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11/28/25 - QB Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa + More +

Mark Gronowski rushed for two touchdowns and passed for a third, Kamari Moulton ran for 93 yards and two scores, and Iowa spoiled Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson's career game with a 40-16 victory Friday. The Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) broke open what was a one-point game late in the second quarter with three touchdowns and a safety and they shut out the Cornhuskers in the second half. They took home the Heroes Trophy after their 10th win in 11 meetings with their border rival. Johnson had 177 of his career-high 217 yards for Nebraska (7-5, 4-5) in the first half, and he matched his career high with 29 carries. It was Johnson's eighth 100-yard game of the season and fifth straight. He broke a career-long 70-yard run on the Huskers' first possession. Johnson, who averaged 9.3 yards per carry in the first half, was limited to 40 yards on 10 carries in the second.

The temperature was 26 degrees at kickoff, and intermittent light snow fell in the first half. Iowa started taking control when Gronowski scored from the 1 in the final minute of the half. The Hawkeyes recorded a safety early in the third quarter when Jacory Barney muffed a punt and the Huskers' Jamir Conn recovered it in the end zone. TD runs of 6 yards by Gronowski and 1 yard by Moulton made it a 34-point game and sent many of the fans home early in the fourth quarter. Gronowski was 9 of 16 for 166 yards and he carried 13 times for 64. Nebraska freshman TJ Lateef, making his third start in place of the injured Dylan Raiola and first at Memorial Stadium, played most of the game with a tight hamstring and was just 9 of 24 for 69 yards. - Iowa/AP College Football

QB Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (11)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

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Iowa Player News & Notes

News Source: Iowa/AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - QB Parker Navarro, rSr/2026, Ohio + More +

Parker Navarro had 268 yards of total offense, Sieh Bangura added 120 yards rushing, and Ohio stayed alive in the chase for the MAC championship game, defeating Buffalo 31-26 on Friday. Ohio (8-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) needs Ball State (3-4) to defeat Miami (5-2) on Saturday in order to have a shot at making the conference championship game. Miami is heavily favored. A Miami loss would leave Ohio tied for second place with the winner of the Saturday matchup between Central Michigan (5-2) and Toledo (5-2). In that scenario, the final tiebreaker would go to the team with the higher Team Rating from SportSource Analytics. Western Michigan (7-1) has clinched first place.

Against Buffalo, Navarro passed for 147 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He had 121 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Bangura had a rushing touchdown. Led by the two 100-yard rushers, Ohio had 359 yards on the ground. Navarro threw two touchdown passes in the first half and the Bobcats took a 21-7 halftime lead. His 6-yard scoring run in the third quarter made it 28-13. A 58-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson to Victor Snow helped set up Roberson's 5-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The two-point try to get the Bulls within seven points failed and Ohio led 28-19. Roberson's 29-yad TD pass to Jesaiah Gathings made it 31-26 but the Bulls did not cross midfield on their final possession. Roberson had 270 yards passing and Nik McMillan caught five passes for 122 yards for Buffalo (5-7, 4-4). - Ohio/AP College Football

QB Parker Navarro, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (137)

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Ohio Player News & Notes

News Source: Ohio/AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - RB Gavin Garcia, rJr/2027, Kent State + More +

Gavin Garcia rushed for a career-high 151 yards and the game-winning score as Kent State rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Northern Illinois, 35-31 on Friday in the season finale for both teams. The Golden Flashes (5-7, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) trailed 31-20 early in the final quarter, but Cade Wolford broke free for a 31-yard rushing score to cut the deficit to one possession. Kent State forced a punt and took the lead for good on Garcia's 26-yard rush with 4:11 left in regulation.

Dru DeShields was 11-of-22 passing for 207 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Dashawn Martin caught three passes for 91 yards and a score, and Wayne Harris had three catches for 46 yards. It was the first win for the Flashes at Northern Illinois since Sept. 25, 1966, breaking a 59-year drought. Northern Illinois (3-9, 2-6) was paced by Chavon Wright's 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 30 carries, and Jalen Macon added 65 yards and two scores on 17 carries. The Huskies are leaving the MAC to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member next season. - Kent State/AP College Football

RB Gavin Garcia, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (00)

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Kent State Player News & Notes

News Source: Kent State/AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - QB Elijah Brown, rFr/2029, Stanford + More +

Stanford is hiring Tavita Pritchard as the school's next head coach, sources told ESPN on Friday. The hire has been finalized, per sources, and the team has been informed. He's a former Stanford quarterback, assistant coach and coordinator. Pritchard is the Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach, a job he took in 2023 after various roles on the Stanford staff from 2010 to 2022. Pritchard has received permission to leave the Commanders to join the Stanford staff, which sources say he's expected to do after Washington plays Denver on Sunday night.

Pritchard emerged from a pool of more than 30 candidates in a process run by general manager Andrew Luck that included new athletic director John Donahoe, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Stanford President Jonathan Levin. Stanford's pool included strong interest from both the college and NFL world. "Beyond his extensive history at the school, Tavita resoundingly emerged as the best candidate," a Stanford source told ESPN. "His leadership qualities, especially as a connector of people, a strong football mind and a history of recruiting high-end players to Stanford all factored into the decision." It's the first signature full-time hire for Luck, who was hired a year ago. It's also the biggest early move of Donahoe's tenure after being hired in the athletic director chair on July 31. Pritchard and Luck have a long relationship, as Pritchard was Stanford's starting quarterback in 2008 before getting beat out by Luck in 2009. Pritchard will replace interim coach Frank Reich, who came in for the 2025 season. Stanford is 4-7 heading into the season finale at home against No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday. Reich led Stanford to an upset of rival Cal last week, snapping a four-year losing streak. - ESPN College Football

QB Elijah Brown, rFr/2029 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (07)

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Stanford Player News & Notes

News Source: ESPN College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - QB DJ Lagway, So/2028, Florida + More +

Florida has shifted focus from Lane Kiffin in the school's coaching search, as the school has sensed through irregular communication that he is interested in other options, sources told ESPN on Friday. Florida, which is searching for former coach Billy Napier's successor, has interviewed roughly a dozen candidates and is optimistic about the process. Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Tulane's Jon Sumrall and Washington's Jedd Fisch are believed to be among the candidates the Gators are still considering. Florida targeted Kiffin early in the search and offered him a deal to put him among the highest-paid coaches in college football, which included significant incentives.

Ole Miss officials told ESPN ahead of Friday's Egg Bowl against Mississippi State in Starkville that Kiffin is expected to provide them with a decision about his future on Friday night or Saturday. He's also considering a lucrative contract offer from SEC rival LSU. LSU also wants an answer from Kiffin, as the coaching carousel has intensified the Tigers' search, as well as a potential one at Ole Miss if Kiffin leaves. Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, two of the top candidates believed to be under consideration at either Florida or LSU, signed six-year contract extensions with their respective schools in the past 24 hours. If the No. 7 Rebels defeat the Bulldogs on Friday, they'll finish 11-1 and are expected to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. They would possibly host a first-round game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, on Dec. 19 or 20. If Kiffin decides to leave for LSU, the Rebels have an interim plan in place. Sources previously told ESPN that former New York Giants interim coach Joe Judge would likely serve as interim head coach. - ESPN College Football

QB DJ Lagway, So/2028 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 4* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 5* (03)

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Florida Player News & Notes

News Source: ESPN College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - SS CJ Heard, So/2028, Vanderbilt + More +

In the midst of a historic season for Vanderbilt, the school agreed to a new contract with coach Clark Lea with the aim of keeping Vanderbilt competitive with the top of the SEC. Per ESPN sources, Lea has a new six-year deal to remain the Commodores coach. This comes amid a hectic coaching cycle in which Lea drew interest from multiple high-end suitors with open jobs. Lea and Vanderbilt agreed to the deal this week, and it includes a significant salary increase for Lea. It also includes numerous assets to continue the program's upward trend, including additional resources for both staff and facilities. Lea has led No. 14 Vanderbilt on a remarkable ascent the past two seasons. This year, he has led Vanderbilt to a 9-2 record and a 5-2 mark in the SEC, as Vanderbilt is part of the College Football Playoff conversation with a chance to get to 10-2 at No. 19 Tennessee this weekend.

Last season, Vanderbilt rattled off a series of firsts in program history, including a first win over a No. 1 team when the Commodores toppled Alabama. It marked the first time since 1955 that Vanderbilt beat Alabama and Auburn in the same season. Vanderbilt's turnaround came in sync with a staff overhaul after a 2023 season that saw the team go winless in the SEC. That included the hiring of New Mexico State offensive coordinator Tim Beck in the same role and New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill in a chief consulting role. That led to the transfer of dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia, who has spearheaded the culture change on the field for the Commodores. Following Lea's extension, sources told ESPN's Eli Lederman that Vanderbilt is expected to intensify its efforts to flip five-star Georgia quarterback commit Jared Curtis before the early signing period opens next week. Curtis, ESPN's No. 1 pocket passer in the 2026 class, is from Nashville and could have the opportunity to compete to start from Day 1 with the Commodores next fall. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound passer has been the top-ranked member of Georgia's incoming recruiting class since May. - ESPN College Football

SS CJ Heard, So/2028 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (703)

+ Vanderbilt Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Vanderbilt Player News & Notes

News Source: ESPN College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - QB Maalik Murphy, rJr/2027, Oregon State + More +

Oregon State has named Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as the school's next head coach, the school announced Friday. The deal is for five years, per ESPN sources. Shephard was also Alabama's assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. "I'm honored to lead the Oregon State University football program and to join a community that cares so deeply about its student-athletes," Shephard said in a statement. "We will build a culture rooted in toughness, integrity, and relentless effort, and I'm excited to get to work with our players, staff, and supporters to write the next great chapter of Beaver football." Shephard brings significant experience in both the Pacific Northwest and in the Pac-12, as he has worked at both Washington State (2016) and was on Kalen DeBoer's Washington staff (2022-23) that went to the national title game after the 2023 season.

Shephard replaces Trent Bray, who was fired with a 5-14 record in his second season this October. Oregon State is 2-9 this season, and the athletic department is dealing with the seismic financial shift that came with the traditional Pac-12 fracturing apart. Alabama has one of the country's top wide receiving duos in Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. That group for Shephard comes in the wake of Shephard coaching the best trio of wide receivers in college football in 2023 at Washington: Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan. At Purdue, Shephard coached star receivers Rondale Moore, a first-team All-American, and David Bell, who earned first-team All Big Ten honors. At Purdue, he worked as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. At Washington State in 2016, Shephard coached future NFL receiver River Cracraft. Throughout the years, Shephard has developed a reputation as an elite connector, with an ability to identify and develop talent. - ESPN College Football

QB Maalik Murphy, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (08)

+ Oregon State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Oregon State Player News & Notes

News Source: ESPN College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/28/25 - QB Blake Horvath, Sr/2026, Navy + More +

Alex Tecza had 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 26 carries, Blake Horvath accounted for two TDs, and Navy beat Memphis 28-17 on Thursday night to clinch at least a tie for the American Athletic Conference regular-season title. Navy (9-2, 7-1) has a half-game lead over North Texas and No. 24 Tulane, both of which wrap up the regular season this weekend. The Mean Green - which beat the Midshipmen 31-17 on Nov. 1 - hosts Temple on Friday and the Green Wave plays Charlotte at home on Saturday. Horvath was 5-of-9 passing for 100, which included a 3-yard TD pass to Kendall Evans, and capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run that made it 28-17 with 4:53 to play.

Tecza, who ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the first half, scored on a 12-yard run to make it 21-17 with 1:01 remaining in the third quarter and Navy led the rest of the way. Brendon Lewis completed 19 of 36 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns for Memphis (6-4, 4-4). Lewis threw a 1-yard TD pass to Matt Adcock midway through the second quarter and hit Cortez Braham Jr. for a 38-yard score with 1:43 left until halftime that gave the Tigers a 17-14 lead. Horvath finished with 54 yards rushing. - Navy/AP College Football

QB Blake Horvath, Sr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (18)
Recruiting Grade: 2* (201)

+ Navy Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Navy Player News & Notes

News Source: Navy/AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/27/25 - QB TeSean Smoot, rJr/2027, Alabama State + More +

Te'Sean Smoot threw for 422 yards and four touchdowns, with 189 yards going to Jalen Jones, and Alabama State beat Tuskegee 58-21 on Thursday in the 101st Turkey Day Classic. Alabama State (10-2) finished co-champions of the SWAC East Division, but Jackson State advanced to the conference championship game after earning the tiebreaker over the Hornets. Alabama State recorded 10 wins for the first time since 2004, when the Hornets last won the SWAC title. Alabama State scored 44 straight point spanning the halftime break. Smoot started the second-quarter scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Creech for a tie at 21. Then the Hornets scored 17 points in the final five minutes of the half, including a 42-yard pick-six by Ta'Shaun Sims - his second of the game. Sims' first interception came deep in Alabama State territory, and the Hornets went on a 10-play, 82-yard drive ending in a 6-yard touchdown run by Marcus Harris II.

Alabama State opened the second half with a three-play, 75-yard drive ending in Smoot's 12-yard touchdown pass to Derick Harden. Smoot added a 13-yard touchdown pass to Manny Thompson on the Hornets' second drive after halftime. Michael Franklin was 12 of 29 for 208 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions for Tuskegee (4-7). Zina Mulbah II had two touchdowns on the ground. Devon Cooper had a 67-yard touchdown reception. Tuskegee played for the first since defeating Miles College 24-23 on Nov. 8. - AP College Football

QB TeSean Smoot, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (93)

+ Alabama State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Alabama State Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/27/25 - QB Beau Pribula, rJr/2027, Missouri + More +

Missouri and Eli Drinkwitz have agreed to a six-year contract that will push the football coach's average compensation to $10.75 million annually and likely end any speculation that he could leave for one of the high-profile job openings elsewhere. The new contract was announced Thursday, one day after the University of Missouri Board of Curators held a meeting in which they voted unanimously to approve the deal. It would keep Drinkwitz leading the Tigers through the 2031 season. "My family and I believe deeply in the vision and leadership from our administration and are incredibly happy to continue calling Columbia our home," Drinkwitz said. "I'm grateful for the unwavering support of President Mun Choi, the Board of Curators, led by chair Todd Graves and incoming vice chair Bob Blitz, along with our athletics director, Laird Veatch. "We're also incredibly thankful for the support of our generous donors and NIL partners," Drinkwitz added in a statement released by the school. "I'm committed to continuing our work to build Mizzou into a championship program." Drinkwitz was hired by Missouri in December 2019 after a single season at Appalachian State, where he went 12-1 and finished the year ranked in the top 20.

The Tigers had fallen on hard times, but Drinkwitz steadily built them into a contender in the Southeastern Conference, reaching a bowl game in each of his first five seasons with a record of 45–28 heading into Saturday's game against Arkansas. That success, which included an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl victory two years ago, made Drinkwitz a hot commodity on the coaching carousel. Missouri has acted aggressively to keep him, and the deal given to him this week is the second in the last four months. Missouri officials were no doubt worried about losing Drinkwitz amid a hot coaching market. SEC rivals LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn have openings, while power programs such as Penn State, UCLA and Stanford also are looking for new coaches. "Under his vision and leadership, Coach Drinkwitz has transformed the standard for Mizzou football and united our entire program and fan base behind a clear pursuit of excellence," Veatch said. "We're thrilled he will continue leading our team into the future." - AP College Football

QB Beau Pribula, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (22)

+ Missouri Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Missouri Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/26/25 - SS Caden Dowler, Jr/2027, Montana State + More +

2025 BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State,...Justin Lamson and Caden Dowler, two of the heroes from MSU's 31-28 victory over Montana in last weekend's Brawl of the Wild, won individual honors partly for their outstanding play down the stretch. Lamson scored 26 touchdowns (17 passing, 9 rushing) in conference play alone, while Dowler had four interceptions and two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the final three games of the season. The Bobcats have now won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors and three of the last five awards overall, as Dowler joins Brody Grebe in 2024 and Troy Andersen in 2021. The Newcomer of the Year recognition is the first for MSU since Sean Chambers won the same honor in 2022. - Big Sky Football

SS Caden Dowler, Jr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* ()

+ Montana State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Montana State Player News & Notes

News Source: Big Sky Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/26/25 - RB Eli Gillman, rJr/2027, Montana + More +

2025 BIG SKY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Eli Gillman, RB, Montana,...Gillman, who led the league in rushing yards per game (105.1) and rushing touchdowns (17), became the first Grizzly to win Offensive Player of the Year honors since John Edwards in 2002. Additionally, Gillman joins all-time great Cooper Kupp as the only Big Sky players to have won both the Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors during their career. - Big Sky Football

RB Eli Gillman, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 2* (00)

+ Montana Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Montana Player News & Notes

News Source: Big Sky Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/26/25 - QB Caden Pinnick, rFr/2029, California-Davis + More +

2025 BIG SKY FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis,...This year's Freshman of the Year was a unanimous selection, as Pinnick played like a veteran all season long for the Aggies. In conference play, Pinnick racked up 294.6 passing yards per game and tossed 18 touchdowns, which led all other Big Sky quarterbacks during that stretch. Pinnick becomes the third Aggie to win Freshman of the Year honors, but the first to win on the offensive side of the ball, as he joins Nick Eaton (2019) and Chubba Maae (2020). - Big Sky Football

QB Caden Pinnick, rFr/2029 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* ()

+ California-Davis Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
California-Davis Player News & Notes

News Source: Big Sky Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/26/25 - QB Justin Lamson, rSr/2026, Montana State + More +

2025 BIG SKY NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State,...Justin Lamson and Caden Dowler, two of the heroes from MSU's 31-28 victory over Montana in last weekend's Brawl of the Wild, won individual honors partly for their outstanding play down the stretch. Lamson scored 26 touchdowns (17 passing, 9 rushing) in conference play alone, while Dowler had four interceptions and two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the final three games of the season. - Big Sky Football

QB Justin Lamson, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (78)

+ Montana State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Montana State Player News & Notes

News Source: Big Sky Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

11/26/25 - ILB Jack Stoll, Sr/2026, Central Connecticut + More +

2025 NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): LB Jack Stoll, CCSU, Sr, 6-0, 230, Lafayette, NJ/Pope John XXII,...It's also an NEC Defensive Player of the Year repeat for the Blue Devils in 2025 as Stoll duplicated the efforts of former linemate Kimal Clark. The Garden State product quietly transformed into the cornerstone of a stingy Central Connecticut unit that was second on the circuit in scoring defense at 22.6 points per game. In 12 games, the senior racked up 50 solo and 36 assisted stops to lead the Blue Devils and rank third in the conference with 86 tackles. In addition, his team-leading 15.5 tackles-for-loss are second-best among NEC tacklers.

Stoll's combination of tackling and discipline, along with his knack for making big plays, are all contributing factors to another championship for the Blue Devils. His season highlight was arguably one of the most pivotal moments of the 2025 NEC slate. With the game-tying field goal lined up for LIU in the game's closing seconds on Nov. 1, Stoll ultimately saved Central Connecticut's season in the defensive slugfest when he hurdled over the line and blocked the potential game-tying score. He finished with season-best totals of 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss in the 10-7 win, which preserved the Blue Devils undefeated record. The Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award finalist also added another feather to his cap with a second-straight All-NEC First Team nod. He is the third NEC Defensive Player of the Year honoree in Blue Devil history. - NEC Football

ILB Jack Stoll, Sr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* ()

+ Central Connecticut Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Central Connecticut Player News & Notes

News Source: NEC Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here