Photo: Deion Sanders' Air Diamond Turf 1 Signature Shoe Re-Released by Nike
Jan 25, 2025
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 29: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders during the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Colorado Buffaloes on November 29, 2024 at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The signature shoes of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders have made a return.
Sanders' Air Nike Diamond Turf 1 sneakers released online at 10 a.m. ET on Friday for $150 on Nike's website and were eventually sold out later in the afternoon (h/t USA Today'sJonathan Limehouse).
The Atlanta Falcons, one of Sanders' former teams during his NFL career, announced a shoe giveaway on social media.
The @DeionSanders Nike Diamond Turf 1 is out today 🔥
The Diamond Turf 1 was originally introduced in 1994, representing Sanders' first signature sneaker. Per Nike's website, the latest release of the shoe features "Air units in the heel and forefoot, plus durable leather and a midfoot strap for a secure fit."
Sanders' relationship with the company turned sour after his playing days came to a close, although both sides worked things out prior to his first season with the Buffaloes in 2023 (via USA Today'sBrent Schrotenboer).
Colorado is coming off a successful 2024 campaign under its head coach, as the team's 9-4 record represented the school's first year with at least nine wins since 2016. Buffaloes two-way standout Travis Hunter also became the first Buffaloes player to win the Heisman Trophy since 1994.
As Sanders prepares for his third season in Boulder, his iconic sneakers were released on Friday.
Notre Dame's Chad Bowden Reportedly to Become USC CFB GM After CFP Title Game Loss
Jan 24, 2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Armel Mukam #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish recovers a fumble by JT Tuimoloau #44 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 CFP National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are losing a key front office member this offseason.
Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports had reported that Notre Dame assistant AD for player personnel and general manager Chad Bowden "has emerged as a target for a "high-ranking front office role" at USC. Shortly after, Kyle Kelly of On3 Sports reported that Bowden had officially accepted the position.
According to @JohnDBrice1, Notre Dame general manager Chad Bowden has accepted the same position with USC.#GoIrish held off Michigan for Bowden last year. But USC reportedly gets it done this time. https://t.co/hnDQY0VstC
John Brice and Scott Roussel of Football Scoop reported that Bowden has been offered a multi-year deal worth $1 million annually from USC, which is a big raise from his current reported salary of $270,000-$300,000.
Bowden joined the Irish staff alongside head coach Marcus Freeman when the latter took the defensive coordinator position with the program in 2021. He was promoted to general manager in 2024 after turning down a similar position at Michigan that offseason.
During his time with the Fighting Irish the program has poached significant talent in the portal, with quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard being two of the more notable additions. Notre Dame advanced to the National Championship.
Emeka Egbuka Declares for 2025 NFL Draft After OSU Wins CFP Title; B/R's No. 3 WR
Jan 24, 2025
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 20: Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs during the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka delivered a final goodbye to Buckeye Nation on Friday as he sets his sights on the 2025 NFL draft:
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka says his final farewell as he enters the 2025 NFL Draft. One of my favorite prospects in this years class. pic.twitter.com/jBfsnMCysk
Entering his name into the draft was a formality for Egbuka, whose NCAA eligibility has been exhausted after four years in Columbus. He leaves town with the school record in career receptions (205) and receiving yards (2,868) to go along with 24 touchdowns. Egbuka, of course, is also a national champion after Ohio State beat Notre Dame 34-23 last Monday.
For the season, Egbuka finished with 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. His production can't be ignored, and other OSU wideouts who put up big numbers have since excelled in the NFL, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Terry McLaurin.
B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson offered a pro comparison to Smith-Njigba or Amon-Ra St. Brown for Egbuka, who projects well in the NFL.
"In conclusion, Emeka Egbuka is a savvy route runner who wins in the short and intermediate range of the field," Parson wrote in part.
"Quick passing attacks will appreciate how he marries the timing of his routes to the quarterback drop. He is going to be where his quarterback needs him to be. Projects as a consistent slot playmaker at the next level."
The latest B/R NFL Scouting Department mock draft has Egbuka going 12th overall to the Dallas Cowboys, where he's fit in as the team's No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb.
Three months still remain in the pre-draft process, though. For now, Egbuka and the rest of the draft prospects are trying to raise their stock until April 24, when the draft gets going from Green Bay.
Raiders' Allegiant Stadium Named Host for 2027 CFP Title Game in Las Vegas
Jan 24, 2025
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 27: The USC Trojan Marching Band performs before the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl between the USC Trojans and the Texas A&M Aggies at Allegiant Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Trojans defeated the Aggies 35-31. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders' Allegiant Stadium was named Friday as the host venue for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 25, 2027.
Bringing the magic of the College Football Playoff National Championship to the Entertainment Capital of the World. ✨
That game will represent the conclusion of the 2026 college football season, and it will mark the first time the CFP title game has been held in Las Vegas.
It was previously announced that the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium would host the 2025 season's CFP National Championship Game in January 2026.
This past Monday night, Ohio State and Notre Dame clashed in the CFP national title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Although the Fighting Irish staged a furious comeback after falling behind by 24 points, the Buckeyes held on for a 34-23 victory.
Regarding the decision to bring the championship game to Las Vegas in 2027, CFP executive director Rich Clark said the following on Friday:
"College football fans across the country are going to be thrilled to hear this news today. Las Vegas has shown the world they have amazing venues and boundless energy to host an event like the College Football Playoff National Championship in spectacular fashion. I can't think of a better stage to crown the best team in college football in 2027."
The first edition of the College Football Playoff was held at the end of the 2014 season, and there have now been 11 CFP National Championship Games played.
When Las Vegas hosts in 2027, it will mark only the third time a CFP title game has occurred in the Pacific time zone, joining Santa Clara, California, in 2019 and Los Angeles in 2023.
The College Football Playoff underwent a massive change in 2024, as the field was expanded for the first time, going from four teams to 12.
It didn't come without some controversy, as many openly wondered if a conference championship win should be required to secure one of the four first-round byes.
All four teams that had a bye in the first round (Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State) lost their first game, resulting in the Nos. 5 through 8 seeds reaching the semifinals.
The door is open for some tweaks in the future, such as changing the way the seeds and byes are determined, and potentially even adding more teams to the field.
Per ESPN's Heather Dinich, Clark suggested last week that some minor changes are possible for the 2025 season, although changes will be easier to push through in 2026 once unanimous approval by the FBS commissioners, presidents and chancellors on the CFP committee is no longer needed.
Report: OSU's Jeremiah Smith Has $4.5M+ Transfer Portal Offer After CFP Title Win
Jan 24, 2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of Ohio State lines up during the National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
After spending $20 million to assemble the roster that won the 2025 College Football Playoff Championship, Ohio State might have to cobble up more money to keep the group together for next season.
Per Pete Nakos of On3.com, Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith has received an offer in excess of $4.5 million to enter the transfer portal after his breakout freshman campaign.
NEW: Ohio State is working to retain its top talent after winning the National Championship...
Jeremiah Smith has a $4.5M+ offer and Carnell Tate has a $1M+ offer to enter the Transfer Portal, @PeteNakos_ reports.
On3 Sports has Smith's current NIL valuation at $4 million. The figure went up by $300,000 after Ohio State's victory over Notre Dame on Monday.
Before the start of his freshman season, Smith became the first college athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Red Bull.
There was an incredible amount of hype around Smith as a prospect. He was the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports' composite rankings.
After signing with Ohio State in December 2023, Smith touted the program's history of developing receivers who become first-round prospects in the NFL draft.
"It came down to a close call between Miami and Ohio State," Smith said. "But you know I just go with my gut feeling, just go who's developing receivers into first-rounders so that's who I went with."
Smith more than lived up to the billing during the 2024 season. He finished second in the nation with 15 receiving touchdowns and fourth with 1,315 receiving yards. His 17.3 yards per reception ranked fifth among all FBS players with at least 50 catches.
The best game of Smith's season was in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Oregon. He had 187 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.
Even though Smith was quiet for most of the next two playoff games, he stepped up in the biggest moment against Notre Dame with a 56-yard catch on 3rd-and-11 with 2:38 remaining to help seal the win.
Smith's impact, even when he's not being targeted, made a huge difference for Ohio State. It's not a surprise that other programs across the country would like to see what he can do for them if they can entice him away from the Buckeyes with enough money.
5-Star PF Caleb Wilson Commits to UNC over Kentucky, Ohio State
Jan 24, 2025
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 18: Caleb Wilson of Holy Innocents (24) drives to the basket while being defended by Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (24) during the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between Holy Innocents School and St. Joseph on January 18, 2025 at Blake Arena in Springfield, MA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caleb Wilson, a 5-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, will play college basketball at North Carolina.
Wilson announced his decision on Thursday night, picking the Tar Heels over Kentucky and Ohio State on TNT's Inside the NBA.
"I picked North Carolina because of their culture and the history of the program," Wilson told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi. "They were my first blue blood [offer]. Last year I went to the Duke at UNC game. I was courtside and it was a great experience. It was everything I was looking for in a program."
The addition of Wilson gives North Carolina a total of three commitments in the 2025 class. Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon have already signed a letter of intent.
North Carolina's recruiting class is now ranked seventh in the nation, per 247Sports' composite rankings. Duke and Notre Dame are the only ACC programs ahead of the Tar Heels.
Wilson has been a standout player at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta. He is the school's all-time leading scorer with more than 1,500 career points.
Break out the record books! Caleb Wilson passes the 1500 career points mark and etches his name in HIES Basketball history.#GoBearspic.twitter.com/uszgdE8WXw
Through 14 games this season, Wilson is averaging 18.9 points on 54 percent shooting, 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest.
Wilson is the third-ranked power forward and No. 6 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class per 247Sports' composite rankings. He should step in as an immediate starter for head coach Hubert Davis in 2025-26 on what is a guard-heavy roster, led by RJ Davis and Ian Jackson, this season.
Davis has a 90-39 record in four seasons at North Carolina since taking over for Roy Williams. The Tar Heels have been a disappointment so far this season. They began the year ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 poll, but have fallen out of the rankings with a 12-8 record.
North Carolina was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament last season but lost in the Sweet 16 to Alabama.
The addition of Wilson gives Davis a foundation piece to build his roster around. Given how well Duke has been doing in recruiting in recent years, this is a huge win for North Carolina to keep pace with its biggest rival.
Daniel Jeremiah: Will Howard Could Be Top-50 Pick in NFL Draft After OSU's CFP Title
Jan 23, 2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard's draft stock may have received a boost from the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff National Championship Game victory.
NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah expressed his belief that Howard might be selected with one of the top 50 picks in the 2025 NFL draft.
"He's right on the borderline of a top-50 pick for me at this point in time," Jeremiah said during a Thursday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
When discussing the possibility of Howard getting drafted in the fourth round, Jeremiah expected him to be off the board earlier.
"He's much higher than that," he added. "He's a day two guy for me as we sit right now."
Howard wrapped up a strong senior season with the Buckeyes in 2024, completing 73 percent of his throws for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 226 yards and seven scores.
The 23-year-old shined during Ohio State's CFP run that culminated in a national title. In four playoff games, he threw for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with a 75.2 completion percentage. He was only picked off twice.
Will Howard has been putting on an ABSOLUTE SHOW 🔥
His 13 straight completions to start the game was an all-time record for a national championship game 👏 pic.twitter.com/IjgQhjISQe
Howard was ranked as the No. 11 quarterback and No. 130 overall player in the 2025 draft class on the latest big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.
His exact range should become more clear as the pre-draft process continues, but he may hear his name called before Day 2 comes to a close following his strong CFP run.
The 2025 NFL draft begins on April 24.
Notre Dame vs. Carson Beck, Miami Scheduled for Aug. 31; Time, TV Info Revealed
Jan 23, 2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Carson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up prior to the 2024 SEC Championship against the Texas Longhorns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Carson Beck's first game with his new team should be a good one.
Beck, who transferred from Georgia to Miami shortly after the Bulldogs lost to Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinal, will square off against the Fighting Irish in his first game with the Hurricanes.
Miami announced Thursday that the game will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Canes will host the Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium, and the contest will air on ABC.
A rivalry renewed
Our Week 1 matchup against Notre Dame is scheduled for Sunday, August 31st at 7:30 p.m. on ABC 🙌
Beck spent four seasons at Georgia and two years as the starter, but opted for a change of scenery this offseason. The potential Heisman candidate reportedly received a massive offer to join the Hurricanes, as CBSSports.com's John Talty and Chris Hummer reported Beck is expected to make $4 million in NIL money with Miami.
In his final season with the Bulldogs, Beck threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. While those are solid numbers, he didn't pan out the way many expected him to in his second year under center, and his season was cut short due to an elbow injury in the SEC championship game against Texas.
In 2024, Miami landed one of the top quarterbacks out of the portal in Cam Ward and turned him into a Heisman finalist and potentially a top draft pick. The Hurricanes will look to have the same success with Beck in 2025.
Despite an outstanding year from Ward, Miami is coming off a mostly disappointing season. The Hurricanes started the year 9-0, but faced late-season upsets against Georgia Tech and Syracuse, leading to absences from the ACC championship and the College Football Playoff.
Still, Miami is trending in the right direction under Mario Cristobal and it will get the chance to set the tone for its season with a big win over Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish are still recovering from their heartbreaking loss against Ohio State in the CFP title game, but Marcus Freeman's squad should come back stronger and make the Week 1 matchup between Notre Dame and Miami one to watch.
Bill Belichick's UNC HC Debut vs. TCU Rescheduled for Sept. 1; Time, TV Info Revealed
Jan 23, 2025
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Legendary head coach Bill Belichick is no stranger to Monday Night Football, so he will be in a familiar setting when he makes his UNC debut this fall.
The Tar Heels announced that their 2025 season opener against TCU has been rescheduled to Monday, Sept. 1, and will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET:
Belichick was officially introduced as UNC's new head coach last month, marking his first time coaching at the college level after an iconic career in the NFL. He led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and racked up 333 career wins, which rank second all-time behind Don Shula's 347.
Upon his hiring, Belichick said that player development would be his priority in order to get the next generation ready for life in the NFL. A taste of the bright lights of Monday Night Football in the very first week surely won't hurt that effort.
"When I say a pro program, I would say through my experience, what we did in terms of training, developing players, running pro systems, pro techniques," Belichick said in his introductory press conference. "So when the players leave here, this isn't going from the wishbone to a pro offense. It will be similar terminology, similar techniques and fundamentals, similar training, similar preparation techniques that have been very successful for me through the years, whether other college teams use them or not."
Belichick has already been working the recruitment trail to gear up for the 2025 campaign. The Tar Heels lost three quarterbacks to the transfer portal, but he's received commitments from the class of 2025 prospects Au'Tori Newkirk and Bryce Baker and Purdue transfer quarterback Ryan Browne.
Fans will certainly be excited to see the 72-year-old get back to doing what he does best when he leads UNC against TCU in a few months.
Deion Sanders' Colorado Self-Reports Julian Lewis Comments as NCAA Violation
Jan 23, 2025
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 29: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders during the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Colorado Buffaloes on November 29, 2024 at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado self-reported an NCAA recruiting violation after the name of Julian "JuJu" Lewis was mentioned on the school's weekly coaching show with head coach Deion Sanders in November, according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today,prior to Lewis signing with the Buffs in December
Per that report, Colorado "decided to stop livestreaming its weekly coaches show with Sanders and also removed two episodes of the show from YouTube last fall."
Coaches are not permitted to publicize recruits before those players are signed at the school, though it is considered a minor offense unless it is deemed an ongoing pattern. At the time Lewis was mentioned on the program, he had committed but was not yet eligible to officially sign, making it a violation.
After Lewis' commitment in November, host Mark Johnson alluded to the news but didn't mention the player by name while asking Sanders how he approaches communicating with recruits and their families.
"Hey, get JuJu on the phone and get his pop on the phone," Sanders replied as an example. "See if his dad want to come down and just sit down and chop it up with me. [His father] sat in my office I think a few weeks ago for a couple hours. I said, 'C,mon, give it all to me because I know you've got a bunch of questions on your mind. Let's go.' And we did that. And he walked away feeling really comfortable about where we're headed."
In the second incident, a second host mentioned Lewis by name, though Sanders did not. Both episodes were removed from YouTube.
Alongside self-reporting the situation, Colorado docked itself four recruiting-person days in spring 2025 and had Sanders undergo further education surrounding recruiting rules.
Colorado also said it would "implement new institutional controls on the football weekly coaches show. The content will no longer be livestreamed. External relations will therefore be able to review and edit content that could be construed as impermissible publicity of (recruits)."
Since Sanders was hired in Dec. 2022, the Buffs have self-reported 17 minor infractions in total to the NCAA. All were considered minor breaches of technicalities within the recruiting process and didn't result in significant penalties.
"We take all infractions seriously, regardless of the severity, and in these specific cases, these minor infractions were all self-reported to the NCAA," the school said in a statement. "This demonstrates the effectiveness of our established compliance systems which are the basis of our department's positive partnership with the NCAA."
