NIL

2025 NCAA Tournament: Where every potential regional host stands entering conference tournaments

College baseball’s postseason has arrived. Over the next week, conference tournaments will be underway with teams fighting for their position in the NCAA Tournament. That spans from teams on the bubble all the way up to teams fighting to host a regional. On Sunday, On3 released our latest Field of 64 projections. On the hosting […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 20, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On Sunday, On3 released our latest Field of 64 projections. On the hosting line, eight came from the SEC. The other half of the top 16 came from the ACC (4), Big Ten (2), Sun Belt (1) and independent Oregon State.

In the top eight alone, six SEC teams got the nod. Of course, what happens during conference tournaments will changee the outlook, but we have a pretty good idea on what the top 16 will look like in the end.

The full NCAA Tournament field will be unveiled during the selection show on Monday, May 26. Keep track of every conference tournament and who wins the automatic bids here.

Current Top 8 Regional Hosts

Easton Winfield, Max Belyeu (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Texas (1), Vanderbilt (2), North Carolina (3), Arkansas (4), Georgia (5), LSU (6), Oregon (7), Auburn (8)

To no surprise, the SEC is heavily represented at the top. Texas (42-11, 22-8 in SEC, No. 4 in RPI, 17-10 in Q1 games) is the frontrunner for the top overall seed, winning the SEC regular season. Vanderbilt (39-16, 19-11 in SEC, No. 3 in RPI, 15-14 in Q1 games) and Arkansas (43-12, 20-10 in SEC, No. 5 in RPI, 14-9 in Q1 games, along with Texas, feel safe as a top eight no matter what happens this week.

That leaves Georgia, LSU and Auburn from the SEC. Georgia is the top-ranked RPI team, sitting 42-14 overall and 18-12 in the SEC with an 11-10 Q1 record. At No. 1 in RPI, the Bulldogs are also safe as a top eight. LSU is 42-13, 19-11 in the SEC, No. 8 in RPI and 13-10 in Q1 games. The Tigers are undoubtedly on the right side of the top eight right now, and likely will be on Selection Monday. Still, with RPI hovering right at 8, it’s possible another team leaps them.

Finally, Auburn is 38-17 overall, 17-13 in the SEC, 15-12 in Q1 games and No. 2 in RPI. They sit behind the teams in front of them in terms of SEC standings, but they are also comfortable right now as a top eight. It would take a lot for any of those SEC teams to fall out of the top eight.

That leaves North Carolina (39-12, 18-11 in ACC, No. 7 in RPI, 8-5 in Q1 games) and Oregon (41-13, 22-8 in Big Ten, No. 12 in RPI, 9-1 in Q1 games). UNC fell just short of the regular season ACC crown, but still sit in a great spot. They have a non-conference RPI of No. 2, which will boost them at least a little bit. A quick exit in the ACC Tournament could put them on the top eight bubble. As for Oregon, they stormed back to clinch the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a share of the regular season title. The Ducks would be served well to have a good showing this week regarding their top 8 chances. Even if they don’t, they likely won’t fall too much lower.

Top 8 Contenders

Alabama SS Justin Lebron (Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)

Oregon State (9), Clemson (10), Coastal Carolina (11), Alabama (12), Georgia Tech (13), Florida State (14)

Oregon State was forced to play an independent schedule this year, but still finished No. 6 in RPI with a 41-12-1 record. They went 10-9 in Q1 games, and No. 9 might be their ceiling due to the lack of a conference tournament to boost their resume. But if they get help around them, the Beavers have a shot to move up.

The group of ACC teams fighting to host as a top eight is an interesting one. Clemson struggled at times down the stretch, but finished 41-15, 18-12 in the ACC, No. 10 in RPI and 8-9 in Q1 games. Georgia Tech is No. 20 in RPI, but finished 39-16 overall, 19-11 in the ACC, 12-10 in Q1 games and won the ACC regular season. Florida State finished 37-13, 17-10 in the ACC, No. 14 in RPI and 12-9 in Q1 games. All three feel safe as a host, although Georgia Tech’s RPI could limit them if they don’t play well in the ACC Tournament and it drops. Still, all three are in contention for a national seed.

That leaves Coastal Carolina (44-11, 26-4 in Sun Belt, No. 11 in RPI, 4-5 in Q1 games) and Alabama (40-15, 16-14 in SEC, No. 9 in RPI, 14-11 in Q1 games). The Chanticleers ran away with the Sun Belt regular season, and last year’s committee showed to value conference champions a lot. Still, they have just four Q1 wins which could limit their upside as a host, though they are likely a lock to host. As for Alabama, they are top ten in RPI and are one of six teams with 14 Q1 wins. Though the Crimson Tide are ranked below some other teams, they probably have the best chance to slide up into the top eight if teams around them fall.

Hosting Bubble

ole-miss-baseball-stars-discuss-journey-from-last-team-in-to-cws-final-hunter-elliott-justin-bench — (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ole Miss (15), UCLA (16), TCU, Southern Miss, Florida, Tennessee, Dallas Baptist, UTSA

Ole Miss (37-18, 16-14 in SEC, No. 18 in RPI, 16-14 in Q1 games) and UCLA (39-15, 22-8 in Big Ten, No. 15 in RPI, 3-7 in Q1 games) got the nod as our final two hosts entering conference tournaments. The Rebels are in a great spot all of a sudden, and their 16 Q1 wins are a strong selling point. UCLA is far less secure, and it’ll be interesting to see how the committee balances a share of the regular season Big Ten title with just three Q1 wins. The Bruins feel like they need a strong showing this week to hang on to their spot as a host.

The rest of the bubble, to say the least, is heated. Southern Miss (41-13, 24-6 in Sun Belt, No. 21 in RPI, 7-4 in Q1 games) has a hosting-caliber resume. If they win, or go on a deep run in the Sun Belt Tournament, they’re going to host, more than likely. The only question is who do they push out? TCU (37-17, 19-11 in Big 12, No. 17 in RPI, 7-7 in Q1 games) was another tough cut. It’s important to note that the Big 12 has zero hosts in this week’s projections. If the Horned Frogs have a good week and win some more games, they’re going to make a strong push to be at home next weekend.

The two SEC teams on the outside are on very different trajectories. Florida (37-19, 15-15 in SEC, No. 13 in RPI, 11-16 in Q1 games) started 1-11 in SEC play, but have gone 14-4 since. The Gators will need some help, but a run in Hoover will have them in the mix to host. Tennessee (41-15, 16-14 in SEC, No. 16 in RPI, 12-10 in Q1 games) started 8-1 in SEC play, but are 8-13 since. The Vols have lost five consecutive series, six of their last seven, and have just four SEC series wins. Tennessee needs a strong showing in Hoover to even have a chance.

Finally, Dallas Baptist (38-14, 21-6 in Conference USA, No. 19 in RPI, 4-4 in Q1 games) and UTSA (42-11, 23-4 in AAC, No. 22 in RPI, 5-4 in Q1 games) are in the mix, too, though they’ll need some help. Both are regular season conference champions. Dallas Baptist’s non-conference RPI of No. 13 and non-conference strength of schedule of No. 15 boost them further, while UTSA’s non-conference RPI of No. 44 and non-conference SOS of No. 150 make them a longshot.

Link

NIL

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is already turning heads before the 2025-26 college basketball season. As the No. 1 player in the country, he’s already projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his moves off the court are just […]

Published

56 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is already turning heads before the 2025-26 college basketball season. As the No. 1 player in the country, he’s already projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his moves off the court are just as good.

Dybantsa saw a significant jump in his On3 NIL valuation recently. He moved up to $4.1 million and cracked the top five for the first time in his career. As it stands now, the 6-foot-9 power forward is only $200K away from Miami QB Carson Beck at No. 2 ($4.3M) and $100K from Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith ($4.2M). Arch Manning is firmly at the top with a valuation of $6.8 million.

However, Dybantsa is the top college basketball earner after landing deals with Nike and Red Bull. Dybantsa is on a contract with BYU to receive over $7 million this season, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times. An NIL offering he denied at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Related: BYU Basketball Shows Interest in Rising International Star

BYU has picked up the pace on the NIL trail very quickly. One of the biggest contributors is Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith. But underneath it all is Kevin Young. The Cougars coach came to Provo after being an NBA assistant for the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. His detailed guidance and pro-ready approach is why Dybantsa decided to sign with BYU.

Related: BYU Cracks ESPN’s Future Power Rankings Top 25

As the season quickly approaches, Dybantsa will be part of the most hype-filled year in BYU Basketball history. The Cougars projected starting lineup has many national outlets putting them as a national title contender and on a level playing field in the Big 12 with Houston, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss in the National Championship to Florida.

The upcoming season will be fun to watch as Dybantsa has already said he’s one-and-done before turning pro.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.

Link

NIL

Breaking down house settlement and how it could impact UF athletics

Swampcast breaks down Florida softball at WCWS, Florida basketball The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram and Kevin Brockway are joined by Nathan Geise of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal to break down Florida softball, Texas Tech in WCWS. The University of Florida can now pay athletes directly due to the House vs. NCAA settlement. Florida football […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The University of Florida can now pay athletes directly due to the House vs. NCAA settlement.
Florida football and men’s basketball are likely to receive the majority of the $20.5 million allocated for athlete compensation.
NIL deals exceeding $600 will be reviewed for legitimacy by a clearinghouse monitored by Deloitte.

The landmark House vs. NCAA Settlement, approved on June 6 by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, opens the door for athletes to be paid directly by the University of Florida Athletic Association.

According to the settlement, starting on July 1, UF can spend up to $20.5 million on its athletes, which includes funding scholarships and paying them directly. How that money is allocated by sport remains to be seen. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin was unavailable for comment this week and may or may not choose to disclose how the money will be distributed.

UF has the potential to provide financial support to all 21 of its men’s and women’s sports, either by paying athletes directly or funding scholarships. Priority, though, will likely be given to two major revenue producing sports, Florida football and Florida basketball, which is coming off a national championship season. A model prescribed in the preliminary House settlement calls for about 75% to be paid to football players, 15% to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and 5% to other sports.

That’s based on the revenue generated by each sport. Per UF’s latest NCAA financial report, football generated $100,796,971 in revenue in fiscal year 2024, followed by men’s basketball at 14,344,967 and baseball at 4,328,038. Football accounted for 50.4% of UF’s total athletic department revenues ($200,094,587), while basketball accounted for 7.2%.

Stricklin released a statement on June 7, the day after the settlement was reached.

“The University of Florida Athletic Association welcomes the recent court ruling allowing schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes,” Stricklin said in the statement. “This decision marks an important step forward for college athletics, and we remain committed to supporting Gator athletes on and off the field. Beyond financial opportunities, the UAA will continue to provide world-class training, academic support, and career development to help our Gators succeed during their time at UF and beyond.”

Can Florida athletes still receive outside endorsements?

Florida athletes can still receive outsides Name, Image and Likeness endorsements based on the value of their brands. But those deals will undergo more scrutiny.

All NIL deals of more than $600 will pass through a clearinghouse which will determine the legitimacy of the deal based on the athlete’s market value. For example, Cooper Flagg’s multi-million-dollar deal with New Balance would pass the smell test based on coming into college basketball as the nation’s top college recruit playing for one of the sport’s biggest college basketball brands, Duke. But under the new system, the days of promising a five-star offensive lineman a six-figure deal NIL deal out of high school to keep from signing with a rival school are likely over.

The accounting firm Deloitte will monitor the NIL clearinghouse. Athletes will submit NIL deals of more than $600 to an online platform called NIL Go, where they will be reviewed.

The NCAA will no longer be involved in rules enforcement, replaced by the College Sports Commission, which was formed by and has received the full backing from major conference commissioners. The College Sports Commission will hand out punishments to schools who break rules regarding NIL and revenue sharing.

“Our schools want rules,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told a group of national media outlets this week. “We’re providing rules, and we will be governed by those rules. And if you break those rules, the ramifications will be punitive.”.

Mit Witner, a Kansas City-based attorney specializing in sports law and NL legislations, expects more legal challenges to arise due to the NCAA’s inability to secure an antitrust exemption.

“If the College Sports Commission says if an athlete wants to remain eligible, they can’t do this deal to play college sports, it’s acting as a limit on the college athlete’s compensation,” Witner said. “There’s no antitrust exemption now for that, so I definitely think there will be litigation on that issue.”

How Florida football has prepared for paying its players

Florida football coach Billy Napier said he expects revenue share to provide more stability in terms of compensating football players entering the 2025 season.

In Napier’s first three seasons, he relied on funds and NIL deals generated from Florida Victorius and the now defunct Gator Collective. A botched NIL deal by the Gator Collective for five-star quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada resulted in Napier, booster Hugh Hathcock and former UF staff member Marcus Castro-Walker getting sued by Rashada for fraud and vicarious liability.

Last February, Napier made two front office hires to the football program, adding Benjamin Elsner as director of football strategy and Nick Polk as Associate Athletic Director/Football General Manager,

Polk spent 17 seasons as Director of Football Operations for the Atlanta Falcons (2004-21), where he was responsible for salary cap management, including draft negotiations, contract proposals, player contracts, coaches’ contracts, trades and trade value analysis. Those skills will be put to test in the new college sports revenue share era.

“His experience with the cap management, the strategy around contracts, that’s part of the game, right?” Napier said last March. “He’s hit the ground running.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

Link

NIL

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner transfers to Baylor after freshman season

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner has transferred to Baylor, she announced June 11. Tanner never publicly announced she was in the transfer portal, but posted her commitment to the Bears on Instagram. She’s the third player transfer out after Tennessee’s run to the Women’s College World Series. Sophomore infielder Ryan Brown and junior infielder Destiny […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner transfers to Baylor after freshman season

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner has transferred to Baylor, she announced June 11.

Tanner never publicly announced she was in the transfer portal, but posted her commitment to the Bears on Instagram. She’s the third player transfer out after Tennessee’s run to the Women’s College World Series. Sophomore infielder Ryan Brown and junior infielder Destiny Rodriguez also entered the transfer portal since the season ended in the WCWS semifinals.

Baylor is located about four hours from Tanner’s home town of Lake Jackson, Texas.

The freshman didn’t get a lot of playing time, only starting in two of her nine appearances. She went 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 innings pitched, and threw 16 strikeouts with 12 walks.

Tanner was part of a historic day for Tennessee in March. She threw a perfect game against Delaware State on March 1 and All-American Karlyn Pickens threw a no-hitter on the same day. It was only the third time in program history that Tennessee pitchers threw no-hitters the same day, and the first since 2006.

Tanner’s perfect game made it the first time in program history it was a no-hitter combined with a perfect game. She logged six strikeouts as she retired all 15 hitters she faced in five innings.

Tanner was ranked No. 4 in the 2024 class by Extra Inning Softball and was a 2024 PGF All-American. But Tanner fell to fourth in the rotation behind fellow freshman Erin Nuwer, who started in 11 of her 18 appearances. Nuwer (6-4) threw 57⅓ innings overall with a 2.32 ERA and 65 strikeouts.

Tennessee is bringing in three more pitchers next season. Incoming freshmen Peyton Hardenburger is ranked No. 4 and Kailey Plumlee is ranked No. 22 in the class. Transfer Maddi Rutan, who was at Eastern Kentucky, has two seasons of eligibility left.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

NIL

IU AD Scott Dolson states intent to maintain 24 varsity programs after House settlement – The Daily Hoosier

One of the main questions stemming from the recent approval of the House settlement is whether sports that don’t generate positive cash flow will be impacted. With schools like Indiana now facing a new $20 million annual expense in the form of revenue sharing, cuts have to be made somewhere. Around the nation going back […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

One of the main questions stemming from the recent approval of the House settlement is whether sports that don’t generate positive cash flow will be impacted.

With schools like Indiana now facing a new $20 million annual expense in the form of revenue sharing, cuts have to be made somewhere.

Around the nation going back five years colleges have been eliminating programs to ward off budgetary concerns. Those instances have accelerated over the last year as schools have anticipated the House settlement. Title IX, which requires schools to provide equal opportunities to male and female athletes, puts men’s sports at even greater risk.

Will IU be able to maintain all 24 of its varsity sports? In a statement released Wednesday in response to the House settlement, IU AD Scott Dolson signaled it is Indiana’s intent to do just that. But he also suggested continuing financial support from fans and alumni is critical to holding it all together.

Here’s the full statement Dolson e-mailed:

Dear Hoosier Nation,

Friday was a landmark day for college athletics. The U.S. District Court for Northern California granted final approval for a settlement in the House vs. NCAA litigation, paving the way for a new and exciting era of intercollegiate athletics. Our department has been anticipating and preparing for this settlement for an extended time, and we are excited that we can move forward with a new level of confidence about what our world will look like in the coming years.

As a passionate IU fan, you likely have questions about what the future looks like. While a lot has changed in the last several years, our quest remains the same – to bring you and fellow Hoosier fans to your feet as you cheer on your beloved IU programs as they pursue championships and provide us all with cherished experiences and memories.

With that in mind, I want to highlight a couple of things as we embark on this journey together.

First, IU Athletics’ core principles are our foundation, and they remain as solid as ever. We are committed to supporting student-athletes’ opportunity to excel academically, athletically, and personally. We want to see our students challenge themselves academically and earn their IU degrees. We want them to maximize their athletic abilities and compete for championships. And when their time in Bloomington is done, we want them to be well prepared to succeed in the next chapter of their lives, whether that is in athletics or in any other professional pursuit or journey.

Second, the successes that we can enjoy moving forward are inextricably linked with you, our passionate and dedicated supporters. IU Athletics is excited to support our student-athletes’ opportunities to the fullest in terms of both revenue sharing and NIL. We plan to do that while maintaining a broad-based athletic program that features 24 varsity programs with their own proud traditions. To make all of that happen, we need Hoosier Nation to rally together and propel our programs and student-athletes to the upper echelon in all areas on and off the field.

We can do this, but we need to do it together. Over the course of time, new challenges have always meant new opportunities for IU Athletics, and this is no different. We are Never Daunted, and with your support, we can and will build on our tradition of championship success in this new era of college athletics.

Scott Dolson
Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

Link

NIL

Naukot and Tait Head to NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Freshman Joy Naukot and graduate student Sarah Tait of the West Virginia University track and field team will travel to Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11-14. The pair of Mountaineers are scheduled to compete in their respective events on June 12, inside […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Naukot and Tait Head to NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Freshman Joy Naukot and graduate student Sarah Tait of the West Virginia University track and field team will travel to Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11-14.

The pair of Mountaineers are scheduled to compete in their respective events on June 12, inside of Hayward Field. Tait will compete in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinal at approximately 7:38 p.m. ET, while Naukot is slated for the women’s 10,000-meter final at 9:56 p.m.

Additionally, the 3,000-meter steeplechase final will be held on June 14 at 9:24 p.m. Twelve total athletes from the semifinal round will advance, including the top five fastest times of each heat plus the next two fastest times.

Tait is seeded No. 1 in the second heat of the steeplechase, while Naukot will start in the No. 1 spot in the 10,000 meters.

Live results from the championships can be found at WVUsports.com, while live video can be viewed on ESPN’s family of networks.

Last time out, the duo qualified for the championships after their stellar performances at the NCAA East First Rounds on May 28-31, in Jacksonville, Florida. Naukot secured her bid to Eugene after finishing eight overall in the 10,000 meters with a time of 32:51.33. Tait punched her ticket to the national championship after winning the third heat of the steeplechase, crossing the finish line in 9:42.14.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Print Friendly Version

NIL

Brag House aims to empower student

Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ:TBH) announced on Tuesday that it plans to develop a Name, Image, and Likeness initiative that is designed to help student-athletes of all backgrounds monetize their personal brand. The initiative builds on Brag House’s (NASDAQ:TBH) creation of a new digital sports medium through its strategic partnership with Learfield. While the NCAA’s 2021 […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

While the NCAA’s 2021 ruling enabled student-athletes to profit from their NIL rights, the New Jersey-based company believes that the vast majority of the active NCAA athletes do not receive meaningful NIL compensation.

The company’s NIL initiative aims to empower student-athletes to connect directly with fans and generate new revenue. One route the company is considering is to offer authenticated digital collectibles and unique fan experiences to create and share digital assets like signature highlight reels, exclusive game-day access passes, and personalized memorabilia. Athletes will benefit by retaining a majority of the earnings from initial sales and receiving a share of revenue from any future fan-to-fan resales.

Brag House (TBH) wants to simplify the creation process of digital collectibles and blockchain-backed experiences through a no-code interface. Considerations for implementation include utilizing a smart contract infrastructure and blockchain technology to deliver transparency, efficiency, and secure payments directly to student e-wallets.

“We’ve created a new lane where college gaming and school spirit intersect,” stated Brag House (TBH) CEO Lavell Juan Malloy II. “Brag House was built on the idea of inclusivity, and we believe it’s time to level the playing field,” he added.

Brag House’s (TBH) initiative comes at a time of rapid growth in both the NIL and digital ownership markets. According to Opendorse, the NIL market reached approximately $917 million in 2022 and is projected to surpass $1.5 billion by 2027. The NIL initiative is currently aimed to pilot with several activations for select campuses in late 2025.