Dan Wolken
@danwolken.bsky.social
Senior writer for Yahoo! Sports. College football, college basketball, Olympics, tennis, horse racing and more
There are many similarities in the career arcs of Dabo Swinney and Scott Drew. But with college sports in the midst of massive change, they now stand on opposite ends of the spectrum in how to deal with it. It hasn’t inoculated either one from criticism. My column: sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
While some college coaches have adapted to new era, others are still stuck in the past
College sports is in an upheaval. Some, like Baylor's Scott Drew, have embraced the new world order and been criticized. Others, like Clemson's Dabo Swinney, have stuck to their old-school ways and se...
sports.yahoo.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
There are many similarities in the career arcs of Dabo Swinney and Scott Drew. But with college sports in the midst of massive change, they now stand on opposite ends of the spectrum in how to deal with it. It hasn’t inoculated either one from criticism. My column: sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
The new “Battle of thr Sexes” is a disgrace.
sports.yahoo.com/tennis/artic...
sports.yahoo.com/tennis/artic...
'Hollow and unserious': Aryna Sabalenka vs Nick Kyrgios is not Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs
Dubbed the 'Battle of the Sexes,' Sabalenka vs. Kyrgios is nothing more than a cynical cash grab.
sports.yahoo.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The new “Battle of thr Sexes” is a disgrace.
sports.yahoo.com/tennis/artic...
sports.yahoo.com/tennis/artic...
There were a bunch of ways Michigan’s coaching search could have ended badly. Instead, they upgraded - hugely - with Kyle Whittingham. Competence wins. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
After years of coaching flubs, Michigan is hitting bull's-eye with Kyle Whittingham hire
Following the Sherrone Moore debacle, the full culture reset Whittingham will provide is just what Michigan needs.
sports.yahoo.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
There were a bunch of ways Michigan’s coaching search could have ended badly. Instead, they upgraded - hugely - with Kyle Whittingham. Competence wins. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
With Baylor adding a former NBA Draft pick to its roster this week, the line between pro and college continues to blur. Can the NCAA stop the progression toward full-fledged NBA players coming back to college? Should they even try? sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
'This s*** is crazy' — Baylor's addition of James Nnaji further blurs line between pro and college hoops
The combination of schools looking for players outside the traditional recruiting realm and judges eroding the NCAA’s ability to enforce eligibility rules has led everyone here, whether they like it o...
sports.yahoo.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
With Baylor adding a former NBA Draft pick to its roster this week, the line between pro and college continues to blur. Can the NCAA stop the progression toward full-fledged NBA players coming back to college? Should they even try? sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
As Lane Kiffin tweeted through it in Baton Rouge, the party went on without him in Oxford and Ole Miss put him in the rear view with a playoff romp. My column for Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Pete Golding, Ole Miss put exhausting Lane Kiffin drama in rearview with first-round CFP romp
After a game that felt a bit like an exorcism, the hope at Ole Miss is that things will now get back to normal. There will be a time Kiffin will be back in the conversation, but for now it feels like ...
sports.yahoo.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:54 AM
As Lane Kiffin tweeted through it in Baton Rouge, the party went on without him in Oxford and Ole Miss put him in the rear view with a playoff romp. My column for Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Reposted by Dan Wolken
Already has (credit @danwolken.bsky.social)
December 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Already has (credit @danwolken.bsky.social)
Reposted by Dan Wolken
Don’t want to join a conference? Fine, but if it’s a close call for a playoff spot, you get what you get. @danwolken.bsky.social:
College Football Playoff committee sending message to Notre Dame by leaving Irish out of 12-team field
The work is finally done for the worst selection committee in the CFP's history, and make no mistake, excluding Notre Dame was a message from the CFP.
sports.yahoo.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Don’t want to join a conference? Fine, but if it’s a close call for a playoff spot, you get what you get. @danwolken.bsky.social:
Could the CFP committee snub Ole Miss if Lane Kiffin left in the next two weeks?
The committee’s protocol says they can. And the Florida State precedent looms large.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
The committee’s protocol says they can. And the Florida State precedent looms large.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
If Lane Kiffin bolts Oxford, could the CFP committee ding Ole Miss ... or leave them out of the playoff altogether?
There's already a precedent where the committee left a team out of the College Football Playoff because it was missing a key player. The same protocol applies to coaches — and Lane Kiffin is vital to ...
sports.yahoo.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Could the CFP committee snub Ole Miss if Lane Kiffin left in the next two weeks?
The committee’s protocol says they can. And the Florida State precedent looms large.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
The committee’s protocol says they can. And the Florida State precedent looms large.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Reposted by Dan Wolken
Among the highlights in here, @danwolken.bsky.social calls Paul Feinbaum a loudmouth. As always, Dan breaks down yesterday’s college football action beautifully.
Misery Index: Alabama snapped back to reality with stunning home loss to Oklahoma
Tide fans likely won't take the team's home loss to Oklahoma well, but the reality is that they've been spoiled and the game has changed. Better get used to it.
sports.yahoo.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Among the highlights in here, @danwolken.bsky.social calls Paul Feinbaum a loudmouth. As always, Dan breaks down yesterday’s college football action beautifully.
The beautiful mind of Bucky McMillan has taken him from the World Series of Poker to Alabama high school domination to Texas A&M
For @yahoosports.bsky.social, I went deep on Bucky Ball’s biggest test: The SEC.
“They won’t respect him at first. Then he’ll win.”
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
For @yahoosports.bsky.social, I went deep on Bucky Ball’s biggest test: The SEC.
“They won’t respect him at first. Then he’ll win.”
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
Is SEC ready for Bucky Ball? How Texas A&M's new coach has risen through the ranks so quickly
Given Bucky McMillan's one-of-a-kind background, his unique approach and a level of self-belief that borders on cockiness, Bucky Ball will either go down in SEC history as a punchline or a revolution.
sports.yahoo.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The beautiful mind of Bucky McMillan has taken him from the World Series of Poker to Alabama high school domination to Texas A&M
For @yahoosports.bsky.social, I went deep on Bucky Ball’s biggest test: The SEC.
“They won’t respect him at first. Then he’ll win.”
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
For @yahoosports.bsky.social, I went deep on Bucky Ball’s biggest test: The SEC.
“They won’t respect him at first. Then he’ll win.”
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
For @yahoosports, I have an exclusive preview of what the Brian Kelly vs LSU trial is going to look like sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
The patent absurdity of LSU trying to writhe its way out of paying Brian Kelly what it owes him
LSU had no problem with Brian Kelly's contract when they signed it. The Tigers' administrators (and the Louisiana governor) shouldn't try to weasel out of it now that things didn't go their way on the...
sports.yahoo.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
For @yahoosports, I have an exclusive preview of what the Brian Kelly vs LSU trial is going to look like sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Koa Peat had the best college debut I can remember for Arizona tonight. Absolutely electric.
November 4, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Koa Peat had the best college debut I can remember for Arizona tonight. Absolutely electric.
About 15 percent of college basketball players are foreign. Under the Trump Administration’s student visa crackdown, it’s never been harder to get them to campus. I had an inside view of how Arizona navigated it with one recruit who nearly got lost in the system.
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
Coming to America: How Arizona navigated crackdown on student visas with Senegalese basketball recruit
Sidi Gueye was initially denied a student visa from the U.S. How he and Arizona's coaching staff navigated the complex immigration system is just part of the college basketball game now.
sports.yahoo.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
About 15 percent of college basketball players are foreign. Under the Trump Administration’s student visa crackdown, it’s never been harder to get them to campus. I had an inside view of how Arizona navigated it with one recruit who nearly got lost in the system.
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
From fake money to fake body parts, there’s a scam around every corner in Miami — including now Coral Gables, where the Canes are about to miss the playoff again despite a loaded roster. That’s how you end up No. 1 in the Misery Index.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Misery Index: How much more disappointing can it get for Miami?
For two straight years, the Hurricanes have had what’s widely recognized as one of the most well-paid rosters in college football. What do they have to show for it?
sports.yahoo.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
From fake money to fake body parts, there’s a scam around every corner in Miami — including now Coral Gables, where the Canes are about to miss the playoff again despite a loaded roster. That’s how you end up No. 1 in the Misery Index.
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
The best horse race in years will be run Saturday. Few will notice.
Mike Repole, aka Mike from Queens, owns two of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Classic - and he had plenty of thoughts.
“We’re the only sport that screwed up gambling” he told Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing...
Mike Repole, aka Mike from Queens, owns two of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Classic - and he had plenty of thoughts.
“We’re the only sport that screwed up gambling” he told Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing...
'We’re the only sport that screwed up gambling': On eve of the Breeder's Cup, Mike Repole sounds off on the state of horse racing
How does a sport that draws a massive audience for the Kentucky Derby disappear nearly every other day of the year?
sports.yahoo.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:52 PM
The best horse race in years will be run Saturday. Few will notice.
Mike Repole, aka Mike from Queens, owns two of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Classic - and he had plenty of thoughts.
“We’re the only sport that screwed up gambling” he told Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing...
Mike Repole, aka Mike from Queens, owns two of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Classic - and he had plenty of thoughts.
“We’re the only sport that screwed up gambling” he told Yahoo Sports
sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing...
With Brian Kelly’s firing at LSU, the coachinf carousel is about to spin out of control. My column for @yahoosports.bsky.social sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
With Brian Kelly's firing from LSU, college football's coaching carousel is about to spin out of control
The next six weeks are going to be a feeding frenzy unlike anything the sport has ever seen. That includes the jobs that have just opened, and plenty of others. Buckle up.
sports.yahoo.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
With Brian Kelly’s firing at LSU, the coachinf carousel is about to spin out of control. My column for @yahoosports.bsky.social sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
That was a big time 4th quarter by Trae Young
October 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
That was a big time 4th quarter by Trae Young
One day after Florida fired Billy Napier, I was in Dan Mullen’s office talking about his old job, his current one, the coaching carousel and why UNLV is a prime location to rehab coaching careers. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
UNLV's rent-a-coach system may be the way smaller schools keep up in new era of college sports
With Dan Mullen and Josh Pastner, UNLV's novel approach may be the way to find success even if a coach may only be there for a short period of time.
sports.yahoo.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:21 AM
One day after Florida fired Billy Napier, I was in Dan Mullen’s office talking about his old job, his current one, the coaching carousel and why UNLV is a prime location to rehab coaching careers. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
For its first dozen years in the SEC, Texas A&M had everything it needed to win titles - except the substance behind the flash. Under Mike Elko, that’s changed. And the 7-0 Aggies have never been closer to breaking through for real sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Mike Elko giving Texas A&M what it's long needed: An adult in the room
If the old era of college football required Texas A&M to do things that made it look more glamorous than it had a right to be, the new one is showing that substance will beat style every time.
sports.yahoo.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:24 PM
For its first dozen years in the SEC, Texas A&M had everything it needed to win titles - except the substance behind the flash. Under Mike Elko, that’s changed. And the 7-0 Aggies have never been closer to breaking through for real sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Reposted by Dan Wolken
Brian Kelly, the erudite New Englander via South Bend, fits the LSU culture like Gordon Ramsay working the grill at Waffle House. @danwolken.bsky.social’s Misery Index:
Misery Index: After latest loss, it's evident Brian Kelly may just not fit at LSU
Here's the worst part about the LSU's loss to Vandy: It wasn’t as close as the score, LSU got outcoached and in the end none of it was a surprise. That's why the Tigers are leading the Misery Index th...
sports.yahoo.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Brian Kelly, the erudite New Englander via South Bend, fits the LSU culture like Gordon Ramsay working the grill at Waffle House. @danwolken.bsky.social’s Misery Index:
Reposted by Dan Wolken
Another @danwolken.bsky.social Penn State banger on candidates, vibes, definitions, expectations, the decision facing Pat Kraft, the decision facing fans, and how it all coalesces to shape the future
Who's next up at Penn State? AD Pat Kraft facing enormous decision after firing James Franklin
PSU likely won't be able to hire a coach whose record or list of accolades matches what James Franklin had accomplished. But there are other key factors at play in Happy Valley.
sports.yahoo.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Another @danwolken.bsky.social Penn State banger on candidates, vibes, definitions, expectations, the decision facing Pat Kraft, the decision facing fans, and how it all coalesces to shape the future
There’s no buyout too big in college football these days. As the sport changes, coaching contracts should too. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
James Franklin getting ousted from Penn State shows there's no buyout too big in college football's modern era
We now live in a world where a program that reached the College Football Playoff semis last season cans its coach because of a few bad games — and it feels somewhat normal.
sports.yahoo.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
There’s no buyout too big in college football these days. As the sport changes, coaching contracts should too. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Last night we lost one of the unique characters who made March Madness what it is. As administrators look to reshape the NCAA Tournament, let’s hope they act like Sister Jean will always be watching. sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
Sister Jean's life is why the NCAA tournament needs to be protected
Without the NCAA tournament giving schools like Loyola a fair shot, there’s no Sister Jean story to captivate America.
sports.yahoo.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Last night we lost one of the unique characters who made March Madness what it is. As administrators look to reshape the NCAA Tournament, let’s hope they act like Sister Jean will always be watching. sports.yahoo.com/mens-college...
Bill Belichick is failing at North Carolina because he thinks he’s bigger than the job. He’s wrong. My column for @yahoosports.bsky.social sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...
Bill Belichick's failings at UNC underline one thing: He thinks he's bigger than the job
Bill Belichick has failed on almost every account at UNC and they have reached the midway point of the season as one of the biggest laughingstocks in the sport. How long will the school put up with hi...
sports.yahoo.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Bill Belichick is failing at North Carolina because he thinks he’s bigger than the job. He’s wrong. My column for @yahoosports.bsky.social sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...