The Big Ten Conference is gauging investment interest from private equity firms despite the league's previous opposition toward meshing risk capital and college sports, Sportico reported Thursday.

• The investment bank Evercore, which was previously retained by the Big Ten, fielded initial offers from private equity firms earlier this week, per the report. A Big Ten spokesperson confirmed Evercore's inquiries to Sportico but declined to provide additional details.

  "To better support its 18 member institutions, the conference is evaluating potential strategic partnerships in order to enhance the conference's event, sponsorship and other ancillary business endeavors," the Big Ten spokesperson told Sportico in an email.

  Evercore's inquiries come after Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti pushed back on welcoming private equity into intercollegiate sports last fall. Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey took a similar stance when leaders from the two conferences met in October in Nashville. The Big Ten and SEC will reconvene for another summit next month in New Orleans.

  No other conferences currently have a private equity deal, although the Big 12 explored that route, CBS Sports reported last June. Things could change in the near future if the House v. NCAA lawsuit is finalized this spring. The groundbreaking settlement would permit schools to share revenue directly with their athletes and distribute about $2.8 billion to former athletes who were not compensated for their name, image and likeness.

  The Big Ten generated $880 million in revenue in 2023, the most among all conferences, according to Sportico. That also marked the first year of the Big Ten's seven-year multimedia rights deal with CBS, Fox and NBC worth $7 billion.

  --Field Level Media

ESPN has agreed to exercise its option to continue broadcasting Atlantic Coast Conference sporting events through 2036.

• "We appreciate the ongoing partnership with ESPN and their enduring commitment that further solidifies the ACC as a premier league in all facets," ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement Thursday. "The extension showcases the importance of our long-standing relationship, and I want to personally thank the entire ESPN team for their leadership and dedication to our collective future.

  "In addition, I want to thank our ACC Board of Directors who have been involved throughout this entire process. The resolve from both parties to further enhance the partnership through innovation and creativity to continue to drive additional value remains our top priority."

  ESPN had until Feb. 1 to pick up the option on a 20-year contract it signed in 2016. The deal would have ended after the 2027 season had the network declined to do so.

  "We remain committed to serving the ACC, its member schools, student athletes and fans via comprehensive live game coverage, storytelling and broad exposure across our unprecedented array of networks and platforms, including ACC Network," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "The ACC is a pillar of ESPN's leading commitment to college sports and we are thrilled to continue the partnership over the next decade."

  The conference reportedly is working on how to create more marquee games in football and men's basketball. Those "value adds" are expected to help increase a new revenue distribution model as the ACC works toward a settlement with Clemson and Florida State.

  Per ESPN, a proposed plan has a percentage of the ACC's television revenue included in a "brand" fund -- with that money going to schools that annually generate the most revenue for the league in football and men's and women's basketball.

  Should that come to fruition, Clemson and Florida State likely would drop lawsuits that they currently have against the conference. The Tigers and Seminoles are suing the ACC in an attempt to back out of the conference's grant of rights.

  With the grant of rights, which is in effect through 2036, Clemson and Florida State's media rights are attached to the conference itself.

  Multiple athletic directors have said that this also could affect Notre Dame as a means to create additional games against top-tier teams within the conference, according to ESPN's report.

  --Field Level Media

Less than a week after losing its defensive coordinator to the NFL, Notre Dame is set to lure Chris Ash from the NFL to be the new DC in South Bend, Ind., ESPN first reported Wednesday.

• Ash, 51, has been in the NFL since the 2021 season and was a scout for Jacksonville in 2024. He replaces Al Golden, who departed ND last week to be the new defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

  Ash went 8-32 as the head coach at Rutgers from 2016-19, getting fired after a 1-3 start to the 2019 campaign. Prior to that, he was the DC at Wisconsin, Arkansas and Ohio State, where he was co-coordinator with Luke Fickell on the Buckeyes' 2014 College Football Playoff championship team.

  Ash coached safeties with the Jaguars in 2021 before going to the Las Vegas Raiders to coach defensive backs in 2022 and 2023.

  Ash also spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Texas, the latter as DC and safeties coach under Tom Herman.

  Under Golden in 2024, the Fighting Irish defense finished fifth in the nation in points allowed per game (15.5). Notre Dame lost to Ohio State in the CFP championship game.

  --Field Level Media

Quarterback Brady Smigiel, a four-star quarterback in the Class of 2026, decommitted from Florida State on Sunday, according to multiple media reports.

• A three-year starter at Newbury Park (Calif.) High School, Smigiel had verbally committed to the Seminoles in June 2024 over finalist Michigan and more than 30 other programs. Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly made an in-home visit on Saturday, and UCLA, South Carolina and Washington also have made recent visits.

  Smigiel, listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, is ranked the No. 63 overall prospect in his class, No. 5 at his position and No. 10 in California, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

  "He definitely is planning on taking some trips," his father and coach, Joe Smigiel, told On3Sports before Sunday's news. "After the amazing season he had ... and (being) named Mr. California for all classes he has gotten a bunch of interest."

  As a junior, he threw for 3,521 yards, 49 touchdowns and three interceptions. He ran for 11 TDs and more than 400 yards. Smigiel has a total of 147 TD passes and more than 11,000 passing yards in three seasons.

  Florida State went 2-10 last season under head coach Mike Norvell, who has a new offensive coordinator in former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn. The Seminoles moved quickly on Sunday, making an offer to four-star QB Bowe Bentley of Celina (Texas) High School.

  Bentley, listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, guided Celina to an unbeaten record and the Texas 4A D-I state championship in 2024. The junior is ranked No. 292 in the class, No. 18 at QB and No. 39 in Texas in the 247Sports Composite.

  --Field Level Media

After he helped guide Ohio State to a national championship, Jim Knowles is finalizing a deal with Penn State to become the highest paid defensive coordinator in college football, ESPN reported Sunday.

• Knowles is set to make $3.1 million per season on a three-year deal to join the staff of Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin.

  Knowles is getting a raise of $900,000 per season over the deal he had at Ohio State and zoomed past the $2.5 million per-season deals for both Wink Martindale of Michigan and Blake Baker of LSU, who were slated to be the highest paid defensive coordinators in 2025.

  Ohio State rode the No. 1 defense in the country to four victories in the College Football Playoff, including a 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the title game. The Buckeyes gave up 251.1 yards per game, more than five yards better than the next best team, Indiana.

  Ohio State, which finished 14-2, also led the nation with 12.2 points per game, more than two points better than Notre Dame.

  Penn State was seventh in total defense (294.8 yards) and eighth in scoring defense (16.5 points). The Nittany Lions are set to return many of the key players that also led the team into the College Football Playoff.

  --Field Level Media

Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun still has his sights set on the NFL, but not right away.

• Igbinosun, who started in the Buckeyes' secondary for the last two seasons, decided not to enter this year's NFL draft. Envisioned as a Day 2 selection if he had gone pro, the junior cited multiple motivations for staying at Ohio State, which is fresh off winning the national championship on Monday.

  The deadline for early entry into the draft for Notre Dame and Ohio State players was Friday.

  Chosen an All-Big Ten honorable mention in both of his seasons with the Buckeyes, Igbinosun told ESPN he relishes "the opportunity to lead and do it all over again. And have a bigger role as a leader, as more is going to be expected of me as a senior."

  There is also the expectation of an eventual call by the NFL. Igbinosun added that he is "coming back to school to be a first-round pick."

  Toward that end, Igbinosun acknowledged the need to cut down on penalties. He was whistled for 16 penalties in coverage, the most by a cornerback in college football during the 2024-25 campaign, according to ESPN.

  He will be one of just three returning starters on defense for the Buckeyes.

  In 29 games for Ohio State, Igbinosun has 104 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 16 passes defensed and three fumble recoveries.

  --Field Level Media

The College Football Playoff national championship game is coming to Las Vegas in 2027.

• The CFP announced Friday that the 2026 season's champion will be crowned at Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 25, 2027.

  "College football fans across the country are going to be thrilled to hear this news today," said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff.

  "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."

  Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, promised a "truly extraordinary event, both on and off the field."

  "We appreciate the opportunity the CFP has provided us to welcome college football's greatest athletes and biggest fans for an unmatched national championship experience in the city built for celebration," Hill said.

  Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday in Atlanta in the first CFP final with a 12-team format.

  Next season's CFP national championship will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

  Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, opened in 2020 and has a capacity for 65,000 fans.

  --Field Level Media

Running back Quinshon Judkins is leaving national champion Ohio State for the NFL draft, he said Friday.

• Judkins, who transferred from Ole Miss before the 2024 season, announced his decision to give up his senior season on Instagram.

  "To Buckeye nation, thank you for taking in a kid from Alabama and continually showing your support," he wrote. "I am forever a Buckeye and will carry my time spent on campus and playing at The Shoe with me for a lifetime. Winning a national championship was the best way to end this journey."

  Judkins was a three-star prospect, as ranked by 247Sports, when he landed in 2022 recruiting class at Ole Miss. He spent two seasons there, running for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns, and entered the transfer portal last January.

  In 16 games with the Buckeyes, he rushed 194 times for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two scores.

  Judkins' star shined the brightest, however, on Monday in the 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta. He scored two rushing touchdowns and caught a pass for another as Ohio State built its lead from 7-7 to 28-7 and gained 121 yards from scrimmage.

  "My time here at Ohio State was like no other," Judkins told ESPN in a phone interview. "It was like no other place I've ever been. I enjoyed my time here so much. I'm ready to take the next step in my journey and prove I'm best running back in the draft class."

  --Field Level Media

Shane Beamer is receiving a contract extension that will keep him as the football coach at South Carolina through the 2030 season.

• The university announced Friday that the board of trustees approved the extension, but financial terms were not released.

  Per the USA Today database on coaches' salaries, Beamer earned $6.375 million in 2024, placing him 14th among the Southeastern Conference's 16 coaches.

  "The culture and commitment to excellence that Coach Beamer has built in our football program shows that we are headed in the right direction and on a strong upward trajectory," athletic director Jeremiah Donati said. "Coach Beamer has made clear his desire to be at the University of South Carolina and this extension shows our collective support for him as the leader of our football program."

  Beamer is 29-22 in his four seasons with the Gamecocks and has led them to three bowl games. His wins include victories over a trio of national-championship-winning coaches: Jimbo Fisher, Dabo Swinney and Mack Brown.

  The Gamecocks were 9-4 (5-3 SEC) last season and were ranked No. 19 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.

  "As I've said before, this is my dream job," Beamer, 47, said. "My family and I love being here. We've accomplished a lot on and off the field over the past four years, but we're not satisfied. There's more to do and we're just getting started."

  The Gamecocks are scheduled to open the 2025 season on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

  --Field Level Media

Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison plans to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced Thursday on social media.

• The 6-foot, 190-pound junior underwent season-ending hip surgery in October but still is considered a first-round pick.

  ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., in his mock draft issued Thursday, projected Morrison to be selected by the Minnesota Vikings, who have the No. 24 pick.

  "After much prayer and conversations with my loved ones, I've decided to forego my final year of eligibility at Notre Dame and declare for the 2025 NFL Draft," Morrison posted to Instagram.

  "This is not just the end of one chapter -- it's the beginning of another. I'll carry the lessons, memories and love from Notre Dame with me every step of the way. Thank you for making these years unforgettable and allowing me to live out my dreams."

  A four-star prospect from Phoenix in the Class of 2022, Morrison appeared in 31 games (26 starts) for the Irish. A team captain, he had 84 career tackles, 27 passes defensed, nine interceptions and a touchdown. He was limited to six games in 2024 because of the hip injury.

  Also Thursday, 247Sports reported a trio of Notre Dame offensive linemen -- Ty Chan and starters Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan -- had entered the transfer portal.

  That represents a huge loss of experience for the Irish, who lost 34-23 to Ohio State in that College Football Playoff title game on Monday night.

  Combined, the three played 84 games for Notre Dame, including 44 games in the 2024 season for the 14-2 Irish.

  --Field Level Media

Ohio State's victory over Notre Dame in Monday's College Football Playoff championship game scored strong ratings for ESPN despite being played just hours after President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony.

• The network said the CFP title game delivered 22.1 million viewers while peaking at 26.1 from 8:30-8:45 p.m. ET. That is down from last year's title game won by Big 10 rival Michigan that averaged 25.05 million viewers, but it did represent the most-watched game of this season's expanded 12-team playoff schedule.

  While President Trump's ceremony took place earlier Monday, coverage of the inauguration continued throughout the day.

  ESPN said the Buckeyes' victory was the most-viewed non-NFL sporting event of the past year. And more than half of the coveted demographic of viewers between 18-49 years old who were watching television were tuned into the game.

  The numbers were a welcomed sight after this year's CFP ratings were down about 17 percent through the semifinals. It also continued the steady round-by-round increase. The first round averaged 10.6 million viewers, the quarterfinals averaged 16.9 million and the semifinals averaged 19.2 million.

  Despite the dip in ratings for this year's CFP, especially for the first round held on the campuses of the home teams and airing against NFL playoff games, executive director Rich Clark said there could be more games held on-campus in the future.

  Clark said that FBS commissioners will discuss the idea of potentially playing quarterfinal games at campus sites.

  "We'll talk about it for sure," Clark said. "The campus games were amazing. That atmosphere, and what went on there, and certainly a lot of people are very interested. But the quarterfinals and the semifinals were amazing, too."

  The expanded playoff format debuted this season with four first-round games on campus sites.

  Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State each hosted a game and drew praise from fans, media members and coaches for the festive and electric atmosphere each contest delivered.

  Those games gave way to the more traditional settings for the playoff, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place at New Year's Six bowl sites. The Fiesta, Rose, Peach and Sugar Bowls hosted the quarterfinals, while the semifinals were played at the Orange and Cotton Bowls.

  The New Year's Six bowl sites exclusively hosted playoff games from 2014-23, and they remain under contract to host playoff games through the 2025-26 season.

  --Field Level Media

ATLANTA -- On only a few hours of sleep since his Buckeyes were crowned national champions on Monday night, Ohio State coach Ryan Day knows next year is closing fast.

• And not just because the Buckeyes start the 2025 regular season against the Texas Longhorns in a high-profile home opener on Aug. 30 already being dissected around Columbus.

  "Try losing the first game and see how that goes at Ohio State. We'll see about that," Day said in Atlanta on Tuesday, his first day as a championship-winning head coach.

  "We do have a talented group coming back, so we'll get back and try to figure that out. I don't know if spring practice is going to look like it usually does. I don't know if it can for the amount of games these guys have played. But for the young guys, we've got to get them going, get them indoctrinated into the program and then we'll ramp up soon."

  Transfer quarterback Will Howard delayed postgame sleep for the short flight back to Ohio, where a dramatic scene awaited seven weeks removed from a loss to defending champion and archrival Michigan in a stunning upset, 13-10. The national narrative in the afterglow of that defeat flickered somewhere between dim and doom. Fans weren't shy about pointing fingers at Day and in some corners clamored for Urban Meyer to return to rescue the program.

  Day reminded players the season wasn't over Nov. 30 when Michigan attempted to plan its flag at Ohio Stadium. After blitzing through the first 12-team College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes (14-2) have a different level of appreciation for the journey they meandered to reach the mountaintop in Georgia on Jan. 20 with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame.

  Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon tried to put the entire picture into words Tuesday.

  "The humility and the resilience of not only the seniors but just everyone on our team. People deciding to come back for another year when they could have made all the money in the NFL and be first-round picks. They came back for the love of the brotherhood and the appreciation for the culture and all their teammates," he said. "I think that story is about determination, resilience, humility, just thankfulness, faithfulness, just everything good that comes out of a team game and a team sport. I think our team has showed it this year."

  Day said he reminded his victorious locker room of the life lessons to be taken from the season that began 10 months ago with spring practice.

  "Just waking up this morning, just grateful that we had an opportunity to be with this team and certainly I would say that everything that came with the season and all the hard work was worth it. It was worth it," Day said. "I'm proud of these guys. And again, we'll go down in history and cement themselves as champions.

  "We're going to take some time to celebrate, enjoy it, because these guys deserve it."

  --Field Level Media

After accomplishing his goal of winning a national championship with Ohio State on Monday night, backup quarterback Devin Brown is transferring to Cal.

• Brown had entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 9 but announced he would fulfill his commitment to the Buckeyes through their College Football Playoff run, which concluded with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the title game.

  He reposted a tweet from the Cal football account on X welcoming him to the program.

  Brown is seeking a starting job after backing up Kyle McCord in 2023 and Will Howard this season. Brown, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in total of 15 games at Ohio State and was a combined 27-of-48 passing for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 30 times for 37 yards and one TD.

  A four-star quarterback in the Class of 2022, Brown was the nation's No. 43 overall prospect and No. 6 quarterback according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

  Brown heads to Cal, where 2024 starter Fernando Mendoza has transferred to Indiana.

  Ohio State is losing Howard, a graduate transfer from Kansas State, as well as Brown and freshman backup Air Noland, who transferred to South Carolina. Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, is entering his redshirt freshman season, while Lincoln Kienholz will be in his third year in the program if he stays. The Buckeyes also have signed five-star Tavien St. Clair.

  --Field Level Media

National champion Ohio State was a unanimous selection as No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the 2024 season, with Notre Dame finishing No. 2.

• The Buckeyes (14-2) defeated the Fighting Irish (14-2) on Monday night 34-23 in Atlanta to win the College Football Playoff title game, making history as the first national champion in the 12-team CFP era.

  It was the first title for Ohio State since 2014. Notre Dame concluded the season with its highest end-of-season ranking since 1993.

  Oregon (13-1) topped the poll for eight straight weeks before losing to Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinal and finished No. 3, followed by CFP semifinalists

  Texas (13-3) and Penn State (13-3).

  It was the first top five finish for the Nittany Lions in 20 years.

  The Big Ten, expanded this season with the addition of four schools, placed three teams in the final top five for the first time ever.

  Rounding out the top 10 were No. 6 Georgia (13-3), which was the second seed in the CFP, followed by Arizona State (11-3), Boise State (12-2), Tennessee (10-3) and Indiana (11-2).

  The Southeastern Conference finished with seven teams in the Top 25, while the Big Ten had five, and the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 had four each.

  The remainder of the AP Top 25 final poll:

  11. Ole Miss (10-3)

  12. SMU (11-3)

  13. BYU (11-2)

  14. Clemson (10-4)

  15. Iowa State (11-3)

  16. Illionis (10-3)

  17. Alabama (9-4)

  18. Miami (10-3)

  19. South Carolina (9-4)

  20. Syracuse (10-3)

  21. Army (12-2)

  22. Missouri (10-3)

  23. UNLV (11-3)

  24. Memphis (11-2)

  25. Colorado (9-4)

  --Field Level Media

All Ohio State quarterback Will Howard ever wanted was a chance to show off his talents.

• The spotlight was all his on Monday night.

  Howard built off a record-breaking first half to complete 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, lifting the Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta.

  It was after a 56-yard completion to Jeremiah Smith with 2:38 left in the game that reality seemed to set in for Howard, who took some time to showboat a bit by throwing his arms up while running downfield while Ohio State coach Ryan Day jumped for joy on the sideline and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James celebrated from box seats.

  Such a moment was always the goal for Howard, a Kansas State transfer who had always dreamed of performing on college football's biggest stage.

  "If you were to ask a 19-year-old or 18-year-old Will Howard if he'd be at Ohio State playing in the national championship, I think he'd probably say, ‘You're crazy, man,'" Howard said earlier this week.

  Now, Howard is a champion, and teammates think that this is just the beginning for the 23-year-old.

  "Just the type of quarterback he is, in my eyes he's a first-round draft pick," Smith said. "Will's just a great leader -- on and off the field."

  Howard made CFP championship game history by completing his first 13 passes on Monday, and he was 14-for-15 passing for 144 yards and two TDs before the break. Ohio State scored a touchdown on all three of its drives in the first 30 minutes of action to build a commanding 21-7 lead by intermission.

  The Fighting Irish rallied but couldn't find a way to get past Howard and the Buckeyes, with the Ohio State signal-caller being named Offensive MVP following the game.

  "They've changed my life in more ways than I can say, man," Howard told ESPN, referring to the impact that Day and his new teammates have had on him. "Coach Day and these guys here have completely, completely changed my life. ... I can't believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye."

  --Field Level Media

Could more changes be on the way to the College Football Playoff, which hasn't yet finished its first year with a 12-team field?

• There were no major decisions made when the FBS conference commissioners and university presidents convened in Atlanta on Sunday, one day before the national championship game between No. 7 seed Notre Dame and No. 8 seed Ohio State.

  But CFP executive director Rich Clark told reporters that "it's possible" for tweaks to be made to the playoff format before next season, though such changes would need to happen "very soon."

  "I would say it's possible, but I don't know if it's going to happen or not," Clark said. "There's probably some things that could happen in short order that might be tweaks to the 2025 season, but we haven't determined that yet."

  Changes previously needed unanimous approval, but when a new contract kicks in in 2026, that will no longer be the case and the governance structure will favor the two top football leagues, the SEC and the Big Ten.

  This year, the field expanded from four to 12, the five highest-ranked conference champions received automatic bids and the four highest-ranked champs were given seeds Nos. 1-4 and first-round byes. The latter piece drew criticism after No. 3 seed Boise State and No. 4 seed Arizona State, representing the Mountain West and Big 12, went one-and-done.

  Potential changes in the future may include updating the seeding process or expanding the field yet again.

  Clark told reporters that the decision-makers will consider "everything across the board" going forward.

  "We're going to tee them up so that they could really have a thorough look at the playoff looking back after this championship game is done ... and then look back and figure out what is it that we need," he said.

  --Field Level Media

ATLANTA -- Notre Dame and Ohio State have first- and second-year players they hope will make impacts when the teams meet in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Monday.

• The No. 7 seeded Fighting Irish point to cornerback Leonard Moore, named last week the defensive freshman of the year by the Football Writers Association of America, who will go against the No. 8 Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith. With 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, Smith was a surprising snub for the award on the offensive side.

  But head coaches Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame and Ryan Day of Ohio State said on Sunday that the success of both teams is due to the veterans in the program.

  Day can cite defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau and running back TreVeyon Henderson among the dozen seniors or graduate students who opted not to enter the NFL draft for an opportunity to win a championship.

  The benefits are many.

  "I think just maturity, physical maturity to be able to withstand the length of the season, mental maturity to be able to wipe the slate clean on a week-to-week basis and start a new game plan," Day said. "And then just the emotional maturity of handling the ups and downs, and certainly we know we've had a few of those this year, and being able to steady the boat and get back to work and learn from those and rally the troops. And I think it's a great example for our young players."

  Freeman relies on his veteran group for leadership, a group that includes offensive lineman Pat Coogan, tight end Mitchell Evans, quarterback Riley Leonard, defensive lineman Howard Cross III and All-American safety Xavier Watts.

  "I think young people want to be valued, and that's important," Freeman said. "So, I think you've also got to show them stories of examples of guys that have stayed the course and have turned into great football players.

  "You look at a guy like Xavier Watts that redshirted and moved to wideout his first year and moved to DB his second year and played very little, and then his first year starting was just okay and his fourth year he wins the Bronko Nagurski award (2023 best defensive player)."

  --A nod to history

  That the game is on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is significant for Freeman, the first Black and Asian American to be the head coach of a team in the FBS national championship. His father is Black and his mother is Korean.

  "What I don't want to do is lump the national championship game with what Dr. King has done for our country," he said. "January 20th, MLK Day, is about celebrating the life of Dr. King and the impact he's made on our country. None of that light should be taken away by this national championship game.

  "As far as me being the first Black or Asian head coach to be in this game, again, I am grateful. I am so grateful to help represent a lot of guys, especially our players and coaches that look like me. But I'm going to make sure the attention is turned on the team because I'm not in this position without the team and without the other coaches getting the job done."

  --Day dreaming

  It's been well documented that some Ohio State fans have been vocal in their contempt for Day after a fourth straight loss to Michigan on Nov. 30. A championship might quiet some, but not all, of his critics. The players have rallied around their coach.

  "Yeah, we'd love to win this for him," left tackle Donovan Jackson said. "He's the ultimate competitor. He wants to win games more than anyone else in the building. The stuff he and his family has gone through is ridiculous, in our opinion.

  "We understand the magnitude of the games we play, but some of the stuff he goes through, I don't quite understand. We're here now trying to win a game, not just for him, but for everybody related to the program in the state of Ohio."

  Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith added: "To win this national championship with Coach Day would mean a lot. You see everything he's been through this year, people saying he should be fired, this and that. ...

  "I wasn't here when he first got the head coaching job, but I know this year for sure we've definitely got to win this for him."

  --Fan conversion?

  Evans has added reason to be excited about the game.

  "Obviously, just playing a Natty itself is a pretty surreal experience," he said. "But playing Ohio State, the state that I'm from, it's kind of like a full-circle moment."

  He's from Wadsworth in northeastern Ohio but he wasn't a Buckeye fan despite his surroundings.

  "Everywhere you go, you're going to see an Ohio State flag in somebody's front lawn. Go into restaurants, there's memorabilia, whether it's a jersey, shoes, you name it, something in there of Ohio State," Evans said. "So hopefully, I'm trying to turn that tide, put some Notre Dame stuff in people's places.

  "Some people text me, say, ‘I'm rooting for you but rooting for Ohio State.' It's one of those type of feelings. Yeah, I'm pretty much deep in Ohio State country where I'm from."

  --Third time the charm?

  Why Notre Dame will win: Freeman is in his third season as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Frank Leahy (1943), Ara Parseghian (1966), Dan Devine (1977) and Lou Holtz (1988) all won their first national championships in their third season. Also in their third year, Knute Rockne went 9-0 in 1920 and Brian Kelly was 12-1 in 2012 but lost to Alabama in the BCS title game.

  Why Ohio State will win: Since losing the first two games vs. Notre Dame in 1935 and 1936, the Buckeyes have won the past six in the series (1995, 1996, 2006, 2016, 2022 and 2023), including the previous two games on a neutral field at the Fiesta Bowl in 2006 and 2016.

  --Craig Merz, Field Level Media

ATLANTA -- As if being the head coach at Notre Dame didn't bring enough attention to Marcus Freeman, the pressure of preparing the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish to play No. 8 Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Championship Game in Atlanta on Monday adds another layer of responsibilities.

• What the third-year coach, who turned 39 on Jan. 10, didn't want to do Saturday morning at the media availability was to discuss his future, specifically whether he was interested in the Chicago Bears or any other head coaching job in the NFL as some reports had suggested.

  "You know how busy we've been preparing for this opportunity," Freeman said. "Here's the reality, that with team success comes individual recognition. To hear that the Bears have interest, it's humbling. It's the NFL.

  "I have put zero thought into coaching in the NFL. All my attention has just been on getting this team prepared for every opportunity we have in front of us. Probably not the answer you're looking for, but that's the answer you're going to get."

  With that, Freeman moved onto the next question but he made a salient point: People notice success.

  That's why defensive coordinators Al Golden of Notre Dame and Ohio State's Jim Knowles were also queried about their plans.

  Golden was asked if he wanted to return to the NFL where he was an assistant for the Detroit Lions (2016-19) and the Cincinnati Bengals (2020-21).

  "At the end of the day this is not the time or the place," he said. "This is about the kids. There's always time to reflect on all of that after the season."

  Knowles, in his third season with the Buckeyes, has been rumored for the defensive coordinator position at Oklahoma.

  "Bad Internet. There you go. Just trying to beat Notre Dame," he said. "Notre Dame; that's all I'm focused on. These things happen, I guess, when you have success, players are making plays. My job is to put them in the best position. These things come up when you do well."

  --Got his back

  Golden said Saturday he doesn't appreciate the vitriol Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has received after a fourth straight loss to Michigan on Nov. 30.

  Day, who was the wide receivers coach at Temple when Golden was the head coach in 2006, has a 69-10 record since replacing Urban Meyer in 2019 but some fans called for his firing in the wake of the Michigan game.

  "I couldn't be more happy for anybody because of his work ethic and what he's become," Golden said. "All the critics, at the end of the day what is he? He's a great coach. He's a tremendous father. He's a great husband and he's a leader of men. So, I'm happy for him. I really am."

  --Do it again?

  Ohio State won the inaugural College Football Playoff title 10 years ago, beating Alabama in the semifinal and Oregon in the championship game on Jan. 12, 2015. The Buckeyes cruised to a 42-20 win over the Ducks.

  This season marked the first time the CFP expanded to 12 teams and the Buckeyes once again are in the hunt.

  "I think our university did a great job of making history and I don't think it's any coincidence that they were the first team to win that one and I don't think it'll be a coincidence if we handle business on Monday," wide receiver Emeka Egbuka said. "If you look in the eyes of my teammates, we're all laser focused and we are here for one goal, to win the game on Monday.

  "We have an amazing opportunity with this being the first 12-team playoff, and just showing how a team can battle back from adversity that maybe they faced earlier in the year."

  --Battlelines drawn

  Ohio State standout receiver Jeremiah Smith expects a big game Monday since being limited to a catch for 3 yards by Texas in the semifinal after a combined 13 catches, 290 yards and four touchdowns in playoff wins over Tennessee and Oregon.

  "You watch the film, they doubled, tripled me, dropping into flats, as well, but just being a decoy out there helped us win the game for sure," he said. "I mean, it's pretty frustrating, but I've got to do what's best for the team. I can't be selfish. We've got other guys on the team that can do what I can do."

  Notre Dame famously loves man coverage and cornerback Christian Gray said the defensive backs will be ready for Smith.

  "We'll play him like every other guy. Really just be violent and just be physical," Gray said. "Whoever we go against, we're not going to change it for them."

  Smith issued a warning.

  "None of us (Ohio State receivers) think we can be covered," he said. "I mean, we actually talked about this yesterday, as well. If that's what they do, that's what they do. We're just going to go out there, play our game and show the reason not to play man-on-man.

  "I'm just ready for the challenge and just getting ready to go out there Monday and put on a show."

  Gray didn't take the bait.

  "I could just say he's got his opinion, you know," he said. "He just said what he just said. I didn't really see his comment on it, but whatever he says is his own opinion."

  --Craig Merz, Field Level Media

After reportedly turning down interviews with two NFL teams regarding their coaching vacancies, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian agreed to a new seven-year deal, ESPN reported on Saturday.

• Per ESPN's report, the deal tacks on another year to Sarkisian's existing contract and ensures he will be among college football's highest-paid coaches.

  The Action Network was first to report on the contract agreement and also reported that the Longhorns coach declined to interview for an NFL job.

  Sarkisian, 50, guided Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where the Longhorns fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.

  In their first season in the SEC, the Longhorns lost the conference title game to Georgia then won two CFP playoff games before they were eliminated.

  In four seasons at Texas, Sarkisian is 38-17, including a Big 12 title win in 2023. Including stops at Washington (2009-13) and USC (2014-15), he is 84-52 as a head coach.

  Sarkisian served as Alabama's offensive coordinator under Nick Saban in 2016 and has NFL coaching experience on the staffs of the then-Oakland Raiders (2004) and the Atlanta Falcons (2017-18).

  --Field Level Media

Rob Ryan has left the NFL to join Southern California as its assistant head coach for defense and linebackers, the school announced on Saturday.

• Ryan, 62, spent 24 of his 35 years of coaching in the NFL. He most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-24.

  "Rob Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history," USC head coach Lincoln Riley said. "With over two decades of NFL experience, he will immediately bolster our staff as we continue our climb here at USC. He has coached some of the NFL's top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections. We're thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his family to our program."

  The son of Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Rex, Rob Ryan last coached in college in 1999 while serving as the defensive coordinator with Oklahoma State.

  He replaces Matt Entz, who was the Trojans' assistant head coach for defense and linebackers last season. Entz was hired as Fresno State's head coach last month.

  --Field Level Media

The University of Wisconsin denied a request by Sportico to view its current athletes' NIL deals, saying that sharing the information would harm the school and the state, Sportico reported Saturday.

• Wisconsin said revealing the requested documents, even with information redacted, would "jeopardize the competitive position of the university" and is "detrimental to the public interest," per Sportico.

  The digital content company made a records request to view all "written agreements" between athletes and the university since the start of 2024.

  "In the ultra-competitive landscape of Division I intercollegiate athletics, your request would force disclosure of information that allows the university to be competitive in the Big Ten Conference and at the national level," said the emailed statement from Wisconsin's public records custodian, per Sportico.

  "The public has an interest in a strong and self-sustaining university system. The success of teams within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics ensures the viability of all athletic programs, supports both the reputation and financial standing of the university as a whole, and is an economic driver for the city of Madison and state of Wisconsin."

  Wisconsin cited in part student privacy laws when denying the request, saying, "the information sought is relevant to current and future negotiations with student athletes and recruits."

  The university argued that releasing the information would put them at an "especially stark" disadvantage when trying to compete for athletes with other Big Ten schools, including private schools like Northwestern and USC as well as schools like Penn State which have "less stringent" requirements regarding open records, making them more attractive to potential athletes.

  Although many states exclude NIL agreements from being subject to open records law, Wisconsin has not yet adopted any NIL legislation. A proposed state assembly bill failed to pass in 2024.

  Sportico did not specifically request the records of defensive back Xavier Lucas, who made an unprecedented move by enrolling at Miami earlier this week without ever entering the transfer portal -- and despite having recently signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin.

  Wisconsin reportedly refused to put Lucas' name in the portal despite an NCAA rule requiring schools to enter a player into the portal within two business days of their request.

  By not signing with Miami, Lucas seems to have avoided violating any NCAA rules for now, but if he intends to play for the Hurricanes, Wisconsin is expected to block the move in court.

  --Field Level Media

The landscape of college athletics may be on the verge of another major shift, and it all stems from the move of one player.

• Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas enrolled at Miami earlier this week but did so without ever entering the transfer portal -- and despite having recently signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin.

  Lucas announced he was entering the transfer portal in a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 19. But Wisconsin refused to put his name in the portal despite an NCAA rule requiring schools to enter a player into the portal within two business days of their request.

  Adding to the situation, the true freshman and Wisconsin entered into a two-year revenue-sharing agreement during the season. That deal gave the university non-exclusive rights to player's name, image and likeness -- preventing another school from using the player's NIL rights for the length of the agreement, according to Yahoo Sports.

  Unable to talk to other schools because he was not in the portal, Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled as a student at Miami, but without formally signing with the Hurricanes.

  Darren Heitner, an attorney representing Lucas, told Yahoo that his client requested a transfer after learning his father is suffering from a "serious, life-threatening illness," But, according to Heitner, Wisconsin refused to comply with Lucas' request and instead tried to convince him to remain with Wisconsin.

  Lucas is from Pompano Beach, Fla., and played at nearby American Heritage High School.

  By not signing with Miami, Lucas seems to have avoided violating any NCAA rules for now.

  "NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately," an NCAA spokesperson told Yahoo! in response to Lucas' decision.

  But if Lucas intends on playing for the Hurricanes, it is expected that Wisconsin will try to block the move in court.

  What's more, a settlement reached in 2024 establishing many of the rules for revenue sharing has yet to be approved. Lucas' move could impact those proceedings, as well.

  Lucas made 12 tackles and had one interception in 11 games with the Badgers this season.

  --Field Level Media

ATLANTA -- Sports make for strange bedfellows -- or in this case, roommates, as Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and his Notre Dame counterpart Riley Leonard discovered.

• The pair roomed at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., last summer and will be leading their respective teams in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday.

  They talked at the camp about their transfers -- Howard from Kansas State and Leonard from Duke -- without projecting too far into the future.

  "We probably wouldn't have imagined that a couple of months later, here we are playing for the national championship for two new schools," Howard said. "He's a great guy, somebody I have a lot of respect for."

  Leonard pointed out that he and Howard "weren't really the big names" at the camp.

  "We were just two dudes hustling, trying to compete and make a name of ourselves," he said. "It's really cool to have those late-night conversations with him about life and whatever and see where we are now."

  They initially met at the camp in 2023 and now will be forever linked in the first title game since the field was expanded to 12 teams.

  Howard completed 292 of his 402 passes (72.6 percent) for 3,779 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. Leonard went 247 of 372 (66.4 percent) with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions but has the edge in rushing.

  Leonard has carried the ball 167 times for 866 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Howard has had 89 rushes for 169 yards and seven touchdowns. Howard did convert a critical fourth-and-2 run for 18 yards to keep the go-ahead drive alive against Texas in the CFP semifinal on Jan. 10.

  Ohio State coach Ryan Day has a lot of respect for the Notre Dame QB.

  "I think Riley Leonard is a tremendous leader and a tremendous player and a winner," Day said.

  --Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman doesn't shy away from ties to Ohio State, but he doesn't dwell on them either.

  Freeman was a linebacker for the Buckeyes from 2004-08 for head coach Jim Tressel. He played for four Big Ten championships teams and was on the losing side in national championship games vs. Florida in 2006 and LSU in 2007. He also spent a graduate assistant year there in 2010.

  He made it clear this is not the time for reminiscing as he prepares for the game.

  "This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school," Freeman said.

  Freeman was a college teammate of Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, who was also a graduate assistant for Notre Dame in 2022.

  "He was in my wedding and I was in his wedding," Freeman said. "We've got a lot of great moments and probably some that I won't share on this press conference, but he's a great friend."

  --The favored Buckeyes are a win away from redemption after an inexplicable 13-10 loss to three-touchdown underdog Michigan in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.

  A fourth straight loss to the bitter rivals had fans calling for Day's firing, and critics suggested the Buckeyes would be one-and-done in the postseason in the aftermath of the debacle.

  But blowout wins over Tennessee (42-17) and Oregon (41-21) and a 28-14 win over Texas in the semifinal put the Buckeyes a victory away from completing their redemption.

  "We've come all this way, but it means really nothing if we don't finish it the right way and win this last one," Howard said.

  The Fighting Irish would rather not be a footnote to history.

  "They've got a ton of athletes everywhere," Notre Dame linebacker Joshua Burnham said. "They've got a good offensive line. They've battled through some injuries. But so have we. It's just going to be a game that comes down to grit and who wants it."

  --Craig Merz, Field Level Media

Marshall's decision to opt out of December's Independence Bowl against Army is turning out to be a costly one.

• The Sun Belt Conference issued the school a $100,000 fine for not participating in the Dec. 28 contest, which Marshall said was due to a loss of more than 25 players to the transfer portal.

  The exodus was in part due to the departure of head coach Charles Huff, who took the head coaching job at Southern Miss after the Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt title with a 31-3 win over Louisiana.

  In a statement released Friday, the conference expressed some understanding of Marshall's decision but ultimately called the move "detrimental" to the Sun Belt and others affected by the decision.

  "While the conference acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall, as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner," the statement said, "the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN."

  The Independence Bowl went on with Louisiana Tech replacing Marshall based on the NCAA's APR score. Army knocked off the Bulldogs 27-6 to complete a 12-2 season.

  Marshall ended its season with a 10-3 record.

  --Field Level Media

Can a buyout be enforced if the original contract is unsigned? North Carolina might like to know.

• According to CBS Sports, new head coach Bill Belichick is operating in his role in every expected capacity but hasn't signed the contract he agreed to when athletic director Bubba Cunningham named him Tar Heels coach.

  UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi claimed in an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the published story is part of a personal vendetta, and reiterated Belichick is at North Carolina to stay.

  "The (story) that keeps going on is being generated by someone who doesn't like our program, doesn't like me or Coach Belichick, and refuses to allow it to go. (Bill) Parcells used to say all the time, quit kicking the horse that's already dead. They keep kicking something that doesn't exist," Lombardi told the McAfee on Thursday. "It's clicks for their website, which is wonderful and then they take shots at us as individuals. Somebody has to stand up for our program.

  "Everyone says, 'Well, why isn't Bill speaking out?' Bill doesn't speak out. That's what I'm supposed to do as the general manager is to let people know what's going on with our program. He's not going anywhere. ... Coach Belichick is where he wants to be. ... He's in Washington D.C., in spite of all the stories trying to say that he's not working, his contract, and all that. He's on the road recruiting. He'll be in Baltimore tomorrow. We're trying to get some players to become Tar Heels."

  The contract, which includes a buyout of $10 million if Belichick were to terminate his employment by June 1, 2025, was considered a hurdle for the seven total NFL teams who had head-coaching vacancies. Of course, Belichick was not considered a candidate to return to the New England Patriots, the only position that has been filled since the season ended.

  Six other NFL teams could request an interview with Belichick, who was viewed as a candidate for the opening in Dallas created earlier this week when contract talks fell apart between owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy.

  CBS Sports reported Belichick and UNC's vice chancellor for finance and operations Nate Knuffman signed a term sheet on Dec. 11. The four-page document states it is not a binding agreement.

  It's not uncommon for college coaches to work without officially completing the process of signing a binding agreement, especially at state schools. Michigan's Sherrone Moore, who replaced national championship coach Jim Harbaugh a year ago, was a month away from the first game of the 2024 season before he officially signed a contract.

  --Field Level Media