NIL

Brent Blum Named Director of NIL Development for Cyclone Sports Properties

Jake Lovell and MaryKate Walling set to join Learfield Impact NIL team at CSP AMES, Iowa – Learfield’s Cyclone Sports Properties, in partnership with Iowa State Athletics and Learfield Impact, Learfield’s industry-leading Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) service combining the power of expert people, award-winning content, and innovative technology, has announced the appointment of Brent […]

Published

2 months ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Brent Blum Named Director of NIL Development for Cyclone Sports Properties

Jake Lovell and MaryKate Walling set to join Learfield Impact NIL team at CSP

AMES, Iowa – Learfield’s Cyclone Sports Properties, in partnership with Iowa State Athletics and Learfield Impact, Learfield’s industry-leading Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) service combining the power of expert people, award-winning content, and innovative technology, has announced the appointment of Brent Blum as the new Director of NIL Development, Jake Lovell as NIL Partnerships and Operations Coordinator and MaryKate Walling as NIL Content Producer.

“We are excited to launch this innovative initiative with Learfield as we navigate this new world intercollegiate athletics enters starting July 1,” ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “We believe that these positions are a continued evolution of our long-standing partnership and allow us to create additional opportunities through existing and new corporate partners.”

Learfield Impact integrates the addition of these three on-campus NIL leadership positions, innovative technology in the form of Learfield’s Compass NIL dealmaking platform, and the Emmy Award-winning Learfield Studios content team into an unmatched full-service NIL offering. This powerful combination seamlessly generates authentic dealmaking and creates opportunities for influential storytelling content between student-athletes and brand partners.

In this newly created role, Blum will help oversee the university’s evolving NIL strategy, working closely with student-athletes, coaches and donors, as well as the Iowa State Foundation and corporate partners to build innovative and sustainable support. His work will focus on aligning the athletic department’s NIL vision with national best practices while staying true to the culture and values of Iowa State.

Blum currently serves as Executive Director of the We Will Collective, where he has helped raise over $12 million in support of Iowa State student-athletes, backed by contributions from more than 10,000 individual donors and area businesses.

“Cyclone Nation’s involvement is as important as ever as we tackle this transition in college athletics,” Blum said. “This next chapter gives us the opportunity to build a more unified and long-term NIL infrastructure for Iowa State. In the short term, continued support of We Will is vital as we move forward.”

Lovell, who has been a member of the CSP staff for three years, will assist Blum in fulfilling NIL sponsorships and Walling, who received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Iowa State while working as a content producer for the Cyclone Football program, will produce NIL-related content for CSP sponsors.

With the House settlement approved by Judge Claudia Wilken earlier this month, the Iowa State Athletics Department will now provide direct financial support to Cyclone student-athletes on top of the world-class education and other benefits that they currently receive. Nearly every Cyclone student-athlete will receive a financial payment from the University for their NIL rights beginning on July 1.

Iowa State Athletics will provide the maximum revenue-sharing amount allowed, currently projected to be $20.5M for the 2025-26 fiscal year, by the House settlement to its student-athletes. The We Will Collective will begin transitioning its members to the We Will Fund that will be housed within the ISU Foundation next month. Contributions to the We Will Fund will allow donors to invest in the support of student-athletes while helping ISU ensure future success of its championship-caliber programs.

“The Iowa State fan base has long-been recognized as one of the nation’s most-loyal, and their continued generous support of the We Will Fund will be critical as we move into college athletics’ new era,” Pollard said. “We are grateful for all of our fans who have contributed to the We Will Collective over the last few years and it is our sincere hope they continue that support as we transition to the We Will Fund to ensure that our programs are positioned for greater success in this new era.”

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

NIL

SEC Coaches On The Hot Seat Entering 2025 College Football Season

This is the time of year when anticipation has reached a boiling point, as the 2025 college football season has finally arrived. For some teams, the realistic chances of having a successful season are hit-and-miss, while others are hoping that they can build off last year and turn it into a spot in the college […]

Published

2 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Unfortunately, for a number of fans, the mixture of excitement and also hesitation to expect much from their team is the unwavering emotion that comes with the territory when rooting for a team that has led you to feel this pit in your stomach of anticipation, as the 2025 season begins.

While there is always hope, plenty of coaches in the SEC are facing expectations of a turnaround season that most certainly could fall flat on the field this season. And, thanks to this new era of college athletics, filled with revenue-sharing and NIL for athletes, schools are going to be quicker to pull the trigger on finding a replacement if things start heading south in short order.

The reality is that athletic directors and presidents can no longer wait until the end of the season to make tough decisions, given that the transfer portal remains the same, along with the temptations that other schools will present athletes on the current roster.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at which coaches are facing the most pressure to win in 2025, with their jobs on the line.

Mark Stoops Must Turn This Around At Kentucky. But, Will The School Pay The Buyout?

If there seems to be more enthusiasm for the basketball team compared to the product Mark Stoops is putting on the field at Kentucky, that is actually a yearly tradition in Lexington.

The problem is, with Stoops entering his 13th year as the head coach, the Wildcats are in the rearview mirror in terms of competitive teams in the SEC. Coming off a 4-8 season in 2024, there isn’t a lot of hope for Kentucky fans this year, especially when the team is hitching their wagon to quarterback Zach Calzada. Yes, the journeyman who has SEC experience. And, that’s not a shot at the transfer quarterback, it’s just reality.

While there have been a few early portions of seasons that have garnered hope for Kentucky fans, things usually fall off the tracks down the stretch. By now, it’s just a common ingredient in the football fandom recipe.

In reality, I don’t know if Mark Stoops has ever gotten over the fact that he was a few hours away from being the head coach at Texas A&M. Add in the fact that there seems to be this perception that Kentucky is spending more rev-share money on basketball than football, and you have a recipe for disaster. But, if the ‘Cats have another rough season in Lexington, the question won’t center around whether it’s time for Stoops to find another job.

Is Kentucky willing to pay Mark Stoops around $40 million to leave? Tough decisions are ahead if this team doesn’t make a bowl game.

Sam Pittman Loves Coaching Arkansas. But, Are The Razorbacks Going To Continue Settling?

It feels like a decade ago when Arkansas went 9-4 in 2021, right? While Sam Pittman is truly one of a kind, his personality can only get him so far in Fayettville.

Remember when I mentioned that schools are not going to wait around until the end of the season to make a decision on the head coach? You can use Arkansas as a prime example when testing this theory in 2025. For the Razorbacks to rebuild their football program into the old scary program that used to haunt teams in the SEC West, it feels as though they need an injection of life, just as John Calipari has done with the basketball program.

The first month of the season will define 2025 for Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks will square-off against Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Memphis and Notre Dame. If they come out of that stretch with a 1-3 record, it might be time for Hunter Yurachek to appoint an interim coach and start looking for their next head coach. As the guys on OutKick’s Hot Mic mentioned last week, Jon Gruden would be the type of hire that would have Arkansas fans calling the Hogs in a more profound way.

It’s Time For Hugh Freeze To Win At Auburn.

Coming off his second-straight losing season with the Tigers, the pressure is on for Hugh Freeze to start competing again for SEC titles, or at least be in contention for a playoff spot.

The excuses have run dry, no longer being able to point towards recruiting or even the financial aspects of this era in college football. Freeze cannot pull a Billy Napier, and have Duece Knight as a backup plan that would save his job if Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold doesn’t work out. The Tigers have receivers, a nice group along the offensive line, and a steady dose of talent on the defensive side.

I had one source recently tell me that it’s eight wins or bust for Freeze this season, but I don’t know if that would even sit well with the Auburn fans. The Tigers did not take advantage of the situation when Nick Saban retired, specifically kicking the dog while it was down, as Kalen DeBoer tried to figure out how to follow a legend.

Now, the pressure is on to win, and I don’t mean making the TaxSlayer Bowl. If Hugh Freeze doesn’t at least flirt with the CFP, the Auburn boosters will come up with the $17 million or so to start looking for a new coach.

DJ Lagway Saved Billy Napier In 2024. Pressure Is On Again In Florida

After it looked as though Florida boosters were going to pressure AD Scott Stricklin to fire Billy Napier midway through the 2024 season, the Gators gave fans something to be excited about in the process of surprising teams down the stretch.

And heading into the 2025 season, the fate of Napier lies on the shoulders of quarterback DJ Lagway.

If there ever was a season where Florida could regain that magic, this is it. Enough talent on the defensive side, along with plenty of weapons on offense to help Lagway, has fans in Gainesville expecting a massive turnaround in 2025. Heck, I have Florida ranked 15th in my preseason poll, which is the type of expectation that the Gators should be ready to thrive on.

Can DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators save Billy Napier from the hot seat, again? (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The problem is that we’ve seen these types of stories before with other teams in college football. If the wheels somehow come off this 4X4 vehicle in 2025, the Gators’ administration is not going to sit by, hoping that it will fix itself. After three seasons, Billy Napier is 19-19 as the head coach. This year, he might only be able to afford to add three or four losses to that overall record, or he’ll be looking for a new job.

Even though that fire dimmed towards the end of 2024, all it takes is a little accelerant to have Gainesville engulfed in flames once again. Buckle up.

Honorable Mention

Brent Venables: While Texas is competing for national championships, Oklahoma is treading water in the SEC, as Brent Venables enters his fourth season as the Sooners head coach. Just like the situation in Gainesville, the Sooners’ fate hangs on the shoulders of transfer quarterback John Mateer. Don’t forget, AD Joe Castiglione is retiring, and you know how these new athletic directors like to bring in their own person for the job.

Jeff Lebby: It’s obvious that Mississippi State needs to win a few SEC games this season. But, would the athletic department pull the trigger after year three if he couldn’t? We’ll see, but the Bulldogs need a bowl game.

Brian Kelly: The only way LSU decides to move-on from Brian Kelly is if this team just falls flat on their face in 2025, with such high expectations. And even then, it would be a tough call for the Tigers administration. But, not contending for national championships in Baton Rouge will get you fired. So, I’m just slightly throwing it on your radar, though I expect the Tigers to have a big season.

Alright, that’s going to do it for the SEC. Next up, we’ll take a look at the Big Ten, where there is plenty of room for this same exact conversation with a number of coaches, especially out in Los Angeles.

Link

NIL

Here’s how Learfield plans to help athletes make NIL content that actually works

Good morning, and thanks for spending part of your day with Extra Points. I’ve written about this phenomenon a few times already, and I expect to do it several more times this year … but everybody in college sports is looking to drive more revenue. Sure, that’s always been the case, but it is especially […]

Published

3 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Good morning, and thanks for spending part of your day with Extra Points.

I’ve written about this phenomenon a few times already, and I expect to do it several more times this year … but everybody in college sports is looking to drive more revenue.

Sure, that’s always been the case, but it is especially true now, as programs face the new expenses of athlete revenue-sharing and expanded scholarship spending, while also navigating institutional financial challenges like the undergraduate enrollment cliff and vanishing federal research money.

Since media rights revenue is typically already accounted for in long-term contracts, and schools can usually only sell so many more tickets, many athletic departments are looking square at their multimedia rights (MMR) partnerships to drive more revenue. If you can’t sell more tickets or get more money from ESPN, perhaps you can sell more sponsorships.

This is also true at the athlete compensation level. If a school already has a corporate sponsorship agreement in place, the university and MMR partner can’t simply redirect funds from the athletic department to individual athletes without that money counting against the House settlement cap.

But if athletes sign new brand sponsorships, even if those sponsorships include university assets, those contracts won’t count against the cap, so long as the contracts pass inspection from the College Sports Commission.

So tl;dr, that means there will be a lot of interest in MMR companies helping to find, or create, legitimate marketing opportunities for college athletes. Every dollar an athlete makes from Nationwide Insurance is a dollar that doesn’t have to come from an athletic department.

The most common ways for athletes to secure brand deals is via social media influencer campaigns. But the dirty little secret is that being good at sports does not automatically mean you’re good at social media influencing. Many brands decided not to renew campaigns with athletes from 2022 to 2024 simply because they weren’t seeing the value of the campaigns. You can’t just give an athlete a smartphone, have them shoot some vapid behind-the-scenes content, and expect people or brands to pay for it.

So if you want to drive new marketing deals via influencer marketing, you have to figure out a way to make athlete-driven content actually work. And at scale, that has so far been difficult to pull off.

But Learfield thinks it has a strategy that actually works … one that won’t just provide financial opportunities for athletes, but educational and professional ones as well.

Want to read the rest of the newsletter? Subscribe today!

Premium Subscriptions make Extra Points possible. Upgrade today to get access to everything we write:

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

Link

NIL

Steve Spurrier downplays need to have a special quarterback to win: ‘Georgia went to a national championship with Stetson Bennett’

Steve Spurrier is never afraid to poke fun at some of his biggest rivals. Another one may have come on Monday, going after the Georgia Bulldogs for their two national championships. Specifically, quarterback Stetson Bennett. Even as Georgia was winning, a lot of conversation surrounded Bennett’s standing with the team. Well, Spurrier has the same […]

Published

3 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Steve Spurrier is never afraid to poke fun at some of his biggest rivals. Another one may have come on Monday, going after the Georgia Bulldogs for their two national championships. Specifically, quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Even as Georgia was winning, a lot of conversation surrounded Bennett’s standing with the team. Well, Spurrier has the same opinion of some fans in Athens. When downplaying the need for a “special quarterback” in order to win the whole thing, he brought up Bennett with UGA.

“I think there’s two areas that are, probably, going to determine the best teams,” Spurrier said. “Obviously, coaching is important. And then special players. It could be the quarterback but it could be other guys. Georgia won two national championships with Stetson Bennett. So, the quarterback, he needs to be a good player but he doesn’t have to be one of those guys that has to throw for 300 yards every game.”

Funny enough, Bennett did surpass the 300-yard mark in three of the four College Football Playoff games he played in. No performance better than the Ohio State win in 2022, throwing for 398 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Georgia’s first national championship, against Alabama, would be considered the worst outing, still putting up a solid 224 yards and two touchdowns while completing over 65% of throws.

There was even a performance against Florida where Bennett got over the mark Spurrier mentioned. It was a blowout victory in favor of Georgia, taking down their arch-rival back in 2022.

Michigan and Ohio State have won the two national championships after Georgia. JJ McCarthy left Ann Arbor and wound up being a first-round selection, slating to start this upcoming season for the Minnesota Vikings. Ohio State got an upgrade at the position via Will Howard, someone who threw for over 4,000 yards during his lone season in Columbus.

As for this season, we have an exciting five months ahead to see who winds up winning the national championship. Some “special” quarterbacks are thought to be playing for some massive programs. NFL scouts will be quite interested to see the likes of Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier.

However, Spurrier can see somebody without a big name ultimately hoisting the trophy in January. His example will get a laugh from a good amount of Florida, and maybe even SEC, fans — downplaying Bennett’s ability while Georgia made their famous two-year run.

Link

NIL

Oklahoma QB John Mateer releases statement on alleged sports gambling controversy

Oklahoma released a statement regarding QB John Mateer and the alleged sports gambling controversy that came to light. The transfer quarterback’s Venmo account was allegedly screenshotted, showing transactions that signaled he was betting on college games. Sooner Scoop previously reported that the school was aware of the alleged incident and was looking into it. Mateer […]

Published

4 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Oklahoma released a statement regarding QB John Mateer and the alleged sports gambling controversy that came to light. The transfer quarterback’s Venmo account was allegedly screenshotted, showing transactions that signaled he was betting on college games.

Sooner Scoop previously reported that the school was aware of the alleged incident and was looking into it. Mateer made it clear to Oklahoma that he never gambled, per George Stoia.

“The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false,” Mateer said in a statement. “My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends.

“I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have no engaged in any sports gambling.”

Mateer was a star at Washington State before he transferred to Norman. The addition promises a jolt to the Sooners’ offense.

Over the course his career with the Cougars, Mateer was a dual threat QB. He threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 64.6% completion percentage, 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in 2024.

Having swagger like Mateer’s isn’t an accident. He has been that good throughout his college career to this point, which even leads him to talking trash in practice and during games.

“I know from playing football, it gets people going a little bit,” Mateer told reporters after fall camp practice on Monday. “And that’s what you need on this field. Like, this (is) practice four, and it’s great, but come here soon it’s gonna be, ‘Damn, this practice is hot,’ this and that, so you can get everybody going a little bit more. And that comes from me.

“I’m the quarterback, I’m the leader, so I’ve got to do it. I love doing it — if you talk a little trash, you’ll get the best out of everybody.”

Mateer’s status as the leader of the team comes without him ever playing a down of football for the Sooners. The 2025 season will be Mateer’s first with the program alongside new Sooners offensive coordinator and QB coach Ben Arbuckle earlier this offseason. The two are expected to lead the offense to greater heights than what they saw in 2024.

Link

NIL

Georgia football ranks top five in initial Coaches and AP polls | Georgia Sports

Georgia enters the 2025 season ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 college football preseason poll and No. 4 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. This marks a slight reduction from the two previous seasons, when Georgia was the top-ranked team in the 2023 and 2024 preseason AP Polls. The Bulldogs received just one […]

Published

5 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Georgia enters the 2025 season ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 college football preseason poll and No. 4 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

This marks a slight reduction from the two previous seasons, when Georgia was the top-ranked team in the 2023 and 2024 preseason AP Polls. The Bulldogs received just one first-place vote, finishing with 1,331 total points to narrowly rank above Notre Dame, which sits at No. 6 with 1,325 points.

Despite losing to Georgia twice last season, Texas took the top spot in both rankings with promising quarterback Arch Manning officially becoming the Longhorns’ starter. The second and third spots in the AP poll are held by Penn State and Ohio State, respectively, with the two swapping places in the Coaches Poll. While it ranks below Georgia at No. 6 in the Coaches Poll, Clemson places one spot above the Bulldogs at No. 4 in the more recently announced AP poll.

After an up-and-down 2024 season in which Georgia ranked as high as No. 1 and as low as No. 12, the Bulldogs managed to take the No. 2 ranking into the College Football Playoff after their SEC Championship victory over Texas. Following a loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, however, Georgia was leapfrogged by teams still in title contention and finished the year ranked No. 6.

While Georgia remains a true contender for the 2025 season, concerns such as Gunner Stockton’s lack of experience and multiple talented players graduating likely played a role in the decision to rank a few teams above the Bulldogs.

The SEC has 10 ranked teams in the AP poll, the most of any conference, followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with four. Five of Georgia’s opponents for the 2025 season enter the year ranked; Texas at No. 1, Alabama at No. 8, Florida at No. 15, Ole Miss at No. 21, and Tennessee at No. 24.

Link

NIL

The Journey of Nebraska Football Jacob Bower

In an era where college football is increasingly defined by transfer portal headlines and NIL deals, Jacob Bower’s story cuts through the noise with raw authenticity. A former walk-on who once paid his way just to be part of the Nebraska program, Bower has transformed himself into a scholarship linebacker and a symbol of everything […]

Published

6 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In an era where college football is increasingly defined by transfer portal headlines and NIL deals, Jacob Bower’s story cuts through the noise with raw authenticity.

A former walk-on who once paid his way just to be part of the Nebraska program, Bower has transformed himself into a scholarship linebacker and a symbol of everything the Huskers hope to build under head coach Matt Rhule. His journey, from scout team reps to spring standout, isn’t just a feel-good tale. It’s a blueprint for the kind of player development that still matters in Lincoln.

Bower’s rise from walk-on to scholarship linebacker at Nebraska is the kind of story that reminds fans why they love college football. At just 10 years old, Bower wasn’t chasing tackles; he was singing in a traveling church choir. But during a performance stop at Memorial Stadium, something shifted.
Bower fell in love with Nebraska football, planting the seed for a journey that would one day bring him back, not as a visitor, but as a linebacker.

The Rancho Santa Margarita, California, native had a full ride waiting at Army, with the chance to play rugby and earn a free education. But the pull of Nebraska was stronger. He turned down certainty for a shot at something bigger, walking on in Lincoln and footing the bill himself, all to chase a dream that started in the stands of Memorial Stadium.

Jacob Bower walked on to Lincoln in 23 to little fanfare,using a RS & developing he continued 24 by playing in 6 games!Getting better every day Bower in 25 has earned a scholarship and will surprise fans this season & has a big future ahead!We are 54 days out til Husker Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/yeNxcgvUQp

— Tyler Pedersen (@TylerSPedersen) July 5, 2025

After piling up 174 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions over his final two seasons at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Bower arrived in Lincoln in 2023 as a walk-on determined to earn his place in the Huskers’ locker room. Capping off his senior season, Bower earned a spot in the Orange County All-Star Game, where he earned recognition as one of the game’s top defensive performers.

After redshirting in his first season at Nebraska, Bower saw action in six games during the 2024 season, making his Husker debut against UTEP. He logged his first career tackle in the win over Northern Iowa, quietly beginning to carve out a role on Nebraska’s special teams and defensive depth chart.

Bower’s relentless drive and breakout spring showing in 2025 didn’t go unnoticed. During a routine practice, Rhule halted the action to deliver a moment that would redefine Bower’s journey, awarding him a scholarship in front of the entire team.

Next. Nebraska Football Season Central. Nebraska Football Season Central. dark

Bower’s path to a Nebraska scholarship wasn’t paved with headlines or shortcuts. From choir kid to walk-on to game-changer, his story is a reminder that in Lincoln, heart still matters. For the Huskers, Bower isn’t just a player; he’s proof that the dream is still alive.

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Home games are bolded. All times central.

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Link