Today: MBB hot seat watch, the Seahawks' college roots, Bracketology update, and college football's bargain coaches.

~9 minute read (1,928 words)

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NCAA BASKETBALL

Who has the hottest seat in college basketball?

Porter Moser, Matt McMahon, Adrian Autry and Bobby Hurley

College basketball is entering its final stretch of the regular season, with Selection Sunday only 34 days away. That also means the college basketball coaching carousel will start moving in the near future.

With multiple Power Four programs evaluating the future of their college basketball programs, On3 has the latest hot seat watch. Here's the full breakdown:

LSU: Matt McMahon

In his fourth season in Baton Rouge, Matt McMahon might be on the hottest seat in college basketball. The Tigers finished 3-15 in the SEC in 2024, and so far in the 2025-26 season, it hasn't looked any different. Despite bringing in a transfer portal class that brought some hope, LSU is 14-9 overall and 2-8 in SEC play following this weekend. His buyout would be $6.5 million if LSU decides to move on from him this spring.

Oklahoma: Porter Moser

Coming off an NCAA tournament appearance, entering the 2025-26 season, there was optimism for Porter Moser's future in Norman. But the Sooners have struggled to win consistently in SEC play, with a 12-12 overall record and a 2-9 mark in conference play. Oklahoma arguably picked up its biggest win of the season on Saturday with a 92-91 upset of No. 15 Vanderbilt. If Moser can use the win as momentum for the final seven games of the season, Oklahoma will have to make a difficult decision on his future. He has a 75-59 record as the Sooners' head coach, including a 26-45 conference record. If Oklahoma decided to part ways with Moser after five seasons, it would cost them around $5.83 million.

Kansas State: Jerome Tang

The Wildcats will need to decide if they can afford to fire Jerome Tang. After going to the Elite Eight in 2023, Kansas State has missed the last two NCAA tournaments. This season, the Wildcats have just one win in Big 12 play. K-State would be on the hook for almost $13 million to fire Tang.

South Carolina: Lamont Paris

The Gamecocks signed Paris to a contract extension that runs through the 2030 season in March 2024, after he was named the SEC's Coach of the Year. But the Gamecocks have struggled to win games since the breakout season and are currently 2-9 in SEC play. He has a 21–44 record in the SEC.

Arizona State: Bobby Hurley

Bobby Hurley has faced mounting pressure multiple times during his time with the Sun Devils. But he's now on the final year of his contract, and the Sun Devils are currently 3-8 in Big 12 play. After making the NCAA tournament in two of his first four seasons, Arizona State has been back to the tourney once in the last six seasons. Never one to mince words, Hurley has been brutally honest about his team of late.

See the full list of hot seat coaches from Pete Nakos.

SUPER BOWL

The college football roots that built the Seahawks' Super Bowl defense

The defense that overwhelmed quarterback Drake Maye in San Francisco to deliver the Seahawks a Super Bowl win did not begin in Seattle. Every impact defender on the field has a college football origin story, whether as a Power Four recruit or a Group of Six evaluation win.

What began with recruiting visits and evaluations transitioned into development in college weight rooms and practice fields. The Seattle Seahawks dismantled the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX on Sunday night, with a defense that suffocated Maye and the Patriots' offensive line. New England managed just 78 yards of total offense through the end of the third quarter.

The young talent Seattle has added through the NFL draft over the last three years showed up on the biggest stage, closing the door on any hope of a Patriots comeback. With New England facing a 3rd-and-6 from its own 44-yard line, former Auburn EDGE Derick Hall broke free and sacked Maye, forcing a fumble.

Former Texas DL and four-star recruit Byron Murphy II recovered the ball at the Patriots' 37-yard line. Seattle scored a touchdown five plays later. Hall, a former top-175 recruit in the 2019 cycle, was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and finished with two sacks. Murphy added two sacks of his own.

Seahawks head coach and defensive playcaller Mike Macdonald leaned into a four-man front to generate disruption. His defensive line rotation featured Murphy, Hall, former Boise State standout DeMarcus Lawrence, USC All-American Leonard Williams, and USC EDGE Uchenna Nwosu.

One of the mottos inside Macdonald's program is "loose and focused." Former Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon went unranked out of high school, but he has become the cornerstone of Seattle's defense after being selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Leading 22-7 midway through the fourth quarter, Seattle's defense delivered the final blow. Witherspoon burst through the line of scrimmage, knocking back Maye as he attempted to throw the ball away. The pass was deflected at the line and intercepted by Nwosu, who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. Witherspoon finished with four tackles and three quarterback hits.

Witherspoon wasn't the only major contributor in the secondary. Former Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe was the No. 107 recruit in the 2018 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He went undrafted out of Alabama and signed with the Eagles before joining Seattle in August 2024. In the Super Bowl win, Jobe recorded seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and a pass deflection (as well as a brief fight with Pats WR Stefon Diggs).

Former South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori has emerged as a star during his rookie season. The former four-star recruit dealt with an ankle injury during the week but bounced back to finish with five tackles.

"You talk about a group of guys who battle every day, who believe in each other, believe in their coach," Witherspoon told NBC after the Super Bowl. "You can't describe this group no better. It's just a one-of-a-kind feeling."

Read the full story from Pete Nakos.

NCAA BASKETBALL

2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions: New bracketology projections feature 1-seed chaos

The weekend slate of college basketball produced notable movement across the bracketology field, reshaping the top seed lines and creating new separation among contenders. Losses by Duke and UConn created openings at the top, while several teams took advantage to strengthen their positioning as conference play continues.

The NCAA Tournament selection committee relies heavily on the NET Rankings, an analytics-based system that evaluates wins and losses across four quadrants. Bracketology projects how teams would be seeded if the tournament began today, factoring in resume strength, consistency, and quality results.

With that in mind, here's the latest look at the projected 1- and 2-seeds across each region (the full bracket projections can be seen here).

West Region

1. Arizona Wildcats: Arizona continues to separate itself from the field, holding the top overall seed after moving to 23-0 with a dominant win over Oklahoma State. The Wildcats have consistently handled inferior opponents while stacking high-end wins, giving them the strongest résumé in the country. A road test at Kansas represents another opportunity to further cement their grip on the No. 1 spot.

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Nebraska stabilized its position with a convincing rebound win over Rutgers following a two-game losing streak. The Cornhuskers remain on the 2-line, but pressure is mounting with Purdue looming. A strong showing would go a long way toward fending off teams chasing them from below.

South Region

1. Iowa State Cyclones: Iowa State took advantage of chaos around the country, picking up a key win over Baylor while multiple 1-seed contenders stumbled. The Cyclones' defensive consistency and growing body of quality wins have pushed them firmly onto the top line. A matchup against TCU now awaits as Iowa State looks to maintain momentum.

2. Houston Cougars: Houston continues to methodically build its résumé, adding a strong win over BYU to stay locked into the 2-seed conversation. The Cougars remain within striking distance of the 1-line, but must keep stacking wins in Big 12 play, starting with a critical matchup against Utah.

Midwest Region

1. Michigan Wolverines: Michigan remains Arizona's closest challenger for the top overall seed after taking care of Penn State. The Wolverines are navigating a difficult Big Ten schedule and will be tested again against Ohio State and Northwestern, a stretch that could determine whether they rise or hold steady.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini: Illinois missed a chance to climb after falling to Michigan State, leaving the Illini stagnant on the 2-line. With Wisconsin up next, Illinois has an immediate opportunity to regain momentum and reassert itself among the top-tier teams.

East Region

1. Duke Blue Devils: Despite a loss to North Carolina, Duke remains on the 1-seed line thanks in part to losses by other contenders. The Blue Devils' overall résumé continues to carry weight, but they'll look to stabilize quickly with Pittsburgh up next.

2. UConn Huskies: UConn slides to the 2-line after a loss to St. John's, relinquishing its spot among the top four seeds. The Huskies still remain firmly in the mix and will aim to work their way back toward the 1-line with a rebound effort against Butler.

See the full tournament projections.

🚨Headlines

NCAA FOOTBALL

College football's best bargains: Head coaches that made their dollars count in 2025

As college football head coach salaries continue to grow — Lane Kiffin inked a deal with LSU that will pay him $13 million annually — On3 is looking at which schools got the most bang for their buck in their head coaches in 2025.

So, which programs received the most value from their head coaches in 2025, weighing on-field results against pay? Salary figures were pulled from the USA Today college football salaries database.

James Madison's Bob Chesney

In just his second season, Bob Chesney led James Madison to its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. The Dukes finished 12-2 and went a perfect 8-0 in Sun Belt Conference play to capture their first SBC title. Chesney rapidly reshaped the roster following Curt Cignetti's departure and delivered immediate results. He earned $833,495 in 2025, the lowest salary of any CFP participant, before being hired as UCLA's next head coach.

Vanderbilt's Clark Lea

The 2025 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Clark Lea guided Vanderbilt to a 10-3 record and a 6-2 mark in SEC play, setting program records in both categories. Vanderbilt defeated four ranked opponents during the season. Lea's $3.7 million salary ranked No. 57 nationally, as he consistently beat teams led by far higher-paid coaches. He has since signed a new long-term deal with a significant raise.

Texas Tech's Joey McGuire

Texas Tech invested heavily in its roster, and Joey McGuire delivered historic results. The Red Raiders won their first Big 12 title and earned the program's first College Football Playoff appearance, finishing in the top 10 of the final AP Poll for the first time. Texas Tech ranked No. 3 nationally in total defense, allowing just 258.3 yards per game. McGuire made $4.5 million in 2025, ranking No. 51 in FBS, and later signed a long-term extension through 2033.

Texas A&M's Mike Elko

In his second season, Mike Elko led Texas A&M to its first College Football Playoff appearance. Highlighted by a top-10 road win at Notre Dame, the Aggies finished 7-1 in SEC play. Elko was a nominee for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award. His $7 million salary ranked outside the top 30 nationally, and he has since signed an extension that will average more than $11 million annually.

Miami's Mario Cristobal

After returning to Miami, Mario Cristobal steadily rebuilt the program through elite recruiting. That work culminated in 2025, when the Hurricanes surged through the College Football Playoff to reach the national championship game for the first time since 2002. Miami has already reloaded for 2026, and Cristobal earned $8.3 million in 2025.

See the full list of steals from Pete Nakos.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I was a consensus four-star recruit out of high school who committed to USC, even after being recruited by my future defensive coordinator to play linebacker.
After taking over as USC's starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman in 2016, I led the Trojans on a season-ending winning streak, set freshman school records, and capped it with a record-breaking Rose Bowl performance.
I was widely considered a draft bust before signing with the Vikings, and later became the first player from the 2018 NFL Draft class to win a Super Bowl.

Answer at the bottom.

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