The Scarlet and Gray

[toysoldier00]

Kalani Sitake Leaves BYU for Oklahoma State in Stunning Big 12 Move

Marissa Bleday
December 8, 2025


In one of the most surprising coaching moves of the cycle, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is leaving Provo to take the Oklahoma State job, sources confirmed Monday, just minutes after the Cougars learned they would be headed to the College Football Playoff as the No. 11 seed.

The timing is what makes it so jarring. BYU finished 11-2 and reached the Big 12 championship game, falling to Texas Tech on Saturday. Despite that loss, the Cougars did enough to remain inside the playoff field, earning a first-round trip to Bloomington to face sixth-seeded Indiana, a showcase game, on the road, with the whole country watching. Instead of spending this week selling belief and focus, BYU now has to process the reality that the coach who brought them back to national relevance is heading out the door before the most important game in program history.

Sources say Sitake accepted the move after Oklahoma State presented a package built around dramatically increased NIL resources and long-term infrastructure promises BYU was unable to match. In the modern landscape, that support can be as decisive as salary, and it appears to have been the separating factor as the Cowboys sought stability after a turbulent season.

This was Sitake’s first head coaching job, and he leaves BYU with an 83-45 record. He navigated the program through conference realignment and turned the Cougars into a Big 12 factor, culminating in back-to-back strong seasons that reopened the national conversation around BYU football. Now, the final chapter of his tenure will be written with his team preparing for a playoff game while the sport watches to see what the roster, staff, and administration do next.

For Oklahoma State, the hire is a massive swing after the program fired longtime head coach Mike Gundy in September. The Cowboys are betting Sitake’s culture-building and consistency can steady a program that has felt unmoored for much of the fall.

For BYU, the challenge is immediate: keep the locker room intact, keep the preparation clean, and keep the story from becoming about everything except football. The Cougars still get their shot, 11 seed or not, but they’ll head into Bloomington carrying the strangest kind of weight: the opportunity of the playoff, and the shock of losing the face of the program at the exact moment the spotlight arrives.

Power Four Head Coaching Changes

School	New Coach	From	Former Coach	Reason
Stanford			Troy Taylor	Fired
Florida	Blake Baker	LSU DC	Billy Napier	Fired
Oklahoma State	Kalani Sitake	BYU	Mike Gundy	Fired
Florida State	Glenn Schumann	Georgia DC	Mike Norvell	Fired
Wisconsin	Brian Hartline	Ohio State OC	Luke Fickell	Fired
LSU	Matt Campbell	Iowa State	Brian Kelly	Fired
Michigan State			Jonathan Smith	Fired
Syracuse	Tony Elliott	Virginia	Fran Brown	Fired
Iowa State			Matt Campbell	LSU
Rutgers			Greg Schiano	Retired
Virginia			Tony Elliott	Syracuse
BYU			Kalani Sitake	Oklahoma State

[toysoldier00]

Julian Sayin Headed to New York as Ohio State’s Latest Heisman Finalist
By Zachary Anderson on December 8, 2025


Julian Sayin has emerged as the top challenger to Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza for the Heisman.



Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is headed to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, giving the Buckeyes another marquee name in college football’s most prestigious individual race and capping a late-season surge that changed the shape of the conversation.

Sayin becomes the sixth Ohio State player to be named a Heisman finalist since Ryan Day became head coach and the third quarterback, joining Justin Fields (2019) and C.J. Stroud (2021, 2022). While Sayin spent much of the season outside the front edge of the race, his play over the final stretch forced his way into it.

He enters Heisman week with 3,844 passing yards, 38 touchdown passes and a 74.4% completion rate, adding 103 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He has accounted for nine turnovers total, but his recent performances on the biggest stages gave his candidacy real momentum.

In Ohio State’s final two games, a road win at Michigan that snapped the Buckeyes’ losing streak in the rivalry and a win over No. 3 Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, Sayin was electric. He threw for 694 yards and nine touchdowns while completing 85.1% of his passes, delivering the kind of back-to-back showcase performances that tend to define finalist resumes.

Ryan Day praised Sayin’s growth and poise, noting how the quarterback continued to improve as the season progressed and played his best football when the stakes were highest.

Sayin is widely viewed as the second, though distant, favorite behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but the invitation itself underscores how dramatically his season finished, and how central he has become to Ohio State’s championship push.

 

[toysoldier00]

Clayton Northmont’s Vonn Fuller Wins 2025 Ohio Mr. Football Over Pauly O’Dwyer



By Freddy Juice on December 10, 2025

CANTON, OH -- One of Ohio’s brightest young stars has another major honor to his name.

Clayton Northmont junior Vonn Fuller was named the 2025 Ohio Mr. Football winner on Monday, adding the state’s top individual award to what has already become a breakout season for one of the nation’s best Class of 2027 prospects. Fuller beat a strong field of finalists and further cemented himself as a national name to know heading into his senior year.

Fuller’s case was simple: he was one of the most dynamic players in the state on both sides of the ball.

The two-way standout finished the season with 62 receptions for 1,123 yards and 17 touchdowns as a receiver, while adding 31 carries for 273 yards and four rushing scores. On defense, Fuller recorded 31 tackles and three interceptions, producing at cornerback even as opposing offenses often avoided throwing in his direction.

That combination of explosiveness, versatility and game-changing production made him a weekly problem for opponents and a highlight machine all season long. Whether he was stretching the field as a receiver, creating after the catch, or shutting down a side of the field defensively, Fuller consistently looked like the best athlete on the field.

The award is especially notable because Fuller is only a junior. Winning Ohio Mr. Football before his senior season underscores both how advanced his game already is and how high his ceiling may be. He enters 2026 as one of the premier players in the country, with On3 rating him as the early No. 2 overall prospect in the 2027 class.

For college programs, Fuller’s junior tape has only intensified what was already major national interest. For Ohio high school football, it’s another reminder of the level of top-end talent the state continues to produce.

And for Fuller, this likely won’t be the last major honor. Based on the way he played this fall, the next chapter of his rise is just getting started.

 

[Captain Canada]

Nice seeing Sayin getting some props as a Heisman candidate. Really turned it up during the last few weeks.

Fuller would be one hell of a get.

[Soapy]

those final two games from Sayin were special

[toysoldier00]

Final Pieces of the Coaching Carousel: Stanford, BYU and Michigan State Headline Remaining Power-4 Hires

Marissa Bleday
December 11, 2025


As the 2025 coaching carousel nears its end, the remaining Power-4 openings have now been filled, and the final wave brought a mix of internal promotions, NFL-to-college swings and several hires that left fan bases with more questions than celebration.

The most consequential move may be at Stanford, where the Cardinal promoted Stege Wheeler after he served as quarterbacks coach this season under interim coach Frank Reich following Troy Taylor’s spring firing. Wheeler emerged as a strong recruiter in a difficult situation, most notably helping land 5-star quarterback Bernard Cobourne III, and Stanford is betting continuity and momentum matter more than a splashy outside name.

At BYU, the Cougars made perhaps the strongest “stabilizing” hire of the cycle, bringing in Jim Mora from UConn after Kalani Sitake’s surprising departure to Oklahoma State. Mora went 27-23 at UConn and owns a 73-53 career record, and he arrives in Provo with a recent track record of steady program building after leading the Huskies to back-to-back nine-win seasons. For a BYU program trying to avoid a reset, this feels like a deliberate floor-raising move.

Michigan State, meanwhile, finally landed on Clay Helton after missing on multiple targets. The former USC and Georgia Southern coach brings name recognition and a 72-49 career record, but the reaction in East Lansing has been lukewarm at best. Helton went 26-25 at Georgia Southern, and Spartan fans were clearly hoping for a higher-upside hire after a disastrous Jonathan Smith tenure.

The most surprising Power-4 move might be Virginia, which pivoted quickly after losing Tony Elliott to Syracuse and hired Washington Commanders passing game coordinator Roger McClellan. McClellan has no head coaching experience, making this one of the bigger bets of the cycle. Virginia is essentially wagering that offensive innovation and NFL pedigree can outweigh the lack of college CEO experience.

At Rutgers, school leadership went with a familiar builder’s profile in Chris Creighton, hired away from Eastern Michigan. Creighton’s 61-83 record at EMU won’t wow anyone on paper, but Rutgers officials are reportedly pleased with the hire, viewing him as a program organizer with a history of maximizing difficult jobs.

Iowa State, made the most puzzling hire of the group, turning to UTEP’s Scotty Walden, who went 5-19 with the Miners. The move reads as a reminder of the realities of the market: Iowa State may have prioritized fit, energy and perceived long-term upside over résumé strength after Matt Campbell left for LSU.

The ripple effects continued in the Northeast. UConn responded to Mora’s exit by hiring Bill O’Brien from Boston College. O’Brien went 15-17 at BC and likely faced a hot seat next season, so the move gives him a reset and gives UConn a proven high-level coach with NFL and Power-4 experience.

Boston College, in turn, hired Butch Jones from Arkansas State. Jones was just 25-37 at Arkansas State, but his broader résumé, including successful runs at Cincinnati and Tennessee, helped make him an acceptable reclamation project in Chestnut Hill.

And outside the Power 4, one of the most interesting moves came at UTSA, which hired former Florida head coach Billy Napier, a name that instantly raises the profile of the Roadrunners’ program.

The carousel’s final chapter may not have delivered many home-run headlines, but it delivered something just as revealing: in modern college football, fit, timing and availability often matter as much as star power.


Power Four Head Coaching Changes

School	New Coach	From	Former Coach	Reason
Stanford	Stege Wheeler	Stanford QB	Troy Taylor	Fired
Florida	Blake Baker	LSU DC	Billy Napier	Fired
Oklahoma State	Kalani Sitake	BYU	Mike Gundy	Fired
Florida State	Glenn Schumann	Georgia DC	Mike Norvell	Fired
Wisconsin	Brian Hartline	Ohio State OC	Luke Fickell	Fired
LSU	Matt Campbell	Iowa State	Brian Kelly	Fired
Michigan State	Clay Helton	Georgia Southern	Jonathan Smith	Fired
Syracuse	Tony Elliott	Virginia	Fran Brown	Fired
Iowa State	Scotty Walden	UTEP	Matt Campbell	LSU
Rutgers	Chris Creighton	Eastern Michigan	Greg Schiano	Retired
Virginia	Roger McClellan	Wash. Commanders PGC	Tony Elliott	Syracuse
BYU	Jim Mora	UConn	Kalani Sitake	Oklahoma State
UConn	Bill O'Brien	Boston College	Jim Mora	BYU
Boston College	Butch Jones	Arkansas State	Bill O'Brien	UConn
UTSA	Billy Napier	Florida

[toysoldier00]

those final two games from Sayin were special

I think the BigTen Championship is the cleanest game I've ever had with a QB in this game tbh

Nice seeing Sayin getting some props as a Heisman candidate. Really turned it up during the last few weeks.

Fuller would be one hell of a get.

Fuller's a must get in my opinion, and I'm really excited to see what he could be. He's a corner back ATH and if I can land him, I'm having dreams about seeing if he can be a two-way player

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs Wins Thorpe Award, Adding Another Major Honor to a Stacked Career
By Zachary Anderson on December 12, 2025


Ohio State’s Caleb Downs has once again played like the best defender in College Football.



Ohio State safety Caleb Downs added another major milestone to one of college football’s most decorated early careers Friday, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back.

Downs, who began his career at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State, now adds the Thorpe to a résumé that already includes an SEC championship in 2023, a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024 and a Big Ten title in 2025. He is also widely expected to be named a two-time All-American later Friday night.

The Thorpe Award recognizes the best defensive back in the country, and Downs’ 2025 season made a compelling case on both production and impact. He led Ohio State in tackles with 86 while serving as the centerpiece of one of the nation’s top defenses, showing up in every phase of the game as a run defender, blitzer, coverage player and takeaway creator.

In 717 snaps this season, Downs totaled 10 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and 10 pass breakups. He also forced three fumbles, recovered two and scored two defensive touchdowns, a rare level of playmaking volume for a safety who was also tasked with cleaning up mistakes and setting the tone on the back end.

For Ohio State, the award is another marker of the program’s defensive standard. For Downs, it’s the latest addition to a career that has already spanned two blue-blood programs and multiple championship stages, and still appears to be building toward an even bigger finish.

 

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith Wins Biletnikoff Award After Record-Breaking Season
By Zachary Anderson on December 12, 2025


Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith was the nation's top receiver in 2025.



Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith won the Biletnikoff Award on Friday night, taking home college football’s top honor for a receiver after a dominant, record-breaking season.

Smith, widely viewed as the most talented player in the sport and the heavy favorite entering the ceremony, finished 2025 with 96 receptions for 1,296 yards and 15 touchdowns. He broke Ohio State’s single-season receptions record in the Big Ten Championship Game, adding another milestone to a season that consistently felt inevitable in its excellence.

The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding receiver, and Smith’s combination of volume, explosiveness and red-zone production made him the clear headliner. Whether Ohio State needed a chain-moving catch, a vertical shot or a game-changing play in a marquee moment, Smith was the focal point.

Smith becomes the second Buckeye to win a major national award on Friday, as safety Caleb Downs captured the Thorpe Award just minutes earlier. Together, the honors underscore Ohio State’s star power on both sides of the ball as the Buckeyes continue their postseason run.

Southern Miss wide receiver Elijah Metcalf finished second in the Biletnikoff voting, while Alabama receiver Ryan Williams placed third.

For Ohio State, Smith’s award adds another chapter to the program’s long line of elite wideouts. For Smith, it confirms what much of the sport believed throughout the fall: he was not just productive, but the standard at the position in 2025.

 

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State’s Arvell Reese Wins Butkus Award After Breakout All-America Campaign
By Zachary Anderson on December 12, 2025


Arvell Reese exploded this season into one of the nation's best players in his first year as a starter.



Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese won the Butkus Award on Friday night, giving the Buckeyes a third major national honor in a remarkable awards haul for the program.

Reese emerged as one of college football’s most dominant defenders in 2025, turning a breakout season into one of the most complete linebacker résumés in the country. He finished the year with 82 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown across 695 snaps.

His impact went well beyond the box score. Reese was a centerpiece of Ohio State’s defense and one of the most versatile linebackers in the nation, showing the ability to play downhill against the run, disrupt passing lanes and create takeaways in big moments. He also won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors three separate times this season, underscoring how often he swung games for the Buckeyes.

Reese’s Butkus Award win follows Ohio State safety Caleb Downs taking home the Thorpe Award and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith winning the Biletnikoff earlier Friday, a sweep that reflects Ohio State’s star power across all three levels of the game.

Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen finished second in the Butkus voting, while Georgia linebacker CJ Allen placed third.

For Ohio State, Reese’s win adds another national accolade to an already loaded season. For Reese, it cements his rise from promising talent to one of the defining defensive players in college football.