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College Football Playoff Selection Committee Releases Second Rankings of 2025
ESPN Faces Backlash Over Streaming Dispute and New Subscription Model
ESPN has been the most popular and beloved network in sports-related content since its inception in 1979. But as tensions rise, that reputation may now be in jeopardy. The network reached its peak throughout the 2000s as it acquired exclusive rights to nearly all major leagues. It included the NFL, NBA, MLB, and collegiate sports. This solidified its dominance in the sports world. Since then, cable television has experienced a rapid decline with the introduction of streaming services. The pandemic nearly caused the traditional model to collapse.
As a result of the changing market, Disney, ESPN’s parent company, sought to capitalize by launching ESPN+ in 2018. Still, ESPN remained available through cable and streaming services that mirrored cable bundles, such as YouTube TV. To break down the situation, ESPN has essentially been renting viewership through YouTube TV since its launch in 2017. The network built its empire on live sports and doesn’t want to continue “renting” its audience indefinitely, as YouTube TV has dictated how people actually watch ESPN content.
Photo Cred: CNBC
That tension came to a head on October 30th. YouTube TV lost all Disney-owned programs due to a carriage dispute, eliminating access to both ESPN and ABC. The fallout has sent the sports world into a frenzy. Disney plans to introduce a new subscription service — ESPN Unlimited — which it expects fans to adopt. The issue isn’t the new subscription itself. But the fact that it isn’t replacing an existing one — it’s simply creating another layer for fans to pay to enjoy sports, particularly the NFL.
Before this proposed addition, it could already cost fans more than $900 across various streaming apps just to follow the season. This doesn’t count bundles or promotions. As expected, fans and the media are furious with this news. They accused ESPN and Disney of prioritizing profits over the loyal supporters who fueled the network’s rise.
Former NFL star and current sportscaster J.J. Watt spoke out about the situation on X, stating, “So we’re just not watching Monday Night Football, huh? I’m not buying another streaming subscription…” His message resonated deeply with fans who are tired of corporate battles impacting their viewing experience. He wasn’t the only media figure to express frustration — Pat McAfee took subtle shots on his own show, which ironically airs on ESPN, for toeing the company line. For the first time in its long history, ESPN finds itself on the defensive — accused of sacrificing its fan base for financial gain.
It’s evident from recent events that ESPN is testing boundaries, not only regarding how much fans will pay to watch their favorite programs but also by gauging the power that sports entertainment holds over the average viewer. As this dispute drags on, fans are left in a losing position with no clear resolution in sight. Unfortunately for ESPN, the longer its channels remain off YouTube TV, the more people adapt to life without them.
That adaptation has led many viewers to explore alternative ways to consume sports content. A growing sentiment among fans is to resist ESPN’s demands by relying on free, condensed highlights available on YouTube — even if it means sacrificing the traditional viewing experience. One major challenge ESPN may face during this standoff is the increased use of pirating websites and VPNs to watch games that would otherwise air on ESPN.
Photo Cred: Fox
The outcome of this dispute will likely dictate how sports are perceived and consumed. It will reshape the entertainment landscape for years to come. It’s disappointing to see a company that once prided itself on connecting with fans now pushing toward monopolistic control and limiting access for ordinary people. What will the future look like?
Texas Tech is Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week
DALLAS (FWAA) – The Texas Tech Red Raiders took over first place in the Big 12 Conference with an emphatic 29-7 win over No. 7 BYU that was a dominating defensive show. For its rise to the moment playing in its first top-10 matchup since 2008 and in front of a national audience, Texas Tech earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Nov. 8, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
This is the sixth time for Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 in the Big 12) to receive the honor from the FWAA. The Red Raiders earned it once last season as well, almost in the same week, winning 23-22 at No. 10 Iowa State during the Week 10 weekend of Nov. 2, 2024. Its previous honor to that came in 2012.
Stone Harrington kicked a school-record five field goals and Jacob Rodriguez led the defense with two takeaways and 14 overall tackles as the Red Raiders held the previously-undefeated Cougars to a season-low 255 total yards.
Texas Tech’s ninth win marks its first nine-win season since 2009. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, now lead the Big 12 with a 6-1 record. BYU and Cincinnati are just behind at 5-1.
All nine of Texas Tech’s wins have been by wins of 22 points or more this season.
The Red Raiders’ fortunes have turned with their defense. They have gone from 121st in the FBS last season, allowing 34.8 points per game, to fifth at 13.2 going heading into the BYU game and then lowering that to 12.6 following the win. Tech is ninth in the FBS in total defense currently at 269.7 yards per game. BYU gained 255 yards.
Rodriguez’s 14 tackles against BYU mark the second-highest total of his career and his second 14-tackle game of the season. His interception and fumble recovery were keys as Tech’s defense and special teams came up with three takeaways against a BYU team that entered the game third in the FBS in turnover margin at plus-1.25. The Cougars had only six first downs in a scoreless first half and only three of their 12 drives on the day crossed midfield, the last one with under two minutes left and the game decided.
The Red Raiders continued the shutout into the fourth quarter, marking the fifth time they have blanked an opponent through three quarters. Texas Tech’s scoring margin through three quarters this season is 317-61. The seven points allowed were Texas Tech’s fewest against an AP Top-10 opponent since it beat No. 8 Texas A&M, 14-7, 1995, in what was then a Big 12 game.
Tech quarterback Behren Morton passed for 216 yards and had a 9-yard touchdown toss to Caleb Douglas while Cameron Dickey kept the offense moving with 121 rushing yards and a 1-yard score. Harrington kicked field goals of 47, 39, 34, 29 and 27 yards.
Texas Tech hosts UCF (4-5, 1-5) on Saturday in another Big 12 matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Since 2002, the FWAA has named a National Team of the Week. Coming into the 2025 season, 284 teams have been honored, including 101 different Division I programs. Each honored team will receive a custom Pop-Tarts “care package” along with a hand-crafted game ball made in America by Dallas-based Big Game USA, the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom footballs.
The other National Team of the Week nominee for the weekend of Nov. 8 were:
- California (6-4): Jacob De Jesus caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on fourth down during Cal’s first possession of overtime to knock off No. 14 Louisville on the road, 29-26. The winning catch gave De Jesus 16 catches for the evening, tying Geoff McArthur’s school record from 2003. It was Cal’s first victory over a ranked opponent since 2020 and their first win over a top-15 foe since 2019. Sagapolutele was 30-for-47 for 323 yards, each a career-high.
- Wake Forest (6-3): The Demon Deacons earned their highest-ranked road win since 1979 with a 16-9 victory at No. 12 Virginia. Wake Forest gave Virginia its first ACC loss and held the Cavaliers out of the end zone for the first time since 2022, buoyed by three takeaways. Special teams also played a part with an 88-yard punt return touchdown from Carlos Hernandez in the second quarter. The win made head coach Jake Dickert the first coach in Wake Forest history to lead the program to a bowl berth in his inaugural season.
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ABOUT FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS
FCS is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,100 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Nevada Survives Late Scare to Edge Pacific, Stay Unbeaten
The Nevada Wolf Pack escaped with a narrow 78–77 victory over the Pacific Tigers on Saturday night at the Lawlor Events Center, surviving a late push to remain undefeated early in the season. Coming off a dominant win against Louisiana Tech to open the year, Nevada looked poised to repeat that success after jumping out to an early lead. The Pack controlled the first ten minutes behind strong play from guard Tayshawn Comer, but Pacific fought back, erasing a double-digit deficit to send the game into halftime tied at 40.
Photo Cred: Nevada Sports Net
The second half turned into a back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than six points. Comer led the way for the Pack, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists while hitting key free throws down the stretch. Forward Tyler Rolison added 14 points and five rebounds, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes that helped Nevada regain momentum. Down low, Nevada’s frontcourt provided critical support.
Elijah Price notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Joel Armotrading added 11 points and a game-high 15 boards. Their presence on the glass proved vital, as the Pack out-rebounded Pacific 45–33 and converted 18 offensive rebounds into valuable second-chance points. Despite the win, the game exposed several areas for improvement.
Nevada shot just 43.1% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range, while allowing Pacific to connect on 45.5% of its attempts from beyond the arc. It was something the Pack will look to tighten up as they face tougher opponents later in the season. The Pack also forced only eight turnovers, showing lapses in defensive pressure that nearly cost them the game in the closing moments.
Photo Cred: Pacific Tigers
Pacific had a chance to steal the win, getting off a clean look as time expired, but the shot rimmed out—prompting a collective sigh of relief from the Lawlor crowd. Head coach Steve Alford acknowledged after the game that his team’s defensive focus and consistency must improve. But said he was encouraged by the group’s resilience in a close contest.
“It wasn’t our cleanest night,” Alford noted, “but we found a way to win, and that’s what good teams do early in the season.”
Through two games, Nevada has shown both its potential and its flaws. The backcourt duo of Bailey and Comer continues to shine, while the team’s rebounding dominance remains a key strength. However, if the Wolf Pack hope to contend later in the season, they’ll need to tighten their perimeter defense and find more rhythm from long range. Nevada (2–0) will look to build on its strong start when it hosts Southern Illinois on November 12, aiming to turn close calls into commanding wins as the non-conference schedule continues.
Seven from Sunday – Week 10
NEW YORK –– Nov. 9, 2025 –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, November 9, the 10th week of the 2025 season.
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| For more from NFL Communications, visit media.nfl.com |
Missouri Tigers: Fading Dreams in Columbia
On their home field, playing with its third string quarterback, the Tigers fell to Texas A&M for their third loss of the season in Columbia, Missouri. Missouri hung around for the first half and went toe to toe with the Aggies before giving up a turnover that led to Texas A&M’s second touchdown of the night just seconds before halftime. Third string QB Matt Zollers had to step up after Beau Pribula suffered an ankle injury in their last game against Vanderbilt.
Photo Cred: USA Today
With a true freshman leading the offense for the first time, the struggles were apparent all night. Ahmad Hardy and Jamaal Roberts did everything they could on the ground but it wasn’t enough. Despite both of them rushing for over 100 yards, the offense sputtered and stalled every drive. Zollers, finishing the game with 7 completions off 22 pass attempts, struggled to find his receivers all game.
It seemed every time he dropped back to pass, it was third down and he needed to make a play. While he was not afraid to make any throw, the inconsistent accuracy led to drives not making it past mid field. On the other side of the ball, the front seven did a spectacular job stopping the run and containing Marcel Reed. The defense could only stop a great offense for so long. With the lack of support from the Tigers offense, Texas A&M were destined to find the endzone eventually.
As the Aggies kept scoring, Missouri’s offense continued to struggle. Ending the night 38-17, an underwhelming game ended Mizzou’s ambitious hopes. For the Tigers, this means the chance to sneak into the playoffs are out of reach. While they have secured a postseason bowl game, the biggest dreams are out of reach. There is still a lot to play for though, as they have one more game against a ranked opponent.
Photo Cred: Mizzou
And if the Tigers can win out, it will be their third consecutive season with double digit wins, a first in school history. Mizzou’s final home game is in one week against Mississippi State, then two road games against Oklahoma and Arkansas. They have lost three out of their last four games and lost in back to back home games for the first time since 2022.
Week 11 FWAA-NFF Super 16
The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll for Week 11 (Nov. 7) has been released, with panelist Ayokunle Spencer submitting his latest ballot. This week’s rankings highlight Oregon’s strong road performance, while Virginia and Louisville drop out of the poll. Meanwhile, Utah and USC make their return to the Super 16.
FWAA-NFF SUPER 16 POLL (Week 11)
Ayokunle Spencer (Panel)
WEEKLY SUPER 16
POLL
1 Ohio State
2 Texas A&M
3 Indiana
4 Oregon
5 Alabama
6 Georgia
7 Texas Tech
8 Ole Miss
9 Texas
1 0 Vanderbilt
1 1 Georgia Tech
1 2 Notre Dame
1 3 BYU
1 4 Oklahoma
1 5 USC
1 6 Utah
Goodell Remembers Legendary NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
| NEW YORK — Nov. 9, 2025 — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released the following statement on the passing of his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue.
“All of us in the NFL are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Tagliabue, whose principled leadership and vision put the NFL on the path to unparalleled success.” “Throughout his decades-long leadership on behalf of the NFL, first as outside counsel and then during a powerful 17-year tenure as commissioner, Paul served with integrity, passion and an unwavering conviction to do what was best for the league. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game—tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL. He viewed every challenge and opportunity through the lens of what was best for the greater good, a principle he inherited from Pete Rozelle and passed on to me. “During his Hall of Fame NFL career, Paul fostered labor peace with our players, oversaw the expansion of the league to 32 teams, ushered in an era of state-of-the-art stadiums and laid the important groundwork of establishing the league as a global brand. “He helped modernize the structure of the league office and its business operations, providing the playbook for the NFL’s strategic embrace of his era’s emerging technologies including cable, satellite and the internet. “Paul was a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion and guided the league through the challenges of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father. “Jane and I extend our heartfelt condolences to entire Tagliabue family, especially Chan, his wife of 60 years, and their children Drew and Emily.” |
| For more from NFL Communications, visit media.nfl.com |
Broncos Grind Out Win Over Raiders, But Bo Nix’s Struggles
On Thursday Night Football, the Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders in a defensive slugfest, 10–7, and advanced to an 8-2 record for the season. Despite Denver currently sitting as the number one seed in the AFC playoff picture, there are major concerns about their potential postseason success. The offense is currently the 22nd-ranked unit in the league despite having one of the best offensive lines and play callers in the NFL.
Photo Cred: SI
Second-year quarterback Bo Nix is the main culprit for the struggling offense, as he has struggled virtually the entire season. This did not change on Thursday, as Nix was only able to throw for 150 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, with a putrid 5.4 yards per attempt against a Raiders defense that was bottom 10 entering the game. Denver has been carried by its defense the entire season, as they are currently the third-best unit in the league after finishing number one last season, which propelled them to a 10-7 record and playoff berth.
Broncos fans feel they have given Nix enough time to prove himself, as the second-year quarterback is substantially older than most sophomores in the NFL at 25 years old. Nix is also not in the normal situation we see of first-round pick quarterbacks, where they are surrounded by incompetent coaching and a poor cast of surrounding talent. Nix has a head coach and play caller who produced elite offenses for over a decade with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, including a Super Bowl victory in 2009.
As previously mentioned, he also has one of the top offensive lines in the league and a decent cast of pass catchers. On top of that, Denver’s defense being elite has kept Nix in games and given him numerous opportunities to be successful by holding opponents to low scores. Despite all these advantages that we rarely see rookie and second-year quarterbacks benefit from, Nix has not even proven to be an average player who can simply operate Sean Payton’s system and complement the defense.
Instead, he is actively hurting the team and often looks like a mediocre backup. After no improvement from his rookie season and another horrific performance on Thursday, the Denver fans finally had enough, raining down boos at their quarterback throughout the game. Nix did not seem very fazed by it after the game, saying, “I’ve been booed before, I’ll be booed again.”
Photo Cred: USA Today
Despite all of Denver’s success so far this season, it is hard to ignore that they could be a dominant team instead of barely scraping by against terrible teams like the Raiders and Giants if only they had just a decent quarterback. That is the only thing holding Denver back from being a likely divisional-round exit, as opposed to the true favorite to come out of the AFC. Unless Nix is able to improve, Sean Payton will most likely have to move in another direction at quarterback after next season, as this roster is too good to waste on a quarterback who holds them back to this degree.
Wolf Pack Dominate Season Opener Behind Bailey’s Hot Hand
The Nevada Wolfpack opened their 2025-26 season with a strong home showing against
Louisiana Tech on November 4th, defeating the Bulldogs 77-50. Nevada jumped out early and set the tone with a dominant first half. They built a 34–18 halftime lead, fueled by a 12–1 run early in the game and capped by an 11–0 surge to close the first half. The Wolf Pack were led by Chuck Bailey III, who scored 24 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and knocking down five of seven three-pointers.
Photo Cred: University of Nevada
Another contributor: Tayshawn Comer added 10 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes. Nevada shot 44.6% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range, while Louisiana Tech managed just 36.0% overall and 13.6% from three. On the boards, the Wolf Pack dominated 45–26 and converted 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points a decisive factor in the win. What really stood out was Nevada’s defensive intensity and
rebounding dominance, holding Louisiana Tech scoreless from beyond the arc in the first half.
The lopsided rebound margin and second-chance points underscored Nevada’s physical edge. From an offensive perspective, the Wolf Pack displayed balance and efficiency—Bailey’s hot shooting got the headlines, but the team shared the ball well (16 assists on 25 made field goals) and got meaningful contributions from their bench and new-look roster. Coach Steve Alford remarked that while the team doesn’t yet have an established identity, he liked the defensive habits forming early.
Even though Nevada controlled the game, there are still areas worth
watching: their three-point shooting percentage (6-for-20) suggests room for improvement. Also, with many new faces on the roster, consistency and chemistry will be important as the season unfolds. After losing star forward Nick Davidson — who led the Wolf Pack in points and rebounds and earned Third Team All-American honors in his final season last year — the question now is who will step up to fill the void. Even so, opening the season with a 27-point win is a strong statement for Nevada.
Photo Cred: rgj.com
The victory shows the Wolf Pack have the defensive mindset and rebounding toughness to make noise this season. If Nevada can build around the performances of Bailey, Comer, and their supporting cast while tightening up their shooting and rotations, this team could exceed expectations. The hope is that they can maintain this foundation as the season progresses and the competition grows tougher. The Pack will look to carry this momentum into their next matchups, hosting two more home appearances before getting on the road to face Santa Clara on November 15.
