College football has undergone significant changes over the past few years, from the near-death of the Pac-12 to the expansion of the College Football Playoff. But some of those changes have yet to be reflected in head coaches’ contracts.

As part of its annual survey of coaching pay, USA TODAY Sports found more than 40 Football Bowl Subdivision schools that have yet to update their head coach’s contract to reflect the expansion of the CFP from four teams to 12 − an issue that could potentially cause a six-figure headache if a coach were to miss out on a bonus he believed he was owed.

Though the specific language varies from contract to contract, head coaching deals at schools like LSU, Iowa State and Iowa all include bonuses for appearing in a New Year’s Six bowl game or a CFP semifinal but haven’t been revised as of late last week to include the first round of the CFP. This leaves some ambiguity about whether a first-round CFP appearance should be treated, for bonus purposes, like a regular bowl game or a New Year’s Six bowl. In Kirk Ferentz’s case at Iowa, that definition could mean a difference of $150,000.

Other coaches’ contracts are outdated in different ways. For example:

∎ Jake Dickert’s contract at Washington State includes bonuses for winning the Pac-12 or finishing with the highest graduation rate in the conference. But after a wave of defections, the Pac-12 officially has just two members this season and an athletics department spokesperson confirmed that those bonuses have been rendered moot.

∎ At Purdue, Ryan Walters’ contract still includes a bonus for winning the Big Ten West, even though the conference is no longer split into divisions. An athletics department official confirmed the contract has not been updated.

∎ Cal coach Justin Wilcox’s deal gives him $10,000 for wins over Oregon, UCLA or Southern Cal − three schools that are no longer in the Golden Bears’ conference or on its regular schedule. (All three moved to the Big Ten, while Cal is now in the ACC. Wilcox does get $25,000 for beating Stanford, which is also in the ACC.) An athletics department official confirmed the contract has not been updated.

Many of these differences could likely be smoothed out, of course. If Colorado coach Deion Sanders receives coach of the year honors in the Big 12, the school likely will still give him a $75,000 bonus, even though the terms of his contract specifically reference winning Pac-12 coach of the year.

And this continues to be an ongoing process. For example, Toledo this week released an amendment to its contract with Jason Candle that extended the agreement by one year and changed bonus provisions to catch up with the Mid-American Conference eliminating divisions and with the changes in the CFP format. 

The glaring questions are around the CFP, which is why some schools have left nothing to chance and amended their head coach’s contract to reflect the new postseason system.

This includes both legitimate CFP contenders, such as Ohio State and Tennessee, as well as longshots like Old Dominion, where coach Ricky Rahne will now receive an extra $25,000 should the Monarchs make it to the first round of the CFP rather than playing in a regular bowl game. Old Dominion is sitting at 2-4 and has made only three bowl appearances since joining the FBS in 2014.

Follow Steve Berkowitz on social media @ByBerkowitz and Tom Schad @Tom_Schad.

NEW YORK − Hey, wasn’t the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff supposed to be a complete mess in the postseason?

Weren’t the Dodgers headed for another playoff exit because they had only three healthy starters?

They had better pitchers on their injured list than on the active roster, right?

Well, who’s laughing now?

The Dodgers delivered their fourth shutout in the past five postseason games Wednesday night with a 8-0 rout over the New York Mets at Citi Field, taking a 2-1 lead in this National League Championship Series.

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They are halfway to the World Series.

“I don’t think we took it personally,’’ said Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech, the winning pitcher, “but you know, we kind of did.

“Pretty cool to see what we’re doing.’’

Historic, too.

The Dodgers are the eighth team in postseason history to produce four shutouts, just one shy of Cleveland’s five shutouts in 2016.

“It’s really satisfying,’’ Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen said, “but it’s no crazy formula. Our defense has been playing great behind us. The offense makes it a lot easier for us because they get the early lead.

“Really, we just don’t let it get bigger than it is. We’re not afraid to make big pitches in big spots.’’

Simply, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says: “These guys are locked in.’’

It’s not as if the Dodgers have Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale on the mound. Don Newcombe isn’t around. Orel Hershiser is long retired. Clayton Kershaw is on the injured list.

Yet, here is Walker Buehler, who was 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts this season, shutting down the Mets for four innings. Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Treinen, all castoffs from other teams, pitched three shutout innings. And rookie Ben Casparius, who was pitching for the University of Connecticut three years ago, closed it out with two more shutout innings.

“Walker,’’ said Max Muncy, who tied the Dodgers’ franchise record with his 13th postseason home run, “was Walker Buehler. That’s exactly what we expected. He definitely had the attitude and the emotion.’

Really, it’s the same with the entire Dodgers’ pitching staff. The only folks at 41 Seaver Way not even mildly surprised were the guys dressing in the visiting clubhouse at Citi Field.

“I wasn’t,’’ Dodgers All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts said. “Those dudes work hard. They play the game the right way. They go about everything the right way. And so what they’re doing now is awesome to be a part of.

“Everybody goes through their ups and downs, but we all believe in each other, and it’s showing right now.’’

The Dodgers are doing it the unconventional way, with Jack Flaherty their only starter who has gone past five innings this postseason, three times using bullpen games, but it’s working to perfection.

“We knew the bullpen was going to be relied on heavily in the postseason,’’ Kopech said. “So we wanted the ball. We knew we could do this. Really, there was no doubt.’’

The Mets had their chance in Game 3, particularly in the second inning when they had the bases loaded and only one out against Buehler, but then he struck out Francisco Alvarez looking at a 94-mph fastball and then fooled Francisco Lindor on a 3-and-2 curveball, ending the inning.

“There’s certain guys that are able to perform at certain moments,’’ Muncy said, “and he’s definitely one of them. He’s always been one of them. There’s never a moment that gets too big for him.’’

The Mets were never the same again. They managed just two hits the rest of the game and produced only four hits in the game. In the Mets’ two losses, they’ve been outscored 17-0, with only seven singles and no extra-base hits.

“When you’re facing a pitching staff like that,’’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “it’s going to be hard at times. We are creating traffic. I like the fact that we are getting guys on base. Just haven’t been able to come up with a big hit. …

“I’m going to continue to ride our guys. They got us here. They will continue to step up.’’

Well, the Mets better turn it around in a hurry or those Subway Series plans will go up in flames.

In the words of Betts: “In a time like now, there’s not very many tomorrow’s. They run out pretty quick.’’

The Dodgers know the feeling of urgency themselves. They were on the brink of elimination in the NL Division Series against San Diego, but came back to shut out the Padres in the final two games.

They came to New York for the first time in the NLCS since 1988, but with the raucous sellout crowd of 43,883 on hand at the start of the game, headed to the exits the moment Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning for a 4-0 lead. It turned into a rout when Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run shot in the eighth, followed by Muncy’s homer in the ninth.

“Just having a two-run lead with a team like this,’’ Kopech said, “you feel like you have a lot of cushion. I don’t think the games even feel close unless we’re in a 0-0 ballgame. That’s how much confidence we have.

“Right now, I feel like we have the upper hand on pretty much anybody.’’

Even in New York, there may not be a soul who dares to disagree.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Mike Tyson isn’t the only boxer working out in his gym these days.

In preparation for his Nov. 15 bout against Jake Paul, Tyson has brought in three sparring partners he used to get ready for his exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the team.

Two of the sparring partners are heavyweights, Mike Russell and Jett Blackwell, and the third is a super welterweight, Ronald Cruz. At 58, Tyson is 25 years older than his sparring partners.

Video that recently surfaced on social media shows Russell shadow boxing at Tyson’s gym and Blackwell working a heavy bag in the Las Vegas-area facility.

Tyson recently told USA TODAY Sports he’s sparring six to seven rounds per session. That’s also how it worked when he was preparing to fight Jones, said Cruz’s former trainer, Edgar Ponce. During sparring sessions at the training camp in 2020, Ponce said, Tyson sparred against the two heavyweights and finished up sessions against Cruz, who weighed in as 152 pounds for his last fight.

“He used (Cruz) at the end when he was tired, and (Tyson) was still fast,’’ Ponce said. “He used all of them for different things.’’

Tyson and members of his training team did not respond to an interview request through Tyson’s publicist, and the sparring partners had to sign waivers, according to the person with knowledge of the setup.

USA TODAY Sports provides a look at all three:

Mike Russell, 32, heavyweight

Russell, 6-1, has fought as a heavyweight and cruiserweight (190 pounds). Last year he worked as a sparring partner for Nate Diaz in preparation for Diaz’s fight against Paul.

Diaz lost the 10-round fight by unanimous decision in August 2023 and at the post-fight news conference he mentioned Russell, who lives in northern California.

“(Paul) hits hard and fast, but it ain’t nothing I haven’t seen before,’’ Diaz said. “…I’ve trained with Mike Russell at this camp and he’s a big guy, but these guys can throw down.’’

In a 2020 interview with EsNews, Russell said, “I’m known for my speed.’’ He’s also shown flashes of power, scoring a first-round knockout in his pro debut. He’s 5-1 with three knockouts as a pro.

Jett Blackwell, 23, heavyweight

Jett Blackwell was only 19 when he was sparring with Tyson before the exhibition with Jones and still was fighting as an amateur. Now he’s 3-0-1 as a pro and scheduled to fight again Nov. 16, the day after Tyson is scheduled to fight Paul.

“He’s a big heavyweight, but he fights on his feet and his hands are fast,’’ said Frank Alemore, who trains Blackwell. He said Blackwell has been in Tyson’s camp for a month.

Blackwell, who lives in Fresno, California, did not respond to an interview request from USA TODAY sent by text but in May he told Boxing Scene, “I feel people underestimate me because of my size and how I look. I feel like every fight I am underestimated. I have never been a real muscular guy.”

Recalling his time sparring with Tyson in 2020, Blackwell also told Boxing Scene, “I couldn’t believe I was there, it was unreal. There weren’t a lot of boxing people at that camp. It was mostly celebrities and movie stars. It showed me what that lifestyle is like.”

Ronald Cruz, 33, super welterweight

In May, Cruz fought on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia fight. He lost that bout to Vito Mielnicki Jr. by unanimous decision and is 19-4-1 as a pro.

Though the 5-9 Cruz got knocked down twice in the 10-round fight, a video clip on his Instagram page shows Cruz fighting competitively in the final round.

During an interview with TK Boxing Podcast, Cruz recalled his first day in Tyson’s 2020 training camp. He said another boxer lost his tooth while sparring with the former heavyweight world champion.

Another time Cruz lauded Tyson’s head movement and power.

“It felt like he was trying not to hurt me, but he still sent me flying,’’ Cruz told EsNews.

Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11

NEW YORK − Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden are living legends in New York.

They won a World Series together in 1986, broke numerous records, had their jerseys retired and were inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.

Yet, when the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets stepped onto the field Wednesday to play Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Citi Field, the bitter and painful memories of 36 years ago came pouring back.

This, after all, is the first time these two teams have played against one another in the NLCS since 1988, suddenly resurrecting the angst they’ve desperately tried to recess in their souls.

“I was having a great day until you brought that up,’’ Gooden said laughing.

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Said Strawberry: ‘The ’88 series against the Dodgers was heartbreaking. I’ve never gotten over that, of losing that ’88 series.’’

He wasn’t laughing.

The Mets, who won the 1986 World Series, were the most talented and star-studded team in the National League in 1988. They went 100-60, and won the NL East Division by 15 games. They pummeled the Dodgers during the season, winning 10 of 11 games, outscoring them 49-10. The baseball world eagerly awaited the dream World Series matchup of the Mets and Oakland A’s.

But, the Dodgers refused to cooperate and stunned the world when they beat the Mets in seven games in the NLCS, setting the stage for Kirk Gibson’s epic walk-off homer in Game 1 of the World Series, beating the A’s in five games.

It was the last time the Dodgers won the World Series in a full season.

The Mets haven’t won it since ’86.

So, when the Dodgers knocked off the San Diego Padres in the NLDS to face the Mets, it was only natural for this rematch to resurrect all of the memories of ’88.

“How could I not think of ’88,’’ Strawberry said, “’88 sucked for me. I’ve never got over that, of losing that ’88 series. But you’ve got to remember the Dodgers were extremely hot coming in, playing at the end of the season. And they had some big moments, the (Mike) Scioscia home run, Gibson, that big home run. They just did things right.’’

The loss was so painful that Strawberry couldn’t help but jab Gooden, reminding him of his meltdown in Game 4. The Mets, leading the series 2 games to 1, were on the brink of putting the series on ice. They were leading 4-2 in the ninth inning with Gooden on the mound. Gooden had given up just one hit and four baserunners in the first eight innings, but he walked John Shelby to lead off the ninth.

“I don’t know how Doc walked T-Bone Shelby,’’ Strawberry said, looking at him. “All he had to do was bounce one up there.’’

The next batter, Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia, hit a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-apiece. Three innings later, Kirk Gibson, who was in a 1-for-16 slump, hit a two-out homer in the 12th, and the Dodgers won 5-4.

Just like that, the Dodgers were alive and had all of the momentum, leading to their stunning NLCS upset.

“Obviously from ’88, what I remember is the Mike Scioscia home run in Game 5,’’ Gooden said, “because if we won that game, we go up 3-1. Obviously, I made a bad pitch to Mike Scioscia in the ninth. He hit the home run.’’

The Dodgers then steamrolled past the heavily-favored Oakland A’s, winning the World Series in five games.

“It made me feel better when they went on to (beat) that Oakland team,’’ Strawberry said, “which was supposed to be the team of the century that year, better than everybody else. Made me feel better after seeing that. I kind of just was able to turn it over.

“It was hard to turn that 1988 series over, but I had to eventually leave it there and get past it.’’

Still, after all of these years, it still stings, Gooden and Strawberry say. They’re convinced their ’88 team was better than their World Series championship team that came back and beat the Boston Red Sox in 1986.

“The ’88 team on paper was probably better than the ’86 team on paper,’’ Gooden said. “But I think the ’86 team, we had chemistry, we had heart. What I mean by that, we were a lot closer than just ball players. We spent more time together than we did with our families at that time.

“We spent a lot of time together on the road. I think that plays a big part of getting to know your teammates personally. So I would I say ’88 on paper is probably a little bit better, but the ’86 team, I’d put that team against anybody.’’

Said Strawberry: “The ’88 team was more talented than the ’86 team. The ’86 team had more guts than ’88 team. It was just a different breed of players with Ray Knight, Kevin Mitchell, players that didn’t fear the situation and the opportunity. … The ’86 series, we had players on the team that sat on the bench. And if you got ahead in ball game against us, we knew we were coming back and would win.

“That was the difference. We didn’t have that kind of same feeling (in ‘88). The chemistry was different. … We were crazy. We were a different breed. … We had a different personality. We had a lot of swagger about ourselves. We didn’t care. We didn’t care what people think about us. You didn’t like us? Oh well. …

“It was a lot of fun being who we were back in those days.’’

Now, 36 years later, this legendary duo is hoping that this Mets team, which is a decisive underdog to the Dodgers, can pull off what they couldn’t accomplish back in their day.

The Mets weren’t the most talented team in their own division this year, much less the National League. They didn’t get into the postseason until the last day of the season. They were down to their final two outs in the NL wild card series against Milwaukee before Pete Alonso’s game-winning, three-run homer. And now they are facing the richer, more powerful, more talented Dodgers.

“I think these guys really believe in themselves, which is good,’’ Strawberry said. “They had a great run at the end of the season to get to this place. (Francisco) Lindor has come up with some big hits for them in crucial situations. That’s what it takes to get to this next level to be able to get to the National League Championship, and advance and try to get to the Series. …

“I hope the Mets get the revenge back and beat them for the ’88 season that we lost to them.’’

If they do, and the Mets win it all, Strawberry says, they will be forever remembered in this city, just like everyone from that ’86 team is still revered.

“I would say they would get a lot of free food, and a lot of free clothes,’’ Strawberry said, “because when you win here, the people in this city take care of you. I know that for us when we won in ’86 and we came back, we never had to pay for anything.

“It’s a great place to win. It’s a great place to have fun because when you win in a place like New York City, you are bigger than life because this is a tough place to play, and the expectations are real.

“Once you get ahold of that, and you’re the champions of the city, the city will embrace you.’’

The Mets, in particular Gooden and Strawberry, with Strawberry throwing the first ceremonial pitch to Gooden, can’t wait to see it once again for themselves.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

MINNEAPOLIS — What’s that about Sabrina Ionescu not being an All-WNBA first team player? 

It’s hard to know what was colder Wednesday night in the Target Center: Ionescu’s 28-foot game-winner with a second to go that lifted New York to an 80-77 Game 3 WNBA Finals win over the Minnesota Lynx, or the fifth-year guard’s evaluation of her play after the fact. 

“That was just a great All-WNBA second team performance,” Ionescu deadpanned, before resting her chin in her palm, leaning on the table and smiling. “That’s it.”

In reality, it was a little more than that: It was a performance — in the clutch, no less — that put the Liberty just one game from winning their first WNBA title in franchise history. New York now leads the best-of-five series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis. If the Lynx force a Game 5, it will be played in New York. 

Hours before the All-League teams were announced to the public Wednesday afternoon, Ionescu told reporters she wasn’t upset about being left off the first team despite a career year. The players who did make first team: Ionescu’s teammate Breanna Stewart (who, oddly, wasn’t a unanimous selection), Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier, Las Vegas forward A’ja Wilson, Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas and Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark. 

Ionescu finished sixth with 204 points, behind Clark (302 points) and Thomas (255 points). That made her the top vote-getter on the second team. She swore she didn’t care about individual awards and that she was solely focused on winning. But the former No. 1 pick — who came into the league with the type of fanfare and hype that Clark did, only four years earlier — certainly played like she had something to prove. And if she keeps playing this way, especially in big moments, this series will probably be wrapped up in four games. 

After trailing by as many as 15, New York took a 74-73 lead with 1:31 to go when Ionescu drove to the paint and handed the ball off to Jonquel Jones, who finished an easy look inside. It was the Liberty’s first lead since 5-2, way back in the first quarter. 

The assist to Jones gave Ionescu a line of seven points, six assists and five rebounds — respectable, for sure, but lacking in the scoring department, especially for someone who’s known for deep 3s. 

But you’ve gotta take what the defense gives you, Ionescu said. She wasn’t worried. 

Which is why 35 seconds later, when she saw a sliver of daylight on the perimeter, she drained a 3 to push New York’s lead to 77-73. 

Minnesota responded with a tough layup from Bridget Carleton, and two free throws from Collier to tie it at 77 with 16 seconds to play. That’s when New York coach Sandy Brondello called a timeout and turned to Ionescu. “You’re going to shoot this,” she said and everyone in the huddle — even Stewart and her 22 second-half points — agreed. 

After a foul by the Lynx, New York inbounded the ball, Ionescu took a few seconds off the clock dribbling around midcourt before she used a step-back to her left — know someone else who likes to do that? — to create separation from Kayla McBride and nailed a 28-foot game-winner with 1 second to play. Minnesota couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer. 

Said McBride: “Great player made a great shot. I guarded her for 40 minutes.” 

“What I love about her is that she backs herself,” Brondello said. “Not everyone can take those big shots and make them. She can.”

It’s been a long road for Ionescu. Four years ago the 5-foot-11 guard came into the league riding a huge wave of momentum after a dominant college career in which she smashed numerous records, including the NCAA record for triple-doubles (she finished college with 26, the most of any man or woman in NCAA basketball history). She was the first player in NCAA history, man or woman, to tally more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. 

She led Oregon to its first Final Four, in 2019, and, instead of leaving early for the WNBA — though she was practically a lock to go No. 1 in the 2019 draft — returned in hopes of winning the Ducks their first title. But COVID-19 derailed the 2020 NCAA Tournament, and her college career ended with a whimper. 

She went No. 1 in 2020 and — like Clark this spring — signed a huge endorsement deal with Nike before she’d even played a professional game. Then she suffered a gruesome ankle injury three games into her rookie year. It sidelined her for the rest of the “wubble” season. A year later she still wasn’t completely healthy. 

It wasn’t until last offseason that Ionescu finally felt like herself again. She spent the offseason reintroducing the floater to her game, and made the 2024 Olympic roster. The second iteration of her Nike signature shoe — popular with numerous NBA players — was announced this spring. (She also got married, and hosted the Oregon Duck mascot at her wedding reception.) 

That Ionescu would hit this shot felt more than fitting. Not just because of all the people this season who have suddenly discovered the league and (incorrectly) said Clark was the only player who could shoot like that, but also because those people often took it a step further, claiming Clark was the only thing exciting about the WNBA. 

Here’s the truth: Ionescu has been practicing and visualizing those shots for years. 

“I didn’t really realize how far (out) I was, but like I said, it’s a shot that I take often and I take in practice and that I take before the game,” Ionescu said. “It’s not like a Hail Mary, ‘I hope this goes in.’ Once I got it off, I was like, yeah, this is in.” 

Ionescu doesn’t miss. The same cannot be said for this season’s All-WNBA voters. 

Schnell is a voting member of the 67-person panel that decides WNBA superlatives.

Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

At this point, it’s a foregone conclusion that 2024 will be Billy Napier’s final season as the head coach at Florida. After going 40-12 across four years at Louisiana-Lafayette, Napier is headed toward a third losing finish in as many years.

Since being hired by the Gators in November 2021, Napier has earned more than $1 million per win — easily one of the worst returns on investment from any program in the Football Bowl Subdivision during this span.

This gives Napier the top spot on USA TODAY Sports’ list of the most overpaid head coaches in the country, joining coaches from the Big Ten, ACC, American Athletic and a second choice from the SEC.

Billy Napier, Florida

Napier is making $7.4 million in total compensation this season, 21st among coaches. Of the 20 coaches ahead of Napier, all but one has won nine or more games in a single season at a Power Four school. (The exception is Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, and more on him in a moment.) With his tenure drawing to a close, the conversation has shifted to Napier’s buyout. As of Dec. 1, 2024, Napier’s buyout for being terminated without cause is $26.7 million. At 14-17 overall after Saturday’s overtime loss to rival Tennessee, Napier should end up as the program’s first full-time coach to finish his tenure with a losing record since Raymond Wolf went 13-24-2 from 1946-49.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn

As with Napier at Florida, the hype and fanfare around Freeze’s arrival at Auburn before last season has petered out amid the Tigers’ struggles. After going 6-7 last year, Auburn is 2-4 and winless in the SEC with wins against Alabama A&M and New Mexico along with a series of ugly, error-filled losses. While his $6.73 million compensation in 2024 ranks 12th among public SEC schools, the expectation was that Freeze would bring Auburn quickly back into Top 25 contention and eventually challenge for the College Football Playoff. Instead, his job security is failing after just 19 games as head coach.

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin

There’s a trend developing for the first three coaches on this list. Like Napier and Freeze, Fickell was able to translate a ton of success at a lesser program – he went 57-18 at Cincinnati and coached the first Group of Five team to make the playoff – into a huge deal at Wisconsin worth $7.725 million in compensation this season. But the Badgers have been mediocre or worse since he took over in late 2022, barely sneaking into a bowl last year and potentially missing the postseason in 2024. These struggles can be attributed to a strange shift in offensive philosophy from the meat-and-potatoes style that Wisconsin used to great impact for decades.

Mike Norvell, Florida State

Florida State fans and boosters want to know of Norvell: What have you done for us lately? After winning the ACC championship and just missing the playoff last year, the Seminoles are this year’s biggest disappointment at 1-5. One of the league favorites in August, FSU is now in real danger of missing a bowl game altogether. Thanks to his rebuild and ACC crown, Norvell is making $10 million in total compensation, tied with Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer for fifth among coaches at public universities. As of Dec. 1, Norvell has a buyout of $63.8 million, the third-most among coaches in our survey behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($118.1 million) and DeBoer ($70.1 million).

Trent Dilfer, Alabama-Birmingham

At $1.45 million in total compensation, Dilfer’s contract would be a steal if he had maintained the Blazers’ place among the most consistent programs in the Group of Five. That hasn’t been the case. After posting six winning seasons in a row from 2017-22, UAB is 5-13 overall under Dilfer and 1-5 this year. Rock bottom has come in recent weeks, with a 71-20 loss to Tulane on Oct. 5 and last Saturday’s 40-10 loss to Army. Of Dilfer’s five wins, two have come against Football Championship Subdivision competition and just one against an eventual bowl team. The former Super Bowl-winning quarterback will go down as one of the worst hires of the decade.

Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on social media @PaulMyerberg

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first NFL team this season to score 50 points in a game.

Mayfield threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-27 win over the New Orleans Saints last week, to take the NFL lead with 15 touchdown passes thrown this season.

Was the performance enough for Mayfield to sneak onto our USA TODAY Sports’ NFL MVP rankings?

Sorry, Baker. Not yet. Leading the league in touchdowns is impressive, like Tampa Bay’s 4-2 start.

But Mayfield also threw three interceptions in the win over the Saints. And we still remember Kirk Cousins outplaying him a week earlier in the Bucs’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

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There’s a new No. 1 atop our MVP list, and a newcomer to the MVP race. Here’s our NFL MVP rankings heading into Week 7.

5. Bills QB Josh Allen, stock even

Allen retains the fifth spot in our MVP rankings after helping the Bills break a two-game skid with a win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

Allen scored a touchdown and threw for two more in the 23-20 win, where windy conditions caused kickers to miss several field goals and turn the contest into a tight affair. Allen sealed the game with a 6-yard run with 1:45 left, and the Bills ran out the clock.

It wasn’t enough to boost Allen, who was No. 1 in our MVP rankings after Week 3. We’re still holding those losses against the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans against him. But Allen’s MVP case will improve following the addition of standout receiver Amari Cooper this week.

4. Texans QB C.J. Stroud, stock up

Welcome to the MVP conversation, C.J. Stroud. The second-year Texans star threw three touchdowns in a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots last week. It was his best performance of the season, even without leading receiver Nico Collins, who is nursing a hamstring injury for the next three weeks.

Still, Stroud’s case is boasted by Houston’s 5-1 record this season. The Texans overcame their Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with three consecutive wins.

If Stroud lights it up against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers this week, he’ll certainly rise on the list.

3. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Vikings QB Sam Darnold, stock even

We’ve got a duo sharing the No. 3 spot on our MVP list, and that’s simply because they’re the starting quarterbacks from the only two undefeated 5-0 teams in the NFL and had a bye in Week 6.

Mahomes and the Chiefs return to action Sunday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch that could see him improve his MVP case. Mahomes’ work to keep the Chiefs afloat despite the losses of Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown boast his MVP case.

Meanwhile, Darnold and the Vikings will host the Detroit Lions in an NFC North battle that could potentially be a conference title game matchup. Darnold’s 11 touchdowns, which rank fourth after his week off, supports his MVP case.

2. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, stock down

Daniels’ MVP bid took a slight hit after the Washington Commanders were unable to pull off a big-time win last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

The rookie sensation has sparked Washington’s 4-2 start, and potential to win the NFC East this season. But a win over the Ravens would have inserted them in the Super Bowl conversation.

Washington is still top five in touchdowns scored this season with 19, including 13 rushing touchdowns behind their rookie catalyst.

There’s plenty of season left to be played for Daniels to continue his MVP case, but he is no longer in the top spot.

1. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, stock up

The two-time MVP is atop our MVP rankings for the first time this season after another decisive win in Week 6. Jackson led three touchdown drives, throwing a touchdown to tight end Mark Andrews while running back Derrick Henry scored twice in Baltimore’s 30-23 win over Washington last week.

The Ravens have won four in a row, all against teams expected to make playoff runs this season – boosting Jackson’s case for his third MVP.

The only issue we see with Jackson’s MVP case moving forward: accounting for Henry’s value. The star running back leads all players with nine touchdowns scored this season.

Jackson and Henry are undoubtedly the NFL’s best 1-2 punch, but Jackson’s ability to make timely throws to set his running back up for easy scores will set him apart in the long run.

ATLANTA – Mark Davis finally got the deal done. Well, actually, multiple deals. 

The Las Vegas Raiders secured Tom Brady as a limited partner on Tuesday, with a unanimous vote from NFL owners that ended a process that took nearly 1 ½ years. The team also struck a trade that sent disgruntled three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick, squashing the drama that has gone on for nearly a month. 

“We traded Davante Adams for Tom Brady and a third-round draft pick,” Davis gushed to reporters in the lobby of a Buckhead hotel after NFL owners wrapped up their fall meeting. 

He could afford to be so jovial now after previous attempts to get TB12 approved for an ownership stake were rebuffed by the league’s finance committee. Now Davis can exhale, too. The only player in NFL history to win seven Super Bowls, a mega-celebrity whose high profile is bolstered by his role as analyst for the No. 1 team at Fox Sports, is a Raider now. 

According to CNBC, Brady and his partner, Knighthead Capital Management founder Tom Wagner, invested about $220 million for a 10% stake. Hall of Fame defensive lineman Richard Seymour also purchased a stake of less than 1%, CNBC reported. 

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“Although Tom can’t play, he can help us select a quarterback in the future and potentially train him as well,” Davis said. “So, it’s a huge benefit for the organization.” 

Advantage, Raiders. In a major way. And this includes the optics of a conflict of interest that flies in the face of the popular league that touts fair competition. 

Brady can help select who? Train who? 

Although specifics have yet to be firmed up, Brady will have an active role in the football operations of the Raiders. He is nobody’s passive investor. And now he’s the rather active broadcaster who owns a piece of a team. 

Earlier in the process, some of the pushback struck at Brady’s television gig, and how it would allow him behind-the-scenes access to teams routinely granted to the network broadcast teams. To alleviate the concern, the league crafted a compromise – “Tom Brady Rules,” if you will – that restricts the quarterback like no other broadcaster. 

Brady is not allowed to attend practices or even the production meetings the networks conduct each week with teams that include extensive interviews with coaches and key players, which is an essential part of pre-game preparation. 

Davis gets it to the point that he might object if the shoe were on the other foot. 

“I would say that if an owner of the Chiefs wanted to come in and interview my head coach and quarterback, I probably wouldn’t want him to do it, either,” he said. “We’re paranoid, that’s what we are in the Raiders. So, I understand what people were concerned about. 

“I do know the coaches and the quarterbacks want to talk to him. They’re not going to give him the full story and everything. They’re not giving you guys (the reporters) the full story when they’re talking. They’re telling you guys what they want the other team to hear, then it’s up to you guys to discover what they’re actually trying to say.” 

Apparently, with restrictions for the media access in place, other NFL owners have found peace with the mesh between Brady’s role at Fox and his Raiders involvement. 

“It’s a new circumstance, so you work at these things,” Stan Kroenke, the Los Angeles Rams owner, told USA TODAY Sports. “So, whether it’s perfect or not perfect, I guess you wait and see. But the guy has always handled himself in an exemplary way, in my view. So, if you ever had a candidate for ownership that can do that, then he would be the guy that could pull it off.” 

While Brady can’t go to production meetings or practices (and is prohibited from publicly criticizing officials or other teams), there’s nothing preventing him from tapping into his own network of resources and reaching out to executives, players, coaches or other staff. 

Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, would take a call from Brady. Through six weeks, Brady has been assigned as an analyst for four Cowboys games. 

“He hasn’t called, but I’ve seen him,” Jones told USA TODAY Sports. “I might see him in pregame. But I’m very comfortable with him, talking about football. He’s seen enough of us that he’s very aware of where the holes are. He’s qualified to do that. And I like his style.” 

Knowing Jones, and his track record for embracing the media, he wouldn’t have objected if Brady didn’t have any restrictions. 

“I have a lot more tolerance for the kind of information that you can get before a game and how that impacts that very game,” said Jones. “Certainly, a guy with his experience knows when he’s crossed the line.” 

Jones, it should be noted, in 1992 became the first owner to allow ESPN cameras in the draft war room – although it might have driven coach Jimmy Johnson crazy.  

“Well, you had to have confidence that guys were going to go in there and hear stuff, see stuff, that shouldn’t be done,” Jones said. “And I’ve never been disappointed having those cameras in there.” 

Then again, the conflict-of-interest debate is probably just surface stuff in this equation. Given that we’re talking about the big business of the NFL, the previous snags likely had much more to do with money than with Brady’s media access. Davis wouldn’t discuss financial components of the arrangement, citing non-disclosure agreements. Yet with the Raiders ranked by Forbes magazine as the NFL’s seventh-most valuable franchise, with a valuation of $6.7 billion in 2024, there were questions about whether the amount that Brady was pegged to pay for his percentage properly equated to the franchise’s value. 

Last spring, an NFL owner, speaking to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the purchase process was still ongoing, described Brady’s deal as a “pretty boy discount.” 

That discount might seem even larger now than it would have been when Brady initially struck an agreement with Davis, given how the franchise’s value has steadily escalated since the Raiders moved from Oakland in 2020 and moved into the taxpayer-supported Allegiant Stadium. 

In any event, after the deals cleared the finance committee (chaired by Clark Hunt, the Kansas City Chiefs owner), the other league owners approved the stakes for Brady, Wagner and Seymour by a 32-0 vote. 

For Davis, he finally has a coveted partner in the fold – and all the gravitas that comes with having TB12 listed as an ownership partner. 

About 4 ½ years ago, Davis tried signing Brady as a free agent. Brady picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won another Super Bowl. Davis stayed in touch with Brady’s agent, Don Yee, and let him know of his interest to someday bring him into the organization. 

“So, the seeds were sown then, and it came to fruition,” Davis said. 

This, with a man who was once considered an arch-villain. Brady’s first Super Bowl drive with the New England Patriots was aided by the victory against the Raiders in an AFC divisional playoff game in the snow at Foxborough when an apparent fumble was reversed on instant replay because of the infamous “Tuck Rule” that led to the game-winning field goal. 

“Tom is somebody that for many years I didn’t like very much,” Davis joked. “But we’ve been through those situations before and really, it’s the people that make the calls (to be blamed), not the people who are playing. He did admit it was a fumble. So, those are important aspects of the situation.” 

Which has led to Brady teaming with Davis to chase another type of Super mission. 

The New Orleans Saints were forced to turn to a new quarterback in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season after Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Saints were left with a tough decision. Would they start second-year backup Jake Haener or turn to rookie Spencer Rattler?

Ultimately, New Orleans went with the move it believed had the most upside. The Saints inserted Rattler into the starting lineup and let the 24-year-old signal-caller quarterback them in a divisional rivalry game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints fell in that contest 51-27, but Rattler showed flashes that reminded many of why he was once considered a top-tier recruit and NFL quarterback prospect.

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Spencer Rattler college career

Rattler began his college career already as a well-known and hyped prospect. He was the consensus No. 1 quarterback in college football’s 2019 recruiting class and stared in Netflix’s documentary series ‘QB1: Beyond The Lights’ during his final year at Pinnacle High School (Az.).

Rattler drew the attention of many major programs but ultimately committed Oklahoma after watching Lincoln Riley develop Baker Mayfield into a top college quarterback. While Mayfield didn’t win the Heisman or become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft until after Rattler had committed, Riley’s status as one of college football’s top quarterback gurus made the Sooners an attractive destination for Rattler.

Rattler enrolled at Oklahoma in the Summer of 2019. He spent his first season backing up Jalen Hurts before being named the starter ahead of the 2020 season. Rattler starred during the COVID-impacted campaign, leading the Big 12 in completion percentage (67.5), passing yards (3,031) and passing touchdowns (28) while tossing just seven interceptions.

Many expected Rattler to make leap during his redshirt sophomore year with the Sooners. He entered the season as the Heisman Trophy favorite but struggled to live up to the hype. After nine inconsistent starts, Rattler was replaced by true freshman Caleb Williams. Williams went on to start the rest of the season, which led Rattler to seek a fresh start via the transfer portal.

Rattler drew plenty of interest before ultimately landing at South Carolina. He spent two seasons there working alongside Shane Beamer and helped rebuild his draft stock by evening out his play. He led the SEC in interceptions during the 2022 season with 12 but cut that number to eight the following year with a career-low interception percentage of 2.0.

Rattler declared for the draft following his 2023 senior season. By then, the four-year college starter was expected to be a mid-round pick and had done well to quell concerns about his 2021 struggles at Oklahoma.

Spencer Rattler college stats

Below is a year-by-year look at Rattler’s stats from his college days:

2019 (Oklahoma): 63.6 completion percentage, 81 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 155.5 rating
2020 (Oklahoma): 67.5 completion percentage, 3,031 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs, 172.6 rating
2021 (Oklahoma): 74.9 completion percentage, 1,483 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs, 155.5 rating
2022 (South Carolina): 66.2 completion percentage, 3,026 yards, 18 TDs, 12 INTs, 138.7 rating
2023 (South Carolina): 68.9 completion percentage, 3,186 yards, 19 TDs, 8 INTs, 147.7 rating

Spencer Rattler draft scouting report

Rattler entered the 2024 NFL draft widely considered to be the best of the non-first-round quarterbacks in the class.

Rattler carried with him some concerns – notably a below-average 6-0, 211-pound frame and a lack of high-end arm strength – but his good athleticism and five years of college experience helped endear him to NFL teams. He impressed during the pre-draft process by winning MVP at the Senior Bowl, and that allowed him to work his way into the mix as a mid-round prospect.

‘Rattler will still flash glimpses of what he showed in his 2020 season as a Sooner but fails to consistently sustain the type of play that NFL teams look for,’ Zierlein wrote. ‘He lacks desired height for a pocket passer and doesn’t have enough arm strength to beat greedy NFL cover men. He was better than some of his 2023 numbers might indicate, as poor pass-blocking and drop-prone receivers often put him in bad spots. He can scramble and extend plays, but he’s not a dynamic runner and needs optimal protection and separation in order to work in rhythm.

‘[Rattler] needs an offense that can shrink the field so he can operate quickly and find his rhythm,’ Zierlein added. ‘He has the know-how but might not have the tape or traits to inspire confidence in projecting anything more than a QB2/3.’

Many other draftniks agreed with Zierlein’s assessment, though some believed there was a chance Rattler could sneak into Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft after six quarterbacks went in the first round.

When was Spencer Rattler drafted?

Rattler ultimately lasted until the fifth round, where the Saints selected him with the 150th overall pick. He was the seventh quarterback to come off the board but went a whopping 138 picks later than the sixth drafted quarterback – Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, who went 12th overall.

The Saints planned to develop Rattler behind Carr and have him compete with Haener for the backup job. While Haener dressed as Carr’s backup for the first five weeks, Rattler’s potential and mobility ultimately earned him the nod over the former Fresno State quarterback in Week 6.

Now, Rattler will look to establish himself as the latest successful quarterback to play collegiately at Oklahoma and under Lincoln Riley’s tutelage.

Oklahoma QBs in the NFL

Rattler is one of five current NFL quarterbacks who played at least one season at Oklahoma for Lincoln Riley. Below is the full list of players, along with the years they started for the Sooners.

Baker Mayfield (2015-17)
Kyler Murray (2017-18)
Jalen Hurts (2019)
Spencer Rattler (2019-21)
Caleb Williams (2021)