Independents Football

The NCAA is investigating two "high-profile" NIL deals involving football players at BYU and Miami "for potential violations of the association's interim rules regarding new marketing rights for college athletes," according to Sportico's Daniel Libit and Eben Novy-Williams. 

The two deals might qualify as a pay-for-play setup, per Sportico, which is prohibited under NIL guidelines.

The BYU deal is reportedly in partnership with protein bar company Built, which provided compensation for every member of the football team. The Miami deal was with American Top Team, an MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym, which offered compensation to every member of the Hurricanes football program.

"We have communicated with the NCAA concerning the Built Bar NIL arrangement," Jon McBride, BYU's associate athletic director for communications and media strategy, told Sportico. "They have informed us they do not have any additional questions at this time. We will continue to monitor and abide by the NCAA interim NIL policy."

Miami told Sportico the school had not been contacted by the NCAA about the issue. 

Among prohibitions, NIL compensation cannot be given or offered to players based on their enrollment at specific schools, meaning it can't be dependent on their commitment to play for a school.

The NCAA's interim NIL policy took effect in June, allowing student-athletes to benefit from their names, images and likenesses. Student-athletes are allowed to engage in NIL activity that is consistent with the law of the state where the school is located. In addition, they have to report their NIL deals to their schools. 

Army Cadets accidentally kidnapped the wrong goat during a secret raid of a Maryland farm in search of Navy's mascot, Bill No. 37, over the weekend.

Dave Philipps of the New York Times reported Tuesday that the long tradition of trying to steal the opponent's mascot has continued despite pleas from military officials to stop the practice, which typically happens during the lead-up to the annual Army-Navy football game.

This year's clash between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen is scheduled for Dec. 11, and Army tried to strike first with its "spirit mission" in search for Bill No. 37.

Instead, the cadets returned to West Point—the United States Military Academy—with Bill No. 34, a retired mascot who's 14 years old and deals with arthritis, according to a joint statement from Army and Navy provided to the New York Times.

A military employee told Philipps the goat was returned to the farm Monday and that a veterinarian said the animal was in "good health" following a checkup.

Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams and Vice Adm. Sean Buck, the superintendents of the academies, confirmed in the joint statement the situation is under investigation, saying they are "disappointed by the trust that was broken recently between our brothers and sisters in arms" and the Cadets' actions don't "reflect either academy's core values of dignity and respect."

They also reiterated the stealing of animal mascots is "off limits."

Army (7-3) will likely be the heavy favorite over Navy (2-8) when the teams meet to close out the regular season next month at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Liberty Flames head coach Hugh Freeze is set to become one of the highest-paid non-Power 5 college football coaches in the nation. 

Freeze and Liberty have reportedly reached a new deal that will pay him more than $4 million annually, per ESPN's Chris Low. The contract will run through the 2028 season. 

The new contract is expected to be officially announced Wednesday, Low adds, and it will be comparable to what five SEC coaches are making. 

It's a well-earned deal for Freeze, who has been at Liberty since 2019. The Flames went 8-5 during his first season at the helm and 10-1 last season. Liberty also won the Cure Bowl during Freeze's first two seasons as head coach. 

The 52-year-old has led the Flames to a 7-4 record this season. Liberty's final game of the 2021 regular season is against Army on Nov. 27. 

Freeze's new deal is also an important one for Liberty as the program is set to transition from a FBS independent program to Conference USA beginning with the 2023 season.

Freeze has also coached at Arkansas State and Ole Miss. He went 10-3 at Arkansas State in 2011 and 39-25 in five seasons at Ole Miss from 2012-16. He also led the Rebels to wins in the BBVA Compass Bowl, Music City Bowl and Sugar Bowl. 

Freeze is 5-2 overall in Bowl games, losing just the GoDaddy.com Bowl in 2011 and the Peach Bowl in 2014. 

Freeze resigned as head coach of the Rebels in July 2017 after a "pattern of inappropriate conduct" that included a "one-minute call made from Freeze's University-issued phone to a number associated with a female escort service," according to USA Today's Dan Wolken.

Before joining Liberty, Low adds that Freeze talked to Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee about coordinator and assistant positions.  

BYU's dream start hit a speed bump on Saturday, as the Cougars were upset by unranked Boise State 26-17 for their first loss of the season. 

The 10th-ranked Cougars dominated the stat sheet with a 413-312 advantage in total yards, but they committed four turnovers, including two in Boise State territory, that proved costly. 

Broncos wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught five passes for 66 yards in the win. Their rushing attack racked up 140 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries and allowed them to control the clock. 

Saturday's win marks Boise State's first victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 since the 2010 Fiesta Bowl against TCU. 

Boise State hands No. 10 BYU its first loss of the season!

The Broncos beat an AP Top-10 opponent for the first time since 2010 👏 pic.twitter.com/z6u743haKo

— ESPN (@espn) October 9, 2021

BYU quarterback Jaren Hall did throw an interception on the team's final drive with under two minutes to play, but the first three turnovers came on poor execution. 

Tyler Allgeier fumbled the ball away at BYU's 24-yard line midway through the second quarter with BYU leading 10-3.

Boise State needed just four plays to get into the end zone and tie the score. Cyrus Habibi-Likio capped off the drive with an 11-yard drive. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Lopini Katoa lost possession of the ball and the Broncos recovered. The Broncos took a 17-10 lead five plays later on Andrew Van Buren's third-down score from one yard out. 

Two field goals put Boise State up 23-10 midway through the third quarter. BYU seemed poised to at least get a field goal on its first possession of the second half, but Katoa fumbled again at the Broncos' 18-yard line. 

Allgeier did get BYU within six points on a touchdown run with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Boise State's ensuing possession sealed the win thanks to Jonah Dalmas' 22-yard field goal. 

Dalmas was put in position to even have a chance to kick the ball after Shakir caught a 35-yard pass with two defenders around him. 

How did he come down with this?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rFu9WwXxbm

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 9, 2021

Boise State (3-3) has had an inconsistent start to the season. It did play Oklahoma State and Central Florida close, losing both games by a combined six points. Head coach Andy Avalos got his first marquee win in his sixth game leading the program. 

BYU (5-1) fells from the ranks of the unbeaten, but there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the program. It already has wins over Pac-12 teams Utah and Arizona State, the latter of which is currently ranked No. 22 in the AP Top 25.    

The BYU football program announced a partnership with Built Brands, a nutrition company, that includes name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements with walk-on members of the Cougars' roster to cover their academic tuition.

BYU provided a video of all 36 walk-on players finding out the news Thursday:

https://twitter.com/BYUfootball/status/1425853761713434625

Tuition for a full course load at the private university in Utah is $6,120 per semester for a non-Latter-day Saint and $3,060 per semester for a Latter-day Saint during the 2021-22 academic year, according to the school's official website.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said he's happy the recent NIL changes are allowing all players, and not just the stars on each team, to benefit financially:

From the beginning of the NIL discussion, my hope was that changes to NCAA rules and regulations would provide a pathway forward for all players to benefit more fully from their name, image and likeness, especially walk-ons who sacrifice so much to make our program great. When [Built co-founder] Nick Greer called to tell me that Built was committed to entering into NIL deals which would pay our walk-ons enough money to cover their tuition for the full academic year, I could not hold back my emotions. I love these boys, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be partnering with a company that is equally committed to assisting BYU football in building a culture of love and learning while enhancing the experience for all players.

Built co-founder Nick Greer said the company is "excited" about the team-wide partnership, which includes 123 players signing NIL agreements with the company.

"Games are won when every single player lifts and supports each other with everything they've got," he said. "That is how we will all win."

BYU is coming off an 11-1 season in 2020 that saw it finish 11th in the final Associated Press poll following a win over UCF in the Boca Raton Bowl. Star quarterback Zach Wilson was then selected with the second overall pick in the NFL draft by the New York Jets.

The Cougars kick off the 2021 campaign Sept. 4 when they face off with Arizona at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

At least one NFL team has BYU's Zach Wilson as its No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 draft class over Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, according to Matt Miller of The Draft Scout.

"What he does as a thrower, and as a runner, is exactly where we are as a league right now," an NFL college scouting director told Miller. "He throws some of those 50-50 balls with his shoulders square to the defense after running around in the pocket and I'm seeing Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech all over again."

Wilson has been rocketing up draft boards after a 2020 season in which he threw for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 12 games, completing 73.5 percent of his passes and leading BYU to an 11-1 record. 

Suffice to say, more than a few folks are impressed with his game:

okay I’ve been watching Zach Wilson all morning and here is my official scouting report: pic.twitter.com/Ry5aaIgxbh

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 13, 2021

My thoughts on QB Zach Wilson of @BYUfootball @BYU @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/45wMthHkYl

— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) February 11, 2021

Some people said I was crazy when I mentioned that some people like Zach Wilson better than Trevor Lawrence. I'm telling you, some people think Wilson is better. But I'm not a scout. I'm just relaying opinion. https://t.co/tVSDFWAaNp

— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) February 6, 2021

Other analysts, however, think we might want to pump the brakes on the Mahomes' comparison or the idea that he's a better prospect than Lawrence:

https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/1362138259757834243

Zach Wilson > Trevor Lawrence? Maybe why the same teams are perennially bad in the NFL. https://t.co/9G7GLargns

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) January 2, 2021

Lawrence, after all, won a national championship in his three years at Clemson and led the team to the College Football Playoff in each of those seasons. For his career, he threw for 10,098 yards, 90 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 40 games, completing 66.6 percent of his passes. 

"You hear everyone talk about generational talent," an NFL evaluator told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated regarding Lawrence. "Well, the only one I've studied who's like him is Andrew Luck. Between those two, I'd rank Andrew slightly ahead of Trevor. But it's close."

NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had a slightly different comparison, calling him "Deshaun Watson in [Justin] Herbert's body."

Suffice to say, Lawrence still seems likely to be the top overall pick when the Jacksonville Jaguars make their selection. But there apparently isn't a consensus on who should be the top quarterback on the board, with Wilson clearly impressing evaluators. 

Twenty-four members of the Army football team were involved in an academic cheating scandal at West Point. 

Per USA Today's Tom Vanden Brook, a total of 73 cadets were accused of cheating on a calculus exam in May. 

From that group, 55 are athletes, with 24 being football players who appeared in at least one game this season—of which 17 are still on the Black Knights' roster heading into their bowl game against West Virginia. 

In a separate report from Dec. 21, Vanden Brook noted that 58 cadets admitted to cheating on an exam that had to be "administered remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Tim Bakken, a law professor at West Point, spoke to Vanden Brook about the scandal:

"There's no excuse for cheating when the fundamental code for cadets is that they should not lie, cheat or steal. Therefore when the military tries to downplay effects of cheating at the academy, we're really downplaying the effects on the military as a whole. We rely on the military to tell us honestly when we should fight wars, and when we can win them." 

In an October memo distributed to West Point faculty and obtained by Vanden Brook, Army superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams wrote that he suspended a policy that would prevent or limit cadets in violation of the honor code from representing Army at public events, including sporting events, because it "has resulted in an inequitable application of consequences and developmental opportunities for select groups of cadets." 

West Point spokesman, Army Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt, told Vanden Brook that punishment is being "delayed ... until final adjudication."

Vanden Brook noted that instructors determined cheating occurred because all 73 cadets "made the same error on a portion of the exam."

Seventy-two of the 73 cadets accused of cheating were in their first year at West Point. Many of the 58 cadets who admitted to cheating are currently enrolled in a rehabilitation program, per Vanden Brook. 

The names of the cadets are not being released. West Point is expected finalize disciplinary measures in January. 

Army will wrap up the 2020 football season on Thursday against West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. 

A dream season for the Liberty Flames ended with their biggest win of the season Saturday as they knocked off previously undefeated No. 12 Coastal Carolina 37-34 in overtime at the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

Liberty nearly won the game in regulation, but while trying to run the clock down to kick a potential winning field goal, CCU forced and recovered a fumble at the goal line to push the game to overtime. The Flames then blocked a field goal from Coastal that would've forced double overtime to seal the win. 

This was ruled a fumble while Liberty was in the red zone: pic.twitter.com/rXCVQmVJ2b

— ESPN (@espn) December 27, 2020

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1343045963590602758

In his second year at Liberty (10-1), head coach Hugh Freeze got his team to 10 wins, a second-consecutive Cure Bowl victory and the program's first win over a ranked opponent. 

Coastal had been a darling of college football after making it through the regular season without a loss but found itself on the outside of a New Year's Six bowl regardless. On Saturday, the Chanticleers' dream campaign ended in stunning fashion as Liberty grabbed an early 14-0 lead and forced an epic CCU comeback that fell short.

    

Notable Performers

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Flames: 19-of-29 passing, 220 yards, 2 interceptions, 21 carries, 137 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns 

Joshua Mack, RB, Liberty Flames: 14 carries, 105 yards

Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: 21-for-32 passing, 318 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 96 yards rushing, 15 carries, 1 rushing touchdown 

Jaivon Heiligh, WR, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: 13 catches, 178 yards

Flames Weather Coastal's Rally 

It took until late in the third quarter before Coastal Carolina could overcome its own errors and put the Flames on their heels. It was also worth the wait. 

After Liberty took a 31-19 lead to begin the fourth quarter, the Chanticleers answered with a score of their own to make it a one-possession game. That set up a fierce six-play, 72-yard drive with five minutes left in the game to knot things up at 34 all. A touchdown pass from CCU freshman quarterback Grayson McCall to Greg Latushko gave way to a two-point conversion that McCall ran in with ease. By the time the drive ended, three minutes remained, though it only took Liberty 1:20 to march right back down to the goal line. 

That's where tailback Joshua Mack committed what was almost an unredeemable error by dropping the ball before reaching the end zone after CCU practically begged him to score. 

PUT IT IN THE LOUVRE pic.twitter.com/xu6rKfh7Ad

— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) December 27, 2020

Instead it's just another footnote in what's likely the most memorable bowl game of the season this side of the New Year's Six.

Consider McCall had been virtually flawless all season. On Saturday he tossed his third interception of the year. That he also helped wideout Jaivon Heiligh set a school record with 13 receptions against Liberty showed just how difficult it was for him to make any mistakes. 

Even before the Flames' goal-line blunder, Liberty was the mistake prone team, not Coastal. The Flames turned the ball over three times and still led the contest with 475 total yards. After both teams traded interceptions to begin the second half, the two went back-and-forth with points on six consecutive drives—the first four coming by way of touchdown. 

Liberty used both sides of the ball to reach the end zone 😤💪 pic.twitter.com/bmch0QsAYT

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 27, 2020

Malik Willis is going all out 💯

31-19, Liberty pic.twitter.com/jjCXgLNwp4

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 27, 2020

That led to an overtime where the Chanticleers had an opportunity to take its first lead of the day and instead wound up watching their season end on a blocked field goal as Liberty finally exhaled.

  

Are The Chanticleers Here To Stay?

The good news for Coastal Carolina is that it appears the majority of their key players are likely to return next year. 

The bad news is they'll no longer have the element of surprise. 

No. 12 Coastal Carolina gets its first score of the night 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BvXykbQK4E

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 27, 2020

No college football team will be caught off-guard by the Chanticleers' skill and poise. If they thought earning respect this year was tough, next year may be even more difficult as they attempt to rail against a CFP committee that didn't believe in them. This is, after all, the same program that argued loudly about being overlooked. 

Now it has everyone's attention. 

Unless the college coaching carousel presents Jamey Chadwell with an opportunity he can't refuse, the Chanticleer's head coach is set to return. So too is McCall, who finished the 2020 campaign with 2,498 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and three interceptions. 

A dime from out of the pocket!! 💰 pic.twitter.com/Oc1CBLx8WO

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 27, 2020

Heiligh is a junior and would return for a final go. So could junior tight end Isaiah Likely and safety Brayden Matts. 

They all have earned the opportunity to show the sport this year was no fluke. But it's not always that simple, as the UCF Knights showed following their undefeated season in 2017. 

The road will only get tougher. Coastal will at least have the chance to face it with many of the same players that put them on the map in 2020. 

    

What's Next

Both programs will look to prove this year was no fluke and improve the perception of their teams around the country. Coastal will do so with the No. 2 recruiting class in the Sun Belt, per 247Sports composite, which ranks No. 87 in the nation thanks to commitments from 13 3-star prospects. 

Liberty, meanwhile, has 10 3-star recruits in a class ranked No. 103 in the nation.

     

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Gary Steele, who became Army's first Black varsity football player in 1966, has been invited to attend the Army-Navy game, per ESPN.com. 

Fans are barred from attending the game in West Point, New York because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Army athletic director Mike Buddie has made an exception for Steele, though he won't be able to attend.

"It's still hard for all of us to believe that it took until 1966 for the color barrier [on the football team] to be broken at West Point," ESPN anchor Sage Steele, who is Gary Steele's daughter, said.

"He was the first Black varsity player there, and it's amazing because if you look at the team photo from back then, it's pretty easy to spot him. In a sea of his white teammates, he's right there in the middle."

Unfortunately, the 74-year-old Steele won't be at the game, as he is undergoing treatment for cancer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he lives.

"He was going to get in his car and drive up to see history at West Point, but my mother had to say, 'Gary, with everything going on, you cannot,'" Sage Steele said.

The ex-tight end caught 66 passes for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns from 1966-1968. He led the team in receiving in 1968 with a career-high 496 yards and also earned second-team Newspaper Enterprise Association All-America honors. Steele notably snagged eight catches for 156 yards in a 28-24 loss at No. 4 Penn State.

"It's never been about that [being the first Black varsity football player]," Sage Steele said regarding her father. "He just wanted to go and play football and be a great teammate and prepare himself to serve his country. He just happened to be very good at it.

"He's said this a million times and I'll continue to say it, 'Somebody had to be the first. It just happened to be me.' He's very proud. As he has gotten older, he has realized the importance of it." 

Army went 23-7 during Steele's era, beating Navy two of three times. The lone loss was a 19-14 defeat in 1967, but Steele scored one of Army's two touchdowns on a 52-yard catch.

Steele, who also excelled in track and field, is a member of Army's Sports Hall of Fame. 

Army and Navy will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.

Liberty University announced Friday that Flames head football coach Hugh Freeze tested positive for COVID-19 and is dealing with "mild symptoms."

Here's a look at the full statement from the Lynchburg, Virginia, school:

Flames Nation is asked to keep @CoachHughFreeze in your prayers for a speedy recovery.#PrayForCoachFreeze pic.twitter.com/YPfra2h7aX

— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) December 11, 2020

Freeze took over at Liberty in December 2018.

After guiding the Flames to an 8-5 record in his first year, they started the current campaign 8-0 before their first and only loss to NC State on Nov. 21. They rebounded with a 45-0 blowout of UMass to close out the regular season as a matchup with Coastal Carolina last week was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.

The 51-year-old Mississippi native signed a contract extension with the program through 2026 in November.

"All aspects of our program are on the rise under Hugh's leadership, and we are putting the infrastructure in place to make this one of the top Group of 5 programs in the country," Liberty athletic director Ian McCaw told ESPN's Chris Low at the time.

Freeze previously served as head coach at Ole Miss (2012-16), Arkansas State (2011) and NAIA program Lambuth (2008-09) as part of a three-decade coaching career.

The Flames, an independent FBS member, are bowl-eligible, but their lack of a conference and games being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic could hurt their chances of being selected.