A lot of other fan bases appear to be heavily pocket watching USC. Instead of analyzing what their own recruiting efforts could be doing differently, it seems that with each opportunity that presents itself, there are a lot of efforts to dismiss anything positive that comes from the Trojan side.

The latest comes as a reaction to the latest USC commit, Mark Bowman, reportedly having NIL opportunities that can be in the range of $8-10 million for his estimated three years as a student-athlete. For some reason, these figures are drawing a lot of outrage throughout the college football nation.

Forget that the figures are a rough estimate and are taking all avenues into consideration over the course of three years. This news is seeing a lot of pearls being clutched, particularly among those fan bases who have enjoyed having a considerable advantage paying athletes, both since the inception of NIL and before it was actually allowed.

In earnest, it is not as if USC has handed Bowman or anyone a check for that amount before even stepping foot on campus as a player. This type of figure should instead highlight something that should have been known anyway.

The Trojans have a greater ability to pay student-athletes through the multiple avenues and what comes with being a part of the program. It is something of a complete mystery how people are disregarding how Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world and have simply not been as active or as well organized as they could have been in recent years.

All that is being reflected now is a return to the norm. Apparently that is too much of a bridge too far for others to not believe that some form of cheating or unabashed money waving is not going on.

Things are, in fact turning around at USC

What is nice about these allegations are two things. For one, it shows how worried the rest of college football is. Whether they wish to admit it or not, USC is simply following the currently agreed upon rules that all (allegedly) abide by. 

More importantly, the baseless accusations are not at all what is leading to the latest recruiting successes or why many feel good about USC. Because the money aspect is a distant secondary talking point during the recruiting process, it will be clear soon enough that those who pledged themselves to join USC did so for more than a one-time big pay day. 

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics is calling on Red Raider Nation to pack Rocky Johnson Field Saturday afternoon to welcome back the National Runner-Up softball program after its historic run at the Women’s College World Series.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. Saturday with the Red Raiders expected to arrive by 2 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field. Admission is free with parking permitted in the lots immediately surrounding Rocky Johnson Field.

The Red Raiders captured the nation’s attention this season during their historic run to the Women’s World Series, going from a bubble team a year ago to the peak of college softball in less than a calendar year. With only three returning players from a year ago, Texas Tech developed over the course of head coach Gerry Glasco‘s first season, eventually winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles before hosting the NCAA Regional round for the first time.

 

Texas Tech won 13 of its final 15 games to end the season, defeating two WCWS mainstays in UCLA and Oklahoma in the process, en route to advancing to the championship series against Texas. The historic season ended Friday night with a 10-4 loss to Texas in the deciding game of the WCWS championship series. 

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady has signed another $1 million-plus NIL deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN first reported the deal.

“I’m thrilled that a player of the caliber of NiJa Canady can take advantage of her success and her hard work that she’s given to the sport and given to the school that she’s at,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said after Texas claimed the national title with a 10-4 win over the Red Raiders in the decisive Game 3 of the championship series on Friday night.

News of the name, image and likeness deal broke hours before Canady was set to pitch in the final game. She lasted one inning and gave up five runs on five hits.

Texas pitcher NiJaree Canady throws during the third game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals against Texas in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Canady signed a similar deal with Texas Tech last year after she had led Stanford to the World Series semifinals two straight years. She didn’t directly address either deal, but noted that her success has come with some negative attention as the sport has grown.

“I feel like more eyes are on the sport,” she said, “Of course, that comes with positives and negatives. There’s always like, negative attention that comes with it. But I feel like for the whole and just growing the sport and just giving younger girls something to look up to — it means a lot.”

Despite the rough finish, she led the nation in wins with 34 and threw every pitch in Tech’s first five World Series games. Glasco said her success and the exposure she has brought the school has made it all worthwhile.

“I’m not an expert,” Glasco said. “ Somebody could really do an in-depth study. But I have no doubt it (the first deal) would exceed a million dollars of value. I think it was of great value for our school.”

Glasco said there has been too much negative attention brought to the money Canady has earned.

“I found it almost insulting to her at times when I listened to broadcasts how much they talked about it because, like I said, I don’t hear it when we talk about — when we watch a men’s basketball game or a men’s football game, and to me that’s not right,” Glasco said. “That shouldn’t be that way.”

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Finally, Texas has broken through.

Mia Scott hit a grand slam, Teagan Kavan won again and Texas defeated Texas Tech 10-4 in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series championship series on Friday night to claim its first national title.

Texas had lost to Oklahoma in the championship series two of the previous three years. Oklahoma was one of the teams Texas beat on its way to the championship. And Texas coach Mike White finally won in his ninth World Series trip between his coaching stints at Oregon and Texas.

“I’m still trying to process the whole thing,” White said. “Actually, it’s something you dream about.”

Kavan, a sophomore, allowed no earned runs in all 31⅔ innings she pitched at the World Series. She went 4-0 with a save in the World Series for the Longhorns and was named Most Outstanding Player.

She was happy to win it for White in the Longhorns’ first year playing in the SEC.

“Without Coach White, I don’t know if we’re here,” she said. “He’s the best. He’s so competitive. He wants it just as bad as we do, of course. And he pushes us to be better every day. He makes me a better pitcher mentally and physically. And so there’s no one else I’d rather play for. He’s the bomb, and I’m glad we got it done for him.”

Leighann Goode hit a 3-run homer, Kayden Henry had three hits, and Scott, Reese Atwood and Katie Stewart each had two hits for Texas (56-12).

Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady, who had thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders through their first five World Series games, was pulled after one inning in Game 3. The two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year gave up five runs on five hits and threw only 25 pitches. She had thrown 686 consecutive pitches dating to the start of super regionals before exiting.

The loss came after she signed an NIL deal worth more than $1 million for the second straight year.

Not even support from former Texas Tech football star Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, who were in attendance, could put the Red Raiders (54-14) over the top.

Canady’s night started like many of her others, as she struck out the first batter she faced. After that, she didn’t resemble the pitcher who entered the game leading the nation in wins and ERA. Goode’s homer in the first put the Longhorns up 5-0.

Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said he was pleased with Canady’s effort throughout the season, but he pushed her a bit too far.

“If I had a game in two days, that’s who I want beside me to go to war with,” he said. “She’s an unbelievable talent.”

Scott’s blast came in the fourth inning and gave Texas a 10-0 lead.

Hailey Toney was a bright spot for the Red Raiders. She singled to knock in two runs in the fifth, then singled to knock in another run in the seventh.

It was a surprise run for the Red Raiders. Glasco left Louisiana to coach at Texas Tech this season. The team had only three returning players and had to mix a group of newcomers together.

It won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles and reached the World Series for the first time.

“To end up in this position, playing for the national title, making it go all the way to three games — just a historic season, and I’m really proud of my team and the effort that they give us from top to bottom,” Glasco said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The playing field when it comes to earning NIL dollars might be swaying in favor of the Illinois football program.

In the current iteration of Name, Image, and Likeness, it is essentially that whoever has a rich donor base can bring in the most NIL dollars. With the second installment of the college football game, College Football 26, teams like the Illini have a chance to chip away at trying to equal the playing field.

In an article by Matt Liberman of Cllct, he published the payout tiers for the College Football 25 game that came out last season. Those tiers are now gone. That was just the plan on how to pay the programs in the first season of the game.

College Football 26 is going by a play-and-pay setup. According to the article, all programs in the FBS have opted in, and each team will receive NIL money based on the number of times that team is played in the game.

The article lays out in more detail a scenario that could play out. In Layman’s terms, the more people play with a team, the more money that team receives. This means that Illinois football fans literally have potential NIL dollars in the palm of their hands.

Liberman also mentions in the article that the game’s creators haven’t explained how they are tracking the number of times a team is used, but that they do have the ability to track that now.