Tyler Schuster
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Articles by Tyler Schuster
athlonsports.com
Athlon's Tyler Schuster breaks down the regular season's remaining biggest matchups, including Miami-Notre Dame and more.
athlonsports.com
Athlon's Tyler Schuster breaks down the numbers behind the No. 12 Wildcats' renaissance under first-year head coach Will Stein.
Between Howard's Rock and a Hard Place
Getty Images/Icon Sportswire Before home games, Clemson football participates in a tradition some have called “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.” In 2016, ESPN’s Chris Fowler went so far as to say, “If you are lucky enough to ever witness this, you will not forget it. It is perhaps the greatest entrance in sports.” For those unfamiliar, the players and coaches enter the stadium by running down a massive hill.
Lincoln Riley and USC Are In Win-Now Mode
Getty Images/Justin Casterline The most notable quote from Lincoln Riley’s USC introductory press conference back in November of 2021 was prompted by a question from a local reporter. The reporter asked Riley how much time he thought he needed to get the Trojans back to national prominence. “...How can we not do it? You know?” Riley said. “How’s it not gonna work?” In retrospect, the answer to that otherwise straightforward question is that it’s complicated.
What is Ole Miss Without Lane Kiffin?
Getty Images/Christian Petersen Adele’s 2012 smash hit Rolling in the Deep represented a commercial breakthrough for the now-global superstar. The song topped the charts in 12 countries.
Steve Sarkisian's Tony Hawk Moment Is Here
Icon Sportswire / Solid Verbal Media Illustration On June 27, 1999, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk did something many thought was impossible: He landed the world’s first 900. The backdrop was the 1999 X Games in San Francisco. Late that evening, after 10 failed attempts and long past his allotted time, ESPN kept the cameras rolling. Viewers across the country waited with bated breath. Onlookers and fellow skaters cheered him on in unison.
Lane Kiffin Has Assembled The Expendables
The 2010 hit film The Expendables tells the story of an elite group of mercenaries tasked with overthrowing a corrupt Latin American dictator, whom they later find out is controlled by an ex-CIA agent. It’s an ode to the blockbuster action films of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The star-studded cast features big names like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Terry Crews, just to name a few.
Why Did Michigan State Hire Pat Fitzgerald?
Photo by: Aaron J. Thornton Four wins. 20 losses. In the brutal economy of modern college football, that kind of record usually lands you a studio job in Chicago at the Big Ten Network. Yet, in 2026, here stands Pat Fitzgerald, fresh off an alleged hazing scandal, donning a headset and dark green polo, inheriting a program with deeper pockets and far greater expectations than his alma mater.
What Happens When a Program Portals a Brand-New Offense?
For two decades, Oklahoma State was the slow cooker of the Big 12 Conference. The recipe was simple: acquire three stars, let them marinate in Mike Gundy’s program, turn them loose as juniors and seniors. It was methodical. It had staying power. And it worked more often than it didn’t. Then Eric Morris drifted into town with a GM in his mid-20s and a transfer portal strategy that would flip the league on its head. What’s happened this offseason is a total roster reset.
Did LaNorris Sellers Make a Mistake?
Photo by: Icon Sportswire LaNorris Sellers does things on a college football field that make your head spin. He’s a blend of raw athleticism, weight room strength, and genuinely mind-blowing play-making abilities. With one flick of the wrist, he can lace an accurate pass to a covered receiver. The next minute, he possesses the God-given explosiveness to shrug off a would-be tackler and put his foot in the ground for a big run.
The Long Wait in Tallahassee
The most worrisome assumption about a rock bottom is that the floor is solid. It was the 19th of October on a sleepy night in Palo Alto, California. On one side, you had Stanford, a team with a one-year rental head coach, a hapless offense, and three embarrassing losses already to its name. On the other side, you had Florida State, a blue-blood program reeling following an unprecedented eight-straight ACC losses. The game was a horror show. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos struggled with accuracy.
Cal Football Is Cleared For Takeoff
Photo by: Thearon W. Henderson Most new head coaches spend their first 24 hours on the job shaking hands and kissing babies. Others work the phones, trying to assemble a new staff. New Cal football head coach Tosh Lupoi spent his time at 30,000 feet. The ink on his new five-year contract was barely dry, and the former Oregon defensive coordinator was headed to the airport. The destination? Hawaii. The goal?
Auburn Is Betting Familiarity Beats Firepower
The blueprint is becoming clear across college football: a struggling Power 4 program hires a G6 coach, the coach brings his quarterback, and instant chemistry bypasses Year 1 growing pains. Oklahoma did it with playcaller Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer. Oklahoma State is doing it with head coach Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker. Vanderbilt caught lightning in a bottle with Tim Beck and Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia.
Can the "Bill Snyder Way" Still Work in College Football?
Wearing a black suit, a white collared shirt, and a Kansas State pin, an emotional Collin Klein stood before family, former coach Bill Snyder, administrators, and media members during his introductory press conference. “I love challenges,” Klein said. “I love going and doing hard things.
Kyle Whittingham Is Not A Michigan Man
Photo by: Icon Sportswire For so long, the University of Michigan football program and its fanbase have been enamored with the concept of a Michigan Man. The term “Michigan Man” gained traction after national title-winning coach Fielding H. Yost used it in his speeches. The term has morphed over the years, but is loosely defined as a man who is wholeheartedly dedicated to the University of Michigan. Famed, now disgraced, former head coach Bo Schembechler was certainly a Michigan Man.
The Oddest Couple in Chapel Hill
The Bill Belichick-Bobby Petrino partnership is college football’s strangest subplot this season, and that’s before you consider that one of them is dating a 25-year-old former pageant queen. On one side of the odd couple, you have the second-winningest coach in NFL history, with 300 wins and six Super Bowl victories to his name.
Willie Fritz Is Doing His Best Work Yet
Houston head football coach Willie Fritz has 39 non-negotiable requirements for his coaches and players. These tenets include like: “Take care of the football.” “Have a motor! Hustle at all times!” “Finish past all lines.” One might surprise you, though. One of the requirements for his players is that they must physically hand the ball to officials after plays, never tossing it or letting it hit the ground. His rationale?
What Is Iowa State Without Matt Campbell?
Former Cyclone head coach Matt Campbell did the damn-near impossible: He turned Iowa State into a consistent winner. Since setting foot in Ames, Campbell went 72-55, good for a .567 winning percentage. He took the program to eight bowl games, including a five-year bowl streak from 2017 to 2021. He won eight games or more five times, and even propelled the Cyclones to 11 wins and a Big 12 Championship berth in 2024.
The College Football QB Bench Tax
Photo by: Thearon W. Henderson The old way of becoming a superstar college quarterback was simple: get recruited to a powerhouse school, wait your turn, then seize the moment when your number is called. That method was safe. It was methodical. It gave young quarterbacks time to learn the ropes. Now? Patience has given way to panic, with high-level signal-callers becoming depreciating assets the longer they sit on the bench.
Are Shadow Transfers Coming to College Football?
As recently as the 2025 college football offseason, the NCAA had two permitted transfer portal windows: one in the winter at the conclusion of the previous season and one after spring ball. But this year, college football’s governing body condensed the calendar, now requiring players who wish to transfer to officially enter their names in the transfer portal from January 2 to January 16.
College Football Spring Games Are Losing Their Luster
Photo by: Icon Sportswire College football spring games used to be a thing of beauty. For fans, it was an excuse to get the family out of the house on a nice spring day and see the team up close. For coaches, it was a chance to show progress to their loyal fanbase. And for players, it was a proving ground and a chance to solidify their place on the depth chart.
What Happened to the MAC's Cradle of Coaches?
THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE USED TO BE COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S ULTIMATE PROVING GROUND FOR COACHES. But in today’s game, that fast track has vanished, leaving winning MAC coaches in a new reality. How did the Cradle of Coaches become college football’s biggest bottleneck? Since the very beginning, we’ve been built around the idea of bringing college football fans together.
Welcome to Beast Carolina
COULD AN ULTRA-FAMOUS YOUTUBER BE THE NEXT COLLEGE FOOTBALL KINGMAKER? We might be on the cusp of finding out. I dove into the “Beast Carolina” rumors and examined whether $100 million worth of YouTube cash could turn ECU football into a Wrexham-style college football power. Since the very beginning, we’ve been built around the idea of bringing college football fans together.
Is North Dakota State the next James Madison or Georgia Southern?
NORTH DAKOTA STATE FOOTBALL IS FINALLY MAKING THE JUMP. The Bison are jumping to the Mountain West, and the college football world is left wondering if “Death, Taxes, and North Dakota State” can survive the FBS. Can North Dakota State replicate the instant, CFP-crashing success of James Madison? Or will the Bison face an identity crisis like Georgia Southern, marking the end of the beginning for the sport’s most iconic modern dynasty?
CFP Semifinal Shockwaves
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAMES COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFERENT. Indiana laid the smack down on Oregon in a rematch of a midseason Big Ten battle, while Miami-Ole Miss went down to the wire with the Hurricanes coming out on top. The championship game is set. Indiana versus Miami…who ya got?
Two Big Questions for the CFP Semifinals
FOUR TEAMS REMAIN IN THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIELD. We’ve already seen the defending champs go down, which means a different team will get crowned on January 19th. Ole Miss and Miami will square off in a fun clash of styles, while Indiana and Oregon will play a rematch. A spot in the title game is on the line. Who’s got what it takes?
CFP Quarterfinal Shockwaves
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS WENT TOTALLY OFF THE RAILS. Ole Miss and Georgia played an instant classic in the Sugar Bowl. Miami stonewalled defending national champs Ohio State on New Years Eve. Oregon shutout a Texas Tech team that had been dominant all year. And Indiana steamrolled Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The semifinals are set and we’ve got storylines galore the rest of the way. There are two weeks left of Bowl Bingo, our big postseason game.
Four Questions for the CFP Quarterfinals
EIGHT TEAMS REMAIN IN THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIELD. The first round games are done and dusted, and we’re on to the quarterfinals. No. 10 Miami will square off with No. 2 Ohio State in a rematch of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. It’s Nike money versus oil money with Oregon matched up against Texas Tech. Alabama will face a tall task when the Crimson Tide take on No. 1 seed Indiana. And we get another 2025 regular season rematch with Ole Miss battling Kirby Smart and Georgia.
CFP First Round Shockwaves
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. Alabama erased an early 17-point deficit to knock off Oklahoma on Friday night. Miami’s defense evaporated the Aggies offense in a low-scoring affair. And Ole Miss and Oregon took care of business in big home wins. It was the start of what will hopefully be an excellent finish to the college football season.
Four Questions for the CFP Opening Round
THE START OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FEELS A BIT LIKE A NEW SEASON ALTOGETHER. After surviving a grueling regular season, 12 teams have a clear path to national title glory. No. 8 Oklahoma will host Alabama for Round 2 of a fight we saw in mid-November. No. 10 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M will square off in what feels like the most physical and promising matchup of the first round. And Ole Miss and Oregon will look to avoid major upsets at the hands of G5 darlings Tulane and James Madison.
Why Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola Was Failed, Not a Failure
NEBRASKA PINNED ITS HOPES ON DYLAN RAIOLA. The Cornhuskers thought they had found their long-awaited difference-maker — a five-star with the pedigree, arm talent, and upside to drag Nebraska back to relevance. But a broken fibula, family shakeup, and rocky finish to the season have thrown his future in Lincoln into doubt. Is Raiola the problem? Or was he holding up a shaky foundation? Using advanced stats, I dug into Raiola’s sophomore season and what it reveals about where he might end up next.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Championship Weekend
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND DELIVERED AND THEN SOME. We got lots of drama on Sunday with the final CFP bracket reveal. Indiana knocked off national champion Ohio State to capture its first conference title since 1967. Georgia and Texas Tech manhandled BYU and Alabama to wrap up the SEC and Big 12. Duke won an overtime thriller over Virginia, throwing the College Football Playoff picture into disarray. And G5 darlings Tulane and James Madison took care of business and secured College Football Playoff spots.
Everything to Play For + Five Questions for Championship Weekend
COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S REGULAR SEASON IS DONE AND DUSTED, BUT CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND AWAITS. We have a plethora of G5 title games on Friday night. BYU and Texas Tech will play Round 2 to decide who runs the Big 12. Georgia and Alabama will square off for SEC supremacy. And in the Main Event, we get No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana for the Big Ten title. Get your popcorn ready, folks. You’re not gonna want to miss any of this weekend’s action.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Hate Week
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HATRED HAS NO BOUNDS. Texas kept Texas A&M out of the SEC title game with a Black Friday upset. Alabama outlasted Auburn in an Iron Bowl instant classic. Ohio State clobbered rival Michigan in The Game. Plus, we saw fireworks from the ACC, The Egg Bowl, and in the coaching carousel. It was a banger of a way to close out the 2025 college football regular season. Since the very beginning, we’ve been built around the idea of bringing college football fans together.
Rivalry Week + Five Questions for Week 14
RIVALRY WEEK IS COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN ITS PUREST FORM. It’s the one weekend where the game matters more than anything, the records matter a little less, and emotions boil over. Grudges resurface. House-divided families talk ball over turkey and stuffing. And teams with nothing to play for have the chance to play spoiler. It’s petty, dramatic, and deeply personal—and that’s why it’s the best week college football has to offer. This week, we have plenty of fun rivalries on the menu. Texas-Texas A&M.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Handle Your Business
THIS WEEKEND BELONGED TO TEAMS READY TO CLOCK IN. Oregon settled an old score with a decisive win over Big Ten foe USC. Pitt did far more than handle its business – it bulldozed Georgia Tech out of the ACC title race. Miami and SMU racked up some style points. And Oklahoma squeezed the life out of the Missouri offense. No frills, no excuses. This weekend was all about just taking care of business. Since the very beginning, we’ve been built around the idea of bringing college football fans together.
Sleepy Tea + Five Questions for Week 13
WEEK 13 HAS A SPLASH OF SLEEPY TEA TO IT. There’s a strange calm before whatever comes in Rivalry Week and beyond. There are only a few “big matchups,” but those will surely weed out some would-be contenders. USC travels to Eugene to face an old foe, while trying to put its imprint on a new league. Pitt and Georgia Tech will square off in an ACC title game eliminator. BYU will try to keep chugging along against a frisky Cincinnati team.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Flip the Script
FLIP THE SCRIPT SATURDAY LIVED UP TO ITS NAME. Oklahoma rolled into Tuscaloosa and left with a monster win over Alabama, throwing the SEC title race off its axis. Texas A&M clawed back from a first-half stinker to stun South Carolina. USC punched Iowa in the mouth and vaulted straight into the College Football Playoff conversation. And Georgia took care of business against Texas. Since the very beginning, we’ve been built around the idea of bringing college football fans together.
Fork in the Road + Five Questions for Week 12
WEEK 12 MARKS A CRITICAL POINT IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON. We’ve reached the fork-in-the-road moment, where every result shapes the path to the postseason. Pitt plays host to Notre Dame, hoping to ride a hot streak to a big upset win. USC and Texas have major conference tilts that will define each team’s playoff hopes. UVA and Duke will square off in a game that’s sure to dramatically impact the ACC’s murky CFP future.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Win or Wilt Weekend
IT WAS A WIN OR WILT WEEKEND IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. Seasons teetered on a knife’s edge, and you could feel the tension with every snap. Second-ranked Indiana refused to lose in an instant classic against Penn State. Texas Tech laid the smackdown on previously undefeated BYU, cementing its status as the Big 12 team to beat. Texas A&M rolled over Missouri to stay undefeated. And Oregon outlasted Iowa on a rainy, nasty day in Iowa City.
Pick Up the Puzzle Pieces + Five Questions for Week 11
WEEK 11 FEELS LIKE THE MOMENT THE PUZZLE STARTS TO MAKE SENSE. After months of flipping pieces and guessing what fits where, the college football picture is coming into focus. Oregon and Iowa will square off in a litmus test game for both teams. Missouri plays host to undefeated Texas A&M, hoping to spring an upset and reemerge as a CFP-caliber SEC team. And BYU and Texas Tech will clash for conference supremacy in a game that might be a preview of the Big 12 title game.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Alka-Seltzer Saturday
IT WAS AN ALKA-SELTZER SATURDAY, WHERE RANKED TEAMS REACHED FOR RELIEF, WHILE THEIR OPPONENTS DELIVERED HEARTBURN. Ranked teams across the country spent sixty minutes fighting off upsets and acid reflux. No. 10 Miami felt the burn in Dallas after an overtime upset loss at the hands of SMU. No. 8 Georgia Tech got stung by conference foe NC State. Georgia staved off the Zombie Gators in Jacksonville. And Vanderbilt swallowed a bitter loss courtesy of Arch Manning and the Texas offense.
A Spooky Slate + Five Questions for Week 10
WEEK 10 HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SCARY. Ranked teams like Georgia, Texas Tech, Louisville, and Virginia have difficult road or neutral-site games. Cincinnati heads to Utah, where the Utes will hope to put a fright into the surging Bearcats. Navy and North Texas will square off in a possible American Conference title game eliminator. Vanderbilt will travel to Austin to face a banged-up Texas team. And Nebraska will attempt to turn its home turf into a House of Horrors for visiting USC.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Stick or Twist Saturday
Week 9 was a stick or twist weekend in college football. Texas A&M bullied LSU in Death Valley, getting Brian Kelly fired and all but eliminating the Tigers from CFP contention. Ole Miss cemented its status as an SEC contender with a monster road win in Norman over Oklahoma. Vanderbilt and Alabama used late surges to go unscathed. And Houston knocked off Arizona State to add even more intrigue to the Big 12 title race.
Watch Out for Holes + Five Questions for Week 9
THIS WEEKEND FEELS LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR MISSTEPS. The ground looks firm, the path appears clear, and on paper, the favorites look safe. But college football has a way of hiding holes in plain sight…and I’m betting a big team is bound to find out. USF and Memphis will square off in what might be an American Conference title game eliminator. Vanderbilt will look to follow up last week’s big win by knocking Missouri down a peg.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Harvest Time + Smurf Turf
Week 8 is where the undefeateds bit the dust. As early as Friday night, the fields were full of unbeatens. But by sundown on Saturday, the college football scythe had done its work. A bevy of teams that cruised through September finally met their maker, with the sport reminding everyone that perfection is hard to keep hold of once the leaves start to change. No. 2 Miami fell flat against Louisville on Friday night. Memphis got bit by a Trent Dilfer-less UAB squad.
Mid-October Fog + Five Questions for Week 8
MID-OCTOBER IS WHERE THE AIR GETS THICK AND THE PATH FORWARD GETS MURKY.Athletic directors get antsy, message boards heat up, and every Saturday feels like a referendum on job security. This week's slate won't make things any clearer. Ole Miss and Georgia will square off to see which team belongs among the SEC's elite. Texas Tech will look to stay hot against a sliding Arizona State team. Alabama hosts Tennessee for the latest rendition of the Third Saturday in October rivalry.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Swing Your Sword Saturday
Week 7 felt like an ode to Mike Leach and his Swing Your Sword mentality.Indiana slayed the Oregon dragon with a few mighty, late-game swings. Texas and Oklahoma turned the Red River Rivalry into an old-school rock fight. Alabama and Missouri clashed in a construction zone. Ohio State squashed Illinois’ upset bid behind another excellent defensive showing. A ton of Top 25 teams also took a tumble. Plus, Penn State fired head coach James Franklin.
Mid-Season Reality Check + Five Questions for Week 7
WEEK 7 ISN’T ABOUT WHO’S ALIVE, IT’S ABOUT WHO’S REAL.Last week was all about resurrections, with UCLA, Florida, and Cincinnati clawing themselves back to relevance. Now comes the reality check for a whole swath of big-name programs. October is when the illusions start to fade, and where we find out who’s built to last. Illinois has a shot to shake up the Big 10 against a devastating Ohio State defense. OU and Texas meet in a rivalry game known for major moments and big swings.
MONDAY SHOCKWAVES: Walking Dead Weekend
October brought out the undead across college football.In Los Angeles, UCLA climbed out of the coffin to stun seventh-ranked Penn State. The Florida offense suddenly jolted awake in The Swamp to hand Texas an unexpected loss. Mighty Alabama staved off a second upset bid from hard-nosed Vanderbilt. And at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati looked rejuvenated in a feisty win over a ranked Iowa State team. In Week 6, the walking dead were officially upon us.
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