Rich Cirminiello

Joined: Sep 12, 2024

I've been the VP of College Awards for the Maxwell Football Club since 2008. I oversee and manage all aspects of the Maxwell Award (CFB Player of the Year), Bednarik Award (Defensive POY) and Munger Award (CFB Coach of the Year), including creating watch lists, steering the selection committee and choosing players of the week. I appear weekly on SportsGrid TV to discuss college football, both as a guest and a co-host of various live shows. I oversee and manage two additional college awards, outside the purview of the Maxwell Football Club - former Seattle Seahawk RB Shaun Alexander's Freshman of the Year Award & the Buddy Teevens Award, which was created by Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and Omaha Productions in honor of the late Dartmouth coach. I'm contracted out each May by Phil Steele to help edit the magazine and write select articles leading up to the publication of his annual College Football Preview in June.

Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Basketball

With the 2024-25 hoops ready to tip off, we reveal the five toughest opponents on the Jayhawks' schedule.

Oct 26, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) drops back to pass during the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Football

The Jayhawks have lost a lot of tough games this season, but nothing like Saturday night in Manhattan.

Oct 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) passes the ball against the Houston Cougars during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Football

A packed Week 9 schedule in the Big 12 includes the annual Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State.

Kansas State junior tight end Ben Sinnott (34) drives through Kansas defenders during the first quarter of Saturday's Sunflower Showdown against Kansas inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Football

The Week 9 Big 12 slate is headlined by the 122nd Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan.

Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold reacts against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Football

Who are this year's Big 12 Coach of the Year contenders? And who's underachieving? We rank every league coach through the first eight weeks.

Oct 19, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) carries the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Houston Cougars during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Football

The second half of the season couldn't have started any better for Kansas, which now has hope for a turnaround.

Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) scrambles in for a touchdown against Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct 5, 2024.

Football

The schedule breaks right for the Jayhawks to start the second half of the season right.

Sep 28, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold on field against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Football

Kansas may be 1-5, but fourth-year head Lance Leipold is not one of the Big 12 coaches whose job may be in jeopardy.

Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold talks with referees during the third quarter of the game against TCU Horned Frogs Saturday, September 28, 2024, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Football

Kansas was off last week, giving the staff and players a rare chance to watch the parity and excitement that is Big 12 football.

Football

The Jayhawks are on their first of two byes this week, a much-needed chance to fix what went wrong in the first half of the year.

Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Football

Kansas was one of the most disappointing teams of the first half. Who are the other underachievers joining the Jayhawks?

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold yells out to the referee as they play Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium on Oct. 5, 2024.

Football

With the second half of the season still left to play, where is Kansas most likely to pick up much-needed wins?

Rich Cirminiello

Joined: Sep 12, 2024

Ranking 2021 College Football Coaching Hires: Where Kansas' Lance Leipold Stands

Week 10 Big 12 Football Recap: Kansas' Win Over Houston Aging Well

Big 12 Football Week 10: Key Players Kansas Jayhawks Will Watch Closely

Big 12 Football Week 10 Storylines: Kansas Rests Up for Final Stretch Run

Basketball

Kansas Basketball Schedule: Ranking Jayhawks' Top 6 Toughest Games

Football

Week 9 Big 12 Football: Kansas' Struggles in One-Score Games Continue

Football

Big 12 Football Week 9: Kansas' Jalon Daniels on List of Key Players to Watch

Football

Key Storylines for Big 12 Football Week 9: Can Kansas Break the Streak?

Football

Week 8 Big 12 Football Coach Rankings: Where's Kansas' Lance Leipold?

Football

Week 8 Big 12 Football Takeaways: Kansas Jayhawks Explode Out of Bye Week

Football

Top Big 12 Football Storylines For Week 8: Can Kansas Flip the Script?

Football

Big 12 Football Coaches on the Hot Seat: Kansas' Lance Leipold Is Safe

Week 7 Big 12 Football Takeaways: Kansas Watched Some Great Games

Big 12 Football Storylines For Week 7: Kansas Must Regroup

Top 6 Most Disappointing College Football Teams: Kansas Makes the List

Kansas Jayhawks Football Schedule: Ranking the Final Six Opponents