Today: The CFP's NFL scheduling conflict, Portal intel, the latest from Michigan, and Transfer Portal betting?

~9.5 minute read (1,945 words)

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NCAA FOOTBALL

ESPN sublicenses College Football Playoff games, NFL schedule conflict looms

In June, a quiet move by ESPN sent shockwaves through college athletics leadership.

Without much communication with CFP or conference officials, ESPN extended its College Football Playoff sublicense agreement with TNT Sports to include one semifinal game from 2026-28. That decision came after ESPN had already agreed to sublicense two first-round games from 2024-28 and two quarterfinals from 2026-28.

The result is striking. During next year's playoff, ESPN and TNT will split the 10 non-championship CFP games evenly. This comes only a few years after the CFP, governed by the 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame, finalized a six-year extension granting ESPN exclusive rights to the playoff at roughly $1.3 billion per year.

Now, ESPN is giving away half of those games, likely for a significant payday that could even exceed what the network pays the CFP on a per-game basis.

"We were pissed," one college sports stakeholder involved in the process said.

To understand why ESPN moved in this direction, look no further than this week's first-round slate. Texas A&M versus Miami, a high-value elimination game featuring two of the sport's richest brands and more than 100,000 fans at Kyle Field, is kicking off at 11 a.m. local time.

The reason is obvious. ESPN did not want to place the game opposite the NFL's Saturday afternoon and evening windows, the first weekend the league plays Saturday games. Meanwhile, the other two Saturday CFP first-round games, Tulane at Ole Miss and James Madison at Oregon, will air on TNT and go head-to-head with NFL contests.

It is not ideal for Texas A&M, but athletic director Trev Alberts understands the reality.

"Would a night game at Kyle Field be great?" Alberts said. "Sure. We would have fired up the drones. But it's a reality. You're going to have both pro and college football and NBA, all of them, in various windows several nights a week," he continued. "I wasn't surprised. Texas A&M-Miami should do well, and putting that in a standalone window for college football is great. It's a reality of where we are. You don't run from it."

Still, college football leaders continue to ask whether it has to be this way.

The sport has long resisted placing first-round playoff games on the second weekend of December, citing the desire to provide rest for teams coming off conference championship games, preserve Army-Navy as a standalone event, and give campuses time to prepare for on-campus games. Yet that weekend remains largely unused.

"The second weekend of December is a gold mine," former Notre Dame athletic director and ex-CFP board member Jack Swarbrick said last year. "Figuring out how to capture the second weekend in December has to be a high priority for the future leadership of the CFP."

That thinking is gaining traction. CFP leaders continue to explore expansion models, including a 16-team playoff that could begin in part on that weekend. One proposal discussed this spring would feature two play-in games, with the No. 13 seed hosting No. 16 and No. 14 hosting No. 15. The winners would advance into a larger bracket, while the top two seeds would earn byes into the quarterfinals on New Year's Day.

All of this is unfolding as the NFL continues to push further into college football's traditional calendar, adding Saturday games in December, expanding its playoff field, dominating Thursday nights, and now playing games on Black Friday.

As one CFP official put it bluntly three years ago, "You're just trying to minimize all the ways the NFL will f*** you."

While college leaders begrudgingly decided to take on the NFL head-to-head with the two first-round games, they intentionally scheduled the semifinals on weekdays, Thursday and Friday, to avoid the league.

One of those will air on ESPN next year. The other? Sublicensed to TNT, of course.

Read Ross Dellenger's full story here.

TRANSFER PORTAL

Early transfer portal intel as a host of big names intend to switch schools

The transfer portal does not officially open until Jan. 2, but several high-profile players have already announced their intentions to enter, giving programs a head start on shaping their boards. While many of these players are finishing bowl prep or postseason runs, schools across the country are already actively gathering intel and positioning themselves early. This is a snapshot of Pete Nakos's full report, which provides early intel on over a dozen players who are expected to enter the portal.

After speaking with sources nationwide in recent days, here is On3's early intel on several of the most notable names expected to hit the portal and where things currently stand.

Florida QB DJ Lagway

The former five-star recruit is currently taking stock of the landscape. Among the schools that On3 continues to hear about tied to Lagway are Baylor, LSU, and Miami. Louisville has also emerged as a school since he initially announced his plans to leave Florida.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

Along with Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby, Leavitt is expected to be among the most sought-after quarterbacks available. Early schools to watch include Oregon, Indiana, Miami, and LSU. Sources have told On3 that Oregon, Indiana, and LSU are beginning to separate themselves in this recruitment. Leavitt's blend of experience and upside has made him a priority target as quarterback movement accelerates.

LSU OL Carius Curne

Curne is arguably the most significant portal departure to this point for LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman played in seven games as a true freshman during the 2025 season. Sources tell On3 that Arkansas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Kentucky are among the early schools to watch as his recruitment develops.

Tennessee DB Boo Carter

Carter has left the Tennessee program and is set to enter the transfer portal. According to On3's Steve Wiltfong, early programs to keep an eye on include Texas Tech, Nebraska, Miami, Louisville, Kentucky, Alabama, and Texas A&M. Carter is expected to draw widespread Power Four interest.

ETSU DL Brian Alston

Currently working on lining up visits for January, Florida and Ole Miss are two schools showing early interest for the FCS defensive lineman. He finished with 30 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2025.

Get all the latest intel from Pete Nakos.

NCAA FOOTBALL

New details emerge in Michigan's investigation into Sherrone Moore, athletic department

Michigan's crisis deepened this week as new details emerged surrounding former head coach Sherrone Moore, alongside developments in his criminal case and a widened investigation into the athletic department.

University interim president Domenico Grasso confirmed Wednesday that Michigan has expanded its independent review, led by Jenner & Block, beyond Moore to include the entire athletic department. The firm had already been investigating Moore's conduct prior to his firing last week. Grasso said the university's focus is on uncovering facts and made clear Michigan is prepared to act swiftly if additional violations are substantiated.

Moore was terminated for cause after a university investigation found credible evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, a violation of both university policy and the terms of his contract. Grasso emphasized that speculation and rumors will not influence the process and said any further personnel decisions will be based on evidence developed through a rigorous review. He also addressed the ongoing head coaching search, stating Michigan intends to hire a leader of the "highest moral character" who can serve as a role model and represent the university's values.

Those administrative developments unfolded alongside serious legal allegations revealed during Moore's arraignment last week. According to reporting from The Athletic, an attorney representing a Michigan football staffer alleged Moore had a "long history of domestic violence" toward her. Moore has been charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering, stemming from an incident that occurred after his firing.

Prosecutors allege Moore entered a residence through an unlocked door without permission, leading to a verbal confrontation that escalated. Authorities say Moore retrieved knives and scissors and threatened to harm himself, telling the woman involved that "my blood is on your hands." Prosecutors described the victim as having been "terrorized." Moore allegedly left after the woman contacted her attorney and said she would call police.

Third-degree home invasion is a felony under Michigan law, punishable by up to five years in prison. The stalking and breaking-and-entering charges are misdemeanors. Moore was booked into the Washtenaw County Jail on Dec. 10, later released on a $25,000 bond, and is due back in court on Jan. 22, 2026. Moore's official mugshot was released yesterday after a fake, AI-generated image circulated on social media.

On the field, Michigan is attempting to steady itself amid the turmoil. The Wolverines finished the regular season 9-3 and are preparing to face Texas in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve under interim head coach Biff Poggi.

Read the latest out of Michigan.

🚨Headlines

SPORTS BUSINESS

NCAA slams Kalshi's intent to offer transfer portal betting

The NCAA is drawing a hard line against the expansion of gambling into the transfer portal, after prediction market Kalshi filed paperwork that could allow bets on college athletes' transfer decisions.

According to filings submitted to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Kalshi self-certified contracts that would allow users to wager on whether a specific player will enter (or withdraw from) the Transfer Portal during a set time period, as well as where that player might transfer. The contracts would be settled based on public announcements, including player social media posts, school releases, or confirmations from recruiting services and media.

The filings prompted an immediate and forceful response from NCAA president Charlie Baker, who said the organization "vehemently opposes college sports prediction markets."

"It is already bad enough that student-athletes face harassment and abuse for lost bets on game performance," Baker said. "Now Kalshi wants to offer bets on their transfer decisions and status. This is absolutely unacceptable and would place even greater pressure on student-athletes while threatening competition integrity and recruiting processes. Their decisions and future should not be gambled with, especially in an unregulated marketplace that does not follow any rules of legitimate sports betting operators."

Kalshi's filings were submitted through the CFTC's self-certification process, which allows exchanges to list new contracts unless regulators object. Historically, the CFTC has rarely blocked such filings, and has not denied a self-certification in its 50-year history. However, Kalshi said in a statement that filing does not guarantee the markets will go live.

"We certify markets all the time that we do not end up listing," a Kalshi spokesperson said. "Despite our competitors having these markets live, we have no immediate plans to list these contracts."

Even so, the concept has alarmed college sports leaders. Unlike game outcomes, transfer decisions are deeply personal and often influenced by private conversations, making them especially vulnerable to insider knowledge, manipulation, and tampering. While Kalshi listed trading prohibitions barring athletes, coaches, agents, media, and certain staff from betting, enforcement remains unclear, and many individuals connected to potential destination schools would not be restricted.

No state-regulated sportsbook currently offers bets on transfer portal entrants or destinations, and such markets would almost certainly be prohibited by most state regulators. Baker and the NCAA argue that allowing wagers on player movement would only increase pressure, harassment, and external influence on athletes during an already volatile process.

The NCAA Transfer Portal is set to open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16 under new rules that shorten the window to two weeks. While nothing has been officially listed by Kalshi, the filings alone were enough to trigger a strong response from the NCAA, underscoring how far college leaders believe gambling has already encroached on the lives of student-athletes.

Read the full story.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I took over as the starting quarterback for Virginia Tech in 2011 after backing up Tyrod Taylor and went on to start three full seasons in Blacksburg.
By the time I finished my career, I held Virginia Tech records for both passing yards and passing touchdowns, while also being a major rushing threat at the position.
I was drafted as a quarterback in the NFL, but later reinvented myself by becoming a tight end after entering the league.

Answer at the bottom.