Max Olson
@max_olson
Covering national college football & transfer portal for @espn
Nico Iamaleava's stunning transfer from Tennessee to UCLA started with a missed practice. But the tensions between Tennessee and Nico's camp began as soon as the 2024 season ended. Story w/ @ClowESPN & @ESPNRittenberg inside an unprecedented QB swap: espn.com/college-footba…
More big news coming from ACC Kickoff: Former FSU/A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is joining the ACC Network as an analyst and will be on ACC Huddle every Saturday. espn.com/college-footba…
Sources: Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff has verbally committed to transfer to Tulane. The school has spent more than a week doing a vetting process, including the university’s Title IX office examining the case that resulted in Retzlaff withdrawing from BYU.
Sources: Quarterback Jake Retzlaff is withdrawing from school at BYU. He still plans on transferring and is expected to take a transfer path that does not involve the NCAA Transfer portal. He plans to simply enroll at a new school.
BREAKING: Five-star DT Lamar Brown, ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2026, has committed to LSU over Texas A&M. Huge win for Brian Kelly + the Tigers to keep Brown home. If he stays at No. 1 in the ESPN 300, Brown will be LSU’s first No. 1 signee since Leonard Fournette in 2014.
We are on the cusp of an unusually deep year for college quarterbacks, as NFL scouts forecast a season of abundant prospects. A peek at the Big 12, which has at least a half-dozen draftable QBs and epitomizes the depth in the sport. espn.com/college-footba…
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark to ESPN on the importance of getting two teams in the CFP: "I think it credentializes our progress. I think we need to, and it's on the football programs to perform at a high level and to get there."
Arizona HC Brent Brennan said he never doubted Noah Fifita was returning for 2025, even when false reports popped up that he was entering the portal. "I think people were so pissed about how the season went and they were just trying to create any kind of drama they could to make…
Talked with West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez about his roster flip with 50 incoming transfers. Exciting to add as much experience as WVU has brought in? Rodriguez quipped: "I'd rather have 20 returning starters, are you shitting me? I've got two!"
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on QB Zane Flores: "He's had a really good offseason, he did well in the spring. We think he's gonna be a really good player. But he has played any games, so that mystery side is still there."
What's next for the CFP. Brett Yormark checks from @Big12Conference Media Days. He tells ESPN he's "relatively confident" that the CFP will go to 16 teams in 2026. He also lays out next steps. Story: @ESPNRittenberg: espn.com/college-footba…
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark: “I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple CFP bids this year.” Doubled down on his belief in a 5+11 model for future CFP expansion.
Sources: Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione will retire from his full-time role during the upcoming school year, bringing an end to the longest-tenured run for a current AD in major college sports. Upon the hiring of his successor, he will stay on as athletic director emeritus.
NEWS: Five-star OT Felix Ojo, No. 20 in the ESPN 300, has committed to Texas Tech. His agent Derrick Shelby tells @ESPN that Ojo will join TTU on a fully guaranteed, 3-year, $5.1 million revenue share contract, believed to be one of the largest guaranteed deals in CFB history.
GAGE WOOD THROWS A NO-HITTER IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES!!!
The industry is bracing for a ripple of realignment, sources tell me/@BonaguraESPN. *Texas State is the heavy favorite to join the Pac-12 *Louisiana Tech is the favorite to replace Texas State in Sun Belt. *What's next for Memphis? *What's CUSA ripple? espn.com/college-footba…
If you know me, then you know my love for the Men’s College World Series, especially its history. I love this piece for the 75th anniversary of the CWS in Omaha. Thanks to our entire ESPN crew for penning this love letter with me. #MCWS
Schools are now free to pay players directly, a new era for college sports brought about by a multi-billion dollar legal settlement approved tonight. espn.com/college-sports…
Hal Mumme, on the NFF changing its Hall of Fame rules opening the door for Mike Leach to get into the Hall of Fame: "It's the only sane thing to do. Why is 60% the magic number? I mean, not everybody gets to coach at Notre Dame or Texas or something." espn.com/college-footba…
The Playbook is in your hands…Cement your program in the history books. Coming July 10. Pre-Order Now. 🔗: x.ea.com/84144