Today: Darryn Peterson's DNP raises questions, ranking the QBs, Charles Bediako fallout, and top 2026 QB battles. |
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College programs grapple with spending on 5-star recruits or transfer portal vets |
Five years into the NIL era, college basketball programs are still adjusting how they recruit and build rosters. Many high-major programs have hired general managers to oversee roster construction and budgeting, but head coaches still hold the final say in most NIL decisions. In a 2026 season featuring one of the strongest freshman classes in recent memory, first-year players are making a major impact. Behind the scenes, though, coaches are quietly weighing the cost and risk of investing heavily in five-star, top-five freshmen. Kansas' Darryn Peterson has become the clearest example of that tension. Just before tip-off against Arizona on Monday, Peterson was ruled out with flu-like symptoms, the latest twist in a season that has been difficult to track. Kansas quickly refuted social media speculation suggesting friction between Peterson and Bill Self, clarifying a courtside text message that went viral. The absence marked Peterson's 11th missed game this season. He has battled hamstring and ankle injuries, cramping, and now illness. In five of the 13 games he has played, he logged fewer than 25 minutes. When available, though, he's a game-changer, averaging 20.5 points per game and looking every bit like a top draft pick. Injuries are part of the sport. But when investments can reach into the multi-million dollar range, programs are forced to evaluate the value of a five-star freshman. "Is one $3M freshman worth more than three $1M players who are fully bought in for a full season?" one high-major general manager asked. "If you're spending $8 million and you spent $3 million on a freshman, that's like going out there with a $5 million team when that kid's not playing," another general manager said. "And what's the likelihood of you winning those games?" High draft prospects may also limit availability to preserve draft stock. In some cases, coaches understand. "If I were in one of their camps, I'd probably tell them the same thing," one high-major coach told On3. "'You're a top-five pick. Why are you playing through a hamstring injury?' The most important thing is for you to get drafted. It just puts it in a different situation because of NIL." Why some staffs lean toward the portal There are three primary talent pipelines: transfers, high school recruits, and international prospects. It often comes down to incentives. "The portal guys are still hungry. They have a chip on their shoulder," an SEC coach said. "A lot of them are asking, 'how do you get me to the next level?' That hunger is still there. With the top-five guys, it's almost a guarantee." "Transfers are more inclined to play," the coach added. "Those top-five freshman guys don't really need college to go to the NBA. They're playing because the rule makes them." Some staffs simply prefer proven players. "Our staff feels more comfortable with what's proven," a high-major general manager said. "But you still have to take risks on high school guys because you need talent at this level. You can't just rely on the portal." Why some programs are walking away The hesitation has extended into the 2026 recruiting cycle. One Top 25 program recently decided not to pursue the No. 1-ranked prospect, Tyran Stokes, citing concerns about allocating a large portion of its NIL budget to one freshman. "(Stokes) could roll his ankle, and just sit out the rest of the year," the source said. Still, it's impossible to ignore the success freshmen are having in 2026. "It's risky," one general manager said. "But the top couple of high school kids, when you hit, it works out really well." Read the full story from Joe Tipton. |
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Ari Wasserman's top quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season |
We're in the heat of college basketball season as we ramp up for the NCAA tournament, but it's always college football season here. There's no need for temporary distractions as we all deal with the harsh reality that we're still more than six months away from college football games being played again. So let's talk quarterbacks. Ari Wasserman ranked the 10 best quarterbacks heading into 2026, and below is a snapshot of those rankings. 5. Josh Hoover, Indiana Hoover didn't receive the same fanfare as other portal quarterbacks, but this is a multi-year starter who left TCU to play for Curt Cignetti at Indiana. The defending national champs have a clear blueprint for plugging experienced quarterbacks into the system. Cignetti did it with Kurtis Rourke and then Fernando Mendoza, who is coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign and is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Hoover threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. He's set up to thrive in Bloomington. 4. Julian Sayin, Ohio State Ohio State's season ended in disappointment despite having four players ranked in the top 10 of Dane Brugler's Draft Board at The Athletic. Still, Sayin emerged as one of the sport's rising stars. He has a rocket arm, completed 77 percent of his throws and gained invaluable experience during a deep run. A Heisman finalist, Sayin returns as one of the premier quarterbacks in the country, and it doesn't hurt that he still has Jeremiah Smith on the outside. 3. Sam Leavitt, LSU Leavitt was one of the most influential transfers of the 2026 portal cycle, landing at LSU and giving Lane Kiffin the tools to push the Tigers into the CFP discussion in his first season in Baton Rouge. Unlike last year, this ranking is built on proven production rather than projection. And when it comes to proven college quarterbacks, Leavitt fits the bill. Even as he works through injury, it's difficult to envision him not excelling in Kiffin's offense. 2. Dante Moore, Oregon Moore could have entered the NFL Draft after last season. Instead, he returned to Oregon for one more year. With experience at both UCLA and Oregon, Moore throws one of the prettiest balls in the country. He'll have receivers Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore, making another standout season likely. If he takes another step, he could become one of the most complete NFL prospects at the position in recent years. 1. Arch Manning, Texas Outside of being the best quarterback in the country, there was no way Manning was going to live up to the hype. The last name carries weight, but he delivered in his first year as a starter. Despite playing behind a shaky offensive line and facing heavy scrutiny, he improved as the season went on and had Texas on the brink of a College Football Playoff berth. Now add transfer receiver Cam Coleman, an improved line, and strong transfer backs. The hype train is rolling again. See Wasserman's full top 10 rankings. |
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An Alabama judge denying Charles Bediako's injunction request may be the NCAA's biggest court win in years |
The NCAA won a road game Monday, and the ramifications could stretch far beyond Tuscaloosa. An Alabama judge denied Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako's request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to continue playing this season despite having signed multiple NBA contracts and spent time in the G League. The ruling halted what had been an unprecedented return to college basketball and likely gave similarly situated athletes across multiple sports pause about trying to litigate their way back onto a college roster. In denying the injunction, Judge Daniel Pruet wrote that Bediako failed to meet the required legal standards, including proving irreparable harm or a likelihood of success on the merits. Pruet noted that Bediako could calculate the income he stood to lose by not playing and pursue damages later, undermining the argument that emergency relief was necessary. He also made clear he did not want to open the floodgates for other professional athletes to attempt similar comebacks, a concern that has quietly loomed over college athletics for months. That concern is not theoretical. NCAA attorneys argued during the hearing that granting relief could lead to dozens of similar lawsuits, with eligibility rules unraveling in state courts nationwide. The organization has taken repeated hits in federal antitrust cases related to compensation, but it has historically been more successful defending bright-line eligibility rules. This case represented a test of whether state courts would prove more sympathetic. In Alabama, at least, the answer was no. The ruling came after a brief window in which Bediako played five games for Alabama under a temporary restraining order (TRO), starting two of them and averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Alabama went 3-2 during that stretch, picking up wins over Missouri, Texas A&M, and Auburn. The short-lived return rattled coaches across college basketball, many of whom privately feared a world where players unhappy with their professional prospects could simply return to campus if their eligibility clocks were still running. Alabama coach Nate Oats has been one of Bediako's most vocal defenders, repeatedly arguing that the NCAA has allowed more than 100 former professionals to play college basketball, particularly those coming from Europe or professional systems abroad. Oats reiterated that position after the ruling in an interview. Asked if he had any regrets about bringing Bediako back, Oats said, "100% it was worth it. I'd do the same thing 100 times out of 100 for any of our guys that it made sense to do this with." The university echoed Oats' frustration in a statement, calling for greater consistency from decision-makers. From the NCAA's perspective, the ruling was about preserving a long-standing line. In a statement of his own, President Charlie Baker framed the decision as a victory for "common sense," arguing that college sports are meant for students, not professionals looking to undo prior decisions. Baker also used the moment to again call on Congress to step in and provide national clarity amid a patchwork of state laws. As for potential March Madness implications for Alabama... Bama is unlikely to face any punishment for the games Bediako played under the TRO, but the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee has flexibility when comparing teams. One factor the committee can consider is player availability, which is typically used when a team's lineup changes during the season. An NCAA official said Alabama will be evaluated based on the roster it has in March, meaning the five-game stretch with Bediako does not have to be weighed the same as the rest of the season. That puts more pressure on how the Crimson Tide finish, especially if their resume is being compared closely with other teams on the bubble. Bediako's loss does not end his broader legal fight, nor does it halt other pending cases. Similar injunction efforts from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar are still working their way through state courts. Whether those judges follow Pruet's lead will help determine if Monday's ruling was an outlier or the start of a meaningful shift. For now, the NCAA has something it rarely gets in court: momentum. Read the full column from Andy Staples. |
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Top college football QB battles heading into 2026 season |
A year ago, college football braced for a chaotic quarterback offseason, with multiple bluebloods preparing for open competitions. That's not the case heading into 2026. Alabama is the lone premier program with a true quarterback question mark, though legal uncertainty at Tennessee and Ole Miss has created questions. Meanwhile, Nebraska, Florida, and Florida State all reshaped their rooms through transfers and competition. On3's Pete Nakos took a closer look at 17 of the top college football QB battles heading into the 2026 season. Below is a snapshot of a few key competitions. 🐘 Alabama Contenders: R-Jr. Austin Mack, R-Fr. Keelon Russell Alabama's quarterback battle will dominate the offseason. Redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell both stayed in Tuscaloosa to compete, knowing that updated transfer portal rules prevent a spring exit for the loser. Mack has the edge in experience, including closing out the College Football Playoff quarterfinal after Ty Simpson's injury and his familiarity with Ryan Grubb's system from Washington. Russell, however, continues to draw rave reviews after throwing for 143 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 attempts across two appearances last season. 🍊 Tennessee Contenders: R-Jr. Ryan Staub, R-Fr. George MacIntyre, Freshman Faizon Brandon Tennessee's situation hinges on the courts. The Volunteers are awaiting a ruling on Joey Aguilar's eligibility, leaving Josh Heupel to manage an open competition in the meantime. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub are all in the mix. MacIntyre impressed during spring and fall work, Staub brings limited starting experience, and Brandon arrives as a five-star freshman with long-term upside. 🐊 Florida Contenders: R-So. Aaron Philo, R-Fr. Tramell Jones Jon Sumrall wasted little time reshaping Florida's quarterback room after DJ Lagway's departure. The Gators landed Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo, who has familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. Philo brings the most game experience, but Sumrall plans a true competition with redshirt freshman Tramell Jones, a former four-star who impressed internally last season. 🌽 Nebraska Contenders: Sr. Anthony Colandrea, Soph. TJ Lateef, R-So. Daniel Kaelin Nebraska turned to the portal after Dylan Raiola transferred out. Matt Rhule pivoted to UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, who threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2025. Colandrea enters as the favorite, but TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin will compete after Lateef gained starting experience late last season. 🍢 Florida State Contenders: R-Sr. Ashton Daniels, Soph. Malachi Marshall, R-Sr. Dean DeNobile, Soph. Kevin Sperry Florida State enters a pivotal year under Mike Norvell. Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels is the presumed starter, but Norvell is holding a full competition. The Seminoles added multiple transfers, including NJCAA star Malachi Marshall and Lafayette starter Dean DeNobile, while returning Kevin Sperry, who flashed in limited action as a true freshman. See all the biggest QB battles from Pete Nakos. |
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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 was a highly rated dual-threat quarterback in high school, as well as a two-sport athlete who won conference titles in the 400-meter hurdles and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
- I won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 after leading Baylor to a 10-win season, becoming the first player in school history to earn the award.
- I was drafted No. 2 overall, won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and eventually moved into broadcasting after my playing career.
Answer at the bottom. |
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Ranking the top SEC Transfer Portal commitments |
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