Seth Emerson
@sethemerson.bsky.social
Senior writer for The Athletic, covering college football with a focus on the SEC. Longtime Georgia beat writer, still based in Athens.
Georgia O-line coach Stacy Searals is stepping into an analyst role. Searals, in his second stint at Georgia and a longtime O-line coach at the college level, is 61 and going into semi-retirement.
Phil Rauscher, former Jacksonville Jaguars O-line coach, replaces Searals.
Phil Rauscher, former Jacksonville Jaguars O-line coach, replaces Searals.
January 20, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Georgia O-line coach Stacy Searals is stepping into an analyst role. Searals, in his second stint at Georgia and a longtime O-line coach at the college level, is 61 and going into semi-retirement.
Phil Rauscher, former Jacksonville Jaguars O-line coach, replaces Searals.
Phil Rauscher, former Jacksonville Jaguars O-line coach, replaces Searals.
Hopefully this isn’t recency bias, but this decade has already seen two of the best on-field stories in college football history:
First a walk-on quarterbacks a long-suffering team to the national championship. Could be a movie.
Then it’s topped by Indiana - Indiana! - winning the natty.
First a walk-on quarterbacks a long-suffering team to the national championship. Could be a movie.
Then it’s topped by Indiana - Indiana! - winning the natty.
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Hopefully this isn’t recency bias, but this decade has already seen two of the best on-field stories in college football history:
First a walk-on quarterbacks a long-suffering team to the national championship. Could be a movie.
Then it’s topped by Indiana - Indiana! - winning the natty.
First a walk-on quarterbacks a long-suffering team to the national championship. Could be a movie.
Then it’s topped by Indiana - Indiana! - winning the natty.
Reposted by Seth Emerson
Indiana was the worst team in college football for 150 years and then they let you start paying players and they immediately became No. 1 and the only conclusion one can draw is they were the only ones who didn’t realize you could pay players under the table for the first 150 years.
December 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Indiana was the worst team in college football for 150 years and then they let you start paying players and they immediately became No. 1 and the only conclusion one can draw is they were the only ones who didn’t realize you could pay players under the table for the first 150 years.
Curt Cignetti, who through no fault of his own will be responsible for getting so many of his fellow coaches fired over the next 10-20 years.
January 20, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Curt Cignetti, who through no fault of his own will be responsible for getting so many of his fellow coaches fired over the next 10-20 years.
Yeah there it is.
January 20, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Yeah there it is.
Mario Cristobal let the clock go down to the two minute warning; could’ve called a timeout with 2:17 left, conceivably used all of them by the two minute timeout.
January 20, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Mario Cristobal let the clock go down to the two minute warning; could’ve called a timeout with 2:17 left, conceivably used all of them by the two minute timeout.
Officials when Miami is playing pass defense: Eh let ‘em play.
Officials when Miami is returning punts and kicks: I SAW YOU TOUCH THAT GUY’S BUTT
Officials when Miami is returning punts and kicks: I SAW YOU TOUCH THAT GUY’S BUTT
January 20, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Officials when Miami is playing pass defense: Eh let ‘em play.
Officials when Miami is returning punts and kicks: I SAW YOU TOUCH THAT GUY’S BUTT
Officials when Miami is returning punts and kicks: I SAW YOU TOUCH THAT GUY’S BUTT
Oh that’s the highlight.
January 20, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Oh that’s the highlight.
Indiana was in punt safe?
January 20, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Indiana was in punt safe?
The quarterbacks in this game have not been great.
(The defenses are good too.)
(The defenses are good too.)
January 20, 2026 at 3:02 AM
The quarterbacks in this game have not been great.
(The defenses are good too.)
(The defenses are good too.)
Curt Cignetti bringing the heat in his halftime interview. Love to see it.
January 20, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Curt Cignetti bringing the heat in his halftime interview. Love to see it.
If you’ve got a chance to hire a guy who was 22-26 at Boston College, well you’ve gotta take it.
It’s not official yet, but the Miami Dolphins are working to finalize an agreement with Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley to become their next head coach, a source tells The Athletic.
January 19, 2026 at 10:19 PM
If you’ve got a chance to hire a guy who was 22-26 at Boston College, well you’ve gotta take it.
Harrison Mevis spirit animal
January 19, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Harrison Mevis spirit animal
Idea for new Key and Peele sketch: NFL player intros, featuring players listing all the schools they played for in the transfer portal era, thus those intros lasting into the second quarter.
January 18, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Idea for new Key and Peele sketch: NFL player intros, featuring players listing all the schools they played for in the transfer portal era, thus those intros lasting into the second quarter.
On the one hand, all this extolling of virtues for “Mr. Kraft” and repeatedly calling him “Mr. Kraft” as if he’s your friend’s wonderful beloved father, not the guy once cited for you-know-what, is nauseating.
On the other had, it’s absolutely KILLING Bill Belichick.
On the other had, it’s absolutely KILLING Bill Belichick.
January 18, 2026 at 11:12 PM
On the one hand, all this extolling of virtues for “Mr. Kraft” and repeatedly calling him “Mr. Kraft” as if he’s your friend’s wonderful beloved father, not the guy once cited for you-know-what, is nauseating.
On the other had, it’s absolutely KILLING Bill Belichick.
On the other had, it’s absolutely KILLING Bill Belichick.
Why Carson Beck went from Miami to Georgia:
Georgia didn't run him off. Beck didn't spurn Georgia. It was a matter of circumstance, and neither side has any regrets.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Georgia didn't run him off. Beck didn't spurn Georgia. It was a matter of circumstance, and neither side has any regrets.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Why Carson Beck, now a win away from national title, left Georgia for Miami
Recounting Beck's journey from Georgia star, Athens exit to Miami leader.
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Why Carson Beck went from Miami to Georgia:
Georgia didn't run him off. Beck didn't spurn Georgia. It was a matter of circumstance, and neither side has any regrets.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Georgia didn't run him off. Beck didn't spurn Georgia. It was a matter of circumstance, and neither side has any regrets.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
College has to adopt the NFL kickoff rule.
January 18, 2026 at 1:24 AM
College has to adopt the NFL kickoff rule.
What’s interesting about NFL overtime rules is if no one’s ahead after 15 minutes then neither team advances and instead the spot goes to Notre Dame
January 18, 2026 at 12:58 AM
What’s interesting about NFL overtime rules is if no one’s ahead after 15 minutes then neither team advances and instead the spot goes to Notre Dame
Honestly truly don’t know why more teams don’t do the hook and ladder. It works!
January 18, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Honestly truly don’t know why more teams don’t do the hook and ladder. It works!
You’d think with that $50 million of NIL or whatever it was claiming Sacramento State could’ve bought a better schedule.
January 16, 2026 at 9:06 PM
You’d think with that $50 million of NIL or whatever it was claiming Sacramento State could’ve bought a better schedule.
Smart column by CJ:
My column on college basketball’s betting scandal and who needs to take action: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
College hoops’ point-shaving plot begs the question: Why even allow bets on low-major games?
Most of the games prosecutors allege were fixed were at the low- and mid-major levels, where players aren't making much money.
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Smart column by CJ:
Reposted by Seth Emerson
if you read one non-sports thing today that doesn't involve the words Minnesota or Greenland, make it this:
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:54 PM
if you read one non-sports thing today that doesn't involve the words Minnesota or Greenland, make it this:
After spending time at the American Football Coaches Association convention this week, thoughts from me and colleagues on:
- The calendar debate
- Why the 5-for-5 rule didn't pass (yet)
- Indiana's impact on coaches' thinking
- Tampering
And much more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- The calendar debate
- Why the 5-for-5 rule didn't pass (yet)
- Indiana's impact on coaches' thinking
- Tampering
And much more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
What we're hearing from CFB coaches about the calendar, eligibility and tampering
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:42 PM
After spending time at the American Football Coaches Association convention this week, thoughts from me and colleagues on:
- The calendar debate
- Why the 5-for-5 rule didn't pass (yet)
- Indiana's impact on coaches' thinking
- Tampering
And much more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- The calendar debate
- Why the 5-for-5 rule didn't pass (yet)
- Indiana's impact on coaches' thinking
- Tampering
And much more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Reposted by Seth Emerson
Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to join John Harbaugh in New York with the Giants, per source.
This has always been the plan.
This has always been the plan.
January 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to join John Harbaugh in New York with the Giants, per source.
This has always been the plan.
This has always been the plan.
FBS head coaches at their meeting today voted unanimously to extend the redshirt rule to allow players to appear in nine games, up from four.
Not quite going all the way to five years to play five.
Not quite going all the way to five years to play five.
January 13, 2026 at 5:13 PM
FBS head coaches at their meeting today voted unanimously to extend the redshirt rule to allow players to appear in nine games, up from four.
Not quite going all the way to five years to play five.
Not quite going all the way to five years to play five.