Thoughts of the Day: December 29, 2025
A few thoughts to jump start your Monday afternoon:
The portal turnstiles are spinning both ways for Jon Sumrall and the Florida Gators. There was some rather good news. Tight end Amir Jackson has changed his mind and removed his name from the portal. Furthermore, WR Vernell Brown III, EDGE Kamran James, DL Jeremiah McCloud, DL Joseph Mbatchou, CB Dijon Johnson and S Lagonza Hayward joined linebackers Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles in announcing they’ll remain Gators.
That was all good news.
Now the bad news. Stud EDGE rusher Jayden Woods is going in the portal. A former 5-star recruit who came on strong at the end of the 2025 season, Woods figures to be able to name a high price for any school wishing to land him. Also corner Sharif Denson, who was the Gators’ fourth leading tackler is going into the portal.
Of course, the decision everyone is waiting for is Jadan Baugh, who met last week with Sumrall and his entire family, plus coaching staff and their families in Atlanta. Baugh is a bigger name in the portal than quarterback DJ Lagway, who many report will be signing with Baylor at the first opportunity. If Sumrall can retain Baugh, who ran for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns, it could be the lure the new UF head coach needs to pick up an experienced quarterback and other pieces to the offensive puzzle.
We can expect more departures and quite possibly a few more like Amir Jackson, who, after thinking things over, decide to remain in Gainesville.
AS THE PORTAL TURNS
Alabama: WR Aeryn Hampton; TE Josh Ford (from Oklahoma State); S Kameron Howard
Arkansas: OT Shaq McRoy; CB Keshawn Davila; LB Tavion Wallace; DL Ian Geffrard; S Miguel Mitchell; DL Kaleb James; RB AJ Green; QB Trever Jackson
Auburn: CB A’mon Lane-Ganus; WR Horatio Fields; WR Perry Thompson; CB Raion Strader; EDGE Antonio Coleman; RB Damari Alston; LB Caleb Wheatland; TE Hollis Davidson; WR Malcolm Simmons; OG DeAndre Carter; OT Favour Edwin; WR Cam’Ron King; OT Seth Wilfred; CB Jay Crawford; DL Amaris Williams; LB Jamonta Walker; DL Malik Blocton; PK Towns McGough; QB Ashton Daniels; CB Kayin Lee; CB Donovan Staff; OT Xavier Chaplin; LB Robert Woodyard Jr.; S Kensley Faustin; WR Cam Coleman
FLORIDA: QB DJ Lagway; S Jordan Castell; RB KD Daniels; WR Muizz Tounkara; DL Tavorise Brown; S Teddy Foster; WR Aidan Mizell; S Josiah Davis; CB Jameer Grimsley; LB Grayson Howard; WR Tank Hawkins; OT Marcus Mascoll; DT Michai Boireau; TE Hayden Handsen; OT Enoch Wangoy; WR Naeshaun Montgomery; OT Noel Portnjagin; WR Eugene Wilson III; RB Chad Gasper Jr.; CB Sharif Denson; OT Devon Manuel; LB Mike Peterson Jr.; EDGE Jayden Woods
Georgia: TE Pearce Spurlin III; CB Daniel Harris
Kentucky: EDGE Landyn Watson; EDGE Steven Soles; WR David Washington Jr.; WR Preston Bowman; QB Stone Saunders
LSU: RB Ju’Juan Johnson; DL Ahmad Breaux; CB Ashton Stamps; WR Jelani Watkins; WR Khylan Billiot; DL Sydir Mitchell; RB Kaleb Jackson; OG Carius Curne; QB Colin Hurley; OG Coen Echols; OG DJ Chester; OT Tyree Adams; S Javian Toviano; OT Paul Mubenga; S Austin Ausberry
Mississippi State: S Tony Mitchell; DL Terrance Hibblier Jr.; S Stonka Burnside; OG Brennan Smith; OT Jimothy Lewis Jr.; TE Emeka Lloh; QB Luke Kromenhoek; TE Cam Ball; CB Dwight Lewis III; S Tyler Woodard; DL Ashun Shepphard; WR Ferzell Shepard; S Lo’Kavion Jackson; WR Jaron Glover; OT Jaekwon Bouldin; OG Alex Lopez; EDGE Joseph Head Jr.; DL Corey Clark; WR Jordan Mosley; WR Markus Allen
Missouri: RB Marquise Davis; RB Brendon Haygood; WR James Madison II; S Caleb Flagg; WR Josh Manning; EDGE Javion Hilson; WR Marquis Johnson; OG Henry Fenuku; QB Beau Pribula
Oklahoma: WR Jayden Gibson; CB Kendel Colby; TE Kaden Helms; LB Kobie McKenzie; OG Jacob Sexton; RB Jovonate Barnes; S Marcus Wimberly
South Carolina: PK Peyton Argent; LB Jaron Willis; WR Emazon Littlejohn; DL Zavion Hardy; LB Jaron Willis; OT Mac Walters; OG Trovon Baugh; OT Cason Henry; WR Brian Rowe Jr.; QB Air Noland; OT Tree Babalade; EDGE Taeshawn Alston; DL Chase Kibble; OG Nick Sharpe; TE Michael Smith; CB Myles Norwood; OG Rodney Newsom
Tennessee: EDGE Kellen Lindstrom; DL Jamal Wallace; S Boo Carter; LB Brenden Anes; S Macus Goree Jr.; QB Jake Merklinger; RB Peyton Lewis; OT Trevor Duncan
Texas: OG Connor Stroh; CB Santana Wilson; WR Aaron Butler; RB CJ Baxter; QB Trey Owens; PK Will Stone; RB Jerrick Gibson; S Derek Williams Jr.; CB Wardell Mack; DL Melvin Hills; LB Liona Lefau; RB Rickey Stewart Jr.; WR DeAndre Moore Jr.; RB Quintrevion Wisner
Texas A&M: LS Shea Freibaum; LB Tristan Jernigan; CB Jayvon Thomas; S Jordan Pride; EDGE Solomon Williams; EDGE Rylan Kennedy; TE Theo Melin Ohrstrom
Vanderbilt: QB Drew Dickey; TE Maurice Veney; OT Misael Sandoval; QB Jeremy St. Hilaire; OG Cooper Starks; TE Witt Edwards; WR Boski Barrett; EDGE Jailen Ruth
ROUGH SLEDDING FOR THE SEC
It is entirely possible that a Southeastern Conference team will win the College Football Playoff. Georgia comes to mind although no one should be surprised if somehow the Lane Kiffin-less Ole Miss Rebels spring an upset in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday. Alabama plays Indiana in the Rose Bowl and since we aren’t sure which Bama team will show up – the one that scored 34 on the road at Oklahoma in the first round or the one that Georgia obliterated in the SEC Championship Game – the only thing we can be certain of is that there will be one SEC team in the final four.
Georgia seems to be the team with the best shot at ending the 2-year national championship drought for the SEC, which, in every consideration, is in the midst of a down year. The SEC is 2-4 in the postseason so far and the situation looks less than promising for a fast and furious finish, particularly after Missouri and LSU crashed and burned Saturday. Missouri went down in flames to Virginia in the Gator Bowl while LSU’s vaunted defense was ripped and shredded by Houston of the American Conference in the Texas Bowl.
Here are the games with commentary:
Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss (12-1) vs. Georgia (12-1): Oh how I would love to see Ole Miss win to not only give the finger to Lane Kiffin for the way he handled his departure but because it is Georgia. Ole Miss can win this one, but I think Georgia will.
Rose Bowl, Alabama (11-3) vs. Indiana (13-0): If Bama wins, then Kalen DeBoer is loved by the faithful. Lose and they will want to tar and feather him. Indiana is Cinderella.
Music City Bowl, Tennessee (8-4) vs. Illinois (8-4): The Vols want to hurry things up. Bret Bielema wants ground and pound, slow it down. I don’t trust any team that is quarterbacked by Joey Aguilar, so unfortunately, I think the Illini will score a win.
ReliaQuest Bowl, Vanderbilt (10-2) vs. Iowa (8-4): Diego Pavia may have been a sore loser at the Heisman ceremonies, but he can go out in a big way. I like the Vandy Boys.
Cheez-it Citrus Bowl, Texas (9-3) vs. Michigan (9-3): Michigan is in turmoil. Arch Manning will state his case for the 2026 Heisman front runner. Texas all the way.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Mississippi State (5-7) vs. Wake Forest (8-4): Mississippi State got a bowl game only because winning teams opted out. Wake Forest Gump wins.
MICHIGAN MAKES A GREAT HIRE
The dumpster fire known as Michigan football just hired an extinguisher known as Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham is a no-nonsense, squeaky clean type who, in 21 seasons as the head honcho at Utah, never had even a hint of a scandal. After succeeding Urban Meyer after the Utes went 12-0, Whittingham won 178 games in the Mountain West, Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences. He had an unbeaten 2008 season in which he skunked Nick Saban and Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
This guy can coach, an obvious priority for a high profile program such as Michigan, but more important, he can restore integrity that went on a field trip and never came back when Jim Harbaugh was hired followed by the even more disastrous tenure of Sherrone Moore.
Whittingham’s teams run the ball, a necessity at Michigan, but they aren’t afraid to take shots downfield. Defensively, they don’t miss tackles. For years now, Whittingham’s defensive coordinator has been Morgan Scalley, who was elevated to head coach at Utah when Whittingham stepped down. His important hire will be someone whom he trusts to play a physical brand of defense whose players don’t miss tackles.
BELICHICK MAKES A SERIOUS HIRE
Bill Belichick went 4-8 in season one as the head coach at North Carolina, certainly not what he expected much less a fan base that thought the College Football Playoff was inevitable. To remedy things for the 2026 season, Belichick hired Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator. If it’s typical Belichick, he’ll leave the offense to Petrino and focus on the defense, a concept that should bode well for the Tar Heels.
Petrino was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas who became the interim head coach after Sam Pittman was fired. He didn’t win a game as the head coach, but his offense wasn’t to blame. Arkansas finished 15thnationally in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game, 191.92 rushing and 262.9 passing. The Hogs scored 32.9 points per game.
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: There is an easy way to solve the crisis that is unfolding with the transfer portal. Here is a 3-step process.
1. Make players sign contracts: Scholarships must become binding contracts that not only include any NIL money, but the cost of the scholarship itself. In signing the contract, the player is responsible to play in every game including bowls. Opt out and the school sues for return of NIL money plus the cost of the scholarship.
2. Salary cap: You can’t have players making more money than the assistant coach in charge of their positions. Example: A QB can’t be making more money than his offensive coordinator or QB coach.
3. Simple rules for transferring: Players are allowed one transfer, then they have to sit a year if they want to transfer again. Players with less than a 2.5 GPA must sit a year. Players still taking remedial courses must sit a year.
Put those three rules in place and the portal problem is solved. We still have issues with timing of the portal, signing day and with the timing of coaches leaving or being fired, but that requires more thought. The portal, however, is easily solved.
Those three rules if adopted would return sanity to the sport. But why would any of us believe there is anyone in the NCAA leadership circle with the mental horsepower combined with common sense to move such an idea forward? They’re too obsessed with their organization’s revenue to think all of this through.
I like the thought of the rules but would they stand up in court in today's world
I love your 3 ideas but the NCAA will not do any of them because they make sense and a couple of schools will disagree so they will fold like the cheap suits that they are run by.