2025 CFB Media Days: Biggest Takeaways for Each Power Conference
When the calendar flips to July, our beloved "talking season" begins in college football with a busy stretch of media days.
Yes, it's hype time.
Throughout these sessions, players and coaches shared any number of reasons for their excitement and optimism about the 2025 season. Everyone is bigger, stronger, faster, healthier, smarter and the list goes on.
Amid the pleasantries, though, we can always find useful pieces of information—and some entertaining stuff, too. That's the target today in reviewing what was said at media days from the four power conferences.
ACC: Injury Reports and CFP Expansion
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As the impact of sports gambling only continues to grow in college football, the ACC is joining the trend of requiring injury reports.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said the league is implementing a "player availability reporting policy" in advance of conference games. Schools will submit an initial report two days before the contest with updates the next two days.
"In this case, it would alleviate pressure from entities or individuals who are involved in sports wagering that attempt to obtain inside information about availability from players, coaches and other staff," he told reporters.
Phillips added a key thought about the College Football Playoff, too.
When discussing the possibility of CFP expansion, both of the examples he used included automatic bids for only the five highest-ranked conference champions—which is the current format.
The statement echoed the preference of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, signifying a united front against the whispers of the Big Ten wanting to have four guaranteed CFP spots instead of a more meritocratic at-large system.
Expansion will again be a major storyline this season. Phillips would be wise to stay firm in this stance and protect the ACC's access to the CFP.
Big Ten: CFP Expansion (Again)
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Speaking of the CFP and the Big Ten's desire to ruin the sport—I mean, uh, protect its access to the championship tournament...
Buddy, whew. These coaches were clinging to the company line.
Washington coach Jedd Fisch said it's "imperative" for the conference to receive four automatic bids to the CFP. Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned the same, per On3's Pete Nakos, as did Indiana's Curt Cignetti and more.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti raised some eyebrows when he essentially said than an 8-4 team in the conference still deserves CFP consideration.
Clearly, you see I disagree. I'm very confident most fans do, too.
But the Big Ten holds an awful lot of power in those discussions, and this bickering is destined to continue over the next few months as Petitti tries to wield that influence on the next version of the CFP.
Big 12: Yormark, Parity and Rich Rod
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Ever since Brett Yormark was hired as the Big 12 commissioner in August 2022, there has been a steady stream of compliments in his direction.
But, seriously, y'all: Everybody loves Brett.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders said the 58-year-old is "the best commissioner in college sports." Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy took it a step further, labeling him "the best commissioner in all of sports."
During his tenure, Yormark has showed off creativity in how to market the league and been aggressive in maneuvering the realignment era.
The praise is well-deserved, and it likely won't be quieting down anytime soon—especially if the conference's perceived parity, a common topic at the Big 12 event, leads to multiple representatives in the College Football Playoff.
Otherwise, one of my favorite answers from the Big 12 session belonged to old/new West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.
Asked for some advantages of returning to a program, he said:
"I think, you know, typically ... it takes you six to nine months to kind of get a lay of the land. Not just your roster, but the town, the school, the community and all that kind of stuff. Well, West Virginia took six to nine minutes."
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
SEC: Napier's Confidence, Tennessee's QBs
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Florida coach Billy Napier is entering the 2025 season on a pretty hot seat. The fourth-year boss is calling his shot, though.
"It's the most talented team we've had since we've been in Gainesville," he said during an interview on SEC Network (h/t John Talty of CBS Sports).
The good news is Napier is probably correct in that assessment. The bad news is Florida faces a brutal schedule, one that includes trips to LSU, Miami, Texas A&M and Ole Miss, home games against Texas and Tennessee plus the annual neutral-site matchup with Georgia.
Napier needs this talented roster to succeed—or he'll likely be taking over at a different program next season.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is ready for the QB competition to take the field.
Nico Iamaleava's unexpected exit led to the Vols bringing in former Appalachian State starter Joey Aguilar, who had transferred to UCLA but left the Bruins once Iamaleava went there.
"Ultimately at the end of the day, it's never about who's not in your building but about who is in your building," UT coach Josh Heupel told reporters.
Along with Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre will be vying for the QB1 label during fall camp in Knoxville.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
