Matt Baker
@mattbakercfb.bsky.social
National college sports reporter for The Athletic
Reposted by Matt Baker
Brian Kelly's lawsuit against LSU states that LSU offered him a $25/30 million payment instead of $53m buyout w/ offset.
He declined but was open to more offers. Then LSU said they didn't actually fire him but still could for cause.
Our updated story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
He declined but was open to more offers. Then LSU said they didn't actually fire him but still could for cause.
Our updated story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Brian Kelly files lawsuit against LSU alleging school wants to fire him for cause
The buyout for Kelly would be the second-largest in college sports, behind the $77 million Texas A&M paid to Jimbo Fisher in 2023.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Brian Kelly's lawsuit against LSU states that LSU offered him a $25/30 million payment instead of $53m buyout w/ offset.
He declined but was open to more offers. Then LSU said they didn't actually fire him but still could for cause.
Our updated story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
He declined but was open to more offers. Then LSU said they didn't actually fire him but still could for cause.
Our updated story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
USF coach Alex Golesh on star QB Byrum Brown:
"He's the best version of him right now."
Brown *only* went 14-of-15 for 239 yards plus 109 rushing yards the other night.
"He's the best version of him right now."
Brown *only* went 14-of-15 for 239 yards plus 109 rushing yards the other night.
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
USF coach Alex Golesh on star QB Byrum Brown:
"He's the best version of him right now."
Brown *only* went 14-of-15 for 239 yards plus 109 rushing yards the other night.
"He's the best version of him right now."
Brown *only* went 14-of-15 for 239 yards plus 109 rushing yards the other night.
Continuing our college football stadium series...who has the most underrated home in the ACC? Overrated? Plus, my defense (sorta) of Miami:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Which ACC football stadiums are the best, most underrated and overrated?
Clemson's Memorial Stadium was voted the ACC's top venue by our staff, but Virginia Tech is home to arguably the sport's best entrance.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Continuing our college football stadium series...who has the most underrated home in the ACC? Overrated? Plus, my defense (sorta) of Miami:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
I covered Kafka as a student reporter at The Daily Northwestern in 2007, when he was a backup. Many people are saying that one time I interviewed him about starter C.J. Bacher led him to this very moment.
(But seriously good for him! How cool)
(But seriously good for him! How cool)
Giants OC Mike Kafka has been named New York's interim head coach, per source.
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I covered Kafka as a student reporter at The Daily Northwestern in 2007, when he was a backup. Many people are saying that one time I interviewed him about starter C.J. Bacher led him to this very moment.
(But seriously good for him! How cool)
(But seriously good for him! How cool)
Behold, ACC chaos in all its glory!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
ACC chaos reigns: 4-way tie at 5-1 after Wake upsets Virginia, Cal knocks off Louisville in OT
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Behold, ACC chaos in all its glory!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
The ending of Louisville-Cal is ... it's something. Cal's punt goes only 18 yards, gifting the Cardinals great field position. And then they're sacked on the next play
November 9, 2025 at 3:30 AM
The ending of Louisville-Cal is ... it's something. Cal's punt goes only 18 yards, gifting the Cardinals great field position. And then they're sacked on the next play
Mike Norvell's tenure, to some degree, started to turn around with a fourth-and-14 play against Miami in 2021. Jordan Travis converted. The Noles won.
On fourth and 14 at Clemson moments ago, Tommy Castellanos slipped and fell. FSU's headed for a fifth loss...
On fourth and 14 at Clemson moments ago, Tommy Castellanos slipped and fell. FSU's headed for a fifth loss...
November 9, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Mike Norvell's tenure, to some degree, started to turn around with a fourth-and-14 play against Miami in 2021. Jordan Travis converted. The Noles won.
On fourth and 14 at Clemson moments ago, Tommy Castellanos slipped and fell. FSU's headed for a fifth loss...
On fourth and 14 at Clemson moments ago, Tommy Castellanos slipped and fell. FSU's headed for a fifth loss...
Cal commits THREE false start penalties on one drive but still get a FG out of it. Golden Bears go up 23-20 at Louisville late in the third...
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Cal commits THREE false start penalties on one drive but still get a FG out of it. Golden Bears go up 23-20 at Louisville late in the third...
Kentucky scores with 1:26 left in the half to go up 24-7 on Florida. For *this* Kentucky team to be doing that to *any* Florida team...
November 9, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Kentucky scores with 1:26 left in the half to go up 24-7 on Florida. For *this* Kentucky team to be doing that to *any* Florida team...
Still TONS of time, but 👀 in the closing seconds of the first half:
Cal 17
Louisville 13
Cal 17
Louisville 13
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Still TONS of time, but 👀 in the closing seconds of the first half:
Cal 17
Louisville 13
Cal 17
Louisville 13
A week after getting crushed at Florida State, Wake Forest just ripped off an 88-yard punt return touchdown to take a 7-6 lead at Virginia late in the first half
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
A week after getting crushed at Florida State, Wake Forest just ripped off an 88-yard punt return touchdown to take a 7-6 lead at Virginia late in the first half
Reposted by Matt Baker
After Omar Cooper Jr.'s game-winning catch for Indiana, we put together our list of greatest catches in CFB history: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Was Omar Cooper’s catch college football’s best ever? Here are our favorites
Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. made a case for best catch ever with toe tap to beat Penn State. These are our college football staff's favorites.
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
After Omar Cooper Jr.'s game-winning catch for Indiana, we put together our list of greatest catches in CFB history: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
In the ACC's Misery Bowl, Clemson scores early on Florida State and then fakes the PAT.
8-0 Tigers
8-0 Tigers
November 9, 2025 at 12:17 AM
In the ACC's Misery Bowl, Clemson scores early on Florida State and then fakes the PAT.
8-0 Tigers
8-0 Tigers
Congratulations to Wisconsin, which, after 29 minutes, finally completed one (1) successful forward pass against Washington
November 8, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Congratulations to Wisconsin, which, after 29 minutes, finally completed one (1) successful forward pass against Washington
What a pretty play for a JMU touchdown. The Dukes are up 2 scores on Marshall and, barring an epic collapse today, will remain in the CFP picture
November 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
What a pretty play for a JMU touchdown. The Dukes are up 2 scores on Marshall and, barring an epic collapse today, will remain in the CFP picture
Indiana can't let a pesky, upstart team like Penn State hang around, especially on the road
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Indiana can't let a pesky, upstart team like Penn State hang around, especially on the road
G5 CFP watch: Marshall, led by former Dan Mullen/Florida signee Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, just kicked a FG to cut James Madison's lead to 28-23 with 10 minutes and change to go...
November 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
G5 CFP watch: Marshall, led by former Dan Mullen/Florida signee Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, just kicked a FG to cut James Madison's lead to 28-23 with 10 minutes and change to go...
Houston and UCF both have pick-sixes.
Memphis and Tulane both have TDs of 50+ yards
An excellent Friday evening
Memphis and Tulane both have TDs of 50+ yards
An excellent Friday evening
November 8, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Houston and UCF both have pick-sixes.
Memphis and Tulane both have TDs of 50+ yards
An excellent Friday evening
Memphis and Tulane both have TDs of 50+ yards
An excellent Friday evening
Why is this not on Wednesday night, as God intended?
THE MACTION EVENT OF THE YEAR
TOMORROW AT HIGH NOON
PUDGE 🆚 THE MACCOON
BOWLING GREEN 🆚 EASTERN MICHIGAN
TOMORROW AT HIGH NOON
PUDGE 🆚 THE MACCOON
BOWLING GREEN 🆚 EASTERN MICHIGAN
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Why is this not on Wednesday night, as God intended?
The ACC standings have six teams with 0/1 conference loss. None are FSU, Clemson or Miami.
Yes, those 3 have underachieved, but here's another idea: The rest of the league has gotten better because the ACC's long-term plan is working.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Yes, those 3 have underachieved, but here's another idea: The rest of the league has gotten better because the ACC's long-term plan is working.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
What made the ACC football standings so unpredictable? Follow the money
Florida State and Clemson pushed for a bigger piece of the ACC pie, but financial changes could actually be helping the middle class.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The ACC standings have six teams with 0/1 conference loss. None are FSU, Clemson or Miami.
Yes, those 3 have underachieved, but here's another idea: The rest of the league has gotten better because the ACC's long-term plan is working.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Yes, those 3 have underachieved, but here's another idea: The rest of the league has gotten better because the ACC's long-term plan is working.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Wow. USF is going up 14-0 and has yet to run an offensive play.
November 7, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Wow. USF is going up 14-0 and has yet to run an offensive play.
Reposted by Matt Baker
With Fickell and Wisconsin, the QB injuries and schedule have undoubtedly been bad luck. But the player evaluation and development have not been good at all. Can they pull a Virginia and spend enough money to build a better team? We'll find out.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell will return to Badgers sideline in 2026
The embattled Badgers coach will return for at least one more season, weathering a very hot seat.
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
With Fickell and Wisconsin, the QB injuries and schedule have undoubtedly been bad luck. But the player evaluation and development have not been good at all. Can they pull a Virginia and spend enough money to build a better team? We'll find out.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Reposted by Matt Baker
From @theathletic.com: No college campus has mastered going viral quite like Alabama. When LSU parades into town this Saturday, sorority row will have been in motion for a week — outfits curated, salon appointments booked and social media primed for the show.
When sorority influencers meet Alabama football, game days turn into a campus-wide catwalk
The outfits are grand and unapologetically bougie. For some women, this is the stage to cash in on the influencer cachet sweeping campuses.
nyti.ms
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
From @theathletic.com: No college campus has mastered going viral quite like Alabama. When LSU parades into town this Saturday, sorority row will have been in motion for a week — outfits curated, salon appointments booked and social media primed for the show.
Reposted by Matt Baker
I'm starting a weekly coaching carousel notebook on intel I'm hearing + interesting nuggets. This week:
- Agents don't buy the Louisiana gov's bluster
- Latest at Florida State
- Some names at Colorado State
- Another Cignetti raise?
And a lot more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
- Agents don't buy the Louisiana gov's bluster
- Latest at Florida State
- Some names at Colorado State
- Another Cignetti raise?
And a lot more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
LSU settles down, Dabo Swinney heats up and the latest in college football’s coaching carousel
With LSU's president and AD now in place, the focus can turn back to the coaching search. Plus, contract quirks at Indiana and Kent State.
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I'm starting a weekly coaching carousel notebook on intel I'm hearing + interesting nuggets. This week:
- Agents don't buy the Louisiana gov's bluster
- Latest at Florida State
- Some names at Colorado State
- Another Cignetti raise?
And a lot more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
- Agents don't buy the Louisiana gov's bluster
- Latest at Florida State
- Some names at Colorado State
- Another Cignetti raise?
And a lot more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...