RANT SPORTS – The college football landscape has shifted dramatically with several high-profile coaching positions now up for grabs. Let’s dive into one of the most intriguing vacancies in the Power Four conferences starting these four.
Central Florida Knights (Big 12)
Gus Malzahn’s sudden departure from UCF has created ripples throughout college football. His exit, marked by a 47-31 record during his tenure, leaves the Knights at a crucial crossroads in their Big 12 journey. The program’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 adds extra weight to this coaching search.
What UCF Offers
UCF brings substantial assets to the table for potential candidates:
State-of-the-art facilities: The Knights boast some of the most modern athletic facilities in college football
Strong financial backing: UCF’s athletic department has shown consistent willingness to invest in football success
Passionate fan base: The program averaged over 44,000 fans per game in 2023
Recruiting hotbed: Orlando’s strategic location in talent-rich Florida
Challenges Ahead
The challenges facing UCF’s next head coach are significant:
Competing with Florida, Florida State, and Miami for in-state talent
Building sustainable success in the more competitive Big 12
Managing NIL expectations in a market with multiple professional sports teams
The Search for a New Coach
The Knights’ athletic director Terry Mohajir faces pressure to make a strategic hire. UCF’s ideal candidate needs to possess:
Strong Florida recruiting connections
Power Five conference experience
Proven ability to develop talent
Track record of offensive innovation
The UCF vacancy represents a unique opportunity in college football – a program with Power Four resources, located in prime recruiting territory, with demonstrated commitment to athletic excellence. The next coach will inherit a program ready for the next step in its evolution, backed by substantial institutional support and a passionate fan base eager for continued success in the Big 12.
The coaching position at West Virginia is one of the best-kept secrets in college football. The state has a long history of football excellence, and its fans are incredibly dedicated. The team enjoys packed stadiums at Milan Puskar Stadium, where over 60,000 enthusiastic supporters create an atmosphere that can compete with any college football stadium.
Neal Brown’s time as head coach (2019-2023) had mixed results – with a record of 22 wins and 25 losses, fans are eager for improvement. While his focus on defense brought some success, the offense struggled to keep up with the high-scoring games in the Big 12. The program needs a new perspective to make the most of West Virginia’s unique situation as the only Power Four program in the state.
The new head coach will have an exciting challenge ahead: using the transfer portal to complement West Virginia’s traditional recruiting areas. Since there is limited local talent in the Mountain State, the new coach must:
Build strong connections with neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Ohio
Find immediate impact players through the transfer portal
Stay true to WVU’s historical defensive style while also modernizing the offense
Engage with the passionate alumni community of the program
The Mountaineers’ reputation, along with recent improvements to their facilities and support from NIL initiatives, makes this coaching position appealing to those who want to combine tradition with innovation.
Mack Brown’s return to UNC brought new energy and hope to Chapel Hill. His ability to recruit talented players like Drake Maye and Josh Downs has helped the Tar Heels become relevant on the national stage again. However, there are still ongoing issues such as defensive struggles and inconsistent performances against other ACC teams that need to be addressed.
The next head coach at UNC will have a great opportunity with the abundance of local talent available. North Carolina has a strong high school football scene, producing NFL stars like Javonte Williams and Sam Howell. This rich recruiting area, combined with UNC’s academic reputation, provides an attractive foundation for building the program.
NIL opportunities through the “Heels4Life” collective add another advantage for UNC in attracting recruits. The partnership with Nike and recognition of their basketball program also offer unique marketing advantages. Recent success stories like Sam Howell’s local endorsements demonstrate the financial potential awaiting future Tar Heel stars.
The job at Chapel Hill stands out because of its combination of tradition, resources, and untapped potential in the changing landscape of the ACC. With Florida State and Clemson showing signs of weakness, making a strategic hire could position UNC as a powerhouse in the conference.
4. Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten)
Purdue’s football program is at a crucial point after Ryan Walters was unexpectedly let go. The Boilermakers have a rich history in the Big Ten, producing NFL talents like Drew Brees and Bob Griese, but recent struggles have made it harder for them to compete.
Immediate Challenges
The program is facing several challenges right now:
They have a record of 2 wins and 10 losses in 2023.
Establishing a dedicated strategy for the transfer portal to attract talented players.
Revitalizing relationships with high school programs in Indiana to secure top recruits.
Commitment to Improvement
Purdue’s recent investment of $45 million into upgrading their football facility shows their commitment to competing at the highest level. The next head coach will inherit a program with solid infrastructure but will need to come up with innovative strategies for acquiring and developing talent in the ever-changing landscape of the Big Ten Conference.
FILE – Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) waves after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. Kelce will bring his highly successful music festival called Kelce Jam back to Kansas City. The second annual one-day event held on May 18 will be hosted by the superstar tight end of the Chiefs and headlined by Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Diplo and local legend Tech N9ne. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
RANT SPORTS – As Super Bowl LIX Beckons, Football Fans Gravitate to Key Stats and Storylines
On February 9, 2025, the NFC and AFC Conference Champions will meet at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Super Bowl LIX. Football fans have been piling into the action all season to make their picks and predictions for the winner.
As Super Bowl Sunday beckons, there will be a tsunami of interest in the many different forms of football betting. Last year, the Super Bowl set records for American wagering, with some $23 billion bet. This year, seeing the popularity of the big game, platforms are going all out to appeal to this mass of betting interest.
So, there are plenty of offers bouncing around and unique ways to bet on the outcomes of Super Bowl LIX. Keep reading to explore these novel options and discover some stats to keep in mind for the potential Super Bowl contenders this year.
A Diverse Landscape for Super Bowl Fans
Every year, betting lines light up with a whole range of quirky selections. For the Super Bowl, prop markets are always a point of interest – and not just for the player lines. The length of the national anthem, style of the halftime performer’s attire, and the color of the winning team’s Gatorade douse are all in the odds.
In daily fantasy sports betting, the lines can also see a bit more variation. With some platforms, you’ll be able to bundle in these once-a-year kind of props. Many will also offer boosts on certain players hitting or missing their under-over lines. Others are adapting the formula entirely for the big game.
At Sleeper, the emphasis is on collaborating with your squad to make top fantasy picks. You’ll all get to select the DFS player lines that you think will happen, bundle them into a picks list, and watch the stats move in real time. With the Super Bowl fast approaching, savvy DFS teams will be claiming a Sleeper promo for NFL betting like this.
With the offer, each player will get a $55 bonus cash offer after playing $5. So, naturally, many teams will open an account, make the $10 deposit, play $5 on an upcoming game of the NFL, NBA, or anything else, and then get their 11 $5 bonus wagers to use on the big game.
What to Keep in Mind for the Super Bowl
On the NFC side, coming into the Conference Championships, Jayden Daniels absolutely had the upper hand on the Eagles’ QB, who’d suffered a concussion and then a leg injury. However, the Philadelphia defense ranked as the best in the NFL by quite some margin, only allowing 278.4 yards on average. It was Philadelphia that romped to an easy 55-23 victory.
Over in AFC territory, the Super Bowl machine that are the Kansas City Chiefs might have a shot at history with the unheard-of three-peat, after their 32-29 win over the Bills. There’s also Travis Kelce’s shot at unseating one of Jerry Rice’s long-standing records. With just three receptions in the big game, Kelce would overtake Rice’s haul of 33 takes at the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LIX promises to be a fascinating game, with a second matchup of these two teams in three years. That contest came down to the final seconds, but who will win this one?
The bigger question here is, where will fans be placing their bets for the colossal event?
William Byron (24) and Kyle Busch (18) race into turn one during the NASCAR Cup series auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
RANT SPORTS – NASCAR likes to open with a short track exhibition
A week before heading to Daytona for the 2025 NASCAR season, they will kick off the year with an exhibition race on Saturday night under the lights. The event, known as The Cookout will take place at Bowman Gray Stadium, a NASCAR-sanctioned quarter-mile asphalt flat oval short track and a historic football stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The race, also known as The Clash, will mark the debut for several new drivers. Two of the top young talents making their NASCAR Cup Series debuts are Tim Brown for Rick Racing and Burt Myers for Team Amerivet.
This race also features the Front Row Motorsports debut for Noah Gragson and the return of Zane Smith that team. Additionally, Todd Gilliland will be driving the flagship No. 38 after three seasons in the No. 34. Furthermore, Josh Berry iin the iconic Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford.
Some familiar names with new and full season rides
AJ Allmendinger has returned to Kaulig Racing full-time, while Riley Herbst has joined 23XI Racing. Cole Custer is back now full time at the Haas Factory Team. Cody Ware is also time in the family-owned No. 51.
Ryan Preece is debuting for RFK Racing and Michael McDowell has moved to Spire Motorsports. Shane Van Gisbergen is racing full-time in Cup for Trackhouse Racing
Here is the full list of cars the teams
1 | Ross Chastain | Phil Surgen | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet
2 | Austin Cindric | Brian Wilson | Team Penske | Ford
3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Boswell | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet
4 | Noah Gragson | Drew Blickensderfer | Front Row Motorsports | Ford
24 | William Byron | Rudy Fugle | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet
34 | Todd Gilliland | Chris Lawson | Front Row Motorsports | Ford
35 | Riley Herbst | Davin Restivo | 23XI Racing | Toyota
38 | Zane Smith | Ryan Bergentry | Front Row Motorsports | Ford
41 | Cole Custer | Aaron Kramer | Haas Factory Team | Ford
42| John Hunter Nemechek | Travis Mack | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota
43| Erik Jones | Ben Beshore | Legacy Motor Club | Toyot
45 | Tyler Reddick | Billy Scott | 23XI Racing | Toyota
47| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Mike Kelley | HYAK Racing | Ford
48| Alex Bowman | Blake Harris | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet
50 | Burt Myers | Tony Eury Jr. | Team Amerivet | Chevrolet
51 | Justin Haley | Billy Plourde |Rick Ware Racing | Ford
54 | Ty Gibbs | Tyler Allen | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota
60 | Ryan Preece | Derrick Finley | RFK Racing | Ford
66 | Garrett Smithley | Carl Long | Garage 66 | Ford
71 | Michael McDowell | Travis Peterson | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet
77 | Carson Hocevar | Luke Lambert | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet
88 | Shane Van Gisbergen | Stephen Doran | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet
99 | Daniel Suarez | Matt Swiderski | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet
Where to watch and listen to the race
Practice and qualifying is set for 6:10 on FS1 and heat races are set for 8:30 on FS1. The last chance race is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday on FOX and the main event is scheduled for 8 on FOX.
