Yahoo Sports launches college fantasy football leagues with Power Four and Notre Dame players

Yahoo Sports is launching college fantasy football leagues that allow participants to draft players from the Power Four conferences and Notre Dame. The 18-player rosters follow standard head-to-head scoring that starts Sept. 3. Owners can also select an entire team offense, which awards points for touchdowns, total yards, field goals and wins while subtracting points for losses.

Format and player pool Ryan Spoon, president of Yahoo Media Group, said the leagues aim to build interest in both individual players and their schools. The service comes after Yahoo reported record numbers of fantasy football users and teams last season.

College players mentioned as likely early selections include Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, Michigan tailback Jordan Marshall, BYU running back LJ Martin and Texas receiver Cam Coleman.

Player and expert reactions Iowa State running back Aiden Flora said younger fans would likely enjoy selecting players they already follow. BYU running back LJ Martin, the conference's offensive player of the year last season after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, also commented on the format.

Brody Ruihley, a sport leadership professor at Miami University in Ohio, cautioned that college athletes remain students first and that privacy protections should be considered when fantasy platforms expand. Arizona State running back Kyson Brown noted that players already face public scrutiny after mistakes on the field.

Context on gambling Yahoo officials stressed that the new leagues involve gameplay only and do not include wagering. The announcement follows recent headlines about a former Texas Tech quarterback who faced eligibility questions after admitting to betting on college games.