North Carolina Tar Heels
The $1 Million Check-Down Looming Over Chapel Hill
Bill Belichick's first year at UNC ended at 4-8. Now, a specific clause in his contract makes an NFL return a surprisingly affordable option.
Larry NorrisFeb 22
ACC
Latest news, analysis, and insider coverage
college football
The Heavy Cost of 34 New Name Tags
With nearly 40 Power Four programs breaking in new quarterbacks for 2026, the real story isn't the talent—it's the lost currency of continuity in the locker room.
Larry NorrisFeb 20
Florida State Seminoles
The Heavy Silence of a $58 Million Buyout
Mike Norvell enters 2026 with a massive contract and a roster full of transfers. In the coaching world, job security this expensive usually comes with a suffocation all its own.
Larry NorrisFeb 15
Duke Blue Devils
The Price of a Signature: Duke, Mensah, and the End of the Two-Year Plan
Duke fought to enforce a contract, then settled. The result clears QB Darian Mensah for Miami, but the legal skirmish signals a harder line in college football's new business model.
Larry NorrisJan 27
Boston College Eagles
Why Boston College Is Betting the House on a DII Quarterback
Bill O'Brien is reaching into the Division II ranks to fix a 2-10 offense. It's a high-stakes gamble on grit over pedigree.
Larry NorrisJan 25
college football
Gridlock in the Boardroom Keeps the Playoff Bracket at 12
Expansion talks stalled between the SEC and Big Ten, freezing the field at 12 teams for 2026. But a quiet change to the auto-bid rules fixes a glaring issue from last season.
Larry NorrisJan 23
Duke Blue Devils
The Midnight Drill: Duke's Eleventh-Hour Fight for Darian Mensah
With the transfer portal deadline looming, Duke faces a $4 million game of chicken with its star quarterback. The clock is ticking, and the playbook is thinning out.
Larry NorrisJan 16
ACC
Identifying featured transfer players in the ACC for 2024
The upcoming 2024 college football season heralds significant changes for the ACC, with its expansion to 17 teams following the inclusion of California, Stan...
JacksonFeb 5
ACC
2024 Georgia Tech Football Schedule Mini Preview
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has released the full 2024 football schedule, which includes the 12-game slate for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets will...
JacksonJan 29
ACC
NFL Draft Enigma Ifeatu Melifonwu Looking to Shed Labels
Photo courtesy of Syracuse athletics Meet Ifeatu Melifonwu, the NFL Draft’s football unicorn. Seemingly mythical and almost dream-like, Melifonwu’s horn is h...
adminJan 15
ACC
Inside the Film Room: Pitt's Usage of Jordan Addison
Photo credit: Pete Madia/Pittsburgh athletics One of the major storylines for the Pittsburgh Panthers this past season was the emergence of true freshman wid...
adminJan 15
ACC
Alim McNeill: From Baseball Standout to All-American NFL Draft Prospect
Photo courtesy of NC State athletics AUDIO: \[audio mp3="https://fifthquarter.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/alim-mcneil.mp3"\]\[/audio\] Not every 6-foot-2,...
adminJan 12
ACC
10-Year Nole Anniversary: FSU Upsets No. 1 Duke for Third Time in a Decade
Photo courtesy of Florida State athletics Entering the 2010-11 season, Florida State had only defeated the nation's No. 1 team twice. In both cases, that tea...
mikeJan 12
ACC
CFB Flashback: 5-Year Anniversary -- Alabama Holds Off Clemson in National Championship Thriller
Photo courtesy of Alabama athletics Alabama will vie for its sixth national championship under head coach Nick Saban on Monday night. Historically, Saban has...
mikeJan 11
ACC
Virginia Tech Hokies Hoops Game Day: Notre Dame Pick and Preview
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech athletics The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off a heartbreaking defeat to the Louisville Cardinals, suffering their first c...
adminJan 10
ACC
Virginia Tech Hokies Hoops Game Day: Louisville Pick and Preview
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech athletics What a start for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Two months into the 2020-21 season and Mike Young's ball club finds itse...
adminJan 6
ACC
Duke in the NBA: Dec. 22, 2020-Jan. 4, 2021
Photo credit: Boston Celtics/NBA.com For decades, Mike Krzyzewski has been regarded as the best coach in men's college basketball. He has won five national c...
adminJan 5
ACC
ACC Season Review: Boston College
Photo courtesy of Boston College athletics Boston College certainly exceeded national expectations in its first season under Jeff Hafley. The Eagles were pic...
adminJan 5
ACC
CFB Flashback: 15-Year Anniversary -- Penn State Outlasts FSU in Triple-Overtime Orange Bowl Thriller
Photo courtesy of Garnet and Great/Florida State football archivist Although their teams tended to be near the top of the polls for much of the late-1980's a...
mikeJan 3
ACC
Sugar Bowl Analysis: Ohio State Shocks Clemson in Dominant Fashion, 49-28
Photo courtesy of Ohio State athletics Clemson was just a single-possession favorite against Ohio State, but many thought the Tigers would win in a blowout i...
adminJan 2