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The first full month of the 2025 college football season is officially in the books, and some of the nation’s biggest early-season surprises were once again on display across a thrilling Week 5 slate.

At Ole Miss, Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss eclipsed 300 passing yards for a third consecutive start to help the Rebels slay LSU. After dismantling Illinois in Week 4, Indiana and Georgia Tech, which gained a win in overtime over Wake Forest, escaped trap games to their respective surprise places in the College Football Playoff race. Fellow CFP contenders Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt continued their scorching starts and others — LSU, Florida State, TCU and USC among them — stumbled.

The weekend’s pair of highly anticipated prime-time matchups delivered too. Despite a leaky run defense, Alabama notched its latest win over Georgia on the road Saturday night. Meanwhile Oregon sealed perhaps the biggest win of any program this season in an overtime victory at Penn State behind the play of first-year starter Dante Moore, “the best quarterback in college football,” according to Ducks coach Dan Lanning.

Here’s our take on this week’s Top 25 with insight from ESPN’s college football experts on the biggest surprises across the sport so far this fall. — Eli Lederman

Previous ranking: 1

Is this year’s Ohio State defense even better than last year’s? Through four games, the Buckeyes have been absolutely dominant defensively, including in Saturday’s 24-6 victory at Washington. Ohio State has given up just 22 points total this year, for a ridiculous average of only 5.5 points per game. Last year, with a senior-laden unit, the Buckeyes boasted the No. 1 ranked defense statistically on the way to winning the national championship. Yet with eight new starters — and new coordinator Matt Patricia — this Ohio State defense, so far, is matching, if not exceeding, the play of last year’s unit. New starters, notably linebacker Arvell Reese, have emerged to flank star returners Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes are shutting down the run, getting pressure on the quarterback and blanketing receivers downfield. Even after losing so many key players to the NFL, this defense is already looking championship-caliber again. — Jake Trotter


Previous ranking: 3

Ducks coach Dan Lanning proudly said Saturday night that he has the best quarterback in college football. It’s hard to blame him for thinking that way after watching Dante Moore play with unbelievable poise in front of more than 110,000 in Oregon’s thrilling 30-24 double-overtime victory at then No. 3 Penn State. The former No. 2 recruit only has 10 starts under his belt between his time at UCLA and Oregon, but he had all the right answers in high-pressure moments against an excellent Nittany Lion defense, leading two overtime touchdown drives and going 5-for-7 on fourth downs. Performances like these show he’s ready to be a serious contender in the Heisman Trophy race, and they generate a lot of belief that this Ducks team has the goods to chase a national championship. — Max Olson


Previous ranking: 2

It is hard to call Rueben Bain Jr. a surprise considering he was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023. But his play opposite Akheem Mesidor has been a revelation for the undefeated Hurricanes. Bain and Mesidor have become one of the top pass-rushing duos in the country, and their play has had a direct impact on each game the Hurricanes have played this year. Both have 19 pressures, and their pass rush win rate ranks them both in the top six nationally. Miami also ranks No. 13 in the nation in rush defense. First-year coordinator Corey Hetherman has completely revamped a weakness into a strength — one Miami will continue to rely on as the season progresses. — Andrea Adelson


Previous ranking: 11

Nothing can derail your season faster than a quarterback injury, but since Austin Simmons got hurt for Ole Miss, Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss has stepped in and delivered three consecutive 300-yard passing games and three wins. He has thrown for 974 yards and four touchdowns in his starts while rushing for 245 yards and two more scores, and the Rebels have not only survived Simmons’ injury, but thrived. In Saturday’s 24-19 win over LSU, Chambliss completed passes to nine different receivers and finished with 314 passing yards and 71 rushing yards. Ole Miss nearly doubled the Tigers’ total yardage (480-254) but needed a late fourth-down conversion to ice the win and remain unbeaten. Chambliss threw a strike to Dae’Quan Wright, and that was that. — Bill Connelly


Previous ranking: 9

Mike Elko challenged Aggies to get over the program’s past disappointments during their bye week after beating Notre Dame, telling fans to “Stop being scared and get excited about what this program is doing.” A&M looked different on Saturday in a rugged 16-10 win over Auburn in which the Aggies committed 13 penalties and didn’t throw a touchdown pass. But it didn’t matter: The A&M defense held Auburn to 1 yard in the fourth quarter, 176 total for the game, 0-for-13 on third down, sacked Jackson Arnold five times and put up 243 rushing yards (on 5.6 yards per carry) against the SEC’s top run defense. Elko and the Aggies aren’t worried about lofty expectations and they’ll start October with scrappy Mississippi State, one of those teams that has tripped A&M up in recent years, going 6-5 against it since 2014. — Dave Wilson


Previous ranking: 8

The Sooners, on a bye in Week 5, have been one of college football’s early-season surprises. From an offensive question mark with its coach (Brent Venables) on the hot seat in August, Oklahoma closes September as a bona fide playoff contender. But it would have been difficult to imagine that the Sooners would be here at this stage of the fall with hardly any on-field contribution from running back Jaydn Ott. The spring portal transfer from Cal was expected to bring an extra dimension to the program’s offense alongside transfer quarterback John Mateer. Instead, hampered by injury, an inability to break into the backfield rotation or both, Ott has been effectively dormant, with only nine carries for 17 yards through four games. Perhaps Ott will benefit from the week off and return to a familiar form over the next two months. Oklahoma’s 101st-ranked run game could certainly use the jolt, especially with rushing leader Mateer sidelined for at least a few weeks. — Lederman


Previous ranking: 10

The early surprise might be Indiana returning to the CFP race after a historic 2024 season, although coach Curt Cignetti and his players expected to be back here. IU got through a potential letdown game at Iowa, overcoming mistakes and several difficult moments to strike last with Fernando Mendoza‘s 49-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 1:28 to play. Mendoza and Sarratt aren’t necessarily surprises, and much of Indiana’s offensive production so far has come from familiar sources. The defense has seen some breakout performances, including safety Louis Moore, who returned to Indiana, won his eligibility lawsuit this week and then recorded his team-leading third interception as the Hoosiers turned away Iowa midway through the fourth quarter. Moore, who leads IU with 30 tackles, junior linebacker Isaiah Jones and senior defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt, a transfer from Maryland have headlined a defense that has allowed only 48 points through the first five games. — Adam Rittenberg


Previous ranking: 5

With a veteran quarterback in Drew Allar and one of the best running back duos in the country in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen returning, Penn State was supposed to boast a potent offensive attack. Instead, the Nittany Lions have lagged offensively, most glaringly in the 30-24 double-overtime loss to Oregon. Allar and the offense finally came alive in the fourth quarter, rallying from a 17-3 deficit to send the game into overtime. But for much of the night, the offense was dreadful. Penn State’s 69 total yards in the first half were the fewest at home since James Franklin became coach in 2014. Penn State’s 3 first-half points were its least at home since 2016. And Allar’s 45 passing yards in the first half were the lowest total of his career. Allar now ranks 85th nationally in QBR (48.4) and the Nittany Lions rank just 52nd with 180 rushing yards per game. With so much experience, coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense was supposed to be among college football’s best. Instead, it has been an underwhelming disappointment. — Trotter


Previous ranking: 12

The Red Raiders had a bye week coming off a 34-10 win over then No. 16 Utah, their fourth straight by at least 24 points. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 52-to-11 per game. Now at their highest ranking since 2013, the Red Raiders will meet 4-0 Houston for the first time as conference foes since the Southwest Conference broke up. Quarterback Behren Morton, who was injured in the Utah game and replaced by Will Hammond, is expected to return. But the Red Raiders were comforted by the performance of the sophomore backup, as Hammond went 13-of-16 for 169 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. — Wilson


Previous ranking: 16

The Crimson Tide beat Georgia 24-21 to end the Bulldogs’ 33-game home winning streak, but they continued an alarming trend to start the season: Their run defense continues to struggle against elite competition. In their two Top 25 games so far this season, Alabama has allowed over 200 yards to both Florida State and Georgia for a combined 457 yards on the ground. Not having Tim Keenan III certainly had an impact on that in Week 1, and coach Kalen DeBoer said his presence helped Saturday against the Bulldogs. But the fact is Alabama has not been as good in this area as usual, and it is a spot where it will have to get better to compete for a championship. — Adelson


Previous ranking: 6

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the secondary has not played up to the Kirby Smart standard. Against Tennessee, that group gave up one big play after another, and the same happened Saturday in a 24-21 loss to Alabama — particularly in the first half. Ty Simpson found open receivers all night and made clutch third-down conversions. Nine of Alabama’s 13 third-down conversions came on passes. Georgia coach Kirby Smart lamented the poor performance on third-down defense after the game. While Georgia was better in the second half, Alabama raced to a big enough halftime lead to hold on and win. — Adelson


Previous ranking: 13

The Longhorns, who had a bye this week before heading to Florida to enter SEC play, are a bit of a mystery. Arch Manning ranks 76th nationally in passing with 888 yards, and the offense is still looking to find a groove. Maybe Sept. 20’s 55-0 romp over Sam Houston exorcised some of those struggles and the Longhorn offense has found some confidence. But while they figure that out, the defense is allowing just 7.8 points per game (second-best nationally) and 212 yards per game (4th) and will give them a shot in every game. Steve Sarkisian, who says Manning’s legs (he has five rushing TDs this year) might play a bigger part in the offense down the stretch, has prided himself on a balanced offense the past two seasons. With four new offensive linemen, that has taken time to sort out this year. What will these Horns look like next week? Stay tuned. — Wilson


Previous ranking: 14

After catching 29 passes for 333 yards in his first year with Tennessee, Chris Brazzell II has already topped that mark, catching 31 balls for 531 yards and seven touchdowns in the first five games of 2025. Brazzell taking a nice step forward wasn’t necessarily surprising, but he has enjoyed a total star turn. He had six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State, and his fourth-down reception with five minutes left set up a late tying touchdown. The Vols eventually prevailed in overtime, 41-34. Brazzell’s heroics — and those of quarterback Joey Aguilar, of course — have been a necessity because the Tennessee defense has not clicked thus far in 2025. The Vols allowed 16.1 points per game in 2024, but after Saturday they’re allowing 29.0 points per game in 2025. That’s also quite a surprise. — Connelly


Previous ranking: 7

You would think after enduring the 2024 season, FSU wouldn’t care much about the outside noise, but QB Tommy Castellanos admitted after a double-overtime loss at Virginia that the Noles probably read a few too many headlines proclaiming how good they were. The result was a brutal first quarter in which FSU fell behind 14-0 and, ultimately, a stunning loss to the Hoos. Castellanos’ advice to his teammates after? “Eat it and move on.” For as much criticism as he received after a brutal 2024 at Boston College, Castellanos has blossomed into an elite leader for FSU, and the Week 5 loss certainly couldn’t be put on his shoulders. He delivered a dagger to Randy Pittman Jr. to send the game to OT, and he put a pass on the money to Duce Robinson in the end zone that the star receiver bobbled before stepping out of bounds. Castellanos and Mike Norvell both insist they won’t allow Florida State to go into a tailspin after the loss — and unlike last year, there’s reason to believe them. — David Hale


Previous ranking: 15

How’s this for surprising: Against Arizona on Saturday, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht finished with minus-10 rushing yards on nine carries, didn’t throw a touchdown pass and threw an interception, but it was still his best performance of the season. That’s because he still ran for three scores, completed 14 of 20 passes for 243 yards (QBR 94.6) and led the Cyclones to their most comprehensive win of the season (adjusting for opponent difficulty). This was the type of game ISU fans had been waiting for all season. — Kyle Bonagura


Previous ranking: 17

Maybe we didn’t expect the Tigers to be averaging 292 rushing yards per game, but this was certainly conceivable after Missouri — which rolled over UMass to improve to 5-0 Saturday night — added hard-running transfers Beau Pribula and Ahmad Hardy. Less foreseeable? An overwhelming Tigers front seven that began Week 5 ranked 12th nationally in run defense (73.3 yards per game) and 14th in pressure rate (34.7%). Key returners, like defensive end Zion Young and Chris McClellan, and transfers Damon Wilson II (Georgia) and Josiah Trotter (West Virginia) are a big part of the leap for a unit that finished in the bottom half of the SEC in rushing yards and sacks a year ago. A proper dive into league play with matchups against Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M up ahead will offer a full gauge of just how much of a difference-maker Missouri’s defensive front can be this fall. — Lederman


Previous ranking: 4

The biggest surprise of the early season for LSU might simply be that the passing game hasn’t been nearly as good as it was supposed to be. After finishing 10th in Total QBR last year, Garrett Nussmeier entered Saturday’s game against Ole Miss ranked 33rd, and he struggled mightily in Oxford. He finished the afternoon 21-for-34 for 197 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a sack, and the Tigers gained just 254 yards thanks in part to prolonged run game troubles. Nussmeier struggled with accuracy, and LSU went just 2-for-11 on third downs, but thanks to a couple late bursts — two field goals and a touchdown on its final three drives — the Tigers were able to hang in there. But a late fourth down conversion allowed Ole Miss to run out the clock and prevent Nussmeier from getting one last chance at a heroic comeback. — Connelly


Previous ranking: 20

Quarterback Diego Pavia is the show at Vanderbilt, and arguably the most valuable player in all of college football after accounting for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) in Saturday’s 55-35 win over Utah State. But he’s not the only reason why the Commodores are 5-0 for the first time since 2008 and for just the second time in the past 80 seasons. Vanderbilt scored 50 points in consecutive games for the first time since 1915, getting nice boosts from wide receivers Junior Sherrill (6 receptions, 91 yards, 3 touchdowns — all in the first half) and Tre Richardson (six receptions, 74 yards), and running back Jamezell Lassiter, who had a 48-yard run and 63 yards on only four carries. Led by Pavia, Vanderbilt is playing with tremendous confidence, especially on offense, and now enters a season-defining stretch against Alabama (road), LSU (home), Missouri (home) and Texas (road). — Rittenberg


Previous ranking: 18

The rep for the Yellow Jackets under Brent Key has been pretty simple — they win games they have no business winning and they lose games against teams they’re far more talented than. So, what happened in Week 5 when undefeated Tech traveled to Wake Forest? Of course it tried its darnedest to blow it. The Jackets fell behind 20-3 but rallied back and, thanks to a blown call by the ACC officials, escaped Wake Forest in double overtime. Is it a performance to be proud of? Certainly not. But in years past, Georgia Tech loses those games, so it’s still progress. Saturday’s win was sparked, in part, by another strong day from receiver Isiah Canion, who has blossomed this season with 15 catches and a team-high 237 yards, 70 of which came against the Deacons. — Hale


Previous ranking: 19

The Wolverines’ first bye week hit at an ideal time with Sherrone Moore returning from his two-game suspension and a five-game stretch of Big Ten battles ahead. One pleasant surprise early on has been Alabama transfer Justice Haynes performing at an All-America level with four consecutive 100-yard performances to start the year. The Wolverines have a clear identity on offense around rising freshman QB Bryce Underwood with a top-10 rushing offense in yards per game and yards per rush after finishing outside the top 70 nationally in both categories in 2024. — Olson


Previous ranking: 23

Yes, the defense has been iffy so far. But who needs defense when your offense is putting up 56 points and 643 yards? And it’s not as if Irish fans weren’t excited about their new QB, CJ Carr, but there were obvious question marks about him entering the season. How would a guy with no prior experience handle the spotlight that comes with being QB1 in South Bend? The answer has been emphatic. Carr threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Arkansas on Saturday, and his 88.4 Total QBR ranks fifth among Power 4 passers so far. After an 0-2 start, things are looking brighter for the Irish now, and Carr is a big reason for optimism that this season is still salvageable. — Hale


Previous ranking: NR

When BYU found itself down 14-0 to Colorado on Saturday, it was asking a lot for a true freshman quarterback to guide the Cougars back. But that’s what Bear Bachmeier did as BYU came back to win 24-21. After a relatively easy schedule to start the season, the difficulty level is about to get turned up. BYU has Utah, Iowa State, Texas Tech and TCU all on the back half of the schedule. To this point, the offense has been good enough to win, but it will need to improve significantly for the Cougars to make a serious run at the Big 12 title game. — Bonagura


Previous ranking: 24

The Illini knew what they had in senior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who threw two touchdown passes, rushed for one and even caught one in Saturday’s crucial 34-32 home win over USC. But Illinois wanted to surround Altmyer with greater explosiveness at wide receiver and running back. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. sought a better downfield game, and he got it in the USC win as Kaden Feagin and Collin Dixon both had receptions of 60 yards or longer, and Altmyer averaged 15.8 yards per completion in the win. Sophomore running back Ca’Lil Valentine averaged 7.4 rushing yards on eight carries. Wide receiver Hank Beatty already had established himself as a big-play threat, entering Saturday averaging 14.4 yards per catch, but Dixon and others give Illinois an element it lacked during a 10-win season in 2024. — Rittenberg


Previous ranking: NR

Coach Ryan Silverfield brandished a reputation for high-flying offenses across his first six seasons at Memphis. But seldom, if ever, have his teams run the football like the Tigers are in 2025, highlighted by Memphis’ 291-yard, five-touchdown rushing performance in a 55-26 conference-opening win over Florida Atlantic Saturday night. Fifth-year running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. led the charge in Week 5, tearing off a 90-yard score in a career-high 19-carry, 204-yard breakout showing. Former Colorado and Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis (six rushing scores in 2025) has injected energy into the unbeaten Tigers’ running game, too. Memphis has eclipsed 200 rushing yards in each of its five games this campaign — the Tigers’ fifth 200-yard ground effort came in Week 10 last year — and Memphis’ 41 attempts per game thus far would easily mark the highest run rate in any of Silverfield’s seven seasons in charge. Could this fresh, ground-based attack be the element that helps lift Silverfield and the Tigers into the playoff later this year? — Lederman


Previous ranking: NR

The Cardinals pulled off quite a surprise on Saturday, rallying back from a 17-0 deficit on the road to beat Pitt 34-27. Miller Moss threw for 339 yards and three TDs and got plenty of help from a defense that nabbed five takeaways, got nine third-down stops and pitched a second-half shutout. Considering Pitt hadn’t blown a 17-point lead in a conference game since 2009, that’s quite a feat. The Cardinals are 4-0 for the second time in three years under coach Jeff Brohm and have a big opportunity, with Virginia and Miami up next, to prove they’re a contender in the ACC title race. — Olson

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With Rhule, Cignetti off the list, who are the top candidates for Penn State

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With Rhule, Cignetti off the list, who are the top candidates for Penn State

Penn State started the season with legitimate national championship aspirations. Now, the school is looking for a new coach after firing James Franklin on Oct. 12.

Franklin’s fall was stunning, swift and historic, beginning with a type of loss (Oregon) that has come to define his Penn State tenure, and continuing with two other losses (against major underdogs UCLA and Northwestern) that have not. A season-ending injury to starting quarterback Drew Allar against Northwestern added even more anguish to an awful afternoon in Happy Valley.

Just like that, Franklin’s tenure of 11-plus years at Penn State is over, within the same calendar year as Penn State reached the cusp of the national championship game, only to fall to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal. Penn State entered this season with a championship-or-bust mission, and boy, did things go bust. Although things fell apart quickly for Franklin, it also became harder to envision a path forward, despite his many successes at Penn State.

Where does PSU go from here? The school has made significant investments in facilities, NIL and other areas. Athletics director Patrick Kraft is a football guy who wants to win at the highest level. Penn State has access to talent in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and can compete for major goals on a regular basis. The team can aim high with candidates, including from within the Big Ten, and certainly target those with a track record of winning the biggest games. However, two coaches who would have been considered top targets, re-signed with the their current schools. Indiana‘s Curt Cignetti signed a new eight-year contract, paying him about $11.6 million annually, on Oct. 16. Then, Matt Rhule, Nebraska‘s coach and a Penn State alum, signed a two-year extension to stay with the Cornhuskers until 2032 on Thursday.

Here are several candidates Penn State could pursue, as well as the roster and recruiting situation amid a coaching transition. — Adam Rittenberg

Candidates | Transfers | Recruits

Five candidates for the job

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea: The idea of Penn State hiring Vanderbilt’s coach twice in a row might not sit well with some in its fan base, but Lea and Franklin are very different, and Lea would fit the structure in State College well. He has elevated his alma mater to historic heights this fall, as Vanderbilt entered the CFP mix behind transcendent quarterback Diego Pavia. Lea’s pivot toward Pavia and others from New Mexico State, including former Big Ten coach Jerry Kill, revived a Vanderbilt program that had gone 9-27 through his first three seasons. The 43-year-old has experience in the Northeast at Syracuse from 2013 to 2015, and also made stops at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Penn State would be banking on potential a bit here, but Lea has won big games at Vanderbilt and could help take the Nittany Lions over the top.

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko: The Aggies’ incredible start and a likely CFP appearance could prevent any type of move, but Elko absolutely fits what Penn State wants in its next coach. He’s quickly establishing himself as a championship-level coach at a Texas A&M program that has often underachieved. Elko, 48, also had success at Duke and has roots in the Northeast, growing up in New Jersey and playing college football at Penn. He’s 32-14 overall as an FBS coach, and while he hasn’t won a championship yet, Texas A&M is certainly on a promising trajectory. The timing might not be right this season, but Penn State absolutely should make a push for Elko.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell: His name has appeared often on lists such as this over the years, but Campbell has stayed loyal to Iowa State, a program he built into a Big 12 contender. Penn State has long been mentioned as a program that would intrigue him, along with fellow Big Ten heavies Ohio State and Michigan, as well as Notre Dame. Campbell would bring a background on offense and with quarterbacks that could serve Penn State well after the end of Franklin’s tenure, where the offense never consistently reached its potential. He played a season of college ball at Pitt before finishing at Mount Union, in his home state of Ohio, where he spent his entire coaching career before taking the Iowa State job. The time seems right for the 45-year-old to make a big move, and Penn State would be a sensible landing spot.

Louisville coach Jeff Brohm: He addresses the primary reason why Penn State fired Franklin – a lack of signature wins. Brohm has delivered those at both Purdue and now Louisville, going 4-4 against AP top-five opponents during his career. He also will bring a creative and aggressive offense to State College, and can likely get more out of the quarterback play there. Brohm, 54, also has Big Ten experience, taking Purdue to the league title game in 2022 and going 12-6 in league play during his last two years with the Boilers. He also has incredibly deep roots both with the University of Louisville and the city of Louisville. Will Brohm actually make a move? He’s certainly worth a call with a 91-53 FBS record.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline: The fair assumption when Penn State fired Franklin is that it needed a replacement with previous head-coaching experience to push for national championships. But many of the sport’s top programs are led by first-time head coaches, including Ohio State, where Ryan Day guided the team to a national title last season. Hartline, 38, has had an essential role in his alma mater’s success, and was a candidate for West Virginia’s coaching vacancy last year. He’s an elite recruiter who should be able to energize Penn State’s passing game. This is a big jump for the former NFL wide receiver, who has spent his entire coaching career at Ohio State. But he might be the next great first-time coach. — Rittenberg


Five important players to retain

DE Chaz Coleman: The true freshman pass rusher has made a huge impression since arriving on campus and would be extremely coveted if he explored a transfer. Coleman was an ESPN 300 recruit as a 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete who also played quarterback in high school. In his first year in the program, he has already bulked up to 246 pounds and has flashed big-time potential with 11 pressures through his first five games, three tackles for loss and a strip sack against FIU that he returned 39 yards.

LB Tony Rojas: We’re finding out just how valuable Rojas is for a Nittany Lions defense that’s struggling to stop the run without him. Rojas, a 20-game starter, went down with an unspecified long-term injury in practice days after the Oregon loss, and it’s unclear when he’ll return. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior was tied for the team lead in TFLs with 4.5 when he went down and would have two more seasons of eligibility if he needs to take a medical redshirt for 2025.

OL Anthony Donkoh: If we’re assuming Olaivavega Ioane goes pro after this season, Donkoh would be Penn State’s most experienced returning lineman next year. The 6-foot-5, 323-pound redshirt sophomore started 10 games at right tackle last year, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition, before suffering a season-ending knee injury in November. He started the first four games this season at right guard. Donkoh has two more seasons of eligibility and should be a leader for this offensive line next year.

CB A.J. Harris: Harris transferred in from Georgia in 2024 and immediately proved he was ready to be a difference-maker as a sophomore, earning 15 starts and finishing with 48 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups and the seventh-best defensive grade among Big Ten starting corners, according to Pro Football Focus. If Harris stays in school for his senior season, he could compete for All-Big Ten honors. True freshman cornerback Daryus Dixson looks like a future star as well and would be another important cover man to hold onto.

TE Luke Reynolds: Tyler Warren is emerging as one of the top tight ends in the NFL as a rookie, and now it’s up to Reynolds to replace him as Penn State’s next great tight end. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound sophomore earned four starts during his debut season and ranks fifth among Big Ten tight ends with 197 receiving yards on 18 catches this fall. He’ll be a key target for Penn State’s inexperienced QBs to finish out this year and will have two more seasons of eligibility. — Max Olson


Key recruits

OT Kevin Brown, No. 80 in the ESPN 300: ESPN’s No. 2 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania this cycle, Brown is the type of offensive tackle talent Penn State has at times struggled to land as it strived to compete atop the Big Ten in recent years. That’s what made Brown such an important piece of Franklin’s latest recruiting class as one of the Nittany Lions’ earliest pledges in the cycle. Brown, out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has visited Penn State more than a dozen times, but with offensive tackle talent at a premium at this stage, home ties might only do so much in keeping the 6-foot-5, 245-pound blocker committed to the Nittany Lions.

RB Messiah Mickens, No. 135 in ESPN 300: Mickens is a teammate of Brown’s at Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) High School and stands as the longest-tenured member of the Nittany Lions’ class. ESPN’s 14th-ranked running back in 2026, Mickens flirted with a flip to Notre Dame earlier this year before shutting down his recruitment in March. Mickens has been sidelined by an injury over the past month. But with upheaval at Penn State, Notre Dame — with former Nittany Lions running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider on staff — should be one of the many programs to circle back with Mickens, Pennsylvania’s 2024 Gatorade Football Player of the Year. — Eli Lederman

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Resetting the coaching carousel: What we’re hearing about Franklin, Kiffin, LSU and more

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Resetting the coaching carousel: What we're hearing about Franklin, Kiffin, LSU and more

The defining trait of this coaching cycle in college football isn’t scope but speed.

Yes, the number of open jobs in the FBS seems to grow by the weekend, with LSU being the latest — and biggest — to drop. We’ve seen early-season and midseason firings before, most recently in 2021, when jobs including USC and LSU were already open at this point in the calendar. The number of power-conference vacancies before Nov. 1 this season, though, is notable.

More than anything, the pace at which the carousel is moving stands out. Consider the Penn State coaching search, only 18 days old. We barely had time to digest the magnitude of James Franklin’s firing after 11-plus seasons at PSU — and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance in January — before potential replacement Curt Cignetti agreed to a new eight-year, $93 million contract with Indiana. A day later, Nebraska‘s Matt Rhule — considered by many to be the favored target for Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft — saw the Cornhuskers lose 24-6 at Minnesota, their sixth consecutive defeat to the Golden Gophers. Then Rhule agreed to his own extension on Oct. 30.

Where will Penn State turn now? And how will Texas A&M‘s surge under Mike Elko, a New Jersey native who played college football at Penn, impact the search? Who else is working their way into the mix?

The Lane Kiffin-Florida exclusive courtship lasted only a week before LSU entered the chat. Kiffin could end up deciding between two of the better jobs in the SEC or he could stay at Ole Miss, which he has built into a national contender and where he receives strong support. Ole Miss’ position as a CFP hopeful could take the process well into December.

“Hard for me to see Lane staying with this much movement,” a coaching agent said.

If Kiffin stays put, Florida will need to turn elsewhere. Missouri‘s Eliah Drinkwitz, Louisville‘s Jeff Brohm and SMU‘s Rhett Lashlee are intriguing options, but would they get Gators fans anywhere near as excited?

LSU’s non-Kiffin options could include Drinkwitz, Brohm and others with varying profiles as the job is undoubtedly among the nation’s best. Can LSU swing big? Absolutely. Should it? That’s another question entirely.

Every weekend of results shapes the carousel, as so many sitting coaches are expected to be targeted for new jobs. Some are leading CFP hopefuls, which ultimately could limit their ability to move in December.

It’s time to reset the carousel as November nears, spotlighting jobs, candidates and an upcoming stretch that will reshape the leadership in several key spots around the country.

Targeted searches at PSU and Florida

Coaching circles often have a trickle-down effect, starting with the most appealing jobs, which are Penn State and Florida. What ultimately happens in State College and Gainesville might affect other open searches, as well as those that could come open, such as Florida State and Auburn. Kiffin, for example, will be high on FSU’s wish list, as well.

The belief among industry sources is that both the PSU and Florida candidate pools will be limited. If either school is talking to six or seven candidates, something probably isn’t right.

“Even though we have a ton of potential searches, there’s some niche searches,” a source said. “Penn State could not really be a search, and Florida might not really be a search. It might just be the obvious candidates.”

Those would have meant Rhule at Penn State and Kiffin at Florida, but that has changed. Elko, who has Texas A&M off to an 8-0 start, certainly would fit the PSU program, given his roots and how he spent the first 15 years of his coaching career in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic or Midwest.

Elko might be deciding between two well-resourced programs. The difference is that Penn State has accomplished way more on the field than Texas A&M has and is now clearly striving for national titles. Elko is certainly motivated to, as he has put it this season, break down doors. “We have high goals and expectations for this team and for this program,” he told ESPN last week. “We know in order to meet them, we have to do things that haven’t been done.”

Being the coach to elevate a historic underachiever is enticing. Elko also has followed college football for decades. He knows that outside Ohio State and Michigan, Penn State has had fewer barriers to success over the years, including no rival like Texas in the same state.

“Elko should take that [Penn State] job,” an industry source said.

Then again, if Texas A&M makes the CFP as a top-four seed, Penn State might have to make its hire sooner.

Vanderbilt‘s Clark Lea is emerging as a name to watch at Penn State and elsewhere. Would Penn State hire a coach from Vanderbilt twice in a row? Until last season, Lea was 9-27 at his alma mater. But he’s now doing things that Franklin never did at Vanderbilt (7-1), and Lea showed his flexibility as a coach by bringing in quarterback Diego Pavia and others from New Mexico State to spark the program. Lea is an Elko protégé and could appeal to PSU for many of the same reasons.

“The guy can win big games when the lights are bright,” an industry source said. “Last year against Bama, this year against LSU and Missouri, like, he shows up.”

Florida clearly has interest in Kiffin, but what if he’s not the guy? Drinkwitz and Lashlee both seem ready for a jump and could be good fits in Gainesville. They’re both in good situations, though, especially Lashlee after making the CFP last season. Missouri has capitalized on its SEC schedule across the past two campaigns but hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent in the league. Next season, the Tigers will visit Georgia and Ole Miss, and they will host Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Florida.

“They’re not going to have this path,” an industry source said. “Drinkwitz is smart enough to know he’s got to get out.”

Brohm is another option, especially because of his big-game record. He is 4-4 against AP top-five opponents following an Oct. 17 win at Miami. Although Brohm also has struggled in losing games he shouldn’t, his big-game success and creative offense are appealing. He also is extremely rooted in Louisville — both at the university and in his hometown — so it would take a lot to pull him away.


Unique dynamics in the LSU search

When Brian Kelly was fired Sunday, LSU immediately shot to the top of open job lists. There are two truths about LSU, though: It is a great job; it also is a complicated job.

Tiger Stadium is about 3 miles south of the Louisiana State Capitol, and the football program and state politics are historically intertwined. LSU also doesn’t have a permanent university president, and while an answer is expected soon, the school’s Board of Supervisors has a significant role in major university matters. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry appoints the board, and was part of the discussions Sunday that led to Kelly’s firing.

Landry, on Wednesday, shook up the search when he lit into LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, making it clear Woodward would not be hiring Kelly’s successor. The governor pointed to Woodward’s hires of Kelly and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, and the significant costs both schools incurred when the coaches were fired.

“Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said “Hell, I’d let [President] Donald Trump select him before I’d let him do it. The Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a committee and find us a coach.”

In announcing Kelly’s firing Sunday night, Woodward presented himself as LSU’s lead decision-maker, referring to being “a proud alum” and “the current caretaker of our athletics programs.” Woodward said he made the decision to fire Kelly.

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But after Landry’s comments, it’s more than fair to wonder: Who will really make this hire?

Landry also criticized the hefty contracts coaches receive and the insular agent-administrator world that often yields those coach-friendly deals.

“This is a pattern,” Landry said.

Will this mean LSU avoids the big-splash hires Woodward has historically made, and the price tags that come with them? What’s the immediate future of Woodward, who has led LSU’s athletic department since 2019?

LSU’s search is clearly more complex than some of the others, and could take longer to wrap up. The school needs a clearly outlined process and might need to look at a wider candidate pool.

Remember, Kelly came to LSU with more accomplishments than his three predecessors — Orgeron, Les Miles and Saban — who all won national titles there. Coaches with different profiles can succeed there.

Kiffin has never worked at LSU but knows more than enough about the job from his time in the SEC. He might ultimately view Florida as a more sensible option, or even staying at Ole Miss.

LSU could prioritize SEC experience (Drinkwitz, Lea, Georgia Tech‘s Brent Key, Arizona State‘s Kenny Dillingham) or those connected to the state (Tulane‘s Jon Sumrall, Houston coach Willie Fritz, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and former LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard).

But the candidates might be secondary right now, as LSU has to get its very stormy house in order.


The James Franklin factor

One emerging theme of this coaching cycle is potentially not having enough quality candidates to fill all of the major openings. But there’s also a sizable contingent of notable coaches not currently working and seemingly wanting to get back in the game.

The group includes two national-championship-winning coaches in Fisher and Orgeron. Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald wants to coach again now that his wrongful termination lawsuit against the school has been settled. Dave Clawson, who resigned from Wake Forest after the 2024 season, also might see a path to the sideline.

Then there are the recently fired coaches, headlined by Franklin and now Kelly. Rarely has a coach with Franklin’s credentials — 128-60 FBS record, nine AP Top 25 finishes, a CFP semifinal appearance — been jettisoned so quickly, and Franklin made it clear on “College GameDay” that he wants to coach in 2026.

“The X factor right now in a bunch of these searches is James Franklin,” an industry source said.

Franklin told the “College GameDay” crew that he will resume his national championship quest at his next job. Does he see a program such as Virginia Tech having that potential? Virginia Tech has committed to fund its program better than it has previously, and the school has an easier CFP path in the ACC. Franklin would be a strong hire there, but the Hokies haven’t had an AP top-10 finish since 2009.

How Franklin views Big Ten jobs is another layer. Other than Penn State, UCLA is the only current vacancy. UCLA has some pluses, especially from a lifestyle standpoint, but would have to take a massive jump to become a national contender. Franklin could have more interest in Big Ten jobs that haven’t opened yet, such as Wisconsin and perhaps Michigan State.

Other potential vacancies such as Florida State and Auburn could enter Franklin’s radar too, especially FSU. He would bring a level of credibility to both jobs.

Kelly’s next move is a bit harder to plot out. His final game at LSU took place on his 64th birthday, so he likely won’t be coaching that much longer. Could he go from fired at LSU to another national contender such as Penn State? Probably not. The more sensible jobs for Kelly might not be open yet.

Before the LSU job, he spent 35 years of his coaching career in three states: Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. If Wisconsin or Michigan State make changes, Kelly would make sense. The same goes for other jobs in the Midwest or Northeast.


Resetting searches outside of the big three

Penn State, Florida and now LSU have taken up a lot of oxygen in the coaching world, and so have the will-they-or-won’t-they situations at Florida State, Wisconsin and Auburn. But several searches have been underway for more than a month and will be winding toward resolutions.

Before Oklahoma State fired Mike Gundy, there was a lot of chatter in industry circles that Cowboys athletic director Chad Weiberg, who was working without a contract, might be out first. Not only did Weiberg survive the transition but last week had a new four-year deal approved. His job stability is a good sign for the next Cowboys coach.

Who will that be? Oklahoma State could look at several sitting Group of 5 coaches, including North Texas‘ Eric Morris, whose wizardry with quarterbacks has propelled his profile, and South Florida‘s Alex Golesh, a former Oklahoma State graduate assistant. The school might want a clean break from the Gundy era, but former quarterback Zac Robinson, the current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, has some support around the program.

The candidate who has generated the most attention for Arkansas is former Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino, who is leading the team on an interim basis. Despite how his first go-round ended, Petrino still has support in the state because of his on-field success. The problem is he hasn’t won a game as interim coach.

Lashlee might be the dream candidate, but as of now, it seems unlikely he’ll be headed home. Golesh, Sumrall and Memphis‘ Ryan Silverfield could be in the mix. Silverfield works in the same region. He beat Arkansas on Sept. 20 and won the head-to-head battle with Golesh on Saturday. Silverfield is 49-22 at Memphis.

Stanford and UCLA are the two Power 4 jobs that have been open the longest — Stanford since the spring — and both have performed fairly well under respective interim coaches Frank Reich and Tim Skipper. Former Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard, who spent 2010 to 2022 as a Stanford assistant before becoming quarterbacks coach of the Washington Commanders, is the name generating the most attention for the Cardinal.

UCLA certainly could take a run at Franklin or perhaps one of the top Group of 5 candidates. If Michigan State fires Jonathan Smith, would UCLA pursue the Pasadena, California, native, who had a lot of success on the West Coast? The UCLA search has been fairly quiet so far, and there are questions swirling around athletic director Martin Jarmond. The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that a group of 64 former UCLA players sent a letter to chancellor Julio Frenk asking for Jarmond to be replaced.

Baylor‘s Dave Aranda could be a name to remember, especially if Wisconsin comes open. Aranda served as defensive coordinator for the Badgers from 2013 to 2015 and loves the area. Aranda, a California native, also would make sense at both UCLA and Stanford. He entered 2024 on the hot seat and went 8-5, but Baylor is just 4-4 this fall, setting up a potential split.


Jon Sumrall and the other non-Power 4 coaches to watch

Whenever a Power 4 job comes open, there’s an expectation, externally and even internally, that other Power 4 coaches will jump to take the job. But those moves happen less than people might think.

Given the number of Power 4 vacancies, which certainly will grow in the coming weeks, it’s a good time to be an emerging Group of 5 coach, and there are several names to know.

Tulane’s Sumrall is the most talked about Group of 5 coach entering the hiring cycle. He won two Sun Belt Conference championships at Troy, and he brings a 15-6 record at Tulane into Thursday’s game at UTSA. Sumrall is an Alabama native who played at Kentucky and also coached at his alma mater as well as Ole Miss. He would be a natural choice for just about any vacancy — current or future — in the SEC. After serious talks with North Carolina about its vacancy last year, he also might fit in the ACC at a job such as Virginia Tech. The 43-year-old Sumrall certainly will have options.

“Sumrall is probably the best G5 right now,” an industry source said.

Silverfield and Golesh are two other coaches to watch in the American Conference. Golesh has a diverse background, having coached in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC as an assistant before landing his first head coaching gig at South Florida, where he is 20-14. Memphis’ Silverfield has done great work within the American, going 3-0 against Golesh and handing Sumrall his first conference loss last season. Silverfield operates a very productive offense, has NFL experience with the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, and seems like a fit for jobs both in the South and the Midwest.

James Madison‘s Bob Chesney is another intriguing Group of 5 candidate. He has spent his career in New England and the mid-Atlantic region, guiding Holy Cross to consistent FCS playoff appearances and a 44-21 record. Chesney is 15-5 at James Madison and could be a name to watch at Virginia Tech and maybe even Penn State.

Western Kentucky‘s Tyson Helton has been a consistent winner, finishing with at least eight wins in five of his first six seasons with the Hilltoppers, who are 6-2 this fall. Helton, who has received interest from Purdue and other higher-profile jobs, runs a dynamic offense that ranks fifth nationally in passing offense during his tenure.

Southern Miss‘ Charles Huff also merits consideration. He guided Marshall to a Sun Belt championship last season then made a unique intraleague move to Southern Miss, which went 1-11 in 2024 but is 6-2 — including 4-0 in league play — this fall under Huff. He is a Maryland native who played college football in Virginia (Hampton) and has made coaching stops in both the Big Ten (Penn State) and SEC (Alabama, Mississippi State). He could be an intriguing option for Virginia Tech or several other SEC, ACC or Big Ten jobs.


What about the coordinators?

A look at the AP top 10 reveals six teams — No. 1 Ohio State (Ryan Day), No. 5 Georgia (Kirby Smart), No. 6 Oregon (Dan Lanning), No. 8 Georgia Tech (Brent Key), No. 9 Vanderbilt (Clark Lea) and No. 10 BYU (Kalani Sitake) — overseen by first-time head coaches. The right hires in college football often have come from the assistant ranks, especially primary coordinators.

The coordinator pool isn’t overly deep, even after a light hiring cycle last season.

“It’s a little thinner there compared to years past,” an industry source said.

Still, there are several names to know, especially on the offensive side.

Texas A&M’s Collin Klein is thriving in his second season there, overseeing an offense that ranks 14th nationally in both scoring and plays of 20 yards or longer. Klein, 36, is a former Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback for Kansas State who remains beloved at his alma mater after assisting there for many years but has enhanced his profile by leaving for a high-pressure gig at Texas A&M. He could be a name to watch for Big 12 or SEC openings.

Oregon’s Will Stein has continued the offense’s success from predecessor Kenny Dillingham and has done it with different quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and now Dante Moore. Stein could be a name to watch if Kentucky moves on from Mark Stoops or if Brohm were to leave Louisville, where Stein played quarterback. Stein also is an interesting name for possible jobs in Texas, where he spent time coaching from 2015 to 2022.

Ohio State’s Brian Hartline has been on the radar for Power 4 jobs and could be again, especially with more direct influence in the playcalling this season. Hartline, a former Buckeyes wide receiver who played in the NFL, is the best collector of wideout talent of his generation and has helped propel his alma mater. He won’t leave Ohio State for just any job but would make sense for Big Ten openings, in particular.

Georgia Tech’s Buster Faulkner is a veteran playcaller with a distinctive scheme that has helped put the Yellow Jackets into the CFP mix. The Georgia native has spent much of his career in his home state or in neighboring states and would be a good option for vacancies in the region.

On the defensive side, Georgia’s Glenn Schumann and Oregon’s Tosh Lupoi are both names to track.

Schumann has worked with Smart and/or Saban throughout his career and has been around Lanning and other top coaches. The 35-year-old from Georgia seems fairly tied to the Southeast, but that’s where many of the jobs (current and expected) are located.

Lupoi built his reputation as a West Coast recruiter then made coaching stops at Alabama and with three NFL teams before returning as Oregon’s defensive coordinator under Lanning. The 44-year-old former defensive lineman at Cal should be a name to watch for West Coast vacancies, in particular.

Indiana held onto both of its coordinators — Mike Shanahan (offense) and Bryant Haines (defense) — after its first CFP run. That might be tougher after an even more impressive 2025 season so far. Haines was a finalist for the 2024 Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant, and has Midwest roots. Shanahan, a former Pitt wide receiver, has spent most of his career alongside Hoosiers coach Cignetti.

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Woodward out as LSU AD amid Landry’s criticism

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Woodward out as LSU AD amid Landry's criticism

Scott Woodward is out as LSU‘s athletic director, the school announced Thursday night, just days after the Tigers fired coach Brian Kelly amid a 5-3 season.

Verge Ausberry, the executive deputy athletic director, will be the interim athletic director.

“We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,” said Scott Ballard, LSU’s board of supervisors chair. “He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential.”

LSU will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. ET Friday to discuss the athletic director change.

Woodward drew the ire of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who publicly criticized him multiple times this week. In a news conference Wednesday, Landry said that Woodward would not be hiring LSU’s next football coach.

On the “Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, Landry added: “There’s a number of bad contracts that seem to have followed Scott Woodward.”

The flurry of comments from Landry made Woodward’s departure an inevitability. According to a source, the expectation is that Woodward will be paid out the more than $6 million he is owed on his contract.

In a letter addressed to Tiger Nation late Thursday, Woodward said his departure comes “with a heavy heart but also with my typical optimism.”

“Others can recap or opine on my tenure and on my decisions over the last six years as Director of Athletics, but I will not,” Woodward wrote in the letter. “Rather, I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state’s residents and to the Baton Rouge community. I will cherish the incredible relationships I have built within the University community and beyond our campus borders. And I will fondly remember the national and SEC championships for the joy that they brought to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus community and our incredible fans.

“Our University will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never be too far from LSU.”

Woodward is a longtime college administrator with a political background and an LSU graduate, the type of background suited for this brand of political football. He had been LSU’s athletic director since 2019, a run that included a national title in football, the hiring of Kim Mulkey as the women’s basketball coach and the firing of men’s coach Will Wade.

In the wake of Kelly’s firing, Landry lambasted Woodward so bluntly and publicly that it appeared there was no clear path for him to keep his job.

In a dizzying week, Woodward went from firing Kelly to leaving a job that he had coveted his whole career. At the 2019 news conference introducing him as athletic director, Woodward said: “Thomas Wolfe once said that you can’t go home again. But clearly, they’ve never been to Baton Rouge.”

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