Yardbarker

Neil Adler

Contributor

Since graduating summa cum laude from Syracuse University's Newhouse School in 2000 with a degree in broadcast journalism, Neil Adler has served as a sports reporter, a marketing professional and a business journalist, mainly in the Washington, D.C., market. For the past 10 years, Neil has covered Syracuse Orange sports as the editor of a fan site. As a writer with Yardbarker, Neil will primarily focus on college basketball and college football, while also covering the NBA, the NFL and professional tennis.

EXPERTISE:

College Basketball, College Football, NBA, NFL, Tennis, Syracuse Orange Athletics

Major changes coming to transfer portal, but challenges still remain

College football's transfer portal window is undergoing a significant overhaul, with two major changes on the horizon that will substantially impact how programs recruit players.

Texas QB Arch Manning has perfect opportunity to quiet 'flop' talk

The media overhyped the Texas quarterback ahead of the 2025 season, and now the media is tearing him down. 

Dabo Swinney makes a bold statement that is unrealistic

The Clemson Tigers are the most disappointing team in the 2025 season so far within the Atlantic Coast Conference, and perhaps nationally.

Surprising team emerges as a legit ACC contender

Virginia picked up a huge win in Week 5, and the Cavaliers look the part of a legitimate contender to make the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Five candidates to replace Sam Pittman at Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks of the powerhouse Southeastern Conference are searching for a new head coach after athletics director Hunter Yurachek fired Sam Pittman on Sunday.

Ranked CFB teams whiffed on Friday but fared a lot better on Saturday

In Week 5, Saturday was much kinder to top-25 teams as compared to Friday night.

ACC race becomes more wide open after Virginia's upset of Florida State

The Atlantic Coast Conference's pecking order is on a roller-coaster ride as Week 5 is in full swing.

If ultra-hot Fran Brown keeps winning, his days at Syracuse may be numbered

Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown is a hot commodity these days, based on how his team is performing on the field, the culture he's building in Central New York, his recruiting prowess, and his matter-of-fact personality.

With recruiting rules in flux, Illinois HC Brad Underwood calls NCAA a 'comedy'

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood says if the NCAA is going to change its recruiting rules to allow athletes to play five seasons of competition over a five-year span, he wants a decision to come ASAP.

John Mateer's injury is devastating, but Oklahoma still has legit CFP path

The Sooners are 4-0 and ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Five intriguing head coach candidates for UCLA

After a disastrous 0-3 start to the 2025 season, the UCLA Bruins fired head coach DeShaun Foster. Here are five intriguing candidates for the job.

ESPN analyst touts Texas A&M's playoff chances after huge win over Notre Dame

Buoyed by its thrilling win at then-No. 8 Notre Dame on Saturday night, the Texas A&M Aggies have put themselves firmly into the conversation for the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Virginia Tech head coach candidates ranked from least to most likely

After Virginia Tech got drubbed on Saturday at home by Old Dominion, 45-26, the Hokies fell to a woeful 0-3 to start the 2025 season. A day later, Virginia Tech announced the firing of head coach Brent Pry.

Three teams separating themselves from pack in ACC

At this point in the 2025 college football season, three teams are separating themselves from the pack in the ACC's pecking order.

Analysts have given up on Arch Manning, and that's shortsighted

Without question, Manning hasn't lived up to the hype through three contests in the 2025 campaign. But what if he turns things around and lights it up in SEC play?

Pac-12 Conference trolls woeful UCLA in hilarious social media post

The Pac-12 Conference is having some fun with former league member UCLA, as the Bruins look like one of the worst teams in college football so far this season.

Kirk Herbstreit says top-15 SEC showdown is 'litmus test' for both teams

ABC/ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit says that the top-15 showdown in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday afternoon is a "litmus test" for both No. 6 Georgia and No. 15 Tennessee. 

Two analysts offer differing views on Billy Napier hot seat talk

ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum and ABC/ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy don't agree as to whether Florida head coach Billy Napier will be in Gainesville, Fla., after the 2025 season.

Tom Brady offers Texas QB Arch Manning sound advice after rough start

Tom Brady knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity, and he's defending Texas quarterback Arch Manning in the wake of the Longhorns' Week 1 loss to Ohio State.

What top-ranked teams that lost in Week 1 must do to reach CFP

Short of going undefeated the rest of the way, here's what top-ranked teams that lost in Week 1 must do moving forward to be in the hunt for a CFP berth.

Paul Finebaum makes feelings on LSU, Nick Saban clear after CFB Week 1

Finebaum made his thoughts clear on multiple topics following the drama of college football's Week 1.

Led by Florida State win, ACC trying to prove it belongs with big boys

The Atlantic Coast Conference, by and large, has gotten off to a solid start in the early stage of the 2025 season.

Analyst highlights what Syracuse must do to upset No. 24 Tennessee

What does Syracuse need to do to pull off an upset of Tennessee?

Tennessee's 2026 class vaults into top 10 after five-star recruit flips

As the No. 24 Tennessee Volunteers prepares to face Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in the 2025 season-opener for both teams, the Volunteers have hit a home run on the recruiting trail.

Why continuing USC-Notre Dame series is critical to sport's success

One of the top rivalries in the history of college football is the non-conference battle between the Southern California Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but the future of the rivalry is in doubt amid the changing landscape of college football.