Thoughts of the Day: January 2, 2026

Jadan Baugh (13) runs to daylight against FSU (Photo by Chris Spears)

A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning:

A rumor that seems to have gained traction in the last few days is that today running back Jadan Baugh will announce he’s returning to play his junior year at the University of Florida. Granted, this is just a rumor, but a lot of people who follow matters like this closely seem to believe it is a real possibility.

So far, 26 Gators have verballed their intention to leave UF via the NCAA transfer portal. As of Thursday night, 24 announced they will be staying, plus there are 18 who signed with new head coach Jon Sumrall less than a month ago. There are as many as 12 from the 2025 roster whose intentions are yet to be made known. It is also possible that some in the portal will have a change of heart.

The Southeastern Conference increased scholarship limits to 105 starting in 2026, so Sumrall could bring in a UF-record number of transfers.  

Staying

QUARTERBACK (1): Tramell Jones Jr. (6-0, 203, FR)

WIDE RECEIVERS (3): Vernell Brown III (5-11, 178, FR); Dallas Wilson (6-3, 213, FR); TJ Abrams (5-10, 196, RFR)

TIGHT END: (1) Amir Jackson (6-5, 235, RFR)

O-LINE (6): OT Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 342, RFR); OT Caden Jones (6-8, 333, RSO); OT/OG Bryce Lovett (6-5, 321, RSO); OG Knijeah Harris (6-3, 313, JR); OG/C Roderick Kearney (6-4, 310, RSO); OG Jason Zandamela (6-3, 308, RFR)

D-LINE/EDGE (4): EDGE LJ McCray (6-6, 268, SO); EDGE Kamran James (6-6, 270, JR); DL Joseph Mbatchou (6-5, 300, FR); DL Jeramiah McCloud (6-3, 294, FR)

LINEBACKERS (3): Jaden Robinson (6-1, 226, JR); Myles Graham (6-1, 228, SO); Aaron Chiles (6-3, 244, SO)

SECONDARY (6): S Drake Stubbs (6-1, 207, FR); CB Cormani McClain (6-2, 189, RSO); S Bryce Thornton (5-10, 211, JR); S Lagonza Hayward (6-1, 206, FR); CB J’Vari Flowers (5-10, 187, FR); Dijon Johnson (6-1, 204, JR)

Incoming

QUARTERBACK (1): Will Griffin (6-3, 230)

WIDE RECEIVERS (3): Davian Groce (6-2, 191); Justin Williams (5-11, 187); Marquez Daniel (6-5, 205)

TIGHT END (1): Heze Kent (6-6, 305)

O-LINE (6): Tyler Chukuyem (6-6, 285); Chancellor Campbell (6-8, 307); G’nivre Carr (6-4, 309); Desmond Green (6-5, 343); Javarii Luckas (6-6, 318); Corey Brown (6-1, 280)

D-LINE/EDGE (3): DL Kendall Guervil (6-2, 323); DL JaReylan McCoy (6-7, 260); EDGE KJ Ford (6-4, 246)

LINEBACKER (1): Malik Morris (6-0, 250)

SECONDARY (3): CJ Hester (6-0, 186); Kaiden Hall (6-2, 192); CJ Bronaugh (6-0, 172); Dylan Purter (6-0, 185)

Departing

QUARTERBACK (1): DJ Lagway (6-3, 247, SO)

RUNNING BACK (3): KD Daniels (6-0, 203, RFR); Treyaun Webb (5-11, 217, RSO); Chad Gasper Jr. (5-11, 206, FR)

WIDE RECEIVER (5): Eugene Wilson III (5-10, 194, RSO); Muizz Tounkara (6-3, 208, FR); Aidan Mizell (6-2, 185, RSO); Tank Hawkins (5-10, 178, SO); Naeshaun Montgomery (6-1, 189, FR)

TIGHT END (2): Hayden Hansen (6-8, 269, RJR); Cameron Kossmann (6-5, 245, FR)

O-LINE (4): OT Marcus Mascoll (6-5, 308, RFR); OT Enoch Wangoy (6-7, 333, RFR); OT Noel Portnjagin (6-5, 306, RFR); OT Devon Manuel (6-7, 307, RSR)

D-LINE/EDGE (3): DL Tavorise Brown (6-7, 296, RSO); DT Michai Boireau (6-5, 349, SO); EDGE Jayden Woods (6-3, 248, FR)

LINEBACKER (1): Grayson Howard (6-4, 236, JR)

SECONDARY (6):  S Jordan Castell (6-2, 213, JR); S Teddy Foster (6-1, 188, RFR); S Josiah Davis (6-1, 199, RFR); CB Jameer Grimsley (6-2, 198, RFR); CB Sharif Denson (5-11, 195, JR); CB Aaron Gates (6-0, 198, RSO)

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): PK Evan Noel (6-1, 165, FR)

JUST CALL IT “THE NICK SABAN INVITATIONAL”

Though he may have retired and Alabama may have gotten its doors blown off by No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl Thursday, Nick Saban still casts a very long shadow over college football, the playoff especially. With two rounds of the College Football Playoff in the books, we’re down to four teams, each of them coached by a former Saban assistant at Alabama. We might as well call this exactly what it is: “The Nick Saban Invitational.” Neither Dan Lanning (Oregon), Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Mario Cristobal (Miami) nor Pete Golding (Ole Miss) would be where they are today except for the time the spent learning how to be a coach from Saban.  

In next Thursday’s semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, Ole Miss will face Miami. Next Friday will be a rematch of a regular season game that saw Indiana beat Oregon in Eugene.

The quarterfinal games

No. 10 Miami (12-2) 24, No. 2 Ohio State (11-2) 14: Leading 17-14 with 5:50 remaining in the game, Miami went on a 10-play, 70-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown with 55 seconds remaining. Miami sealed the win when Jakobe Thomas intercepted Julian Sayin with 48 seconds to go. It was the second interception thrown by Sayin, who threw a first quarter pick that was returned 72 yards for a touchdown by Keionte Scott. Miami was outgained by Ohio State, 332-291, but the Canes outgained OSU, 153-45, to control the clock and field position.

No. 5 Oregon (13-1) 23, No. 4 Texas Tech (12-2) 0: Oregon forced four turnovers and held Texas Tech to 215 total yards. The Ducks gained only 309 yards, but they dominated time of possession by 16 minutes.

No. 1 Indiana (14-0) 38, No. 9 Alabama (11-4) 3: Heisman Trophy QB Fernando Mendoza completed 14-16 passes for 192 yards and 3 TDS as Indiana embarrassed Alabama, handing the Crimson Tide its worst loss since going down 35-0 to Florida in 1991. Indiana outgained Bama on the ground, 215-23. Indiana outgained Alabama 407-193.

No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1) 39, No. 3 Georgia (13-2) 34: Ole Miss survived a furious Georgia rally in the final nine minutes, getting the win when Lucas Carneiro, who hit field goals of 55 and 56 yards in the first half, connected from 47 yards with six seconds left. Behind the passing of Trinidad Chambliss Ole Miss rallied from a 21-12 halftime deficit to take a 34-24 lead with 9:02 remaining on a 13-yard TDP to Harrison Wallace III. Georgia answered with an 18-yard TDP from Gunner Stockton to Zachariah Branch. The Ole Miss defense kept Georgia out of the end zone after the Bulldogs got a first-and-goal at the 8 with 1:08 to go. After forcing Georgia to kick the tying field goal, Ole Miss moved into field goal position on a 40-yard Chambliss to De’Zhaun Stribling pass with 26 seconds left. Ole Miss got safety with 1 second left to complete the final margin. Chambliss, the game’s most outstanding player, completed 30-46 passes for 362 yards and 3 TDs.

AS THE PORTAL TURNS (SEC ONLY)

Alabama: WR Aeryn Hampton; TE Josh Ford (from Oklahoma State); S Kameron Howard; OG Roq Montgomery

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; LB Justin Logan; EDGE Justus Boone; S Anton Pierce; WR Andy Jean; QB Grayson Wilson; DL Kavion Henderson; EDGE Charlie Collins; OG LJ Prudhomme

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; OG Dylan Senda; QB Deuce Knight; WR Sam Turner

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; CB Aaron Gates; TE Cameron Kossmann; RB Treyaun Webb; PK Evan Noel

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; OG Austin Ramsey; WR Tony Stellato; CB Nasir Addison; DL Javeon Campbell; S DJ Waller Jr.; EDGE Jacob Smith; DL Jerod Smith II; QB Cutter Boley

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; LB Princeton Malbrue; S Dashawn Spears; S Joel Rogers; WR Kyle Parker

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; WR Davian Jackson

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; PK Robert Meyer; OT Johnny Williams IV; OT Brandon Solis; OT Jayven Richardson; S CJ Bass III; RB Tavorous Jones; CB Mark Manfred III; OT Jaylen Early; EDGE Nate Johnson; CB Shamar McNeil; OG Keiton Jones; DL Justin Bodford

Oklahoma: WR Jayden Gibson; CB Kendel Colby; TE Kaden Helms; LB Kobie McKenzie; OG Jacob Sexton; RB Jovonate Barnes; S Marcus Wimberly; OG Troy Everett; OT Luke Baklenko; CB Devon Jordan; WR KJ Daniels; OL Logan Howland; S Gentry Williams; CB Maliek Hawkins; QB Michael Hawkins; TE Carson Kent; DL Marcus Strong; OL Jake Taylor

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; OG Boaz Stanley; WR Vandrevious Jacobs

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; DL Herb Gray; OG Max Anderson; WR Tommy Winton; OT Lance Heard; OT Bennett Warren; CB Rickey Gibson; EDGE Amari Jefferson

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; WR Parker Livingstone; DL Lavon Johnson

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; S Bryce Anderson; QB Miles O’Neill

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; WR Jeremiah Dillon; WR Chance Fitzgerald

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: This is what you call nuclear winter. Iowa State finished the regular season with an 8-4 record, but the school had to opt out of going to a bowl game due to an insufficient number of scholarship players available. Iowa State was already going to lose quite a few players to the transfer portal prior to Matt Campbell taking the head coaching job at Penn State. Since Campbell departed, a steady stream of departures has become the college football equivalent of a nuclear strike.

As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, the first official day the portal opened, some 47 Iowa State players had announced their planned departures. Add that to the 27 seniors who took their final walk at Jack Trice Stadium back on November 29 and Iowa State has fewer than 20 scholarship players.

And, things could get worse.

What is going on at Iowa State is a foretelling of the future of college football if something isn’t done in a hurry about the transfer portal. The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, created the situation and sits on its hands, seemingly powerless to do anything about the sport that pays for all the other sports at 95 percent of all the Division I schools that play football.

There are solutions to be had, but don’t hold your breath waiting on Charlie Baker and his minions at the NCAA to offer anything that remotely resembles a bright idea. Baker thinks it’s best to turn all the NCAA problems over to Congress, but remember the words of Ronald Reagan who once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari says if the portal problem is solved, then 70 percent of all the problems facing college sports will go away. He believes athletes are entitled to one transfer no strings attached, but a second transfer has to have consequences of sitting out a year.  He’s right.

I believe that if you add in some academic requirements and put athletes on contract with real consequences if they try to opt out that the portal problems would indeed dry up in a hurry. Do I believe the NCAA has the guts to implement these kind of changes?

Donkeys will fly first.