Author: Eternity Lab

Lamine Yamal. Harry Kane. Kylian Mbappé. Marc Cucurella?

International soccer is BACK for the final set of matches before we flip the calendar to 2027.  That means we have the conclusion of the UEFA Nations League group stage, with some of the biggest stars from Europe’s best squads in action from Nov. 12-17.

And of all the players and playmakers, these are the 10 you should keep an eye on. We got elite goalscorers, we got midfield maestros, and we even got one long-haired defender. Let’s go through the list, shall we?

Let’s break down these 10 stars and look at what makes them so special and pivotal for their respective squads. 

10. Marc Cucurella | Defender | Spain

Marc Cucurella

Defender|Spain

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35Appearances

1Goals

4Assists

Current club: Real Madrid

Won the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2024 with Spain

Won the 2024-25 Conference League and 2025 Club World Cup with Chelsea

Joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in July 2026

His Season So Far: In his first season with Real Madrid since a summer move to Chelsea, the World Cup-winning Spanish left-back has shown why he’s considered one of the best end-to-end players with both club and country. Real Madrid had a shaky start to its La Liga season amid some poor defensive showings, but Cucurella is adjusting well at the Bernabeu.

My Take: “You’ve got to have someone with long hair, right? I have not always loved him, but he’s growing on me. Like a fungus, he’s growing on me.”

9. Declan Rice | Midfielder | England

Declan Rice

Midfielder|England

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80Appearances

8Goals

8Assists

Current club: Arsenal

Won the 2025-26 Premier League with Arsenal

Captained West Ham to the 2022-23 Conference League title

Helped England finish third at the 2026 World Cup

His Season So Far: The engine in the middle for both England and defending Premier League champions Arsenal, Rice hasn’t dropped off so far and could be in the running for Premier League Player of the Year honors. He leads the league in assists (five). Having broken Arsenal’s title drought, he’ll be instrumental in getting elusive silverware for England over the next couple of years.

My Take: “While he doesn’t always get the attention, the man is a machine when it comes to what he does in that midfield and what he does on set pieces.”
 

8. Aurélien Tchouaméni | Midfielder | France

Aurélien Tchouaméni

Midfielder|France

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50Appearances

3Goals

4Assists

Current club: Real Madrid

Won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2023-24

Won the 2020-21 Nations League with France

Scored in France’s 2-1 win over England in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals

His Season So Far: A top-class midfielder when he’s healthy, but injuries have limited him at the onset of this campaign. He’s worked his way into becoming a key piece in José Mourinho’s system at Real Madrid, appearing in 10 matches. He will now miss the November matches for France under manager Zinedine Zidane due to a new groin injury, so let’s hope for a speedy recovery.

My Take: “Speaking of unsung heroes, Tchouaméni does so much great work that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet, but it’s huge.”

7. Jude Bellingham | Midfielder | England

Jude Bellingham

Midfielder|England

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60Appearances

14Goals

12Assists

Current club: Real Madrid

Won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2023-24

Set England’s record for goals at a single World Cup (7 in 2026)

Voted England men’s player of the year in 2026

His Season So Far: The best midfielder in the world? There are other contenders (including several on this list), but Bellingham is at the top of his game. He scores, he provides assists, and is a key defensive cog for Real Madrid. He’s firmly established himself following the World Cup to be one of England’s biggest stars and will now get a chance to play alongside his brother, Jobe, who was called up for these games. 

My Take: “I could definitely push him up higher, but I’m going to put him at No. 7.” 

6. Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway

Erling Haaland

Forward|Norway

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59Appearances

65Goals

7Assists

Current club: Manchester City

Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer

Won the 2022-23 treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League) and the 2023-24 Premier League with Manchester City

Three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, including a single-season record 36 goals in 2022-23

His Season So Far: Manchester City being found guilty of financial mismanagement has loomed over the club, and their first year under manager Enzo Maresca has been up and down. But that hasn’t stopped Haaland from continuing to score at an astronomical pace as he once again tops the Premier League goalscoring table (Nine goals in 10 games). Norway has struggled in Nations League play, so they could use a big dose of Haaland. 

My Take: “He’s worth the price of admission. His hair was flowing! It’s starting to grow out, but the man still scores goals. You’ve just got to see him.”

5. Vitinha | Midfielder | Portugal

Vitinha

Midfielder|Portugal

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47Appearances

1Goals

4Assists

Current club: Paris Saint-Germain

Won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG (2024-25, 2025-26)

Won the 2024-25 Nations League with Portugal

Finished third in 2025 Ballon d’Or voting

His Season So Far: PSG continues its dominance in Ligue 1 and in Champions League action, in no small part by yet another do-it-all midfielder. Now it’s all a new dawn for Vitinha and his Portugal teammates following Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international duty. 

My Take: “The interesting thing here with Vitinha is that it’s relative to this Portugal team, and I guess this ‘new’ Portugal team without Cristiano Ronaldo. Maybe they are unburdened, maybe they aren’t – but if they are, whether it’s Vitinha or anybody else out there, I’ve got to think we’re going to see the best version of them.”

4. Michael Olise | Forward | France

Michael Olise

Forward|France

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29Appearances

11Goals

11Assists

Current club: Bayern Munich

Two-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich (2024-25, 2025-26)

Set the record for assists at a single World Cup (7 in 2026), passing Pelé’s 6 from 1970

Won a silver medal with France at the 2024 Paris Olympics

His Season So Far: Even though he didn’t score at the World Cup, the Bayern Munich star proved how pivotal he is with his assist-producing magic. With Bayern this season, he’s third in the Bundesliga with six goals and arguably forms one of the world’s best frontline alongside Harry Kane and Luis Díaz. Don’t expect the overtures from other giant clubs like Real Madrid to calm down anytime soon.

My Take: “The guy is just blown up and rightfully so. Every time he touches the ball, he seems to do something magical.”

3. Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain

Lamine Yamal

Forward|Spain

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37Appearances

11Goals

12Assists

Current club: Barcelona

Won the 2026 World Cup and 2024 Euro with Spain

Won the 2024-25 domestic treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España) with Barcelona

Finished third in 2026 Ballon d’Or voting

His Season So Far: It’s still bewildering that he is 19 years old and is regularly considered one of the top players in the world. The numbers and accolades will continue to rack up. Yamal leads La Liga with eight assists and is third in goals with 10, behind his Barcelona teammate Raphinha (15) and Real Madrid rival Kylian Mbappé (13). An injury caution will see him sit out the Czechia match on Thursday but here’s hoping he can play in Sunday’s super clash against England. 

My Take: “Speaking of magical. It’s not just his ability to beat players, it’s not just his ability to score goals. He also has this playmaker type of characteristic that is just a whole other skill set that he brings.”

2. Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France

Kylian Mbappé

Forward|France

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107Appearances

67Goals

38Assists

Current club: Real Madrid

France’s all-time leading goalscorer

Won the 2018 World Cup with France and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final

All-time leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history (22 goals)

His Season So Far: After becoming the World Cup’s most prolific scorer in history, Mbappé is now on a mission to further cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats. That includes finally winning major silverware with Real Madrid – including an elusive Champions League title. His 13 goals in La Liga trail only Barcelona’s Raphinha (15). It’s a shame he’ll miss the Italy match on Thursday with an injury. 

My Take: “I previously spoke about his speed. It’s almost as if he is running on his big toes. It’s something to see, and I’ve been privileged to see it time and time again. When it comes to his speed, you have to game plan for it and if you don’t respect it will bite you in the ass.” 

1.  Harry Kane | Forward | England

Harry Kane

Forward|England

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125Appearances

91Goals

19Assists

Current club: Bayern Munich

England’s all-time leading goalscorer and joint record holder for appearances (with Peter Shilton)

Two-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich (2024-25, 2025-26)

Won the 2026 Ballon d’Or

His Season So Far: It’s good to be Harry Kane. He just signed a new deal with Bayern Munich that reportedly makes him the highest-paid player in Europe. That came on the heels of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English player in 25 years to win the soccer world’s most respected individual award, and the first from the German league in 30 years.

My Take: “The Englishman. The winner of the Ballon d’Or. We’ll see if it’s a burden — a poison chalice, if you will — but I don’t think so. Harry Kane adapts to anything on and off the field.”

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The NFL trade deadline didn’t have the volume of last year, but it’s rare you see a legitimate starting quarterback dealt on the final day.

Kirk Cousins is going back to Minnesota, which was the clear headliner of Tuesday’s late activity. The second-biggest headline might’ve actually been a trade that didn’t happen, with Jonathan Taylor staying put in Indianapolis.

Here are our takeaways from the NFL trade deadline:

1.

The Kirk Cousins Experience Went Perfectly For The Raiders

Greg Auman: I wasn’t an immediate fan of sitting Fernando Mendoza for half a season as a No. 1 overall pick, but the Kirk Cousins era proved to be masterful work for Raiders general manager John Spytek.

Las Vegas got Cousins for next to nothing – a minimum base salary, and his contract has a $10 million roster bonus for next spring designed to circumvent the offset language in his old deal with the Falcons. The Vikings will now be the team paying for that.

Kirk Cousins’ last game with the Raiders was a win over the Jets this past Sunday. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Cousins played incredibly well for a guy with little or no receivers to throw to – fifth in the league with 2,340 passing yards, second with 20 touchdown passes, and a 4-5 record on a team that went 3-14 last season. So the culture of the team is already much better for head coach Klint Kubiak, and Mendoza has had a half-season to watch and learn before he takes the reins with more confidence than if he’d gotten thrown right in Week 1.

You paid Cousins less than a million dollars, got conservatively top-10 NFL QB production, six months of quality mentoring with Mendoza and a third-round pick? Show me a better value single season than what the Raiders have pulled off.

2.

I’m Skeptical About Cousins’ Return To Minnesota

Henry McKenna: Cousins has a history with the Vikings. Go back to 2022, when Cousins threw for over 4,500 yards and almost 30 touchdowns. When it was good, it was pretty darn good. Those were the days when Kevin O’Connell began earning his reputation as a QB whisperer.

But now?

Well, O’Connell is no longer synonymous with good QB play. In fact, the Vikings have done nothing but pivot from one QB1 to the next since Cousins. 

From Cousins to Sam Darnold to J.J. McCarthy to Kyler Murray to Carson Wentz back to Cousins, the Vikings always seem to have a “plan.” And sometimes that plan works out. Look at Darnold. But for the most part, that plan has … not worked out.

Kirk Cousins’ last game with the Vikings during his first stint with the team was where his second will begin, assuming he starts next Sunday: at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The organization looks impatient and jumpy, moving on from QBs before they get an in-depth evaluation of the guy. It’s enough to make me leery of Cousins.

He might know the system. He might have had success in the past. But I got excited about McCarthy at the start of 2025. I got excited about Murray at the start of 2026. I’m hesitant to pivot that optimism to Cousins as quickly as the Vikings pivot from one QB to the next.

3.

Colts Wisely Hold Onto Jonathan Taylor

Ralph Vacchiano: Jonathan Taylor has to feel like the captain of a sinking ship, after everyone else has already secured a spot on the lifeboats. For weeks, the star running back seemed the least likely player to survive the Indianapolis Colts’ big trading deadline sell-off.

In the end, though, the Colts made the smart move to keep their best player and one true star they have.

No, Taylor doesn’t hold a lot of value to them right now, not in the midst of a 2-7 season that will likely get a lot worse. But he holds a lot of value for the future. He’s one of the best running backs in the league, who is still only 27 and has two years left on a relatively reasonable deal. He could be the player they rebuild around this offseason. He gives their eventual new general manager a foundation he’ll need as he restarts.

Jonathan Taylor will finish the season with the Colts, who had traded most other noteworthy players by the time Tuesday’s deadline passed. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

The Colts did a great job shedding four players who will be free agents in March — guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs — for whatever they could get in return. None of those players had a future in Indy. They were spare and expendable parts as far as the Colts were concerned.

Taylor is anything but that. He’s on pace for about 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while the rest of the team around him crumbles during this disastrous season. If they can fix the offensive line in front of him this offseason, he can very quickly return to being a 1,500-yard back.

And that’s way more valuable than the second- and fifth-round picks that they were reportedly offered. They were right to hold out for a first-round pick or a bigger package that never came. And if the new general manager is hired and wants to deal him, maybe he’ll have better luck in the offseason, between free agency and the draft.

But losing teams shouldn’t just reflexively deal everybody. Sometimes the best move is to hold on to the talent you already have.

4.

The Jags’ Deadline Moves Make Them The Favorite In The AFC

Steven Ruiz: It’s safe to say Jaguars general manager James Gladstone subscribes to his mentor’s ‘Eff Them Picks philosophy of roster construction. Like his former boss, Rams GM Les Snead, Gladstone is more than willing to part with a premium pick or two if it lets him add proven talent to his roster.

Gladstone was a busy man on Monday, trading for nose tackle Jordan Davis, safety Jessie Bates and defensive tackle Devon Godchaux to bolster a defense that already ranked in the top five in expected points allowed. The Bates deal cost them a 2027 second-rounder and a 2028 fifth. Godchaux was a lot cheaper, costing the Jags just a sixth-rounder in next year’s draft. And Davis was the biggest swing, with Jacksonville giving up its first-round pick in 2027 and a 2029 second-rounder.

While Davis should be a contributor for years to come, Bates and Godchaux will likely be one-year rentals. The moves also put Jacksonville around $17 million over the 2027 cap, so the team is really borrowing from the future for these upgrades. But even if it gets harder to add to the roster in future offseasons, nobody in Jacksonville will complain if these moves propel the Jaguars to a Super Bowl.

I think they could. The Jaguars needed to beef up their interior line, and they’ve done it. They needed more playmaking in the secondary, and they’ve added it. If the scheme change gets Davis back to his 2025 form—and I think a more attacking style could do just that—this defensive line should be one of the best in the league. Bates may have lost some range over the past few years, but his instincts are sharper than ever, and he just has a nose for the football. If these moves work out as Jacksonville hopes, it could go from one of the better defenses in the league to the best defense in the league, full stop.

A dominant defense and an explosive offense can take a team far in the postseason. That combination won Seattle a Super Bowl last season. The Jags are making a big bet that they can replicate the formula.

5.

Bills Close Their Super Bowl Gap With Safety Amani Hooker

Ben Arthur: The Bills have their best offense of the Josh Allen era, leading the league in scoring and yardage. But their defense has been trending in a way that could lead the former MVP to finish another season of his prime without a Super Bowl appearance.

It’s not that the Bills’ defense has been bad, to be clear. It’s just been average, ranking 16th in both points allowed and yards given up. And that’s not good enough for Buffalo, which faces rising pressure each year to deliver a Lombardi Trophy with Allen.

That’s why I love the trade for veteran safety Amani Hooker, whom the Bills acquired Tuesday from the Titans for a 2027 second-round pick (Buffalo also received a fifth-round selection from Tennessee in the deal).

Safety was the team’s most glaring issue defensively. Entering Week 10, Buffalo ranks 29th in pass defense (238.8 passing yards allowed per game) and 24th in passing touchdowns allowed (15), per Next Gen Stats. Hooker immediately changes the calculus. 

A longtime starting safety in Tennessee, Hooker has an NFL-high five interceptions (three came against Joe Burrow in Week 8) and has allowed just a 79.3 passer rating as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NGS. That kind of production in the back end will not only help the Bills’ other defensive backs, but should also help spur what has been an inconsistent pass rush outside of Gregory Rousseau.

The Bills were a Super Bowl contender pre-Hooker. But with the veteran safety in the picture, their defense looks a lot more competent. And if the defense proves to be as competent as it now looks, raising Buffalo’s chances of winning a Lombardi Trophy, the second-round pick was worth it. 

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When Maurico Pochettino was originally hired by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2024 — and rehired in August — there was a recognition that he comes with attention. He has a background that is going to make him attractive for other coaching vacancies, and he will continually be the subject of speculation.

Pochettino’s latest link? Manchester United.

The famed Red Devils are expected to sack club legend Michael Carrick in his first full season as Manchester United’s manager, and Pochettino is “a leading candidate” to replace Carrick, according to multiple reports on Monday.

Michael Carrick’s days in charge at Manchester United may be numbered. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Now, Mauricio Pochettino could kibosh all of these rumors in one fell swoop, but that wouldn’t necessarily be smart. In fact, it’s more likely that he and his camp are probably sitting back and loving this. It’s great for him and the Pochettino brand to always be the first name that comes out. It’s happening again right now, and he’s not going to shut it down.

But would Pochettino really leave the U.S. men’s national team for Manchester United? Let’s really think about this.

Is Mauricio Pochettino on the verge of a Premier League return? (Photo by David Berding/USSF/Getty Images)

Right now, Pochettino has the cushiest job he could possibly have with the U.S. and is making about $7 million annually. But just because you have a cushy job doesn’t mean that you don’t want to do something else, even if that something is more pressure.

Despite how far Manchester United has fallen, there is still a power to the brand. At some point, somebody’s going to get this right and, in doing so, become the savior, and they will build statues. Whether it’s Pochettino or somebody else, there will be a coach that has a burning desire to do something big and sees Manchester United as that platform.

The other thing is, coaching internationally is a very, very different experience. Pochettino’s first international job was with the U.S., and I would understand him or any coach with his background missing the day in and the day out, even though it’s a grind, even though there’s pressure.

Mauricio Pochettino, after the USA’s exit from the 2026 World Cup. (Photo by Henry Rodenburg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

I get why people would say, “Why would he leave the U.S. for something like this? He’s made a lot of money!” But who knows? Manchester United could offer him a boatload of money too, and if you throw enough money at any situation, everybody can be available, regardless of what contracts say.

He could also be something huge in terms of resurrecting this once great brand — don’t underestimate the value of that.

All that being said, I am not going to lose sleep over this, or the next time that it happens. This is what you create at U.S. Soccer; this is what you signed up for.

But if you’re a fan of the USMNT, the message is clear: if you’re going to go, do it earlier rather than later.

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Is Mauricio Pochettino sticking around with the U.S. men’s national team for the 2030 World Cup, or will he be the latest big name manager to try and right the ship at Manchester United?

After leading the USMNT to a round of 16 appearance at the 2026 World Cup, Pochettino signed a new deal in August that would run through the 2030 edition. But according to multiple reports, the 54-year-old Pochettino is favored to take over the United job if embattled manager Michael Carrick gets fired. 

How much would it cost Manchester United to bring Pochettino on board? Here’s what we know.

How Much Is Pochettino’s Buyout Clause?

According to The Athletic, it would cost $10 million to trigger Pochettino’s release clause. But it would likely be even more, because the contracts of Pochettino’s assistant coaches would also have to be bought out, costing several millions in addition. 

Of course, a club like Manchester United could stomach that bill. According to Forbes, the club is worth $7.2 billion – making it the third most valuable soccer club in the world behind Real Madrid ($9.5 billion) and Barcelona ($7.5 billion).

ESPN reported that Manchester United executives – including minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is also one of the richest men in the United Kingdom – were meeting on Nov. 11 in Monaco to discuss Carrick’s future at United. Other names to watch for are Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte. All three of those candidates have considerable European experience and are currently out of work.

Why Is Pochettino On Manchester United’s Shortlist?

With 20 first division titles and three European Cups to its name, Manchester United is a recognizable brand. And, it’s staring at an unfathomable drop to second division should it get relegated – which hasn’t happened at Old Trafford since 1974. 

MauricioPochettino

Manager|United States

Managerial career

TeamGWLD

All competitions. Through Nov. 9, 2026.

Experience matters, and certainly when it comes to managing in the high-stakes, pressure-cooker environment that is the Premier League. He managed Southampton from 2013 to 2014 before a high-profile move to Tottenham Hotspur which culminated with a Champions League final appearance in 2019. After his stint in charge of PSG (2021-2022), he returned to the Premier League in 2023, where he led Chelsea for one season. 

Pochettino has previously discussed his desire to return to the European club game down the road. He’s previously been linked to the Manchester United job, as well as a return to Tottenham. He was also linked to AC Milan earlier this summer ahead of the 2026 World Cup. 

When Would The USMNT Hire Pochettino’s Potential Replacement?

It’s safe to say that U.S. Soccer would take its time if Pochettino returned to England. After the two upcoming games against Haiti, the next USMNT game is on Dec. 13 against Jamaica. That game will be more of an opportunity for rising youngsters and MLS-based players to get time in camp, so expect an interim coaching staff to get through the calendar year.

So the realistic window could be sometime before March 2027, when the USA would potentially be playing in the Concacaf Nations League finals — if it advances past Haiti. A potential window where the U.S. could be playing top regional rivals like Mexico and Canada with its full roster would be fitting. 

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With the General Manager Meetings underway this week in Las Vegas, the Texas Rangers are expected to explore major roster changes ahead of next season.

According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers are expected to listen to offers on All-Star shortstop Corey Seager. He is owed $155 million over the next five years and has a no-trade clause, so the two sides could come together to figure out the best fit for him and the club.

Since signing his 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers, Seager has struggled to stay on the field. From hamstring and thumb issues in 2023 to sports hernia and hip procedures in 2024, recurring health setbacks have made his consistent, season-long availability a concern.

Still, Seager’s elite production when healthy is undeniable. Shortstop remains a premier position in the sport, and in the right situation, his productivity at the plate can elevate any lineup.

However, with the CBA expiring on Dec. 1 and an expected lockout looming, pulling off a trade before the deadline could be quite the challenge. With owners pushing for a salary cap and floor system, teams could be hesitant to take on the $155 million remaining on his deal.

Contract aside, Seager could help plenty of teams if there is strong interest. He was named World Series MVP during the Rangers’ 2023 title run and has provided a steady bat when he’s on the field, but the issue remains that he hasn’t played 150 games in a season since 2022.

Seager saw his production slip at the plate this past season, limited to just 102 games while hitting .227. However, his long-term track record speaks for itself as a lifetime .284 hitter with 241 home runs, 718 RBIs and 46.3 WAR over his 12-season career.

Heading into the General Manager Meetings, teams may adopt a wait-and-see approach simply to gauge interest across the trade market. The expectation remains that the majority of free-agent signings and trades will hold off until owners and the MLBPA reach a new CBA.

MLB Related Stories

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Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham comfortably rolled into Ann Arbor as the new coach with no concerns following his impressive 20-year tenure at Utah. Heading into Week 11, Whittingham might find himself on the hot seat sooner or later.

The Wolverines’ 5-4 record, a lack of an explosive offense, and a controversial Hail Mary have highlighted Whittingham’s underwhelming start as head coach. Michigan clinched big wins over programs like then-No. 11 Oklahoma and on the road at Penn State, but the Wolverines recently fell 15-6 against a then-2-5 Michigan State team.

On top of disappointing losses, the Wolverines have struggled under center. Michigan benched starting quarterback Bryce Underwood after trailing Penn State in the first quarter, with backup Tommy Carr taking his place. Since then, Carr has remained the starter and holds a 1-2 record as QB1.

Here’s a look at Whittingham’s contract and buyout details in 2026:

How Much Is Whittingham Making In 2026?

Kyle Whittingham has led Michigan to a 5-4 start. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

After Whittingham resigned from Utah, he signed a five-year, $41 million contract to be the Wolverines’ new head coach. Whittingham will receive $8 million in 2026 and a $100,000 increase each year. The Wolverines originally had former coach Sherrone Moore on a five-year, $27 million contract after Jim Harbaugh’s departure.

How Much Is Whittingham’s Buyout?

Whittingham’s contract states that if he were fired without cause, he’d receive 75% of his remaining salary, which is the lowest in the Big Ten, according to GMB Wolverine. Michigan was already without its offensive coordinator when Jason Beck was fired after the Michigan State loss.

If the Wolverines were to fire Whittingham at the end of the season, the program would owe him a total of $24.75 million.

Michigan’s Remaining Schedule And Toughest Games

Michigan fell to Indiana in overtime 13-6 in Week 8 to fall to 4-3. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

• Week 1: vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 5) – W, 13-12
• Week 2: vs. No. 11 Oklahoma (Sept. 12) – W, 17-10
• Week 3: vs. UTEP (Sept. 19) – W, 52-17
• Week 4: vs. No. 17 Iowa (Sept. 26) – L, 20-19
• Week 5: vs. Minnesota (Oct. 3) – L, 20-14
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7: vs. Penn State (Oct. 17) – W, 21-18
• Week 8: vs. No. 6 Indiana (Oct. 24) – L, 13-6
• Week 9: vs. Rutgers (Oct. 31) – W, 28-21
• Week 10: vs. Michigan State (Nov. 7) – L, 15-6
• Week 11: vs. No. 23 Oregon (Nov. 14)
• Week 12: vs. No. 8 UCLA (Nov. 21)
• Week 13: vs. No. 12 Ohio State (Nov. 28)

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POR Trail Blazers	+1.5 (-109)	O 226.5 (-110)	+106
OKC Thunder	-1.5 (-111)	U 226.5 (-110)	-125

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LOS ANGELES — It sounded like coachspeak to me.

“Doesn’t matter. Get better,” Bob Chesney said.

Inside his office, overlooking a practice field bathed in 84-degree warmth on a Monday in November, the UCLA coach sat in patented black shorts and a black shirt with a Bruins-blue Air Jordan logo. 

He kept to the talking points he’s held not just this season but also for the previous 26 years of his coaching career. And he put on a damn good seminar. His energy and his positivity provided enough wattage to jump start a program that hadn’t been ranked in the top 10 for five years.

To me and my college sports colleague, Ben Portnoy, Crockett to my Tubbs, Chesney laid out how his team has put itself in prime position to lead UCLA to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

“Every little thing — the way we’re putting the weights away — everything has to be defined,” Chesney told us. “When you start taking care of those little things in January, February, March, and building this foundation of extreme competitiveness, where everybody is just going at each other all the time, eventually, it’s just iron on iron all the way through.”

Knowing that, hearing that, I asked him how he felt about the new 24-team tournament to crown a national champion given his unique climb to the top of the sport. Remember, Chesney has been head coach at Division III, Division II, FCS, Group of Six and now the Power Four level. And he led James Madison to the CFP last year in its current 12-team format.

Chesney has won a conference championship everywhere he’s been as a head coach, including Division II, which has 32 teams in its playoff, at Assumption College, on the field named for former LSU and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.

“The thing is, I don’t care what the number is,” Chesney said. “We made it at JMU. So we’re gonna figure out a way to get into the playoff, regardless of what number you put it at. A tournament just makes sense to me. And the more people you put in, who knows? This team loses their quarterback. This team gets in now. Now you gotta face adversity. Are you really the champ or not?”

Goosebumps, kinfolk. 

Nothing I love more than someone who believes it does not matter. Just put me in the fight.

It’s not as if UCLA has lived a charmed existence on the way to 9-0 for the first time since 1998 and a top-5 ranking for the first time since 2001.

Losing a quarterback? He could’ve been — probably was — speaking about his own team. You might remember the Bruins lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending injury in a Week 6 win at Oregon. Ty Dieffenbach has stepped in and helped them remain undefeated. But that fact, losing the starting quarterback, kept an undefeated Florida State out of the 2023 College Football Playoff.

Bob Chesney congratulates quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, who’s helped UCLA remain undefeated after Nico Iamaleava’s injury. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Chesney and his team, though, had accepted a nasty reality about a player they love and had been important to their success. And that’s OK. The injury rate in this sport is undefeated. No team escapes the season without injury. Chesney sees these challenges to his team, to himself, as day-to-day exercises in belief. 

The Bruins believe in being real with each other, open with each other, vulnerable with each other. Chesney told Ben and me that a tournament to crown a national champion with a field as large as 24 teams gives us all a chance to witness that process used to create greatness. 

“There’s a lot that you could learn from those tournaments,” Chesney told us, “as opposed to, here’s three games that are going to be played by these teams that are perceived to be the best. But I also get it; you don’t want to dilute it too much either. But the adversities that show up in there, I think, are all good lessons for a lot of people, and you really learn who people are as they have to fight through those.”

During a 60-second walk from the football facilities at the J.D. Morgan Center, athletics director Tim Harris told Ben and me much the same thing.

The news that the College Football Playoff will double the field in 2027 from 12 teams to 24 was met with positivity in Westwood.

Bob Chesney looks on as UCLA beat against Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

This year, there are still three regular-season games to play. The Bruins face USC in their traditional cross-town rivalry to end the season, and they could face defending-national champion Indiana in the Big Ten championship game.

With a loss to either of those two teams, UCLA could fall out of favor with the CFP selection committee and put an end to what could be a dream season.

The 24-team CFP is no longer a hypothetical idea but a signed and sealed contract deliverable in just over a year. In that format, UCLA could likely lose its last three games and still make the CFP as a nine-win team. 

It’s a champagne problem for a program like the Bruins’, who have a rich history in the sport but have not made the CFP since its inception in 2014. At his office, I asked Harris how he felt about knowing the 24-team CFP is how the sport will crown a national champion in the future. 

Harris — after 35 years with the Los Angeles Lakers in various capacities, including president of business operations — doesn’t see the problem with the 24-team CFP like some others do.

“What is the argument that it hurts?” he said. “I guess if you were gonna make the counter-argument, you’d say dilution. I don’t think we’re there yet.”

After years with the Lakers, Tim Harris is now UCLA’s athletics director and helping to lead the Bruins into what they hope is a new era. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The CFP won’t stop at 24. That’s what so many have said and that has proven true through the first 12 years of its existence. It has grown three times since 2023 alone.

Hasn’t that led to more opportunities to develop players? To find out what each man privileged enough to play this sport is capable of becoming? 

I see it as Chesney and his program do. At UCLA, they want the fight. They want the challenge. They want the opportunity to find out just who and what they are about. And that is worth the price of a 24-team playoff.

Look who sounds like they’re taking coachspeak now? (Me.) It ain’t coachspeak if you believe it. And I do.

RJ Young’s Hypothetical 24-Team College Football Playoff Field

1. Georgia — SEC champ
2. Utah — Big 12 champ
3. UCLA — Big Ten champ
4. Miami — ACC champ
5. Notre Dame 
6. Tennessee
7. Alabama
8. Texas
9. Indiana 
10. Kentucky 
11. USC
12. Texas Tech
13. Houston 
14. Missouri
15. Oregon
16. Ohio State 
17. Ole Miss
18. Iowa
19. LSU
20. Boise State
21. Wake Forest
22. New Mexico
23. BYU
24. SMU

CFB Related Stories

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