Two male Vikings cheerleaders sparked a firestorm after the team announced their addition, drawing fire from fans and a surprising political response from U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who called the move woke and a threat to masculinity in the sport. The chatter underscores how branding and culture wars swirl around NFL marketing decisions, potentially shaping fan engagement and attendance.

Rams and Ravens previously ventured into male-cheerleader territory, and Auburn’s cheer photos highlighted broader shifts in football culture. The piece notes some Vikings season-ticket holders have canceled, signaling that narrative risk can touch revenue and buzz—yet there’s no sign the on-field product or fantasy-relevant roles will change soon.

For fantasy managers, the drama matters mainly as context. Minnesota’s projection remains centered on offense and health, not pom-poms. Narrative volatility could spark early-season chatter, but the core fantasy engine is still skill players, schemes, and schedule, not the optics of cheerleading.

South Carolina's quarterback room embraces an unconventional teaching tool as a memory cue: a lifelike fake poop placed on Mike Shula's desk. When a film-room error surfaces, the QB retrieves it and Shula jokes, hammering home the mistake with the line, "That's what you just did to me." The ritual, quietly growing into the team’s culture, accompanies a season where LaNorris Sellers aims to build on last year’s breakout, under Shula’s NFL-honed guidance.

Last season, Sellers completed 65.6% of his passes for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions, adding 674 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs. With Shula back to calling plays, and players like Air Noland and Cutter Woods in the pipeline, South Carolina positions itself for continued momentum in the SEC and a potential Heisman-caliber rise for Sellers in 2025.

Auburn will retire Cam Newton’s No. 2 this fall, honoring a season that reshaped Tigers football. The ceremony is slated for Oct. 11 against Georgia, a fitting stage for a tribute to a quarterback whose 2010 title run defined an era. Newton’s No. 2 will join the program’s elite retired numbers in a ceremony that underscores the lasting impact of that perfect 14-0 season.

Newton’s 2010 line—2,854 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, plus 1,473 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs—made him a historic dual-threat and the first SEC player to top 2,000 passing and 1,000 rushing in a single season. The retirement cements a legacy that still informs Auburn’s identity, recruiting narrative, and the way fans and fantasy managers view dual-threat quarterbacks from the program.

Auburn also honors Pat Sullivan (No. 7), Bo Jackson (No. 34) and Terry Beasley (No. 88), linking Newton to a storied lineage of Tigers greatness. With No. 2 out of circulation since 2010, the move signals the enduring reverence for the 2010 national title team and the standard it set for offensive versatility and big-game impact.

For fantasy minds, the moment reinforces the enduring allure of dual-threat quarterbacks in college history and how iconic seasons create benchmarks for future Auburn passers. It’s a reminder that legacy moments can shape player valuations, branding, and the way fans project future production from program alumni and aspirants alike.

Auburn will retire Cam Newton’s No. 2 during the Oct. 11 matchup with Georgia at Jordan–Hare, placing Newton into an exclusive Tigers club that includes Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Terry Beasley. The unveiling, captured in a team video, honors a Heisman-winning season that transformed the program and its culture around quarterback play. Newton’s 2010 ledger—14-0, a national title over Oregon, and a 2,854 passing yards/1,473 rushing yards, 51 TDs—becomes the centerpiece of a legacy that Auburn celebrates in a rivalry setting.

Newton’s single Auburn season rewrote the SEC stat sheet: first to top 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season, with a sweeping awards haul (Maxwell, Walter Camp, Manning, Davey O’Brien) en route to national prominence. His NFL arc followed—11 seasons, MVP in 2015, a Super Bowl bid with the Panthers—creating a bridge between college greatness and pro superstardom. The ceremony adds a historical milestone to Auburn’s lore, linking the 2010 championship to present-day fans and fantasy enthusiasts who study legacy as a predictor of program momentum and talent development.

As the Tigers honor No. 2, the moment resonates beyond jerseys: it reinforces Auburn’s reputation for producing game-changing quarterbacks and elevates the prestige of past greats who wore the same numbers. The event also underscores how a single star can influence recruiting narratives, player development, and the way fans value college football’s living history in the modern era.

Clemson sits at the head of the pack with a roster that looks primed for a title run, and Dabo Swinney has the pieces to push for a third national championship. The Tigers bring back a large portion of last year’s machinery, with PFF touting elite offensive output and a stout defense, making them the ACC favorite and a top national threat in 2025. Texas follows, transitioning to Arch Manning as the quarterback figurehead after Quinn Ewers heads to the NFL, while a top-10 running back unit and a strong receiving corps anchor the offense. The Longhorns’ defense is highlighted as a strength, with multiple playmakers across the front seven and secondary.

Beyond the top two, the list features Penn State’s playoff pedigree under James Franklin, Alabama’s return to form after a rebuilding 2024, and Ohio State’s explosive receiving corps led by Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs guiding a fresh quarterback in Julian Sayin. The debate centers on how well new coordinators and revamped rosters sustain the high ceiling. Notre Dame, Oregon, and Georgia round out the early favorites, each with questions about quarterback transitions, offensive line chemistry, and defending depth. The piece emphasizes transfer portals, new recruits, and the shifting landscape as teams chase playoff positioning in 2025.

Overall, early buzz suggests a year defined by quarterback transitions, elite skill position talent, and top-tier defenses, with several programs positioned to surprise if explosive offenses click or if defensive depth holds up in high-leverage moments. College football fans should monitor Arch Manning’s integration at Texas, the OSU/Notre Dame/Georgia redistributions, and which teams stabilize their lines to sustain sustained success through the season.