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Wednesday featured a busy day of signings at both Gering and Scottsbluff with a total of four student-athletes getting the start of their college careers finalized. At Gering a pair of Seacats swimmers, Tyler Fogle and Eli Patton, both inked with Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Reivers were a popular destination […]

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KNEB.tv Sports

Wednesday featured a busy day of signings at both Gering and Scottsbluff with a total of four student-athletes getting the start of their college careers finalized.

At Gering a pair of Seacats swimmers, Tyler Fogle and Eli Patton, both inked with Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The Reivers were a popular destination yesterday as Scottsbluff’s Emery Wineman signed with Iowa Western to play soccer.

And also at Scottsbluff, golfer Ben Seymour will stay in-state and continue his career on the links at Hastings College.

We featured all four athletes today on KNEB.tv Sports.

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A College Sports Dynasty is Officially OVER | Jessica Benson Show

Jess and Roser talk about the Women’s College Softball World Series Semifinals between Texas Tech and Oklahoma. It was one of the best games of the year, and the Oklahoma Sooners softball dynasty is officially OVER.They also talk about the crazy NIL deal NiJaree Canady earned from Texas Tech and how it represents the NIL […]

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Jess and Roser talk about the Women’s College Softball World Series Semifinals between Texas Tech and Oklahoma. It was one of the best games of the year, and the Oklahoma Sooners softball dynasty is officially OVER.
They also talk about the crazy NIL deal NiJaree Canady earned from Texas Tech and how it represents the NIL era of college sports.
#jessicabensonshow
#collegesoftball
#softball
#texastech
#oklahomasooners



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New MSU AD J Batt outlines vision for ‘alignment,’ success

MSU’s new athletic director J Batt was introduced at a news conference on Wednesday. MSU’s new athletic director J Batt was introduced at a news conference on Wednesday. East Lansing — Michigan State’s 21st athletic director J Batt was introduced on Monday with some brief remarks and a press conference where he quickly outlined some of […]

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East Lansing — Michigan State’s 21st athletic director J Batt was introduced on Monday with some brief remarks and a press conference where he quickly outlined some of his vision for Spartan athletics.

While Batt didn’t go into great detail, he spoke of the need for the football program to be well-resourced, the athletic department to be aligned and his excitement to work with the various Michigan State coaches and staff.

He also made one idea clear: He views Michigan State as a top-tier athletic department.

“This is a Top 10 athletic department in the country,” he said.

Batt on cultivating “alignment” in department

In response to the final question, Batt says that alignment from the board, president and himself down to the fans is the biggest thing to help Michigan State navigate change going forward.

And that’s the final question for Batt, as things wrap up in East Lansing.

Batt on building up football program success

Batt was light on details about what can best support Jonathan Smith and Co. for the football program, which he said is paramount to athletic program success, but said he has already spoken to him and the general gist is it just has to be well resourced.

Whether it’s facilities, NIL, staff salary pool, recruiting budget or the like wasn’t laid out, but Batt seems hip to the idea that the Spartans football program will need to be well-resourced to compete in the Big Ten.

“Certainly haven’t dove in to exactly where that’s going to be, but at the end of the day it comes down to resources,” Batt said.

Guskiewicz on when he knew Batt was the choice

The actual deciding factor was really that Batt just ticked a lot of boxes of the leadership profile, and perhaps not one specific moment in the process. Though Guskiewicz did have some good humor about that, though.

“Just the fact that he took my call when I was told he wouldn’t,” Guskiewicz said, to laughter.

Batt on NIL being paramount to leading an athletic department

“We’re going to be extremely successful and competitive in that space,” Batt said, saying the need to get resources for programs is going to be prioritized.

He also adds that the way NIL and paying players will change as revenue sharing comes along and that they’ll need to continue to plan and act accordingly to adjust to new realities of college athletics.

Regardless, Batt is aware that to be competitive in college sports these days, the NIL efforts — and eventually revenue sharing — will need to be prioritized.

In response to a follow up, Guskiewicz points out the importance of Batt’s fundraising ability as part of leading an athletic department.

Batt on Saban, asking him about job at MSU

Batt said he didn’t necessarily speak to Saban during the process, but his previous discussions with Saban about East Lansing and MSU had painted a good picture to prime him to want to take the job.

“We’re in the opportunity business”

Batt is asked about working in an increasingly transactional world of college sports, but holds firm and refers to his original remarks about opportunity and working to make sure that keeps happening.

“We’re in the opportunity business,” Batt said.

He’s asked a follow up about non-revenue sports and their important to keep funded and thriving in a changing world of college sports.

“They’re just as important. Success across the board is the goal,” Batt said.

Batt on privilege of leading MSU into new era, enhancing Spartans standing in Big Ten

“It’s an incredible privilege,” Batt said, to begin his answer. He’s then asked about leading Michigan State to a position of more prominence in the league.

Batt’s answer to that question is generally brief, but he calls for the need to work with Pettiti and others as Michigan State navigates a new, 18-team Big Ten.

Batt begins opening remarks with thanks, importance of football success and that MSU is a “top” athletic department

“This is an incredible moment for me, my family,” Batt said, as he proceeded with the expected thank yous to various administration and staff, with a specific thank you to Izzo.

Batt goes on to discuss how the job is “all-in” and that he’s an “all-in” person, but that isn’t doable with plenty of people supporting him, as he continues to thank his wife and two sons, saying they look good in green.

Batt moves on, discussing his history as a “below average” college soccer player 25 years ago, and how that shaped his views on college athletics, and spurred him to want to work with and help college athletes benefit from opportunity he had, even as college athletics continues to change.

“I learned what it meant to be part of a team, what it meant to win at the highest level, but what it cemented for me is that college athletics is about opportunity,” Batt said.

He also said the he’s met many staff and student athletes, as well as officials with the Big Ten Conference, including commissioner Tony Pettiti. Also says the key to really making strides as a program to be working in “alignment” between administration, athletics staff, boosters and all involved.

He also added that it will require hard work.

Batt is now speaking about the need for supporting all sports, but that football success is critical and they need to provide the resources for Smith and Co. to succeed, while still providing high-level resources to the rest of the sports teams.

And regardless, Batt was adamant about one fact.

“This is a Top 10 athletic department in the country,” he said, repeating it for emphasis.

Guskiewicz officially welcomes Batt, who is now up to speak

Back at the mic, Guskiewicz is highlighting how college athletics are changing, and how Batt can fit that job and how he’s “the best.” Batt will be tasked with leading Michigan State in an era where NIL has become integral to fielding competitive teams, and where revenue sharing and other elements common to professional sports are coming to intercollegiate athletics.

“It’s a reality that things are changing. Athletics across the U.S. are at a pivotal point,” Guskiewicz said.

Guskiewicz also thanks former athletic director Alan Haller for his multiple years of service to Michigan State. And now Guskiewicz is finally welcoming Batt to the mic as the new Michigan State athletic director, the 21st in school history.

Izzo welcomes Batt, dishes briefly on role in search

Izzo comes to the mic and immediately welcomes the Batts to East Lansing, personally before outlining how he went down to visit with Batt as part of the search. He highlighted how the conversation covered NIL efforts, something Izzo isn’t the keenest about, and Izzo complimented how Batt has worked for Nick Saban, among others, in the past.

“If you can work for those two guys, you can work for anybody,” Izzo said.

Izzo lastly said, wrapping up his mostly light-hearted remarks, by saying that the biggest thing that can elevate Michigan State athletics going forward is great teamwork amidst the athletics staff, and that no coach or team can truly succeed without the administration working in tandem.

And in that, Izzo feels confident Batt can answer the bell.

“We all love the place,” Izzo said.

Guskiewicz outlines search leading to Batt hire

In brief remarks that hyped up the achievements of Michigan State athletics, Guskiewicz explained how he sold the Board of Trustees on a vision to get “top-tier” leadership.

“We we’re going to aim big, we were going to aim high,” Guskiewicz said.

He also thanked the board for helping shape the search before finally moving on and handing the microphone to Izzo for further remarks before Batt is up to speak.

Batt comes to podium, plenty of Spartan dignitaries in attendance

The press conference is officially underway to introduce Batt, and the expected collection of names are in attendance: Tom Izzo, Jonathan Smith, Adam Nightingale and the rest of Michigan State’s head coaches and athletic staff.

President Kevin Guskiewicz is up to speak first.

Introduction

East Lansing — Michigan State is introducing a new athletics leader on Wednesday afternoon, as J Batt will speak publicly on Wednesday at a press conference, his first remarks since being announced as the Spartans’ new athletic director earlier in the week.

Batt is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. on campus and address an array of topics regarding his new job , Michigan State, and its place in a rapidly-changing world of college sports.

Batt comes to East Lansing after a multi-year stretch in the same role at Georgia Tech, where he was athletic director since 2022. Batt’s hire comes after a brief search in the wake of Alan Haller’s firing in May.

Batt will be the third athletic director at Michigan State since Mark Hollis resigned in 2018. Bill Beekman held the job after Hollis, serving a number of years before Haller took over the job in 2021. The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on approving the hire later in June, with Batt slated to officially begin work on June 16.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Andrew Graham.

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WATCH: $1.5M NIL-Valued Flau’jae Johnson’s Viral Throwback Highlights Years of Dedication Behind the Fame

Flau’jae Johnson. A dynamic guard for the LSU Tigers has built a reputation as a relentless competitor with a story rooted in years of hard work. Paired with her $1.5 million Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) valuation, she stands out as both a star on the court and a powerhouse off it. The Making of a […]

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Flau’jae Johnson. A dynamic guard for the LSU Tigers has built a reputation as a relentless competitor with a story rooted in years of hard work. Paired with her $1.5 million Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) valuation, she stands out as both a star on the court and a powerhouse off it.

The Making of a Star: Flau’jae Johnson’s Early Years

A recently resurfaced throwback video on Instagram, showing Johnson training at just 13 years old, has captured fans’ attention on social media, offering fans a raw look at the dedication that fuels her success.

Johnson was born on November 3, 2003, in Savannah, Georgia, under circumstances that could have derailed most. Her father, Jason Johnson, a rapper known as Camoflauge, was killed before her birth, leaving her mother, Kia Brooks, to raise her alone.

Despite this tragedy, Brooks nurtured Flau’jae’s talents in basketball and music, setting the foundation for an extraordinary career. By elementary school, Johnson was already drawing attention on the court, her quickness and skill hinting at a bright future.

Her high school years at Sprayberry High in Marietta, Georgia, cemented her status as a top-tier talent. Ranked among the nation’s elite recruits. College programs took notice, but Johnson chose LSU, drawn to its winning culture and the chance to shine on a national stage. That decision marked the start of a journey built on sweat, discipline, and a refusal to settle.

At LSU, she wasted no time making an impact. As a freshman in the 2022-2023 season, she played a key role off the bench, helping the Tigers secure their first national championship with averages of 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Her sophomore year showed growth, but her junior season in 2023-2024 was a breakout, with stats climbing to 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 46.8% field-goal shooting, according to ESPN.

The Throwback Video: A Viral Sensation Reveals Hard Work

The recent viral moment that reignited interest in her journey came via Instagram, captioned, “Flau’jae at 13 years old so don’t let people fool you with the overnight success #nissancar,” a pointed reminder of the years behind her rise. Johnson reposted it to her story, letting the footage speak for itself.

Fans flooded social media with praise, marveling at the focus and athleticism on display. The clip, which racked up thousands of views in days, shatters any notion of Johnson as an overnight sensation.

Instead, it reveals a kid who treated every practice like a proving ground, laying the groundwork for the polished player dominating college hoops today. That authenticity resonates, making the video a powerful testament to her roots.

With her senior year at LSU looming in 2025, Johnson stands at a crossroads packed with potential. On the hardwood, she’s poised to lead the Tigers toward another title run, her skills sharper than ever.

KEEP READING: Which Power 5 Women’s Basketball Transfers Will Make the Biggest Impact in 2025?

Opting to return rather than enter the 2024 WNBA Draft signals a calculated move: more time to polish her game and boost her earnings. Scouts already project her as a top pick whenever she turns pro, and her versatility and drive make her a can’t-miss prospect.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college footballmen’s college basketballwomen’s college basketball, and college baseball!





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Alabama Baseball Head Coach Rob Vaughn Given Contract Extension

Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn, who has now finished two full seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide program, has received a contract extension. The news was released by Alabama’s NIL collective on Tuesday night. Vaughn was hired away from Maryland in the summer of 2023. At that time, he inked a five-year pact […]

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Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn, who has now finished two full seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide program, has received a contract extension. The news was released by Alabama’s NIL collective on Tuesday night.

Vaughn was hired away from Maryland in the summer of 2023. At that time, he inked a five-year pact worth $900,000 annually. This year, Vaughn led Alabama to its first 40-win regular season since the 2002 campaign.

Terms of his new extension were not initially disclosed, but it is highly likely that Tuesday’s agreement will push Vaughn over the $1 million threshold in terms of annual salary.

During his brief tenure, the Crimson Tide has not missed an NCAA Tournament regional, falling just short of hosting one this summer. Alabama is 74-42 overall since he took over, including 16 SEC wins in the 2025 regular season.

Alabama was 41-18 this season, checking in as the No. 2 seed in the Hattiesburg Regional hosted by No. 16 national seed Southern Miss. The Crimson Tide went 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament, bringing an early end to a successful year in which it peaked at No. 8 in the D1Baseball Top 25.

Multiple high-profile jobs came open across college baseball in the short time since Vaughn has been Alabama’s head coach. Among them have been SEC gigs at Texas and Texas A&M. Mississippi State recently filled its opening by bringing on Brian O’Connor from Virginia.

Vaughn, still just 37 years old (he will be 38 on July 7), is a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. One of his teams has hosted a regional: 2022 Maryland; he followed that season by leading the Terrapins to the conference regular season and tournament titles in 2023.

This story will be updated.



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Freshman Julian Lewis leading Colorado football on and off the field

Colorado freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis is an 18-year-old five-star freshman quarterback with all the on-field tools to become a successful college player and future NFL player. Lewis’s maturity doesn’t stop with the football field. The top 2025 recruit is also setting himself up for the future with the resources available to him as a […]

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Colorado freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis is an 18-year-old five-star freshman quarterback with all the on-field tools to become a successful college player and future NFL player. Lewis’s maturity doesn’t stop with the football field.

The top 2025 recruit is also setting himself up for the future with the resources available to him as a high-profile athlete in the NIL era. Lewis has a business agent, his own branded line of merchandise and an ownership stake in Fanstake, a company aiming to democratize name, image and likeness deals.

As USA TODAY Sports’ Brent Schrotenboer puts it, Lewis is “the poster child of this wild new era of college sports.”

Lewis’ father makes sure his son knows that even as a freshman in college, he has “two jobs: QB and entrepreneur.”

The young signal caller is in the midst of a tight quarterback battle with Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, but that has not stopped Lewis from trying to maximize his off-field opportunities.

Lewis told USA TODAY Sports in an email interview that by the end of June, he hopes to announce at least three other equity deals and four additional NIL deals. Despite the heavy activity off the field, capitalizing on his stardom, Lewis has his priorities straight.

“NIL has nothing to do with my college career; football and NIL are two very separate things,” Lewis wrote to USA TODAY Sports. “Football is my priority. I have a responsibility to myself, my teammates, and my university to become the best player that I can be. NIL is going well, I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have.”

In an age of college athletics, where more and more recruits seem to be chasing the money, Lewis’s level-headedness is refreshing and should be a good sign for Colorado fans who may worry Lewis would leave CU for more money.

Lewis is mature beyond his years, and whether that turns into wins for the Colorado football team remains to be seen, but the Buffs look to have a true leader on their hands for the next few seasons and the perfect future replacement for Shedeur Sanders.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.





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NCAA argues Zeigler would be first to play 5 DI seasons in 5 years

Associated Press Attorneys for two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler accuse the NCAA of trying to dodge facts and law by asking a federal judge to deny the Tennessee point guard’s preliminary injunction seeking to play a fifth season in as many years. Zeigler’s attorneys compared the NCAA’s motion filed Monday […]

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Associated Press

Attorneys for two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler accuse the NCAA of trying to dodge facts and law by asking a federal judge to deny the Tennessee point guard’s preliminary injunction seeking to play a fifth season in as many years.

Zeigler’s attorneys compared the NCAA’s motion filed Monday to misdirection and said it used “cherry-picked” or “fundamentally flawed” data ahead of Friday’s hearing on the preliminary injunction request before U.S. District Judge Katherine A. Crytzer in Knoxville.

“Rather than recognize the evolution of antitrust law’s application to its business model, the NCAA relies on outdated legal arguments. And rather than address the law as it is, the NCAA mischaracterizes it to defend its illegal actions,” Zeigler’s attorneys wrote in a response filed Tuesday.

Zeigler sued the NCAA on May 20 over its rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws. His lawsuit argues he could earn between $2 million and as much as $4 million with another season.

The NCAA argued Monday that Zeigler’s injunction request should be denied because he is asking the court to make him the first athlete in history to play a fifth season in Division I “as a matter of right.” The NCAA also said using the case of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia doesn’t help because that case was “decided in error.”

Pavia, who started his career at a junior college, was granted another year to play a fifth season, a ruling the NCAA is appealing. Zeigler played four seasons at Tennessee and already has graduated. The NCAA’s motion said the life of a collegiate athlete is enabled by the Four-Seasons Rule, which creates a stream of opportunities for rising high school athletes.

The NCAA argued the Four-Seasons Rule is necessary for DI athletics to exist separately from “purely professional athletics.”

Zeigler is asking the court to eliminate lines between the NCAA’s compensation rules subject to the Sherman Act and eligibility rules that don’t involve compensation. The NCAA said nothing would stop Zeigler from asking for a sixth or seventh season while pursuing a doctorate degree if he wins.

“College athletics is a means to a better end for student-athletes — not the end itself,” the NCAA motion said.

Zeigler also has known since stepping on the Tennessee campus that he had five years to complete four seasons of basketball and could have challenged the Four-Seasons Rule at any time, the NCAA said.

“Whatever emergency underlies Plaintiff’s request for relief is of his own making,” the motion said.

It noted Zeigler can keep playing basketball with foreign leagues or the NBA’s G League since “if he had a viable path to the NBA, given his resume, he would already be a viable prospect.”

The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a brief Tuesday encouraging the judge to apply Alston’s “flexible” rule of reason approach to Zeigler’s injunction request and “consider how the rule may benefit competition in the relevant labor market” and potentially enhance the athlete experience.

Alston was the 9-0 Supreme Court case ruling in June 2021 that opened the door for compensation. The high court agreed with a lower court’s determination that NCAA limits on education-related benefits that colleges offer athletes who play Division I basketball and football violate antitrust laws.

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




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