The hottest College Football Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Sports Topics

Congrats to Indiana

Points And Figures • 559 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Indiana’s national title was a surprise because the team had no five‑star recruits; smart use of the transfer portal and NIL, plus coach Cignetti’s leadership, built a cohesive championship team.
  2. The Big Ten still feels like a few dominant programs and a bunch of smaller rivals—conference additions haven’t erased that hierarchy, and those smaller-school rivalries remain intense.
  3. Illinois fans give begrudging respect for Indiana’s run but are ready to go back to the usual rivalry trash talk and are already looking forward to the next matchup hoping for a big Illini win.

Two Drinks with. . . the College Football Booster Who Paid the Players

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Nevin Shapiro secretly paid and lavishly supported Miami football players with money, parties, trips, and other perks, directly breaking NCAA rules.
  2. He views himself as a pioneer whose actions foreshadowed later legal changes that let college players earn money from endorsements and compensation.
  3. He avoided detection for a long time, and now with Miami succeeding and players getting paid, he’s speaking openly about his role.

SBSQ #28b: Maye vs. Stafford and Yelp vs. Google

Silver Bulletin • 212 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Advanced metrics give Drake Maye the edge for MVP because they count all QB plays (passes, sacks, scrambles) and show he leads in QBERT, EPA, and net yards per dropback; his mobility and rushing production offset Stafford’s better raw passing and TD totals.
  2. Google ratings are generally higher and easier to leave while Yelp is stricter and skews toward foodie, urban reviewers, so scores can differ; when picking restaurants, prioritize the number of reviews over the average, check the menu to match your tastes, and don’t oversearch for perfection.
  3. The College Football Playoff selection is broken because the committee mixes inconsistent goals (picking the most ‘deserving’ teams vs. the objectively ‘best’ teams) and applies criteria unevenly; they should clarify their objective, include more diverse and data-savvy members, or use a transparent algorithm.

Curt Cignetti Is the Most Valuable Coach in College Football

Huddle Up • 47 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Curt Cignetti’s on-field success has driven big off-field gains like larger sponsorships, increased donations, and enrollment growth.
  2. Indiana’s run to the College Football Playoff semifinal triggered a contract market-review clause that will force the school to make him one of the highest-paid coaches.
  3. The combination of wins and clear financial and institutional returns makes him arguably the most valuable coach in college football.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How LSU Landed Lane Kiffin: Private Jets, Politics, and a Record-Breaking $91 Million Contract

Huddle Up • 26 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. LSU signed Lane Kiffin to a record $91 million contract that is very coach-friendly, featuring an 80% buyout and no offset language.
  2. The governor had pushed for performance-based, market-resetting contracts to limit payouts, but the actual deal ignored that plan and gave coaches more leverage instead.
  3. Politics, secret private flights, and a high-powered agent played big roles in the hiring, helping Kiffin get terms that even beat Brian Kelly’s package.

The Nebraska Stack

MatchQuarters • 216 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Baylor improved defensively by switching to a 3-3-5 scheme
  2. Nebraska hired Tony White to bring back the 'Blackshirts' defense to respectability
  3. The 3-3-5 defense allows smaller, quicker players to play fast and confuse the offense

The State of College Football: Week 7

The Draft Scout • 117 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. There were major changes in Heisman odds and top 25 teams losing in Week 7 of College Football.
  2. Top 25 Rankings: Different teams like Florida State, Georgia, and others made it to the top spots.
  3. Weekly Awards: Players like Elic Ayomanor and Xavier Watts received recognitions.

Nick Saban Was Worth Billions To Alabama

Huddle Up • 203 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Nick Saban's management style ran Alabama football like a successful business.
  2. Saban's long-term strategies contributed to his extraordinary success, earning multiple championships and producing top NFL draft picks.
  3. Alabama's financial success under Saban turned them into a national powerhouse through leveraging athletic achievements.

The Trench Warfare 2023 NFL Draft Film Room - Episode 9 featuring Notre Dame C Jarrett Patterson

Trench Warfare • 59 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. The film room series focuses on OL prospects in the 2023 NFL draft, highlighting their skills and stories.
  2. Jarrett Patterson, a Notre Dame C, is discussed for his work ethic, leadership, and football intelligence.
  3. The film room with Patterson delves into topics like pass protection tips, reading linebackers, and finishing blocks.

Subscriber questions on 2020 Election Fallout, Simmons + Klosterman, NBA, College Football

House of Strauss • 28 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. The 2020 election had huge effects, and the actor's outcomes led to unexpected issues for the winning party. Winning didn't solve problems, and there's a feeling that it was a shaky victory for Democrats.
  2. In sports, the new NBA Cup feels forced and too focused on money, which makes it less interesting for fans. Authenticity matters, and the NBA needs to do better to connect with viewers.
  3. With college football playoffs expanding, there's a worry about too many teams making games less valuable. Sometimes, having fewer teams can make the competition more exciting.

How Bill Belichick's UNC Contract Came Together (And Why it May Actually Work)

Huddle Up • 26 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Bill Belichick is returning to coaching as the head coach for the University of North Carolina after leaving the NFL. It's a big move for him as he transitions from professional to college football.
  2. He presented UNC with a detailed 400-page plan for running the football program, showing he has a clear vision and strategy. This plan includes specifics like salary minimums and staffing.
  3. The school plans to invest significantly in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money, which indicates a serious commitment to building a competitive program under Belichick's leadership.

Is Notre Dame's Independent Status Actually An Advantage?

Huddle Up • 22 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Notre Dame's independent status gives the school a financial edge. They keep all the money from performance bonuses instead of sharing it with other schools.
  2. Unlike conference teams, Notre Dame can choose its schedule and doesn't have to play a conference championship game, which many think is unfair.
  3. Some football coaches believe all teams should be in conferences and compete equally. However, the actual financial benefits of Notre Dame's status paint a different picture.

The Real Reason Bryce Underwood Flipped His Commitment From LSU To Michigan

Huddle Up • 14 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Bryce Underwood is a highly regarded quarterback and recently switched his commitment from LSU to Michigan. This change surprised many because he had initially committed to LSU just before Michigan's national championship.
  2. His decision to flip schools wasn't simply about money, though some people think it was due to Michigan's NIL offer. There were many factors at play, including long-standing connections and influential figures in his decision.
  3. Underwood has had an amazing high school football career, winning two state championships and throwing a lot of touchdowns. He’s also grown up close to Michigan's campus, which likely influenced his choice too.

The Balkanization of College Football

Malt Liquidity • 1 implied HN point • 23 Sep 23
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. The lifespan of college football coaches is short, mirroring the trend of rapid success and replacement.
  2. College football revenue has more than tripled since 2003, with a focus on plowing money into massive football programs.
  3. The college football system underwent changes with the BCS, playoffs, and player transfers, leading to a focus on revenue over traditional aspects of the sport.