Matt Fortuna
@mattfortuna
Subscribe to The Inside Zone ✍️ Subscribe to The Independent 🎙️ Adjunct: DePaul. Past: ESPN, The Athletic, FWAA President
Air Force and AD Nathan Pine announce that they have “mutually and amicably agreed to part ways.” Pine was let go two weeks ago.
Illinois has hired Tory Teykl as executive director of football operations and logistics. Teykl comes to the Illini from Texas, where she was ops director for the women's basketball team.
Illinois AD Josh Whitman is set to receive a multi-year contract extension, according to UI system's BoT agenda for today's meeting. Whitman, the B1G's second-longest tenured AD, has reinvigorated the Illini, hiring Brad Underwood, Bret Bielema and Shauna Green while shattering fundraising records.
How different does Brian Kelly’s LSU tenure look if Tommy Rees and Marcus Freeman come with him from Notre Dame? “I think it means a lot.” SUBSCRIBE to The Independent ⬇️ 🍎 bit.ly/4fxVg1s 🎧 bit.ly/4gCkblI 📺 bit.ly/4f5bopK
“I still have my seats there.” Brian Kelly on what it’s like to be back at Notre Dame and more: From The Independent ⬇️ 🍎 bit.ly/4fxVg1s 🎧 bit.ly/4gCkblI 📺 bit.ly/4f5bopK
The ACC has a new tiebreaker policy for its football championship game. Remember, the conference is moving to a 9-game league schedule this season, with 12 of the 17 teams playing 9 this fall and 5 teams playing 8.
🚨 NEW POD 🚨 Former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly joins The Independent, and he has plenty of nice things to say about Marcus Freeman. SUBSCRIBE ⬇️ 🍎 bit.ly/4fxVg1s 🎧 bit.ly/4gCkblI 📺 bit.ly/4f5bopK
🚨 COMING TOMORROW 🚨 Former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly joins The Independent. You won’t want to miss this one.
SMU has launched K7NG OF DALLAS, its Heisman campaign for QB Kevin Jennings smumustangs.com/feature/kj7
“I’m staying home, Go Irish.” Notre Dame lands four-star LB Roman Igwebuike, an Indiana native who stars at Chicago’s Mount Carmel. Fun moment on 247’s stream as Igwebuike’s little brother breaks down in tears upon the announcement.
Michigan has removed the interim tag from Mike Boynton and has signed him to a two-year deal to become the Wolverines’ next head coach.
Jamie Pollard has been at Iowa State since 2005, making him the longest-tenured FBS AD. MTSU’s Chris Massaro will be the longest upon Pollard’s retirement, with Oregon’s Rob Mullens the longest among Power 4 ADs.
The CFP announces dates and sites for the quarterfinals and semifinals through 2031-32:
Notre Dame-Wisconsin will be a blue vs. red matchup at Lambeau Field, as both programs unbelievable their game jerseys this week.
Notre Dame unveils its Shamrock Series uniforms for its opener vs. Wisconsin in Green Bay. Yes, these appear to be the same as the jerseys Scheels revealed last month.
The Big 12 announces Monster Energy as the entitlement partner of football and basketball regular seasons. Thet will be branded Monster Energy Big 12 Football and Monster Energy Big 12 Basketball. A co-branded Monster Energy/Big 12 logo will be on football and basketball jerseys, fields and courts
Source: UNLV is promoting Mitch Singler to special teams coordinator. Singler spent last season in an analyst role with the Rebels, after three seasons on the Las Vegas Raiders’ staff.
More Under Armour uniform news, as Northwestern unveils its purple gothic unis
Wisconsin has announced a jersey patch sponsorship with Culver’s for football, men’s basketball and men’s hockey. The Badgers will debut these patches Sept. 6, when football faces Notre Dame at Lambeau Field.
Fun preseason hype for Cincinnati, which asks if it has the nation’s best offensive line. The Bearcats invite fans to “Pancake with Us” this fall, highlighting a unit that returns three all-conference starters after surrendering the fewest sacks and TFLs among P4 teams.
Congrats to the great Linda Cohn on anchoring her final SportsCenter tonight. I’m not saying she’s been doing this awhile, but … 😅
Texas has won its third straight Learfield Directors’ Cup, and its fifth in the past six years. The Cup goes to the nation’s top athletic department. Stanford finished No. 2, and is the only school to finish in the top-3 in all 32 years of the Cup’s existence.
Utah will become an Adidas school beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. Notably, “all Utah student-athletes will be eligible to participate in adidas’ wide-ranging NIL Ambassador Network.” The Utes recently ended their 18-year partnership with Under Armour.
Michigan senior assistant AD for football operations Scott Goldschmidt has joined the MAC as assistant commissioner for football operations.
Jim Tressel will be enshrined in Ohio Stadium's Ring of Honor when the Buckeyes open the season Sept. 4 vs. Ball State. He becomes the third Ohio State coach to receive the honor, joining Paul Brown and Woody Hayes.
Big news for Northwestern, as center Jackson Carsello has been granted an additional year of eligibility.
Mike Boynton is expected to become Michigan's interim coach, per ESPN. As outlined in my column, this makes a ton of sense in this environment ⬇️ www.insidezonemf.com/p/dusty-may-...
I remember reading this from @mattnorlander.bsky.social 10 days after Michigan won the national title and thinking: Man, why would Dusty May (or anyone at his level) not go to the NBA the first chance they get? www.cbssports.com/college-bask...