The Jackson Arnold era at Oklahoma appears to have officially started with Dillon Gabriel, the school’s record-setting quarterback, expected to enter the transfer portal for a final season of eligibility.

Gabriel, while not announcing his intentions, posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) thanking Oklahoma fans for the last two seasons.

‘Thanks for your faith in me and the opportunity to lead and be a member of OU’s team 128 and 129,’ Gabriel posted.

The move wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Gabriel had long talked about this being his final season, as he worked to pass the torch to Arnold, though many expected him to consider entering the NFL draft.

Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, moving into the top 10 all-time in career passing yards and touchdown passes.

He has 14,865 career passing yards and 125 touchdowns.

This season, he also became a key piece of the Sooners’ rushing attack, running for 373 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His biggest moment came against Texas, when he led a late touchdown drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left to lift the Sooners to a 34-30 win over the Longhorns.

Gabriel came to Oklahoma after three seasons at Central Florida. Jeff Lebby was the Knights offensive coordinator during his freshman season.

When Lebby was hired by Brent Venables to be Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, Lebby convinced Gabriel to join him in Norman, just hours before Gabriel was scheduled to attend his first class at UCLA.

Lebby was recently hired as Mississippi State’s head coach, leaving Gabriel one potential landing spot.

Now, the Sooners turn to Arnold, the five-star freshman who saw limited action this season but was pressed into duty in the second half of the win over Brigham Young late in the season after Gabriel suffered a head injury.

Arnold was 18 of 24 for 202 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in limited action.

He also ran for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Arnold figures to be the Sooners’ quarterback when they take on Arizona in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

The NHL season has passed the quarter mark and the playoff picture is looking different this season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, who made the postseason since 2018 with two championships and one Stanley Cup Final appearance during that time, were out of a playoff position on the morning of Dec. 4. So were the New Jersey Devils. The 2022-23 non-playoff Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings were in a playoff spot.

In the West, the 2022-23 non-playoff Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues sat in a playoff spot. Currently out: the Seattle Kraken, Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers, though the last two teams are playing better after coaching changes.

Here’s a look at the NHL standings (points in parentheses) and projected playoff bracket as of the morning of Dec. 4, plus the key games of the week. This file will be updated every Monday.

NHL STANDINGS

Eastern Conference

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers (37)

Carolina Hurricanes (30)

Washington Capitals (29)

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins (37)

Florida Panthers (30)

Detroit Red Wings (29)

Wild cards

Toronto Maple Leafs (28)

New York Islanders (26)

Currently out of playoffs

Philadelphia Flyers (26)

Tampa Bay Lightning (25)

Pittsburgh Penguins (25)

New Jersey Devils (23)

Montreal Canadiens (23)

Buffalo Sabres (22)

Columbus Blue Jackets (20)

Ottawa Senators (18)

Eastern Conference playoff bracket

(if season ended on Dec. 3)

New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals

Florida Panthers vs. Detroit Red Wings

Western Conference

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche (32)

Dallas Stars (31)

Winnipeg Jets (28)

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights (36)

Vancouver Canucks (33)

Los Angeles Kings (31)

Wild cards

Arizona Coyotes (26)

St. Louis Blues (25)

Currently out of playoffs

Nashville Predators (24)

Calgary Flames (23)

Seattle Kraken (22)

Minnesota Wild (20)

Anaheim Ducks (20)

Edmonton Oilers (20)

Chicago Blackhawks (14)

San Jose Sharks (14)

Western Conference playoff bracket

(if season ended on Dec. 3)

Vegas Golden Knights vs. St. Louis Blues

Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes

Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets

Key games this week

MONDAY

Dallas Stars at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7: Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman will appear in his 1,000th NHL game. The Stars won Saturday’s meeting 8-1 in Dallas and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after two periods. The Lightning have scored only five goals during a four-game losing streak.

Washington Capitals at Arizona Coyotes, 9: Capitals star Alex Ovechkin needs one point to become the 16th NHL player to reach 1,500 career points. According to the Washington Post, Ovechkin’s usual center, Evgeny Kuznetsov, will be a healthy scratch for the game.

TUESDAY

Los Angeles Kings at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7: A Kings victory would tie them with the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres for most road wins (10) to start a season. They could break the record on Thursday at Montreal.

New Jersey Devils at Vancouver Canucks, 10: Three Hughes brothers – Vancouver’s Quinn and New Jersey’s Jack and Luke – will play in the same NHL game for the first time. Quinn is a Norris Trophy candidate, leading NHL defensemen with nine goals and tied for the lead with 34 points. Jack leads the league with 1.76 points a game and Luke leads rookie defensemen with 14 points.

THURSDAY

San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings, 7: Could this be when Patrick Kane makes his Red Wings debut? That would fit within last week’s prediction of seven to 10 days. Kane told reporters Monday that didn’t expect to play in his hometown Buffalo on Tuesday.

Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30: Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, meets No. 2 pick Leo Carlsson. Bedard has 20 points to Carlsson’s 12.

FRIDAY

Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers, 9: A meeting of the most recently named coaches. Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch has gone 6-3 since replacing Jay Woodcroft and Minnesota’s John Hynes has gone 3-0 since Dean Evason was fired.

SATURDAY

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals, 7: Coach Peter Laviolette has the Rangers atop the league standings after being fired by the Capitals during the offseason.

When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?

They’re scheduled to begin on April 22. The last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final is June 24.

Simone Biles spent some time on the sidelines before the Green Bay Packers victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and she didn’t walk away empty-handed.

The international superstar gymnast and wife of Packers safety Jonathan Owens was captured on camera interacting with Fond du Lac’s Jeff Kahlow, better known as ‘Frozen Tundra Man’ thanks to the extravagant icicle-trimmed costume that has made him one of Lambeau Field’s most notable attendees.

The official ‘Sunday Night Football’ account on X posted the exchange, which included some custom-made gifts.

‘You are the greatest of all time,’ Kahlow said from the front row, shouting down to Biles on the sideline. ‘I had to make you something, OK? You are the GOAT!’

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In case you’re behind on the lingo, that’s short for ‘greatest of all time.’

Kahlow presented Biles with a foam goat hat, which she promptly tried on. He threw in another foam hat in the likeness of Owens, complete with his No. 34 on the shoulder and a nameplate on his helmet.

Biles had a busy night, meeting WWE’s Liv Morgan before the game in a contest that was already given high-profile attention thanks to the presence of pop star Taylor Swift.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dave Stewart is behind the wheel, old-school, soul town hits are filling the air, and his eyes dance with exhilaration as he pulls off Walter S. Davis Blvd. and onto a dirt road, surrounded by cows, water and vast emptiness. 

These 200 acres off the Cumberland River is where Stewart envisions playing in a beautiful, rectractable roof ballpark, across from the Tennessee State University campus, as a Major League Baseball’s expansion franchise. 

The Nashville Stars. 

It would become one of the most significant franchises in baseball history, the first MLB team to have majority Black ownership, using the old Negro Leagues team nickname and playing near three of the four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the area.

“This project means everything to me,’ Stewart told USA TODAY Sports. “America is trying to be more cognizant of Black leadership in different businesses across the country. You look at baseball, which has been an industry for more than 100 years, and it has been behind in everything. This is big, not just for baseball, but for all industries in America. 

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

“We are going to have a franchise that’s truly diverse, and one the whole world can be proud of.’

Stewart, 66, the three-time World Series champion and four-time 20-game winner who’s in the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame, has spent the past three years spearheading Nashville’s efforts to attract an expansion franchise. He spends two weeks a month in Nashville speaking to government and community officials, civic leaders, investors, educators and youth programs.

He’s expected to speak to high-ranking MLB officials this week during baseball’s annual winter meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. 

“I wanted to find out what the city is all about, and once I started spending time here and really getting involved in the community,’ Stewart said, “I realized how important this is to North Nashville. This is an area that’s economically depressed, a predominant area of African-Americans. So why would we not take the opportunity to extend the economics from downtown to North Nashville? 

“I grew up in an environment in East Oakland that’s similar to North Nashville. I know what this means to the people here. This is why I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into this.’

Stewart is driving along Jefferson Street now, and there’s a few chicken places, a dollar store and little else.

All that remains of the nearby Eldorado Motel on Buchanan Street – one of the few hotels that permitted Blacks to stay during the Jim Crow era and had Dr. Martin King Jr., the Temptations, James Brown and BB King as guests – is the original neon sign. 

“It’s sad to see what has happened to this city, and how it become economically divided,’ said Tennessee Representative Harold Love Jr. 

Jefferson Street was once the epicenter of the thriving Black community, filled with businesses and restaurants. This is where Fisk University, Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State opened their doors. This is where Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles and Little Richard played. This is where “Jefferson Street’ Joe Gilliam was raised. 

This is also where Nashville city leaders decided in the 1960s that Interstate 40 should be built, instead of near Vanderbilt University, dividing the community and displacing Black residents. 

“The impact of a baseball expansion team provides the opportunity to help invest in a community that was divided,’ said Rep. Love, who is president-elect of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. “It certainly would allow Nashville to continue to develop the type of attractions and tourist activities that would allow the city to grow. 

“There’s a chance for us to be proactive for the location of a stadium in a part of town that traditionally has not been intentionally included in investments. To have a stadium in a traditional African-American neighborhood, you can bring in new affordable housing, shops and grocery stores. 

“This would be an anchor, and make a statement to draw investments in an area where we don’t even have a grocery store within 10 blocks of Tennessee State.’

Dr. Eddie Hamilton, who has lived in Nashville since 1981 when he attended medical school at Vanderbilt, believes an expansion team would be an overwhelming success in a metropolitan area that has grown to more than two million people, the 28th-largest market in the country.

Baseball luminaries like Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations, moved to Tennessee recent years and rave about the local culture. 

“The name, the legacy honoring the Negro Leagues is great,’ Hamilton said, “but more important is that it will create opportunities and wealth in the Black community. Putting a team in North Nashville will be a boom for all of Nashville. 

“To be awarded a team will be a huge sense of accomplishment for everyone in this city. 

“We are definitely ready for it to happen.’

Stewart turns back onto Jefferson Street, drives past his barber shop, and sees all of the construction cranes above the downtown Nashville skyline. Nashville is booming, one of the top 25 fastest-growing cities in the country, bringing more housing, more jobs, more opportunity. 

The North Nashville community, filled with glorious history, and located just 3 ½ miles from downtown, eagerly awaits its chance to heal, and forever change this city’s economic divide. 

“This is not even really about baseball anymore for me,’ Stewart said. “Baseball is there, but it’s more about the development of an area and the uplifting of an area, and the ability to change what’s going on now to be something in five, 10 years. 

“For me, if I have an opportunity to do this in North Nashville, in an area that has being depressed and has been forgotten, I’m telling you bro, this would mean the world to me. 

“We’re here to embrace this community. We’re here to enhance this community. We’re here to make a difference. 

“A lasting, historical difference, that will never be forgotten.’

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale 

Florida State’s drop out of the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings on the final weekend of the regular season will go down as one of the biggest controversies in college football history, for obvious reasons.

But while omitting the unbeaten Seminoles from the national semifinals has drawn widespread scorn, the committee can justify that decision by pointing to the makeup of a starstudded playoff that features the four hottest teams in the country in Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama.

It will be Michigan and Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Washington and Texas will face off in the Sugar Bowl. This is the third playoff appearance in a row for the Wolverines, the eighth overall for Alabama, the second for Washington and the Longhorns’ playoff debut.

POSTSEASON LINEUP: Complete rundown of the 2023 bowl schedule

LOOKING AHEAD: What a 12-team playoff would have looked like

The playoff will unfold against the backdrop of the contentious decision to leave out Florida State. That outcry could reach an even more feverish pitch should the Seminoles beat Georgia in the Orange Bowl. On the field, however, this could be the most unpredictable playoff of the four-team era, which each team genuinely capable of winning two games in January to capture the national championship.

Keys to Michigan and Alabama in the Rose Bowl

Michigan has asserted its will on teams as good as Ohio State and Penn State. Whether the Wolverines can do the same against Alabama is by far the biggest key to determining the Rose Bowl.

One thing that you can assume: Michigan would rather play Florida State.

Alabama has been on a tear since losing to Texas and struggling against South Florida in September. The Crimson Tide have drawn strong play from quarterback Jalen Milroe and made huge strides on defense these past two months, culminating in a win against Georgia that might help reestablish the Tide as the premier program in the FBS.

What Alabama has developed is a sense of explosiveness on offense. Milroe has been particularly strong in the downfield passing game and helped the Tide rank ninth nationally in plays gaining 30 or more yards. They’ll have to keep that up against the Wolverines, who rank second nationally in first downs allowed per game and typically make teams churn out long drives that tend to run out steam outside the red zone.

Boiled down, Michigan is a throwback team that looks to control games from the inside out, beginning with complete dominance of the space from one offensive guard to the other. Defensively, the Wolverines have the scheme and personnel to clamp down on the Crimson Tide and make this a low-scoring game.

There’s also something to be said about Alabama’s defense, which has turned a real corner since struggling to get stops against Jayden Daniels and LSU in early November. The Tide’s last four opponents have averaged 4.9 yards per play, with no team gaining more than 337 yards, while Georgia’s 78 rushing yards on Saturday were the Bulldogs’ fewest in a game since the 2021 Peach Bowl.

Keys to Washington and Texas in the Sugar Bowl

The Longhorns are playing as well as any team in the country and are surging into postseason play, one of the hallmarks of playoff-era national champions.

The same can be said of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who threw for more than 450 yards with four touchdowns in Saturday’s win against Oklahoma State and is beginning to tap into the potential that made him one of the top recruits of the modern era.

Washington has played close game after close game throughout the regular season, which could be viewed as a major advantage in this setting − teams that continue to find ways to win often continue to find ways to win, you know − or a sign that the Huskies may be overmatched on this stage.

But then you look at the two wins against Oregon. To not take Washington seriously as a team that can beat Texas and then beat one of Alabama or Michigan for the national championship simply ignores all that the Huskies bring to the table and all they’ve achieved during a prefect regular season.

The key may be quarterback play and other surrounding factors, namely how each team protects the passer and how each secondary will match up with two talented receiver corps. The latter point is a bigger issue for Texas, which must run with Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillen or potentially get buried by the most potent passing game in the country.

Predicting the college football playoff semifinals

Rose Bowl

Michigan can definitely beat you on the ground and probably can beat you through the air, though J.J. McCarthy has thrown just one touchdown pass since the start of November.

Alabama might just be a team of destiny. But let’s not forget how close the Tide came to being eliminated from the playoff against Auburn before being bailed out by Milroe’s miraculous touchdown pass.

The bottom line of the Rose Bowl is that Michigan will try to suffocate Alabama, and it’s on the Crimson Tide to show they can stand up against the Wolverines’ physicality and strength on both lines. If they can do so, Milroe and the Tide should be able to manufacture enough on offense to come away with the win.

Prediction: Alabama 21, Michigan 17.

Sugar Bowl

The Sugar Bowl is more likely to end up a shootout. Washington ranks fifth nationally in yards per play and gained at least 400 yards in seven of eight games against bowl competition. Texas ranks ninth in yards per game and really turned things on late, scoring a combined 106 points in wins against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

While far from guaranteed, a high-scoring affair would become a high-profile matchup of two elite quarterbacks. That’s a position of comfort for both teams, especially given the way Ewers has played since missing two games to injury in late October and early November.

But there’s one thing that separates these two teams: the running game. Both are solid on the ground, Texas more so, but the Longhorns are among the best in the country in stopping the run. It’s easy to envision a scenario where they establish things on the ground and make the Huskies one-dimensional offensively.

Prediction: Texas 37, Washington 24.

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced Monday that it is making neck guards mandatory for all levels of competition in the tournaments it runs, including the Olympics and men’s and women’s world championships.

The mandate would not apply to professional leagues, including the NHL, which currently does not have any cut-proof safety requirements for players. Any sort of mandate in the NHL would require an agreement between the league and players’ union, which have been discussing skate blade safety for years.

The IIHF’s move comes after the death of American Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England in late October. Johnson’s death at age 29 is being investigated, and the on-ice tragedy has sparked significant debate around the sport about the need for more protection of the neck, wrists and legs.

The exact date for the IIHF neck guard mandate to go into effect is still to be determined, based on the supply of neck guards available.

“The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure they are able to respond to the current high demand,” the organization said. “Until the rule officially goes into effect, the IIHF continues to strongly recommend that neck laceration protectors are worn by all players performing in an IIHF competition.”

Before now, the IIHF initially had neck protection rules only for under-20 and under-18 play, so neck guards were already mandatory in tournaments like the world junior championship. The organization that governs hockey around the world decided to widen the order based on the recommendation of its medical committee.

The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League where Johnson played, reacted to his death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards beginning in 2024. Similar to the IIHF, the mandate was not immediate because of supply issues.

NHL VP of hockey operations Rod Pasma addressed general managers last month on cut-proof equipment. Pasma said players have far more options than a decade ago, including 10 or more choices for wrist, body and Achilles tendon/foot protection but fewer options for neck guards.

“In the neck, we’re getting there,” Pasma said. “We (did not have) many a month ago, but as it sits today, I think there’s up to eight companies on my desk waiting to be cleared, and of those eight there’s probably 12-14 options to wear, should they choose.”

Several NHL players, including Washington’s T.J. Oshie and Tampa Bay’s Cole Koepke, have donned neck guards for games this season in light of Johnson’s death.

“NHL guys, I think it’s super important that they know it’s going to be available,” Oshie said. “We’re grown men. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t. At least now, middle of season, I don’t know if it’s necessary to mandate it, but you can make your own choices. I made my choice for my kids. I want to stick around from them. Just trying to decrease the chance of injury.”

Michigan takes over as the No. 1 team in the final USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-133 of the regular season and Washington comes at No. 2. But that’s where things change from the College Football Playoff rankings.

Next comes Florida State, which sealed an undefeated regular season with a win against Louisville. While they were squeezed out of the top four by the playoff selection committee, the re-rank places extreme value on the Seminoles’ unbeaten record and Power Five conference championship.

Rounding out the top five are Texas and Alabama. While Alabama owns the best win of any team in the country, the Longhorns’ head-to-head win gives them the edge over the Crimson Tide.

Georgia drops five spots to No. 6 after losing the SEC championship game to Alabama. The Bulldogs’ first loss in two years − that was also a loss to the Crimson Tide − might not have cost them a spot in the top four in other years, but the depth of teams at the top of the FBS knock the two-time defending national champions out of the mix.

POSTSEASON LINEUP: Complete rundown of the 2023 bowl schedule

LOOKING AHEAD: What a 12-team playoff would have looked like

The penultimate re-rank of the 2023 season features big gains from the best teams in the Group of Five. Liberty climbed six spots to No. 15 after beating New Mexico State for the second time this season. Getting two wins against an opponent that dominated Auburn on the road in November is enough to put the Flames ahead of No. 16 SMU, which soared 10 spots after topping Tulane to win the American.

Also, Troy went up six to No. 21 after beating Appalachian State to win the Sun Belt and Miami (Ohio) is up to No. 25 after getting past Toledo to take home the MAC.

The re-rank will update one last time after the national championship game concludes postseason play.

With the college football season headed toward bowl season and the final version of a four-team playoff, head coaches at Bowl Subdivision public schools have picked up nearly $12.7 million in bonuses this season.

Nearly $3.6 million of that was claimed last week, as conference championships were decided, the College Football Playoff semifinalists were selected, other bowl matchups were set and coach-of-the-year awards started being announced.

In addition, 12 coaches have reached goals this season that were set to result in automatic contract extensions scheduled to be worth a combined $57.1 million. Two of those coaches have ended up moving to new jobs: Jonathan Smith to Michigan State from Oregon State, and Curt Cignetti to Indiana from James Madison.

Louisville’s Jeff Brohm has picked up two one-year extensions currently set to pay him a combined $13.5 million, all of which is guaranteed.

Leading the way in bonuses due to be paid this season is Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who has $2 million so far and could earn another $1 million if the Wolverines win this year’s national championship.

Brohm is next at $800,000. Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin has $650,000, and could be getting $50,000 to $200,000 more based on the school’s football season-ticket sales; the athletics department has not responded to a request for the sales figure.

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Alabama’s Nick Saban each have already surpassed $500,000 and will add on if their respective teams advance to the CFP final.

A full, school-by-school list of public-school head coaches’ bonus data for this season follows. It is based on whether the school’s team is playing in a CFP semifinal, another New Year’s Six bowl game or a bowl game not affiliated with the CFP.

Within each of those three designations, it is alphabetical, by school. It shows amounts coaches have achieved; still can achieve if they are in a CFP semifinal or New Year’s Six game; or achieved prior to leaving for other positions or being fired. In either of the latter two cases, the amounts still may be owed to the coach. There are some head coaches whose teams are playing bowl games not affiliated with the CFP who could get additional bonuses or future contract considerations based on the outcomes of those games.

Bonuses for coaches at private schools are not available because those schools are not subject to open-records laws. Boise State is not listed because bonus-related goals were achieved under an interim coach who previously had been working for the school as an assistant coach.

The head coaches’ list also does not include bonuses for team academic achievements. Not all conferences have announced their coach-of-the-year awards.

Coaches in College Football Playoff semifinals

Alabama: Nick Saban

Has:

►$75,000: Play in SEC championship game

►$50,000: Win SEC title

►$400,000: Play in College Football Playoff semifinal

Can get:

►$200,000: Play in CFP title game

►$200,000: Win CFP title

Michigan: Jim Harbaugh

Has:

►$500,000: Win Big Ten Conference East Division, play in Big Ten championship game

►$1,000,000: Win Big Ten title

►$500,000: Play in CFP semifinal

Can get:

►$1,000,000: Win CFP title

Texas: Steve Sarkisian

Has:

►$100,000: Play in Big 12 Conference championship game

►$100,000: Win Big 12 title

►$100,000: Play in CFP semifinal

Can get:

►$125,000: Play in CFP final

►$250,000: Win CFP title

Washington: Kalen DeBoer

Has:

► $50,000: Play in Pac-12 Conference championship game

► $100,000: Win Pac-12 title

►$400,000: Play in CFP semifinal

Can get:

► $450,000: Play in CFP final

► $50,000: Win CFP title

Coaches in New Year’s Six non-semifinals

Florida State: Mike Norvell

Has:

►$100,000: Play in Atlantic Coast Conference championship game

►$150,000: Win ACC title

►$200,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal game

Georgia: Kirby Smart

Has:

►$100,000: Play in SEC championship game

►$175,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal game

Mississippi: Lane Kiffin

Has:

►$100,000: Regular season win over non-conference Power Five team (Georgia Tech)

►One-year contract extension: Seventh win (Agreement set to run through Dec. 31, 2027. According to a recent term sheet from the university, Kiffin’s annual pay for the 2026 contract year is scheduled to be at least $9 million, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The guaranteed value of the additional year is not available because that is determined, in part, by an agreement with the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation, a private, non-profit organization that declines to provide that agreement.)

►$150,000: Fifth win over Southeastern Conference opponent

►$150,000: Sixth win over SEC opponent

►$250,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

Missouri: Eliah Drinkwitz

Has:

►$25,000: 10th win

►$25,000: Team in final CFP rankings (No. 9)

►$300,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

Can get:

►$25,000: 11th win

Ohio State: Ryan Day

►$200,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

Oregon: Dan Lanning

Has:

►$100,000: Play in Pac-12 Conference championship game

►One-year contract extension: 10th win (Agreement now set to run through Jan. 31, 2030. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $9.2 million, all guaranteed)

►$200,000: 11th regular season win

►$150,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

Penn State: James Franklin

Has:

►$300,000: Play in CFP non-semifinal

What other coaches have earned this season

Appalachian State: Shawn Clark

►$20,000: Competitive scheduling — play guarantee game at home stadium of Power Five opponent (North Carolina)

►$30,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$25,000: Eighth win

►$30,000: Play in Sun Belt Conference championship game

Arizona: Jedd Fisch

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$25,000: Team in final CFP rankings (No. 14)

Arkansas State: Butch Jones

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Army: Jeff Monken

►$75,000: Win over Air Force

Auburn: Hugh Freeze

►$150,000: Will play in Sotheastern Conference Pool of Six bowl (ReliaQuest, Gator, Music City, Liberty and Duke’s Mayo); team playing in Music City Bowl

Bowling Green: Scot Loeffler

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$7,500: Fifth win over Mid-American Conference opponent

California: Justin Wilcox

►$25,000: Beat Stanford

►$10,000: Win over UCLA in season in which UCLA has at least six regular season wins

►$25,000: Sixth regular season win

►$40,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Central Florida: Gus Malzahn

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Clemson: Dabo Swinney

►$75,000: Will play in non-CFP bowl game with at least eight regular season wins

Coastal Carolina: Tim Beck

►$150,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Eastern Michigan: Chris Creighton

►One-year contract extension; $10,000 raise, beginning next season; $25,000 bonus this season: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game (Agreement set to run through Dec. 31, 2028. Scheduled total pay for that season would be at least $775,000, with $725,000 guaranteed.)

Fresno State: Jeff Tedford

►$75,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$40,000: Seventh regular season win

►$20,000: Eighth regular season win

Georgia Southern: Clay Helton

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Georgia State: Shawn Elliott

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Georgia Tech: Brent Key

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Iowa: Kirk Ferentz

Has:

►$100,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$200,000: Play in Big Ten Conference championship game

►$175,000: Team ranked No. 20 through 16 in final CFP rankings

Iowa State: Matt Campbell

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$250,000: Seventh regular season win

Jacksonville State: Rich Rodriguez

►$10,000: Sixth regular season win

►$10,000: Seventh regular season win

►$10,000: Eighth regular season win

James Madison: Curt Cignetti

►$15,000: Win over Power Five team (Virginia)

►$20,000: Sixth regular season, eligible to play in non-CFP bowl

►$25,000: Seventh regular season win over FBS team

►One-year contract extension and $10,000 bonus this season: Eighth regular season win over FBS team  (Agreement set to run through Jan. 31, 2030. Scheduled total pay for that season would be at least $870,000, with at least $600,000 guaranteed.)

►$5,000: Ninth regular season win over FBS team

►$5,000: 10th regular season win over FBS team

Kansas: Lance Leipold

►$100,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$50,000: Seventh regular season win

Kansas State: Chris Klieman

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►One-year contract extension: Eighth win (Agreement now set to run through Dec. 31, 2031. Scheduled total pay for that season is $6.5 million, with at least $3,75 million guaranteed)

►$25,000: Team in final CFP rankings (No. 25)

Kentucky: Mark Stoops

►$100,000: Sixth win, will play in eligible for non-CFP bowl game

Louisville: Jeff Brohm

►One-year contract extension: Seventh win (Agreement goes through thru Dec. 31, 2029. Scheduled total pay for that season is $6.5 million, all guaranteed)

►$250,000:  Ninth regular season win

►$200,000:  9-1 record (6-1 in conference play), sets up team for ACC Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 bowl (CFP non-semifinal, Outback, Tax.Slayer, Holiday or Cheez-It). Team playing in Holiday Bowl

►$100,000: Play in Atlantic Coast Conference championship game

►Additional one-year contract extension and $250,000 bonus this season: 10th win (Agreement thru Dec. 31, 2030 Scheduled total pay for that season is $7 million, all guaranteed)

LSU: Brian Kelly

►$500,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Marshall: Charles Huff

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Maryland: Mike Locksley

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►One-year contract extension: Seventh win (Agreement now set to run through Dec. 31, 2028. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $7 million, with $4.55 million guaranteed.)

Memphis: Ryan Silverfield

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$75,000: Eighth win

►$25,000: Ninth win

Miami (Ohio): Chuck Martin

►$23,973: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$23,973: Play in Mid-American Conference championship game

Nevada-Las Vegas: Barry Odom

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$25,000: Play in Mountain West Conference championship game

►$25,000: Mountain West coach of the year

New Mexico State: Jerry Kill

►$10,000: Win over New Mexico

►$10,000: Win over Texas-El Paso

►$20,000: Sixth regular season win

►$5,000: Seventh regular season win

►$5,000: Eighth regular season win

►$5,000: Ninth regular season win

►$25,000: Win over Power Five team (Auburn)

North Carolina:  Mack Brown

►$75,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

North Carolina State: Dave Doeren

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$50,000: Eighth win

►$50,000: Ninth win

►$50,000:  Team in final CFP rankings (No. 18)

Northern Illinois: Thomas Hammock

►$15,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Ohio: Tim Albin

►One-year contract extension and $5,000 bonus this season: Eighth regular season win (Agreement now set to run through Dec. 31, 2027. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $700,000, with $300,000 guaranteed.)

►$5,000: Ninth regular season win

Oklahoma: Brent Venables

►$25,000: Will play in non-CFP bowl game with at least seven wins

Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy

►$62,500: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$62,500: Play in Big 12 Conference championship game

Old Dominion: Ricky Rahne

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Oregon State: Jonathan Smith

►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

►One-year contract extension: Seventh win (Agreement had been set to run through Feb. 28, 2030. Scheduled total pay for that season would have been $5.45 million, with $3,542,500 guaranteed. However, Smith has left Oregon State to become Michigan State’s head coach — and he is set to make $7.25 million for the 2024 season, with $100,000 annual increases in future years.)

►$50,000: Eighth regular season win

Rutgers: Greg Schiano

►$75,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

San Jose State: Brent Brennan

►$15,000: Sixth win

►One-year contract extension and $15,000 bonus this season: Sixth regular season win (Agreement now set to run through Dec. 31, 2027. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $1.9 million, with $950,000 guaranteed.)

►$5,000:  Seventh regular season win

South Alabama: Kane Wommack

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

South Florida: Alex Golesh

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Tennessee: Josh Heupel

►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

►$50,000: Team was No. 25 through No. 11 in final CFP rankings (No. 21)

Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher

►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game

Texas State: G.J. Kinne

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Texas Tech: Joey McGuire

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Texas-San Antonio: Jeff Traylor

►$25,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$25,000: Eighth regular season win

Toledo: Jason Candle

►$75,000: Sixth regular season win

►$20,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$60,000: Seventh regular season win

►$130,000: Eighth regular season win

►$25,000: Win Mid-American Conference division title

►$15,000: Play in MAC championship game

►One-year contract extension and $60,000 bonus this season: Ninth regular season win (Agreement now set to run through thru Dec. 31, 2027. Scheduled total pay for that season is $1,125,000, with $900,000 guaranteed.)

►$20,000: MAC coach of the year

Troy: Jon Sumrall

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►One-year contract extension: Eighth win (Agreement now set to run through Nov. 30, 2028. Scheduled total pay for that season is $1,100,000, all guaranteed.)

►$50,000: Play in Sun Belt championship game

►$15,000: Win Sun Belt title

UCLA: Chip Kelly

►$100,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$25,000: Sixth regular season win

►$50,000: Seventh regular season win

Utah: Kyle Whittingham

►$15,000: Team ranked in top 25 at any time during season (AP preseason top 25, No. 14)

►$275,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$10,000: Team in College Football Playoff rankings at any time during season (No. 18 in first rankings of season)

Utah State: Blake Anderson

►$75,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

Virginia Tech: Brent Pry

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

West Virginia: Neal Brown

►$50,000: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$100,000:  Eighth regular season win

Western Kentucky: Tyson Helton

►$50,000: Seventh win, team will have winning record for season

Wisconsin: Luke Fickell

►Share of pool that is 2% of $6.225 million staff pay total ($124,500): Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►Share of pool that is additional 2% of $6.225 million staff pay total (total of $249,000): Seventh win

Wyoming: Craig Bohl

►$100,000: Regular season win over non-conference Power Five team (Texas Tech)

►$33,333: Sixth win, will play in non-CFP bowl game

►$50,000: Fifth Mountain West Conference win