NIL

Colorado governor signs bill letting universities pay student athletes

The transparency concerns were bipartisan, but there were never the votes to change the law. Instead, CU Boulder agreed only to publish aggregate amounts by sport. “I have concerns about the bill’s new Colorado Open Records Act exception regarding student-athlete contracts,” wrote Polis. “While the bill’s exception is narrowly tailored, it follows an unfortunate trend […]

Published

1 month ago

April 1, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Colorado governor signs bill letting universities pay student athletes

The Unaffiliated — All politics, no agenda.

The transparency concerns were bipartisan, but there were never the votes to change the law. Instead, CU Boulder agreed only to publish aggregate amounts by sport.

“I have concerns about the bill’s new Colorado Open Records Act exception regarding student-athlete contracts,” wrote Polis. “While the bill’s exception is narrowly tailored, it follows an unfortunate trend of legislative proposals that ultimately impede access to official records that are arguably within the public’s interest to view. These exceptions move transparency in the wrong direction and any other proposals that further prevent or delay public access to information will be carefully reviewed.”

University officials also told lawmakers during bill hearings that Colorado schools would be at a disadvantage, as many states are keeping payments secret, and private universities aren’t subject to open records laws.

This story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

But Roberts said it was nonetheless encouraging that Polis recognizes the trend as something the legislature should revisit.

A packed Folsom Field as the University of Colorado Boulder takes on Baylor University on Sept. 22, 2024. (Jesse Paul The Colorado Sun)

Universities receive millions in annual revenue from media rights deals to broadcast games, and now the schools will have to share that revenue with the student-athletes. Lawmakers and Polis were in agreement that they must allow the payments, but there was significant debate about whether those payments should be secret.

“It’s better than saying ‘Let’s keep closing things off,’ “ Roberts said with a laugh.

Federal court settlements essentially forced state lawmakers to pass a bill allowing universities like CU Boulder to pay student-athletes for the use of their NIL rights. State law had prohibited the practice.

Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation that will allow universities to pay athletes directly for their name, image and likeness rights, but he added a signing statement asking the legislature to eventually revisit the secrecy around specific payment amounts.

Polis, he noted, has signed a raft of measures that hide records, including the identities of people who applied for compensation when their property is destroyed by wildlife. And Polis has signed legislation exempting the legislature from open meetings laws.

CU Boulder argued that making the payment amounts public could result in the harassment of high-profile athletes who have a bad game. The NCAA has long warned that with the rise of sports gambling and increased interest in college sports is already subjecting players to abuse.

The Daily Sun-Up podcast | More episodes

Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to high journalistic standards.

Still, Polis’ statement lamenting the trend against government transparency was curious to Jeff Roberts, the executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

Schools have never negotiated for athletes’ name, image and likeness rights, and proponents of transparency said that keeping payments secret would make it impossible to know, for instance, if the athletic director’s child gets a sweetheart NIL deal or if a Black football player were to be paid less than a similarly situated white player.

This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at cpr.org.

NIL

After a Projected $46.5M Deal, Travis Hunter Outshines NIL Topper Shedeur Sanders in Rookie NFL Season

Colorado dual-star and Heisman winner Travis Hunter was the second player taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted Hunter so badly that they jumped ahead three picks with the Cleveland Browns to make the move, giving up two firsts and a second-round pick in the process. As the second overall pick in […]

Published

14 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As the second overall pick in the draft, Hunter made himself a lot of money. His rookie deal, according to overthecap.com, is worth four years, $46.5 million with a $30.6 million signing bonus. He is set to make $11.6 million per year.

Hunter’s teammate at Colorado, Shedeur Sanders, isn’t in the same boat as Hunter as far as the value of his rookie contract. While he was once considered a top-three pick, Sanders slid to the fifth round of the draft, costing him millions of dollars.

According to overthecap.com, Sanders’ rookie deal is a four-year deal worth $4.6 million, making an average of $1.16 million per season. Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, will be making $48 million on his deal. Sanders lost out on potentially $40 million.

When you compare how big of stars the two were at Colorado and how both were projected to be top-five, top-10 picks for a while, Hunter will be making ten times what Sanders is making. It’s wild to see the big disparity between the two, as Sanders was viewed as the bigger star in college.

As for NIL value and worth, the two are much closer.

Who makes more money in NIL deals, Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders?

Even before the two Colorado standouts were drafted, they were each stars in college football. Sanders was known for his flashy persona and ability to win games as a quarterback. Hunter was a unicorn, playing as a star on both sides of the field as a receiver and corner.

Since the two were popular college football athletes during their college careers, they both earned a good amount of NIL money. According to on3.com, Sanders just tops Hunter in NIL valuation, by but less than $1 million.

Sanders’ value is listed at $6.5 million compared to Hunter’s total of $5.7 million. While he was an NIL topper in college, things have shifted for Sanders as he lost millions of dollars in his rookie deal and will have to compete for a spot in a crowded Browns quarterback room. Meanwhile, Hunter is expected to be a two-way starter in Jacksonville and seems like he’s the superstar the franchise desperately needed.

Link

NIL

Potential NIL Executive Order Could Impact UCLA

At the University of Alabama commencement ceremony, legendary head coach Nick Saban gave a public address last Thursday before welcoming President Donald Trump on stage, before Trump gave his own remarks. According to The Wall Street Journal’s Josh Dawsey, Rachel Bachman and Laine Higgins, in a meeting set up by former Auburn head coach and […]

Published

19 minutes ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

According to The Wall Street Journal’s Josh Dawsey, Rachel Bachman and Laine Higgins, in a meeting set up by former Auburn head coach and current U.S. Senator from Alabama Tommy Tuberville, Saban spoke with Trump regarding NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) with the belief that Trump could issue an executive order regarding it.

Tuberville laid out his goal of the meeting on Wednesday.

“Hopefully, we’ll get to sit down with Coach Saban,” he said. “President Trump wants to help on this NIL. I don’t know how he can do it through an executive order. But possibly we can sit down and talk some insight of what Coach Saban thinks about it, what I think about it and we can come up with some sort of agreement because right now it’s in a tailspin.”

Saban, a massive critic of NIL, has found its implementation, plus its use with the transfer portal, detrimental to the game and to the development of players as players and as people.

While the White House has yet to make a formal statement regarding their intentions with NIL, rumors are circling that a potential executive order would undo years of legislation regarding the issue.

What exactly that means remains to be seen, but UCLA, like all collegiate football programs, may be preparing for a new frontier in a sport already on the Western Front.

Here’s the deal. If Trump issues an executive order, the order may challenge the fundamental balance of the U.S. executive branch and the judicial branch, with the result either defining or redefining the roles and powers of each branch.

The order’s enforcement may be called into question, considering the NCAA is not a federal entity, they are an association. However, some members of the association are funded by the federal government.

Whichever way the pendulum swings, if an executive order is issued, things are going to get sticky quickly. Without any guidelines on what reform may look like, UCLA must be ready for changes at a moment’s notice, as college football is one signature away from looking very different from what it is right now.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @tcav30.

Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Link

NIL

Trump considering executive order to regulate NIL after meeting with Nick Saban: report

Name, image and likeness is taking college sports by storm, and it might take the government to slow it down. After meeting with Alabama head coach Nick Saban Thursday, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to regulate NIL deals in college athletics. According to The Wall Street Journal, Saban told Trump the […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Name, image and likeness is taking college sports by storm, and it might take the government to slow it down.

After meeting with Alabama head coach Nick Saban Thursday, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to regulate NIL deals in college athletics.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Saban told Trump the influx of money has hurt college sports. Saban does not want to halt NIL payments but wants them “reformed.”

In an appearance on Fox News Channel last year, Saban urged Congress to step in and make NIL “equal across the board.”

“And I think that should still exist for all players, but not just a pay-for-play system like we have now where whoever raises the most money in their collective can pay the most for the players, which is not a level playing field. I think in any competitive venue, you want to have some guidelines that gives everyone an equal opportunity to have a chance to be successful,” he said.

Saban said the NCAA “can handle” NIL and whatever changes are necessary, but Congress “needs to” add “national legislation.”

President Trump gave the commencement address at the University of Alabama on Thursday. AP

“Now, we just have the state legislation — and every state is different — that would protect the NCAA from litigation once we establish guidelines for the future of college athletics. But the litigation is what got us to this point right now,” Saban said. “We have to have some protection from litigation. I don’t know if it’s antitrust laws or whatever.

“I’m not versed enough on all that to really make a recommendation. But I know we need some kind of federal standard and guidelines that allows people to enforce their own rules.”

The NCAA last week passed rules by which colleges would be allowed to pay athletes as a result of a multibillion-dollar lawsuit settlement expected to go into effect this summer.

President Trump met with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban on Thursday. Getty Images

Earlier this week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said “if anyone” can help regulate NIL, “it’s President Trump.”

Saban introduced Trump Thursday at an event for Alabama’s graduating students, where Trump gave a speech. In the speech, Trump raved about Alabama’s athletic programs, saying the school is a place “where legends are made.”

Link

NIL

Softball Closes Out Season Hosting Ohio on Saturday and Sunday

Story Links KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan softball team wraps up the 2025 season on Saturday and Sunday, hosting Ohio. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a 12 p.m. start on Sunday. All three games will be streamed live at […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan softball team wraps up the 2025 season on Saturday and Sunday, hosting Ohio. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a 12 p.m. start on Sunday.

All three games will be streamed live at www.wmubroncos.com/watch and live stats are available at www.wmustats.com. Tickets can be purchased at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.

SPECIAL SATURDAY
Between Saturday’s doubleheader, the Broncos will take time to honor the 1984 MAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship team. The 1984 team went 39-19 overall and 10-2 in MAC play. The group brought in the program’s second-ever MAC Regular Season Championship and then the program’s first MAC Tournament Title.

THANK YOU SENIORS
Prior to the start of Sunday’s game, Western Michigan will honor its five seniors: Riley Dittmar, Jensen Gremillion, Payton Kelly, Kailey O’Connor and Taylor Wolfe. The group has combined to appear in 494 games for Western Michigan, driving in 125 runs, hitting 21 home runs, recording 15 wins on the mound and three saves.

The group has also produced 81 victories for the Broncos over the past four seasons.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio heads into the weekend with a chance to win the MAC Regular Season Championship with a 34-15 overall record and 17-6 in conference play.

Sophomore Brenna Farmer leads the team with a .354 batting average, 56 hits, 12 doubles and is second on the team with 41 RBIs. Emma Hoffner is tied for the team lead with four home runs and is just ahead of Farmer with 43 RBIs. Ohio’s hitters have combined for 145 walks to just 154 strikeouts. The team has an on-base percentage of .773.

Anna Wise and Skipp Miller have each started 19 games on the season. Miller is 16-6 with 13 complete games and six shutouts. Wise is 10-5 and has a team-best 2.45 ERA.

Link

NIL

Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum agrees to 6-year contract with starting pay of $3.35M

Iowa men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum agreed to a six-year, $22.75 million contract that runs through the 2030-31 season, according… Iowa men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum agreed to a six-year, $22.75 million contract that runs through the 2030-31 season, according to the memorandum of understanding he signed last month. The document, obtained Friday through an […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Iowa men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum agreed to a six-year, $22.75 million contract that runs through the 2030-31 season, according…

Iowa men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum agreed to a six-year, $22.75 million contract that runs through the 2030-31 season, according to the memorandum of understanding he signed last month.

The document, obtained Friday through an Associated Press public records request, outlines a pay package that lists McCollum’s base salary at $500,000 each year with supplemental pay that increases annually. His formal contract was not available for release, the university said.

McCollum will earn $3.35 million in his first year, with his compensation rising to $4.1 million in the sixth year.

McCollum would be in line for six-figure bonuses if the Hawkeyes reach the NCAA Sweet 16, topped by $400,000 for winning the national championship. A Big Ten regular-season title would earn him $75,000 and a conference tournament championship $50,000. Additional bonuses are tied to his players’ academic performance.

He will have a salary pool of about $2.1 million for assistant coaches.

McCollum, whose hiring was announced March 24, led Drake to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a win in the NCAA Tournament in his only season with the Bulldogs.

Athletic director Beth Goetz announced McCollum’s hiring 10 days after she fired Fran McCaffery and two days after McCollum wrapped up a 31-4 season with a loss to Texas Tech in the second round of the West Regional.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Link

NIL

Friday’s Game Versus Tulsa Postponed

Story Links TULSA, Okla. – Due to field conditions from previous weather, the Friday, 6 p.m. ET matchup between the No. 24 Florida Atlantic softball team and Tulsa will not go as scheduled. Instead, the two teams will play in a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch still scheduled for 3 […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TULSA, Okla. – Due to field conditions from previous weather, the Friday, 6 p.m. ET matchup between the No. 24 Florida Atlantic softball team and Tulsa will not go as scheduled.

Instead, the two teams will play in a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch still scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The second game will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the series opener.

Sunday’s game remains at 1 p.m. ET. All games are on ESPN+.

For further updates, visit fausports.com or follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.

Link