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House Settlement Approval Hearing Set for April 7

The settlement approval hearing in In re College Athlete NIL Litigation, No. 4:20-cv-03919 (N.D. Cal.) is set for April 7, 2025. Commonly known as the “House Settlement,” the pending resolution between plaintiffs and the NCAA, if approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, could have far-reaching implications for higher education NCAA-member institutions and student-athletes. Background The pending […]

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House Settlement Approval Hearing Set for April 7

The settlement approval hearing in In re College Athlete NIL Litigation, No. 4:20-cv-03919 (N.D. Cal.) is set for April 7, 2025. Commonly known as the “House Settlement,” the pending resolution between plaintiffs and the NCAA, if approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, could have far-reaching implications for higher education NCAA-member institutions and student-athletes.

Background

The pending settlement arises from a consolidated set of three antitrust actions brought by current and former Division-1 athletes: House v. NCAA: Hubbard v. NCAA; and Carter v. NCAA.

Plaintiffs Grant House and Sedona Price filed a class-action complaint in June 2020, asserting that the NCAA and its conferences violated antitrust law by restricting Plaintiffs and Class Members’ rights to license and sell their rights to their names, images, and/or likenesses. Judge Wilken later consolidated House with Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA which both brought similar claims against the NCAA and its conferences.

On October 7, 2024, the court preliminary approved the House Settlement Agreement and directed plaintiffs to give notice of the settlement to the settlement classes. On March 3, 2025, Plaintiffs filed their motion for final settlement approval and omnibus response to objections. The motion argued that class members’ response to the “landmark settlement has been overwhelmingly positive.” Plaintiffs also highlighted that the $2.576 billion damages settlement, if approved, would be “one of the largest in antitrust history.”

The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. P.T.

Key Provisions of the House Settlement

Athletes will be eligible to receive payment from NCAA-member schools. The proposed settlement requires the NCAA and its conferences to change all Division I and conference rules to permit payments to student-athletes. Each member-institution and student athlete will have the right to enter into an agreement for the student-athlete’s name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) rights.

Revenue Sharing will be established between NCAA-member schools and athletes. The House Settlement also sets forth a revenue sharing framework that will permit schools to distribute payments and benefits to student-athletes, in addition to existing scholarships and other benefits currently permitted by the NCAA. According to the settlement, schools will be able to spend 22% of specified revenue (which includes ticket sales, media rights deals, and sponsorships). This percentage will increase by 4% annually. Reports state that schools will be able to spend a maximum of $23.1 million at the onset, if the settlement is approved.

NCAA-member schools that are not part of the defendant conferences in the litigation have been given a June 15, 2025 deadline to declare whether they intend to make payments and provide benefits pursuant to the House settlement.

Former players will be compensated for deprivation of their name, image, and likeness rights. Former athletes, dating back to 2016, are eligible to receive a part of settlement’s pool of damages which exceeds $2.7 billion.[1]

Settlement Objections

Several current and former Division I athletes have submitted objections and letters, urging the Court to deny approval of the House settlement. We highlight two objections that raise issues that may arise if the settlement is approved.

Several objectors raise concerns that the settlement runs afoul of Title IX. Objectors cited and discussed a Department of Education “Fact Sheet” that discussed Title IX in the context of NIL. The Biden Administration published the guidance on January 16, a few days before President Trump took office. The fact sheet stated that NIL agreements between schools and their student-athletes are a form of athletic financial assistance that must be proportionally available to male and female athletes pursuant to Title IX. The Trump Administration rescinded that guidance on February 12, stating that “Title IX says nothing about how revenue-generating athletics programs should allocate compensation among student athletes.” In their motion for final settlement approval, plaintiffs argue that “the applicability of Title IX is an issue of legal statutory interpretation that the Court need not resolve to grant final approval of the settlement.”

Some objectors also argue that the proposed settlement includes an unlawful “cap” on the amount of compensation and benefits that schools may provide student athletes. As one letter argues, the settlement’s cap on athlete compensation “is not different in theory or purpose than previous caps found to violate antitrust laws.” Dkt. No. 705. A Statement of Interest filed by the Department of Justice during the final days of the Biden Administration argued that the “cap” amounts to an agreement among competing employers that “restrains competition among schools for payments above the cap.” Plaintiffs argue that the cap “was the only way to implement a compromise settlement” and that other antitrust class action settlements involving professional sports leagues have been adopted and approved.

Whether these arguments and others made by objectors will have any impact on Judge Wilken’s decision to approve or not approve the settlement remains to be seen.

What’s Next?

Judge Wilken is set to hold a hearing on the House Settlement on April 7 at 10 a.m. PST. The public can watch the hearing here.

After the April 7 hearing, Judge Wilken will presumably take the arguments under advisement and eventually approve or not approve the settlement. Even if the settlement is approved, her decision could be appealed to the Ninth Circuit by objectors.

Earlier this month, the NCAA announced a Settlement Implementation Committee, made up of 10 athletics directors (two from each defendant conference) and the legal and compliance teams from the conferences and the NCAA. This committee, according to the NCAA, will be divided into four different working groups focused on different components of the settlement, including one group drafting new rules and clarifying existing rules to facilitate compliance with the settlement, another group is tasked with forming a new enforcement entity to enforce these rules.

It is important to follow these developments and consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with the House Settlement and the forthcoming new rules from the NCAA, if the settlement is approved. Please contact one of the attorneys below or your regular Crowell contact to learn more.

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College basketball rankings: UConn, St. John’s surge in way-too-early Top 25

John Fanta College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter The quality of play in college basketball has grown tremendously in recent years. One reason for that is NIL (name, image and likeness) dollars and the impact it has had in keeping some potential pros around for another season. Those players can make more money in college and […]

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The quality of play in college basketball has grown tremendously in recent years. One reason for that is NIL (name, image and likeness) dollars and the impact it has had in keeping some potential pros around for another season. Those players can make more money in college and gain more for their profile than a potential trip to the G League to continue development. 

The flip side is the chaotic climate within the sport, an open market that has increased to dollar figures that seemed unfathomable even two-to-three years ago. But, that’s the reality of where things stand: Roster continuity with talent is like buried treasure in this sport, while having the great white whale, a top-shelf donor who can lead the bankrolling efforts for a roster, is the invaluable asset you need to compete with the best sharks during portal season. As one coach told me, “It’s challenging, but this is still an amazing sport. I hate when coaches complain because we chose this life.” 

And look at it this way: While changes are needed, the free agency aspect has created buzz around college hoops in late April and into May that we had not seen before. Over 2,500 players entering the portal, though? Well, that could use shifting, and I offer some possible solutions below: 

As for what has happened in the offseason, it’s fascinating when looking at the top of my rankings, because the top-two teams embody the two ways to stay ahead in this day and age: keeping a bevy of talent or outdoing everybody else in the portal.

Purdue has done an outstanding job with roster continuity, bringing back the preseason national player of the year front-runner in Braden Smith, who was this past year’s Bob Cousy Award winner and the Big Ten Player of the Year. Smith had 15 assists against Houston in the Sweet 16, which was the latest testament to his leadership, playmaking ability and poise against any defense. This past season, he became the second player in NCAA history to record at least 550 points, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a season, joining Murray State’s Ja Morant as the only other player that can say that. But the fact Smith has Fletcher Loyer (13.8 PPG) as a backcourt mate is scary for everybody else, not to mention a veteran stud in Trey Kaufman-Renn, a high-impact transfer in Oscar Cluff, and an intriguing big man in Daniel Jacobsen, who is set to return from a season-ending leg injury that cut his freshman campaign short. There’s a lot to like about Matt Painter’s team, provided the Boilermakers get enough complementary shooting.

If the Boilers are the continuity champs, the transfer portal championship should be handed out on Utopia Parkway in Queens. Rick Pitino and St. John’s, the reigning Big East regular-season and tournament champions, have the No. 1-ranked portal class in the nation, according to 247 Sports. The Johnnies reeled in an All-Big East First Team forward in Bryce Hopkins to make a big early splash. They acquired a rising sophomore who looks the part of a future NBA first-round pick in North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, and they added another sophomore guard with elite upside in former five-star recruit Joson Sanon. 

Perimeter shooting was the priority for this St. John’s team, and Pitino and his staff addressed those areas, but they weren’t done there, also adding senior guard Oziyah Sellers from Stanford, who averaged 14 points per game in the ACC this past year. Then there’s a stalwart defender and supreme athlete in Dillon Mitchell, and the Big Sky Most Valuable Player, Dylan Darling. And oh, by the way, in the world of “sometimes the best gets are the ones you already have,” All-American candidate Zuby Ejiofor returns for his senior season, looking to lead the Johnnies on a deeper NCAA Tournament run. 

The biggest portal winners after St. John’s were Kentucky, Louisville and Iowa. Do not sleep on Ben McCollum in Year 1 at the helm in Iowa City after he brought in one of the most dynamic scorers in the country in Bennett Stirtz, along with a sharpshooter in Brendan Hausen and Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras. They’re the first team out of my top 25. In terms of portal losers, Memphis losing PJ Haggerty was a big blow to the Tigers, while Arizona saw six players enter the portal and Alabama saw Mouhamed Dioubate and Jarin Stevenson leave. 

With that, here is a look at my updated way-too-early rankings:

Can I lend you one more Braden Smith statistic? He broke the Big Ten record for assists in conference play this past season, dishing out 175 of them, which smashed the previous record set by Michigan State’s Cassius Winston (157). And yes, he could break his own record in the upcoming year. 

St. John’s rise to the top is happening because of Pitino and the school’s lead donor, Mike Repole, whose horse “Grande” will be in this weekend’s Kentucky Derby. The founder of Vitamin Water has been invaluable to St. John’s, but his money begins and ends with his faith in the Hall of Famer. Pitino has made the Johnnies matter again nationally and Madison Square Garden has once again turned into one of the toughest home-court environments. 

Emanuel Sharp and JoJo Tugler are back from a Final Four team and, while we await the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline of May 28 for star Milos Uzan, Houston has the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, according to 247 Sports, headlined by Link Academy product Chris Cenac Jr. With Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs coming in to help their offense, the Cougars will have a go-to bucket-getting guard, who, when healthy, is very hard to stop. 

Alex Karaban is coming back for another shot at a third national championship. Solo Ball is back for his junior season and poised for a big campaign. Tarris Reed returns and now has a year in Storrs under his belt, while Dan Hurley and his staff made a transfer splash with former Georgia guard Silas Demary. Another transfer in Malachi Smith from Dayton should help with ball-handling duties, while the Huskies welcome in a great freshman class. If you don’t know the name Braylon Mullins, you soon will, and I’m intrigued to see what 7-footer Eric Reibe brings to the table. 

Having All-American JT Toppin back in the fold in Lubbock instantly means the Red Raiders can reach the Final Four, especially when considering what’s around him. While we are uncertain about what’s next for Darrion Williams, who’s testing the draft waters and is in the portal, sophomore Christian Anderson is poised for a big year and LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and Donovan Atwell (UNCG) headline a top-25 portal class. 

Dusty May is building something special in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines reeled in one of the biggest fish in the portal with UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, who is testing the NBA Draft waters and could be a first-round pick. If he returns to school, he will make Michigan one of the nation’s best teams. Last year, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18-11-4 per game. Getting Morez Johnson from Illinois helps the frontline, while Elliot Cadeau still has his best basketball ahead of him after things didn’t go as planned at North Carolina. With Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle back, Michigan has good continuity as well. 

Pat Kelsey laid the foundation for the Cardinals. Now, the pieces are aligning for him to take this program on an NCAA Tournament run. Kelsey ushers in the nation’s No. 3 transfer portal class with all-conference players Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) on the way, while five-star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. enters with high expectations. To get J’Vonne Hadley and a healthy Kasean Pryor back is huge for continuity and the frontcourt. Louisville is the front-runner in the ACC. 

Not to be outdone, Mark Pope, and what sources tell FOX Sports is a bankroll of over $20 million, has led to a star-studded Wildcats roster. Kentucky has the nation’s fourth-ranked transfer class, according to 247 Sports. If Otega Oweh returns for his senior season, he’ll be right in the mix for SEC Player of the Year. When you combine that with a guy who averaged 17 PPG in Jaland Lowe, a national champion in Denzel Aberdeen out of Florida, a big man with a ton of upside in Jayden Quaintance and intriguing talents Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama) and Kam Williams (Tulane), there’s a lot to like about this team. And don’t forget about top-20 freshman Jasper Johnson, who is a blur in transition and a guy who is wired to score. Now, the pressure is on Pope in Year 2 to make it all come together after a Sweet 16 season. 

The Blue Devils will go from the Cooper Flagg Show to the Cameron-and-Cayden Boozer Show in the upcoming year. Cameron is among the best prospects in the sport, a 6-9 forward who is polished and strong with an inside-out game, a willingness to defend and the versatility to flourish. Jon Scheyer knows continuity is big in this sport. That’s why guys like Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans coming back helps. Washington State transfer Cedric Coward (17.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG) was an excellent addition to bolster the perimeter with proven talent. 

Look out for John Calipari and the Razorbacks. Coming off a magical ride to the Sweet 16, the Hogs are slated to get D.J. Wagner, Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond and Karter Knox back, while a pair of five-star freshmen guards in Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas will bolster the offense. The two are prototypical Calipari one-and-done guys who can come in and change the game with their skills. Acuff is a dynamic ball-handler who has a variety of ways to make plays for his teammates and drive the lane, while Thomas is the toughest shotmaker in the national freshman class. Throw in Malique Ewin from Florida State and Nick Pringle from South Carolina and Calipari addressed his interior needs with experience via the portal.

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.

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How has new Maryland basketball coach Buzz Williams historically fared in Year One?

New Maryland men’s basketball head coach Buzz Williams still has six roster spots to work with as he builds his first team in College Park. So far, he has done an impressive job after taking over a Maryland team with no returners from its 2024-25 Sweet 16 squad. Williams has brought in eight transfers, four […]

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New Maryland men’s basketball head coach Buzz Williams still has six roster spots to work with as he builds his first team in College Park.

So far, he has done an impressive job after taking over a Maryland team with no returners from its 2024-25 Sweet 16 squad. Williams has brought in eight transfers, four who have followed him from Texas A&M, and one incoming freshman in McDonald’s All-American and 6-foot-5 combo guard Darius Adams.

Of course, the landscape in college basketball has changed vastly over the last few years. But the 52-year-old Williams, who has 373 career wins and has been to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament four times, is familiar with change. Maryland is Williams’ fifth stop of his head coaching career. While he will not be expected to win big in Year One, expectations across the sport are expedited with the transfer portal, NIL and soon-to-be revenue sharing.

How have Williams’ first teams at each destination failed? Let’s take a look.

2019-20 TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Record: 16-14, 10-8 SEC (Tied-6th place)

Outcome: Postseason canceled

2018-19 Record: 14-17, 6-12 SEC (11th place)

While the 2020 NCAA Tournament never happened, Williams was not taking a team that finished 131st at KenPom to The Big Dance. But after starting the season 3-5, the Aggies finished the season 13-9 and went above .500 in the SEC, which was then the sixth-best league in the country. They won their final two games and five of their final seven games before the SEC Tournament was canceled. 

Williams did not have a completely blank slate, as 50.3% of the team’s minutes returned from the 2018-19 squad, including leading scorer Savion Flagg and second-leading scorer Wendell Mitchell. Williams took over for Billy Kennedy, who was fired. The season was not anything special to write home about, especially after Texas A&M went just 8-10 in the ensuing, wacky 2020-21 season, but the Aggies ultimately were NIT runner-ups in 2022 and NCAA Tournament participants (as single-digit seeds) in each of the previous three seasons.

2014-15 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

Record: 11-22, 2-16 ACC (15th place)

Outcome: No postseason

2013-14 Record: 9-22, 2-16 ACC (15th place)

Williams’ successful tenure at Virginia Tech was hardly defined by his first season, which would have been impossible to find success for virtually anybody at the helm. The Hokies were in bad shape following three straight under-.500 seasons from 2011-14, eventually leading to James Johnson getting fired after only two seasons.

Virginia Tech had returned just 33.1% of the minutes from its 2013-14 squad, headlined by second-leading scorer Adam Smith (who then transferred after one year with Williams). Williams’ first season in Blacksburg, while not great record-wise, ultimately set the foundation for an NIT bid in 2016 and three straight NCAA bids from 2017-19, culminating in a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019.

2008-09 MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES

Record: 25-10, 12-6 Big East (5th place)

Outcome: NCAA Tournament Round of 32

2007-08 record: 25-10, 11-7 Big East

Williams had massive success at Marquette, and it started from Day One. Tom Crean left Marquette for Indiana, and Williams took over after one season (2007-08) as an assistant in Milwaukee. Williams had the benefit of 74.2% of the minutes returning from the 2007-08 team, including Marquette’s top-four scorers in Jerel McNeal, Dominic James, Lazar Hayward and Wesley Matthews.

He brought Marquette to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 in 2011 and 2012 and the Elite Eight in 2013. Marquette went 17-15 overall and 9-9 in the Big East during the 2013-14 season, his last with the program before leaving for Virginia Tech.

2006-07 NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS

Record: 14-17, 9-9 Sun Belt (4th place in West)

Outcome: No postseason

2005-06 record: 10-19, 6-9 Sun Belt (tied-4th place in West)

After two seasons as an assistant at Texas A&M, Williams took the New Orleans job. He was only there for one season, leading a four-win improvement. The Privateers’ leading scorer from the 2005-06 team, Bo McCalebb, returned. He averaged 25 points per game under Williams. 

Devin Johnson, Williams’ longtime assistant, started as an undergraduate assistant with him during the 2006-07 season at New Orleans.

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JACKRABBITS CLOSE REGULAR SEASON AT UND

Story Links Week 13: South Dakota State (25-24, 10-5) at North Dakota (25-25, 7-8) When Friday, May 2 (2 p.m. DH) – Saturday, May 3 (1 p.m.) Location Grand Forks, N.D. (Albrecht Field) Television Midco Sports (Doubleheader Only) Stream […]

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Week 13: South Dakota State (25-24, 10-5) at North Dakota (25-25, 7-8)
When Friday, May 2 (2 p.m. DH) – Saturday, May 3 (1 p.m.)
Location Grand Forks, N.D. (Albrecht Field)
Television Midco Sports (Doubleheader Only)
Stream Summit League Network
Live Stats GoJacksLive.com
South Dakota State Home Page | Game Notes
North Dakota Home Page

South Dakota State makes its way north to Grand Forks to close out the regular season as the Jackrabbits prepare to take on North Dakota in a three-game series. The series at Albrecht Field between the Jacks and Fighting Hawks closes out each program’s regular season before heading into Summit League Championship action. SDSU and UND will play a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday followed by a 1 p.m. finale on Saturday.

The meeting features the two squads that can still claim the second seed in the upcoming conference tournament. SDSU heads into the series with a 10-5 Summit League record while UND is 7-8. One win for South Dakota State in the series will be enough to clinch a bye to the double-elimination portion of the tournament hosted by the Jacks. A series sweep by the Fighting Hawks would clinch a two seed and force SDSU into single elimination which begins play on Wednesday in Brookings. 

South Dakota State is 25-24 overall this season and North Dakota is 25-25. The Jackrabbits hold a 65-31 all-time record over the Fighting Hawks. SDSU and UND have played annually since 2010. The Jacks currently have a 12-game active win streak over the Hawks. 

SDSU is coming off a tightly contested series against Omaha at Jerald T. Moriarty Field. The series began with a pitcher’s duel that resulted in a 10-inning, 2-0 win for the Mavs. SDSU evened the series with a 7-6 victory on Saturday to begin a doubleheader. The series finale saw the Mavericks get out to a 9-0 lead, but Omaha had to withstand a Jackrabbit rally though held on for a 9-8 triumph.

Several individuals have sparked the Jackrabbit lineup over the course of the season, but none more so than Abby Gentry. The sophomore third baseman is not only the leader on the team in multiple statistical categories, but in The Summit League across nearly 50 games. Gentry leads the conference in batting average (.428), slugging percentage (.754) and RBIs (52), as well as top five in on-base percentage (.512), runs (34), hits (59), home runs (9) and walks (27). She has four current top three single-season ranks in program history including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and RBIs.

Brooke Dumont and Mia Jarecki have made their impact on the Jackrabbits’ record book. Jarecki has 11 marks that rank among the top 11 in individual categories, while Dumont has top 12 marks in 10 categories. Jarecki is at 149 career runs scored which is two runs away from breaking the school record of 150 set last year by Lindsey Culver. Dumont, who primarily plays catcher, is one runner caught stealing from setting a program record. Dumont currently has 100 RBIs while Jarecki is one away from hitting the century mark.

The Summit League schedule has seen a variety of Jackrabbits step up their play. The lineup has had the benefit of play from shortstop Emma Vike. A junior who had only four collegiate at-bats prior to the season, Vike is hitting a team-best .451 against league foes. In 15 games, Vike has two home runs, 11 RBIs, four doubles and 12 runs scored. 

SDSU’s rotation has seen Hailey Herman and Sylvia Shromoff have increased roles during Summit League action. Herman has the team’s best ERA among pitchers with over 10 innings of work with a 1.85 mark. Shromoff has made a team-high six starts across eight appearances in league play. She’s 3-1 in her Summit League outings with a 2.41 ERA. Shromoff has struck out 13 batters to 12 walks over the course of a team-best 40 2/3 innings pitched.

Coverage Information

South Dakota State’s series versus North Dakota will be streamed on The Summit League Network Powered by Midco Sports. The doubleheader on Friday will be televised on Midco Sports. Fans can watch on summitleaguenetwork.tv or on The Midco Sports Plus app with a subscription. Live stats for all games the Jackrabbits play in are available on the South Dakota State schedule page. For more information about Jackrabbit softball, you can follow the team social media accounts (@GoJacksSB) or visit the team page at GoJacks.com.

 

-GoJacks.com-

 



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Bracketology: ESPN releases way-too-early projections for 2025-2026 NCAA Tournament

The 2025 NCAA Tournament ended just three weeks ago while the tip-off to next season is still about six months out. Still, in looking ahead to the next year in college basketball, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has released an update to Bracketology with a projected field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Lunardi shared that they’ll release […]

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The 2025 NCAA Tournament ended just three weeks ago while the tip-off to next season is still about six months out. Still, in looking ahead to the next year in college basketball, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has released an update to Bracketology with a projected field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Lunardi shared that they’ll release an updated bracket, based on roster movement and anticipated offensive and defensive efficiency, once a month from now through October. This is the first edition of those for what the Field of 68 could look like in ’26.

Coming off a record-breaking year, in berths and finishes, by the conference this postseason, the SEC is atop the list again with 13 teams in the bracket, which would be one shy of last year’s new record. The Big Ten, who often projected to have double-digits in this last postseason before ending with eight in, is then still second with a dozen. The Big 12, ACC, and Big East are from there with eight, five, and four in respectively from those leagues.

Again, this is way, way early considering the portal and draft decisions still needing to be made going into the summer before the season begins in November. Still, here’s Lunardi’s first look at what March Madness could look like in 2026 with ten and a half months until Selection Sunday:

ESPN Bracketology: On the Bubble

March Madness Logo
Ken Blaze | Imagn Images

Last Four Byes: Georgia, Maryland, Creighton, Miami
Last Four In:
Marquette, Indiana, Ole Miss, NC State
First Four Out:
 SMU, Washington, Texas A&M, Nebraska
Next Four Out:
TCU, Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgetown

The bubble is full of several teams who made the field or just missed out on the tournament last year. It’s also key for several of the leagues with the SEC close to adding a record-tying one with a 14th, the Big Ten nearing 14 in total as well, and the ACC having a chance at as many as eight

New coaches is also a theme among multiple of these programs. Buzz Williams at Maryland, Jai Lucas at Miami, Darian DeVries at Indiana, and Will Wade at NC State have their new teams just in the field in this projection while Bucky McMillan at Texas A&M is right there among the First Four Out.

Midwest Region – Chicago

Purdue PG Braden Smith, F Trey Kaufman-Renn
Alex Martin | Journal and Courier | USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Purdue is projected as one of the top teams for next season with the roster they’ll have for next season with Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer leading their returners while they’re also bringing in Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State) from the portal and Omer Mayer from overseas. Lunardi also cited their consistency, both in seeding and in postseason finishes, as the reasoning why the Boilermakers were the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament for him.

The Midwest Region also includes five others teams that should rate highly coming into next season in Kentucky, Iowa State, Auburn, and Louisville. Oregon at No. 8 for the Big Ten vs. Oklahoma at No. 9 for the SEC as well as Creighton at No. 10 for the Big East rounds out the seeding before the mid-majors.

1. Purdue vs. 16. South Carolina State/Central Connecticut
8. Oregon vs. 9. Oklahoma
5. Louisville vs. 12. Liberty
4. Auburn vs. 13. High Point

6. Missouri vs. 11. San Diego State
3. Iowa State vs. 14. South Dakota State
7. Illinois vs. 10. Creighton
2. Kentucky vs. 15. North Alabama

West Region – San Jose

Houston HC Kelvin Sampson
Bob Donnan | Imagn Images

Houston still has some heartbreak coming off their loss in the national title game earlier this month in this year’s tournament. That said, the Cougars will be right back in contention next season as a No. 1 seed for a fourth-straight season here, with Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler, and possibly Milos Uzan back and them bringing in Pop Isaacs (Creighton) plus the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, for their dozenth year under Kelvin Sampson.

The West Region then has Michigan, led by a top portal class, at No. 2 and Tennessee, now since adding a trio of transfers and one of the best recruits in the country, at No. 3. Also of note here is UCLA at No. 4, Arkansas at No. 5 under John Calipari, and Kansas with a consecutive seeding as a No. 7 with the Jayhawks having lost much of their corps from the past few seasons.

1. Houston vs. 16. Southeast Missouri State
8. Vanderbilt vs. 9. Iowa
5. Arkansas vs. 12. Yale
4. UCLA vs. 13. Charleston

6. Gonzaga vs. 11. VCU
3. Tennessee vs. 14. McNeese State
7. Kansas vs. 10. Miami
2. Michigan vs. 15. Youngstown State

East Region – Washington D.C.

Florida high school basketball
Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports

Duke is then projected to get a second-straight seeding as a No. 1 in the tournament. The Blue Devils are losing several lottery picks and some veteran guards but still have pieces like Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, and Patick Ngongba to complement the roster, now currently have a top incoming transfer in Cedric Coward (Washington State), and then have a trio of top freshman in their top-three class, the two legacy recruits in Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer plus Nikolas Khamenia, with enough to compete again next season.

The East Region also has Connecticut as a No. 2 seed, with the Huskies getting an additional boost this morning with the return of Alex Karaban, while Arizona is a No. 3 seed with some of their roster still intact to pair with their own top-three incoming class. Blue bloods like Michigan State at No. 4 and North Carolina as a No. 7, with an all-new roster with the Tar Heels, are also here with three teams from the Lonestar State as well, who are all dealing with some roster overhaul, with No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 8 Texas now under Sean Miller, and No. 9 Baylor.

1. Duke vs. 16. Vermont/Jackson State
8. Texas vs. 9. Baylor
5. Texas Tech vs. 12. Illinois State
4. Michigan State vs. 13. Miami (OH)

6. Alabama  vs. 11. Memphis
3. Arizona vs. 14. Troy
7. North Carolina vs. 10. Maryland
2. Connecticut vs. 15. Siena

South Region – Houston

St. John's HC Rick Pitino, F Zuby Ejiofor
Robert Deutsch | Imagn Images

St. John’s, coming off one of their best seasons in school history, could now be even better in year three under Rick Pitino as the last of the projected No. 1 seeds for the tournament. The Red Storm did lose some notable pieces, due to eligibility or the portal, but do return Zuby Ejifor to go with six of the very best transfers in the country.

The South also has BYU, coming off a great season with two returning starters to pair with AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 recruit in the country for 2025, and Rob Wright (Baylor) out of the portal, at No. 2 while Florida, the defending national champions, are at No. 3. This region has several of those new coaches or programs getting back into the bracket too like Eric Musselman with the Trojans at No. 4 plus DeVries and the Hoosiers as well as Wade and the Wolfpack.

1. St. John’s vs. 16. Navy
8. Cincinnati vs. 9. Georgia
5. Ohio State vs. 12. Grand Canyon
4. USC vs. 13. UC Santa Barbara

6. Wisconsin vs. 11. Ole Miss/NC State
3. Florida vs. 14. Furman
7. Mississippi State vs. 10. Marquette/Indiana
2. BYU vs. 15. Idaho



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MTSU to host UTEP for final regular season series of 2025

Story Links MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee softball will host UTEP at Blue Raider Softball Field for its final series of the 2025 season. The games are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 4:00 p.m. on Saturday—followed by the Senior Day ceremony—and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday to close out the series. Each […]

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee softball will host UTEP at Blue Raider Softball Field for its final series of the 2025 season. The games are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 4:00 p.m. on Saturday—followed by the Senior Day ceremony—and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday to close out the series. Each game will be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats will be available via StatBroadcast.

In their most recent Conference USA series, the Blue Raiders were swept by NM State, dropping all three games. MTSU now holds a 23-27 overall record and sits at 10-14 in conference play, ranking eighth in Conference USA.

The Blue Raiders rank second in the conference with 59 home runs this season and set the NCAA’s longest home run streak of 2025, hitting at least one in 23 consecutive games from March 1 through April 12. Their 59 home runs also rank 38th nationally. Leading the power surge are Ansley Blevins with 12 home runs, and Addy Edgmon and Jana Want with 10 each. In total, 11 Blue Raiders have contributed to the home run total.

Individually, Ava Tepe leads Conference USA in hit-by-pitches with 12 this season. With 39 in her Blue Raider career, Tepe set the program record after being hit twice last Friday. The senior first baseman ranks 35th nationally in the category. Another Blue Raider atop a conference leaderboard is Macie Harter, who has recorded five triples this season—tied with Claire Raley of LA Tech for the CUSA lead and ranking 26th nationally.

Scouting NM State

The 2025 UTEP Miners hold a 22-25 overall record and are also 10-14 in Conference USA play. In their most recent series, the Miners defeated Kennesaw State two games to one. MTSU holds a 7-12 all-time record against UTEP but has gone 6-4 over the last 10 matchups. The Miners are led by head coach T.J. Hubbard, who has held the role since 2019.

UTEP’s standout player is Ajia Richard, who is having a historic season. Richard boasts a .493 batting average with 68 hits, 12 doubles, and 12 home runs.

FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS     

Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball). 





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Carrington to join Badgers | Wisconsin Badgers

Story Links MADISON, Wis. – Senior Braeden Carrington has signed with the Wisconsin men’s basketball team, head coach Greg Gard announced Wednesday.  “Braeden brings three years of college basketball experience to our program along with a level of maturity and understanding of the Big Ten that is crucial in today’s landscape […]

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MADISON, Wis. – Senior Braeden Carrington has signed with the Wisconsin men’s basketball team, head coach Greg Gard announced Wednesday. 

“Braeden brings three years of college basketball experience to our program along with a level of maturity and understanding of the Big Ten that is crucial in today’s landscape of roster composition,” Gard said. “We’ve followed his career since he was in high school where he won a state championship in Minnesota.  He knows our program and several of our current and former players very well which made for an easy and comfortable transition for him to come back to the Big Ten.  We’re excited to have Braeden on campus starting in June as we prepare our team for the 2025-26 season.”

“I’m excited to be a part of a winning program,” Carrington said. “They have been solidified in the Big Ten for plenty of years. It’s a great coaching staff and I’m excited to get to Madison”

A 6-5 guard, Carrington spent his first two seasons of college basketball at Minnesota, before playing at Tulsa during the 2024-25 season. 

As a member of the Golden Hurricane, Carrington played in 29 games, making 19 starts while averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He recorded his first career double-double against Missouri State, putting up 20 points and 10 boards. 

Before transferring to Tulsa, Carrington played for the Golden Gophers in his home state of Minnesota. Carrington started 10 of 29 games as a sophomore, averaging 4.6 points in 21.0 minutes per game. His season-high came on the road against Iowa, scoring 18 points. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. 

During his freshman year, Carrington played in 22 games, missing action due to injuries. He put up 5.9 points per game as a true freshman, impressing in his Big Ten debut by scoring 9 points with six rebounds against Purdue. Carrington got his first taste of a Border Battle, collecting 11 points and eight rebounds in a 71-67 loss to Wisconsin. 

A Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native, Carrington played for Park Center High School, guiding the team to a 31-1 record and 2022 4A state title in his senior season. Carrington was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball after averaging 17.8 points per game and was the 140th nationally ranked recruit for the class of 2022.



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