There are, after all, the storylines for the College Football Playoff games themselves on Monday: Michigan’s effort to prove itself worthy against the country’s elite programs of their Rose Bowl date with Alabama, who has Nick Saban chasing an eighth national championship; Washington’s quest to indicate they belong among the many national title contenders after their undefeated season saw them listed because the underdog to Texas.
Nonetheless, beyond the scores of semifinals and the championship that lies ahead, there are strings attached that may cause ripples at the school and possibly pro levels.
Will each Michigan and Alabama wrap up their seasons needing recent coaches? Will Arch Manning make the move that he likely should? Are the Giants witnessing their recent quarterback hopeful? We break these down below.
Is Jim Harbaugh coaching his last college game?
It’s looking highly probable.
Michigan desires to lock its coach down after he has led the college to its third consecutive College Football Playoff, and currently has the Wolverines at 13-0. Harbaugh has expressed a desire to remain along with his alma mater. But he hasn’t been so quick to money in with the potential enticement of an NFL return awaiting.
While Harbaugh continues to be working on a current contract that runs through the 2026 season, the university has offered a 10-year, $125 million contract extension. More importantly, the deal accommodates a clause that prohibits Harbaugh from entertaining or in search of out skilled coaching offers for your complete 2024 season.
It’s a fairly large caveat and certain the explanation he has yet to sign a proposal that may make him one among the highest-paid coaches in college football history and the very best within the Big Ten.
Harbaugh is annually connected to coaching jobs within the NFL, and most recently interviewed with the Vikings in 2022 and the Broncos earlier this yr.
Now, he appears to be leaning toward rejoining the NFL after a stint with the 49ers (2011-2014), leading them to 3 conference title games and one Super Bowl appearance.
On Sunday it was revealed that Harbaugh hired football agent Don Yee, who represents seven-time Super Bowl champion and former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady, and others within the league.
There’s rumored interest with the Chargers, who held Harbaugh as their franchise quarterback in 1999 and 2000, and others who need to fill coaching vacancies before the beginning of next season. Nonetheless, he has kept passing on any questions that don’t concern the upcoming Rose Bowl on Monday.
“Such a one-track mind, that’s the best way we’ve gone about things,” Harbaugh responded when asked a couple of return to the NFL. “It’s literally whatever day we’re in, trying to get essentially the most out of it. Dominate the day then we’re gonna fall asleep tonight and wake tomorrow, and see if we are able to’t dominate that day. It’s a single-minded group and just very focused on caring for business today and see if we are able to’t do the identical tomorrow.”
Harbaugh’s non-answers provide more clarity than likely intended.
Can Nick Saban secure his status as perhaps the best college coach ever?
One more mystery behind the Michigan-Alabama game is whether or not Nick Saban, the person behind Alabama football for over 17 years, will retire on the season’s end.
It seems those closest to Saban, 72, are unsure of his competitive profession plans. In a recent interview, Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said “No one knows that answer except him,” per 247Sports. Steele and Saban’s relationship goes back to 1985 and Steele is in his third season under Saban.
But what’s less of a mystery than his retirement plans is the legacy he’ll either leave behind or proceed to construct next yr. Saban has built and nurtured a foundation at Alabama, proven in his 206-28 record (including 117-18 in SEC games) on the university and further in his 297-70-1 overall profession.
If Saban is to win the national championship this yr, it’s going to be his eighth total and seventh with Alabama, the remaining with LSU. He already holds the record for many national titles amongst college coaches after surpassing fellow Alabama coaching legend Paul Bryant at six wins.
Saban has proven he can win while navigating the school transfer portal and scholarship complications. He has proven he can win while enduring a revolving door of offensive and defensive coordinators throughout the years. He has the SEC under his spell, winning national titles at two different SEC locales.
Would a seventh title at Alabama put an end to any debate for Saban against Bryant or other national title-winning coaches like John McKay (USC), Knute Rockne (Notre Dame), and Woody Hayes (Ohio State)? It just might, or perhaps, there isn’t any have to.
How will Texas’ result affect Arch Manning’s future at the college?
The previous five-star recruit is in a troublesome spot it seems irrespective of the final result of the Sugar Bowl. There’s an obvious solution, either win or lose, only it doesn’t appear Manning will take it.
Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli, got here to Texas because the third-string quarterback behind starter Quinn Ewers and now former backup Maalik Murphy, who recently transferred to Duke.
With Murphy heading out, a door opens for Manning to be the backup to Ewers on Monday against Washington, and if given the possibility to go on the sphere, he could turn the percentages of the starting job in his favor.
But with the talent of Ewers, who has 3,161 yards passing this season, 21 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, Manning’s hill to climb continues to be steep.
The simpler route can be to transfer to a different program where Manning might be the leading man. Nonetheless, Manning admitted on Saturday that he hasn’t considered making a move in any respect despite swirling rumors and being a backup two years in a row behind a fellow sophomore.
“Obviously, there’s at all times rumors, especially nowadays,” Manning said on Saturday to the media, based on Inside Texas. “I haven’t looked into transferring in any respect. I’m just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully someday playing for the University of Texas like I’ve at all times desired to.”
If he opted to enter the portal, he would likely draw interest from several big schools, including Ohio State and Oklahoma, who’ve openings at QB.
Could the Giants be their future quarterback in J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr.?
It’s no secret that the Giants (5-11) could use some help, and adding a quarterback is probably not on the back burner.
After Daniel Jones’ ups and downs and eventual season-ending ACL injury, heads and hearts turned to Tommy DeVito for a short-lived three-game revival before being benched for Tyrod Taylor, who couldn’t make up for DeVito’s mess against the Saints in a 24-6 loss nor close a win against the long-heated rival Eagles, 33-25. (Sunday saw him throw for 319 yards and a rating but not register a win against the Rams.)
General manager Joe Shoen has said it’s the “expectation” that Jones shall be the starting quarterback when he’s “healthy.” Nonetheless, a 3rd quarterback can have to be added with Taylor unsigned and DeVito an undrafted rookie who still has some developing to do.
With three straight losses, the Giants now hold the No. 5 draft pick, based on Tankathon, and in the event that they favor going for a quarterback early within the draft slightly than taking up a veteran in free agency as insurance for Jones, their pick could also be acting on Monday.
In November, The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reported that two high-ranking scouts for the Giants consider that Michigan’s McCarthy might be the reply.
McCarthy has led Michigan to an undefeated season, completing 213 passes for two,630 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. At 6-foot-3, 197 kilos, he also isn’t afraid to run, tallying 181 yards for 3 rushing touchdowns this season.
The Giants could take him under their wing, train him, and have him able to take over for Jones and his $47.1 million salary if crucial. Or they may go after a young quarterback that may likely have a direct impact on the sphere, resembling Caleb Williams of USC or Jayden Daniels out of LSU. But they might need some luck/willing trade partners to make that occur.
Today’s back page
The finger of blame
The ending to Saturday night’s Lions-Cowboys matchup was actually puzzling, and one which left many pointing fingers.
But most must be pointing at Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
After offensive lineman Taylor Decker caught the pass on a 2-point conversion play that may have given Detroit a one-point lead with 23 seconds remaining in the sport, officials ruled he wasn’t an eligible receiver as he didn’t report back to the officials.
On the second attempt, Campbell pressed again, and Jared Goff threw an interception but Micah Parsons was offsides.
A 3rd attempt didn’t deter Campbell’s aggressive nature, nevertheless it didn’t work in his favor with Goff throwing an incomplete pass in need of the goal line.
Despite the he said vs. he said situation, and what seemed to be a possible official’s error after an overhead video captured Decker going over to consult with an official before the play, a giant responsibility for the loss falls on Campbell.
He is understood for being aggressive on fourth down; the Lions are second in fourth-down attempts within the league with 38 on a 50 percent conversion rate behind the Panthers (46).
Still, Campbell had three opportunities to play it protected. Three opportunities to kick the additional point to tie the sport and head into extra time with added time to tug out a victory.
Nonetheless, his emotions got the perfect of him after the lineman reporting saga unfolded. He was determined to get the 2 extra points in an effort to make up for the lost conversion or to someway prove himself in the fitting.
Bench deficit
Though the blockbuster trade for OG Anunoby on Saturday allowed the Knicks to restructure their rotation, some glaring issues remain, most notably after losing Immanuel Quickley.
Among the many fans, he was a showman, and one which was well received in The Garden, especially as an efficient player off the bench.
Quickley, 24, was coming into his own in the midst of his fourth season with the Knicks, creating an easy offensive spark. He was averaging a career-best 15 points per game before the deal, which the Knicks might want to make up for.
Perhaps much more importantly, he was the backup to Jalen Brunson, who has proved durable in his time in Recent York, but no human body is infallible.
The Knicks options now seem like Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo and Ryan Arcidiacono to fill in if an injury occurs, all of which will not be entirely promising.
DiVincenzo has played essentially the most this season out of the three, averaging 21.2 minutes per game with 10.5 points on 47 percent shooting. However, McBride and Arcidiacono have seen a mean of 5.3 minutes and a couple of minutes, respectively.
To place the change in one other context, Quickley (24) was a plus-4 for the Knicks when energetic while DiVincenzo holds a minus-1.6.
Soon enough, the Knicks may feel the ache of Quickley’ absence within the short-term; nevertheless, to forestall any long-term pains without him, they may have to work on DiVincenzo or find one other move to make before the trade deadline in February.
What we’re reading 📰
🏈 It was going to take a mistake-free effort for the Giants to topple a red-hot Rams team on Sunday. As an alternative, writes Mark Cannizzaro, Big Blue stubbed their collective toe in all of the ways we’ve gotten used to seeing them do that season.
🏈 Tyrod Taylor had the Giants on the move with lower than a minute left Sunday afternoon with a probability to writer a signature win. Then Brian Daboll took the ball out of his QB’s hands. Steve Serby tries to make sense of all of it.
🏀 Getting OG Anunoby may repay for the Knicks in the long term, but within the immediate term, it’s clear the team continues to be processing losing two well-liked teammates. ‘[N]obody desires to see their family leave, they’re my bros, you realize?,” said Mitchell Robinson in a social media post.
⚾ “He hit, he pitched, he earned.” Those are only just a few of the explanations the yr that was belonged to Shohei Ohtani, writes Joel Sherman, who delves into all of the figures and teams that told baseball’s story in 2023.
🏒 The Rangers skate into 2024 at 25-9-1. So what do the Blueshirts need within the Recent 12 months? How a couple of scoring, top-six right winger? That’s what Mollie Walker suggests, in addition to just a few other items.
🏒 The Penguins ended the Islanders’ 2023 on a sour note.