College football analyst Joel Klatt didn’t hold back when addressing the fallout from Nico Iamaleava’s high-profile departure from Tennessee, calling attention to what he views as rampant hypocrisy and a widening tampering crisis in the sport.

Iamaleava, who led the Volunteers to a College Football Playoff appearance, left the program after reportedly seeking a restructured NIL deal — a request Tennessee declined. His exit sparked widespread discussion around the implications of NIL and the unchecked use of the transfer portal.

CFB Analyst Blasts Amid Nico Iamaleava Controversy and Tampering Concerns

“You can’t complain about the system and then walk into it and tamper,” Klatt said. “Like, does anyone else see the ridiculousness of all of this?”

He pointed out that both players and programs are navigating a landscape with “a set of rules that nobody knows and then no one can enforce.” According to Klatt, neither Iamaleava nor Tennessee is a victim in this situation, as both sides operate in a broken system lacking accountability.

The situation has fueled speculation and reports suggesting Iamaleava’s representatives contacted other programs while he was still at Tennessee. Despite denials from those close to the quarterback that financial motivations were central, the perception remains that NIL tensions played a major role. Iamaleava has since committed to UCLA, but the controversy surrounding his departure continues to dominate headlines.

Klatt emphasized the need for transparency and stricter oversight.

“The only way that we’re going to get tampering out of college football… is if we get phones on the table. Throw your phones down. Who have you called? Get agents registered,” he said.

His remarks highlighted a growing concern among coaches and analysts alike: the current system makes it easy for both players and schools to blur the line between legal recruitment and outright tampering.

Klatt also referenced reported incidents involving Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and Deion Sanders, suggesting that more public accountability is necessary.

“If you don’t want tampering to exist, one, don’t do it. And then when it does happen… call it out. Call these guys to the mat,” Klatt said.

KEEP READING: CFB Analyst Calls His Shot, Says LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Will Be the No. 1 Pick in 2026 NFL Draft

His call for reform underscores an urgent demand for defined rules and enforceable guardrails in today’s college football landscape.

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STILLWATER — A strong start pushed the No. 23 Oklahoma State softball team to a 4-1 win over Utah at Cowgirl Stadium Sunday. 
 
With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 33-17 and 13-9 in the Big 12, while the Utes dropped to 13-39 and 5-19 in the conference. 
 
The scoring started in the first as Megan Delgadillo, Rosie Davis and Amanda Hasler loaded the bases, with Karli Godwin bringing Delgadillo home with a single.  
 
Two more runs were added in the second, when Davis doubled home Megan Bloodworth and Delgadillo to give OSU a 3-0 lead.
 
OSU’s final run came on a Bloodworth sacrifice fly that scored Tia Warsop, who doubled earlier in the inning.
 
The Utes’ only run came in the fifth, when Shelbi Ortiz recorded an RBI double. The Cowgirls limited the damage by stranding three runners to close the inning.
 
Ruby Meylan picked up the win in the circle and improved to 21-7, pitching for 6.2 innings with five strikeouts and four hits allowed. Utah’s Shelbee Jones dropped to 6-17.
 
Offensive standouts for Oklahoma State included Davis (2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks), Godwin (1-for-3 with an RBI) and Warsop (1-for-3 with an RBI).
 
Next up, the Cowgirls head to Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Tournament from May 7-10 at Devon Park.
 
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State Softball, visit okstate.com and follow @CowgirlSB on X and @osusoftball on Instagram. For tickets, visit okstate.com/tickets or call 877-ALL-4-OSU. 
 

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Utah	0	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	7	0
Oklahoma State	1	2	1	0	0	0	X		4	6	1

 
 
WP: R. Meylan (21-7) LP: S. Jones (6-17); SV: None
HR: OSU – None
HR: UT – None
Duration: 2:18; Attendance: 1435
 

Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop softball is seeded fourth for the 2025 Big South Conference Softball Championship, which will be held on the campus of Presbyterian College May 7-10.

The Eagles will open up tournament play on Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. as they’ll face fifth-seeded Charleston Southern.

This is the first time the Eagles have been the fourth seed since 2019 in which that year the Eagles opened up against 5^th-seeded Charleston Southern, earning a 6-3 win. It is the 5^th time in program history the Eagles are the 4^th seed for the conference tournament.

Radford took the outright regular season championship and earned the number one overall seed. Longwood is seeded second followed by USC Upstate (3^rd).

Every game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on various Nexstar television affiliates in the conference’s footprint.  The Big South’s Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals.  The Conference Championship schedule is below and is subject to change due to weather.

 

Wednesday, May 7 (Game 1); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 1 – (4) Winthrop vs. (5) Charleston Southern, 5:00pm

 

Thursday, May 8 (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 2 – (2) Longwood vs. (3) USC Upstate, 12:00pm

Game 3 – (1) Radford vs. Winner Game 1, 2:30pm

Game 4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:00pm (elimination)

 

Friday, May 9 (Games 5-7) ; TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 5 – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm

Game 6 – Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)

Game 7 – Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)

 

Saturday, May 10 – Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 8 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12:00pm

** Game 9 – If Necessary, same two teams from Game 8, 2:30pm

 

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy will tell you that he is as tired as he can ever remember this time of year. Good reason. In this new age of college football with players getting compensation no matter what you want to call it, NIL, pay-for-play, or eventually if the House vs. NCAA lawsuit is settled, revenue sharing and the free movement of the transfer portal and in recruiting, the unlimited official visits for prospects. The calendar is non stop.

For years, college sports has been the headliner of the fall season. The loud crowds chant for their team while the school band blasts the school anthem during crucial moments in the game. Institutions are given tons of money to fund various sports programs and give their teams the best facilities possible to maximize their potential. At the same time, EA Sports’ College Football 25 shared the likeness of the schools top players.

With all this going on and the players not seeing a dime of the profits, something had to change and it did. There has been no secret about players wanting to be compensated for all the work they’ve done to make their respective school profitable. The NCAA made it illegal to accept any benefit as a student-athlete until 2021 when NIL deals became legal to obtain. The Name, Image, and Likeness payout have given players a clear avenue to make money. They can promote products for various companies.

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The issue with all this now is that players are entering the transfer portal for a chance to earn a bigger paycheck. This has become a growing problem since the idea was passed. Some players have become check collectors by staying at a school for a short period before heading to a new stop. There are very little regulations behind any of the movements.

Back in 2021-22 the number of transfer players reached 1,907 and grew to over 2,500 this year. This has become an issue for college coaches. There are certain schools who can’t keep up with payment demands. Ten college basketball schools are preparing to spend a reported $10 million to keep a top roster in 2025.

Related: BYU Basketball on NIL elites list going into next season

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has an immense disdain for NIL deals.

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“”I think all the things that I believed in for all these years no longer exist in college athletics. It’s always been about developing players, it was always about helping people be successful in life.” Saban said. He met with President Trump this week to talk about federal regulations with NIL.

Related: Livvy Dunne turns heads by crushing retirement life

While there are other coaches who share the same sentiment, there are a few who believe this is a great opportunity for young kids to learn about finances and how to protect your money. Arkansas basketball coach John Calapari believes this is the kind of responsibility they need for the real world. “I think it’s really good for our student-athletes. I mean, it’s finally allowing them to earn what they are worth,” said Calapari.

Related: South Carolina QB turns heads with latest NIL deal

Calapari has a valid point to say the least. These young men go through life with very little understanding of how the world works with money and how easily it can be manipulated, especially in the NFL. Those contracts have loopholes that many don’t understand until something occurs. You go from having nothing to having the world in a few short years.

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However, that’s often the argument people try to make. Players can’t handle such a large amount of money at a young age. Isn’t part of growing up allowing yourself to make mistakes so you can learn how to be smarter for the future? Now that’s not saying go blow through your money, but learn how to navigate through the world of finance. That’s what makes these NIL deals intriguing.

Still, the dialogue surrounding NIL deals has had its impact in the collegiate world. No matter how you look at this mixed noise, we’ll see players move about at their own leisure. Let’s just hope we grow, not regress to where future generations can profit too.

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s Sierra Sacco and Raelin Chaffin’s time as teammates is not over. The pair were both selected by the Talons in Saturday night’s AUSL College Draft. They are the 14th and 15th Bulldogs drafted to play professional softball and the program’s total of professional players to 28.
 
Of those 28 professionals, 16 were coached by Ricketts for at least one season at MSU. Nine Bulldogs have gone on to pro careers in the six years since she was named the program’s head coach, and at least one player has signed a professional contract in each of the last five seasons.
 
Sacco came off the board first as the first selection of the second round (No. 5 overall). Chaffin followed with the fourth pick of the third round (No. 12 overall). Mississippi State and Virginia Tech are the only two programs in the country to receive multiple Golden Tickets.
 
Sacco finished the regular season with a .466 batting average that currently ranks fourth in program history. Her .557 on-base percentage is third, and her .791 slugging percentage ranks sixth. She is among the top 10 in the nation with 61 runs scored, which is fourth in program history. The Bulldogs are 62-12 when she scores a run over the last two years.
 
Chaffin meanwhile, has broken the program record with 10 wins in SEC play, and her 21 wins this season lead the SEC. She was the first Bulldog to win 20 games since 2015, and her 180 strikeouts this year rank sixth in program history. The Bulldog ace has thrown 17 complete games, which is second in the SEC.
 
The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing in a traditional format. Former Bulldog catcher and All-American Mia Davidson was already selected in the league’s inaugural draft in January during which each of the four teams selected its first 12 players. Davidson will play with the Bandits this summer. All three pro Bulldogs will open the AUSL season on June 7 with the Bandits and Talons meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
 
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching “HailStateSB.”