Matt Baker
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Matt Baker
@mattbakercfb.bsky.social
1.1K followers 250 following 1.3K posts
National college sports reporter for The Athletic
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What’s the view of the Lane Train in Louisiana?
The shop Sweet Baton Rouge can’t keep Kiffin Orgeron ‘26 shirts in stock. The screenprinter can’t keep up with demand.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
LSU and Lane Kiffin: Will it all be worth it in the end?
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:51 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
There has, unquestionably, been a lot around LSU and Lane Kiffin. It prompts the question: Is this all worth it?
The answer I got from Baton Rouge was clear:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
Lane Kiffin has LSU wearing the black hat. Will it all be worth it? (Gift Article)
Although the trade-off won’t work at every program, not every program is LSU. What makes LSU suited to embrace Lane Kiffin?
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2026 at 1:37 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
One new nugget we can report in the light of today's UNC/Lombardi investigation news: Soon after Lombardi took over, staffers felt pressured to misrepresent UNC's academic offerings to recruits.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
Steve Belichick resigns after investigation finds ‘certain actions’ by UNC football disregarded standards
UNC said the actions the investigation found were "isolated" and "not a systematic failure."
www.nytimes.com
September 17, 2026 at 5:29 PM
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Reminder: Ole Miss will be playing against two LSU players it has sued Saturday. I think that's a first?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
Star LSU transfer Princewill Umanmielen served with Ole Miss lawsuit papers ahead of game
On Tuesday, Ole Miss served LSU's Princewill Umanmielen with court papers from the Rebels’ breach of contract lawsuit against hi,
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2026 at 3:03 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
We here on @theathletic.com college football team spent a lot of time over the last few weeks/months trying to find the roster payroll for every P4 team. The figures are inexact, but here's what we came up with and where we think your school ranks:
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...
Does your college football roster cost $8M or $50M? Here's our report on 68 teams (Gift Article)
The best teams are, on average, the ones paying players the most, but there's a wide disparity between the schools at the top and the bottom of major conferences.
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
I understand FSU's situation better now than I did at the start of the day.
Our updated story, after a chat with Florida State's president and BoT chairperson:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
Florida State fires athletic director Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next? (Gift Article)
Norvell’s seat is the hottest in the country. The Seminoles have finished with losing records in four of his six full seasons.
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2026 at 9:05 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
Updated analysis: FSU fires AD Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next?
I'm reminded of what Miami did in 2021 after FSU's fourth-and-14 victory over the Canes...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
Florida State fires athletic director Michael Alford. Is Mike Norvell next? (Gift Article)
Norvell’s seat is the hottest in the country. The Seminoles have finished with losing records in four of his six full seasons.
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2026 at 3:33 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
Michael Alford is out as Florida State's AD. The obvious follow-up question: Is Mike Norvell next?
I'll be updating this quickie story, but:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
Florida State fires athletic director Michael Alford
The decision prompts the question: Is football coach Mike Norvell next?
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Matt Baker
chrisvannini.com
This week's Athletic 138:

1. Texas
10. BYU
21. Oklahoma State
53. North Carolina
70. FAU
135. Rutgers

Full rankings (free): www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
Re-ranking 138 college football teams after Week 2: Texas vaults to No. 1, then it gets weird (Gift Article)
Two weeks into the college football season, it feels like we know nothing. Ain’t it great?
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Matt Baker
bytimgraham.bsky.social
In their first substantive interviews since it all went down in Madison four years ago, Jim Leonhard and Paul Chryst get candid about their Wisconsin football exits.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
Jim Leonhard, Paul Chryst get candid about their Wisconsin football exits (Gift Article)
For the first time in four years, Chryst and Leonhard gave substantive interviews about their Wisconsin departures.
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM
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Is 2026 Oregon the 2025 Penn State? I made the case for and against after the Ducks' loss to Oklahoma State.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
Is Oregon this year’s Penn State? The case for and against a Ducks free fall (Gift Article)
Preseason No. 2 Oregon's upset loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday couldn't help but feel a bit like 2025 Penn State. What's next?
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2026 at 12:07 AM
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Boise State with a fourth-down touchdown pass to cut Memphis' lead to 17-10 late in the first half. A fun game with very early CFP implications to keep an eye on
September 12, 2026 at 11:28 PM
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Initial thoughts/takeaways on Michigan's win over Oklahoma. Bryce Underwood improved, and the Sooners look about the way they did last year (maybe pretty good in the end but not a serious contender)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
As Michigan gets an ugly win to celebrate, does Oklahoma have the bigger QB question?
Michigan took down No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10 in a game in which Bryce Underwood outplayed John Mateer in a day dominated by defense.
www.nytimes.com
September 12, 2026 at 7:51 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
Michigan's Troy Bowles had the fumble recovery a few minutes ago against OU. That gives me an excuse to bring up and share one of the most Jim Harbaugh stories of Jim Harbaugh's Michigan tenure:
www.tampabay.com/sports/high-...
Why Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh squatted during a recruiting trip to Jesuit
Yes, the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is involved. Why wouldn’t it be?
www.tampabay.com
September 12, 2026 at 5:17 PM
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Through the first 5 quarters and change of the season, Rutgers has been outscored 54-21 by UMass and Boston College.
September 12, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Matt Baker
brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social
What we’re hearing in college football Week 2: Is Bryce Underwood ‘seeing ghosts’?
Rival coaches on why the former No. 1 recruit is really struggling at Michigan. Why Arch has improved so much from last year; and an interesting CJ Carr comp:
Free link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
What we’re hearing in college football Week 2: Is Bryce Underwood ‘seeing ghosts’? (Gift Article)
Plus, notes on star QBs Arch Manning and CJ Carr, and some early playmakers to watch for Matt Campbell's first Penn State team.
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2026 at 1:51 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
Florida State fans have reached the “crowdsource coach buyout” stage
September 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
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Good news for those of you who care about "football" rather than "lawsuits" or "jurisdictional disputes" or "legal debates over sovereign immunity or 12b1 motions."
The SEC/LSU/Lane Kiffin et al spat is cooling.
Gift story:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
LSU-SEC feud shows signs of cooling as lawsuit hearing postponed
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
The hearing in the SEC's lawsuit against Lane Kiffin et al is continued (legalese for delayed), per an online court entry.
September 9, 2026 at 5:52 PM
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Louisiana AG Liz Murrill, semi out of context but not really, in an interview right now to Tiger Rag Radio on the SEC/LSU/Whoever legal spat: "The whole thing is kind of strange"
September 9, 2026 at 12:40 AM
mattbakercfb.bsky.social
I'm still trying to see the off-ramps in the LSU-SEC saga.
LSU can't withdraw the Louisiana suit; it's not a party in that case.
If it doesn't roster the 2 players, what happens in La. court?
If La. judge says SEC can't punish LSU, what other options are there besides expulsion?
September 8, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Matt Baker
chrisvannini.com
✍️ This week's Athletic 138, ranking every FBS team:

1. LSU
9. Ole Miss
37. Michigan
38. Western Michigan
69. NDSU
100. UMass (in my top 100 for the first time ever!)

Full rankings: www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
Re-ranking 138 college football teams after Week 1: LSU starts on top, Rutgers hits a new low (Gift Article)
LSU's dominant performance against Clemson jumps them up the rankings. Rutgers blowout loss to UMass sets a new low for Power 4 teams.
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2026 at 1:46 PM
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When I made the case for why Mike Norvell could get off the hot seat this season, (turnover) luck was one of my reasons.
Tonight, FSU has recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass in the end zone and recovered that deflected punt
www.nytimes.com/athletic/754...
Four reasons why Mike Norvell might not be doomed at Florida State
Many seem to believe the Norvell era at FSU is destined to end this fall. Here's why his tenure could actually be saved.
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2026 at 3:21 AM
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Florida State is 0-for-6 on third down.
The fewest third down conversions for the Noles under Norvell? 1 (loss at Wake in 2021, win over BC in 2023)
September 8, 2026 at 3:09 AM
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What was one of the most anticipated coaching debuts in recent memory like?
A literal dog and pony show. A weather delay in a place it never rains. A 1-of-1 souvenir for a fan of 66 years. Oh, and a 41-point domination.
The scene from Lane Kiffin’s LSU:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...
Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut brought drama and hoopla. The actual football validated it all (Gift Article)
After all of the controversy of LSU's offseason, a 51-10 shellacking of Clemson offered an example of why the Tigers hired Kiffin.
www.nytimes.com
September 6, 2026 at 1:14 PM