Weekly Syllabus: College football training camps open

School is back in session.

Throughout the college football and men's and women's basketball season, we'll be highlighting key stories from the week in our Weekly Syllabus series.

Below, we take a look at a major recent coach extension, football training camps and Arkansas basketball's Bahamas exhibition.

ECON 1001: Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal gets extension

Two years into a 10-year, $80M contract, Cristobal was labeled "a bust" by the media. But since going 12-13 from 2023-24, the former Florida International and Oregon coach has authored an impressive turnaround, going 23-6 over the past two seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 2025.

On Monday, On3's Brett McMurphy reported that Cristobal was awarded a "long-term contract extension," marking another significant investment in a coach who had six years remaining on his previous deal.  He's come a long way from that turbulent start. After adding another strong portal class — plus a top-10 finish in the 2026 high-school recruiting rankings — Cristobal has Miami continuing to trend in the right direction. Thanks to his extension, he'll be able to continue building the Canes for seasons to come.

Football training camps underway

Week 1 of the regular season is a little over a month away on Sep. 5, and several teams open training camp this week in preparation for the upcoming campaign.

In the SEC, Lane Kiffin opens his first camp at LSU, while one of the country's most fascinating quarterback battles begins at Vanderbilt, where five-star freshman Jared Curtis looks to open the season leading the first-team offense.

The Kyle Whittingham era begins in Ann Arbor, Matt Campbell takes over in Happy Valley and James Franklin attempts to revive former ACC giant Virginia Tech.

College basketball grapples with recent court ruling

Late last week, a Colorado judge issued an injunction allowing athletes from the 2022 high-school recruiting cycle who ran out of eligibility last season a fifth year in college. The ruling most greatly impacts basketball, with unsigned 2026 NBA Draft picks Tyler Nickel and Dillon Mitchell among those reportedly exploring a return, per CBS Sports.

A limited portal opened for newly-eligible players on Monday at noon ET until Aug. 10 (8 a.m. ET), although with several programs already having full rosters, options will be limited for those seeking another college season.

Michael Lombardi investigation casts shadow over UNC football

Since becoming North Carolina coach, Bill Belichick's tenure has had more scandals than successes. The latest involves general manager Michael Lombardi, who was recently put on paid administrative leave following a human resources complaint.

Attorney Tom Mars fiercely defended his client in a statement to ESPN's Pete Thamel, writing that Lombardi, the highest-paid GM in college football, "welcomes the opportunity to clear his name."

"He is fully cooperating with UNC," Mars added, "and ... would ask that people have the decency to let the process run its course before jumping to any conclusions about the nature of the investigation or whether there's any merit to whatever has been alleged."