KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – There’s no “I” in “team,” but there’s three in “millionaire” and one big one in NIL, or Name, Image and Likeness. It’s a system that’s causing headaches for coaches and putting money in student athlete pockets.

Since coming on the scene, NIL deals have created confusion and turned college sports into, for all intents and purposes, a professional sports league. This early into its implementation, the NIL world is also the wild west.

“It’s just so vastly different,” WVLT contributor and staple of the Volquest staff Brent Hubbs said. “We’re all trying to get our hands on the landscape, and it’s a landscape that keeps changing seemingly every year, and at this point, nothing seems really unimaginable, if you will.”

NIL was originally implemented to supplement student athlete scholarships, but as more money has come into the world of college football, student paychecks are getting bigger and bigger. In some ways, it’s created a sense of entitlement for some players.

Previous Coverage: ‘No one is bigger than the Power T’ | Tennessee parts ways with Nico Iamaleava

Most recently, the University of Tennessee went through that with the departure of Nico Iamaleava. The player recently parted ways with Tennessee after reports that he was unhappy with his pay.

ESPN’s Chris Low, who broke the news about Iamaleava, said part of the issue is the lack of regulation when it comes to what a player is worth.

“You tell me what fair market value is,” he said. “You get 40 people together. They’re going to give you different definitions of what fair market value is.”

Head Coach Josh Heupel went on the record after a Nico Iamaleava-less Orange and White game to confirm the university was moving on from the quarterback. He also spoke about the obstacles of recruiting in 2025.

“You’re looking at the physical traits and playing style of the player. You’re looking at the developmental plan, right?” he said. “You try to find the right guy at the right time and right price.”

Those last two words — right price — make all the difference.

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PROVO, Utah – The No. 11 Red Raiders (41-12, 19-4) fell to BYU (31-15, 13-10) in a defensive struggle that saw both teams combined for just six hits as the Cougars won 2-1 thanks to home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Chloe Riassetto was given the loss, threw a great game. The lefty allowed just four hits and although she did not strike anyone out, she did a good job of pitching to contact and letting her defense work behind her – something that has worked well for Tech when Riassetto is in the circle.

Alexa Langeliers made several web-gem plays at second base including a diving catch in the bottom of the second inning. While Mihyia Davis saved an extra-base hit and ended the second inning after throwing out a BYU batter who was trying to stretch a single into a double.

The Cougars had just two runners in scoring position all game but capitalized when they needed it most with a two-run home run in their half of the sixth.

Tech got its lone run across in the fifth inning after Victora Valdez was hit by a pitch and then Makayla Garcia came in to pinch run for the catcher and steal second base. Garcia’s stolen base was the 93^rd of the season for the Red Raiders, setting a new single-season record for the program. With Garcia on second, Davis found a soft spot in the defense and was able to double home the run and give Tech a 1-0 lead late.

NiJaree Canady threw 1.0 inning in the bottom of the fifth after the lead-off BYU batter got to second base with a single and advancement on an error. Canady retired the next three Cougar batters to get Tech out of the inning.

UP NEXT: Tech will play BYU again tomorrow at 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

 

Score By Periods

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Baylor BU	0	1	2	7	0	10	13	0
Iowa State ISU	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2

W: Walker, Lillie (11-8)
L: Schurman, Lauren (13-10)

AMES, Iowa – Baylor Softball shut out Iowa State in run rule fashion, 10-0, in its series opener Friday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The Bears are now 26-24 on the season and 11-11 in conference play. 
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Bears threatened early in the top of the first when Brooklyn Carter singled and stole second before Shaylon Govan walked but after moving to second and third on a sacrifice bunt the Bears were retired. 
 
Baylor scored first in the top of the second after retiring the Cyclones in order in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Leah Cran doubled to right-centerfield before Faith Piper reached on an error that allowed Cran to score. 
 
Carter, who went 3-for-4 on the day recorded her second hit in the top of the third, a bunt single to lead things off. After a follow up single from Govan, Turiya Coleman reached on a fielder’s choice that had everyone safe and loaded the bases. Karynton Dawson laced a single through the right side to bring one run home before Abi Flores made it a 3-0 game with a sacrifice fly. 
 
Iowa State got runners into scoring position in the bottom of the third after back-to-back one out singled and a wild pitch, but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat. 
 
Baylor broke things open in the top of the fourth, plating seven runs on five hits. Presleigh Pilon led off the inning getting hit by a pitch before Carter doubled and Govan singled to bring home the first run. After a strikeout, Carter scored after stealing third and coming home on a throwing error before Dawson walked to put two on for Flores. Flores lined a double down the left field line to bring home both runners and make it a 7-0 game. Cran, who returned to the field for the first time in 20 games, homered to left-center, a three-run shot to put the Bears up 10-0. 
 
Keeping the Cyclones off of the board in the bottom of the fourth, Govan and Dawson singled in the fifth and Amber Toven walked but no more runs would come across for the Bears. 
 
BU shut down Iowa State in the bottom of the fifth, only allowing a walk, to keep the shutout and secure the run-rule victory. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Bears recorded 13 or more hits for the fourth time this season
• Lillie Walker improved to 11-8 on the season, striking out three
• Brooklyn Carter went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double
• Shaylon Govan was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk
• Karynton Dawson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk
• Leah Cran returned for her first game since March 16 after dealing with an injury
• Cran was 2-for-3 at the plate with a team-leading three RBIs, a double and a home run
• Three other Bears recorded a hit
• Faith Piper and Turiya Coleman both have a team-leading seven-game hitting and on-base streak
• BU now holds the 46-24 all-time record over the Cyclones
• This marks the Bears’ 14^th time holding opponents to four or less hits this season

 
UP NEXT
The Bears will face Iowa State for game two of the three-game series Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. CT. 
 

 – BaylorBears.com –

16. Mississippi State Bulldogs

No team in the SEC took more transfers (32) than Jeff Lebby and Mississippi State this cycle, a necessity given last season’s lackluster finish. Outside of quarterback Blake Shapen, this is an entirely new team in Starkville and that’s a positive development.

15. Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats could have as many as a dozen new starters via the transfer portal, including former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada and Alabama wideout Kendrick Law. Kentucky’s offensive line is a question.

14. Vanderbilt Commodores

Continuing the momentum from last season’s improvement is a priority for Clark Lea and he brings Diego Pavia back under center to lead.

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Terrance Williams II transferred to USC for a final season of college basketball. After an injury cost him all but seven games, he’ll get another chance to suit up at the college level.

USC recently announced Williams, who played four years at Michigan, would return for the 2025-26 season. He told MLive his medical hardship waiver has already been approved by the NCAA.

Williams played in seven games for USC last year, starting six, before breaking the scaphoid in his right (shooting) wrist on Dec. 4. He did not appear in a game the rest of the season. The 6-foot-7 forward was averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and shooting a career-best 51 percent from the field.

The Trojans went 17-18 last season under first-year head coach Eric Musselman, finishing 7-13 in the Big Ten. They’ll visit Ann Arbor next season at a to-be-announced date.

Williams was allowed to play last season because his freshman campaign in 2020-21 did not count against his eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver. Williams played in 21 games off the bench that year as Michigan won the Big Ten and reached the Elite Eight. His minutes doubled as a sophomore and he moved into the starting lineup for his final two seasons at Michigan, all under then-head coach Juwan Howard.

Williams graduated from Michigan and considered staying to play for new coach Dusty May. He ultimately chose to leave, but stay in the Big Ten, transferring to USC. In an interview with MLive before Michigan played at USC in January, Williams said he’d made a great decision to go to Los Angeles.

“I’ve run into many Michigan alumni and have great conversations with them,” Williams said. “They know I’ve got that Michigan degree, I’m a Michigan man.”

He was pondering a sixth season at the time, mentioning the money available to him through an NIL deal. Now that’s official.

Williams is already looking forward to the game against his former school. “Returning to Crisler definitely will be exciting,” he told MLive on Thursday, “because that’s where home was for me.”

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