College Sports 2025 Roundup and 2026 Look-Ahead

2025 was the year of coaches on the move, as buyouts reached almost $200 million thanks to big-name firings like Brian Kelly and James Franklin. Not to mention Lane Kiffin's big jump to LSU and Bill Belichick's dramatic struggles in his first year with North Carolina. Meanwhile, major legislative questions loom about the employment status for college athletes, as that congressional decision now pushes into 2026. FOS reporter Amanda Christovich and newsletter writer David Rumsey join Baker Machado to explain why this year was so important for the NCAA and what questions will be answered in 2026.

The College Football Playoff is finally here, as Friday night’s first round gives us a prime SEC rematch between Oklahoma and Alabama. Yet with constant rumors of him fleeing to Michigan, could this be head coach Kalen DeBoer's last game at Alabama? FOS reporter David Rumsey joins host Baker Machado to break down the first-round matchups and talk about whether the ratings for the games on Saturday could be dampened once again as they go-head to-head against an NFL Saturday doubleheader. Meanwhile, in their biggest step yet toward a potential work stoppage, WNBA players voted for their union to authorize a strike if necessary as the current deadline to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement with the league expires Jan. 9. FOS women's sports reporter Annie Costabile has the latest on the negotiations plus insights into reports that the Connecticut Sun could be headed to Houston. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

Kalshi has begun its self-certification process for launching markets around the collegiate transfer portal, and the NCAA is not happy. FOS reporter Ben Horney and editor-in-chief Dan Roberts join Baker Machado to explain how these markets will work ... if they ever get posted to begin with. Plus, FOS college sports reporter Amanda Christovich talks through the latest around Michigan's scandal, after the university president said more firings could be coming as the investigation continues. Also, the Knicks send a message to commissioner Adam Silver after their NBA Cup victory, the Bears could move to a different state, and the NFL's broken playoff seeding system rears its head. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

Barstool has made the decision to move three of its largest podcasts, including Pardon My Take, off YouTube and exclusively to Netflix. Jack Settleman, founder of Snapback Sports, joins Baker Machado to break down why this makes sense from a business perspective, why it hurts from a fan perspective, and what the deal tells us about the direction of sports media. Plus, NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that the league will make a decision about expansion in 2026, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the top markets under consideration at the moment. FOS reporters Colin Salao and Alex Schiffer talk through the NBA's future plans, including the upcoming launch of its European league. They also discuss Chris Paul's Clippers exit, Terry Rozier's status, and the Knicks winning the NBA Cup. Also, the ACC is changing its schedule and tiebreaker criteria after a controversial end to the regular season. FOS newsletter writer David Rumsey explains. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

College football enters a pivotal stretch as numerous quarterbacks hit the transfer portal, but Arch Manning is not one of them. FOS writer David Rumsey joins to assess Manning's decision to run it back with Steve Sarkisian and talk through the first weekend of the College Football Playoff. Plus, the NBA Cup reaches its season finale with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs facing the Knicks, but although ratings show promise, the league is evaluating if the neutral site final in Las Vegas is the right format for the future. Also, in Asset Class presented by Invesco QQQ, Ben Horney explains why investors are turning towards minor league teams to warm up their sports portfolios. He also discusses a French court ruling that will require Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé $70 million. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

For the first time since 2014, the defending AFC champion Chiefs will miss the playoffs, a run that included three Super Bowl wins, two conference titles, and seven straight trips to the AFC championship game. And to make matters worse, Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, leaving some of next season in doubt. FOS newsletter writer Eric Fisher explains how the Chiefs’ remaining primetime games, including Amazon Prime Video’s first Christmas Day game against the Broncos, could lose its shine and whether this is the end of the legendary dynasty. Meanwhile, Dec. 15 marks the unofficial start of the NBA trade season, where players who signed contracts over the summer can be officially dealt. FOS reporter Colin Salao breaks down whether we will get a flurry of activity this week and whether we will get answers to where players like Chris Paul or even Giannis Antetokounmpo could be headed. And the Big 12 is approaching a potential $500 million private-capital agreement with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital, just days after conference member the University of Utah’s own private-equity deal opened the door for other schools to mimic. Asset Class author Ben Horney has the latest. (Editors’ note: RedBird IMI, of which RedBird Capital Partners is a joint venture partner, is the primary owner of Front Office Sports.) There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

In the aftermath of Sherrone Moore’s dismissal as head football coach at the University of Michigan, Barstool Sports CEO and infamous school alum Dave Portnoy has become the face of Michigan fandom, utilizing his mega-platform to discuss the scandal that has engulfed the school while pitching current Barstool employee and former NFL head coach Jon Gruden for the head coach position. In a world where rich donors and personalities influence NIL (name, image, and likeness) collectives and athletic budgets, just how powerful and influential is Portnoy at Michigan? FOS media and entertainment reporter Ryan Glasspiegel joins Baker Machado to discuss. Meanwhile, the Emirates NBA Cup heads to Las Vegas to crown a new champion as the Knicks, Magic, Thunder, and Spurs all advanced to the semifinals set for this weekend. FOS reporter Colin Salao breaks down the matchups and whether the in-season tournament has met Adam Silver’s lofty expectations and whether the inclusion of NBA European league teams could be in its future. Plus, the youngest mentalist, Nevo Abutbul, tells us if he’s a sports betting ace and if he can beat the sportsbooks by predicting the biggest sporting events in 2026.Plus, the youngest mentalist, Nevo Abutbul, tells us if he’s a sports betting ace and if he can beat the sportsbooks by predicting the biggest sporting events in 2026. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

Sherrone Moore is in police custody and out of a job at Michigan after an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press joins Front Office Sports Today live from a Michigan courthouse ahead of Moore's arraignment, answering all of our questions and sifting through some of the misinformation going around social media. Meanwhile, FOS college sports reporter Amanda Christovich adds details from her own reporting as she and editor-in-chief Dan Roberts join Baker Machado to discuss how Michigan should move forward in the wake of yet another scandal. Plus, FOS deals reporter Ben Horney joins for Asset Class, presented by Invesco QQQ, to discuss the controversy around the University of Utah's $500 million private-equity deal, and a huge investment from NFL owners into a new flag football league. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

The MLB offseason is rapidly heating up, with numerous key free-agent moves this week, including Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz leaving the Mets. ESPN's Paul Hembekides joins the show to explain how the Dodgers have likely already won the offseason, and how they could be in the mix for Kyle Tucker and/or Tarik Skubal in the coming weeks. Plus, FOS editor-in-chief Dan Roberts joins to discuss the latest with Notre Dame, including Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark ripping the Irish for claiming the ACC ran an unfair campaign for Miami to make the College Football Playoff. Also, the Colts have signed a grandpa as their potential new quarterback, Chris Paul speaks up after being cut, and A'ja Wilson gets another big victory this year. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.

Notre Dame went scorched earth after missing the 2026 College Football Playoff, slamming the selection committee, the ACC, and ESPN in light of the Irish's snub. FOS writers Michael McCarthy and Eric Fisher join to explain what could happen as a result of Notre Dame's tirade and how the school can use its independent status to retaliate. Plus, collector and auctioneer Ken Goldin of Netflix's King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch joins Baker Machado to explain what goes into valuations behind premium memorabilia. He also shows us some of the most valuable items going up for sale in the upcoming third season of his show. Also, University of Utah has potentially opened a new era for college sports by approving an investment from private-equity firm Otro Capital. FOS deals reporter Ben Horney joins for Asset Class, brought to you by Invesco QQQ, to explain the significance of this moment. There are risks when investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. ETFs’ risks are similar to those of stocks. Investments in the tech sector are subject to greater risk and more volatility than more diversified investments. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. Consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. Visit Invesco.com for a prospectus with this information. Read it carefully before investing. Invesco Distributors, Inc.