College Football News

Georgia is making Kirby Smart the highest-paid college football coach at a public school under a new contract announced Thursday.

Smart, who led the Bulldogs to national championships in 2021 and 2022, agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2033 that will pay him a yearly salary of $13 million -- a $1.75 million annual raise -- and bonuses up to $1.55 million.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is due to make $11.5 million in 2024, according to reports.

Smart, 48, is 94-16 in eight seasons at his alma mater, including 13-1 last season when a loss to Alabama for the Southeastern Conference championship kept the defending champion Bulldogs out of the College Football Playoff. Instead, Georgia played in the Orange Bowl, defeating Florida State to raise its mark to 9-2 in bowl games under Smart.

He signed a 10-year contract in 2021 that totaled $112.5 million -- at the time the most lucrative deal. However, Swinney and Alabama's Nick Saban -- who retired after last season -- inked new contracts that surpassed the annual figure.

Smart's new compensation was approved Thursday afternoon by an executive committee of the Georgia Athletic Association's board of directors.

Athletic director Josh Brooks also received a pay increase to $1.275 million annually with a contract extension to 2030. Hired in January 2021, Brooks was making $1.025 million annually with yearly increases of $100,000.

Marcus Outzen, who stepped in at starting quarterback to lead Florida State to the first BCS National Championship game in 1999, died Tuesday after a battle with a rare immune deficiency disorder. "The Rooster" was 46.

Outzen was recently diagnosed with HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), a severe inflammatory syndrome that prevents the immune system from functioning properly, the Tallahassee Democrat reported Wednesday.

"Rest In Peace @MarcusOutzen. I love you so much Dad," his son Colton Outzen posted to X.

Outzen played at FSU from 1996-2000 as a career backup to QB Chris Weinke. However, a neck injury to Weinke late in the 1998 season thrust Outzen into the starting role. He led the Seminoles to wins over Wake Forest and archrival Florida and into the inaugural BCS National Championship game in Tempe, Ariz., where they lost to Tennessee, 23-16.

Outzen threw for 145 yards and rushed for a touchdown against the Volunteers.

Outzen returned to a backup role behind Weinke, who led FSU to the BCS Championship title over Virginia Tech the following year at the 2000 Sugar Bowl.

Outzen finished his career with 1,074 yards passing and five touchdowns against six interceptions.

Outzen lived in the Tampa Bay area with his wife and children.

"Marcus was a good friend to a lot of people," former FSU teammate Bobby Rhodes told the Democrat. "People liked him, on and off the field. This is so sad."

The University of Houston has executed a reverse by informing the NFL that it plans to proceed with adding an alternate uniform that features the Columbia blue color scheme.

The decision comes approximately six months after the NFL's merchandising and licensing division threatened legal action in a cease-and-desist letter, citing the school's "blatant copying" of the old Houston Oilers. The Cougars initially wore their Columbia blue uniforms in a 17-14 season-opening win over Texas-San Antonio on Sept. 2, 2023.

"We literally have a story we can show the city uses it," athletic director Chris Pezman told the Houston Chronicle. "This isn't a reach. This is a layup. We've got a very defensible position."

Pezman also added, "We're doing it. We've reviewed everything and come to the conclusion that we are going to proceed."

Per Pezman, Houston has informed the NFL of its decision.

"We're giving them two or three weeks to respond," Pezman said. "We're waiting on a response to see if we get one."

The Houston Texans unveiled four variations of new uniforms on April 23. One of those variations included a light blue helmet as part of its Color Rush look, complete with "H-Town" on the front of its uniforms.

The Texans also featured a light blue "H" that is outlined in red on a dark blue helmet.

Last October, the NFL sent a letter to the university that said in part that "the Houston Cougars' attempt to free ride on the popularity of the NFL and the club violates the intellectual property rights of the NFL and (Tennessee) Titans."

The antitrust class action lawsuit levied against the NCAA may not go to trial as college sports leaders are in talks to settle, per an ESPN report on Monday.

The plaintiffs in the case, House vs. NCAA, have accused the NCAA and its power conferences of breaking federal law by limiting how athletes can benefit from selling their name, image or likeness.

If the case were to go to trial - set for January 2025 -- and the plaintiffs win, the NCAA and its schools could have to shell out more than $4 billion in damages.

NCAA president Charlie Baker, NCAA lawyers, the plaintiffs' attorneys have been meeting with the power conference commissioners and their general counsels in the Dallas area, with talks ramping up of late, per the report.

Per the report, more information regarding a possible settlement is expected to be released soon, though no deal is close to completion. The settlement - which could cost the NCAA billions in back pay for former athletes -- could be the foundation for the NCAA sharing revenue with athletes in the future.

Although it has not been settled, the top-end revenue share amount per school would be around $20 million every year.

Another issue the NCAA faces is college athletes aiming to be viewed as employees and allowing them to unionize, with the National Labor Relations Board reviewing a pair of cases.

While NCAA leaders are against athletes becoming employees, Baker has looked into methods to provide more revenue to athletes at some schools. In December, he proposed a subdivision of the richest programs to pay $30,000 per year to half their athletes or more.

The NCAA wants Congress to enact a clause specifying that college athletes aren't employees, but there hasn't been much progress on that front. A multi-billion settlement toward revenue sharing with athletes may lead Congress to help govern college sports.

Freshman running back Dylan Edwards is transferring from Colorado to Kansas State, according to multiple media reports.

Edwards posted a photo of himself wearing a Kansas State uniform on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The Derby, Kan., native had committed in high school to Kansas State and Notre Dame before signing with Colorado.

He was the Buffaloes' leading rusher with 76 carries for 321 yards and one touchdown, and fourth-leading receiver with 36 catches for 299 yards and four TDs.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder made a big debut, rushing for one touchdown and catching three more in the Buffaloes' 45-42 upset of then-No. 17 TCU in the season opener. He was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.

He started the first four games and two others in playing in all 12 games for the Buffaloes (4-8).

Former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez announced Saturday that he is transferring to Miami.

Martinez was one of the top running backs available in the transfer portal.

"It's on! 305 it's that time," Martinez said on social media with a reference to Miami's area code.

Martinez earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for a 6.1 average per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games with a high of 146 against Stanford.

In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez has 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.

Last season was Oregon State's final one in the Pac-12. Coach Jonathan Smith departed for the same job at Michigan State.

Former Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada has decided to transfer to Georgia.

He announced his transfer Thursday on Instagram with a photo of himself in a Georgia uniform and the message, "Compete with the BEST."

Rashada, from Pittsburg, Calif., will have four years of eligibility remaining. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2023 class.

He initially was set to enroll at Florida in 2023 but when his $13 million name, image and likeness deal with the school's collective went awry, he landed at Arizona State. His father, Harlen, played for the Sun Devils from 1992-94.

The younger Rashada announced plans to transfer last week.

As a freshman, he appeared in three games, passing for 485 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He missed spring practice at Arizona State because of thumb surgery.

At Georgia, Rashada will join a quarterback room that includes incumbent starter Carson Beck, who led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 finish in 2023, and Gunner Stockton, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 7 QB in the 2022 class.