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Arizona State to Test Facial Recognition for Stadium Entry, Starting with Students

Arizona State is pioneering a controversial new approach to game day entry, implementing facial recognition technology for student admission starting with their October 25 matchup against Houston. The Sun Devils are betting that convenience will trump privacy concerns as they trial a system that could eventually expand to all fans.

Senior Associate AD Mike Meitin is confident students will embrace the no-phone, no-ticket entry process—just walk by the scanner and get a green light. But the move raises significant questions about privacy, data security, and the future of fan experience in college sports.

Read the full story to learn how the system works, what safeguards are in place, and whether this represents the future of stadium technology or a step too far...

Big Ten May Be Ready to Share the College Football Playoff Wealth—But There's a Catch

The Big Ten's iron grip on College Football Playoff control might be loosening, according to Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde, who reports the conference is surprisingly open to giving equal playoff access to all Power 4 leagues. The potential shift toward four automatic bids per conference in an expanded 24- or 28-team format represents a dramatic change in strategy for a league that has dominated playoff politics.

But don't mistake this for sudden generosity. As one power conference AD bluntly tells Forde, it's about the Big Ten realizing "you need friends in this industry." Forde doesn't mince words about what's really driving this apparent olive branch: "In a word, bribery."

Read the full analysis to discover why the Big Ten's "forced humility" might be their smartest power play yet, and what it means for the future of college football's biggest stage...

Nebraska AD Explains Why Head Coach Matt Rhule's Media Blitz Is Essential for Program's Revival

Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen is defending head coach Matt Rhule's high-profile media strategy, including hosting his own podcast and regular appearances on The Pat McAfee Show. In a candid assessment, Dannen reveals the stark reality facing the Cornhuskers program and why Rhule's calculated media exposure isn't just beneficial—it's necessary for Nebraska to reclaim its former recruiting dominance.

"We are not it – yet," Dannen admits, explaining how the program has lost the automatic appeal it once held for top recruits. His insights into the difference between Nebraska's championship era and today, plus how Rhule's unique communication skills are being weaponized to rebuild the brand, offer a fascinating look at modern college football recruiting strategy.

Read the full article to discover Rhule's complete strategy and his comparison to Nebraska's legendary 1995 team...

UCLA Announces Star-Studded Search Committee for Next Football Head Coach

UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond has unveiled an impressive five-member search committee to help find the Bruins' next football head coach. The group features some major names including Wasserman CEO Casey Wasserman, ESPN analyst Bob Myers, NFL executives Adam Peters and Eric Kendricks, and UCLA's Erin Adkins.

Jarmond is promising to "identify, recruit and invest in a leader" who can return UCLA football to national prominence, with a commitment to provide the resources needed to compete at the highest level. But the biggest challenge facing whoever gets hired may be working under an AD who hasn't supported his last two coaches and has alienated donors and fans.

Read the full announcement to see the complete search committee lineup.

DEEP DIVE

Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman (#4 Hot Seat) Faces Notre Dame's Chris Ash In A Game Both Coaches Desperately Need To Win

Game: Notre Dame @ Arkansas

Game Time: Saturday @12:00 pm EDT

Game Channel: ABC

This isn't just another college football game.

This is a career-defining moment where two coaches discover if they've been fooling everyone—including themselves—this whole time. Sam Pittman sits at #4 on the Coaches Hot Seat rankings, with Arkansas fans turning from grumbling to full-blown anger. Chris Ash, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, is getting roasted harder than a Thanksgiving turkey.

One of these guys walks away Saturday night with their job intact.

The other starts updating their resume.

Here's what nobody's talking about.

Chris Ash's Notre Dame defense isn't just struggling—it's experiencing complete system failure. The numbers don't lie, and they paint a picture of catastrophic regression that should terrify every Irish fan. This is the same defensive coordinator who helped get Notre Dame to the championship game eight months ago.

Now he's about to get fired.

The Statistical Meltdown:

• 2024: 307.4 total yards allowed per game (Elite)

• 2025: 398.7 total yards allowed per game (Disaster)

• Pass defense collapse: 169.4 to 289.3 yards allowed (+119.9)

That additional 119.9 yards per game translates to 8-10 more first downs for opponents, 3-5 more minutes of possession, and Notre Dame's offense sitting on the bench while teams move at will. Chris Ash has turned championship-level defense into Swiss cheese.

Swiss cheese doesn't win championships.

Meanwhile, Sam Pittman is running out of time in Arkansas.

Year 5 means you either figured it out or you never will.

The Razorbacks have built an offensive monster that would make most coordinators jealous. They're averaging 552 total yards per game, 6.6 yards per rushing attempt, and 324.3 passing yards per game. These aren't empty stats against cupcakes—they hung 35 on Ole Miss and 31 on Memphis in competitive losses.

But here's the problem: they're 2-2 with two blown leads.

What Arkansas Fans See:

• Games they should have won

• Leads they couldn't protect

• Five years of "almosts" and "what-ifs"

• A coach who can build offense but can't finish games

The grumbling began after Memphis, and by next week, it could escalate into a full-blown revolt. Arkansas boosters have money and aren't afraid to spend it on a new coach.

Pittman knows it.

This matchup is simple math, and the math is ugly for Notre Dame.

When a 552-yard offense meets a defense allowing 398.7 yards, somebody gets destroyed.

The only interesting battle should be Arkansas' rushing attack (227.8 yards per game at 6.6 yards per carry) against Notre Dame's decent run defense (109.3 yards allowed per game). But even if Notre Dame slows the ground game, they're still doomed. Arkansas throws for 324.3 yards per game while Notre Dame's pass defense allows 289.3 yards per game.

That's not a matchup—that's a mismatch waiting to happen.

What this game really means for both coaches.

For Chris Ash: survive or get fired.

If Arkansas puts up 400+ yards (which they will), Chris Ash might not make it to the team bus. Marcus Freeman will have no choice but to make a change. Another defensive meltdown makes him the first major casualty of Notre Dame's championship hangover. His LinkedIn profile better be updated.

For Sam Pittman: prove it or lose it.

The Stakes for Pittman:

• Win: Validates his offensive system and buys time

• Win: Proves he can beat quality opponents

• Lose: Fan grumbling becomes demands for his job

• Lose: Boosters start making phone calls

A loss to struggling Notre Dame would be devastating for a coach already sitting at #4 on the hot seat.

More importantly, it determines if he stays employed.

Arkansas wins because Notre Dame's defense is fundamentally broken.

This isn't about better coaching or better players.

Arkansas wins because you can't win games when you can't stop anybody. Notre Dame's defense allows nearly 400 yards per game while Arkansas's offense averages 550 yards per game. The math is simple: when unstoppable force meets moveable object, force wins every time.

Final Score: Arkansas 38, Notre Dame 31

Sam Pittman gets a reprieve from the hot seat, Chris Ash starts job hunting, and Notre Dame fans wonder how a championship team collapsed in eight months.

Sometimes football is complicated, sometimes it's not.

When your defense can't stop anybody, you lose games you should win.

Saturday isn't about X's and O's—it's about addition and subtraction.

The math doesn't look good for Notre Dame. Chris Ash's system is broken, Sam Pittman's offense is explosive, and one coach is about to learn that Year 5 is when patience runs out. The hot seat rankings exist for a reason.

This game will prove it.

Alabama's Head Coach Is Ranked #17 Out Of 136 FBS Coaches On The Hot Seat. Here's Why Saturday's Georgia Game Could Send Him Into The Top 5 (Or Drop Him To #50)

Game: Alabama @ Georgia

Game Time: Saturday @7:30 pm EDT

Game Channel: ABC

Kalen DeBoer sits at #17 on this week's Coaches Hot Seat Rankings.

Read that again. The head coach at Alabama is ranked as having more job security than only 16 other major college football coaches.

This isn't about wins and losses—it's about expectations.

Why Saturday's Georgia Game Changes Everything

When you replace Nick Saban, you don't just inherit a football program. You inherit a standard that defies logic:

• Saban went 17 years without losing a rivalry game that "mattered"

• Alabama fans expect national championships, not moral victories

• Every big game becomes a referendum on your worthiness

DeBoer started the season at #7 on our rankings. Then came the Florida State disaster, and reality hit: Alabama without Saban's mystique is just another really good team.

The Philosophy Problem

This isn't just Alabama vs Georgia—it's two worldviews colliding.

Georgia wants to grind you down. They run 46 times per game, control the clock, and turn every drive into a phone booth fight. Their approach: "We're going to be more physical than you for 60 minutes."

Alabama wants to throw you dizzy. They're averaging 335 passing yards per game with a perfect turnover margin. Their approach: "We're going to be too explosive for you to keep up."

Only one philosophy survives Saturday.

The Brutal Truth About Year 2

Here's what nobody wants to admit: DeBoer's "improvement" might be an illusion.

Yes, Alabama is throwing for 99 more yards per game than last season. Yes, they haven't turned the ball over. But they've also played exactly zero top-5 teams on the road in hostile environments.

Georgia just went into Tennessee and dropped 44 points. They've proven their system works against elite competition.

DeBoer? Still has to prove his works when it matters most.

Why This Game Decides Everything

Win, and DeBoer shoots back up our Hot Seat Rankings. He proves his aerial circus can handle the biggest stage and buys himself years of goodwill.

Lose, and that #17 ranking starts looking generous.

The questions get louder. The comparisons to Saban get more pointed. And suddenly, Alabama looks a lot more mortal than anyone in Tuscaloosa wants to admit.

My Prediction

Georgia's ground game controls the tempo early. Alabama's passing attack keeps them in it for three quarters.

But in the fourth quarter, when the crowd is deafening and the pressure is suffocating, Georgia's experience in big moments shows.

Georgia 31, Alabama 24

For the first time since 2007, Alabama enters a game that matters without the one man who always knew how to win it.

How 2 Dead-Man-Walking Coaches Went From Hot Seat To Coach Of The Year Candidates In 4 Games (3 Leadership Lessons That Apply To Any High-Pressure Job)

Game: Florida State @ Virginia

Game Time: Tonight (Friday) @7:00 pm EDT

Game Channel: ESPN

Six months ago, Mike Norvell and Tony Elliott were updating their résumés.

Today, they're coaching two of the most explosive offenses in college football. Norvell's Florida State averages 628 yards per game after going 2-10 last season. Elliott's Virginia puts up 564 yards per contest after years of mediocrity.

Both coaches went from dead men walking to Coach of the Year candidates in four games.

Here's what their turnarounds teach us about leadership when your job is on the line:

Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Norvell abandoned the complicated offensive schemes that failed in 2024. He simplified everything around one core identity: run the ball and control the game. Florida State went from 90 rushing yards per game to 363. Sometimes the best strategy is the most obvious one.

Double down on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Elliott didn't try to fix Virginia's defense first. Instead, he built an unstoppable offense that could outscore anyone. When you're fighting for survival, amplify what works rather than patching what's broken.

Your people are watching how you handle pressure. Both coaches could have panicked after disastrous seasons. Instead, they stayed calm, made calculated changes, and trusted their process. Their players responded by buying into completely new systems overnight.

The lesson isn't just about football.

When your leadership is questioned, when your methods are criticized, when your job security evaporates—that's when your true character emerges. Norvell and Elliott didn't make desperate moves. They made deliberate ones.

The hot seat doesn't have to burn you. Sometimes it forges you into something stronger.

Tomorrow, when pressure mounts in your own arena, remember: the best leaders don't just survive the heat—they use it to transform everything around them.

THAT’S A WRAP

If you made it this far, you just got a masterclass in what really drives college football.

While ESPN talks about yards per game, you now understand that Sam Pittman's real problem isn't his offense—it's that Arkansas boosters have money and aren't afraid to spend it. While other outlets debate Alabama's quarterback situation, you know the truth: Kalen DeBoer inherited a standard that defies logic, and Saturday's Georgia game determines if he can handle the pressure that comes with replacing a legend.

Most importantly, you learned something that applies way beyond football: the best leaders don't just survive the heat—they use it to transform everything around them.

This is why we dig deeper than box scores and press conferences. This is why our Hot Seat Rankings move every single week, tracking the whispered hallway conversations and behind-the-scenes politics that actually determine job security.

Our full rankings drop Tuesday, where all 136 FBS coaches get ranked from hottest seat to ice cold. Because in college football, the difference between keeping your job and updating your LinkedIn isn't always about wins and losses.

It's about whether your athletic director still takes your calls.

See you Tuesday. The hot seat waits for no one.