Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 7hOh, I misread you earlier! My bad haha. Just filed it, thanks to your dedication and passion. 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 9hThe docuseries or my review? The show kept my attention the whole time, and I learned a lot. Candidly, I almost felt bad for Saban sometimes. What good is climbing the mountain if you never enjoy the journey or destination? 100
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 10hI can't decide if this is surprising or completely obvious, but: EVERY one of our 25 staffers who participated in our weekly Heisman poll put Jeremiah Smith No. 1. www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...nytimes.comWho’s winning the Heisman after Week 5? Ranking the top 10 playersOhio State's Jeremiah Smith is threatening to run away with this Heisman race before midseason after another dominant showing. 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 10hWait 'till you read the review tomorrow! After I finish writing it, of course. 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 11hI hate these updates this time of year. Hoping this ends up being nothing more than a minor, rainy inconvenience for all and that we return to what's been a quiet hurricane season (knocking on every piece of wood within arm's length) www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...nytimes.comCould Tropical Storm Isaias affect Alabama-Georgia? The SEC is keeping watch 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 12hWinning the Heisman has always meant prestige. Now, for some college football stars, it could also mean a six-figure payday. Inside the contracts that could make the Heisman race worth even more than the trophy itself. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...nytimes.comWhy the Heisman Trophy could come with a six-figure bonus for some players (Gift Article)Incentives have long been a staple of pro contracts. They're making their way to college players' deals, too. 000
Reposted by Matt BakerBruce Feldman @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Last winter Lane Kiffin was the hottest commodity on the coaching carousel. LSU landed him. Florida ended up with Jon Sumrall. Gators fans should be thrilled how this played out: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764... 5352
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Favorite tidbit: The fan who was escorted out of Jimbo's radio show for asking the coach about loyalty met by chance on Halloween as Jimbo handed out big candy bars on his front stoop. The fan left with a new understanding of Jimbo's loyalty/ appreciation for FSU. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...nytimes.comJimbo Fisher had a ‘disastrous’ exit from Florida State. Now some fans want him backFlorida State fans fumed at Fisher's messy departure for Texas A&M in 2017. What if he replaces Mike Norvell? 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I wanted to gauge the temperature of FSU fans on the idea of Jimbo 2.0, so I called two who had viral run-ins with him in the end days of 2017. Both are open to a Jimbo/FSU reunion, on the right terms. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...nytimes.comJimbo Fisher had a ‘disastrous’ exit from Florida State. Now some fans want him backFlorida State fans fumed at Fisher's messy departure for Texas A&M in 2017. What if he replaces Mike Norvell? 100
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I asked: The house in the story is NOT the house of abandoned Christmas tree fame. 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Oh, I remember, all right. Whether FSU *should* do it is a question for another day and one I’m very glad to discuss more. 120
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026So…let’s talk about the idea of a Jimbo Fisher sequel at FSU. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...nytimes.comJimbo Fisher had a ‘disastrous’ exit from Florida State. Now some fans want him back (Gift Article)Florida State fans fumed at Fisher's messy departure for Texas A&M in 2017. What if he replaces Mike Norvell? 221
Reposted by Matt BakerBruce Feldman @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026NEW: UNC’s investigation into Bill Belichick’s football program is over. So… now what? Reporting with @brendanmarks.bsky.social and @mattbakercfb.bsky.social on where the Tar Heels stand, and where Belichick’s tenure goes from here: Free story link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...nytimes.comUNC cleared the mess. Now Bill Belichick has to prove he can actually coach there (Gift Article)Skepticism still abounds, with one former trustee saying: “We had our five minutes of fame. Now we’re stuck with this problem." 183
Reposted by Matt BakerChris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 29/09/2026NEWS: The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, 77-22 It will go to the House, which likely won't take it up until after the midterm elections, making its passage chances TBD. But a historic step. Here's a basic rundown of what's in the bill: www.nytimes.com/athletic/749...nytimes.comWhat’s actually in the Senate bill that’s supposed to stop the madness in college sports? (Gift Article)Changes to the bill have it inching toward a final vote in the Senate, meaning the possibility of something passing is closer than ever. 7307
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Four games into the Lane Kiffin era, what do we know about LSU and Lane? My thoughts, after covering the Tigers' 3 biggest games thus far (Clemson, Ole Miss, Texas A&M): www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...nytimes.comWhat I learned from three up-close looks at Lane Kiffin's first month at LSU 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 27/09/2026LSU is four games into the Lane Kiffin Era. I’ve covered three of them, including last night’s takedown of Texas A&M. Here’s what I’ve seen and where I think the Tigers are going. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...nytimes.comWhat I learned from three up-close looks at Lane Kiffin’s first month at LSU (Gift Article)LSU has an entertaining team with an energized fan base and an electrifying coach who remains unapologetically himself. 020
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Initial takeaways on LSU 35, Texas A&M 6 www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...nytimes.comOne week after heartbreak, Lane Kiffin’s LSU is back on track, and Texas A&M is in crisis (Gift Article)Lane Kiffin and the Tigers bounced back from last week’s emotional loss at Ole Miss in style, sending the Aggies spiraling. 020
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026OK, that makes sense. I feel like there are more short snips of "Boomer Sooner" than most others, so that'd make it trickier. 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026One of our delightful commenters says he was the trombone "Rocky Top" counter and that Tennessee played the song exactly 666 times in 2007. The Vols then went the next 14 years without another 10-win season. Doesn't sound like a coincidence, does it? www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...nytimes.comHow many times does Tennessee’s marching band play ‘Rocky Top’? Just talk to the trombonesVols fans (and opponents) hear the song before, during and after games. And a trombone player is quietly keeping count all the while. 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026I didn't realize that until this week! If I had known earlier, I would have considered broadening the story more. Maybe a follow-up eventually... But now I'm curious: Why is counting Boomers harder than I'd think? 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 26/09/2026You'll hear "Rocky Top" a lot today between GameDay and Tennessee-Texas. Did you know a trombone player has been counting every "Rocky Top" performance since the 1990s?!?! The official count on a Google Sheet since 2013: 4,533. On the earwormy tradition: www.nytimes.com/athletic/762... 231
Reposted by Matt BakerChris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 22/09/2026Every sentence of this column is completely on point and what makes me worry about not only the future of CFB, but sports in general. 2324
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026I was mildly surprised that Florida is favored to beat Ole Miss in The Swamp this weekend. Apparently, I wasn't alone! www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...nytimes.comFlorida coach jokes about being favored vs. No. 4 Ole Miss: 'A lot of good drugs out there' 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026In his weekly presser, Florida HC Jon Sumrall calls Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss as good a player as he's ever seen. The Gators host Ole Miss on Saturday. 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026We only spent the entire offseason talking about Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss. Now that it's over, some final thoughts from me and the teammates I accompanied to Oxford. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...nytimes.comOle Miss-LSU exit survey: What were the most memorable things we saw in Oxford? 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Now that all *that* is over … what should we make of LSU? The short answer is, let’s wait because more tests are coming (A&M, Mississippi State, Bama, Texas). The longer answer (gift link): www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...nytimes.comWith Lane Kiffin’s haters watching, his first LSU team debuted fatal flaws at the worst time (Gift Article)Kiffin’s long history suggests the odds of him receding during an uneventful, good-but-not-that-good season are low. So what now? 020
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026The scene outside the tunnel of Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss 020
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Our live blog for LSU-Ole Miss is up and running. Our crew @theathletic.com is en route to Oxford. www.nytimes.com/athletic/col...nytimes.comLSU Tigers vs Ole Miss Rebels Box Score - September 19, 2026 - The AthleticGet real-time NCAAF coverage and scores as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels at 7:30pm EDT on September 19, 2026. The Athletic brings you the latest stats, scores, and analysis of your favori... 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026What’s the view of the Lane Train in Louisiana? The shop Sweet Baton Rouge can’t keep Kiffin Orgeron ‘26 shirts in stock. The screenprinter can’t keep up with demand. www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...nytimes.comLSU and Lane Kiffin: Will it all be worth it in the end? 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026There has, unquestionably, been a lot around LSU and Lane Kiffin. It prompts the question: Is this all worth it? The answer I got from Baton Rouge was clear: www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...nytimes.comLane Kiffin has LSU wearing the black hat. Will it all be worth it? (Gift Article)Although the trade-off won’t work at every program, not every program is LSU. What makes LSU suited to embrace Lane Kiffin? 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026One new nugget we can report in the light of today's UNC/Lombardi investigation news: Soon after Lombardi took over, staffers felt pressured to misrepresent UNC's academic offerings to recruits. www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...nytimes.comSteve Belichick resigns after investigation finds ‘certain actions’ by UNC football disregarded standardsUNC said the actions the investigation found were "isolated" and "not a systematic failure." 0165
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Here's another: I wonder what the provost at (insert School Name here) thinks about making less than the starting running back or point guard 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Very fair question on how athletics fit/should fit into the broader higher ed landscape today. Do all the other higher ed issues and trends (state/federal funding cuts, enrollment cliff, rise of AI) make sports more or less important now than 20 years ago? I can probably argue both sides of that 100
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Reminder: Ole Miss will be playing against two LSU players it has sued Saturday. I think that's a first? www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...nytimes.comStar LSU transfer Princewill Umanmielen served with Ole Miss lawsuit papers ahead of gameOn Tuesday, Ole Miss served LSU's Princewill Umanmielen with court papers from the Rebels’ breach of contract lawsuit against hi, 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026There's some evidence to back this up, like the Flutie Effect. When I was at Northwestern, they said the school record for applications was during the Rose Bowl year. Out-of-state enrollment went up at Bama under Saban. But I don't know the impact of going from No. 45 to No. 23 or whatever. 100
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026The argument administrators will generally give: Sports are the front porch of a school and its best marketing tool. A strong season boosts applications and out-of-state enrollment, which means higher tuition, more prestige, etc., and that fuels the actual education part. 200
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026To highlight something I didn't really expect going in: If you ask people in the same program for their payroll, you'll get different answers. Coaches might undersell (lower on-field expectations/I need more $). Admin might oversell (we're doing our job + raising $ just fine). 000
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026We here on @theathletic.com college football team spent a lot of time over the last few weeks/months trying to find the roster payroll for every P4 team. The figures are inexact, but here's what we came up with and where we think your school ranks: (gift link) www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...nytimes.comDoes your college football roster cost $8M or $50M? Here's our report on 68 teams (Gift Article)The best teams are, on average, the ones paying players the most, but there's a wide disparity between the schools at the top and the bottom of major conferences. 261
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I understand FSU's situation better now than I did at the start of the day. Our updated story, after a chat with Florida State's president and BoT chairperson: www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...nytimes.comFlorida State fires athletic director Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next? (Gift Article)Norvell’s seat is the hottest in the country. The Seminoles have finished with losing records in four of his six full seasons. 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I don't know exactly what Manny's buyout was, but the finances are clearly different, yes! 010
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Updated analysis: FSU fires AD Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next? I'm reminded of what Miami did in 2021 after FSU's fourth-and-14 victory over the Canes... (gift link) www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...nytimes.comFlorida State fires athletic director Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next? (Gift Article)Norvell’s seat is the hottest in the country. The Seminoles have finished with losing records in four of his six full seasons. 110
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Michael Alford is out as Florida State's AD. The obvious follow-up question: Is Mike Norvell next? I'll be updating this quickie story, but: www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...nytimes.comFlorida State fires athletic director Michael AlfordThe decision prompts the question: Is football coach Mike Norvell next? 0102
Reposted by Matt BakerChris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 14/09/2026This week's Athletic 138: 1. Texas 10. BYU 21. Oklahoma State 53. North Carolina 70. FAU 135. Rutgers Full rankings (free): www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...nytimes.comRe-ranking 138 college football teams after Week 2: Texas vaults to No. 1, then it gets weird (Gift Article)Two weeks into the college football season, it feels like we know nothing. Ain’t it great? 2141
Reposted by Matt BakerTim Graham @bytimgraham.bsky.social · 13/09/2026In their first substantive interviews since it all went down in Madison four years ago, Jim Leonhard and Paul Chryst get candid about their Wisconsin football exits. www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...nytimes.comJim Leonhard, Paul Chryst get candid about their Wisconsin football exits (Gift Article)For the first time in four years, Chryst and Leonhard gave substantive interviews about their Wisconsin departures. 063
Matt Baker @mattbakercfb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Is 2026 Oregon the 2025 Penn State? I made the case for and against after the Ducks' loss to Oklahoma State. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...nytimes.comIs Oregon this year’s Penn State? The case for and against a Ducks free fall (Gift Article)Preseason No. 2 Oregon's upset loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday couldn't help but feel a bit like 2025 Penn State. What's next? 030
