scheme installation—it's no longer just about X's and O's, but about aligning your preferred system with the financial realities of your program's NIL capabilities.

The Unsettling Disappearance of Cameron Rising: College Football's Ghost Story Unfolds in Utah

Cameron Rising, once the face of Utah football and architect of back-to-back Pac-12 championships, has vanished from the college football landscape without fanfare, becoming one of the sport's most fascinating untold stories of what could have been.

• His career path defies conventional timelines: Rising's journey reads like a college football odyssey—redshirting at Texas in 2018, transferring to Utah with a mandatory sit-out year, suffering through injuries during the pandemic, leading Utah to glory, then having his final two seasons decimated by catastrophic injuries including ACL, hand, and knee problems.

• The final chapter was heartbreaking: His last game in a Utah uniform came in an unceremonious loss to Arizona State, in which he threw three interceptions before being ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season. This left Utah spiraling into seven straight losses and its first losing record since 2013.

• His current status remains a mystery: Despite technically being eligible to return for 2025 through petition or medical redshirt, Rising hasn't been seen around Salt Lake City in months, went undrafted in the NFL, hasn't entered the transfer portal, and Coach Whittingham now only references him through telling omissions.

While his disability insurance policy should provide financial support as he recovers from his injuries and transitions to the next phase of life, the legendary quarterback who threw for over 6,000 yards and led Utah to unprecedented heights is now "fading away without a trace."

DEEP DIVE

Big Ten Week 1 Preview: Nebraska, UCLA, and Michigan State

College football's most transformed conference kicks off our 2025 season previews—and these three programs perfectly capture the Big Ten's evolution. Nebraska finally has the offensive mastermind they've been missing, UCLA is running the most fascinating transfer portal experiment in America, and Michigan State is patiently rebuilding through a proven system. This season's storylines aren't just about wins and losses, but fundamental questions about program building in college football's new era: Can you shortcut a rebuild? Will methodical development trump immediate talent acquisition? How quickly can the right offensive mind transform a quarterback's trajectory? Let's dive into three programs revealing where college football is headed.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Are Positioned for a Breakthrough in 2025

Nebraska is positioning for a true breakthrough season after ending its seven-year bowl drought with a 7-6 finish in 2024.

• QB Evolution: Dylan Raiola has transformed his body and leadership, dropping 10 pounds while mastering Dana Holgorsen's offensive system that unleashed his potential in 2024's final games.

• Offensive Mastermind: Dana Holgorsen's addition as permanent offensive coordinator brings elite play-calling credentials, including six seasons averaging top-3 finishes nationally in passing offense.

• Transfer Infusion: Kentucky WR Dane Key (1,870 career yards, 14 TDs) headlines an impressive portal class that addresses specific weaknesses across the roster.

• Favorable Schedule: The Huskers completely avoid Ohio State and Oregon while hosting Michigan, USC, and rival Iowa at Memorial Stadium.

• Five Keys to Success: Improved red zone efficiency, breakthrough wins against ranked teams, special teams impact, Raiola's development, and defensive cohesion under new coordinator John Butler.

With tangible progress already evident under Matt Rhule's leadership, 2025 represents the potential turning point in Nebraska's return to national relevance.

UCLA Bruins - Are they the Big Ten Dark Horse?

UCLA has executed one of college football's boldest program overhauls, overnight transforming from a 5-7 Big Ten afterthought into a potential conference dark horse.

• The $25 Million Man: Former Tennessee star Nico Iamaleava (2,616 yards, 19 TDs in 2024) represents a program-changing transfer that instantly elevates UCLA's offensive ceiling.

• Coaching Evolution: The addition of offensive genius Tino Sunseri, architect of Indiana's explosive 41.3 PPG attack, brings innovative schemes to a unit that ranked 126th nationally in scoring.

• Portal Transformation: UCLA is leading college football's free agency revolution with 29 incoming transfers and 34 departures, essentially rebuilding its identity from scratch.

• Schedule Runway: Three winnable non-conference games plus targeted Big Ten matchups (Northwestern, Maryland, Nebraska) provide a realistic path to bowl eligibility.

• Year Two Pivot: DeShaun Foster faces a career-defining season as he bets his coaching future on this aggressive transfer portal experiment paying immediate dividends.

The 2025 Bruins represent college football's most fascinating experiment: Can you shortcut a rebuild through the transfer portal and go from rebuilding to relevant in just one offseason?

Michigan State Spartans - Rebuild Continues in 2025

Michigan State enters 2025 at the crossroads of hope and skepticism after Jonathan Smith's first season showed flashes of promise but extended the program's bowl drought to three consecutive seasons.

• Chiles Development: QB Aidan Chiles (2,415 yards, 13 TDs, 11 INTs) must improve decision-making and ball security to translate his jaw-dropping physical talent into consistent results.

• Portal-Powered Rebuild: Smith has completely transformed the roster through 16+ transfer additions, targeting specific upgrades at RB (Elijah Tau-Tolliver, 1,267 all-purpose yards), WR (Omari Kelly, All-Conference USA), and defense.

• Pass Rush Priority: Addressing a defense that generated just 19 sacks in 2024, Smith added dedicated edge rushers David Santiago and Anelu Lafaele through the portal.

• Brutal Schedule: After a manageable non-conference slate, the Spartans face a gauntlet that includes road trips to USC, Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, and Iowa and home games against Penn State, Michigan, and UCLA.

• Program Trajectory: Smith is replicating his Oregon State rebuild blueprint through player development, staff consistency, and strategic portal usage to transform 3-star recruits into All-Conference performers.

While Vegas sets Michigan State's 2025 win total at just 4.5 games, Smith's methodical approach mirrors many attributes that made the Dantonio era successful, creating optimism far beyond this season's record.

THAT’S A WRAP

The 2025 season isn't just another chapter for these three programs—it's potentially the inflection point where their trajectories permanently change. Nebraska has methodically assembled the pieces for Rhule's vision, UCLA has detonated conventional rebuilding timelines through sheer transfer portal volume, and Michigan State is betting that Smith's proven development model will eventually trump quick fixes. By December, we'll know which approach works best in college football's new landscape. The scoreboard won't just show wins and losses—it will reveal whether patience still matters in an age of instant gratification, whether chemistry can be manufactured in a single offseason, and whether the right coaching mind can accelerate a program's timeline by years. The experiments are running. The variables are set. Now we can watch the results unfold, one Saturday at a time.

We continue next week with the Big Ten.

As always, please let us know what you think by writing mark@coacheshot seat.com