The 2025 College Football Playoff is right around the corner, and news surrounding the tournament is nonstop.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league with the regular season in the books and bowl season on the horizon:
San Diego State defensive coordinator Rob Aurich will join Nebraska in the same role, and the Cornhuskers also hired Georgia Tech’s Geep Wade to coach the offensive line, coach Matt Rhule announced Friday. Aurich had been on the Aztecs’ staff for two years, with this his first as defensive coordinator. The Aztecs had one of FBS’s top defenses this year, and Aurich was a nominee for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. He replaces John Butler.
SDSU led the country with three shutouts and held eight of 12 opponents to 10 or fewer points. It ranked in the top 10 nationally in 10 categories while posting the fifth-best scoring defense in Mountain West history. The 12.5 points per game allowed in 2025 ranked fifth nationally and was a 17-point improvement from the 2024 season.
Wade, an FBS offensive line coach for 11 seasons, has developed linemen who have combined for 23 all-conference awards, including nine All-ACC awards from 2023 to 2025. He replaces Donovan Raiola.
Nebraska is coming off of a 7-5 season where it finished 10th in the Big Ten while allowing 312.3 yards per game, 171.3 of which were rushing yards, along with 2.2 rushing touchdowns per game.
Utah’s Whittingham stepping down
After 21 seasons at Utah, head coach Kyle Whittingham intends to step down after coaching in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31, the program announced Friday.
Whittingham, 66, departs after a total of 32 years with the Utes after previously serving as a position coach from 1994 to 2004. Utah recorded a winning record in 18 of his 21 seasons, going 177-68 in that span.
Two North Carolina coordinators won’t return
UNC offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer won’t return next season. The school announced Friday it had “parted ways” with the two assistants after the school’s 4-8 season. UNC’s offense was one of the worst in the country, ranking 119th in FBS in scoring (19.3) and 129th in total offense (288.8 yards).
“We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,” Belichick said in a statement. “We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”
Tennessee adds new defensive coordinator
Vols head coach Josh Heupel has hired Jim Knowles as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Heupel moved quickly after firing coordinator Tim Banks on Monday, and the Vols coach said Thursday that hiring Knowles was a priority from the start.
“Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff,” Heupel said of the Vols’ first-round loss to Ohio State a year ago.
Knowles has coached 38 years in college football, with 18 as a defensive coordinator. He spent this season at Penn State and was at Ohio State between 2022 and 2024, helping the Buckeyes win the 2024 national championship. During his time at OSU, the Buckeyes allowed only 14.9 points and 278.7 yards per game over a three-year span with Knowles. Ohio State went 36-6, and Knowles coached 11 NFL draft picks.
Michigan fires HC Sherrone Moore
The Wolverines have fired Moore “for cause” after two seasons as their head coach, according to ESPN.
“Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” the school said in a statement. “This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior. Biff Poggi has been appointed head football coach in an interim capacity, effective immediately.”
Moore had been on Michigan’s coaching staff since 2018, previously serving as the team’s offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach before becoming the full-time head coach for the 2024 season. Michigan is 9-3 overall this season, ranked No. 18 and went a combined 17-8 under Moore over the past two seasons.
Indiana DE injured during Big Ten title celebration
Indiana defensive end Stephen Daley is expected to miss the CFP after getting injured during the top-ranked Hoosiers’ Big Ten championship celebration, head coach Curt Cignetti announced on Dec. 10.
“I can confirm that he did sustain an injury, a serious injury that will probably make him not available for the remainder of the season,” said Cignetti, who was unaware that Daley had been hurt until long after the game’s conclusion.
A social media video showed Daley appearing to land awkwardly on his right leg while high-fiving fans moments after the Hoosiers completed a 13-10 victory over Ohio State to capture their first Big Ten title since 1967.
Daley was a lightly recruited player in his home state of Virginia but played a key role for Cignetti after transferring from Kent State to Indiana this season. He had 38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup this season, earning all-Big Ten honorable mention honors.
Indiana has a first-round bye and will face either No. 8 Oklahoma or No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Ole Miss gets coaching boost
Five Ole Miss coaches who are joining Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff at LSU will be staying in Oxford through the CFP. Those coaches are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald and slot wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan, according to ESPN. Kiffin announced his intention to leave Ole Miss for LSU on Nov. 30, with the Rebels not allowing their head coach of six seasons to coach them in the postseason.
The Rebels (11-1) are the No. 6 seed in the CFP and host No. 11 seed Tulane on Dec. 20.
Tulane names Hall next head coach
Tulane has decided to make passing game coordinator and receivers coach Will Hall its next head coach after this season ends in the CFP under the outgoing Jon Sumrall, who recently accepted an offer to take over at Florida but has been permitted to continue coaching the Green Wave through their postseason run.
“I’m truly honored,” Hall said. “Tulane has been a special place for me. I’ve felt the unique spirit of Tulane and the strength of its culture. I’m excited to lead this program with a deep respect for its history, its people, and the city of New Orleans.”
The 45-year-old Hall will become the third Tulane coach since Willie Fritz left for Houston of the Big 12 after the 2023 season. Fritz’s tenure included a conference title game victory in 2022, followed by a landmark Cotton Bowl victory over USC and another league championship game appearance in 2023.
“(Hall’s) character, integrity, and leadership qualities are evident both on and off the field,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said. “With extensive head coaching experience and a proven track record of success at every level, Will embodies the qualities we value in our program. We believe he is the right person to lead Tulane Football into its next chapter.”
Tennessee fires defensive coordinator before bowl game
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Dec. 8, a year after the assistant was a finalist for the Broyles Award. Banks had been with Heupel all five seasons at Tennessee after being hired away from Penn State in Feb. 2021. With Banks, the Vols reached the 2024 CFP and ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 13.9 points per game; Tennessee lost in the opening round to eventual champion Ohio State.
This season, the Vols dropped to 91st in the country, giving up 28.7 points a game. They gave up at least 33 points in each of their losses, the last a 45-25 loss to Vanderbilt that dropped Tennessee out of the AP Top 25 poll.
“These are tough decisions but one I ultimately felt was necessary for the future of our program,’ Heupel said in a statement. “We are fully committed to identifying our next defensive coordinator who will uphold the standard that Tennessee has historically been known for.”
Linebackers coach William Inge will be the interim defensive coordinator for Tennessee in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 against Illinois in Nashville. Inge was co-defensive coordinator at Washington from 2022-23 and was defensive coordinator at Fresno State from 2020-21.
Baylor names new athletic director
Baylor athletics administrator and graduate Doug McNamee was named the school’s athletic director on Dec. 8. He replaces Mack Rhoades, who stepped down for personal reasons last month after nine years; Rhoades had also been chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
McNamee was the senior associate athletic director for external affairs at Baylor in 2018, when he was responsible for all major revenue-generating and brand-facing units, including fundraising, marketing, communications and premium ticketing. He played a key role in the fundraising, planning and opening of McLane Stadium over a decade ago.
“My connection to Baylor University runs deep, and its culture, history, and expectations have profoundly shaped my life,’ McNamee said in a statement. “I believe the breadth of my experiences has prepared me for this moment at Baylor and within the evolving landscape of college athletics. Stepping into corporate leadership allowed me to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, hunger, and financial discipline required to thrive in today’s environment and the one ahead.
“Returning to my alma mater in this capacity is a profound honor and responsibility. I do not take it lightly.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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