NIL

Bill Belichick on NIL, transfer portal guidelines: ‘Tell me what the rules are and we’ll play by them’

The college sports world remains in a state of limbo while U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken enters her fourth week weighing final approval of the revised House v. NCAA settlement after defendants capitulated to her request to grandfather in any student-athletes that are negatively impacted by the settlement’s proposed roster limits. Wilken’s delay — […]

Published

2 months ago

June 1, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The college sports world remains in a state of limbo while U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken enters her fourth week weighing final approval of the revised House v. NCAA settlement after defendants capitulated to her request to grandfather in any student-athletes that are negatively impacted by the settlement’s proposed roster limits.

Wilken’s delay — June 7 will mark a full month since she received the revised agreement — in finalizing the landmark House v. NCAA settlement continues to create consternation within the NCAA ranks, especially for Power Four coaches and administrators that are depending on it to help regulate the current free-wheeling world of NIL and the transfer portal.

That includes new North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach who is entering his first season in college after five decades in the NFL. The 73-year-old Belichick opened up about the ongoing challenges collegiate coaches face within the currently unregulated system during a recent sitdown with ESPN’s Rece Davis alongside Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney.

“For me, it’s really pretty simple: I’d say, tell me what the rules are and then we’ll play by them,” Belichick said during ACC Spring Meetings last month on a recent episode of ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast. “Right now a lot of it is up in the air, and once the House settlement is done and once some rules are solidified, and honestly, it’ll probably take a year for this to settle in and see how things go. There will be some adjustments made, it sounds like the judge has already committed to that too, and we’ll take a look at things later on.

“Whatever it is, however the money is distributed and however the contracts are written, whatever the length of the contracts are and so forth, then we’ll figure it out,” Belichick continued. “But I’d say right now it’s a lot of ‘we’re not sure,’ ‘we’ll have to wait and see.’ Some people view it one way, some people view it another way. And you just have to come to an agreement on that. I think things will settle eventually, but right now they’re a little bit up in the air and we’ll see what happens when everything has a bit more declaration to it.”

Swinney chimed in: “Yeah, I mean, I think there are no rules right now. We just want some rules. Tell us what they are.”

Of course, what and how those rules would be implemented remain uncertain at the moment.

Report: NCAA to cede enforcement to new organization if House settlement receives approval

With a decision expected in the near future, college athletics continues to prepare for the House v. NCAA settlement. If Judge Wilken gives final approval, it would also lead to major changes in enforcement.

The NCAA would no longer be in charge of enforcement, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. Instead, a CEO of a new enforcement organization, the College Sports Commission, would be in charge of handing out punishments and deciding on whether rules have been violated.

The new CEO is expected to be from outside college athletics, according to ESPN. The expectation is that a hire would come soon after the House v. NCAA settlement is finalized.

“All the institutions are going to have new membership agreements that we’re all agreeing to these new rules,” an industry source told ESPN. “The CEO is going to have responsibility to make sure everything is enforced and the governance model is sound. It’s a critically important role for the future of college sports and college football.”

Yahoo! Sports insider Ross Dellenger also reported the Power Conferences drafted a contract that would bind schools to new enforcement rules while also waiving the right to sue over decisions. The proposed “affiliation” or “membership agreement” is directly tied to the new enforcement organization and is meant to be signed by all Power Conference schools and others that opt into the House settlement.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.

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Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud arrested on domestic battery charge

Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged. According to the Butler County Times Gazette, Judge Chad Crum found probable cause to charge Cloud and […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged.

According to the Butler County Times Gazette, Judge Chad Crum found probable cause to charge Cloud and ruled him to have no contact with the victim moving forward. It is a Class B misdemeanor and he will be back in court on Sept. 22.

The report states that the incident occurred on April 20. The Butler County Sheriff’s office was called to the scene of an altercation between Cloud and his significant other. He was arrested and subsequently bonded out. Police allege that Cloud “did knowingly cause physical contact with another person, in a rude, angry or insulting manner.”

This is not the first incident where the police have been involved with Cloud and his significant other. On March 27, Cloud was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly destroying her cell phone. That is also classified as a misdemeanor and both charges came from the BCC Department of Public Safety.

Cloud is an All-American for Butler Community College and is committed to the Bulldogs’ 2026 class. He has had an interesting ride, originally committing to Georgia on January 7, 2021. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt sophomore went on to commit to the Bulldogs four years later.

So far during his time at Butler, Cloud has posted 48 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also had three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to his credit.

However, it’s unclear what the future for Cloud will look like after landing such a charge. He is set to play this upcoming season at Butler before moving on to Georgia in 2026. Butler declined to comment on the matter, per the Gazette’s report. Of course, Cloud is presumed innocent until proven guilty on all charges.

Before college, Cloud was a three-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings,
a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 1,561 overall player in his class, and No. 161 defensive lineman in that cycle.

Georgia will begin its 2025 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Marshall at home. Looking ahead, they will kick off SEC play against Tennessee during Week 3 on Sept. 13.

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SEC stalwart predicts Texas A&M to make College Football Playoff in 2025

Texas A&M could maybe be one of the most slept-on teams in the entire country next year with the way they’re currently being discounted by many members of the media. This is an Aggie team that is set to take strides forward after being on the brink of an SEC championship berth last year— albeit […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

With so many factors favoring a big season for the Aggies, it’s puzzling that there’s not more public momentum around them being a dark horse candidate to make some postseason noise. They certainly cut the profile of a team that could do so, but you wouldn’t know it by surveying the headlines.

One veteran of the league, though, has his eye on the Aggies to do more than make a little noise— he sees them getting to the playoff. Rusty Mansell, a longtime insider for the Georgia Bulldogs, has made the call that the Aggies will be a part of the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Rusty Mansell predicts Texas A&M football to make College Football Playoff in 2025

One of the most trusted voices covering the Georgia Bulldogs for years, Mansell has been around this conference for quite some time. Diving into the Aggies apparently gave him some maroon and white optimism, as he told Michael Bratton while at SEC Media Days.

Mansell was impressed by what the Aggies have going into next year and when asked for a bold take by Bratton on the “That SEC Podcast,” he ventured that A&M would be part of the 12-team group. “They’ve got enough,” he said, calling Marcel Reed a “problem” for opponents.

He and Bratton agreed that Reed was overlooked and underrated, with Bratton comparing Reed to a media darling in DJ Lagway. Mansell mentioned Reed’s accuracy as a plus— something that Aggie fans know he showcased well down the stretch after it being a question mark earlier on.

Hopefully time will prove Mansell right. He has a good outlook here and I think he’s diagnosed things correctly for the Aggies. Don’t be surprised if, come November, these discussions are far louder than they are right now.

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North Texas Coach Roasts Pac

North Texas coach Eric Morris didn’t hold back when asked about potentially joining the Pac‑12 as a travel partner for Texas State. With a grin and a tone dripping in honesty, Morris responded, “Nah. The Pac‑12 is the old Mountain West now.” That blunt assessment cuts deep, not just at a conference on the rise, […]

Published

3 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

North Texas coach Eric Morris didn’t hold back when asked about potentially joining the Pac‑12 as a travel partner for Texas State.

With a grin and a tone dripping in honesty, Morris responded, “Nah. The Pac‑12 is the old Mountain West now.” That blunt assessment cuts deep, not just at a conference on the rise, but at the shifting landscape of college sports.

Morris went on to explain how grueling long travel is while shuttling between regions and opponents. He pointed out that North Texas already faces enough hardship with trips inside the FBS’s traditional footprint. Adding cross‑country flights to a Midwest‑majority league would complicate everything from injury recovery to practice schedules.

This isn’t the first time Morris has questioned North Texas’s fit in a Power setting. With the Mean Green mentioned as a potential backup candidate for future expansion by the Pac‑12, rumors have circulated about pairing them with Texas State for logistical convenience. But Morris showed just how low that priority might truly be.

In Morris’s view, the landscape has undergone a change. The Pac‑12 may once have stood toe‑to‑toe with the Power Four, but post‑realignment, its reach feels more like a callback to the old Mountain West model—regional, less prestigious, and not worth the upheaval. That kind of candid perspective reveals where North Texas really stands on lofty expansion talk.

For fans tracking realignment, Morris’ words may raise eyebrows. Power Five status still matters, but the costs—in time, travel, and recovery—can outweigh the benefits. Morris isn’t just rejecting speculation. He’s drawing a line in the sand: North Texas will fashion its own path, one that’s smarter than chasing names.

And in that voice, informed, unapologetic, and unapologetically real, Morris fits right into an evolving college football world that values honesty above hype.

NIL

Roethlisberger Concerned College NIL Is ‘Taking The Love Of The Game Away’

Published

3 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ben Roethlisberger expresses concern about the impact of college NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals on the love of the game, suggesting that financial incentives may diminish genuine passion among players. While he acknowledges the benefits, such as improved financial literacy and the ability for players to support their families, he worries that the emphasis on money could lead teams to prefer less talented but more motivated players. He reflects on historical sentiments about amateurism in college sports and suggests the need for guardrails in the evolving NIL landscape to protect players and maintain the essence of competition.

By the Numbers

Highly touted OT recruit Felix Ojo secured a three-year deal worth $5.1 million with Texas Tech.
The NIL model is generating significant earnings for college athletes that were previously kept under the table.

State of Play

NIL deals have blurred the lines between amateur and professional sports, changing recruitment dynamics.
Players are entering the NFL with previous financial experience from NIL, altering team drafting strategies.

What’s Next

Moving forward, the college football landscape may see increased regulations to manage NIL deals and protect both players and institutions. As this situation evolves, it will be critical to maintain a balance between financial opportunities and preserving the competitive integrity of the sport.

Bottom Line

Roethlisberger’s insights highlight a crucial tension in modern college athletics: the need for compensation versus the preservation of passion for the sport. Stakeholders must consider how to navigate these changes without compromising the essence of college football.

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Georgia offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson arrested on drug-related charges

A Georgia football player is facing charges after he was arrested on Wednesday. Sophomore offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson was charged with felony possession of marijuana of more than one ounce, according to a report from the Athens Banner-Herald. Marc Weiszer of the Banner-Herald reports that Jahzare Jackson now faces an additional three drug-related charges. In […]

Published

4 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A Georgia football player is facing charges after he was arrested on Wednesday. Sophomore offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson was charged with felony possession of marijuana of more than one ounce, according to a report from the Athens Banner-Herald.

Marc Weiszer of the Banner-Herald reports that Jahzare Jackson now faces an additional three drug-related charges. In addition to the charge above, he also faces possession and use of drug-related objects, possession of marijuana less than an ounce and holding or supporting a wireless device with any part of his body. All three of those charges are misdemeanors.

Jackson was booked into the Clarke County Jail on Wednesday evening just before midnight and spent roughly four and a half hours there. He was released on bonds totaling $5,030, per the Banner-Herald.

Jahzare Jackson is not the first Georgia player to run afoul of the law this offseason. In March, receiver Nitro Tuggle and offensive lineman Marques Easley were suspended following traffic-related infractions.

Meanwhile, a current Georgia commitment is facing charges related to an alleged domestic battery. That news broke on Saturday.

Seven Cloud arrested on domestic battery charge

Jahzare Jackson was the second player or commitment in as many days to make headlines for a recent legal issue. Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged.

While Cloud has not yet joined the Georgia program, Jahzare Jackson played in every game last season. He was expected to compete for a backup job on the offensive line this fall.

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this report.

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Letters

The impressive financial gymnastics Taylor Jacobs, who oversees name, image and likeness, and her team executed to enable LSU to be financially competitive in paying their athletes to play gives a literal definition to winning at all costs. There are liabilities associated with pay to play that should be considered. Amateurism in college and high […]

Published

5 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

There are liabilities associated with pay to play that should be considered. Amateurism in college and high school sports no longer exists. Excelling at sports used to be about fulling a dream to be the best through hard work and sacrifice and to experience the sheer joy of accomplishment. Now, competing is complicated by a paycheck.

Have college athletes become mercenaries playing for the highest bidder? The money has become preeminent in discussions with players and has irrevocably changed players’ relationships with coaches and their teams. Forget about mentorship and team loyalty, just show me the money.

LSU athletes are professionals by definition. They are contract workers but could become employees if they are allowed to collectively bargain. How will that work?

Wining is a good thing except when the costs are too high.

JIM ROBERTS

St. George