College Football

Ohio State may have its eventual successor to Caleb Downs after securing a commitment from 5-star safety Blaine Bradford.

Bradford told On3's Hayes Fawcett the Buckeyes are "the best place for my development and for my future." The Louisiana native is the No. 1 safety and 23rd-best prospect overall in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2026.

Fawcett reported LSU, Oregon and Texas were all finalists before falling short to OSU.

247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks evaluated Bradford last July and called him a "stoutly assembled safety prospect who could potentially move around the defensive back seven" or even line up as an off-ball linebacker one day.

"Flies downhill quick-trigger pursuer vs. the run. Quick in diagnosis," Brooks said. "Breaks down and drives through targets as a tackler. Speed-to-power ability and play strength enable playing through a block en route to the ball."

Ohio State has the fourth-ranked class in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2025, one spot better than in 2024. Looking ahead to next year's cycle, Bradford is the second 5-star prospect to pledge his future to the reigning national champion, joining wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. Head coach Ryan Day is also poised to add 4-star cornerback Jakob Weatherspoon to bolster the secondary.

Downs is entering his junior season in 2025 and it's safe to assume it will be his last in Columbus. The unanimous All-American will almost assuredly be a first-round talent within the 2026 NFL draft class.

Poaching Downs from Alabama was a sign of Ohio State's wider investment in the transfer portal, both in terms of coaching manpower and raw dollars. Day might turn to the portal for a ready-made star when replacing Downs.

Depending on how Bradford continues to develop, he could make a case to see the field right away as a true freshman.

Stanford hired former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich to replace Troy Taylor, the team announced Monday.

Stanford Football general manager Andrew Luck released a statement on Reich's hiring:

“I could not be more excited for our coaches, staff and players to have Frank as our head football coach for the 2025 season. I have experienced first-hand the incredible impact Frank has demonstrated as a leader and have full confidence he is the perfect steward for this season of Stanford Football. Frank is a teacher, a winner and a coach of the highest caliber. Frank’s values align seamlessly with our vision for this program and I firmly believe in his ability to maximize the on-field potential of our student-athletes while serving as a role model in all aspects of their personal growth.”

ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported that Reich will only be the interim coach for the 2025 season, after which the school will embark on a full-scale search for a more permanent solution.

“I am thrilled to be working with Andrew again to help take an important step in establishing his vision for the Stanford Football program,” said Reich. “Andrew is an elite leader and competitor, and those traits, along with his genuine passion for this university, resonated in every way and inspired me to accept this role. The unique responsibility to mentor the best student-athletes in the world, to be the absolute best in what they aspire to do, is an opportunity I will fully embrace.”

Thamel also reported that "Stanford is promoting tight ends coach Nate Byham to offensive coordinator, as a corresponding move with the Frank Reich promotion. Byham is also set to be the play caller."

Citing the need for a "reset," Luck announced on March 25 that the program was moving on from Taylor. The decision came after ESPN's Xuan Thai reported on March 19 that the school had twice investigated the coach for what was described as "hostile and aggressive behavior."

Waiting until late March to fire Taylor left the Cardinal in a tough spot. They had to scramble to find a replacement with the spring portal opening on April 16 and quickly closing on the 25th. Not surprisingly, some players on the roster are evaluating their options after the coaching change.

It's easy to see the logic in appointing Reich. He doesn't have any coaching experience at the college level, but he's a recognizable name within the profession.

The adjustment to college ball should be a little easier, too, since his one-year term means he won't be focusing on recruiting too much. His duties will be largely focused on guiding Stanford to a winning record.

The downside is that the Cardinal will inevitably struggle to build a strong 2026 class when prospective recruits have no idea who will be coaching the team long term.

In addition to the fact he hasn't worked in college, the end of Reich's tenure in Indianapolis and Carolina left something to be desired. He was fired midseason after 3-5-1 and 1-10 starts.

As a steady hand guiding the ship, Reich is far from a sure thing, and finishing with a bad record will only make it tougher for Stanford to attract a strong coaching candidate next offseason.

The University of Colorado is making the switch from natural grass to artificial turf ahead of the 2025 college football season.

According to KDVR's Morgan Whitley, the University of Colorado athletics department confirmed the forthcoming change to Folsom Field on Friday, adding that the installation of turf is expected to cost about $1 million.

The news comes after Colorado signed head football coach Deion Sanders to a five-year, $54 million contract extension Friday, per ESPN's Heather Dinich.

On the heels of a 1-11 season in 2022, Colorado lured Sanders away from FCS Jackson State after he turned that program around.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback brought some big time talent with him from Jackson State to Boulder, including his son in quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

Colorado improved to 4-8 in 2023, but the Buffaloes took an even bigger step forward last season, going 9-4, which was the program's best record since 2016.

Hunter won the Heisman Trophy thanks to his two-way excellence, while Shedeur Sanders was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Both of them are in line to be early picks in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Thanks to the quick turnaround Coach Prime orchestrated at Colorado, he will be among the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football next season with a salary of $10 million.

It remains to be seen how the team will respond to losing key players like Shedeur Sanders and Hunter to the NFL, but it feels as though Colorado is once again a destination for big-time recruits.

Putting in turf is perhaps a sign that the athletics department is more willing to invest heavily in the football program now that Sanders has it on the right track.

Per Whitley, it is estimated to take about six weeks to install the turf, and it is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season.

Colorado's Deion Sanders is now among the 10 highest-paid head coaches in college football after agreeing to a new contract Friday.

According to Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera, the Colorado board of regents approved a five-year, $54 million contract that will pay Sanders $10 million in 2025 and 2026, $11 million in 2027 and 2028, and $12 million in 2029.

Per CBS Sports' John Talty, Sanders is tied with North Carolina's Bill Belichick as the eighth-highest-paid head coach in college football in 2025 with a salary of $10 million.

Here is a full rundown of the 10 highest-paid coaches in terms of their 2025 salary:

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia, $13.2 million

2. Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12.5 million

3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11.5 million

4. Dan Lanning, Oregon, $11 million

5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas, $10.8 million

6. Lincoln Riley, USC, $10.1 million

7. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10.25 million

T8. Deion Sanders, Colorado, $10 million

T8. Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10 million

10. Brian Kelly, LSU, $9.9 million

Sanders, 57, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback who received his first collegiate head coaching opportunity at FCS Jackson State in 2020.

He quickly turned the program around, going 27-6 over three seasons, thanks largely to bringing in top-end recruits such as his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

Coach Prime landed the Colorado job in 2023 and brought both Shedeur and Hunter with him. While he went only 4-8 in his first season in Boulder, it was an improvement over the Buffaloes' 1-11 record in 2022.

Things came together nicely in 2024 with Colorado improving to 9-4. The Buffs also produced the Heisman Trophy winner in Hunter and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in Shedeur Sanders.

With Hunter and Shedeur entering the 2025 NFL draft, there was some speculation regarding whether Coach Prime might try to follow them to the NFL.

While no formal interview took place, Sanders did have a discussion with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over their head coaching vacancy. Dallas ultimately elevated offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.

Although it is always possible for coaches to move on at any time, the new contract likely increases Sanders' odds of remaining at Colorado for the foreseeable future at the very least.

If NFL teams hope to hire Deion Sanders away from college in the near-future, they will have to pull him away from a lucrative new contract at Colorado.

Per Brian Howell of Buffzone, the Colorado board of regents approved a new five-year, $54 million contract for Sanders that will pay him at least $10 million in every season through 2029.

In the school's official release announcing the extension, Sanders said he's looking forward to "continue building something special" with the Buffaloes:

"We've just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It's not just about football; it's about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I'm committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We've got work to do, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base. Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?"'

Per NFL Network's Matthew Bubar, Sanders' buyout starts at $12 million in 2025 before dropping all the way down to $3 million by the final season of the contract.

Sanders had a brief flirtation with the NFL in January when he discussed the Dallas Cowboys' head coaching vacancy with Jerry Jones.

In a statement to ESPN's Adam Schefter after talking to the Cowboys, Sanders downplayed any notion that he wanted to leave Colorado.

The Cowboys wound up hiring Brian Schottenheimer, who was their offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, as their head coach.

In a series of emails that involved Colorado president Todd Saliman, athletic director Rick George and the school's board of regents that were obtained by The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani, George wrote that keeping Sanders was "a big priority and pursuing excellence is important in all that we do."

Asked about his contract status during a March 17 press conference, Sanders said he wasn't worried abut himself right now.

"I don’t know," Sanders said. "Let’s get everybody else straight first. Then I’m good."

Colorado gave Sanders a five-year, $29.5 million contract when he was originally hired in December 2022. His new contract roughly doubles his average annual salary.

The $10.8 million average annual salary for Sanders is tied with Texas' Steve Sarkisian for fifth-most among all FBS head coaches. Georgia's Kirby Smart tops the list of highest-paid coaches with a $13.2 million average salary.

Sanders is 13-12 in his first two seasons at Colorado. The program's nine wins in 2024 were their most in a single season since 2016 (10-4).

The Buffaloes haven't had back-to-back winning seasons since 2004 and 2005.

Freshman Bryce Underwood is reportedly expected to be the Michigan Wolverines' starting quarterback next season.

According to Pete Nakos of On3, Underwood is "trending toward" winning the starting job after committing to Michigan in November.

Underwood, who is a 5-star prospect and 247Sports' No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2025, initially committed to LSU before changing his mind and choosing Michigan.

On3's EJ Holland (h/t On3's Thomas Goldkamp) reported in November that Michigan was prepared to make Underwood a four-year, $10.5 million NIL offer in order to convince him to flip his commitment from LSU.

If that is indeed the deal that resulted in Underwood to join the Wolverines, it is understandable why Michigan may want to get an immediate return on its investment.

Two seasons ago, the Wolverines went undefeated and won their first national championship since 1997 under head coach Jim Harbaugh and with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.

However, Harbaugh left to take the Los Angeles Chargers' head coaching job after the season, and several of Michigan's top players entered the NFL draft, including McCarthy.

That left the program in a tough spot, and it naturally took a step backward, finishing 8-5 in the first season under head coach Sherrone Moore.

It is fair to say that poor quarterback play is the biggest thing that held the Wolverines back, as none of Davis Warren, Alex Orji or Jack Tuttle were able to establish themselves as the clear starter.

Warren, Orji and Tuttle combined to complete 61.8 percent of their passes for only 1,655 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Still, Michigan finished the season strong with a rivalry win over Ohio State and a bowl win over Alabama, giving it a ton of momentum entering the 2025 campaign.

With even average quarterback play last season, Michigan likely would have made the College Football Playoff, but it ranked 113th in FBS with 22.0 points per game, which was ultimately its undoing.

There may be some growing pains with Underwood as a true freshman, but his dual-threat ability is undeniable, and he represents a massive upgrade for Michigan under center.