David Ubben

Texas Tech built “the best team money can buy.” We asked the Big 12s coaches for their thoughts and granted anonymity for candor. They had a lot to say. “Childish.” “Ridiculous.” “Awesome.” “Jealous.” “If they don’t win the Big 12, holy cow.” nytimes.com/athletic/64860…

Mississippi State has 24 hours to recruit and sign F1 Hatfield

Deion Sanders is back in Boulder after being away from campus for around three months dealing with an unspecified health issue. He plans to address media on Monday alongside his medical team. nytimes.com/athletic/65165…

Many of the changes in college sports have been decided behind closed doors, in court rooms and conference rooms, with the bottom line leading the way. But what do the people who love college sports want? Let us know in @TheAthletic’s 2025 fan survey. nytimes.com/athletic/65132…

The next time somebody asks me why CFB is my favorite sport I’ll just send them this tweet

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor says his team gets some kind of superspiritual power with its connection to fans at the Alamodome. Said he just watched Avatar and it's a similar connection to the Na'vi and their home tree.

Conference media days are an only-in-college-sports event. So what was it like at Bill Belichick's first one? @davidubben followed the most interesting coach in the country closely (but not tooooo closely). nytimes.com/athletic/65147…

American commissioner Tim Pernetti on the UTSA/Memphis playbook issue, which he called "much ado about nothing." "There’s not much to this story. A lot of it has been sensationalized and some of it is, quite frankly, clickbait." Said both coaches will address later today.

American commissioner Tim Pernetti on Memphis' attempt to leave for the Big 12: "I admire that ambition. I give them credit for having the guts to go after it. We’re not surprised by it. We’re building strong, resilient programs in the conference."

American commissioner Tim Perneti says the league will be instituting player injury reports ahead of games this season. It will be reported on game days.

American commissioner Tim Pernetti on realignment, which he says is happening every day: "We know the meaning of other conferences wanting your members. It’s the ultimate compliment."

American commissioner Tim Pernetti joked he'll be fining people in the media for using "sunsetted" terms from the league like "AAC."

Tim Pernetti: "Instead of cutting sports and roster spots in response to the House settlement, we should be adding them." Pushed for schools to expand non-scholarship sports as a revenue source.

Pernetti spoke of his respect for Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey but said this on the commissioner room guiding the CFP: "In that room we work for college football. The collective voice has to reflect the entire sport."

American commissioner Tim Pernetti is speaking out about the Big Ten's "4-4-2-whatever" plan for the College Football Playoff. Said everything should be earned on the field. "We are supportive of a format that preserves our access and provides the opportunity to earn more."

American commissioner Tim Pernetti is pushing for a single portal window at an "appropriate" time. "A transfer portal window between the end of the regular season and bowl games? What the hell are we doing?"

He almost quit football to become a firefighter. Then became a star at App State and earned a spot at UCLA. Then UCLA brought in Nico. On Joey Aguilar and the first unofficial quarterback trade in college football history. nytimes.com/athletic/65106…

"Is this real life?" Bill Belichick spent six hours in Charlotte making the rounds at #ACCKickoff. I followed him around and wrore about everything you didn't see on TV. nytimes.com/athletic/65147…

In the spirit of Happy Gilmore 2, we’re offering up sports movies that need a sequel. For Your Consideration: Little Giants 2. nytimes.com/athletic/65113…

A year after Greg Newman's career ended his mind began to betray him. The ensuing two decades were a tragic slide. Unhoused before his death, Greg's "imaginary world was more real to him than this.” On a family’s search for the answer they long suspected. nytimes.com/athletic/64964…