• The Miami Dolphins have little recourse for shifting plans and adapting to Tyreek Hill’s season-ending knee injury.
• The Dolphins’ reckless approach to managing the cap and building a roster has boxed the organization in for some time.
• Miami largely eschewed efforts to rethink its route despite a 2024 season that presented plenty of problems.

The Miami Dolphins’ prospects for a bright future have been dimming for some time. But with Tyreek Hill suffering a season-ending dislocated knee on Monday, a franchise that has long since passed a point of no return now is facing what looks like the beginning of a long-awaited end.

Few franchises could withstand having to navigate the bulk of a season without their top target, and Miami is no exception. Despite having largely struggled to rekindle his connection with Tua Tagovailoa in the early going, Hill still has more than one-third of the Dolphins’ receiving yards so far in 2025. His overall presence was instrumental to Mike McDaniel’s offense, with the rest of the skill-position crew having grown accustomed to the benefits of working alongside a player who consistently pulls defense’s attention and resources thanks to his game-breaking ability.

With Miami having vaulted to prominence under McDaniel by making splashy moves to acquire high-priced veterans, it was natural to wonder whether the organization would take bold action to try to salvage a 1-3 season that’s quickly spinning out of control.

But Hill’s injury seems more likely to come with a level of resignation for a front office that has few moves left at its disposal. Miami has the fourth-lowest available cap space of any team at just over $3 million, according to Over The Cap. Talented pass catchers don’t tend to come cheap, and those who do don’t figure to be available at the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

Tyreek Hill thanks fans for support after knee injury in video message

Now, at what could be a career-defining juncture for McDaniel and Grier, the duo has no easy recourse to clean up a mounting mess they have largely overlooked for some time.

The latest injury setback is a massive blow for a franchise that has already seen recent seasons derailed by long-term losses of Tua Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. But the Dolphins are not a mere victim of outside circumstance. Doubling down on a flawed roster pushed Miami to a point where it had limited options to either retreat or move in a different direction, even when it became apparent that blazing a new path was necessary.

McDaniel and Grier began down this road in the aftermath of a 2023 season that saw the team go 11-6 before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round. With an offense that led the league in yards per game and a defense that finished 10th, Miami harbored hopes of joining the AFC’s contending class and securing the organization’s first postseason win since 2000.

But while a 12-month run that brought in Hill, Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey via trades transformed the top tier of the roster, Miami didn’t see the bill for its imbalanced approach come due until the 2024 offseason.

In addition to signing Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million extension, the Dolphins also inked wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to a three-year, $84.75 million extension before locking in Hill with a restructured deal that shifted significant money forward to 2024 and ’25. Crucial to solidifying that core was a free agency stretch in which standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and offensive guard Robert Hunt signed massive deals elsewhere. The widespread defections also included linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who went on to enjoy a Pro Bowl campaign with the Minnesota Vikings last season.

Paying exorbitant prices for marquee veterans doesn’t have to be a short-term play at a time when the salary cap rapidly expands year over year. But unlike the Los Angeles Rams, who secured a Super Bowl with an analogous caution-to-the-wind approach in valuing draft picks, the Dolphins failed to cover lower-investment spots with capable young starters on the cheap. The Chubb and Hill trades deprived Miami of its first-round choices in 2022 and ’23, and Miami managed to find just one notable contributor across those two classes in running back De’Von Achane.

The toll of the imbalanced roster was felt particularly along the offensive and defensive lines, which played central roles in the team’s 8-9 unraveling in 2024. Tagovailoa suffered his third documented concussion in Week 2 and missed four games, putting the team in a hole from which it would not emerge. The once-electric run game short-circuited, ranking 31st in expected points added per carry with little help from the blocking up front.

Former NFL team physician says WR Tyreek Hill’s injury possibly career-ending

After Grier and McDaniel were retained for 2025 but put on notice by owner Stephen Ross, the general manager seemed to back away from the tactics he once so readily embraced.

‘It’s just not sustainable the way the contracts are with players and what they’re making now,’ Grier said in late August in explaining the team was in the midst of a ‘reset’ rather than a rebuild. ‘So in terms of directive, no; for us, it was just good business sense working through it and trying to find value, but we also had to get younger, so we added younger players.’

Other than trading disgruntled cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers and watching safety Jevon Holland walk to the New York Giants, however, it’s essentially been the ‘status quo’ that Ross insisted the organization wouldn’t settle for.

This month was hardly the first indication of a deeper problem, as franchise leadership has eschewed off-ramps and resisted other challenges to the team’s dynamic. Grier repeatedly shot down trade speculation this offseason surrounding Hill, with the receiver’s open-market value likely sapped by his end-of-season meltdown, decline in production and domestic violence allegations. Dealing him at last year’s trade deadline amid a 2-6 start might have yielded the optimal return, but doing so was almost assuredly a non-starter for an outfit that would have taken a massive competitive hit and been saddled with extensive cap ramifications.

The fallout from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s split with the organization after the 2023 season also might have been a harbinger for the multi-season descent. In the aftermath of Fangio’s exit, several Dolphins players – including Holland – took shots at one of the NFL’s most highly respected defensive minds. Fangio went on to orchestrate a Philadelphia Eagles defense that engineered an immediate turnaround, capped by the unit clamping down on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. The Dolphins’ internal strife only deepened, with multiple reports detailing the organization’s widespread effort to push enhanced accountability this offseason.

Yet after a 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, a players-only meeting was called on the team’s off day.

The Colts are a meaningful reference point for how the Dolphins have done little to help themselves. Coach Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard faced a similar outlook as McDaniel and Grier did entering the campaign, with late owner Jim Irsay giving a reprieve yet stating improvements were needed after an 8-9 mark.

Steichen and Ballard took that to heart. In signing Daniel Jones and then installing him as the team’s starting quarterback, the duo sought to set things right after the disastrous start to No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson’s career. They managed to do so by reconfiguring the offense once dominated by Richardson’s downfield shots into a precise, on-schedule attack replete with schemed solutions for the signal-caller. The shift has unlocked levels of production that once seemed unattainable with Jones at the helm, as Indianapolis averages a league-best 6.5 yards per play.

But the reconsideration of the Colts’ previous tendencies didn’t stop there. Indianapolis brought aboard defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to replace Gus Bradley’s largely static scheme, and the early dividends have been extremely favorable. Cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum also arrived as high-priced free agents, with Ballard having the flexibility to address a problem area thanks to his discerning approach to investing. Now, the team stands at 3-1 and in a tie atop the AFC South despite not taking a sledgehammer to the coaching staff or roster.

Maybe comparable avenues for improvement were largely closed to a Dolphins franchise that only had so much room to maneuver. But some degree of creativity was clearly required for a group boxed into seeing out a vision yielding diminishing results.

With no wiggle room and only the faintest of hopes of seeing the ‘next man up’ philosophy push the organization to even the periphery of the playoff race, Miami might be a non-entity at the trade deadline – and possibly the rest of the season. The best course of action might actually be to sell off any key pieces, including Phillips, who could fetch a nice return in the final year of his deal. But going that route would entail the team’s leadership taking a short-term hit for returns to be realized down the road, and no one has prioritized the team’s timeline in that fashion.

Amid a groundswell of criticism regarding the direction of the Dolphins this offseason, McDaniel put forth a mantra for 2025: ‘They talk, we do.’ If only he and Grier had embraced that mindset when it came to reimagining the franchise’s approach before it was already too late.

Mitchell went down with an injury with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter of the deciding WNBA playoff game of the semifinal series. The Fever trailed the Aces, 59-55. Fever players surrounded Mitchell with towels as she laid on her back. Mitchell subsequently rolled over onto her stomach while team staff appeared to stretch her leg.

The ESPN broadcast initially reported Mitchell had a cramp and a stretcher was brought onto the floor. Mitchell didn’t get on the stretcher, but was carried to the locker room by team staff and put no pressure on her left leg. It was reported in the postgame press conference that Mitchell had severe lower body cramping and was at the hospital receiving fluids.

‘Prayers for Kelsey Mithcell,’ Aces forward A’ja Wilson said. ‘That is my draft partner. To see her go down like that was not good. Super prayers out to her.

‘She’s just had a phenomenal season and I really hope that Indiana Fever continue to take care of her, because she’s a gem.’

Mitchell had 15 points when she left Game 5 and averaged 20.2 points and 3.4 assists for the Fever during the regular season.

Four weeks of the NFL season are already in the books. Injuries have affected the outlook for some teams across the league, others are outperforming what many expected in 2025 and a few fanbases are already looking forward to next offseason.

The biggest event of the offseason is the 2026 NFL Draft. This upcoming class is more in line with the 2024 class than what we saw in 2025. Offense is once again the strength, and we could see more players selected in the first round come April.

Within that, the strengths of this class are at quarterback and offensive line, especially tackle. A third of the first round could be devoted to those two positions alone. Similar to 2025, there are some standouts at edge and defensive tackle, indicating this is a strong class for teams seeking help in the trenches overall.

One of the biggest surprises in college football this season is Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s regression. He entered the season widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick thanks to his traits, tape and name.

That’s no longer the case in our first mock draft of the season. Here’s how the first round looks with the order from Tankathon:

2026 NFL mock draft

1. New Orleans Saints: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Yes, the Saints draft a third quarterback in as many years at the top of this draft. There’s plenty of time in the season for 2025 pick Tyler Shough to come in and prove us wrong but we opt for another QB.

Nussmeier extends plays in the pocket with an NFL-caliber arm. He’s already showing improvement during the 2025 season as he fully recovers from a torso injury sustained during the offseason. Plus, his father Doug is the Saints’ offensive coordinator.

2. New York Jets: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

New York’s offensive line is bookended by young tackles so they already have players in place to protect Sellers. The South Carolina quarterback possesses elite physical tools, packed into a 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame.

A former soccer player, Sellers has the speed in the open field to make players miss. However, he needs to improve his decision-making as a passer to avoid costly mistakes that have emerged early in 2025.

3. Tennessee Titans: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Through four games, Cam Ward’s taken 17 sacks – the most in the NFL. His 35.6% completion percentage when pressured is the worst in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data.

This is a very good offensive tackle class but Fano looks to be the top guy at the position. The 6-foot-6 tackle has an ideal mix of quickness and power to handle different types of rushers. He’s played on both the right and left side in college and could fit in on either side in Tennessee.

4. Cleveland Browns: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Cleveland uses their first of two draft picks in the first round to upgrade its quarterback position. Joe Flacco turns 41 in January and can’t be the answer long-term.

This is assuming Shedeur Sanders isn’t, either. Like Shough, there’s still time for us to be proven wrong on that front. We’ll take what we’ve seen so far to assume he isn’t. Mendoza has an NFL arm, good athleticism and a surprisingly quick release despite his size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds).

He’s shown in 2025 an ability to adapt to more quick-game or run-pass option (RPO) game plans as well as downfield passing concepts. He’d be a moldable quarterback for Kevin Stefanski to maximize.

5. Miami Dolphins: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Miami gets the top edge rusher in the class in Bain, thanks to the quarterback-needy teams in front of them. Bain entered 2025 in high regard thanks to his power packed in a 6-foot-3, 275-pound frame. That size means he can kick inside for a creative defensive coordinator like Anthony Weaver.

The Dolphins have other needs on both sides of the ball but this pick maximizes value at a foundational position. Cornerback and offensive line were also under consideration.

6. Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Baltimore’s been the third-worst run defense by expected points added (EPA) per play, per SumerSports, through four weeks. Woods could be the answer immediately.

Clemson may be underperforming as a whole in 2025 but Woods still warrants a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he combines elite power with rare explosiveness. He can line up at multiple spots on the interior and play at a Pro Bowl-caliber level sooner than later.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: QB John Mateer, Oklahoma

With young talent at tight end, running back and wide receiver but an aging (and regressing) Geno Smith at quarterback, Las Vegas pulls the trigger on a young passer.

Mateer’s currently sidelined with a broken bone in his throwing hand but if he recovers well, he should be in consideration for a top-10 pick. He’s a creative runner who can extend plays as a dual-threat quarterback and create explosives. His performance against Michigan showed he can handle the tougher defenses in college football.

8. Carolina Panthers: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Carolina hits the edge rusher position again in the 2026 NFL Draft by taking Woods’ running mate at Clemson in Parker. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher uses his heavy hands to disrupt plays in both phases. He set a school record for forced fumbles in 2024 with six and tackles for loss by a freshman in 2023 with 12.5.

He’s racked up a pair of sacks already in 2025. His power and explosiveness would give Carolina another potential difference-maker on the defensive line alongside Derrick Brown.

9. New York Giants: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Jaxson Dart may be the long-term answer at quarterback. If so, New York needs to bolster the protection in front of him. Proctor is a physical marvel at 6-foot-7 and 369 pounds with some of the quickest feet in the class. He absolutely stonewalled Georgia defenders with zero pressures, hurries or quarterback hits allowed on 43 pass blocking snaps.

Lazy analysts may compare Proctor to former Giants first-round offensive lineman Evan Neal, as they both attended Alabama. But this is simply a different type of prospect who is multiple tiers better.

10. Houston Texans: OT Francois Mauigoa, Miami

Houston’s offensive line continues to create issues for the Texans’ offense. Rookie Aireontae Ersey’s learning on the job at left tackle and Mauigoa fits in on the right side to bookend the Texans’ offensive line with young pieces.

At 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, Mauigoa has the size and tools to be a franchise tackle for years. His foot speed and power project well to the NFL level.

11. Dallas Cowboys: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Dallas’ offense is enjoying life with a reliable No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb in George Pickens. But Pickens will be a free agent this upcoming offseason.

Tyson’s a potential ready-made option to replace him. He’s not a burner but Tyson has ideal size for an outside receiver with impressive separation ability. His quickness and footwork make him a problem for defenders.

12. New England Patriots: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Downs is arguably the best player in the draft class regardless of position. Unfortunately, he plays one of the least valuable positions in the class.

An NFL defensive coordinator will have a fantastic time finding ways to deploy Downs in the box, at the slot position and at deep safety. He can do it all and could complement former first-round pick Christian Gonzalez in the Patriots’ secondary.

13. Denver Broncos: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama

Denver demonstrated in the 2025 NFL Draft that it’s not afraid to double down on a strength with its premium draft capital. They do it again by taking Overton at No. 13 here.

His larger frame and ability to bend at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds mean he can line up inside or at the edge. John Franklin-Myers will be a free agent in 2026 and Overton could help fill his shoes.

14. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): QB Arch Manning, Texas

Okay, here we go. Manning has looked rough through the first month of the college football season. His feet are unsettled and that’s causing issues with his accuracy and decision-making.

But we’ve all seen the flashes. What he showed in spot starts during the 2024 season made him a lock for the No. 1 pick in 2026 if he chose to declare. Los Angeles uses its extra first-round pick from Atlanta to draft him and sit him behind Matthew Stafford for a year before he develops into a potential long-term starter.

15. Chicago Bears: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Braxton Jones will be a free agent next offseason, and Lomu is in his second season as the starting left tackle for the Utes. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound tackle gives Chicago an option there or he can kick inside to be a guard if 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo solidifies himself at the position.

16. Washington Commanders: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Faulk somehow falls this far and Washington takes him as a building block for the future on defense. Faulk’s game is reminiscent of Calais Campbell; at 6-foot-6 and nearly 290 pounds, he has the length and power to line up on the inside or at edge for a Commanders team needing talent up front.

Wide receiver was in consideration here but Faulk’s value at No. 16 was too good to ignore.

17. Arizona Cardinals: WR Nyck Harbor, South Carolina

Arizona went all defense in its 2025 draft class and swing the other way to start 2026. ‘Elite’ isn’t an apt enough description for Harbor’s athleticism; at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Harbor boasts a low 4.2-second speed.

The Cardinals could use a field-stretching piece on the outside to unlock Marvin Harrison Jr. You won’t find a better athlete at the position in this class.

18. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The Vikings’ defense is relying on veteran players in the secondary once again this year. McCoy could provide a long-term answer in a division with plenty of talented wide receivers.

His processing speed is special and ball production projects well to the NFL. He won’t keep up in the NFL on athleticism alone. Instead, his instincts will make him a starter. He is recovering from an ACL injury this offseason; how he looks when healthy could make a difference of a whole round.

19. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Cincinnati went with one of the most athletic edge rushers in the class last draft with Shemar Stewart. They balance that with Uiagalelei, a high-floor rusher with lots of production against top competition.

He’s notched four sacks on 100 pass rush snaps so far in 2025. His first step is what NFL evaluators want to see and his bend is an asset off the edge. He’ll need to improve against double-teams.

20. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Sadiq is exactly the kind of matchup nightmare NFL teams look for in tight ends. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sadiq is a more than capable blocker with elite speed for his size.

Kansas City needs more athletic difference-makers on offense. Sadiq could be the heir to Travis Kelce as a versatile, dynamic threat inline or outside.

21. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Dallas continues to bolster the offense with its extra first-round pick. The Cowboys’ running game has taken a step forward with Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams in 2025. Love would give them a dynamic threat to maximize it.

He’s a true three-down running back with burst to make plays in the running or passing game. A year after the Cowboys missed out on Ashton Jeanty, they get the top running back in the class this time around.

22. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): OT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn

Cleveland has plenty of needs on offense but one of the more subtle ones is up front. Both starting guards are pending free agents, the Browns just traded for Cam Robinson to help out at left tackle and right tackle Jack Conklin is dealing with injuries once again.

Chaplin is a raw prospect but the tools he has at 6-foot-7 and 348 pounds are remarkable. Cleveland went with a potential quarterback of the future in the top four and get a developmental piece to protect him here.

23. Seattle Seahawks: OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa

The Seahawks hit interior offensive line in Round 1 once again. Dunker started at right tackle at Iowa but likely projects best at guard where his lateral limitations will be less of an issue.

His power and finishing ability in the run game are fantastic. He’s a mauler who can help the Seahawks’ rushing attack get a step better under Klint Kubiak.

24. Los Angeles Rams: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Terrell is on the smaller side for an NFL cornerback at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds but he more than makes up for it with his impressive athleticism and ball skills.

The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, the Clemson standout offers the full package at the position. In 2024, he notched a sack, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Tampa Bay’s investments in the secondary are already paying off from the 2025 draft. In 2026, they lead with addressing the defensive line.

Bailey made the move from Stanford to Texas Tech and continued his pace. He faced NFL-caliber talent against Utah in Week 4 and still had three hurries and a sack on 37 pass rush snaps. He could be a piece up front to complement the young secondary.

26. Indianapolis Colts: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Indianapolis’ defense was exposed in Week 4 at the cornerback spots opposite Charvarius Ward. The veteran Ward turns 30 next offseason, often when the cliff comes.

Delane’s been one of the best coverage cornerbacks in college football this season. He’s allowed just six receptions on 20 targets through five games for the Tigers. He’s a bit slight at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds and not the best athlete but his fluid athleticism and impressive instincts keep him in the right spot.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Drew Allar, Penn State

Aaron Rodgers will be 42 by Christmas and can’t be the long-term answer at quarterback. Will Howard may be but Allar provides a much higher ceiling.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar has improved in each of his years as a starter. His arm strength and mobility has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen as a prospect. Allar’s trajectory may not reach Allen’s heights but he has a higher ceiling than most passers in this class.

28. Detroit Lions: C Connor Lew, Auburn

Detroit’s offensive line has long been a strength for the team and Lew presents a way to ensure that into the future.

The Auburn product is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the class, boasting an ideal skillset for pass protection. His wrestling background is quickly apparent on tape. He’ll likely need to bulk up to handle NFL size but Detroit is a great environment for him to grow.

29. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

The Chargers’ defense has been one of the best against the pass in the NFL in 2025. Against the run, however, things have been tougher as the Chargers rank 20th in EPA per rush allowed league-wide.

Enter Banks, one of the biggest defenders in the class at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds. He possesses more than enough traits to become an elite player on the interior, especially with his first step, but needs development. He can line up at multiple positions on the defensive line and give the Chargers a building block up front.

29. San Francisco 49ers: OT Isaiah World, Oregon

Age may finally be catching up to future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers’ blindside protector has 12 pressures allowed through four games. His last full season – 2023 – had just 17 allowed through 15 games.

San Francisco needs to invest in the offensive line. World transferred to Oregon ahead of 2025 with a penchant for good pass blocking. What he’s shown already in Eugene is an improvement in the running game. The 6-foot-8, 312-pound World combines good instincts with a high ceiling thanks to his lateral movement abilities.

31. Buffalo Bills: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Buffalo invested in the secondary and defensive line in the 2025 draft. They get reinforcements in between those groups in Styles.

Styles has outlier size (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) and athleticism to make him a difference-maker at the second level for an NFL defense. His background as a safety means he can handle multiple assignments. He’s a noted leader in the locker room as well.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

It’s hard to poke holes in the Eagles’ roster but one spot you could do so is the secondary, specifically at safety. Reed Blankenship has allowed a 121.8 passer rating when targeted, according to PFF.

Thieneman is as sure a tackler as you’ll find in this safety class. His elite athleticism and instincts consistently put him in the right place. Oregon is experimenting with more diverse safety usage in 2025, which only sets Thieneman up more for success in the NFL.

AI-assisted summary
• Penn State coach James Franklin is facing similar scrutiny to what Ohio State’s Ryan Day experienced last season.
• Despite a recent loss to Oregon, Penn State can look to Ohio State’s 2024 national title run as a model for recovery.
• Fans have expressed frustration with Franklin’s record against Top 10 teams, similar to how Ohio State fans reacted to Day’s losses to Michigan.

The same lonely, desperate look. Saw it on the face of Ryan Day last season, saw it on James Franklin last weekend. 

But there’s a road back for Penn State, no matter what Franklin feels gnawing at his insides. From the lowest of lows, to maybe — just maybe — the highest of highs.

“At some point, and quickly, you make a decision to move on with a plan of how to make it right,” Day said in January, days before his Ohio State team rebounded from the worst loss of his coaching career by winning the national title. 

If there’s one takeaway following Penn State’s gut-punch of an overtime loss to Oregon, it’s this: at least it wasn’t to a bitter rival for the fourth consecutive season.

Because other than that, Franklin is mirroring Day in some sort of sick symphony of the unexplainable. Day found a way out of the crushing reality last season, rallying from another loss to Michigan to win the College Football Playoff as a No. 8 seed. 

Franklin will begin down that road this week, days removed from yet another loss to a Top 10 team despite a talented, loaded roster and a three-year starter at quarterback.

But how do you respond to an irrecoverable loss? How do you move forward when unrelenting noise from the outside begins to creep inside and infect everything? 

How do you convince a group of 18-22-year-olds, as consumed with NIL deals and social media standing as their place in a championship race, that all isn’t lost?

How do you convince a coaching staff that spent all offseason preparing for this moment — after three gimme putts to begin the season against vastly inferior opponents — the goals haven’t changed? 

This was the opportunity to make a statement early, and ride it all the way to Columbus, Ohio in early November and slay that dragon, too. 

And now what? 

Penn State is 4-21 vs. Top 10 teams under Franklin, and early in the fourth quarter of the Oregon game — after the Ducks had taken a 17-3 lead — Lions fans began chanting “Fire Franklin” for the coach with a 37-9 record since 2022. Those chants from fans in Happy Valley at the end of their rope with a coach who has won at least 11 games five times since 2016.

Meanwhile, back in last November, as Michigan celebrated its fourth straight win over Ohio State and the teams fought at midfield after the game, fans in Columbus began chanting “Fire Ryan Day.” For a coach that has won at least 11 games five times since 2019.

Day and Ohio State rallied behind a senior-laden team, and an experienced quarterback who got hot at the right time. They beat a surging SEC team (Tennessee) to begin the CFP, then beat No. 1 Oregon, SEC runner-up Texas and a Notre Dame team that had won 13 straight games.

They did it by doubling down on what they did best: run the ball and throw off play action. It was no longer about proving toughness, it was about getting the ball into the hands of the most-talented players on the team. 

It was also about continuing to play tough, punishing defense behind coordinator Jim Knowles, who spent three years tweaking and perfecting his system before moving to Penn State at the end of last season. 

Hours after the soul-stealing loss to Oregon, Franklin started talking to Knowles about how Ohio State found a way back from the abyss. Then Franklin had Knowles address the players and staff. 

You can listen to words, but can you hear it? In this highly visual society, it’s advantageous to have someone who can paint the picture of success for all to clearly see.

It’s easy to yammer on about not letting one loss turn into two, or how great teams don’t get beat twice by the same game. Or how the CFP has given teams a longer runway to find a way to the big prize. 

All of that is philosophical mind games. Teams and players today need to see it, feel it and more important, follow a step-by-step path.

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught five passes for 35 yards against Michigan. In four CFP games after Ohio State decided to double down on what it does best — Smith had 19 catches for 381 yards and five touchdowns.

There’s nothing magical to it. Do what you do best, and do it without hesitation or disruption. 

Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the strength of the Penn State offense for three seasons, combined for just 96 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries against Oregon. That will drastically change over the next two months of the season. 

Because if you’re James Franklin and your career is mirroring Ryan Day’s, keep doing what he did. Get back to the basics, and do them better than you ever have to find a way out. 

“There’s a ton of football left to be played,” Franklin said. 

And a road back to the highest of highs. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. 

• Arkansas’ firing of Sam Pittman triggers motion on SEC football coaching carousel.
• Dan Mullen makes more sense for Arkansas than Jon Gruden or Bobby Petrino.
• Rhett Lashlee might make the most sense of all, if only he’d leave SMU.

We have motion on the SEC coaching carousel, and it’s full steam ahead.

Arkansas needs a coach after firing Sam Pittman, and, hey Jon Gruden’s not only available, but he wants to coach in the SEC.

A perfect match? Well, about that …

On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider potential candidates for the Arkansas job with a round of love it, like it or no thanks.

Arkansas is not an elite job, but with the right hire, it can be a top-25 job. The Razorbacks’ glory days occurred back in the Southwest Conference. In the years since Petrino crashed his motorcycle, the Razorbacks finished the season ranked just one time.

Fan passion isn’t an issue, and there’s money in Northwest Arkansas (see Walmart and Tyson Foods), but John Calipari’s basketball program demands financial support, and Arkansas cares about its baseball program, too.

So, who’s the coach that not only could connect with boosters but also handle the recruiting and CEO duties, alongside being a good coach on game day?

Here are seven potential candidates for the Arkansas job, and what our ‘SEC Football Unfiltered’ hosts think of the idea, with this round of ‘love it, like it, or no thanks.’:

Should Arkansas football consider hiring these coaching candidates?

Gus Malzahn, Florida State offensive coordinator

No thanks. Malzahn is right where he needs to be at this stage of his career — coordinating an offense.

Dan Mullen, UNLV coach

Like it. He won at Mississippi State. Arkansas should be no harder of a job than that. Mullen’s biggest chore would be connecting with boosters.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane coach

Like it. He’s won at Troy. He’s won at Tulane. Next stop: a Power Four job. Arkansas could cut Kentucky in line and hire Sumrall.

Rhett Lashlee, SMU coach

Love it. The Arkansas native and alumnus led the Mustangs to the playoff last season, and he’s got SMU’s booster game humming. He’d be a fit for Arkansas, but would he leave a good thing at SMU?

Ryan Silverfield, Memphis coach

No thanks. We almost like it, and Silverfield’s Tigers beat Arkansas, but if hiring from the Group of Five ranks, Sumrall seems like maybe the hotter commodity.

Bobby Petrino, interim Arkansas coach

No thanks. Even putting the motorcycle incident aside, can you imagine Petrino thriving in the SEC in the player empowerment era? We can’t. He’s suited to SEC coordinator jobs, not coaching jobs.

Jon Gruden, Barstool Sports personality

No thanks. Gruden is well suited to the job he has as an internet content creator, and where’s the evidence he’d be a good college coach? There is none. He wasn’t a good NFL coach, either, by the time he took a blowtorch to his career.

Later in the episode

∎ Is Alabama ‘back’? We’re not quite ready to go there. Impressive though the win against Georgia was, we saw this film last season. Beat Vanderbilt and Missouri, and then we’ll talk.

∎ LSU’s problems didn’t end with a loss to Mississippi. There’s trouble with the Tigers.

Week 6 picks against the spread!

Toppmeyer’s five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Kentucky at Georgia (-20.5)

∎ Vanderbilt at Alabama (-10.5)

∎ Kent Stateat Oklahoma (-45.5)

∎ Mississippi State at Texas A&M (-14.5)

∎ Iowa State at Cincinnati (-1.5)

Season record: 12-13 (1-4 last week)

Adams’ five-pack of picks (picks in bold):

∎ Kentucky at Georgia (-20.5)

∎ Texas (-6.5) at Florida

∎ Vanderbilt at Alabama (-10.5)

∎ Kent Stateat Oklahoma (-45.5)

∎ Texas Tech (-11.5) at Houston

Season record: 11-14 (1-4 last week)

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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.