NIL

SBJ Unpacks

Published

5 months ago

August 12, 2025

There’s a phrase I heard a lot growing up in diving: “Fat don’t flip.” It wasn’t just a joke. It was a doctrine. A standard. A weapon.

From the outside, elite sports look like dreams built on discipline, talent, and opportunity. What they don’t see are the scars — emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical — that so many of us carry long after the competition ends. What they don’t hear are the whispered comments from coaches about our bodies, the praise for our weight loss during heartbreak, or the silence when we cry behind locker room doors.

I was a Division I scholarship athlete, a national champion, a world champion, a coach of elite-level athletes and now, a professor and advocate. But none of those titles ever quieted the voice in my head that still panics at the sight of a scale or the thought of putting on a swimsuit.

Because long before I earned letters after my name, I was taught something much louder than empowerment: I was taught shame.

When performance is measured in pounds

I remember stepping on the scale at 118 pounds and crying. I had trained 20+ hours a week, added extra workouts on my own and taken extra fitness classes. But 118 felt like failure. My coach wouldn’t say “you’re fat.” He didn’t have to. His silence did the work. The expectations did the work. The way his eyes looked up and down my body did the work.

I learned that “success” meant squeezing into a suit two sizes too small while pretending not to flinch when a coach yanked it higher on my hips, exposing more of my 12-year-old body because that’s what “real divers” wore. That’s what made me look “good.” That’s what got compliments. That’s what got approval.

And I wanted approval more than anything.

Because when you’re young and hungry for greatness, you don’t question the rules. You just follow them — even when they slowly destroy you.

Coaching or control?

We romanticize coaches. We paint them as heroes who push us to greatness. But what happens when they push us too far? What happens when their “motivation” crosses into manipulation, shame and abuse?

I’ve had coaches ignore my phone calls because they thought I was “too fat to coach.” I’ve had others celebrate my weight loss in the aftermath of a breakup — not because they cared about my pain, but because they liked the way it looked on me. I’ve been hugged, praised and welcomed — only after proving I was small enough, pretty enough, good enough to be seen again.

It took me years to realize that wasn’t normal. That wasn’t love. That wasn’t coaching. It was control.

Worse, it wasn’t just me.

The epidemic we don’t talk about

In conversations with other athletes, especially those no longer competing, I hear the same story told in different voices:

“I wanted to go back, but I couldn’t handle wearing a swimsuit again.”

“I still hear my coach’s voice in my head every time I eat.”

“I can’t even look at old pictures without hating my body.”

These aren’t isolated stories. They’re symptoms of a system that prioritizes medals over mental health, body aesthetics over joy, performance over people.

Sport should empower. Too often, it traumatizes.

When the body becomes the battlefield

Sport is supposed to be about growth, resilience and power. But too often, it becomes a battlefield where our bodies are the enemy. We are trained to ignore pain, to glorify injury, to idolize thinness and to equate self-worth with performance.

Coaches — even well-meaning ones — often reinforce these toxic ideals; sometimes unknowingly, other times not. They celebrate the skinnier athlete. They ignore disordered eating until it becomes life-threatening. They touch our hips and adjust our suits without ever asking if we feel safe.

And when you’re young, you internalize all of it.

You don’t just learn how to dive — you learn how to hate yourself.

Reclaiming sport, reclaiming ourselves

As I’ve reconnected with the sports world — this time outside the lens of competition — I’ve found that not all spaces are toxic. There are communities where joy comes first. Where bodies of all shapes and sizes are celebrated. Where performance is personal, not perfectionistic.

These spaces reminded me that movement can be medicine, not punishment. That we don’t have to earn our right to show up. That sport can be about strength, not shame.

But we shouldn’t have to leave elite athletics to find this. We shouldn’t have to walk away from the sports we love just to finally feel safe.

A Call for a New Culture

It’s time for a reckoning. In sport. In coaching. In how we talk to young athletes. In how we treat their bodies.

We must confront:

Sexual harassment disguised as coaching
Body shaming masked as “motivation”
Disordered eating normalized as “discipline”
Mental health struggles ignored for the sake of medals

And it’s not enough to just “raise awareness” or write new mission statements. We need real action.

We need to remove coaches from leadership who are abusing athletes — even if they win championships, even if they produce Olympians, even if they’re considered “the best.” Success does not excuse abuse. Winning does not erase harm. You don’t get to hide behind gold medals when you’ve crushed the spirit of the athletes who got you there.

Too many athletes are being sacrificed on the altar of legacy. Too many athletic departments, clubs and national organizations are choosing silence because the results look good on paper. But behind those podium photos are broken bodies, shattered confidence and lives forever changed by the people who were supposed to protect and support them.

We need coaches trained in empathy, not just strategy. We need environments where athletes feel seen as whole people, not just performing bodies. We need systems that reward well-being, not silence.

Because no child should ever cry over 118 pounds. No girl should ever be told her worth is in her waistline. And no athlete — ever — should feel too ashamed to do the sport they love.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an athlete who’s been hurt by sport: You are not alone. If you’re a coach: Your words can lift up or tear down. Choose them carefully. And if you’re someone still battling the voice that says you’re not enough: I see you.

You were always enough.

Let’s create a culture that tells the next generation the truth: Strong flips. Joy flips. Confidence flips.

And yes — fat flips, too.

Dr. Chelsea Ale is the president of the U.S. Professional Diving Coaches Association and a professor of sport management at the University of Alabama.

NIL

Jon Sumrall: ‘Common Sense’ Can Fix College Football, Credits Ole Miss In Portal

Published

20 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

There is an ongoing debate around college football centered around how to fix the sport, as it pertains to the calendar which coaches and players have to abide by. The two main topics seem to be the transfer portal, along with the timing of the CFP.

As you have most certainly noticed over the past month, there have been numerous coaches who have taken other jobs while also participating in the playoff. None of these moves have garnered the attention of Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss for LSU right before the Rebels postseason run.

But, lost in the shuffle of daily news simmering out of Baton Rouge are other coaches like Florida’s Jon Sumrall, who coached two teams during a chaotic stretch which saw Tulane face Ole Miss in the first round of the college football playoff.

The same could be said for Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, who is the new head coach at Kentucky, while defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi accepted the Cal Bears head coaching position.

Both of these assistants have stuck with Oregon during its CFP run and will be on the sideline Friday night when the Ducks face Indiana for a spot in the national championship.

So, while making sure both of their new jobs are taken care of when it comes to roster management and setting up for future success, they are still helping Dan Lanning prepare for a rematch against the Hoosiers.

College Football Calendar Can Be Fixed, Right?

But, as Gators head coach Jon Sumrall pointed out during an interview with OutKick’s Hot Mic crew of Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow, all it takes is a little common sense to fix the calendar.

This is obviously easier said than done, with the college football playoff still ongoing, and the transfer portal is only open for just over one more week. So, how do they fix it?

“In the NFL, they’ve got this thing figured out where they do this thing called football season,” Sumrall quipped. “At the end of football season, you can have coach movement and player movement, but nobody can leave until the season’s over, unless someone is traded. Then, after the season is over, coaches and players can move …

“How can we change that in our world? Move the season up, start the playoffs earlier. End the playoffs earlier, closer to January 1, like we used to do. I think there is a way we can get the national championship game back closer to January 1st, and then everybody right now would be focused on just player movement.”

And while most of that sounds easy, I don’t know how many leaders running college football think the same way.

For Sumrall, it might be a little bit too easy.

“I don’t think it’s that complicated. I do think it takes common sense, and I don’t know how many people got that.”

In a world in which players are paid six to seven figures to play football, there are still archaic rules around the sport, which make zero sense to a coach like Jon Sumrall. And, I imagine he’s not alone in his thinking.

“We give out Jordan Brand shoes here, because we’re a Jumpman school,” Sumrall noted. “So, that’s like a cool, hip thing. And I’ve got all those Jordan’s on my desk here, but we can’t give them to the players after their careers are over because the monetary value is too great. It’s called an extra-benefit.

“I’m like, the shoes are worth a couple-hundred bucks, I don’t know maybe a couple thousand bucks, I don’t know how much they’re worth. But, we’re already paying these dudes. Why can’t we give them these shoes?”

Yes, these are current dilemmas ongoing within college athletics. Don’t give them shoes!!

Sumrall Credits Ole Miss For Putting Together Strong NIL Presence

The former Tulane coach is now doing his best to adjust to life within the SEC, but he does have a perspective on CFP semifinalist Ole Miss, who will battle Miami on Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl.

“They beat us 45-10 in Game 1, and 41-10 in Game2. They look a lot the same to me. They kicked our ass both times.”

But, it’s not only about what you see on the field with the Rebels. How Ole Miss has been able to retain players during this time period as the transfer portal runs wild is a testament to what Pete Golding has been able to do during chaotic times in Oxford.

Trinidad Chambliss’ Ole Miss Future Hinges On NCAA Waiver — New NIL Deal Raises Stakes With Potential Lawsuit

If the Rebels coach did not have such a solid foundation built by athletic director Keith Carter, along with Walker Jones of the Grove Collective, they would not be retaining players like Kewan Lacy, along with Trinidad Chambliss pending his NCAA waiver.

For that, Jon Sumrall is doing his best in Florida to replicate the structure built in Oxford, and build that same kind of foundation in Gainesville.

“We talked about alignment, structure and organization within the portal. I think Ole Miss has had great success. Not to take away anything from Lane, but Keith Carter, Walker Jones, not taking anything away from Pete (Golding) either. But Ole Miss, they’re doing this NIL, rev-share stuff, as good as anybody in America.

“They’re paying dudes, and they are writing bigger checks. And, kudos to them. They’ve got a great plan that we all need to learn from and emulate. So, they’re a really good football team. I didn’t see many weaknesses when we played them in Game 1 or 2.”

Continue following OutKick and Trey Wallace for the latest news around college football, as we get you prepared for the CFP semifinals later this week!

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RB Jadan Baugh affirms commitment to Florida; spurns Texas’ pursuit of transfer

Published

1 hour ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Getty Images

Jadan Baugh will return to the Florida Gators for the 2026 season. The star running back announced his decision to run it back in Gainesville on Instagram on Tuesday.

That came after ample speculation he could follow former Florida running backs coach Jabbar Juluke to Texas. The Longhorns have a need for a new starting running back after the departure of Tre Wisner (and others) from Austin. The Gators put up a strong push to retain Baugh, as keeping the SEC’s third-leading rusher from 2025 in Gainesville became a top priority for Jon Sumrall and the new Florida staff.

As reported by CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson, the expectation was that Baugh would command more than $1 million on the transfer portal market as part of the surge in price for star backs this season. The question was less whether Florida would be willing to spend on Baugh, but more if Baugh would view the Gators under Sumrall as the best opportunity for him. Texas figured to offer a starting spot, a familiar face in Juluke and the opportunity for ample attention in the backfield alongside quarterback Arch Manning.

However, Baugh opted to stick around in Florida as the Gators seem to have met his asking price and answered any questions he might’ve had about how the offense will operate in 2026.

With former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner making the move to Gainesville — and bringing quarterback Aaron Philo with him — the expectation is the Gators will lean on the ground game in 2026 similarly to the Yellow Jackets in 2025. Faulkner was surely part of the sales pitch to Baugh, and he bought in on that vision.

Baugh rushed for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns on 220 carries this season, with his 266 yards against Florida State in the Gators’ season finale serving as an exclamation point on his year. Now he’ll be back for his junior campaign in Gainesville in a big victory for Sumrall in retaining a top talent, fending off the Longhorns and others hoping to poach the star back and further weaken the Gators’ roster.

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Urban Meyer Sends Strong Message About Colorado New Athletic Director

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

When the Colorado Buffaloes named Fernando Lovo as their next athletic director, the move resonated far beyond Boulder, drawing attention from some of the most prominent figures in college football.

Dec 26, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Mexico Lobos athletic director Fernando Lovo against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Among those offering the loudest praise was three-time national champion coach Urban Meyer, who witnessed firsthand Lovo’s rise from a student assistant at Florida to an indispensable executive at Ohio State and then the NFL.

The Urban Meyer Connection and a Proven Pedigree

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer hoists the trophy following their 42-20 win over Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 12, 2015. (Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch) | Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“He’s the best at what he does, regardless of the responsibility,” Meyer said of Lovo. “He will be a great athletic director. He’s the ultimate team player with extremely high character and high work ethic. He was always a guy I could trust. When he was an undergraduate at Florida, very early on… his reputation started to make its way to me as the head coach. He was a guy that I brought with me to Ohio State. He’s elite.”

It’s an endorsement that carries immense weight because it’s rooted in firsthand observation of a championship-caliber work ethic. For Lovo, moving from Florida to Ohio State alongside Meyer wasn’t just a career jump; it was a testament to his ability to manage the high-pressure, high-stakes ecosystem of elite college football.

Meyer’s success was built on surrounding himself with people who could handle the grind of a championship program, and Lovo was a primary pillar in that structure. At Florida, Lovo was part of the 2008 National Championship staff working as an equipment manager. He then followed Meyer to Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes win the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014.

To be hand-picked by one of the most demanding and successful coaches in the history of the sport speaks volumes about Lovo’s operational brilliance and the high regard Meyer held for him, even early in his career.

But it isn’t just about Lovo’s resume; it’s about the “trust” Meyer mentioned. In the modern era of college athletics, an athletic director must be more than a figurehead; they must be a tactical partner who understands the nuances of football operations, NIL, and revenue generation. Meyer’s public backing confirms that Lovo possesses the rare combination of character and the relentless work ethic required to navigate Colorado through its current financial and competitive hurdles.

Alignment with the “Coach Prime” Vision

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during the second quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

While Rick George was the architect of the Deion Sanders hire, the future of Colorado football now rests in the synergy between Lovo and “Coach Prime.” Though early indications suggest the two are already in lockstep. Sanders, who participated in the hiring process, was quick to express his enthusiasm for Lovo’s arrival, emphasizing the need for a leader who understands the “city and wonderful university.”

“He is a man of character and the type of leader this department, city and wonderful university deserves,” Sanders said. “He has a great knowledge of football and understands what it takes to win in today’s game. I’m motivated to show all of our incredible fans the tremendous heights we will take this program.”

For Colorado to reach those “heights,” the relationship must mirror the professional alignment George and Sanders shared. Lovo’s background as a “football guy” first ensures that he speaks the same language as Sanders, providing the administrative support that “Coach Prime” will need.

MORE: Zac Taylor Doesn’t Hold Back About Shedeur Sanders’ Impact at Colorado

MORE: Colorado’s Latest Transfer Portal Departure Adds To Buffaloes’ Growing Concerns

MORE: Best Transfer Portal Fits For Former Colorado Cornerback DJ McKinney

Why the Lovo Hire Is Pivotal for Colorado

Colorado’s decision to hire Fernando Lovo comes at a defining moment for the university. Rising costs, NIL, revenue sharing, facility demands, and increasing competitive pressure in the Big 12 have fundamentally reshaped the role of the athletic director. However, Lovo’s track record at New Mexico, where he helped lead the department to a record revenue year and a 17.6 percent budget increase in just twelve months, aligns perfectly with what CU’s Board of Regents set out to find.

He’s no longer just a rising name in athletic administration. He brings years of hands-on experience in revenue generation, operational restructuring, and facility management—areas that have become inseparable from competitive success at the Power Four level.

With his experience and the trust and support of influential voices like Urban Meyer and “Coach Prime,” Lovo steps into Boulder with momentum already behind him. Now, the task is turning that momentum into results.

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Missouri football star DE Damon Wilson to enter transfer portal

Published

3 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Updated Jan. 6, 2026, 12:55 p.m. CT

The offseason decision for Damon Wilson II appeared to be two-fold: Return to Columbia, or head to the NFL as a junior.

There was a third option, which came in a surprise announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

Wilson, the star Missouri football defensive end, will enter the transfer portal, he posted to Instagram on Tuesday. The news was first reported by Hayes Fawcett and On3. The move does not necessarily mean Wilson won’t head to the NFL, where he had received some top-100 projections for the 2026 draft.

But it appears that if Wilson remains in college, it will not be at Mizzou.

The defensive end was one of the SEC’s leading pass rushers in 2026, recording 54 total pressures across 13 games. That included a team-high eight sacks.

Wilson only spent one season with Missouri after transferring to the Tigers from Georgia, where he spent two seasons.

The defensive end and his former school have become one of the stories of the college football offseason, as they have each filed litigation against one another over an NIL dispute.

UGA is attempting to take Wilson into arbitration and is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages from the star edge rusher, who transferred to the Tigers in January 2025, over what the university views as an unfulfilled contract with the Bulldogs’ former NIL collective, Classic City Collective.

Wilson then countersued Georgia athletics, a move countering a Georgia lawsuit filed against Wilson earlier this year and escalating what was already a novel and likely first-of-its-kind case over an NIL contract dispute.

In response, escalating what was already an attempt at a potentially precedent-setting case, Wilson’s attorneys allege that his former team “falsely (told) at least three programs” unnamed Power Four teams that “Wilson would be subject to a $1.2 million buyout.”

Wilson’s suit also alleges that Georgia violated a confidentiality provision on his term sheet, which was provided as part of the UGA lawsuit in a public court filing.

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Arch Manning Made How Much Money? Where QB’s NIL Earnings Reportedly Rank vs. CFB HCs

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Texas quarterback Arch Manning reportedly made more than the large majority of college football head coaches last season.

Manning is estimated to have made $6.8 million through NIL deals during his first season as the Longhorns’ starter in 2025, according to The Athletic’s Will Leitch.

USA Today reports that 35 college football coaches made more than $6.8 million last season.

According to Leitch’s estimate, Manning made more in NIL than coaches like Auburn’s Hugh Freeze ($6.734 million) or Kansas’ Lance Leipold ($6.65 million) made in salary in 2025.

Leitch’s estimate is higher than the valuation provided by On3, which projects the value of Manning’s NIL portfolio at $5.3 million.

Evan that total would have ranked Manning 46th among coaches’ salaries last season, as reported by USA Today.

Texas fell short of a College Football Playoff run after finishing Manning’s first starting season with a 10-3 record.

Manning will hope to change that in 2026. He is set to return for his redshirt junior season with the Longhorns rather than declaring for the 2026 NFL draft.

Quarterback prices are rising around the NCAA. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reporedt in December that top transfer quarterbacks could receive $5 million just for the 2026 season.

Manning could potentially pull in even more NIL earnings than last season as he prepares to enter what could be his final college campaign next fall.

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Austin Simmons signs with Missouri out of NCAA Transfer Portal

Published

5 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons has signed, committing to transfer to Missouri, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. As a sophomore last season, he has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

After losing his starting position in Oxford two games into this past season due to injury, Simmons will start anew in Columbia under Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Simmons finished the 2025 season completing 45-of-75 passes for 744 yards and four touchdowns.

Simmons opened the 2025 season as Ole Miss’ starting quarterback, leading the Rebels to wins over Georgia State and Kentucky with a combined 576 passing yards and three touchdowns. But an ankle injury in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats forced him to miss multiple games, which opened the door for former Division II Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss to step in and establish himself as the Rebels’ QB1 with four straight victories, relegating Simmons to a backup role once he returned from injury.

Simmons has thrown for 1,026 yards and six touchdowns in 17 total games across two seasons in Oxford. He signed with Ole Miss as a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle after reclassifying two full years having completed the prerequisite courses to graduate. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Simmons was ranked as the No. 19 quarterback and No. 266 overall prospects in the 2023 class out of Moore Haven Junior/Senior High in Pahokee, Fla., according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

After entering the transfer portal on Jan. 2, Simmons pledged to remain with the Rebels through their run in the College Football Playoff. While playing out the season might be atypical of transferring quarterbacks, Simmons may have already had a destination in mind given his “do-not-contact” tag in the portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Missouri has been considered the favorite to land Simmons since he entered, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Tigers are looking to replace 2025 starter Beau Pribula, who announced his intentions to enter the portal last month after just one season in Columbia.

Despite losing his starting position, Simmons never lost the faith of now-former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who left himself to take over at LSU ahead of the Rebels’ College Football Playoff run.

“I think we have the best quarterback room in the country,” Kiffin said Nov. 11. “I think Austin (Simmons) is a great quarterback, was playing really well for a first-time starter, and I think he’d be having a great year if he was still in there. I have all the confidence in the world in him. So I think we have two that are better than a lot of people’s No. 1.”

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