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A federal judge in Oregon has blocked the megamerger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons from moving forward, delivering a win for antitrust hawks and the Federal Trade Commission. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued an order Tuesday granting a preliminary injunction to halt the $25 billion deal. Nelson found that the FTC and several state attorneys general were likely to prevail in their argument that the merger violates antitrust law. The ruling does not kill the deal outright and can be appealed. But it marks a major setback for Kroger and Albertsons, which are facing two other legal challenges to their merger. The FTC claims that combining the two companies — each of which owns thousands of grocery stores around the country — would raise prices for customers and push down wages for workers. As part of the merger, Kroger and Albertsons proposed divesting hundreds of stores to a company called C&S Wholesale Grocers in order to maintain a competitive market. But Nelson said that plan fell short. “There is ample evidence that the divestiture is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete with the merged firm and is structured in a way that will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” she wrote. Douglas Farrar, a spokesperson for the FTC, said in an email that Nelson’s ruling “protects competition” and will “prevent prices from rising even more.” “This statement win makes it clear that strong, reality-based antitrust enforcement delivers real results for consumers, workers and small businesses,” Farrar said. Albertsons said through a spokesperson that it was “disappointed” in the decision and was evaluating its options. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “We believe we clearly outlined during the proceedings how the proposed merger would expand competition, lower prices, increase associate wages, protect union jobs, and enhance customers’ shopping experience,” the company said. The FTC had voted 3-0 in favor of pursuing its complaint against Kroger and Albertsons earlier this year. The agency is chaired by Lina Khan , the progressive antitrust regulator installed by President Joe Biden . Kroger and Albertsons have maintained that putting the two companies under one roof would lead to lower prices for customers and wouldn’t depress wages. But they received strong pushback from consumer groups, politicians and labor unions that represent grocery store workers. Colorado’s attorney general filed a separate lawsuit against Kroger and Albertsons in February, alleging that the two companies colluded to weaken workers’ leverage during contract talks. The lawsuit cited a purported email from an Albertsons executive telling a counterpart at Kroger that his company would not poach Kroger employees while they were on strike. This story has been updated with comment from Albertsons. Related From Our Partnerword roulette game 。

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3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday seasonHailey Bieber gave a subtle sign of support to Selena Gomez as she announced her engagement to Benny Blanco on Wednesday. The Rhode founder –– who is married to Gomez’s ex Justin Bieber –– “liked” Gomez’s engagement announcement on Instagram. Prior to her relationship with Blanco, Gomez had several high-profile relationships , including Justin, with with whom she was on-again, off-again from 2010 to 2018. Just a few months after their split, the “Yummy” singer, 30, got engaged to Hailey, 28, in July 2018 and tied the knot two months later. The two women have since found themselves at the center of drama and rumored feuds over the years with things both of them have shared on social media . Hailey previously denied that they had anything but “respect” and “love” for one another during a September 2022 episode of “Call Her Daddy.” Gomez later echoed the sentiment and said that “no one should have to experience hate or bullying” after finding out that Hailey was getting “death threats.” “Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity,” Gomez wrote via social media in March 2023. “I’ve always advocated for kindness and really want all this all to stop,” she concluded. Hailey was among a whopping 16.5 million social media users and celebrities who “liked” the sweet post on Wednesday. Some of Gomez’s famous friends –– including Taylor Swift , Cara Delevingne, Jennifer Aniston and Cardi B –– also expressed their excitement over the news. The “Only Murders in the Building” actress, 32, announced their engagement by posting pictures of her massive marquise diamond engagement ring on her ring finger, smiling at a picnic with Taco Bell and hugging Blanco, 36, while he kissed her. “forever begins now..” she captioned the sweet post. Blanco has yet to share the news via his own social media, but he cheekily commented under her post , “hey wait... that’s my wife.” The “Calm Down” songstress and the music producer got engaged after a year and a half of dating. The couple were friends for years before their relationship turned romantic in July 2023.(The Center Square) – Homeowners in the market for washers and dryers may have better-performing options to choose from in the near future due to a bill limiting the extent of energy efficiency mandates on laundry appliances passing the U.S. House. The Republican-led House Resolution 1612 , or Liberty in Laundry Act, would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing energy conservation standards for clothes washers or dryers that “are not cost-effective or technologically feasible.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Lopsided loss sinks the reeling Saints further into evaluation modeMan arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors sayGlobal stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as traders eyed looming US inflation data and a key European interest rate call amid global political upheaval. After winning numerous records in the weeks since the November 5 US presidential election, US stocks fell for the second straight day as analysts pointed to profit-taking. But Alphabet jumped more than five percent after Google showed off a new quantum computing chip that it described as a significant breakthrough in the field, arguing it could lead to advances in drug discovery, fusion energy and other areas. The Paris stock market retreated as French party leaders gathered at President Emmanuel Macron's Elysee Palace office to chart a route towards a new government. The euro also fell ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting on Thursday. The ECB is expected to lower interest rates by 25 basis points amid weak eurozone growth. Independent analyst Andreas Lipkow said traders were taking a cautious approach ahead of the ECB meeting. The main US indexes struggled as traders eyed US consumer price inflation (CPI) data due Wednesday, which could play a role in whether the US Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates next week. On Wall Street, "tomorrow's CPI report is in full focus with a looming rate-decision from the Fed coming," analyst Bret Kenwell of trading platform eToro said in a note. Following recent spending and jobs data "traders have felt even more emboldened to bet on a December rate cut, while the Fed has done little... to quiet that expectation," he added. Earlier, stock markets weighed "concerns that China's economic stimulus measures might not have a long-lasting effect", noted Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. The growth plan comes as Beijing contemplates Donald Trump's second term in the White House. The US president-elect has indicated he will reignite his hardball trade policies, fueling fears of another standoff between the economic superpowers. The Shanghai stock market ended higher but Hong Kong fell. Seoul's Kospi index rallied more than two percent after tumbling since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared short-lived martial law on December 3. On the corporate front, shares in Stellantis rose around one percent on the Paris stock exchange after the car giant and Chinese manufacturer CATL announced plans for a $4.3-billion factory making electric-vehicle batteries in Spain. Walgreens Boots Alliance soared 17.7 percent following reports that it could be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Boeing jumped 4.5 percent as it announced it was resuming production at two Seattle-area plants that had been shuttered for nearly three months due to a labor strike. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 44,247.83 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,034.91 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 19,687.24 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,394.78 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,329.16 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.9 percent at 8,280.36 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 20,311.28 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.6 percent at 3,422.66 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 39,367.58 (close) Seoul - Kospi: UP 2.4 percent at 2,417.84 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0529 from $1.0554 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2773 from $1.2757 Dollar/yen: UP at 151.92 yen from 151.21 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.42 from 82.73 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $68.59 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $72.19 per barrel burs-jmb/nro

BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." People are also reading... A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Shops on the Hill showcases skills, creativity of Chapel Hill tech studentsFrance extends Olympics surveillance measures to Christmas market

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, announced Ukraine's current lack of readiness to engage in talks with Russia, citing a shortfall in weapons, essential security guarantees, and desired international status. The statement, aired on public broadcaster Suspilne, follows President Zelenskiy's contemplation of negotiations amidst Russia's ongoing invasion begun in February 2022. Yermak emphasized the necessity of NATO membership and solid security assurances to prevent future Russian aggression. During his meeting with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, Zelenskiy reiterated Ukraine's wish for an end to the conflict and urged efforts to strengthen the nation and pressure the Kremlin towards peace. Russia, however, firmly opposes Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO, demanding recognition of its annexation of Ukrainian territories. (With inputs from agencies.)

Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report findsGrande, 31, also said her co-star was a “brilliant gift of a human being” while being interviewed by Gladiator star Paul Mescal for US news outlet Variety. Mescal told the singer and actor: “I’m watching you guys in the press tour. You’re obviously in love with each other.” To which she replied: “Insufferable. Yes. We’re horrible. It’s bad.” The 7 Rings singer plays Glinda, while her 37-year-old co-star plays Elphaba, in the film which is an adaption of the musical stage show of the same name and is set in The Land Of Oz before the events of The Wizard Of Oz. Their interviews for the film, which have seen the two being emotional towards one another and holding hands, have gone viral on social media. Speaking about Erivo, Grande said: “Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being. I think we tried to keep the pressure out of the room, obviously, as much as possible.” She also said she had not had any read throughs with her co-star before joining the cast. Grande said: “We never chemistry read together, it was three rounds for me, and I read with two different actresses. “I stayed for three and a half hours the final day, and I had cried so much. “We did Popular, Defying Gravity, (and) For Good (songs from the film), and I left my lashes on the mirror, because I left everything else in the room.” The film follows Elphaba, who is misunderstood because of her green skin, as she forges an unlikely friendship with Glinda, a student with a desire for popularity. Bullying of the green-skinned witch saw the movie, which also stars Peter Dinklage, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, given a PG rating by the British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC) for “discrimination”.

Reactions to Florida Representative Susan Valdes' switch over to Republican Party varyNorth Carolina hired Bill Belichick at one of the most critical points of the college football calendar, and the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach has a lot to do in the immediate future. From evaluating the Tar Heels’ current roster to assessing the high school signees, figuring out what is needed in the transfer portal, becoming familiarized with the school’s budget for name, image and likeness and hiring a staff, everything on the to-do list is intertwined. Advertisement Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, who was hired away from Duke a week before the portal opened to all undergraduates interested in changing schools in 2023, said in March that he had to do all those things “at an extremely fast pace.” Willie Fritz was introduced as Houston ’s new head coach the day before the portal opened. “All those were top priorities in their own right,” said Wes Fritz, Houston’s general manager and Willie’s son. “They all were critical things that took management on a daily basis. The coaching carousel and portal both are very minute-to-minute.” So what should Belichick prioritize as he takes over a college program for the first time? General managers at three Power 4 programs offered insight into the most urgent roster management tasks that face a new coach, from evaluating the current roster, to attacking the portal, assessing finances and hiring staff. GO DEEPER Court Vision: Crown SEC as nation's top league. Big picture is bleak for ACC 1. Evaluate the current roster Before Belichick goes shopping in the portal, he must have an idea of what he has to work with on the current roster. Which players are worth keeping? Which positions are thin? Who fits the offensive and defensive schemes he wants to run, and who doesn’t? That process, depending on how deep the evaluation is, can take a few hours or a couple of days of watching film. Belichick has already hired a general manager: Michael Lombardi, the former Cleveland Browns GM who worked in NFL player personnel circles for four decades and was a Belichick assistant in New England. Lombardi may dictate that process, but chances are he and Belichick studied the roster ahead of time, when the hiring process was still ongoing. “You start watching film immediately,” said Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan. “If you watch enough film, you should have a grasp of who your players are in the first few days.” Advertisement Character evaluations are also necessary. That includes tapping into the expertise of people who are still employed and were part of the previous staff. “Talk to everyone in the building, your core groups: strength and conditioning, nutritionists, academic advisors, people who know the kids well and ... know who the players are as people,” Morgan said. “Who are the culture fits, the people to hold your culture together? And who are the people that want to leave that you can let go?” For those players a new coach wants to keep, reassurance is important. “Meet as many kids as you can,” Morgan said. “Call as many parents as you can. Ensure them the transition will be smooth.” But if Belichick and his new staff are like almost every other new college coaching regime, they won’t want to keep every player. Cutting or running off players , once considered taboo in college football, is a fairly standard practice now, especially for new coaches, as transfer restrictions have been loosened. Before the transfer portal existed, coaches could not turn over a roster as quickly in part because there was a 25-player limit on signees (high school recruits and transfers) that a program could accept in a year. But that rule was eliminated in 2023 , making a significant roster overhaul much more feasible. Coaches had ways to get around the 25-player limit, from counting midyear enrollees back toward the previous year’s class (if there was room under the 25) to utilizing the NCAA ’s “aid after departure of head coach” bylaw reserved for new coaches, which allows them to cut players and keep them on scholarship without counting against the 85-player scholarship limit. Once the House v. NCAA settlement takes effect, the 85-scholarship constraints for programs will give way to a 105-player roster limit , including walk-ons if a school chooses not to put every player on scholarship. Most Football Bowl Subdivision teams currently comprise around 120 players, with 85 on scholarship and the rest as walk-ons. It’s unclear whether any schools will offer 105 scholarships annually — some coaches and GMs are skeptical that schools will eliminate walk-ons completely — but everyone is working to meet that roster limit before next season. Advertisement That is still more roster flexibility than Belichick had in the NFL, which carries a 53-man active roster and a 16-man practice squad. But until the settlement takes effect next summer, FBS programs are prohibited from carrying more than 85 scholarship players on their roster, even when taking midyear transfers. GO DEEPER Why is Bill Belichick heading to North Carolina? It's all about control 2. Get transfer portal visitors scheduled ASAP Once the roster holes are known, it’s time to scour the portal, and that’s where Belichick will be playing catch-up. The transfer portal has been open for four days. Some players, including graduate transfers or members of teams that made in-season head coaching changes, have been in the portal longer. By December, college personnel staffs have spent months scouting other college rosters to identify players they want, not unlike scouting departments at the professional level in free agency. Several players who entered the transfer portal Monday have already committed to their new schools. Even new college coaches, if they came from another school, have institutional knowledge of what’s available. “You should already know who the guys are from where you were at your previous stop,” Morgan said. Belichick may not have that luxury, but he and his staff need to evaluate the available talent and mobilize quickly. That process has apparently already begun. Penn transfer running back Malachi Hosley, a former FCS freshman All-American who ran for 1,192 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, posted Wednesday that he was offered by the Tar Heels . Morgan estimated a two-day turnaround from hiring to hosting transfer recruits, which can pose some logistical restrictions. “The head coach has to keep the recruiting people in the short term, or else nobody’s going to book a flight (for a recruit),” said a Big 12 general manager, granted anonymity to discuss his team’s strategy. “I can understand if he wants a new GM, a new scouting director. But there’s no way you can get rid of the recruiting operations people (immediately).” Advertisement Official visits for transfers usually last a day, not unlike a free agent visit in the NFL. The Tar Heels , like everyone else in the FBS, have until Dec. 22 to get players on campus before the start of a dead period in which no in-person on-campus or off-campus recruiting is permitted. Schools can resume hosting prospects on Jan. 6 through Feb. 3. Fortunately for North Carolina, the portal, which already has more than 1,000 FBS players in it , will remain open until Dec. 28. Players in the College Football Playoff or late bowl games will have an additional five-day window after the conclusion of their season to enter the portal. And the portal windows are only for entry; players are free to take their time to choose their new school. So opportunities abound for player acquisition. And for whatever needs aren’t filled by the time the spring semester begins in January, there’s another 10-day portal window in the spring, from April 16 to April 25, in which hundreds more players will become available. 3. Know your salary cap Big-time programs now spend millions to retain their current players and attract new ones, through the use of booster-led NIL collectives. This is right up Belichick’s alley, since he essentially served as the New England Patriots’ GM during his time there. Managing a roster and a salary cap, long the heart of NFL team operations, is becoming part of college football, too, and will become even more central when schools are permitted to share revenue with their athletes via the House settlement. “You should walk in right now and somebody should be able to give you a roster number and salary cap number,” Morgan said. “What you’re paying each player now and how much will be available to spend. Figure that out right away, then from there you divvy it up and figure out how you’re going to allocate to the different positions of need.” Mack Brown, at his final UNC news conference, said the Tar Heels’ next coach would have roughly three times as much money to work with for the roster. “He’ll have a better situation than we did with NIL, because of revenue sharing,” Brown said. “We had about $4 million. He’ll have at least $12 million.” UNC says it will pay $13 million to football players in revenue-sharing. Belichick will also have a full staff salary pool larger than the amount going to players. The $10 million assistant pool is double what UNC paid this year. pic.twitter.com/LmElWbdI0R — Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 12, 2024 When the House settlement takes effect, the initial cap for schools — which includes athletes in all sports, not just football — is expected to begin at around $20 million annually. Player development, which Belichick emphasized as a priority on his Monday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, is also critical because when teams strike out in the portal at certain positions, they must have coaches who can get younger players ready at a moment’s notice. Advertisement “Development might matter even more now because your roster’s going to be imperfect all the time,” the Big 12 GM said. 4. Fill out your staff — and retain key members This part is already underway and was likely part of Belichick’s interview process, because that’s common practice. During interviews, schools want to know who a coach will potentially hire to his staff. Elko categorized priority staff hires into four “critical” areas: on-field coaching staff, strength and conditioning staff, operations staff and a general manager. “Those positions really drive so many levels of your program, that you’ve gotta really hit on all of them,” Elko said in March. GMs have become a more common position throughout college football in recent years , though they typically don’t have as much power as an NFL GM. The head coach has the final say in most cases. Some schools have given their GMs more autonomy in player evaluation. Stanford recently took the bold step of hiring former quarterback Andrew Luck as the program’s GM and tapping him to oversee all aspects of the program, including player personnel and the coaching staff. That’s a first-of-its-kind move in college football. But Lombardi will set the tone for player evaluation and recruiting at UNC. And recruiting staffs at Power 4 programs have grown immensely in the last decade. In the early 2010s, you could count recruiting staffers on one hand at most schools. Now, Elko said Texas A&M’s current recruiting and personnel department has 14 people. At most programs, some staff is devoted to high school recruiting, some is devoted to scouting college personnel for the portal. When asked how “hands-on” he would be with recruiting, Belichick said “the recruiting process belongs to everyone. “It belongs to Michael and his scouting staff and evaluations and setting that up the recruiting department in terms of making this an attractive destination for the athlete,” he said. “But it’s also part of the coaching job and certainly the head coach has a big role as well.” Advertisement Coordinator and on-field staff hires go hand-in-hand with recruiting because Belichick needs players who fit what he wants to run. His son, Steve Belichick — who worked under his father in New England and spent the 2024 season with the Washington Huskies — is expected to be part of the staff . Filling out the rest of the staff will take time, as it does with any coaching change. On Thursday, Belichick didn’t specify whether he would target mostly NFL coaches or college coaches for his staff, but said there will be “a strong presence of NFL people” on the staff. “We’ll hire the best coaches we can hire,” he said. He alluded to coaches in the Playoff or bowl games: “I wouldn’t interfere with the process at those schools with their commitments to their teams.” That suggests it will take some time to fill out his staff. And the college GMs say it’s worth meeting with members of Brown’s staff who are still there. Some incumbent employees, especially in team operations or recruiting operations, may have institutional knowledge of the school or the local area that is helpful to utilize. Many new head coaches clear out an entire staff, but some retain select assistants. “You can fail or not meet the standard and get let go, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t good coaches on that staff,” the Big 12 GM said. “You could have a group of really good coaches and things just don’t go your way. I think he would be smart to use whatever context he has to figure out who the good ones are, meet with them and decide who to retain.” Though Belichick is new to college football coaching, it’s unlikely he’s going into this blind. During his interview with McAfee, he seemed to have a grasp of the different areas he needs to tackle. His son’s time at Washington will inform him, and retired Alabama coach Nick Saban, who was a defensive coordinator for Belichick with the Cleveland Browns in the 1990s, has remained a close friend for 40 years. And college football’s evolution to parallel the NFL in many ways should make the transition easier. “There’s certainly some differences, but there are some parallels,” Belichick said Thursday. “And I think that’s the reason for the general structure of Michael as a general manager and myself as a coach and working together collaboratively like we have done in a professional organization.” What’s clear is that Belichick has a lot to do and little time to do it. There are 261 days until the Tar Heels host TCU in their 2025 season opener, but the building blocks of that team, from coaches to players, will be constructed in the coming days and weeks. Advertisement Wes Fritz called his initial time at Houston “very hectic” as he tried to attack the portal and shore up the recruiting class while his father hired a coaching staff. He arrived at Houston on Dec. 4, 2023 and stayed in hotels for two weeks straight while navigating the frenzy of portal and recruiting season. “There are so many different things happening in such a short amount of time,” Fritz said. “It was a total blur. ... It’s a lot of fun, though. You just have to embrace it.” More on Belichick’s unprecedented hire (Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

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Nearly half a dozen institutions of higher education separately announced plans this week to make tuition free for undergraduates who meet certain income requirements, reflecting a growing nationwide effort to make college more affordable. The schools span states from Massachusetts to New Mexico, and include some of the country's leading universities. They all announced their initiatives within days of each other. And while the specific financial requirements for current students applicants vary between schools, all are slated to take effect in fall 2025. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, for example, says undergraduates with family income below $200,000 can attend tuition free starting next year, up from its current threshold of $140,000. It said in its announcement that 80% of American households meet the updated threshold. "The cost of college is a real concern for families across the board, and we're determined to make this transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances," said President Sally Kornbluth. "So, to every student out there who dreams of coming to MIT: Don't let concerns about cost stand in your way." Nearly 2,000 miles away, the University of Texas System announced that undergraduates at any of its nine academic institutions whose families make $100,000 or less will receive free tuition and fees. "To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution," Kevin Eltife, chairman of the Board of Regents, said in a statement . The average college sticker price — which covers tuition and fees before scholarships and other aid are factored in — increased by about 5.5% for private schools and roughly 2.3% for public schools in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to U.S. News and World Report . The average in-state cost of tuition and fees to attend a public college this year is $11,011, compared to $24,513 for out-of-state students. The average cost for private colleges is $43,505. The flurry of announcements comes as a growing number of Americans seem to be questioning whether college is worth the cost. This year saw a drop in freshman enrollment and a rise in acceptance rates , at least at some schools — a sign that young people may have less interest in going to college these days. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that only one in four U.S. adults say it's extremely or important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job these days, while only 22% say the cost of getting a four-year college degree is worth it even if someone has to take out loans. Americans owe some $1.6 trillion in student loans as of June of this year, a 42% increase from a decade ago, according to Pew Research Center . Thirty-six percent of adults under 40 who have at least a four-year college degree have outstanding student loan debt. President Biden's efforts at student loan relief remain largely tied up in the courts , and the future of federal forgiveness is even more uncertain under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Free tuition is one way that some colleges may be trying to win over wary would-be applicants. All of the institutions that announced free tuition this week acknowledged the high cost of college, and the role they can play in making it more accessible. Here's a look at the initiatives: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT says tuition will be free for students whose families make less than $200,000 a year. And for those whose families make less than $100,000, "parents can expect to pay nothing at all toward the full cost of their students' MIT education" — meaning the school will cover not only tuition but housing, dining, fees and an allowance for books and personal expenses. That threshold will rise from $75,000 this year. MIT says the average cost of attending without financial aid is about $86,000, though most students pay a median annual cost of $12,938. The school is one of only a handful in the U.S. that does not consider applicants' ability to pay as part of its admissions process — one of a number of steps it says it is taking to make an MIT education more accessible. "With the need-based financial aid we provide today, our education is much more affordable now than at any point in the past, even though the 'sticker price' of MIT is higher now than it was when I was an undergraduate," said Stu Schmill, dean of admissions and student financial services who was a member of the class of 1986. The University of Texas system The UT system will cover tuition and fees for undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or less, after its board voted to send $35 million — from endowment distributions and other resources — directly to all nine of its universities. In their announcement , officials said this move makes the UT system "the first in Texas, and one of the few in the U.S., to offer such a sweeping financial aid benefit." It's one of the largest state university systems in the country, with more than 256,000 students enrolled at its academic and health institutions . Eligible students must be Texas residents, enroll full-time in undergraduate programs and apply for applicable federal and state financial aid. Officials describe this week's announcement as just the latest step in their effort to ensure that "every qualified Texan who aims to earn a bachelor's degree from a UT institution can do so, regardless of financial circumstances." In 2019, the Regents set up an endowment to cover tuition and fees at UT Austin for in-state students from families making up to $65,000. In 2022, they expanded that program to all UT academic institutions. Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh says students from families earning less than $75,000 annually will be able to attend tuition free starting in 2025 thanks to its new CMU Pathway Program . Additionally, students from families earning less than $100,000 annually will "have the opportunity to pursue their studies without the burden of federal student loans." Eligible students are new and returning undergraduates who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents and whose families have typical assets for their income, officials say. "We want every student who has earned a spot at CMU to be able to join us and thrive regardless of their family's financial resources or socioeconomic status," said President Farnam Jahanian. "The CMU Pathway Program represents our greatest investment so far in realizing this powerful vision." The university said it has increased its investment in undergraduate financial aid from $76 million in 2015 to $141 million in 2024, and that the percentage of CMU students with federal loans has dropped from 52% in 2019 to 28% in 2024. St. John's College St. John's College — the third-oldest college in the country, with campuses in Annapolis, Md., and Santa Fe, N.M. — says it will soon cover tuition for students from families who make $75,000 or less. "U.S. citizens and permanent residents who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), show total income of $75,000 or less, and have typical assets are guaranteed to receive institutional and federal grants equal to or greater than the cost of freshman year tuition," officials announced this week . Those grants will remain the same after freshman year unless income or assets change, they added. Students may also receive grants, loans and work study opportunities to reduce the cost of housing and food, depending on individual financial need. The college previously raised more than $326 million to lower tuition by a third in 2018 — undergraduate tuition for this academic year costs $39,356. "St. John's has benefited from the unwavering commitment of our alumni and friends," said St. John's College Santa Fe President J. Walter Sterling. "Their generous philanthropic support has been decisive in sustaining the excellence and integrity of our academic programs and extending the scholarships needed to open the door wide to students from all walks of life." Brandeis University Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., announced a new financial aid initiative called The Brandeis Commitment . Starting next fall, incoming students from families with total incomes of less than $75,000 annually will receive total grants and scholarships covering their full tuition, while those from families earning less than $200,000 annually will receive grants and scholarships totaling 50% of their tuition. Tuition for the current academic year is about $67,000, according to the university. In its announcement , Brandeis said students don't need to fill out an extra application for the program — they will be considered for it when they submit their financial aid applications. The program is not available to returning, international and graduate students, though Brandeis stresses it will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all current and future students. "The Brandeis Commitment will provide more clarity for prospective students and families who want to have a better sense of the aid they will receive before they apply," said Jennifer Walker, dean of admissions.

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