Today: SEC > reality TV, Signing Day superlatives, Penn State intel, and true freshmen of the week.

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NCAA FOOTBALL

Reality TV has nothing on the SEC, and last week proved it

Jon Sumrall, Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh, Will Stein

It's no secret that America loves reality TV. Flip on the television at any hour and it's everywhere, but nothing matches the underworld of SEC football, especially the spectacle that unfolded last week. Firings, hirings, conflicting reports, conspiracy theories, half-truths, late-night meetings at the chancellor's house, and the sequel-worthy drama surrounding Lane Kiffin all played out in real time. As one SEC coach told On3, the chaos is only going to intensify once the league moves to nine conference games and pressure climbs on every coach, AD, and donor.

Even for a league built on volatility, last week was one for the ages. While everyone waited on Kiffin to decide his future, Arkansas hired Ryan Silverfield, Florida hired Jon Sumrall, Auburn hired Alex Golesh, and Ole Miss elevated Pete Golding before Kiffin was even out of the building. Hours later, Lane was on a plane to Baton Rouge, where LSU introduced him on Monday. That same night, Mark Stoops was out at Kentucky, and the very next day, Oregon OC Will Stein was in as his replacement.

In a world where donors now shape roster building through NIL contributions, one industry insider said the entitlement and second-guessing will only grow. No coach will be more closely watched than Kiffin, who joined Kirby Smart atop the salary charts at thirteen million dollars per year. LSU swung big and got the most coveted coach in the cycle. Ole Miss fans would prefer to swing at him. Kiffin even claimed at his press conference that fans tried to run him off the road on his way to the airport, a claim Mississippi officials said had no basis in fact. The head of the state's public safety department even posted a video trolling Kiffin over the story.

Kiffin will be remembered in Oxford more for how he left than what he won. Ole Miss won 50 games in five seasons, a run matched by only a handful of programs. The Rebels are on the verge of their first playoff appearance with their former coach watching from LSU.

Kiffin acknowledged how difficult the past 48 hours had been but offered his own view that the timing could not have been handled any better. Few around Ole Miss agreed. Players pushed back on social media when Kiffin suggested they lobbied for him to coach in the playoff. Athletic director Keith Carter said publicly that some of Kiffin's comments were not totally accurate.

The SEC's upheaval finally slowed as the week ended, though movement continued behind the scenes. Texas A&M extended Mike Elko, and Missouri extended Eli Drinkwitz. Coaching churn remains constant across the conference. Auburn has had four coaches in seven years, LSU three in six, Arkansas three in eight, Florida three in six, and Ole Miss three in eight.

Even Vanderbilt found itself in the middle of the frenzy, paying Clark Lea to stay as the Commodores posted the best season in school history. Lea said volatility has become the norm in a sport where coaches rebuild teams annually, and expectations remain sky high.

Said Lea, "Look, though, this is a results-oriented business."

And in the SEC, business has never been more chaotic.

Don't miss the full story from Chris Low.

RIVALS RECRUITING

National Signing Day superlatives: Wins, losses and waiting

National Signing Day delivered its usual mix of surprises, flips, suspense, and high-stakes drama across the country. Some programs held on, some surged, and others watched their recruiting boards unravel in real time. Here are the superlatives that defined the first day of the signing period.

Loser: Penn State

Penn State has no coach and continues to strike out in its search for one. The fan base is aghast, at least one player has taken to social media to vent, and the recruiting class has been almost entirely gutted by former coach James Franklin as he settles in at Virginia Tech. One lone holdout remained in four-star EDGE rusher Jackson Ford, who still signed with the Nittany Lions. He was joined by four-star QB Peyton Falzone, who re-committed after backing off an Auburn pledge.

Falzone echoed other players in calling for interim coach Terry Smith to get the full-time job. If those two cannot get standing ovations in Beaver Stadium next season, no one can.

Winner: Virginia Tech

Meet your new boss, same as your old boss.

Franklin, fired by Penn State in mid-October, reshaped the Hokies' recruiting class by flipping 11 former Nittany Lions commits. Franklin said he did not target Penn State's commit list and leaned on pre-existing relationships, but it was still a form of poetic justice as Penn State struggled to find a coach. Nine of the top ten prospects in Virginia Tech's class were once pledged to the Nittany Lions.

Wait and see

Five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr. intended to sign on Wednesday, but became the marquee name still waiting after Brian Hartline left Ohio State for USF. Oregon has pushed to flip him, and Texas has surfaced with rumored NIL firepower (Get the latest on Henry Jr. here).

Calvin Russell also delayed signing with Syracuse, and long-time Auburn commit Jase Mathews plans to wait until Friday as he continues weighing LSU and Ole Miss.

Never boring

LSU lived up to expectations by delivering its share of signing day chaos. Five-star Richard Anderson and four-star Havon Finney ultimately stuck with the Tigers, but five-star Lamar Brown has yet to sign after meeting with Lane Kiffin the night he took the job.

Four-star Deuce Geralds announced he will decide by Friday as Georgia Tech and Ole Miss circle. LSU is also pushing to flip four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth from South Carolina. Never an uninteresting day when Kiffin and LSU are involved.

More QB drama

The biggest quarterback headline came a day early when five-star Jared Curtis flipped from Georgia to Vanderbilt, a major win for Clark Lea. BYU held on to Ryder Lyons after initial uncertainty, helped by Kalani Sitake confirming he is staying in Provo. Duckworth remains one to watch as LSU ramps up its pursuit.

See all of the winners and losers here.

COACHING CAROUSEL

Penn State's coaching search evolves again, names re-emerge

Penn State lost the top target of its coaching search earlier this week, with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake opting to stay in Provo. The Nittany Lions will also not be hiring Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who informed his bosses on Wednesday of his intentions to stay with the Cardinals.

Sources told On3 that throughout the day on Wednesday that there has been a groundswell from high-level donors pushing for athletic director Pat Kraft to hire interim head coach Terry Smith. He orchestrated the signing of former Auburn QB commit Peyton Falzone with Penn State on National Signing Day. And he closed out the regular season with three consecutive wins to get the Nittany Lions to bowl eligibility.

Penn State junior linebacker Tony Rojas posted on X earlier this week that Kraft should hire Smith. He is a former Penn State player and has been on staff since 2014. Smith has also been seen on the sideline this season with a pin that read "JOE" vertically and "409" horizontally, a nod to Joe Paterno.

Outside of Smith, the name that continues to come up the most at Penn State is former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. He is a former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator working for Terry Pegula, a Penn State alum. Daboll was 20-40 in three seasons with the Giants. He was a former offensive coordinator at Alabama for Nick Saban, who has come out in support of the hire.

Duke head coach Manny Diaz and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell were other names initially mentioned at the beginning of the search. Army head coach Jeff Monken has also popped up in conversations.

Kraft and Penn State have run an under-the-radar coaching search. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule were all names of note in the search, each of whom has now signed contract extensions to stay at their school.

James Franklin was fired with a 4-21 mark against AP top ten opponents, including a 1-18 mark against top ten Big Ten teams. Franklin's .160 winning percentage against AP top ten teams is tied for the third-worst record by a coach (minimum 25 games) at a single school since the poll era began in 1936.

Read the full report from Pete Nakos.

🚨Headlines

NCAA FOOTBALL

True Freshman Standouts from Week 14 of College Football

Caleb Hawkins, Ohio State, Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele

Rivalry week and the final slate of the regular season brought high stakes across college football, with several true freshmen rising to the moment. As teams battled for conference titles, playoff positioning, and bragging rights, a number of first-year players showed poise and playmaking ability well beyond their experience level. From quarterbacks leading upsets to playmakers sparking critical wins, this week's group of True Freshman Standouts capped the regular season with statement performances.

True Freshman of the Week: RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State

Bo Jackson delivered a breakout performance on one of college football's biggest stages, powering Ohio State to a 27-9 win over Michigan that snapped the Wolverines' four-game streak in The Game. The true freshman RB set the tone for a physical Buckeye ground attack that flipped the recent script of the rivalry. He consistently showed vision, burst, and contact balance, finishing with 22 carries for 117 yards, 49 receiving yards, and 94 yards after contact. His blend of power and finesse gives Ohio State a dependable weapon heading into the Big Ten Championship.

QB Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, Cal

Sagapolutele delivered one of the most consequential performances of rivalry weekend, leading Cal to a 38-35 upset over SMU that knocked the Mustangs out of the ACC Championship Game and opened the door for Duke. He completed 31 of 40 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers, showcasing the smooth, natural passing ability that has defined his first season. His poise and decision-making helped steady a Cal program that had just parted ways with head coach Justin Wilcox.

RB Caleb Hawkins, North Texas

Hawkins continued to look like one of the most dominant running backs in college football, powering North Texas to a 52-25 win over Temple. He ran 25 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns, added 28 receiving yards, and recorded 106 yards after contact. Now leading the nation in rushing touchdowns with 23, Hawkins has become a centerpiece of North Texas' high-powered offense as it heads into the American Championship Game.

WR Malachi Toney, Miami

Toney remained one of the most dangerous pass catchers in the country with 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown, plus a touchdown pass, in Miami's 31-7 win over Pittsburgh. His agility and yards after catch ability made him the focal point of the Hurricanes' offense.

LB Mason Posa, Wisconsin

Posa continued his emergence as one of the Big Ten's most productive young defenders, finishing with nine solo tackles and nine stops in Wisconsin's loss to Minnesota. His physicality and motor give the Badgers a key building block moving forward.

Read the full story from Charles Power.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I began my career at Virginia, but never played a snap there after an off-field incident led me to Marshall, where I quickly became an impact freshman for the Thundering Herd.
By my junior season at Marshall, I was one of the most productive runners in the country, finishing top ten nationally in rushing and tying for third in rushing touchdowns.
I later became a seventh-round steal who won two Super Bowls with the Giants and finished as the leading rusher in both championship games.

Answer at the bottom.

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