A final offering of news and notes you need to know as Week 3's sneaky-good slate continues -- overshadowed, of course, by the Pac-12 awaking from its slumber to reignite conference realignment. Topics we cover in this week's college football insider notebook:
- Who the Pac-12 could add -- and who it won't
- What NFL scouts think about Shedeur Sanders and what they're watching
- Two players with rising draft stock, including 'Cuse QB Kyle McCord
- Georgia slowly getting healthier with Alabama game on horizon
- Coaches to watch when carousel heats up
- Strange situation keeps Arizona RB sidelined
- Portal vultures circled Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
What's next for the Pac-12?
The Pac-12's big move to swipe four schools from the Mountain West -- Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State -- is the biggest story of the week, but the Pac-12 isn't finished. It needs at least two more schools by 2026 to meet the NCAA minimum of eight schools to keep the Pac-12 going as a football conference.
Where could the Pac-12 turn next? We talked to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, including a high-ranking official at one of the Pac-12's six schools to get to the bottom of it.
First, let's start here: Cal and Stanford aren't considered realistic possibilities. They've signed grant of rights deals with the ACC and by all accounts are happy in their first year in a new conference. Anything is possible if the ACC implodes, but there were influential people encouraging Cal and Stanford more than a year ago to stay put with this exact scenario in mind and the schools opted for the weird geographic fit in the ACC anyway.
The more realistic target zone resides in the American Athletic Conference. Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, North Texas and Rice were all mentioned as schools to keep an eye on by multiple sources CBS Sports talked to in the last 36 hours. Rice is the outlier of the group in many ways, but Memphis, UTSA and Tulane in particular are viewed as desirable options. Multiple sources espoused the value of getting into Texas -- UTSA is considered the top option, in that regard -- as the Pac-12 expands geographically. The Pac-12 had previously been in deep conversations with SMU before the implosion in 2023 that ultimately brought the Mustangs to the ACC.
If there's a downside to the Pac-12's two-pronged expansion effort, though, it is that it allows AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti, regarded as one of the sharpest minds in college athletics, an opportunity to fortify his conference to prevent any future defections, according to multiple industry sources. Don't be surprised to see the American be aggressive itself in pursuing Mountain West schools like Air Force.
If the Pac-12 can't convince any of the viable American schools to leave, it could again turn its sights on the Mountain West's remaining eight schools. The one that makes the most sense is UNLV, although there is a complication that Nevada politicians want it to stick with Nevada, a school that isn't as desirable of a realignment target. This is where not being in a rush to add another school could be beneficial to the Pac-12 if UNLV is the direction it wants to go.
"Maybe there's a chance for the Nevada legislature to untie them because Vegas is a pretty important city out West," said one source with knowledge of the situation.
One potential wild card option that one Pac 12 administrator believes would make sense to take a look at: UConn. The Big 12 has tried and failed multiple times now to get its membership on board with adding the school that has won the last two national championships in men's basketball. UConn doesn't make sense geographically and it feels unlikely it'd leave the Big East for this rebuilt version of the Pac-12, but that Pac-12 administrator sees value in at least exploring UConn as a possible addition.
"Who knows what they're going to do," that administrator said, "but they have a lot to offer, a lot to offer with an improving football program and obviously the best basketball program over the last 3-4 years in the country."
Similarly, that administrator brought up Gonzaga as another school with some appealing characteristics. He referred to Gonzaga, a basketball-only school, as a "hot commodity that would bring brand value."It would also be a good geographic fit, though it doesn't solve the football problem.
In essence, the Pac-12 has created a two-school beauty contest for every non-Power 4 school to consider. There is inherent risk in not taking all six schools at once to capitalize on the art of surprise, but the Pac 12's expansion approach to drop the initial bomb and then see how it could impact the situation to its benefit earned plaudits from multiple industry sources. As one succinctly put it, "Fairly clever move to not immediately jump to eight."
How NFL scouts view Shedeur Sanders
As heavily-discussed as Colorado is right now during the actual season, there's an element of the Buffaloes program that will likely receive just as much attention well after the season is over: The draft stock of quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The conversations are already starting now. Not just in the media but in NFL buildings, too. And it's becoming increasingly clear that there are going to be a wide range of different opinions on the Colorado quarterback as an NFL prospect, including among NFL personnel.
Nevertheless, while some teams are higher on Sanders than others, coach Deion Sanders isn't wrong in touting his son as a first-round NFL prospect. Going in the first round is definitely a real possibility, although it may not be as early as some preseason mock drafts would lead you to believe. It's also seemingly possible that Sanders could ultimately slip out of the first round altogether in this wide-open 2025 quarterback class that lacks a Caleb Williams-level prospect or anything close to a consensus pecking order among NFL scouts.
"He's solid," an NFL director of college scouting told CBS Sports of Sanders. "Talented passer. Holds the ball too long. Don't see a top-five pick. … He's probably a first round guy (though) because of the body of work and this class."
Prior to the season, both of the scouting services used by NFL teams -- Blesto and National Football Scouting -- had Sanders graded among the top QBs in this class. National Football Scouting, for example, had with a first-round preseason grade that was the highest among draft-eligible QBs. CBS Sports college football analyst Blake Brockermeyer, a 10-year NFL veteran, tabbed Sanders as the No. 4 player and top QB in his preseason college football player rankings.
Some of the current grades on Sanders shared by NFL scouts ranged from "good starter" to "functional starter/strong backup."
"I'm honestly not convinced he's a first rounder," one scout said.
It doesn't help though that Sanders doesn't have anywhere near the level of supporting cast as other top QBs like Carson Beck, Cam Ward and Quinn Ewers. Colorado's offensive line remains a big issue and the only other surefire 2025 draft pick on the Buffaloes' offense aside from Sanders is Travis Hunter. Through two games, Sanders has thrown for 689 yards with five touchdown passes and two interceptions. He finished Colorado's 28-10 loss to Nebraska last week 23 of 38 for 244 yards with one touchdown pass and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
It comes after he accumulated 3,230 passing yards, 31 total touchdowns and just three interceptions last season at Colorado.
One veteran NFL personnel official compared Sanders, whom scouts have down with official measurements of 6-foot-1 2/8 and 198 pounds, to a "better version of Tyrod Taylor" from a skill set standpoint. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Taylor is now in his 14th season in the NFL. While he's been primarily a backup throughout his career, he has been a starter at times as well, including for the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2017.
"It's just so similar to me with the body build and the way they throw," that personnel official said. "They spin the ball well, but it's not like an explosive arm. It's a good arm, a nice arm, and he throws a catchable ball. He throws a decent deep ball. He can move around some but he's not necessarily some big-time scrambler by any stretch. But if someone like Mac Jones goes top-15, can Shedeur Sanders go top-15? I guess he could."
After Sanders came under fire in the last week as calling out his offensive following Colorado's loss to Nebraska, scouts will also continue to pay a lot of attention to how Sanders handles adversity the rest of the reason.
Said one scout: "His arm is stronger than it was at Jackson State and he's pretty accurate. I just get turned off by the me, me, me stuff and then when he threw his offensive line under the bus."
Sanders and the Buffaloes travel to Fort Collins this weekend to take on Colorado State on CBS (7:30 p.m. ET) in the latest rendition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
Stock-up NFL Draft prospects
Speaking of the 2025 NFL quarterback draft class, Ward and Ewers aren't the only two who have generated significant buzz and improved their standing in the eyes of NFL scouts through the early part of the season.
Kyle McCord, the former Ohio State starter who's now at Syracuse, has been quite impressive.
While McCord isn't currently viewed as a first-round possibility like those other aforementioned QBs, his play through two games at Syracuse hasn't gone unnoticed among scouts. In leading the Orange to a 2-0 start, McCord has thrown for 735 yards with eight touchdown passes and only one interception. During Syracuse's 31-28 win over No. 23 Georgia Tech last week, McCord was 32 of 46 for 381 yards with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
"I was not a fan of the Ohio State tape at all," an NFL scout said. "Had him as a priority [undrafted] free agent coming into this season. He has really fit Syracuse like a glove. I still don't like his lack of arm talent, but he can place it when in rhythm. Timing looks right and he is playing confident. Most importantly, Coach (Fran) Brown is speaking life into his game from what I've seen, saying he is their biggest weapon, and that was never the case last year (at Ohio State). Impressive start."
Among the other players generating significant early buzz among scouts is Georgia junior linebacker Jalon Walker, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound former five-star recruit in his first year as a starter. He had six tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Clemson.
"Stud," an NFL scouting source said. "... I think he's better than (former Georgia star and 2023 Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick) Nolan Smith."
Speaking of the Dawgs: Health on the horizon
While Georgia's availability report this week featured four members of its front seven who are all working back from injuries, there's optimism about the status of each of the four -- star EDGE Mykel Williams and defensive linemen Warren Brinson, Jordan Hall and Xzavier McLeod -- as the Bulldogs get ready to head into a big stretch that includes a matchup against No. 4 Alabama.
Brinson, Hall and McLeod are all listed as questionable heading into Georgia's matchup against Kentucky on Saturday. Williams, a top NFL draft prospect who sustained a sprained ankle in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Clemson, has been classified as doubtful.
While it's possible that the Bulldogs have at least part of that group back as soon as this game vs. Kentucky, sources tell CBS Sports that the current belief is that all four should be back available in some capacity coming out of Georgia's bye week for its showdown against Alabama.
Coaches to watch when carousel heats up
The end result didn't go Texas State's way in a 31-28 loss to Arizona State, but Bobcats head coach GJ Kinne is one to keep a close eye on when the coaching carousel heats up.
Only 35-years old, Kinne is viewed within the industry as a rising star who could be in the mix for multiple jobs that could open up this cycle. The former Texas and Tulsa quarterback has deep ties to the state of Texas, but has also worked at places like Arkansas and Central Florida. Should Arkansas and/or Baylor open up, don't be surprised to see Kinne's name mentioned early and prominently. The Bobcats won eight games a season ago, the most in their program's history since transitioning to the FBS level in the early 2010s.
We highlighted South Florida head coach Alex Golesh last week ahead of the Bulls' clash against Alabama. While the final score might not indicate it, USF gave Alabama all it could handle and was a one-score game into the fourth quarter. If Golesh keeps it up, he will also be among the hottest names from the Group of Five ranks this cycle.
Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall is another. The runner-up to Jeff Lebby for the Mississippi State job last year, the 42-year old Sumrall won big at Troy and looks like he has a winner brewing in New Orleans as Tulane was in position to beat No. 17 Kansas State last week before a questionable penalty wiped out a game-tying touchdown. Sumrall can be picky about job opportunities, but if a non-Florida SEC job opens up, he should be in the mix. Tulane plays Oklahoma this weekend.
Two other names to watch: UNLV head coach Barry Odom and Nevada head coach Jeff Choate. Odom, who previously coached at the Power Five level with Missouri, is highly-regarded in the football world, according to multiple industry sources, and is coming off a 9-5 season in his first year at UNLV and he led the Rebels to a season-opening 27-7 win over a Power Four opponent (Houston). The steady, defensive-minded coach could be a good, safe option for multiple schools. The 54-year old Choate has done a good job reviving a Nevada program that had fallen on tough times and has already been on the radar for Power Four jobs in recent years.
No. 20 Arizona without starting RB in strange situation
No. 20 Arizona is set to have to face No. 14 Kansas State Friday night without one of its top offensive weapons.
Starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is expected to miss the game as the Wildcats wait on the NCAA to make a determination on Croskey-Merritt's eligibility, sources tell CBS Sports.
It stems from Croskey-Merritt's freshman season at Alabama State in 2019 and questions whether Croskey-Merritt actually redshirted that season. It's a bit complicated (and weird), but here's the breakdown.
- ESPN stats show Croskey-Merritt as having played in eight games that season, which would prevent him from receiving a redshirt for that year, but Alabama State claims that Croskey-Merritt actually played in just four games that year, then switched numbers with another running back and that it was that other running back playing in Croskey-Merritt's number in those other four games.
- New Mexico, which Croskey-Merritt starred at last year before transferring to Arizona, had him down as redshirting that 2019 season at Alabama State and he was eventually cleared in the offseason to play this year at Arizona before some new information was presented by an outside source in the last week or so after Croskey-Merritt ran for 106 yards and a touchdown in the the Wildcats' season-opening win over New Mexico.
- The presentation of new information has led to the NCAA now having to further investigate and Arizona subsequently having to hold out Croskey-Merritt while waiting on an answer from the NCAA.
There's no clear timetable with that at this point. Running back Quali Conley is up to 202 yards and three touchdowns through two games (7.5 yards per carry), so the Wildcats are not hurting for runners.
3 questions with Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson
1. What did you learn about your team from the Oregon game (a 37-34 loss)?
"I learned a lot about our team. They're not going to run from hard work, the big game is not going to be too big for them and they are going to keep swinging until the end. Losing a game at Boise State is unacceptable and we're going to continue to find ways to grow, but I'm proud of our team and I do have extreme confidence in them that when they practice the way they need to, they can line up against anybody in the country."
2. The performance against Oregon seemed to reinforce why Boise State has been such a popular playoff pick. Do you use those outside expectations as an incentive to motivate the team or not even think about it yet?
"You came [to Boise State] to win your conference and play in the biggest game possible. That is the expectation when you come here. I tried to call it what it is and haven't talked about it a lot since then. I wanted to be open and honest with our guys because they are being inundated with it everywhere they go in the offseason more than anything. But as we transitioned to fall camp, it's not been something I've talked about one bit. I'm such a firm believer in if you handle your process, the games will take care of themselves."
3. When the vultures were circling Ashton Jeanty, what was that like for you and how were you able to keep him at Boise State?
"Generationally you don't find many Ashton Jeantys out there anymore. We get done playing the championship game and I get named the head coach the next day. And everybody in the country is trying to get Ashton to leave. I've been open about the illegal recruiting of it so I'm not going to beat a dead horse…but even going through that with him, Ashton comes from a great family. Military background, he's dialed in, yes sir, no sir, he's been on point as a 17-year old when he walked on campus.
"He said 'Coach I've got all these people calling me, calling my family telling me I should leave.' All the negative recruiting and all the money being thrown at him, we had one conversation – me, him and his dad – and it was this is where we're at, these are some different things we're going to help you grow in. After that one day, that one conversation, he never talked about it again. He said 'I'm a part of this program, I'm committed to Boise State and I know I'm going to grow and develop to be the best version of myself on and off the football field." And that was it. That's a testament to Ashton and who he is as a person."
Danielson had a lot to say about all three of those topics, so we spun his full quotes out into a separate article.
