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College football spring games face uncertain future in NIL era

US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State claims top spot after national title run See where your team landed in the final US LBM Coaches Poll ranking of the year. Sports Pulse While college football adopted offseason workouts not long after Rutgers beat Princeton — Harvard claims to have conducted the first out-of-season practice on March 14, […]

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3 weeks ago

April 26, 2025

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While college football adopted offseason workouts not long after Rutgers beat Princeton — Harvard claims to have conducted the first out-of-season practice on March 14, 1889 — the spring game truly flourished this century, as programs began to stage largescale recruiting spectacles around what had evolved into one of the tentpole events on the sport’s annual calendar.

Steadily, the traditional end-of-spring scrimmage began to adopt a far less essential on-field purpose. One contributing factor was the increase in overall interest in these showcases. In response to ESPN and conference-branded networks starting to broadcast dozens of games every spring, many programs opted for an overly narrow glimpse at personnel and the playbook so as not to provide any insight for opponents on that season’s schedule.

That represented a deviation from the spring game’s original intent: to provide a game-like atmosphere as a way to evaluate a larger roster and specific position-by-position competitions.

Now, amid similar concerns stemming from dramatic changes to the NCAA model, spring games are approaching the territory of leather helmets, wishbone offenses and the four-team playoff — former college football hallmarks that have drifted into antiquity.

“What I think is happening with spring games is a consequence of what is happening in college football in general,” said Baylor coach Dave Aranda.

Conventional spring games have gone from a luxury to a liability because of NIL and the transfer portal, which have combined to turn roster management and retention into a free-for-all frenzy. With very little to gain but much to lose by mirroring a realistic game-day environment, many coaches who once embraced the positives of the spring showcase have shifted toward a closed-door approach as a way to combat widespread player movement.

“There’s more potential downside than upside for us,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee.

Said Illinois coach Bret Bielema, “I always worry about outside voices. I’m not oblivious to the fact that our guys were probably contacted by college programs that want their services.”

Twenty-five Power Four teams have decided against the traditional spring scrimmage, including nearly half of the Big Ten. Among the programs opting for something more closely resembling a practice-like setting are Nebraska, Florida State, Southern California, Oklahoma, LSU and Texas.

The reasoning is simple: Coaches and programs have become openly wary of having their rosters poached by teams that see potential contributors on tape and, because of NIL enticements and the ease of the portal, have the wherewithal to sway players through unofficial channels.

“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “It’s just an absolute free, open, common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’

“Honestly, to me, it’s about protecting the roster and protecting through that portal period.”

This weekend is the final weekend where a significant portion of the Power Four schools will wrap up spring practice and look toward offseason preparations.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns will conduct NFL-style training sessions in lieu of a normal game. Arizona State is more focused on situational gameplay such as red-zone offense, coach Kenny Dillingham said. Nebraska will hold skills competitions and 7-on-7 games involving current and former players, among other events, and then a scrimmage featuring backup players battling for spots on the Cornhuskers’ roster.

Concerns that holding a spring game could influence roster makeup isn’t reserved for the Power Four. While major-conference teams might worry about the loss of depth and young talent not quite ready for larger roles, those on the Group of Five fear that starting-caliber players could be lured away by programs with much deeper pockets and ample NIL offerings.

“My primary intent is both to protect and retain our current roster and to keep our schemes and strategies unknown from our opponents for as long as possible,” Utah State coach Bronco Mendenhall said in announcing the Aggies will not hold a spring game and will close all spring practices to the public.

Overall, thousands of players have entered the portal since the first transfer window opened in December. The spring window closes on Friday, though players are only required to enter the portal during this period in order to be immediately eligible this season.

Canceling these spring games may have a minimal impact on the overwhelming amount of roster turnover every Bowl Subdivision program has encountered since the portal and NIL legislation went into effect earlier this decade.

“Listen, whether you have a spring game or not, it’s going to be tampering,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

A largely unregulated landscape has been intensified by the potentially seven-figure payouts handed out to college football’s best players at key positions such as quarterback, to the point where even starters at high-profile programs are evaluating their options in advance of the expected House settlement that will set an annual cap on athletics department spending on NIL.

In the most glaring example, former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava decided to transfer this month amid a dispute over his NIL contract. But Iamaleava’s departure for UCLA came before the Volunteers’ spring game; there was already plenty of tape establishing the sophomore as one of the most promising young passers in the FBS.

“People are going to tamper with our players whether we like it or not,” Sarkisian said. “That’s fine. Hopefully, we’ve built a culture and they believe in the development of the other guys before them in the program and feel this is the best place for them.”

Yet many programs have stayed the course and closed spring drills with an intrasquad scrimmage, accepting the tradeoff between the clear positives behind conducting a game-like setting — player development and the chance to evaluate the competition for a starring role — and the potential fallout of losing players into the portal.

“We have enough players that will benefit from the work that we think that offsets any of the other implications,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “You can’t be scared to do everything. We have to get guys better. That’s our number one objective.”

Even as these holdouts cling to tradition, the concept of a realistic, game-like scrimmage to close spring practices seems destined to be replaced by either modified jamborees or, as with the Longhorns, types of offseason training sessions designed to maximize development away from prying eyes.

One option raised this spring by Colorado coach Deion Sanders was a controlled scrimmage between two teams, which would mirror the NFL model. While Sanders’ call for an opponent was answered by Syracuse coach Fran Brown, the waiver was denied by the FBS oversight committee.

“Under current NCAA Bylaws, teams cannot play another school in the spring,” an NCAA spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports.

With no ready solution for balancing the need for development with the chance of largescale player movement, traditional spring games face an increasingly high likelihood of being erased from the college football schedule.

“To each his own,” said Florida coach Billy Napier. “I’m either going to have coaches tampering with my players, or I’m going to have a fanbase that’s pissed off at not having a spring game. It’s pick your poison.”

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Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement

Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement Privacy Manager Link 0

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22 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement

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IU will have some of the highest-paid assistants in college basketball – The Daily Hoosier

Darian DeVries’ top assistant coaches are likely some of the highest-paid in the country. The Daily Hoosier obtained copies of the memorandums of understanding for new assistant coaches Rod Clark, Kenny Johnson and Nick Norton this week through a public records request. According to those documents, Johnson will make in total before bonuses $750,000 in his […]

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23 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Darian DeVries’ top assistant coaches are likely some of the highest-paid in the country.

The Daily Hoosier obtained copies of the memorandums of understanding for new assistant coaches Rod Clark, Kenny Johnson and Nick Norton this week through a public records request.

According to those documents, Johnson will make in total before bonuses $750,000 in his first year, Clark will make $650,000, and Norton $200,000. As previously reported, Drew Adams will make $400,000.

Unlike college football, it is very rare for a college basketball assistant coach to make over $1 million. But there aren’t public databases that aggregate and report their salaries, so information is limited when it comes to what assistants are making at the top end of the spectrum.

Six months ago when The News Gazette obtained records from across the Big Ten it found that Illinois’ Orlando Antigua was the highest-paid assistant coach in the conference at $900,000 per year, followed by Rutgers’ Brandin Knight at $700,000.

UConn assistant coaches Kimani Young ($1.1 million) and Luke Murray ($893,000) seem to be among the highest-paid. Those figures likely include bonuses earned during their most recent championship run. Arkansas assistants Chin Coleman and Kenny Payne have been reported to be making $700,000 and $900,000, respectively.

Each of Johnson, Clark and Adams arrived at IU with significant experience. All three came from another high major program — Johnson from Georgetown, Clark from Tennessee and Adams from Cincinnati. Norton came with DeVries from West Virginia and is still relatively young at 29.

All of the new IU assistants will have a chance to earn bonuses based on how far Indiana advances in the NCAA Tournament. Each contract is for two years, but will automatically extend an additional year on June 30 of each year, unless IU gives notice of non-renewal.

Indiana has yet to officially announce any of the assistant coaches other than Norton. That is expected to occur at some point this month.

For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Charles Barkley delivers dose of reality to Auburn about what he's willing to give in NIL

College athletics have gone through some radical changes over the last several years, and one of the biggest changes has of course been the NIL era. As an essentially legal pay-for-play type environment has arisen, programs have had to raise millions of dollars in order to keep their teams competitive. A huge chunk of that […]

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49 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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Charles Barkley delivers dose of reality to Auburn about what he's willing to give in NIL

College athletics have gone through some radical changes over the last several years, and one of the biggest changes has of course been the NIL era.

As an essentially legal pay-for-play type environment has arisen, programs have had to raise millions of dollars in order to keep their teams competitive.

A huge chunk of that money has come from the wealthiest donors to the school, and in the case of the Auburn Tigers, one of those just so happens to be basketball legend and media giant Charles Barkley.

Barkley spoke candidly about the fact that people expect too much from him in terms of contributions during his tee time at the Regions Tradition pro-am on Wednesday.

“I’ve given more money to Auburn, legal or illegal, than any athlete in the history of the school,” Barkley said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on WJOX-FM, interestingly declaring that he was giving money before the NIL system was in place. “And the notion that I’m going to come up with a couple million dollars every year so that we can be good at basketball and football — that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Barkley went on to not mince words as he has never been known to do, saying he isn’t going to make himself poor to allow Auburn to compete.

“One thing I’m pretty sure of, Black and broke don’t work, in any municipality in the world. I’ve been rich for a long time. I plan to stay that way. But the notion that I’m going to give Auburn millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports, that’s just not going to happen. I’m really proud of what I’ve given Auburn and I’m going to continue to give them money, but I’m not going to give them millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports. That’s just stupid. People will be talking about me behind my back. ‘How did that guy go broke? How did he lose all that money?’ Because y’all wanted to be good at sports, fool!”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

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JuJu Watkins Adds NIL Partnership With Pottery Barn Teen For ‘Dream’ Makeover

USC Trojans women’s basketball guard JuJu Watkins has been making Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals since she was a senior in high school. While it may be the offseason, Watkins is adding another NIL partnership, teaming up with Pottery Barn Teen. Ahead of the 2024-2025 season, Watkins and Pottery Barn Teen teamed up to […]

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52 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during pregame warmups before an NCAA Tournam — Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

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Cowboy Baseball Claims Series Opener Over Arizona State

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State defeated Arizona State by a 6-2 score in Thursday night’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 25-22 overall and 13-12 in Big 12 play, while ASU fell to 35-19 and 18-10 in conference play. Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 14th start […]

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54 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State defeated Arizona State by a 6-2 score in Thursday night’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium.

With the win, the Cowboys improved to 25-22 overall and 13-12 in Big 12 play, while ASU fell to 35-19 and 18-10 in conference play.

Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 14^th start of the season and once again made his case as the Big 12’s top pitcher. The junior southpaw worked seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just one run to move to 10-1 on the season.

Bodendorf became the first Cowboy pitcher to record double-digit wins in a season since Jensen Elliott, who also recorded 10, in 2019. Bodendorf also completed the regular season without allowing a stolen base against him in 81 1/3 innings.

On offense, Nolan Schubart and Colin Brueggemann both homered, and Brayden Smith provided the biggest knock of the night with a three-run double.

Bodendorf got himself into trouble in the first inning as the first three Sun Devil batters got a hit, with the third off the bat of Matt King bringing home a run. But the Cowboy ace escaped further damage, ending the inning by inducing a 4-6-3 double play.

Schubart evened the score in the bottom of the inning, launching a two-out home run to right field. The blast was Schubart’s 15^th of the season and 55^th of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth on OSU’s all-time list with Billy Gasparino and Ray Ortiz.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Bodendorf in the second that included a pair of strikeouts, the Pokes had a big inning with the bats. Kollin Ritchie, Avery Ortiz and Alex Conover loaded the bases, and Brock Thompson brought in the Cowboys’ second run of the game with an RBI walk. The next batter, Smith, drove in all three Cowboys with a double to the left-center field gap to extend the lead to 5-1.

With his strikeout of Isaiah Jackson to end the top of the fifth inning, Bodendorf had retired 15 consecutive ASU hitters. In the bottom of the inning, Brueggemann hit a ball off the centerfield batter’s eye to push the lead to 6-1.

After retiring 18-straight Sun Devils, Bodendorf surrendered a single to King in the seventh. ASU would go on to load the bases with one out, but Bodendorf got out of the jam with a strikeout and an inning-ending groundout.

Ryan Ure replaced Bodendorf in the eighth and was able to get out of the inning after catcher Ian Daugherty did a textbook job of backing up first base after an errant throw, and Landon Hairston was caught in no man’s land between first and second base.

Gabe Davis pitched the ninth, and after allowing one run, was able to get Brody Briggs to fly out with the bases loaded to hold on for the win.

The Cowboys will look to clinch the series Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday’s finale is set for a noon start.

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Napheesa Collier Signs With Jordan Brand After 'Meaningful' MJ Pitch

Napheesa Collier has swapped Nike properties, trading in the Swoosh for the Jumpman. The Minnesota Lynx star has signed a multiyear deal with Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand—the apparel company inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Collier, a four-time WNBA All-Star, had been with Nike for the last five years, regularly playing in player-exclusive Nike Kobes […]

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1 hour ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Napheesa Collier has swapped Nike properties, trading in the Swoosh for the Jumpman.

The Minnesota Lynx star has signed a multiyear deal with Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand—the apparel company inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Collier, a four-time WNBA All-Star, had been with Nike for the last five years, regularly playing in player-exclusive Nike Kobes and KDs.

But it was time for a change, she said, citing the investment Jordan Brand is making into the women’s game. Jumpman branding, for example, has appeared on game uniforms for the last two WNBA All-Star Games as part of Nike’s partnership with the WNBA.

“Jordan has [its] own identity, [its] own athletes and does things a different way,” Collier said in a video interview. “There’s a big separation.”

In February, the Jumpman himself made an in-person recruiting pitch to Collier while she was in Miami for Unrivaled’s inaugural season. Collier said the Hall-of-Famer highlighted UConn and Lynx legend Maya Moore, the first woman basketball player to sign with the company, and the apparel giant’s potential to elevate her personal brand.

Jordan made a point to say that his company would continue to support her regardless of her sneaker decision. It was a conversation she described as far more about the brand’s ethos than money or merchandise allotment.

“It’s his brand but he doesn’t need to be on the ground doing these things,” she said. “So, for him to come to the meeting and do that was really meaningful. It was awesome.”

The Jordan Brand business has become a top performer for Nike, surpassing $7 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024.

Collier is switching to Jordan Brand as women’s basketball is experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership and cultural influence. The 28-year-old has put together a decorated career since being drafted in 2019, leading the Lynx to the WNBA Finals last season. But the WNBPA executive committee vice president and co-founder of new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled has also been one of the league’s most important voices off the court as a catalyst pushing for increased player wages amid collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Collier, who officially signed with Jordan Brand last month, spoke with Jordan again after turning down the other shoe brands that had expressed interest during her sneaker free-agency period.

Collier said she’s happy to finally be on the same team as Moore, who officially retired in 2023. The Missouri native joins the Jordan Brand women’s roster of 12 WNBA players that includes Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans. Collier’s move coincides with Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally leaving Jordan Brand for Adidas.

“This is a partnership that I want to have for the rest of my career,” Collier said.

Stars across the WNBA are dropping signature shoes; this month, Aces star A’Ja Wilson released her own sneaker, the A’One, which sold out in minutes. The three-time MVP is the 13th WNBA player to have a signature shoe.

When asked if Collier could be the next, she hinted that she and Jordan Brand may have something in the works. “You’ll have to stay tuned,” she said.