Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2h

✍️ My first work trip for The Athletic was to Memphis in 2017. On that staff, I met:

Mike Norvell
Dan Lanning
Kenny Dillingham
Ryan Silverfield

They’re all head coaches of top-25 teams, so I reconnected with them to look back.

This is how a Coaching Tree happens: www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

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Reposted by Chris Vannini

Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast @gettingovercast.bsky.social · 19h

🚨 #WWECrownJewel Ultimate Preview! @adamsilverstein.bsky.social, @chrisvannini.com back together predicting #WWE Crown Jewel card:

👀 Seth Rollins must beat Cody Rhodes
🤷‍♂️ John Cena vs. AJ Styles
😵‍💫 Roman Reigns & Jey Uso
🎭 IYO, Asuka, Kairi crush
➕ CM Punk, LA, Becky, Dupri
🎧: linktr.ee/gettingover

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 23h

Our staff Heisman straw poll has two Miami players in the top five.

My ballot:
Ty Simpson
John Mateer
Reuben Bain Jr.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Miami has two Heisman Trophy candidates, but who leads our straw poll?

After a big week for Miami, two Hurricanes find themselves climbing The Athletic's straw poll.

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 23h

Drew Brees is really good at explaining quarterback play on TV. Some great appearances on First Take/Get Up in recent weeks.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Texas Tech has a new logo. Changing the Double T back to a flat look full-time beginning next year.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

The UFL has announced new teams for spring 2026

-New, relocated teams:
Columbus Aviators
Louisville Kings
Orlando Storm

Rebranded teams:
- Dallas Renegades (not Arlington)
- Houston Gamblers (not Roughnecks)

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Hahahahahahaha Trevor Lawrence!

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Reposted by Chris Vannini

Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

🎙 New Bunch Formation!

🔒 Week 6 reactions! Penn State, Miami, Cincy, Bama, Temple + more

🎵 @davidubben has exclusive reporting from the Ludacris concert before the UNC game

☑️ I defend the AP Poll (for being wrong)

🎧📺: linktr.ee/bunchformation

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

2. Ohio State
26. Memphis
39. Texas
40. Penn State
113. Oklahoma State

This week's Athletic 136, ranking all 136 FBS teams: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Ranking 136 college football teams after Week 6: Miami takes top spot after a wild weekend

After major upsets for Texas and Penn State, the two once-highly ranked programs continue to fall down the order.

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Miami and South Carolina have canceled their home-and-home for 2026 and 2027 as everyone moves to 9-game conference schedules.

That would've been fun and fresh. But conferences had to get bigger.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Doing neutral site games for money has been around for a long time. I just don't buy there's much new outside of the normal payout for doing this.

Auburn fans are rightfully mad. It's a bad look to say you have to give up an SEC home game sellout for supposed marketing deals.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Auburn is moving a home game vs. Baylor to Atlanta for "NIL."

Sorry, but I'm going to need to see proof and actual numbers that these money decisions by schools are actually real and not just PR spin. This game will be a near-sellout anyway. How much player marketing is needed?

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

This week's Athletic 136:

1. Miami
7. Alabama
21. South Florida
40. Penn State
93. North Carolina
135. Sam Houston

Full rankings: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Ranking 136 college football teams after Week 6: Miami takes top spot after a wild weekend

After major upsets for Texas and Penn State, the two once-highly ranked programs continue to fall down the order.

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 1d

Thanks!

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

🎙 New Bunch Formation!

🔒 Week 6 reactions! Penn State, Miami, Cincy, Bama, Temple + more

🎵 @davidubben has exclusive reporting from the Ludacris concert before the UNC game

☑️ I defend the AP Poll (for being wrong)

🎧📺: linktr.ee/bunchformation

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

This week's Athletic 136:

1. Miami
7. Alabama
21. South Florida
47. UNLV
93. North Carolina
135. Sam Houston

Full rankings: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Ranking 136 college football teams after Week 6: Miami takes top spot after a wild weekend

After major upsets for Texas and Penn State, the two once-highly ranked programs continue to fall down the order.

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

[Chris Berman voice] Andy "Aurora" Borregales

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

This Patriots' post-Brady uniform set is terrible. Looks like the cheap fake jerseys you find at Walmart .

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

Eat Em Up, Tigers

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

COLUMN: Penn State can't fire James Franklin, but the cost for him to leave for another job isn't much.

After an inexcusable loss to UCLA put CFP hopes on life support, it's time to wonder if an amicable parting of ways would be better for both sides. www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

If James Franklin can’t win with this Penn State team, could both sides do better?

If this Penn State team can't get it done, what James Franklin-led PSU team can?

www.nytimes.com

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

Chris Spielman-esque

Nick Baumgardner @nickbaumgardner.bsky.social · 2d

Greg Olsen is getting an ulcer watching the Jets

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

Crazy finish yesterday. Texas State and Arkansas State tied with a minute left. Texas State at the goal line, Ark State has 2 TO.

TxSt runs it, ASU lets them score (see below). TxSt misses XP, ASU drives down in the last minute, scores game-winning TD and XP.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

Preseason No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State have both dropped out of AP Top 25 by the first poll of October.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

Through six weeks, Tulane has two Power 4 wins (both above .500), while preseason Nos. 1 and 2 Texas and Penn State combined have zero.

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Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 3d

Maryland is 21-5 in September under Mike Locksley and 7-14 in October.

Terps blew a 20-0 lead and lost to Washington yesterday.

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