06
REDEMPTION?
Was Drew simply a year too early?
A look into ND’s flawless season
HUNT FOR THE HEISMAN 14
The Irish dominate early, but some dark horse candidates are emerging
08
THE TRAIL
Highlight on some of the most exciting prospect coming next year
An update to the salacious story from vol 02
11
WORD AROUND CAMPUS
A deep dive into Elio’s aggregate 32 team rankings
20
COMMISH SIGNOFF
A note from our Commish, Nick Larson
EDITOR
QUACKS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ELIO
DREW
ZETHIOUS
NICK LARSON
F R O M T H E E D I T O R
As someone who discovered connected franchises fairly late compared to the majority of the league (Late M23), it was a hell of a stumble to find the XCFL within about a week of taking the plunge into CFMs. After about a month on the waitlist I got a shot to join the league It goes without saying that I got pretty lucky, and the XCFL community stands above everything else out there. After leaving for a brief stint after having our first daughter, it was a must to get back involved ahead of the CFB 25 realease
Coming onto the staff for Campus Legends has been awesome and I appreciate what you all do to keep this league top tier The content, community make the gameplay seem like an afterthought, which goes to show exactly how incredible this crew is. Cheers to many many many more seasons ahead!
The Irish seek out their first title in over 2 decades.
We sit down with Coach
to discuss the season and what we might expect come playoff time.
All smiles for the Irish this year. They are all but locked into that familiar 5 seed in the playoffs.
Drew has had an impressive run in his career in both the XCFL and now CLD A perennial contender for the Super Bowl and National Championship, he has been sent packing while knocking at the gate in both of his first two seasons at Notre Dame Now he finds himself in the driver’s seat as we approach the 3rd postseason The Irish are steamrolling their opponents week in and week out, stacking up some impressive user wins along the way We took some time to discuss this season and the state of the University’s future under Coach Drew Our first few questions regarding previous season’s shortcomings were met with disapproval, as it seems the ball coach has blocked it out of his memory entirely Focusing on the present seems to be the current moniker in South Bend
Moving onto the (currently) flawless year you are having, what specific strategies or game plans did you implement that you feel were crucial in securing these wins?
This year, and every year, the goal is to establish the run game If you can run the ball and play solid defense, you can win a lot of games This year has been a little different without JLove, but Kedren and Rocco are finding their roles nicely
What player has picked up the most slack this year with some of the pivotal Seniors leaving after season 2?
Safety Luke Talich He is playing the same exact role that Xavier Watts played for us two years ago Safety that can play in the box and make positive impacts in the run game. Luke has been everything we have needed him to be
Were there any games that stood out as particularly challenging? How did you handle those situations?
At home against Miami early in the season Started out fast and then the wheels just started spinning offensively. When you’re going up against guys with similar athleticism, it gets really hard to move the ball Thankfully we are blessed with one of the best defensive squads in the country, and they were able to keep them off the board
Looking ahead, how do you plan to build on this season's success for future seasons?
We have to keep working on our depth. We are proud of the work we have put in on the recruiting trail these last couple years and now it is all about bringing in the next batch of kids that we think can eventually compete for National Championships
What advice would you give to other coaches aiming for an undefeated season?
If you get down early, don’t freak out. Keep running the ball, and keep taking what the defense gives you Defensively play to your strengths and don’t be afraid to bring pressure
We see other programs, and have seen ourselves, give up a touchdown on the first possession of a half, and then go three and out on the next possession Now you’re looking at going down two possessions instead of one and are constantly stuck in passing scenarios If you get down, slow down, and continue to play your brand of football
Will we see Coach Drew retire as the HC of the Irish? Or is the door open for a potential move to a P5 school?
I asked for a lifetime contract and they turned me down, said they don’t do those
seasons. Those who may have started clueless, are now stealing 5 stars from their neighbors Some that could only sniff a few 3 stars during season 1, are now in the mix for some of the top recruits in the nation We can all agree that the recruiting aspect of the game seems to be what keeps us coming back week after week clamoring for advances every hour. Lets take a look at how this year’s race has shaken out
Your top 10 classes as of now read as follows: Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, California, South Carolina, West Virginia, Penn State, and Texas
A few surprises in there, but for the most part, the power teams are still in control Sometimes you don’t need 4 5 stars and a dozen 4 stars to change the program though Just one or two impact players is all you need to turn things around. Take a look at what Johnbau and Ares are doing at Temple and Southern Miss, respectively Johnbau has fugured out a way to compete with the big dogs, narrowly missing out on the number 1 recruit in the nation, Cameron McCrary (Verbally Committed to Oregon), and even snagging a commitment from a top 10 prospect, Rico Pilares. Good stuff going on at Temple. Ares was fired just last season from his job at North Texas, only to find himself locking up some absolute studs at Southern Miss in season 3 Headlined by power back Clayton Doss, Ares has recruited a trio of 3 stars that would have just about any school jealous A few speedy DBs to add to the mix as the coach attempts to rebuild the Golden Eagles.
We mentioned Cameron McCrary, who was nearly a Temple Owl, is now an Oregon Duck The Ducks managed to reel in the number 1, 2, and 10 recruits in the country. McCrary will be joined by fellow incoming freshman Marco Crum and Terry Archibald Archibald is of particular interest, as he is a monstrous 250lb ATH who currently plays TE for Salt Lake High in Utah It will be interesting to see where coach Larson plans to utilize the dynamic weapon on the field for the Ducks next season.
This Oregon squad is getting to the point where the highly touted recruits might struggle to even see the field with all the veteran talent still showing out at Autzen each week Will Crum even get the starting nod before he’s an upperclassmen? Time will tell
Jaxon Dart, eat your heart out The SEC is getting another stud at QB as TidePod brings in a 4 star gem, Devin Royer, to lead the Rebels next year Another rare breed following the early update, Royer comes stock with 94 speed, gold magician, and some respectable arm talent to boot In a stacked conference, you need all the firepower you can get to compete down south Will Royer be the answer that Ole Miss needs to return to playoff form?
California finds some much needed help in the secondary. Cordell Lane is as good of a CB prospect as the team has seen thus far and he will help tremendously fill the shows of some soon to be graduate Golden Bears.
“I WANT GUYS THAT WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING TAG ARE NEVER IT.”
VBD has quietly lead Penn State to countless blowout victories this year and he is seeing recruiting success similar to what he is seeing on the field Redziniak looks to be quite the speedy lumberjack out there in the blue and white secondary
Riot has undoubtedly gone from the top of the mountain at Georgia, to the bottom of the barrel at Army. We talked a bit about just how old this team was when he took over at the beginning of the year, but it can’t be emphasized enough just how much talent he will see walk out the door at the year’s conclusion. He has taken to the recruiting board to backfill some of these gaping wide holes in the roster, and the Black Knights have struck gold on a few occasions during their hunt A new dynamic duo in the backfield, Payne and McCreary Payne comes in ready to rumble with 90 speed, 96 accel, and 92 throw power A build that was a dime a dozen in season one, but is much more rare nowadays McCreary on the other hand is not quite as fast, but comes with downhill, balanced, and arm bar built in A true wrecking ball in the making
As we dig deeper into the “Word Around Campus” series, let’s take a look at some schools that have outperformed the critics
A little while ago, Elio polled some anonymous coaches around the league to discuss how they would rank all 32 users It created quite a discussion, and many users felt they deserved a better shake from their fellow coaches We’ve seen almost a full season since these intial rankings were released, with some schools outperforming expectations, and others falling flat let’s first dive into some of the better-than-expected results thus far.
The Bulls out of Southern Florida have had an outstanding season sitting at 9-2 and ranked 13th in the country. This is a surprise to many, as the 4 anonymous head coaches had them projected to rank 17th, 25th, 26th, and 32nd among user teams. They are one of the current favorites for the G5 playoff bid and with 1 more victory can look to propel themselves higher in the top 25
Head Coach Brackett had a disappointing tenure at Florida State in the ACC but quickly found success jumping to the rival conference the SEC The Tigers find themselves with only two losses on the season against a powerhouse Tennessee team and a gritty Florida roster. The Tigers currently have a 10-2 record and are ranked 9th in the nation and hold big wins over teams such as South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. The Tigers may luck-out and be sitting at home during the conference championship which may surprisingly benefit them more than participating in it
The Gators have dominated this season and are currently sitting at 10-2 and are ranked #5 in the nation. Despite being projected to rank as low as 23rd among all users coaches, Van has racked up impressive wins over teams such as Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia in his 2026 campaign. If the Gators can pick up a win in the conference championship they will be looking at securing a first-round bye
There must be something in the water, because the Golden Bears are setting their eyes on yet another playoff appearance as they currently sit at 10-2 and ranked 15 on the season. The Golden Bears defense led by true sophomore OLB George Ekanem has dominated opposing offenses all season long The Golden Bears are currently on the outside looking in at the college football playoffs, and sitting at home during the conference championship may also benefit this teams chances. If they get in they will look to make some noise after an early exit against the Fighting Irish in their 2025 campaign
A short intro or kicker of the article will go here. This part acts as a bridge between the headline and the article itself.
Lots of surprises on the award front this year The early season projections have struck out, as all 5 potential finalists are largely new faces on the CLD statistical leaderboards. The current projections include :
Avery Johnson | QB| KANSAS STATE 1. Loghan Thomas | EDGE | NOTRE DAME 2
Zachariah Branch | WR | OREGON 3.
Richard Bueno | HB | UCF 4
Bryce Young | EDGE | NOTRE DAME 5.
Loghan Thomas has burst onto the scene for the Irish this year. You might think its impressive to have 14 sacks on the year, but what if I told you he’s done it in 6 games Absolute monster off the edge in South Bend
Zachariah Branch transferred to the Ducks following his Freshman year at USC Now a Senior, Branch has surpassed the 1,000 YD mark already, catching 14 TDs in the process Branch is as dynamic a returner as he is out wide, and has taken 3 to the house this year alone
We have to mention K State’s Avery Johnson The QB is lighting up the FBS right now with nearly 2,500 yds and a 24/2 TD to INT ratio. Add onto to that 600 yards and 5 TDs on the gorund, and you have your current frontrunner for Heisman.
Richard “DIck” Bueno was a big story as a UCF recruit last season He has become an even bigger story as the backbone to the Knights offense in season 3 Rushing totals of 790 yds and 13 TDs so far this year has Bueno booking flights to the award show.
Oklahoma State in Turmoil: Freshman QB Leo Hope Crumbles as Dankinz's Scandal Forces Mass Exodus
Oklahoma State University’s decision to hire head coach Jalena Dankinz has resulted in a season of chaos, despair, and one of the worst collapses in the history of college football. With a 2-10 record, players continuing to abandon the program, and freshman quarterback Leo Hope’s mental state shattered, the Cowboys are left in complete disarray.
From the moment Jalena Dankinz was hired, the Cowboys' football program has been a sinking ship. Players have fled in unprecedented numbers, and Oklahoma State is now facing a mass evacuation of talent. Over 25 players, including key starters, have hit the transfer portal since the start of the season, unwilling to remain under Dankinz’s leadership.
For many players, the environment has become untenable. Dankinz’s erratic behavior—punctuated by rumors of scandal and drug-related accusations—has created a toxic atmosphere. One veteran player described the atmosphere as “hostile,” with players fearing both the wrath of Dankinz and the media scrutiny that follows him.
“We’re not just losing games,” said one anonymous player. “We’re losing hope. The locker room is a mess. No one trusts the coaches, and every day feels like it could be another headline about Dankinz’s past catching up with us. Guys are leaving because they just can’t take it anymore.”
Perhaps no player has been more affected by the turmoil than freshman quarterback Leo Hope, who came into the season with great expectations but has since been mentally shattered by the chaos surrounding him. As a young player expected to lead a team in disarray, the pressure became unbearable.
Despite a promising start to his collegiate career, Hope quickly found himself unraveling under Dankinz’s unpredictable leadership style. Known for his harsh, erratic behavior, Dankinz reportedly berated Hope during games, putting immense pressure on the young quarterback to perform. The result has been disastrous.
Hope’s season stats tell the story of a player in deep distress: 15 touchdowns offset by a staggering 30 interceptions. His performance hit rock bottom in a game against Baylor, where he threw five interceptions in the first half alone, unable to cope with the pressure both on and off the field.
Hope’s emotional state has been fragile all season, with several instances of the freshman breaking down in tears on the sideline during games. Teammates have described him as “mentally unstable” and “constantly anxious,” with the stress of playing under Dankinz leaving visible scars.
“He’s scared of him,” one player said, referring to Hope’s fear of Dankinz. “You can see it on the field. He’s not making mistakes because he’s a bad player—he’s making them because he’s terrified of messing up. The pressure has broken him.”
In postgame interviews, Hope has expressed deep frustration, frequently appearing on the verge of tears. “I just want to play football,” he said in one interview, visibly emotional. “But it’s been so hard with everything going on. I feel like I’m constantly under a microscope, and I can’t get away from the pressure.”
Oklahoma State’s season, already mired in controversy, has been an unmitigated disaster on the field. With talent drained by the transfer portal and an emotionally broken quarterback under center, the Cowboys struggled to compete week after week. The team ended the season with a record of 2-10, marking the worst performance in recent memory.
The locker room chaos translated to poor execution and lack of chemistry on the field. Offensively, the Cowboys struggled to find any rhythm, with Hope’s turnoverprone performances only adding to their woes. On defense, the departures of key players gutted their ability to stop opponents, leading to blowout losses throughout the season.
Fans, who initially expressed cautious optimism about Dankinz’s hire, have turned against the coach in droves. Boone Pickens Stadium, once a fortress of noise, became eerily quiet as attendance dwindled. The Cowboys' only two victories came against non-conference opponents in the early weeks, before the full weight of the scandal took its toll on the team.
Oklahoma State’s administration now faces the monumental task of deciding how to move forward. With Jalena Dankinz’s off-field controversies continuing to cast a dark shadow over the program, and the on-field results leaving the team in ruins, the school must weigh whether to continue down this path or cut their losses.
Rumors of a potential buyout of Dankinz’s contract have circulated, though the financial implications of such a move are daunting. Meanwhile, the program’s oncepromising recruiting efforts have all but collapsed. Several top recruits have decommitted, citing concerns over the scandal and instability.
The tragic story of Leo Hope, a talented freshman quarterback whose season was derailed by the immense pressure of playing under Dankinz, has come to symbolize the Cowboys' struggles. Whether Hope will recover from this traumatic season remains to be seen, but for now, his once-bright future is clouded by the damage done.
As Oklahoma State stumbles into the offseason, the aftermath of Jalena Dankinz’s hire leaves the program at a crossroads. With players fleeing, fan support waning, and their young quarterback in crisis, the Cowboys are left searching for answers in the wreckage of a season that can only be described as a nightmare.
A WORD FROM OUR COMMISSIONER |
Fellas, We are rolling!! One of the more impressive paces we have seen in our community. Although the pace is crazy, gameplay has been pretty good league wide. Rules are being followed and stat padding is pretty limited. It has been fun watching some of our user vs. user games, but seeing the barn burners with CPU teams is even more fun. I had so many plans going into this cycle and the game did have it’s limitations that has prevented us from using some of the key features I had in store, but hopefully in the near future we can really start creating our own college football landscape, tweaking conferences and creating new rivalries! Thank you all for your dedication to our league! Keep the content and tweets going. I hope you are all having as much fun as I am!
NICK LARSON
