Big Ten Football

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has clarified the comments he made about academic standards at Ohio State.

Appearing on Morning Juice on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus on Wednesday (h/t ESPN's Adam Rittenberg), Freeman said he would "never discredit the quality of education" at Ohio State.

Freeman caused a stir in an interview with CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd that was published June 10.

"I'm not saying from top to bottom, but the majority of our kids, they—I want to say this the right way—are pushed to learn and their study habits are formulated every day. You can't cheat academics at Notre Dame," he said.

To emphasize his point, Freeman mentioned his alma mater of Ohio State as an academic institution where there were more avenues available to students to pass classes.

"If you don't go to class [at those places], OK. Take some online classes. Show up for your final," Freeman said rhetorically. "At Notre Dame, you're forced every day to go to class."

Freeman clarified he wasn't talking specifically about Ohio State as much as every big school in the country.

"When you really look, what exactly I said, I was talking about if you don't go to class at these big schools that have 60,000, 40,000 students, OK, you can take online classes," he told Morning Juice. "We can't. The majority of our kids cannot take online classes here because it's a smaller school and you're forced to have in-class attendance. That's what I wanted to get cleared up."

Freeman played linebacker for the Buckeyes from 2004 to 2008. He was a two-time All-Big Ten second-team selection in his final two seasons at the program. The 36-year-old also earned two degrees from Ohio State.

After a heart condition forced Freeman to retire as a player in 2010, then-Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel hired him as a graduate assistant.

Freeman went on to be an assistant at Kent State, Purdue and Cincinnati before Brian Kelly hired him as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2021.

After Kelly left the Fighting Irish to become LSU's head coach, Freeman was named his replacement in December.

Buckeyes fans will have the opportunity to let Freeman know they don't appreciate his comments, even if something was lost in translation.

Ohio State will host Notre Dame in the season opener for both teams Sept. 3. This will be the first meeting between the two storied programs since the Buckeyes' 44-28 win in the Fiesta Bowl in the 2015 season.

Compared to the cost of running an NFL team, Ohio State football might be a bargain.

According to Cleveland.com's Doug Lesmerises, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day told local businesspeople in Columbus that $13 million in name, image and likeness deals might be the cost for the program to retain the players on its roster.

It's not just that the NIL era has put a price tag on the best high school recruits in the country. The one-time transfer rule means schools also have to placate their top stars.

Using Day's valuation, Lesmerises speculated OSU looking for an average of $500,000 for its 26 best players or some calculation to that degree.

Per Lesmerises, Day also told the local business leaders how $2 million might be the going rate for an elite quarterback, while top-tier offensive tackles and edge-rushers could command $1 million.

In general, Day pressed the need for Ohio State to balance its NIL priorities.

"If the speed limit’s 45 mph, and you drive 45 mph, a lot of people are going to pass you by,” he said. “If you go too fast, you’re going to get pulled over."

While he specifically targeted a conference rival in the process, this was the basic subtext Nick Saban wanted to get across when he said Texas A&M "bought every player on their team."

The Alabama head coach had a similar audience (local businesspeople) when he made those remarks and was clearly trying to express how important NIL money will be.

"We didn't buy one player, all right?" Saban said to the group. "But I don't know if we're gonna be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it. It's tough."

Because the full details of NIL deals aren't disclosed, it's difficult to know how accurate Day's projection is. Lesmerises noted the $13 million figure goes beyond what's raised by the collectives specific to OSU football.

The NIL landscape still resembles the Wild West a bit as all of the parties adjust to the new normal. For Day and his peers, getting a level of buy-in from the booster base has never been more important.

Ohio State announced Wednesday it agreed to a two-year extension through 2028 with football coach Ryan Day.

The deal will see Day's overall compensation rise from $7.6 million to $9.5 million per season. His base salary will be set at $2 million.

Following the 2021 season, Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly were both paid handsomely to leave Oklahoma and Notre Dame, respectively. And within Day's own conference, Mel Tucker (10 years, $95 million) and James Franklin (10 years, $75 million) got new deals to ward off any suitors.

A pay raise for Day was inevitable, as his old salary constituted a bargain in this market.

Handily losing to Michigan and missing the College Football Playoff put a damper on Ohio State's 2021 season, but the year still ended with a Rose Bowl victory over Utah. 

Day has also kept the Buckeyes at the heights they enjoyed under his predecessor, Urban Meyer. They're 31-4 in his three full seasons as head coach—he went 3-0 while Meyer was suspended and ultimately retired in 2018.

In the wake of falling short of lofty expectations, OSU turned over its coaching staff, most notably poaching Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to serve as defensive coordinator. The Athletic's Bill Landis noted 1994 was the last time the Buckeyes hired four new assistants without also changing the head coach.

Still, there was no question as to the university's commitment.

And while it's difficult to envision Day would leave for another school, the NFL could be a very real threat. The 43-year-old served on the staffs of the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers prior to joining Ohio State in 2017.

For now, any speculation linking Day with a new job will be put to bed.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Purdue Boilermakers defensive end George Karlaftis with the 30th pick in the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday in Las Vegas. 

Karlaftis becomes the first Purdue player since Ryan Kerrigan in 2011 to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. He is also just the third Boilermaker since 2021 to be drafted, joining Rondale Moore and Derrick Barnes.

Karlaftis was consistent in each of his three seasons with Purdue. The 20-year-old recorded 5.0 sacks, 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 12 games during the 2021 season. 

In 27 career games, Karlaftis totaled 14.5 sacks, 99 tackles, 30.5 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. 

Here is what the Chiefs depth chart will look like following the selection of Karlaftis. 

LDE: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Joshua Kaindoh

DT: Chris Jones, Khalen Saunders

DT: Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton

RDE: Frank Clark, Jonathan Woodard

LB: Nick Bolton, Jermaine Carter

LB: Willie Gay Jr., Elijah Lee

CB: Rashad Fenton, Luq Barcoo

CB: Trent McDuffie, Deandre Baker, Brandin Dandridge

SCB: L'Jarius Sneed, Dicaprio Bootle

FS: Juan Thornhill, Deon Bush

SS: Justin Reid, Zayne Anderson

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.

Bleacher Report's Scouting Department ranked Karlaftis as the eighth-best player in the 2022 class in its final big board. He was also ranked as the second-best edge in the class behind Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. 

The Scouting Department also listed Washington Commanders' Ryan Kerrigan as Karlaftis' pro comparison based on his "great first step, active hands" and power. 

"Karlaftis has exceptional potential and will already have some ways to provide value early on as he continues to develop. As a three-year starter, he got better each season at Purdue, which should bode well for him unlocking himself further in the NFL. Karlaftis has the size, explosiveness and run-pass versatility to be one of the most disruptive players in the NFL in a few seasons."

While Karlaftis might not have the best rookie season, he'll certainly turn into one of the best edge rushers in the NFL once he develops a little further.

Adding pressure off the edge was a major need for the Chiefs, providing balance alongside Chris Jones and Frank Clark already starring in the front-seven. Karlaftis can rotate with Michael Danna and help a defense that finished 27th in the NFL against the pass last year.

After already selecting cornerback Trent McDuffie, it's clear Kansas City has improved defensively on Day 1 of the draft.

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is focused on helping his fellow student-athletes off the field as he prepares for his sixth season with the Nittany Lions program.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Clifford launched the agency Limitless NIL, which will represent college athletes looking to make money under the NCAA's name, image and likeness legislation. There are five employees who work for the agency, and it has signed seven athletes from three different schools to this point.

"It's the agency that I was looking for that I couldn't find," Clifford said. "It's for the players, by the players. I wanted to do something to leave even more of a legacy than just on the field. And I thought that this was kind of the way that I wanted to go."

Thamel noted Limitless NIL is believed to be the first agency founded by a student-athlete with the purpose of helping others with NIL.

Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State women's basketball player Anna Camden and Kentucky tight end Brenden Bates are among those who have already signed, and there are planned recruiting trips to nearby schools such as Ohio State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pitt and West Virginia.

Clifford made more than $100,000 with NIL last year as Penn State's starting quarterback but realized agencies that are accustomed to working with professional athletes sometimes struggled to maximize the potential of college athletes with other time commitments and responsibilities.

"A lot of bigger agencies lack the strategy for content creation and the marketing specialty, what athletes should be posting day in and out," the 23-year-old said. "How they should be building their brand and interacting with community."

The quarterback also pointed out those who sign with Limitless NIL will have access to financial advisers to improve their financial literacy. The agency also features an internship program and education on time management and building social media followings.

The 2022 campaign will be Clifford's fourth as Penn State's starting quarterback, and expectations will be high after he completed 61.0 percent of his passes for 3,107 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year.

Penn State struggled as a whole, though, on the way to a 7-6 record and Outback Bowl loss after going 4-5 during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Bouncing back this year may require Clifford to take another step against a schedule that includes showdowns with Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn and Michigan State.

Yet even if the Nittany Lions underperform on the field for the third straight season, Clifford has already proved to be a leader off it and will surely look to continue expanding the agency.             

Declan McMahon, the eldest son of Shane McMahon and grandson of WWE chairman Vince McMahon, announced his commitment to play football for Indiana University on Wednesday.

McMahon played running back for Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. His father took to Twitter to express his joy:

McMahon also received scholarship offers from East Carolina and Fordham, per his Twitter account. He earned an offer from the Hoosiers after taking a trip to Bloomington in March.

McMahon is unranked by 247Sports. His Hudl profile lists him at 6'0" and 192 pounds. He also saw time at quarterback during his senior season.

The Hoosiers' 2022 recruiting class is ranked 26th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten by 247Sports. The 21-man group is headlined by four 4-star recruits. Indiana is coming off a 2-10 season in 2021, its first losing record in three years.

McMahon's commitment comes on the heels of a big weekend for his family, as the two-night WrestleMania 38 took place in Dallas on Saturday and Sunday.

One of the most memorable moments of the biggest show of the year came on Night 2, when Vince McMahon challenged Pat McAfee to a match. McAfee had just defeated Austin Theory after an impressive showing, but he was pinned by McMahon after Theory attacked him.

However, McMahon didn't get the last laugh as he was visited by his old friend "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. After offering a beer to his former boss, Austin delivered a stunner to the 76-year-old.

Denard Robinson is returning to Michigan.

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh will reportedly add the former Michigan quarterback to his staff as assistant director of player personnel, per Ant Wright of On3.com.

Robinson, 31, spent the previous two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He will work alongside Michigan director of recruiting operations Albert Karschnia, who was hired in December.

Known as "Shoelace" during his time at Michigan, Robinson is one of the most beloved Wolverines of the 21st century. He ranks second all-time in rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,495 and won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award in 2010.

The Jaguars drafted Robinson as a running back in the fifth round in 2013, and he spent four seasons with the franchise. In 2019, he was part of the Atlanta Legends of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.

Robinson's addition will fortify Harbaugh's relationship with the school. The former Wolverines quarterback flirted with the Minnesota Vikings' head coach vacancy this offseason before deciding to remain at Michigan and sign a contract extension.

Having a notable name such as Robinson on the staff could be helpful in recruiting efforts.

NBC is reportedly planning to pursue Big Ten media rights when the conference's contract with Fox and ESPN expires in 2023.

Michael McCarthy and Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports reported rights fees could reach up to $1.1 billion per year.

“If I’m ESPN or Fox, I’m looking over my shoulder because NBC is going to go hard after the Big Ten,” a source told FOS.

ESPN and Fox currently share Big Ten rights. John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal reported the conference is expected to court offers from other networks before considering re-signing with its current partners in hopes of landing what could be the richest media contract in college sports history.

Fox is a co-owner of the Big Ten Network, but that is not expected to hamper any negotiations. 

NBC already has a media rights deal with Notre Dame and regularly broadcasts Fighting Irish games and views the Big Ten as a perfect complement. 

CBS, which is set to lose its longstanding relationship with the SEC, could also look to break the bank in bringing in the Big Ten. CBS is in significant danger of losing its strong ties to college football if the network is unable to bring in a major partner to replace the SEC, which had been a Saturday staple since 1996. 

After flirting with a return to the NFL last month, Michigan has rewarded head football coach Jim Harbaugh with a new contract. 

The school announced on Wednesday that Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal that runs through the 2026 season and alters the terms of his previous extension that was signed in January 2021. 

Harbaugh issued a statement in the announcement: 

I love Michigan Football, the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor community. My family and I are excited to continue leading this football program, and we are thankful for the support that our athletic department and university administration have demonstrated toward the team. I appreciate all that our players, coaches and staff are doing to excel on and off the football field. My enthusiasm for tomorrow, the day after and every day following is as high as ever, and we are ready to get on the practice field and start preparations for the 2022 season. Go Blue!

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported in January that Harbaugh was "watching and waiting to see whether a team with a reasonable ownership and general manager situation" showed interest in hiring him back to the NFL. 

Harbaugh spoke with the Minnesota Vikings about their vacancy, but ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported he "operated under the assumption that the job was his and prepared for the interview as such."

Speaking to Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press, Harbaugh said he wanted to explore the NFL again because "there was a tugging at me that I was once that close to a Super Bowl and I didn’t get it."

Harbaugh added he told Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel in a phone call after talking to the Vikings that "this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one-time thing."

Michigan hired Harbaugh as its head coach on Dec. 30, 2014. The 58-year-old had just wrapped up a successful four-year run with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14 in which he led them to three consecutive NFC Championship games and an appearance in Super Bowl 48. 

In seven seasons with the Wolverines, Harbaugh has a 61-24 record with six bowl game appearances. He is coming off his most successful campaign with a 12-2 record, Big Ten championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.     

Jesse Minter is reportedly set to work for a second Harbaugh brother.

According to Pete Thamel and Chris Low of ESPN, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will hire Minter as the Wolverines' new defensive coordinator. Before Minter became Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator last season, he was on John Harbaugh's staff for the Baltimore Ravens the previous four years.

The role was vacant for Michigan after Mike Macdonald left to join the Ravens following just one season.

The Wolverines still need to replace offensive coordinator and Broyles Award winner Josh Gattis after he left to join the Miami Hurricanes.

While Minter has NFL experience from his time on the Ravens, he is familiar with the college game. His resume includes stops as the defensive coordinator of Georgia State and Indiana State after he was a graduate assistant at Cincinnati.

Minter's Commodores struggled on the defensive side of the ball last season.

Only Rice, Temple, UConn, Arkansas State, Akron, Florida International, Duke, New Mexico State, Kansas and UMass allowed more points per game than the 35.8 Vanderbilt gave up on the way to a 2-10 record.

The Commodores notably lost to East Tennessee State in nonconference play and allowed 62 points to Georgia, 42 points to Florida and 45 points to Tennessee in marquee SEC games.

That stands in stark contrast to a Michigan team that was fourth in the country in points allowed per game on the way to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance. The Wolverines' strength was their defensive prowess, so Minter will be under pressure to maintain that level of play in a difficult Big Ten East.

That won't be easy with Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Christopher Hinton and Daxton Hill among the players who are no longer on the roster.

As for Vanderbilt, it will make Nick Howell its new defensive coordinator, per Thamel. He was the school's defensive backs coach prior to this move.