How a Minnesota limo driver invented the tech that’s changing college football

Mike Rolih was taking a break from his driving gig to watch a local football practice when the light bulb went off: There had to be a better way for coaches and players to communicate. Now his GoRout smartwatch is being tested by Alabama, Auburn, and other college football powerhouses.

College football is suddenly in a constant state of change. The transfer portal, conference realignment, players making millions in NIL deals, the first-ever 12-team playoff—if you cryogenically froze someone five years ago and woke them up today, they wouldn’t recognize the sport.