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ESPN just revealed what college football players cost in 2025.

Max Olson surveyed over 20 GMs and agents to get the real numbers on what Power 4 programs are paying at each position. The results expose a market that's completely transformed college football into a professional sport. Here's what emerged from his investigation into deals completed for 2025 and what insiders consider "fair market value."

The price tags are absolutely staggering.

Quarterbacks command $1-2 million per year as starters.

Offensive tackles and EDGE rushers pull $500K to $1 million. Even running backs are earning $300-700K, while cornerbacks and safeties range from $300-800K and $300-700K respectively. The "cheapest" positions are tight ends at $200-400K and linebackers at $200-500K.

Still life-changing money for college-aged athletes.

The survey confirms what everyone suspected.

SEC and Big Ten programs consistently outspend ACC and Big 12 schools, regardless of revenue share caps. Transfer players reset market floors and ceilings because talent acquisition costs more than retention. Elite players at every position are already breaking the million-dollar barrier as outliers.

College football has essentially become the NFL's minor league system.

Read the full ESPN article here.

USC just woke up from a decade-long nightmare.

"Everyone knows the potential of USC. I think they understand the giant's awake now," says USC Football GM Chad Bowden. AD Jen Cohen has modernized the entire athletic department with one clear priority: "ensuring championship-level football" because it's "the big economic engine" that funds everything else. Lincoln Riley confirms the NIL turnaround is real, calling current progress "just the tip of the iceberg."

The sleeping giant is officially awake.

Here's what most people don't understand about USC's situation.

They never lacked talent or resources—they lacked focus and modern operations. Cohen's systematic overhaul of the athletic department created the infrastructure Riley needed to compete in today's NIL landscape. The "Trojan family" finally rallied behind football as the priority, not just another program among many.

This is how programs transform overnight.

USC isn't rebuilding—they're remembering who they are.

Riley's comment about "potential versus execution" captures everything. The pieces were always there: elite recruiting location, massive alumni network, unlimited resources, and historic brand power. Now they have leadership that knows how to deploy those advantages strategically.

The rest of college football should be terrified.

Fight on!

Read the full Athletic breakdown here.

ESPN just released the tribute video that will make every college football fan cry.

College GameDay created a must-watch sendoff for Lee Corso as his final show approaches. Colleagues, guest pickers, fans, and legends across the sport shared what the 89-year-old icon means to them in a video that captures decades of Saturday morning magic. The message is simple but powerful: "We love you, Coach!"

This is how you honor a legend.

Corso didn't just pick games on TV.

He became the heartbeat of college football Saturdays for an entire generation. His headgear picks, his energy, his genuine love for the sport turned a pregame show into appointment television. Corso made college football feel bigger, more exciting, more personal.

That's the power of authentic passion.

Corso's legacy isn't just the picks or the catchphrases.

It's proving that being yourself, staying curious, and never losing your enthusiasm for what you love can create something magical. At 89, he remains the most energetic person on that set, having never forgotten why he fell in love with college football in the first place.

Saturday mornings will never be the same.

Watch the tribute video here. 

DEEP DIVE

In a Week 0 Game, One Coach Raised Expectations and Put An Entire Conference On Notice.

Here's what nobody wants to tell you about college football.

The season doesn't start in Week 1. It starts the moment coaches step on the field for Week 0. And this year, Week 0 just separated the coaches who "get it" from the ones who are about to learn some costly lessons.

College football waits for no one.

Matt Campbell Just Proved Why Iowa State Belongs in Big 12 Title Conversations

While most coaches were still figuring out their depth charts, Matt Campbell was busy validating Iowa State as a legitimate Big 12 contender in Dublin.

The Cyclones' 24-21 victory over ranked Kansas State wasn't just a win—it was a statement that Iowa State's program has reached championship-caliber maturity. Campbell's halftime adjustments, his gutsy fourth-down call with 2:26 left, and Rocco Becht's clutch execution under pressure showed a program that knows how to win big games.

This is what championship coaching looks like.

Campbell didn't just beat Kansas State—he outcoached Chris Klieman when it mattered most. The decision to go for it on fourth-and-3 in Kansas State territory instead of settling for a field goal was the kind of aggressive, confident call that separates contenders from pretenders.

Iowa State just announced they're ready for primetime.

Chris Klieman's Kansas State Just Showed Concerning Warning Signs

Chris Klieman's Wildcats didn't just lose to Iowa State—they lost composure in every way imaginable.

The on-field performance was troubling enough with costly turnovers and poor situational execution. But the real red flag came after the game when quarterback Avery Johnson's father and brother got into a public brawl outside the stadium that required multiple fans to break up the fight.

When your program's family drama is making national headlines, you have bigger problems than X's and O's.

The Johnson family later issued a public apology, but the damage was done. Kansas State went from preseason Big 12 contender to a program dealing with off-field chaos before September even arrives. That's not the kind of attention any coach wants.

Klieman now has 11 games to prove this was an aberration, not a preview.

Frank Reich Just Showed Us Why Good NFL Coaches Don't Always Translate

Frank Reich's Stanford debut was a case study in everything you shouldn't do when the spotlight is on.

The numbers tell a brutal story. Stanford posted the worst passing attack in the nation at -0.33 EPA per dropback, clock management that had fans making memes, and a loss to Hawaii that wasn't even close to competitive. But here's what really happened beneath those ugly statistics.

Reich managed the game like he was still in the NFL.

In the NFL, you have 17 weeks to figure things out. In college football, you have exactly one game. In college, first impressions aren't just important—they're everything.

Reich's late-game decision-making revealed the disconnect.

Instead of running the ball (which was working), he threw an interception. Instead of managing the clock properly, he left too much time for Hawaii. Instead of taking what the defense gave him, he forced throws into coverage like Tom Brady was under center.

Stanford fans are already questioning everything.

The Reality Nobody Wants To Admit

Week 0 results predict more than anyone wants to acknowledge.

Teams that look unprepared in Week 0 rarely find their footing quickly. Coaches who make fundamental errors early tend to repeat them throughout the season. The warning signs from this weekend weren't subtle—they were neon flashing lights.

UNLV's struggle against an FCS opponent isn't rust.

It's a red flag. Stanford's complete breakdown in situational football isn't bad luck. It's poor preparation that reflects deeper program issues.

These patterns don't lie.

What This Means For The Rest Of The Season

Campbell just bought Iowa State 12 months of legitimate championship expectations.

The Cyclones didn't just beat a ranked opponent—they did it with the kind of coaching execution and clutch performances that win conference titles. This wasn't luck or a fluke. This was a mature program making championship-level plays when the lights were brightest.

Klieman and Reich are both fighting uphill battles now.

Klieman has to deal with the dual challenge of fixing on-field execution while managing off-field distractions that shouldn't exist. Reich has to prove his Stanford debut was an aberration while fans question whether hiring another NFL retread was the right move.

The lesson here is brutally simple.

Here's What Happens Next

Some coaches use early opportunities to build unstoppable momentum.

Others waste them completely and spend the rest of the season explaining what went wrong. We just watched both scenarios play out in real time on opposite sides of the country. The difference isn't talent, recruiting budgets, or facility upgrades.

It's preparation meeting opportunity when the stakes are highest.

That's what separates coaches who thrive from coaches who survive.

THAT’S A WRAP

Matt Campbell elevated Iowa State to Big 12 favorite status with a masterclass in championship coaching.

His gutsy fourth-down call and flawless halftime adjustments in the win over Kansas State proved that elite programs are built on moments like these. While other coaches play it safe, Campbell showed the aggressive decision-making that separates contenders from pretenders.

Chris Klieman's Kansas State showed concerning warning signs both on and off the field.

The loss to Iowa State was bad enough, but the post-game family brawl involving his quarterback's father and brother created the kind of program drama that no coach wants to manage. Now Klieman has to fix execution problems while dealing with off-field distractions.

Frank Reich's Stanford debut exposed why NFL success doesn't guarantee college results.

Brought in to fix the program after Troy Taylor's firing, Reich instead delivered the same costly mistakes and poor situational awareness that got his predecessor canned. The "proven" veteran made Stanford's problems worse, not better.

The financial revolution is reshaping college football as we know it.

ESPN's salary breakdown revealed a sport that's become professional in everything but name—with quarterbacks earning $1-2 million and even "cheaper" positions like tight ends commanding $200-400K. The SEC and Big Ten continue outspending everyone else.

USC's sleeping giant is officially awake.

With modern leadership, focused priorities, and NIL infrastructure finally in place, the Trojans are remembering who they are. As Lincoln Riley said, this is "just the tip of the iceberg."

Lee Corso's farewell reminds us why authentic passion never gets old.

ESPN's tribute video captured what happens when someone never loses their love for what they do—even at 89, Corso remains the most energetic person on set.

This Friday: We'll preview the weekend's biggest games and dive deep into what this week's results could mean for one top-10 hot seat coach whose job might depend on how Saturday unfolds.

Next Tuesday: Our official weekly rankings launch after Week 1 games are complete.

The coaching carousel never stops spinning—we'll be here to track every turn.