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While celebrating the major career milestone of adding two more No. 1 hits to his resume, Dylan Scott also looked ahead as he opened up about a brand-new song that’s especially close to home. Out now, “Girl From Louisiana” serves as an upbeat, fiddle-filled country track that pays tribute by his home state, his wife and a classic Garth Brooks hit.
Sitting down with a few country music outlets in Nashville, Scott explained that today’s release might sound familiar as it samples a few lines from Brooks’1993 song “Callin’ Baton Rouge.” Although he was not a writer on the track, the country star instantly connected with its story, being a Louisiana native himself.
“’Girl From Louisiana’ is a song that I did not write, but heard it for the first time and it was a fun song. I feel like you need that. I mean, I love songs that got a bunch of deep meaning and whatnot, but…it’s an interpolation song. It is a song written, I guess, from the Garth song in a way. So it was familiar day one,” he explained.
Co-writers Dallas Wilson, Dennis Linde, Graham Barham, Logan Turner teamed up to create a tune that fits perfectly into Scott’s catalog. The upbeat track brings plenty of homegrown country energy, complete with fiddles and driving drum beats, while spotlighting Scott’s home state. Plus, the story also happens to coincide with his real-life romance with his wife, Blair Robinson, who he met at a young age during his upbringing in Louisiana.
“I married a girl from Louisiana. I’m from Louisiana. She liked the song. She said I need to record the song. So I recorded the song because I’m a smart man,” Scott joked. “I do what my wife says to do. And that’s really all it is to it. I mean, music is something I feel like it’s not rocket science. Either it feels good or it sends you somewhere in your life that you need to go.
So not everybody relates to everything and that’s fine. But ‘Girl From Louisiana’ is a relatable song to me and my wife.”
“I spent last night in the arms of a girl from Louisiana,” Scott sings in the chorus, setting the scene for a fun night that quickly turns into a memory he can’t shake. This line immediately draws a connection to Brooks’ track as “Callin’ Baton Rouge” starts off the story the same way.
The song follows a chance encounter with a Louisiana girl at the Flora-Bama. Scott recalls champagne on the floor, a phone number written in lipstick on the bathroom mirror and a few “Geaux Tigers” thrown in the mix. By the time she leaves, Scott’s character admits he can’t get her out of his head.
“I spent last night in the arms of a girl from Louisiana/ We were calling Baton Rouge out late on stage at the Flora-Bama/ Go Tigers on her chest/ G-e-a-u-x since the day she left/ She was stuck in my head singing/ I spent last night in the arms of a girl from Louisiana,” Scott sings on the tune.
He went on to say that he doesn’t think Brooks has heard his version of the story, however the original songwriters are credited and have given their stamp of approval.
“Obviously when you get to the point where, oh, somebody’s going to go in and record it and put it out, there’s got to be a bunch of conversations about that…I do know the writers signed off on it. The writers of ‘Callin’Baton Rouge’ have credit on this song as well. So it’s not like the writers of ‘Girl from Louisiana’ stole the idea. Everybody’s involved in it,” he explained.
The topic of the new song came about while commemorating his most recent string of No. 1 hits, “What He’ll Never Have” and “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us.” The party was hosted by ASCAP along with BMI at the Commons Club at the Virgin Hotel and welcomed a slew of friends, family, co-writers and members of the industry to celebrate Scott’s latest milestones.
“This is number seven. Hopefully we can have seven more, but they never get old. It’s kind of like hearing your song on the radio the first time. It never gets old,” Scott admitted.
It was an especially meaningful moment for Scott to share the moment with his brother, Logan Robinson, who co-wrote one of the top-charting tracks, alongside fellow songwriters Ricky Rowton and Robbie Gatlin, who each had a hand in bringing “What He’ll Never Have” to life.
“It means a lot to me just because I have my brother, my tour manager/guitar player, and then Ricky here…just having your friends and your family around you, writing music and then writing a song that’s, I mean, able to reach that number one spot and share that with guys is pretty awesome.”
Over the years, the Louisiana native’s definition of success has definitely changed and evolved. At this point in his life, he often finds himself reflecting on just how far he’s come since leaving his small hometown and making a name for himself in Nashville.
“Stuff like this ain’t supposed to happen to small town boy or girl from where we’re from. But just very grateful and very blessed to be where I’m at music wise, family wise. And if it all ended today, I promise you I’d be just fine knowing what’s happened in the last 16 years,” he added.
Dylan Scott has plans to continue working on and releasing new music in the near future while watching his newest single, “Dear Big City” climb the charts. He is also continuing to perform fairs and festivals throughout the remainder of the year.
The post Dylan Scott Opens Up About Brand-New Song ‘Girl From Louisiana’ During Milestone Double No. 1 Celebration appeared first on Country Now.
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The song speaks to both his personal and musical roots. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
The only thing better than enjoying a favorite steak is elevating the experience with a drink that perfectly complements the cut and flavor.
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We have shocking news out of Massachusetts today, as Judge William F. Sullivan has declared a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder case.
After five days of deliberations, jurors informed the judge this morning that they are unable to reach a unanimous decision (via TMZ).
Clancy was accused of killing her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan — at the family’s Duxbury home in January 2023.
There was never much dispute over whether Clancy was responsible for the children’s deaths (except among conspiracy theorists who believe Clancy was framed). The central question throughout the trial was whether she should be held criminally responsible for her actions.
And that proved to be a massive sticking point for the jury.
Clancy’s defense argued that she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis when she killed her children and subsequently attempted to take her own life.
Her attorneys maintained that the condition left her detached from reality and unable to understand the consequences of what she was doing.
Prosecutors, however, painted a very different picture.
They acknowledged that Clancy had experienced serious mental-health problems but argued that she nevertheless understood what she was doing and that the killings were intentional.
After five weeks of testimony from more than 80 witnesses and the presentation of hundreds of exhibits, the jury began deliberating, only to become increasingly divided.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, claimed that one juror was refusing to properly follow the judge’s instructions concerning reasonable doubt. At one point, Reddington argued that the jury appeared to be split 11-1 and asked the court to address the alleged holdout.
Judge Sullivan declined to remove the juror and instead instructed the panel to continue deliberating.
But apparently, there was no changing their minds.
The jury ultimately remained deadlocked, bringing the trial to a close without answering the question that has consumed true crime obsessives for years: Was Lindsay Clancy criminally responsible for the deaths of her three children?
Unfortunately for everyone involved, that question remains unanswered.
A mistrial does not mean Clancy has been acquitted. Prosecutors now face a major decision over whether to put the case on trial again.
For Clancy, who was left paralyzed after her suicide attempt, the legal battle that began more than three years ago may therefore be far from over.
And after weeks of deeply emotional testimony, the families involved are once again left waiting for an ending that did not come today.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Lindsay Clancy Judge Declares Mistrial as Jury Fails to Reach a Verdict was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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Last month, Jelly Roll hosted Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show, and he took the opportunity to crack some lighthearted jokes about Donald Trump’s weight.
And according to fellow country singer John Rich, the move might have cost him a whole lot of fans.
It’s true that the backlash was swift, particularly from some members of the country music community who weren’t prepared to discover that the singer’s political views weren’t quite what they had assumed.
But Rich believes Jelly Roll knew exactly what he was getting himself into.
During an appearance on “The Benny Show” podcast, Rich argued that Jelly Roll understands his audience — and therefore had to know that publicly expressing his views could alienate a significant portion of it.
“He knows how this works. OK? He knows who the audience is,” Rich said (via Page Six). “And so I have to think he really believes every single word he said, or he wouldn’t have said it.”
Rich went even further, suggesting Jelly Roll’s comments could cost him half or more of his country music audience.
“When you make statements that are that hardcore and to a large extent counteractive to the presentation you’ve been making, you do understand in country music that half or more of your audience may disown you,” he said.
“They may turn their back on you. They may stop listening to you. They may turn you off. But you make the statement anyway.”
Rich knows a thing or two about political backlash himself. He said his own decision to speak openly about his conservative views cost him country radio support, a record deal, and invitations to award shows.
Still, he doesn’t appear to think Jelly Roll should have kept his mouth shut.
In fact, Rich believes the controversy is less about what Jelly Roll believes and more about the fact that fans weren’t expecting him to believe it.
“What you’re seeing from the backlash is people didn’t know that’s who he really is and that’s how he really thinks,” Rich said.
Jelly Roll attempted to clear up the confusion during his Kimmel appearance, explaining that he isn’t neatly aligned with either major political party.
“It is funny that, before this week, everybody thought I was MAGA. And now they think I’m some sort of liberal snowflake,” he said, adding:
“Hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I have all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics. Sure, I lean left on some things, but like most folks, I’m pretty down the middle.”
“I am a Christian. I am a country music singer. I’m a farmer. I’m a bow hunter. And most of the things I eat, I prefer to get with a stick and a string,” he added. “That’s the truth.”
But Rich thinks Jelly Roll’s biggest mistake was waiting until now to reveal that side of himself.
“He should have been talking that way from the very beginning, and he probably wouldn’t have this problem,” Rich said.
So Jelly Roll hasn’t changed, but his fans might now be finding out who he really is. And that affect his career in major way.
Jelly Roll Lost ‘Half His Fans’ Over Political Views, John Rich Claims was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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The Colorado Buffaloes helped kick off college football Week 1 by going into Atlanta as underdogs and shocking the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. With a packed slate of games this weekend, should fans and bettors anticipate more upsets? Let’s take a glance at five matchups to watch this weekend, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 4. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. (All Times ET) Saturday, Sept. 5 Spread: Indiana -40.5Moneyline: N/AO/U: 56.5 What To Know: Indiana’s title defense begins this weekend. Led by their bold head coach Curt Cignetti and by eventual Heisman winner and NFL No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, the Hoosiers’ championship run in 2025 was absolutely magical. Based on the odds, they shouldn’t run into any road blocks in Week 1 as 40.5-point favorites. Last season, Indiana opened up its year by cruising past Old Dominion, 27-14. Spread: Oregon -24.5Moneyline: Oregon -2400, Boise State +1200O/U: 51.5 What To Know: The pressure is on for head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks. Not only are they the No. 2 team in the country, they’re fourth on the board to win the College Football Playoff. Starting QB Dante Moore is also one of the Heisman favorites, sitting third on that board behind Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Texas’ Arch Manning. FOX Sports betting analyst Geoff Schwartz explained that Oregon’s defensive line is one of the best in the sport, and that could spell trouble for Boise State in this game as the Broncos rely heavily on the run game. Spread: Texas -29.5Moneyline: Texas -9000; Texas State +2500O/U: 59.5 What To Know: The Texas Longhorns have high expectations going into 2026. They’re third on the oddsboard to win the championship and starting quarterback Arch Manning is neck-and-neck with CJ Carr at the top of the Heisman oddsboard. Texas opened up last season with a loss at Ohio State, but the Longhorns get to play an over-matched Texas State squad to open up 2026. Based on the odds, the heavily favored Horns should hook ’em without much trouble. Spread: Penn State -23.5Moneyline: Penn State -3200; Marshall +1400O/U: 52.5 What To Know: Penn State’s 2025 took a turn for the worse, as the Nittany Lions went on a six-game losing streak after winning their first four. They ultimately fired head coach James Franklin, but the damage had already been done in a year when they opened as one of the favoirtes to win it all. FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill noted that, even though they failed to meet expectations last season, they’re still a good bet to at least make the College Football Playoff in 2026. They are No. 18 in the AP Poll currently and are favored to win big in Week 1. The showdown against Marshall should give Penn State a chance to start getting back on track with an easy non-conference win. Sunday, Sept. 6 Spread: Ole Miss -6.5Moneyline: Ole Miss -270; Louisville +220O/U: 55.5 What To Know: The Sunday night, primetime game features two ranked squads — one of which is coming off a solid College Football Playoff showing. After defeating Georgia in the CFP quarterfinal round, the Rebs fell 31-27 to Miami in the semis. Now, veteran Trinidad Chambliss is back as the starting QB for Ole Miss, while Louisville will be trotting out Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz. However, FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill is backing underdog Louisville to cover the spread, as the Cardinals and their “new-look” roster try to bring down Ole Miss in Nashville.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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What went down between Alix Earle and Alex Cooper?
After about a year and a half of wondering, we’re getting new insights — albeit from only one side.
Earle has a new show, and she’s using it to blast Cooper as “sick and twisted.”
Accusing the podcast host of having taken “advantage of” her, she’s not pulling any punches.
Alix Earle is not mincing words about Alex Cooper
It’s not clear if Alix Earle actually sent the text message calling Alex Cooper both “toxic” and “sick and twisted.”
But she read the text aloud, regardless, on Earle Meets World, her new Netflix series.
“I don’t like you,” Earle announced, reading the text.
“I’m not gonna fall for your bait,” she continued, “getting into a back and forth online.”
With a threatening air, Earle added: “And I don’t think you want that, either.”
“You are manipulative and toxic,” Earle accused during the text.
“Go ahead and say ‘it’s just business’ all you want,” she continued, “but the way you approach business is disgusting.”
Earle blasted: “You chose money over morals. You took advantage of me at a young age in a new industry I knew nothing about. You are full of false promises and Unwell [Network] was a continuation of that.”
She added: “We had a call where you threatened me to not go to war with you, because you know how sick and twisted you are.”
Daring Cooper to use the message against her, Earle vowed: “You will no longer scare or trap me… I may be petty, but I’m not malicious. If there’s one thing I learned from doing business with you, it’s to never do business with anyone like you.”
It’s pretty safe to say that they do not like each other
From 2023 to 2025, Alix Earle worked for Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network.
During that time, the two were friendly — perhaps even friends.
The pair even shared an interview on Cooper’s claim to fame, the Call Her Daddy podcast, which went over pretty well.
It was not until the start of last year that rumors circulated that Earle and Cooper were not getting along.
When Unwell dropped Earle’s Hot Mess podcast that February, many took it as confirmation of bad blood.
In truth, it doesn’t look like Earle is fully explaining herself.
She does explain that she disliked that she was drunk on Cooper’s podcast in early 2025.
(Cooper then asked her sexual questions and sensitive ones, and allegedly ignored Earle’s requests to edit out some segments.)
Additionally, we have to emphasize that we have not heard Cooper’s side of the story.
Is there more to this? If so, would it change anyone’s opinion? We’ll have to wait to hear what Cooper has to say.
Alix Earle Lays Into ‘Sick And Twisted’ Alex Cooper, Finally Opening Up About … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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The smile said it all. Gathered in a conference room just outside Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson’s office, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, athletics director Jeramiah Dickey and Danielson made their pitch to star tailback Ashton Jeanty. The opportunity. The legacy. The paycheck. All of it was part of the equation. “We love you, Ash. We know you love this place,” Dickey said. “Where are you at?” Jeanty looked up and smirked. “I’m a Bronco,” he said. It’s been almost three years since Jeanty reaffirmed his commitment to Boise State for the 2024 season. Almost every program in America hoped the eventual Heisman Trophy runner-up would depart the school that landed him as an under-recruited running back out of Texas. The world has since changed. Dramatically. College football spending has ballooned, and the financial pressures on schools outside the Power Four have never been more exacerbated. But around these parts, on the blue turf and within a program Danielson has been part of for nearly a decade, that history set a precedent for a team fixated on a second College Football Playoff berth in three years. The Broncos return a pair of All-Pac-12 candidate tailbacks in Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley. Quarterback Maddux Madsen is headed for his third consecutive year as a starter. Defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan spurned outside interest to return for a chance at another postseason run. Those hopes start on Saturday against No. 3 Oregon, boasting one of the costliest rosters in America — and one that is likely more than three times more than the $13 million Boise State is spending in revenue share across its entire athletics department. “Do we have what everybody else has? No, but I do know we have more than enough,” Danielson told me.” … We play Oregon. We play Washington. We play Penn State, Notre Dame. On paper, do they have more resources? Probably. But, in those games, there’s still 11 dudes on the field. We’ve got 11. They’ve got 11 — and there’s not going to be any excuses made from us.” There is no long-term planning in college football these days. Administrators quip strategic initiatives have shrunk from a decade to six months. Coaches are worried about the 10 or 11 months in front of them, rather than developing talent over the course of four years. Stockpiling talent? That’s reserved for the biggest brands in college football. But even those with endless pockets are rebooting their rosters by the offseason as player acquisition prices seemingly double each winter. Those realities have been magnified tenfold in the Group of Six, where stalwarts like Boise State have become staunch outliers in their ability to retain and recruit talent, while mitigating outside factors that have made retention an outsized and unfortunate lesson in capitalism. There are, however, a handful of programs that have managed to pitch culture, development and, when possible, cash to ensure the diamonds they discovered continue playing in the rough. “We’re choosing to be here,” Dickey told me. “You burn the boats, right? We’re all in on this, and it’s worth fighting for these kids, what our industry represents, and, specifically, what our brand and department represents.” “We Know That We’re Gonna Have To Recruit Him Again” New Mexico’s Jason Eck almost starts to chuckle as he thinks back to his last Idaho team. The Vandals took Oregon to the brink in 2024, falling by 10 points in Eugene before the Ducks rolled to a 13-1 record and the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. Three of Eck’s sophomores that fall earned All-Big Sky honors. Two will suit up for Power Four programs this fall: Andrew Marshall at Nebraska and Dallas Afalava at Wake Forest. The only one that followed Eck to New Mexico? That’d be his son, Jaxton. “Thankfully, it’s my son,” Jason told me, tongue-in-cheek. “If he wasn’t my son, he probably would be at a Power Four school as well.” Every Group of Six coach has a similar story. Tulsa’s Tre Lamb saw a linebacker head to Texas A&M, while his tight end will play for Louisville — decisions that were made related to offers well into the six figures. Boise State — the poster child for stability within the Group of Six over the last decade — watched its top cornerback, Ty Benefield, leave for LSU. Eck, too, had a tight end leave for Cal, a punter depart for Florida State and a long snapper dip for Texas. All three decisions, he said, were motivated by cash. But for each player that walked out the door, there are those programs — few and far between as they might be at the Group of Six level — who’ve been able to steady their rosters amid wayward seas. “I think everybody in this era just kind of assumes the best players are looking to leave all the time,” said Delaware head coach Ryan Carty, who returns as much production as any school in the country after a 7-6 debut season in FBS. “Our players, most of them, do recognize that they might already have what other players are searching for.” There’s a broad belief among coaches that Power Four programs’ reliance on the portal has opened up more talented high school options for the Group of Six. That change has put more of an onus on evaluation. Schools outside the Power Four are working judiciously to occupy not only talent they can sign, but that they might be able to keep. “[Bigger programs] go off the measurables,” New Mexico general manager Beau Davidson told me. “I almost go backward. Let me find the good football players, then I’m gonna pick the one with the better measurables. “Just look at our roster — we’re not gonna win any games getting off the bus, that’s for damn sure.” Schools have also had to be more pointed in their spending, while working ahead of time to address players who might be poaching targets. Two years ago, the market for Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry was nonexistent. The one-time Indiana signal-caller had been cast off by the staff in Bloomington after just a season. Outgoing Hoosiers offensive coordinator Walt Bell eventually landed at Western Michigan, providing enough comfort and familiarity for Lowry to follow. Lowry took over the starting spot four games into last season. He never relented, finishing the year with more than 1,800 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding just shy of 1,000 yards rushing and scoring 14 times on the ground. The conversations between Lowry and the Western Michigan staff started early. Head coach Lance Taylor recognized the ex-Big Ten passer might have options. But keeping Lowry in Kalamazoo, Michigan meant stability — and the potential for others to follow suit. The staff took time between its win over Miami (Ohio) in the MAC title game and the Myrtle Beach Bowl to communicate with agents, parents and others involved in the re-signing process across the roster. Lowry was among the first to recommit to the program. Then came the avalanche. Taylor said the program retained 26 of 27 players it hoped to keep. The only departee — long-snapper RJ Todd — landed at Oregon. Lowry, meanwhile, becomes the first MAC Offensive Player of the Year with eligibility remaining to return to the league since Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch won the honor back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013. But next season also looms. “Absolutely we’re already thinking about it,” Taylor conceded. “… Being able to bring him back and knowing he has two years of eligibility was really neat to be able to do. But looking into the crystal ball, we know we’re gonna have to recruit him again.” How Corporate Partners Bolster College Football Programs The conversations started at the top, months ago. Before a sudden death. Before the corporate world around Memphis stood still. Tigers athletics director Ed Scott’s pitch to FedEx founder and chairman Fred Smith — who died in June 2025 — was simple: Why put your name on a building when you could get an international commercial for three hours every Saturday during the fall? “If you name a stadium, most of the people that see the name of the stadium are the people who are local,” Scott said at the time. “But if you look at our football field, anywhere that football is within 100 yards, you will see the word ‘FedEx.’” Memphis has been among those non-Power Four programs that have pushed beyond preconceived financial restraints. It’s believed to be among the biggest spenders in the Group of Six, while Scott said in an interview with local radio this summer the plan is to grow its football revenue share allocation to $10 million by 2027. (It’s spending almost that much on men’s basketball as well.) That growth in resources has correlated directly to varying commercial initiatives the school has taken on over the last two years. Memphis is slated to open a roughly $225 million renovation of the Liberty Bowl that includes the construction of a new tower of suites on the west side, LED board and logo boxes this weekend. The end zones, too, will be branded with FedEx’s logo, while it has agreed to a significant deal with Lowe’s. The school has also seen an uptick in fundraising from $20-plus million prior to Scott’s arrival to $35.3 million in 2025, while it’s on pace to bring in around $100 million in revenue this year. “$78 million of that comes from revenue that we create personally,” Scott explained to me. “That’s better than a lot of Power Four schools, right? … If I had another $40 million — I’m not even talking SEC, Big Ten numbers — we’d become extremely formidable right away.” That schools are capitalizing on corporate opportunities has spread far beyond the American Conference as athletics departments look to offset the growing cost of roster retention and construction. Pac-12 membership has seen massive commercial growth across its schools in recent months. Utah State landed a slew of gifts ranging from $750,000 to a pair at $2.5 million. Fresno State is already pushing $750,000 ahead of its sponsorship goals, while San Diego State is on track to set a school record in fundraising this year. The Mountain West, too, leads all FBS conferences with seven schools that have agreed to corporate jersey patch deals — including UNLV, which inked the nation’s first such agreement with Acesso Biologics. More broadly, data provided by NIL deal platform Opendorse showed average Group of Six NIL spending jumped from $1.9 million to $7.5 million over the last two years. “The team with the most money doesn’t guarantee you that you will win or doesn’t guarantee that you will get all the players,” said Tulsa athletics director Justin Moore, a former football operations staffer at Texas A&M and Houston. “But not being in the ballpark guarantees that you won’t.” Visiting with a friend on the Colorado State staff ahead of the 2024 Arizona Bowl, Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin and his old pal traded insights on their respective spending. Colorado State, the colleague revealed sheepishly, had just $2.5 million and would hopefully get up to $5 million the following season. Martin grinned. “I’ve got three guys on my roster getting paid,” he told me. “One guy’s at $40,000, and two guys at $20,000. That’s it.’” Times have changed. Martin declined to share exact specifics, but the RedHawks are expected to be among the most resourced programs in the MAC this fall. “I retained 14 guys that played a ton of football,” he said. “… If I had the money I had before, I would have retained none of them — like, zero.” Will The Group Of Six Benefit From CFP Expansion? Maybe… There’s a popular refrain in college football circles these days: For all the money that has flooded into the system, the postseason should reflect as much. Expansion discussions between the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletics director have remained stagnant for months. The SEC and Big Ten still reside on opposite sides of the former’s preference to expand to 24 teams. That’s unlikely to change in the immediate future. That said, as expansion has been contemplated, stakeholders across the Group of Six have been quietly pushing for an additional spot for non-Power Four programs to be guaranteed as part of a 24-team field. “We’re supportive of an expanded playoff so long as it provides more access for every conference,” said American Commissioner Tim Pernetti, who has been a leading voice in such conversations. “… I feel strongly that it should double in size for everyone, including the Group of Six.” “We have multiple teams in our conference that absolutely could be in a position to vie for a CFP spot,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould told me. “And we shouldn’t be limited by the format or by the structure. We should have that opportunity.” “If you’re not playing for something, you’re not playing for anything,” echoed Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “Having that access point has always been a priority, and, if the field expands, I would 100 percent favor more access for the Group of Six.” This, of course, doesn’t quell the issues that persist at a player-level. Virgin-Morgan was among those sought by Power Four programs in recent offseasons. He stopped those conversations before they even started. Contacting his trainers back home in Southern California, Virgin-Morgan communicated that, no matter who reached out, he wasn’t interested in leaving Boise State. He also generally stayed off social media to avoid more direct overtures. “I’ve seen a lot of guys that think that the grass is going to be greener when they transfer, and it just doesn’t work out, and it ends up kind of messing up their career,” Virgin-Morgan told me. “I love it here, and I feel like the culture just fits the type of player and the type of person that I am.” Saturday, he’ll lead Boise State into Eugene for a matchup with an Oregon team that Jeanty narrowly missed upsetting two years ago — the type of opportunity for which Virgin-Morgan returned. How many more players might make the same decision even a year from now? “That’s the million-dollar question,” Martin said. “I wish I had the answer.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports