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The House Settlement May End College Sports’ Wild West Era

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7 months ago

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Photo: Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos/Getty Images

A certain strain of thought around college sports goes something like this: While it may be corrupted by big money these days, there was a time — a time long ago, back when Red Grange was playing, or Dick Butkus, or maybe even that Rudy kid — when the whole enterprise was different. It was pure. It was about the joy of competition, about academics, about working hard enough to get a scholarship and a free education. One immediate challenge to this line of thinking is trying to determine when the supposed golden age of college sports ended. Was it during the Jerry Tarkanian UNLV Runnin’ Rebels era, starting in the ’70s, in which the famous head coach was suspended for multiple recruiting violations? Was it during the ’80s, when SMU’s football program was given the “death penalty” for paying players under the table? Was it when the ’90s Miami Hurricanes became dominant? Reggie Bush in the 2000s? The FBI investigation of the late 2010s? Literally any moment in college sports, ever?

The truth, of course, is that this golden age never really existed. Money has always fueled college sports, and the 2021 Supreme Court ruling that essentially struck down the NCAA as a cartel simply made it semi-official. That decision ended amateurism and paved the way for athletes to be paid and the NCAA to essentially cede all controls to schools and conferences (and the network executives who pay them to do their bidding). College sports has turned into a Wild West of almost unfettered free-market capitalism over the last few years — and it’s mostly out in the open. No longer do the NCAA bigwigs pretend this is all about the purity of amateur competition. In other words, they’ve started being honest with us.

Since the Court weighed in, players have been able to maximize their value, earning whatever the market will bear to attend any school, at any time. Network executives have gotten rich, athletic departments have gotten rich, coaches have gotten rich; it is only right that players have too. And, not coincidentally, the quality of the games themselves has increased dramatically: The best young players, particularly in basketball, are staying in college because they’re getting paid handsomely to do so, raising the talent bar to a new level. There are obvious problems, namely with college football’s dangerous slide toward conference consolidation, which could kill this whole golden goose. But on the whole, college sports are peaking right now. There’s a reason people want to watch all these games.

Unfortunately, this actual golden age of transparency and quality may soon come to an end — ironically, under the guise of reform. Last week, a federal judge approved the so-called “House Settlement” (named after an Arizona swimmer, not the House of Representatives), which will resolve ongoing lawsuits against the NCAA, paving the way for another complete overhaul of college sports. The settlement is meant to institute some guidelines and guardrails and to help provide a foundation for the future. But all it will do is take everything that has operated out in the open the last few years and push it underground. That, in turn, will give everyone an incentive to cheat. Which, of course, they will.

The details are complicated, but the gist is that schools that opt into it — which everyone except small Ivies is expected to do — will essentially have a roughly $20 million budget every year to pay athletes among all their sports. But only two of those sports typically make money: football (the lion’s share) and men’s basketball. (There are a few women’s college basketball programs that break even or even finish in the black, as well as hockey and volleyball and others, but collectively, they’re non-revenue sports.) Thus, football and basketball players will get more money, generally at the discretion of the schools’ athletic directors. And almost none will go to athletes in any other sport, which will already be in trouble as schools are pushed to concentrate just on the revenue generators. So, sure: Athletes will, for the first time, get paid by their universities. But not very many athletes. And, considering how much television contracts are, not very much.

But what about those NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals? That’s where athletes have been making much of their money the last few years via rich alumni who are willing to stretch regulatory limits, in effect paying millions directly to prospective stars to come to their schools. This system will still exist, but with a huge and rather complicated catch: All NIL deals over $600 must be reported to a clearinghouse known as NIL Go, run by accounting firm Deloitte, which marks and logs the deals. That entity, independent of the NCAA, will decide what constitutes a “reasonable range of compensation based on multiple factors.” How does one define “reasonable range”? Good question! It seems to come down to the judgment of one man, Bryan Seeley, just hired from Major League Baseball, to determine whether a deal is a legitimate endorsement deal or a bribe from a rich donor who just wants a player to come to their school.

The problems here are obvious, and veer toward the infinite. Multiple college basketball players are currently making more than $5 million this year, all from those collectives that are now supposedly being phased out. A Texas Tech softball player will make $1 million, a figure that does not reflect what she will bring into the program itself. (The NCAA champion Oklahoma softball program ran a $4 million deficit last year.) She’s there because a rich donor wanted her there; that is how college sports has worked in its Wild West era. This new group exists to put a stop to this system, but the genie is out and can’t possibly be put back in the bottle. As CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish put it, “Last month, NIL Go officials told ACC administrators that more than 70 percent of current NIL deals with booster collectives would have been denied according to the new rules. That suggests NIL Go will frequently be in the business of telling student athletes they cannot take what somebody is willing to give them.” This disjunction will lead to two obvious results: a shit ton of lawsuits (who is NIL Go to tell some rich guy from Texas that he can’t fund a softball player?) and a shit ton of under-the-table transactions. We all now know that players are worth this much money on the market. The players know it too. They’ll find a way to get it.

That $20 million figure is absurd as well. North Carolina’s basketball team made headlines just last week for having a $14 million roster. Do you think some arbitrary spending limit — that, again, will just be challenged in court, probably tomorrow — is going to keep them from spending that much again next year? How about their football team, with the Hall of Fame coach and his ubiquitous girlfriend? You think they’re just gonna take $6 million? Of course not. Everyone is going to spend as much money as they always have, just in even less savory ways.

Which speaks to the inherent dishonesty at the center of all of this. What is being painted as “getting control” of college sports — an enterprise that of course rampages wildly out of control if it means getting more money in the hands of network executives, conference commissioners, and coaches — is, in the end, just another way to try to tamp down compensation for athletes themselves. The powers that be are pretending to “settle” with wronged athletes by paying them, but, really, they’re making athletes’ lives worse and as Parrish puts it, “ simply trading in one set of issues for a new set of issues.” College sports’ Wild West era may be about to end. The new era might be a lot wilder — and a lot more corrupt.



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Kaleb Glenn gives perfect example of how NIL can be used the right way

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43 minutes ago

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December 26, 2025

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Tom Izzo has been vocal about disliking the direction in which college athletics are headed, and it has a lot to do with the transfer portal and the crazy NIL deals that players are signing.

Some college athletes are making more than professionals and that irks Izzo. He also thinks that it’s doing these athletes a disservice. He’s not against NIL, if it’s used correctly.

Izzo has to love what Kaleb Glenn is doing with his NIL money, however.

Glenn donated $5,000 to his local United Way for their Hardship to Hope effort over the holiday break, and that’s something that no one told him to do, but he wanted to give back. Glenn is from Louisville, so he’s giving back to his hometown’s United Way. That’s exactly why NIL can be a good thing because these players want to be able to give back.

The FAU transfer hasn’t even played a game this season, but he’s now the second Spartan that has done charity work during the holidays (at least publicly).

Earlier this month, Trey Fort provided food at a local food bank for people in need. Izzo has built a program of players who are willing to give some of their hard-earned NIL money back. That’s something that not a lot of programs have.

Tom Izzo has assembled a roster of OKGs

Not often does it feel like all the players on a team are great for the program, but you can just tell that Michigan State’s roster is full of “OKGs”, as Izzo calls them.

Jeremy Fears Jr. is one of the best leaders that Izzo has ever coached, Jaxon Kohler has turned into a great leader, too, Carson Cooper and Coen Carr have also grown into that role, the freshmen seem to be learning quickly, and the transfers are doing charity work left and right.

The entire team feels like a perfect Izzo mold.

Rarely has Izzo had guys who didn’t buy into his culture or sense of family, but this year’s team seems to be exactly what he hoped for — much like last year’s squad.

We’ll see if this pays off with a run at a national title.





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Texas’ Michael Taaffe Delivers Critical NIL Advice to Young Athletes

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2 hours ago

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December 26, 2025

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After five seasons with Texas, safety Michael Taaffe is leaving the Longhorns and declaring for the NFL Draft. In those five years, Taaffe went from a walk-on with no guarantee of playing time to an All-American fan favorite who proved he was capable of standing out among SEC safeties.

Now, as he embarks on his NFL journey, Taaffe continues to provide advice for younger players entering their collegiate careers, most recently speaking on NIL.

Taaffe Emphasizes Brand Awareness to Young Athletes

Michael Taaffe Texas Longhorns

Oct 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) celebrates after the Kentucky Wildcats fail to score during overtime at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

“How do you want your platform to be remembered?” Taaffe said, according to On3. “I think everybody is an entrepreneur in the game of football. You all have your own business. You all have your own brand. How do you want your brand to be remembered?”

Texas is currently ranked as the nation’s most valuable athletic program, according to a report by CNBC. As one of the standout players for the Longhorns, Taaffe has been able to reap the benefits of that valuation, but is selective of what he endorses.

“When I say this, I don’t mean to take any shots at anybody, but do you want your brand to be… [an] Instagram filled [with] the local sandwich shop or the local smoothie shop or the local clothing store?” Taaffe said. “Or, do you want it filled for good and significance in your life that will be far more important than $5,000 or $10,000? That’s how I truly live it.”

According to a June article from Athlon Sports, Taaffe’s NIL valuation stands at $468,000. Some of his biggest partnerships have included Sonic, where he worked with some fellow Longhorns, and SeatGeek.

While he says he doesn’t have the exact formula for navigating NIL, what athletes must consider is what they want their brand to represent.

“There’s no wrong or right way to go about NIL, it’s just, how do you want your business to be programmed and ran?” Taaffe said. “I’ve been chosen to be on the side of, I want my brand to mimic who I am as a person. I believe that my calling is to give back. I’ve been trying to use my brand to give back.”

Taaffe was recently awarded the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, the college’s premier award for community service, according to the award’s website. Credited for his community service outreach, Taaffe now looks to the next generation of college players to carefully weigh their decisions when it comes to their brand.



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Washington Huskies Star WR Denzel Boston Declares for 2026 NFL Draft

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December 25, 2025

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Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston plans to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, he announced on Wednesday on social media.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boston had 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns this season as a junior, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Last year, he had 63 catches for 834 yards and nine touchdowns.

In Washington’s 38-10 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl on Dec. 13, Boston caught six passes for 126 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown.

The 22-year-old is from South Hill, Washington, 45 miles south of Husky Stadium.

“Every time I stepped on that field,” Boston said, “it was for the city that raised me and the people who supported me from day one.”

FOX Sports NFL Draft expert Rob Rang had the Los Angeles Rams selecting Boston with the 31st overall pick in his most recent mock draft. Rang also ranked Boston as the fifth-best wide receiver in the 2026 draft class in October. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Shane Beamer refutes LaNorris Sellers and Dylan Stewart NIL report

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3 hours ago

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December 25, 2025

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Congress fails NIL bill after LSU coach controversy, plans 2026 retry

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4 hours ago

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December 25, 2025

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Congress ‘fumbles’ NIL college sports bill

Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioning an NIL bill’s link to an LSU coaching controversy and more on ‘Special Report.’

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Congress has done nil to fix NIL in college sports.

Lawmakers get another chance to tackle NIL in early 2026. 

Let’s start with terms.

“NIL” refers to “name, image, likeness.” College athletes have made bank over the past few years, marketing themselves as their own product. They skip from school to school for more playing time. A bigger spotlight. And that leads to a better NIL deal.

Translation: You’ll probably make more from your NIL contract if you play for Ohio State and not North Dakota State.

TRUMP RIPS NIL ‘DISASTER’ IN OVAL OFFICE, WARNS IT’S KILLING COLLEGE SPORTS

As everyone watches bowl games and the College Football Playoff this holiday season, fans inevitably crow about the lack of parity for schools from the Big 10 and SEC compared to the Mid-American Conference and Sunbelt Conference.

James Madison, we’re looking at you.

The NCAA appears incapacitated to act to rein in NIL and issue nationwide rules. So, they’ve turned to Congress for a fix. 

Good luck with that.

Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a press conference

U.S.  House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The House tried to advance a bill in early December. But that legislation plunged into a toxic political scrum. First of all, many Democrats opposed the bill. The legislation then lacked the votes, thanks to some GOP defections. The timing of the legislation was in question, too. The House wasn’t addressing annual spending bills or health care, but college sports. Some Republicans thought this was a bad optic.

This commotion came just as former Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin defected to SEC rival Louisiana State University (LSU) for a king’s ransom. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wasted no time noting that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., are both LSU graduates and superfans of the school’s athletic programs. Jeffries questioned whether well-moneyed alumni connected to the school advocated for Johnson and Scalise to push the NIL bill at that time. Jeffries then anointed the legislation the “Lane Kiffin Protection Act.”

“People are asking the question, ‘Why did you decide to bring this bill this week?’ with all the other issues that the country is demanding that we focus on, led by the affordability crisis that they claim is a scam and a hoax,” posited Jeffries.

The controversy created a maelstrom too challenging for the House to handle. So the GOP brass yanked the legislation off the floor.

NATIONAL CHAMPION COACH WANTS TRUMP ‘MORE INVOLVED’ IN NIL REGULATION: ‘OUR SPORT IS GETTING KILLED’

House leaders hope to try again to regulate NIL and manage money in college sports in 2026.

“I think we need to do it sooner rather than later,” said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas.

“We need a national framework,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., at a House session to prepare a NIL bill over the summer. “One with clarity and real enforcement to bring fairness, transparency, and equity to the new NIL era.”

Lawmakers are now revising the NIL bill to set national standards — and coax enough lawmakers to support it. It’s possible Congress could vote around the same time the nation crowns the next college football champion.

Lane Kiffin at an introductory press conference

LSU football head coach Lane Kiffin speaks at South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium on Dec. 1, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.   (Matthew Hinton/Imagn Images)

“We want to get it right to really do what we can to save college sports,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the main author of the legislation.

The measure in question is known as the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act.

The bill would cap money schools can use from athletic revenue to pay athletes at 22 percent. Most Republicans support the measure. But Democrats believe the plan favors schools. Not athletes. Especially when it comes to labor rights – and treating athletes as university workers. 

“Passing the SCORE Act as it stands would only eliminate students’ abilities to collectively bargain,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio.

HOUSE VOTE ON NIL REGULATION ACT CANCELED DESPITE TRUMP’S BACKING AS SOME REPUBLICANS STILL NOT ON BOARD

From a labor perspective, is a running back the same as a physics professor?

“I do not think they should be granted employee status,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., of student-athletes.

Some lawmakers aren’t sure whether Congress should even mettle in intercollegiate athletics. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, questioned the wisdom of addressing this issue in higher education compared to more pressing topics.

“You have to have a college to have college sports,” said Pallone as that panel prepped the bill over the summer. “And the way we’re going with this administration, I don’t even know if there’s going to be any colleges or universities left fighting for.”

Pallone says lawmakers should focus instead on “very real threats to our nation’s colleges and universities.”

Opponents of the legislation contend that the bill bends over backwards for major conferences. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has problems with that. He demands overall better governance of college athletics. 

Rep. Frank Pallone

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined at right by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, seated, and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

“We need to have a better structure around what is currently in NCAA. I think we need to have some reforms and some of the guardrails in what we’re doing. These coaches are getting these massive buyouts,” said Roy.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is pushing NIL regulation. But with a completely different approach. Hawley wants something which stretches far beyond the lines of the athletic fields and basketball arenas. He advocates universal NIL rules — because of Big Tech and AI.

“We ought to give name, image and likeness rights to every single American. You should be able to control your image online. Control your data. Control your kids data,” said Hawley. “[It would be a] great thing to do for parents.”

So, expect the House to try again on NIL in a few weeks. But consider the legislative agenda. A coalition of Democrats and four Republicans are deploying a gambit to go around the Speaker and force a vote to renew health care subsidies. That vote likely ripens around January 8 or 9. Obamacare subsidies expired. So that issue isn’t going away. And we haven’t even talked about trying to avoid a partial government shutdown in late January. The House and Senate have approved precisely zero additional spending plans after they ended the government shutdown in mid-November. Oh, there are the Epstein files and potential bipartisan action on accountability for Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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You think they’re going to deal with college sports? An issue that has simmered on the Congressional backburner for years? And frankly, one which is just as complex and divisive as health care?

If lawmakers fail, they can say they gave it the old college try.

Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.



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Notre Dame’s 2025 Christmas Wish List

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5 hours ago

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December 25, 2025

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At this point, Notre Dame isn’t wishing for progress. The Irish are wishing for the final pieces.

Notre Dame’s program is close enough to a national title that every missing detail matters, from NIL support to depth at quarterback and the trenches.

If Christmas wishes came true in college football, here’s what each Notre Dame assistant and Marcus Freeman would be hoping to unwrap.

Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame’s head man might be the most coveted coach in college football, so what does he want for Christmas? One obvious answer: support. Specifically, donations to Rally over the Rockne Fund so Notre Dame football can fully flex its NIL muscle.

Is that a little selfish? Probably. But that’s the price of chasing national championships, and every great Notre Dame head coach is ultimately judged by titles. Freeman is no different.

Gino Guidugli
What more could Guidugli want as he has CJ Carr returning and two incoming freshman quarterbacks? Well, how about a backup quarterback with experience? It’s not easy to find a quarterback with experience who wants to play behind Carr, but programs do it every year. It’s vital for Notre Dame’s success as Carr didn’t miss a game in 2024 and that’s a rarity in college football. 

Ja’Juan Seider
Seider’s gift may have come last winter when he decided to take the Notre Dame job. He missed the wild ending of the James Franklin era at Penn State and a disaster of a season in Happy Valley. Seider would love to make another splash on the recruiting trail, and that would be 2027 McKeesport (Pa.) five-star running back Kemon Spell‍. 

Mike Brown 
Notre Dame is close to having a championship-level receiver room. Several key pieces return, but Brown could still use an experienced boundary receiver. Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh is one intriguing option. Marsh shares an agent with CJ Carr, but the real Christmas miracle would be getting him into Notre Dame as a true sophomore.

If it’s not Marsh, the conversation starts with freshman Kaydon Finley showing he’s ready after spring ball. The Texas native will battle Micah Gilbert and Cam Williams, but Brown would feel far more comfortable if two proven options emerge at that spot.

Mike Denbrock
There are a few gifts Denbrock could desire, but the most important is a short-yardage fix. Notre Dame struggled at times in goal-to-go situations and in 2026, Denbrock won’t have Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price. Now, Denbrock should have plenty of talent at the running back position, but he’ll need to find a way for Notre Dame to be a little more successful in those situations in 2026 if the Irish want to achieve the big goal. 

Joe Rudolph
This one is easy, especially with Aamil Wagner’s departure to the NFL. The ultimate gift for Rudolph is health and specifically for Charles Jagusah to remain healthy. A freak ATV accident cost Jagusah his season and the Irish need him more than ever with Rudolph looking to fill out his offensive line. 

Chris Ash
The secondary has a chance to be the best in the country. If Notre Dame can generate more edge pressure in 2026, this defense could be overwhelming.

Boubacar Traore is one answer, but Ash needs a couple more players to step up over the next eight months to unlock this Ash defense. 

Al Washington 
Along the same lines, Washington would love to see a few defensive tackles under the tree. The interior line is losing key contributors, and Jason Onye’s petition for another year remains uncertain.

Defensive tackle recruiting is never easy, but a couple of big bodies who can eat space would make life much easier for Washington.

Mike Mickens
The man has everything. Mickens will have the nation’s top cornerback returning in Leonard Moore and one of the most experienced corners in the country on the opposite side in Christian Gray. Mickens also has young depth behind them. At safety, Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler make up one of the best safety groups in the country. Luke Talich is a jack of all trades and then there is incoming freshman Joey O’Brien. 

Mickens needs the gift of a raise. He’s proven he can coach, develop and recruit at a high level. Notre Dame needs to make sure he knows he’s the defensive back coach in the country and that’s filling his pockets with love. 

Marty Biagi
There are two gifts Biagi has asked for this Christmas. One would be a graduate transfer kicker with no injury history. The other would be another Aussie punter, as James Rendell worked out to perfection. Erik Schmidt’s development would be icing on the cake as he can kick and punt. 

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