NIL

10 Underrated 2025 College Baseball Transfer Portal Names To Watch

Published

6 months ago

June 30, 2025

The college baseball transfer portal officially closes on July 2, and with teams facing a new 34-man roster cap for the 2026 season, this offseason has become one of the most complex in recent memory. NIL uncertainty has only added to the chaos, leaving programs across the country scrambling to find impact pieces without overspending.

In a landscape where undervalued talent is more important than ever, Baseball America college writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty have highlighted 10 underrated transfers who could provide major returns next year. Players are listed alphabetically.

Michael DiMartini, OF

Previous School: Dayton
New School: Duke

After logging just six at-bats as a freshman at Penn State in 2023, DiMartini entered the transfer portal and eventually committed to Dayton. Though his time as a “Fly Boy” was only one season, DiMartini certainly made his mark. He posted a gaudy .403/.465/.685 slash line with 11 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs and 37 stolen bases.

DiMartini has a strong, athletic frame and his toolset enables him to impact the game in a myriad of ways. In the box, he has a crouched stance and an ear-high handset. DiMartini has plenty of hand speed and uses the middle of the field well, though he has also shown the ability to drive the baseball to the opposite field.

He posted a maximum exit velocity of 113 mph and was all over pitches in his “go zone,” but I’ll be curious to see how DiMartini’s hit tool translates in the ACC. He made contact at just a 64% overall clip and also showed the tendency to expand the strike zone. However, when he made contact, DiMartini was consistently on the barrel. Dimartini’s speed translates well in the outfield and on the bases, and it’s a tool he knows how to use. (PF)

Kaden Echeman, RHP

Previous School: Northern Kentucky
New School: Kentucky

Echeman is trending towards being drafted and subsequently signing, but for now, he fits in the “underrated transfer” bucket. After missing all of 2024 with an injury, Echeman this spring anchored Northern Kentucky’s rotation and pitched to a career-best 4.34 ERA with a career-high 87 strikeouts to 23 walks across 56 innings. Echeman has carried the momentum he built during the spring into this summer, as across three starts (12 innings) on the Cape, he’s posted a 2.25 ERA with 19 strikeouts to five walks.

An undersized righthander, Echeman stands at a modest 6-feet, 190 pounds with some strength in his lower half. He works exclusively out of the stretch and attacks from a high-three quarters slot. He uses a glove tap as his hands break as a timing mechanism to keep everything in sync and does a job of creating a positive angle with his shoulder tilt.

Echeman’s fastball sits in the low 90s, but it’s been up to 96 mph with plus carry through the zone. It averaged nearly 21 inches of IVB this spring and—unsurprisingly—it was at its best when located in the top half of the zone, where it consistently got over the barrel of opposing hitters and generated plenty of empty swings. Echeman’s high-70s curveball will flash big-time depth with some bite, and he’ll also mix in a sharp, low-80s sweeper, an intriguing high-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup. (PF)

Jackson Kircher, RHP

Previous School: Oklahoma
New School: Arkansas

Kircher saw limited action as a freshman at Oklahoma, logging just 12.2 innings over 13 relief outings with a 5.68 ERA and 17 strikeouts to five walks. But the Memphis native flashed real upside in that short stint. A physical 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthander, Kircher works with a power fastball that averaged 94 mph and touched 99, showing big-time ride and late finish. He threw it 71% of the time, using it to overpower hitters up in the zone. His only secondary offering with notable usage was a firm, mid-80s power curveball that flashes bite but needs refinement.

There’s no question Kircher has the strength and arm speed to thrive, but his arsenal lacks variety and polish. Adding a true gloveside weapon would deepen his profile and help him stay off barrels. That’s where Arkansas becomes a strong fit. The Razorbacks have made a habit of developing raw, high-octane arms under Matt Hobbs, and Kircher fits that mold. He has yet to reach 15 college innings, but the raw stuff is loud and the upside is obvious. With continued development, he could quickly emerge as a key piece in the back end of Arkansas’ bullpen. (JR)

Danny Lachenmayer, LHP

Previous School: North Dakota State
New School: LSU

Lachenmayer this spring cemented himself as North Dakota State’s best and most reliable arm, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with 56 strikeouts to 18 walks in 38 innings. Lachenmayer last Thursday announced his commitment to LSU, but it won’t be his first time pitching at Alex Box Stadium. Earlier this spring, Lachenmayer struck out both star freshman Derek Curiel and Luis Hernandez in what ended up being a hard-fought midweek loss for the Bison.

Lachenmayer has a 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame with projection remaining. He attacks from a near over-the-top slot and features a low-90s fastball that’s been up to 95 mph, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. Lachenmayer’s heater averaged over 20 inches of ride this spring and, while part of that is due to the natural carry he’s able to generate from his 6-foot-5 release height, the pitch still plays well up in the zone and generated an impressive 37% miss rate. Lachenmayer has an advanced feel for a gyro slider that’s effective against both left and righthanded hitters, while his changeup, though seldom-used, flashes consistent tumbling life and projects as a potentially above-average third pitch.

Lachenmayer has a chance to explode in Baton Rouge. He presents an intriguing combination of “now” stuff and projection, and could be head coach Jay Johnson’s next massive portal success story. (PF)

Andrew Middleton, LHP

Previous School: Massachusetts
New School: Uncommitted

Middleton, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthander with elite movement metrics and almost no collegiate track record, is one of the most tantalizing wild cards in the transfer portal. Injuries defined his two years at UMass, with a torn UCL and internal brace surgery most recently sidelining him. But when healthy, few arms flash more data-driven upside.

His 89–92 mph fastball mimics the path of a rising skee-ball, regularly producing 20-plus inches of induced vertical break and generating a 50% whiff rate in 2025. He pairs it with a mid-70s, top-down curveball that flashes plus and tunnels well off his heater. Middleton has struck out 54 batters in just 35 career innings—including 29 in only 11.2 frames last spring—but his delivery remains inconsistent, and his 27 walks highlight ongoing control concerns.

Health and polish are real hurdles, but the deception, pitch shapes and swing-and-miss traits are undeniable. If he can return to form and find the right developmental fit, Middleton has major upside as a breakout weapon. (JR)

Dawson Montesa, RHP

Previous School: Adelphi
New School: West Virginia

Montesa was one of the best Division II pitchers in the country this spring, and he compiled a 1.99 ERA with 105 strikeouts against just 24 walks across 72.1 innings. He subsequently entered the portal and had a plethora of prominent suitors before eventually committed to West Virginia, where he figures to slot into the weekend rotation. This summer, Montesa is pitching in the New England Collegiate League, and through four appearances (11 innings), he has a 0.82 ERA with 17 strikeouts to just one walk.

At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Montesa has a lean and somewhat high-waisted frame with room to fill out. He has a quick arm stroke and attacks from a three-quarters slot. Montesa features a three-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, a mid-to-upper-70s curveball and a mid-80s split-change. Montesa’s heater has been up to 94 mph with life in the top half of the zone, though his secondaries are his bread-and-butter pitches. Montesa’s curveball will flash impressive depth with sharp, downward bite, while his split-change flashes fade and late tumble.

Montesa is an advanced strike-thrower, and it will be exciting to follow his development—both from a body and stuff standpoint—at a Power 4 program. (PF)

Aiden Robbins, OF

Previous School: Seton Hall
New School: Texas

Whether it was at Seton Hall or during summer ball in the Cal Ripken League and Cape Cod League, Robbins has hit at every stop in his collegiate career. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, and this spring he enjoyed one of the more prominent breakout seasons of any hitter in the country to the tune of a .422/.537/.652 slash line with 30 extra-base hits, 20 stolen bases and 44 walks to just 32 strikeouts.

Robbins has a somewhat unique operation in the box. He breaks into a high leg lift as the pitcher breaks into his own front leg lift, yet he consistently gets his foot down on time and is in a good position to hit. He deploys the same leg lift move in two-strike counts, yet it is far less pronounced.

Robbins has plus hand speed and sprays line drives to all fields, but his highest quality of contact comes to the pull side. Robbins has a polished approach and plus swing decisions, and this spring he chased at just an 18% overall clip. While he struggles to pick up spin out of the hand, Robbins feasts on fastballs. He posted an 89% overall contact rate and 91% in-zone contact rate against all heaters, and 17 of his 30 extra-base hits came against fastballs.

Robbins is a hit-over-power profile, but his 90th percentile exit velocity was 107.8 mph. Getting the ball up in the air more, especially to the pull side, could lead to more in-game power production. Robbins runs well, but perhaps most importantly, he knows how to run and is an effective base stealer. (PF)

Jayce Tharnish, OF

Previous School: St. Bonaventure
New School: Uncommitted

Tharnish is a dynamic athlete with one year of eligibility remaining and the tools to be an instant contributor if he returns to school rather than signing a pro deal. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound center fielder slashed .403/.461/.597 in 2025 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, three triples and 32 stolen bases in 33 attempts over 46 games. He hit from a low-maintenance, crouched setup with minimal stride and quick, direct hands geared for line drives. Tharnish produced just 47 tracked batted-ball events last season, and his average exit velocity sat at a modest 84 mph, suggesting there’s limited raw power.

Still, his standout performance in the Atlantic 10 and elite athleticism make him an intriguing one-year flier. He covers ground well in center field, offers real stolen base value and shows contact skills that could carry him even if the impact is light. If he stays in school, he’s a plug-and-play top-of-the-order spark plug with upside depending on the environment. (JR)

Cole Stokes, RHP

Previous School: Oregon
New School: Florida State

Stokes isn’t as under-the-radar as others on this list after making 24 relief appearances for a top 25 Oregon team, but the 6-foot-6, 225-pound sidearmer brings too much upside to ignore. He heads to Tallahassee with elite stuff in a compact, two-pitch arsenal featuring a sharp mid-80s slider that generated a 58% whiff rate in 2025 and a fastball that’s touched 99 mph as a secondary offering.

Stokes’ overall whiff rate sat at 49%, thanks largely to the slider’s late bite and his deceptive arm slot. While he’s pitched exclusively in relief over the past two seasons, Florida State is set to lose two thirds of its weekend rotation to the draft, and Stokes could get a look as a starter. To seize that opportunity, he’ll need to rein in his control and potentially add a third pitch. But the raw ingredients—velocity, movement and deception—give him real swing-and-miss potential in any role. (JR)

AJ Soldra, OF

Previous School: Seton Hall
New School: Connecticut

Connecticut hopes it can hold onto Soldra through the draft, as the dynamic draft-eligible sophomore looks like a strong candidate to lead off for the Huskies in 2026. After transferring from NJIT, Soldra proved he could handle Big East arms, slashing .330/.426/.514 with four home runs, 12 doubles, eight triples and 15 stolen bases for Seton Hall in 2025. He’s carried that momentum into the Cape Cod League, opening with a scorching .423/.483/.808 line, three home runs and a double in his first 10 games for Yarmouth-Dennis.

A lean, and wiry lefthanded hitter with above-average bat speed, Soldra generates mostly doubles and triples right now, but there’s room to add strength to his six-foot frame. His swing is geared for contact and gap power, and he moves well enough to stay in center field long term. There’s still projection left physically, and his performance trend points firmly upward. If he makes it to campus, Soldra has a chance to be a top-of-the-order spark plug for one of the Northeast’s premier programs. (JR)

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$5.3 million QB explains career decision to return to college football

Published

17 minutes ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The highest-valued player in college sports officially announced his plans to delay a professional career and return to school for the 2026 season. This decision secures the most vital position on the field for the Texas Longhorns as they prepare for the Citrus Bowl and look toward a future conference title run.

Holding a massive $5.3 million valuation and the top spot in the On3 NIL 100, the redshirt sophomore faced intense speculation regarding the NFL Draft. Many analysts projected him as a potential early selection despite a season that began with mixed results. However, the signal-caller opted to prioritize further development at the collegiate level over immediate professional opportunities.

His return ensures continuity for an offense that found its rhythm late in the year. By bypassing the draft, the program retains a leader who guided the team to nine wins and a victory over a bitter in-state rival to close the regular season. The choice reflects a desire to complete unfinished business before making the leap to the next level.

Texas Longhorns QB discusses development and future in Austin

Arch Manning addressed the media ahead of the postseason matchup against the Michigan Wolverines, clarifying why he chose to stay in Austin. The decision comes after a season where he completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,942 yards. Manning emphasized that his growth on the field was the primary factor in postponing his NFL entry.

“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially towards the back half, and I want to keep it going… There’s no reason to leave,” Manning said. “I feel like I got a lot more football left to play, and I’m excited to still be a part of this team.”

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning faced scrutiny at the start of the season, but the 21-year-old signal-caller finished the season with a 27-17 win over the then-undefeated Texas A&M Aggies. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The quarterback’s performance improved significantly following early setbacks against the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators. He finished the regular season with 24 passing touchdowns and added eight scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability was on display during the regular-season finale, where he accounted for two touchdowns to help defeat the then-undefeated Texas A&M Aggies.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian supported the move. He noted the mental and physical maturity Manning demonstrated during his first full year as the starter. The return of the team captain fortifies a roster that will face a nine-game SEC schedule in 2026, including a highly anticipated rematch with Ohio State in September.

Manning and his teammates are currently focused on their upcoming opponent in Orlando. A victory would secure a 10-win season and generate significant momentum heading into the offseason. The Longhorns will face the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

How Kyle Whittingham has previously attacked the transfer portal

Published

1 hour ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Now that everyone has had some time to process the hiring of former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, it is time to turn our attention to business.

Whittingham agreed to a five-year contract on Friday and was put on a plane straight to Orlando to start building relationships with the players. He’s got to act fast, as the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2 and players will have some quick decisions to make.

What makes Whittingham a fascinating hire is his ability to do more with less. Coming into the 2025 season, Utah was expected to be working with an NIL operating budget of $8 million. For comparison, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, the Wolverines were expected to cross the $20 million threshold.

Obviously, a lot of that money is allocated to high school recruits, but with the wild west that is the transfer portal, Whittingham could be looking to fill his roster via the portal to compliment the young roster Michigan put on the field last season.

In 2025, Utah was ranked 37th in national transfer portal rankings, according to 247Sports, bringing in 22 new players. He also lost 31 players. For reference, Michigan was ranked 30th with 17 incoming transfers.

The highlights of the portal for the Utes’ was former New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier and Washington State running back Wayshawn Parker, who both helped Utah’s offense drastically. Dampier followed offensive coordinator Jason Beck to Salt Lake City and was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 2,768 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Parker was ranked the No. 2 running back in the portal after a terrific 2024 season at Washington State where he rushed for 735 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. With the Utes this year, Parker ran for 931 yards and six touchdowns.

On defense, Utah received solid play from UC Davis transfer cornerback Blake Cotton. In seven starts, he totaled 25 tackles (two for loss) and seven pass breakups.

However, outside of those three, there was not much other production. The year before showed a similar trend, as Whittingham brought in 12 transfers via the portal while losing 25. Utah was ranked 32nd in the country in transfer portal rankings, with the biggest get being wide receiver Dorian Singer. The former 1,000-yard receiver started all 12 games in 2024, leading Utah with 53 catches and 702 yards to go along with one touchdown.

Most interestingly, of the 22 commits in 2025, six were wide receivers, four were running backs and four were cornerbacks. Of the 12 2024 commits, three were wide receivers, three were edge rushers and three played in the secondary. With a majority of the transfers coming at the same few positions, it appears Whittingham uses the portal to fill holes and build depth more so than just getting the best guys available.

It will be interesting to see how Whittingham plans to utilize the portal in his first season at Michigan, especially with the expectation the Wolverines will lose some of their roster once the coaching staff appears to form. At the very minimum, he will need to replace some of Michigan’s receiving corps, tight end room and secondary with players leaving and those being weak spots on the team this past season.

But with a larger NIL budget and resources, the Michigan brand and the desire to make a splash right away, Whittingham could go away from his typical playbook and hit the portal hard.

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Bowl game star leaving team to enter college football transfer portal

Published

3 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

College football bowl season isn’t what it was a decade ago. In the modern age of the sport, most of the significance and attention sits on the 12-team College Football Playoff.

That hasn’t stopped the postseason from delivering plenty of exciting moments and some very competitive games. Look no further than Saturday’s slate. Five of the eight matchups came down to a single possession.

One of the comebacks of the year fell just short in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl. North Texas prevailed over San Diego State, 49-47, but not without plenty of drama. Trailing 49-20 entering the fourth quarter, the Aztecs went on a 27-7 run, including a punt return for a touchdown.

San Diego State’s final score came with just one second remaining, allowing North Texas to run out the clock on the ensuing onside kick. The result moved the Mean Green to 12-2, the best record in program history, and more wins than in their last two years combined.

Coming out of the game, North Texas is having a hard time celebrating after taking a few transfer portal hits. The school previously lost its head coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State.

Breakout Running Back Moving On To Transfer Portal

On Saturday evening, redshirt freshman running back Ashton Gray announced his decision to transfer after two seasons at North Texas, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Gray came out of nowhere to play a big role in the New Mexico Bowl. He saw increased playing time with Makenzie McGill and Kiefer Sibley unavailable. Gray finished the game with a career-high 16 carries for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding one reception for nine yards.

The Arkansas native scored twice in the first half, including a 51-yard scamper early in the second quarter that put North Texas up 28-13. His first touchdown gave the Mean Green a 14-7 advantage that they would never relinquish despite San Diego State’s late rally.

Gray entered the game with 42 carries for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season. That just goes to show how impressive his final outing of the fall truly was.

Including the bowl game, Gray totaled 40 carries for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns in his last four appearances.

Gray signed with North Texas as a three-star prospect in the 2024 class. He redshirted during his first season with the program. Gray was recruited by former head coach Eric Morris and could potentially fit in at Oklahoma State.

The 6-foot-0, 208-pound running back will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Gray was the Little Rock Touchdown Club State Player of the Year and an all-state selection during his senior season at Marion High School in 2023.

North Texas has multiple starters expected to enter the portal, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins.

Major college football program surges as candidate for 4,000-yard QB

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Tennessee finished the 2025 season 8–4 (4–4 SEC) under fifth-year head coach Josh Heupel, a sharp drop-off from its 10–3 finish and College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.

Starting quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 3,444 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while backup Jake Merklinger has publicly indicated he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens.

With Aguilar’s future at Tennessee up in the air, Merklinger’s departure would remove an experienced depth option and leave the Volunteers primed to add a quarterback from the transfer portal for 2026.

On3’s Pete Nakos reported Saturday that UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal, with Tennessee already emerging as one of the programs being linked to him.

UNLV Rebels quarterback Anthony Colandrea. — UNLV Rebels quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) stands in the pocket as Ohio Bobcats linebacker Charlie Christopher (30) defends | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Colandrea enjoyed a breakout 2025 at UNLV, being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,459 yards with 23 passing TDs and nine interceptions, adding 649 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs.

He started for UNLV during its run to the Mountain West title game and a postseason bowl appearance, finishing 19 of 30 for 184 yards and one interception with 28 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the Rebels’ 17–10 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl loss to Ohio.

A Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.) product and consensus three-star recruit, Colandrea began his career at Virginia before transferring to UNLV ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Ranked as 247Sports’ No. 72 quarterback in the 2023 class, he drew nearly two dozen offers, including Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, South Florida, Troy, and Georgia State.

Throughout his collegiate career, Colandrea has amassed 7,542 passing yards and 1,151 rushing yards, totaling 61 touchdowns and a career completion rate of 63.8%.

As a dual-threat, experienced starter with a proven track record of high-volume production, he fits Tennessee’s pass-heavy offense and addresses a clear need for depth and competition at quarterback amid roster turnover.

NIL

Athletic Director Confident Wyoming is ‘Catching Up’ in NIL Game

Published

6 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LARAMIE — When it comes to the controversial subject of Name, Image and Likeness in college sports, Tom Burman will be the first to tell you Wyoming has been playing catch up.

That doesn’t mean a solution isn’t on the horizon.

“We need to grow it quickly,” the school’s longtime athletics director admitted on Saturday night.

A report by the Cowboy State Daily earlier in the day stated the department is only allocating $1.4 million annually in NIL funds, $800,000 less per year than regional programs Montana and Montana State, which compete in the FCS.

While the latter dollar amount could not be substantiated, Burman said the initial figure for UW is now at $1.5 million, adding that number only illustrates the revenue sharing monies between the school’s two largest income generating programs, football and men’s basketball. An additional $200,000 is being divvied up between women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling, he added.

“This does not include any third-party NIL dollars or Learfield NIL partnerships, which are likely another $500,000 total,” he continued. “This also does not include Alston Scholarship dollars, which is $1.1 million, and are included as revenue sharing as part of the House Settlement analysis.”

There are other future plans in place to bring in additional revenue, Burman said. including jersey patches, field and court logos and venue naming opportunities.

UNLV, one of the Cowboys’ current Mountain West foes, recently announced a 5-year, $11 million deal to promote a local Las Vegas company on its uniforms in football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball. That is expected to be approved in August.

Burman said this will happen at UW, but added, “We’re not going to give it away.”

The same can be said for a permanent field sponsor inside War Memorial Stadium.

Ramos Law, a firm based out of Colorado, purchased that space for the Cowboys’ home finale last month against Nevada — the “Josh Allen game” — for a reported $90,000-plus. The company logo was placed at both 25 yards lines.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Burman, UW Athletics Seeking Additional Revenue Streams

* Recruiting, Portal Misses Have Lasting Impact in Laramie

* Injured Wyoming Running Back Says He’s Entering Portal

* Wyoming Inks 20 Freshmen in 2026 Recruiting Class

* Wyoming in the Market for New Offensive Coordinator

* PODCAST: Offseason ‘Rework’ Underway in Laramie

* Running Back Terron Kellman Again Looking for New Home

* Wyoming’s Leading Receiver Entering NCAA Transfer Portal

There are other potential avenues that could help Wyoming gain ground on the competition.

“If we get support from the state — and not a budget cut, also — and continued investment from the private sector, coupled with support from campus, we will be in a good place in short order,” Burman said.

The department earlier this month asked the joint appropriations committee of the Wyoming Legislature for an additional $3 million on top of the annual $11.2 it receives annually through the school’s block grant. The state will also match up to $5 million a year in private donations.

The grand total is just over $19 million.

Though the $3 million, annually, wouldn’t go directly to NIL and revenue sharing, Burman said, it will help UW to handle other escalating costs that have occurred due to inflation and additional costs related to the NCAA House settlement and Mountain West membership changes.

The university is now on the hook for reimbursements to former student-athletes. That number totals $2.8 billion in damages. Over the next 10 years, Burman added, Wyoming will lose funding to the tune of $550,000, annually.

The current media rights deal with the conference, which currently brings in $3.7 million a year, is also likely to take a hit.

San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, Boise State and the Cowboys’ Border War rival, Colorado State, are departing in July for the new-look Pac-12. The league is adding UTEP and Northern Illinois, the latter in football only. UC Davis and Grand Canyon have joined on the basketball side. Hawaii is also now a full member.

The department, though, could soon see an influx of cash once the legal battle between the Mountain West and Pac-12 is finalized. Poaching fees and exit fees are at the heart of the litigation. The next hearing in that case is set for Sept. 9.

Donations to the Cowboy Joe Club, the department’s lead fundraising arm, will also open up additional opportunities to retain and lure future student-athletes, Burman added.

“We are starting to see people donate,” he said. “That frees up money for revenue sharing through ticket sales, media rights, corporate dollars, television, etc.

“We are just getting started.”

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

The rules are simple: What was the player’s impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn’t a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220’s Cody Tucker are Robert Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS — only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don’t agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports – #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

– University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

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Clemson Fans Want Dabo Swinney Fired Immediately After Bowl Game

Published

7 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s getting hard for Clemson to ignore the downfall of Dabo Swinney.

Prior to the start of the 2025 season, Clemson was a trendy pick to make the national championship game. The program’s hopes of making a run in the College Football Playoff were destroyed once Swinney’s squad fell to 1-3 on Sept. 20. Although the Tigers finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, the reality is they underachieved this year.

As if this season wasn’t brutal enough for Clemson fans, they had to watch their team get dismantled by Penn State in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

Clemson’s offense was neutralized by Penn State’s defense. On the flip side, the Nittany Lions received a sharp performance from quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Before Penn State even put the finishing touches on its bowl victory over Clemson, people voiced their complaints about Swinney online. Most of them believe he should be fired this offseason.

Nov 14, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks with the officials during the first half against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Dabo on the hot seat.

“Fire Dabo, fire the whole staff, cut the entire team. Losing to a piss poor Penn State team is unacceptable,” one fan said.

“Please fire Dabo..it’s time,” a second fan wrote. “I’m sorry but it’s time.”

“Fire Dabo NOW,” a third fan commented.

“Dabo Swinney has stated numerous times that he’s against NIL If he can’t adapt then Clemson needs to fire him,” another fan argued. “I think he’s a great football coach and would have success in the NFL, but the college game is a lot different now.”

Swinney, a two-time national champion, has accomplished remarkable things at Clemson since taking over the program in 2009.

At the end of the day though, Swinney has struggled to adapt in the NIL era of college football.

Should Clemson fire Swinney this offseason?

This story was originally published by The Spun on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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