Donald Trump's key ally assigns blame for NIL debacle after Nick Saban meeting
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville has blamed the Democrats as he presses for reform surrounding the NIL – following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and college football legend Nick Saban. The president was present at the University of Alabama in order to give a commencement address as the debate over name, image, and likeness […]
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville has blamed the Democrats as he presses for reform surrounding the NIL – following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and college football legend Nick Saban.
After the veteran Alabama legend introduced Trump on stage, the White House chief was complimentary of the iconic seven-time national championship winner. Despite the 73-year-old having retired back in 2023, the president was adamant that the ex-NFL coach should return to the game in the future.
Prior to this moment, Senator Tuberville gave his assessment of the issues surrounding NIL rules in college football, as he was unable to resist taking aim at the Democrats. Speaking to 100.9’s “The Game with Ryan Fowler this week, the Republican figure claimed that his political rivals had no desire to enact reform.
He contended: “I think we can get it on the floor, the problem is getting it past a Democrat group that really wants nothing to do with making this country better.
“They don’t care about college sports or education, they worry about the power that they control in this country. It’s a hard way to go, but if anybody can get it done, it’s President Trump, and hopefully we can have some discussion to get on the right track toward helping the NIL and college sports.
He continued by also expressing concerns regarding the transfer portal, saying: “Everybody would be on the same level. We’ve got to come up with some rules for the transfer portal, possibly a contract for players.
“We do not want to turn into minor league sports. I talked to (Auburn men’s basketball coach) Bruce Pearl a few weeks ago, he says it’s a disaster, absolute disaster in basketball, and I’m sure it goes over into football and some of the other sports.”
As aforementioned, President Trump praised Saban as a “great coach” during the event at the University of Alabama. He said: “As a student at Alabama, you will always remember where you were when your head coach, Nick Saban, retired.
“Remember that? He’s done such a fantastic job. That’s true with Nick. What a great coach. Let’s bring him back. No. You have a good coach right now, though. You have a good coach right now.”
Praising the school, he added: “Everywhere you look you can see the fierce spirit of this school, but no where more clearly than in your world-class athletics. There’s nothing like it. Probably there’s no school like it.”
“There’s something truly special about the players, coaches and the fans that pack the stands at Bryant-Denny Stadium and proudly sing Dixieland Delight. We like that.
“Alabama has changed college football forever and inscribed into the history books the names of Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, four Heisman Trophy winners and of course, the great Nick Saban. This place is truly where legends are made.”
Big Ten and Big 12 in public dispute over future of College Football Playoff
At the Big 12 media days, commissioner Brett Yormark was very upfront about what the College Football Playoff expansion should look like. He continues to beat the drum of five automatic qualifiers with eleven at-large bids chosen by the College Football Playoff committee. He fired back at Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who is pushing […]
At the Big 12 media days, commissioner Brett Yormark was very upfront about what the College Football Playoff expansion should look like. He continues to beat the drum of five automatic qualifiers with eleven at-large bids chosen by the College Football Playoff committee. He fired back at Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who is pushing for more automatic qualifiers, with four each going to the Big Ten and the SEC, and only two each for the Big 12 and ACC, and a small amount of at-large.
The commissioners of the Big Ten and Big 12 couldn’t be farther apart on what they think is best for the expanded CFP.
The Big 12’s Brett Yormark is doubling down on the 5+11 format, while the Big Ten’s Tony Petitti wants four auto bids for his conference.
Tony Petitti and Brett Yormark aren’t hiding their disagreement over the CFP’s expansion
Petitti joined CBS Sports’ Joel Klatt a few weeks ago to talk about the College Football Playoff expansion and how a decision needs to be made by December 1. He believes the Big Ten and the SEC are due more bids than other conferences, and he doubts that increasing the committee’s at-large choices will make a difference.
““If you go to 16, and you have 11 at-large, you just added even more decision-making…We’ll stipulate the committee does the best job they can. This is not to say the (committee) doesn’t do a good job…They make incredibly difficult decisions based on data…When you start comparing teams that don’t have a head to head and you have very little data to look at between leagues, that becomes really difficult.””
Tony Petitti, Big Ten Commissioner
Brett Yormark thinks that’s a terrible idea and was very clear to voice his disdain over it during the Big 12 media days. He called it a professional model like the NFL and thinks college football should act like college football. There’s a reason it’s different in his mind, and that conferences should be working for the good of all of football, not just their own conference. Which ironically is what Yormark is being accused of by advocating for the 5+11 model.
““We have the responsibility to do what’s right for college football … not what’s right for one or two or more conferences. I think 5-11 is fair. Earn it on the field, assuming we want to expand. I love the current format, but if we’re going to expand, let’s do it in a way that’s fair and equitable and gives everyone a chance.””
Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner
The Big Ten and the SEC have yet to have their media days, and so there will be more expansion thoughts publicly broadcast as the dispute has come out in the open. It’s hard to know how it will all shake out, but the December 1 deadline is looming.
Freddie Retter, Shawn Collins Among Best Defensive Players In D2 Football
In less than two months, college football will return to our screens once again. And after a busy offseason with plenty of transfer portal moves, program shakeups, and more, the best teams of NCAA Division II football are beginning to gear up for the 2025 campaign. Some of the most productive offenses at any level […]
In less than two months, college football will return to our screens once again.
And after a busy offseason with plenty of transfer portal moves, program shakeups, and more, the best teams of NCAA Division II football are beginning to gear up for the 2025 campaign.
Some of the most productive offenses at any level of college football call D-II home, which means that defenses will need to be primed and ready for the amount of weaponry they’ll have to go up against on a weekly basis.
Some players returning to D-II ball this fall have already proven they can do that at an elite level, however, and five in particular stand out above the rest going into this season.
Here’s a look ahead at five of the best defensive players to watch in D-II football going into the 2025 season, part of FloCollege’s extended coverage in the leadup to kickoff:
Ricky Freymond, DL, Western Colorado
With another fall of Freymond, the Mountaineers have something that’s quickly becoming a rarity in college football, especially below the D-I level – returning star power.
The only Cliff Harris Award finalist from last year to come back to D-II football, Freymond, already WCU’s all-time sacks leader, will once again be a force in the trenches in Gunnison and enters the fall as the preseason favorite to earn the highest honor for defensive players in D-II.
The massive 6-foot-5, 265-pound California native had a monster season a year ago as he romped to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year while garnering multiple first team All-America honors, tallying a career high 12 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss and 69 total tackles along with a pair of forced fumbles and kick blocks apiece. F
reymond’s choice to stay with the Mountaineers, especially considering he likely would’ve gained significant interest had he decided to test the transfer portal, is massive for a WCU team that went 11-2 overall and made the playoffs last season, and a Mountaineer defense that led the country in tackles for loss (117) a year ago now gets to retain its biggest disruptor up front.
Freddie Retter, DL, Kutztown
Kutztown’s reigning Male Athlete of the Year as a dual-sport star — earning national accolades in both football and wrestling last year — Retter is a busy man with a lot to juggle, but he’s got plenty of time left on his hands for terrorizing opposing offensive lines.
Stuffing the stat sheet as he led the Golden Bears to an undefeated regular season, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title and trip to the second round of the playoffs, Retter finished his breakout season with 43 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three blocked kicks and two forced fumbles in his redshirt sophomore campaign, winning the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year awards in the process.
Back for more on the gridiron after a successful side quest in the winter as an All-American heavyweight for the Golden Bears’ wrestling team, the 6-3 Retter should be spotlighted as one of the country’s top interior linemen this upcoming year as KU pushes for what could be a fourth season of 11 wins or more in five tries — and to be in the running for its first-ever national championship.
Clark Griffin, LB, Harding
Harding may be most well-known for its flexbone option offense that propelled the Bisons to a national championship in 2023, but the program wouldn’t be among today’s blue-bloods of D-II football if it didn’t also have an elite defense year after year.
Enter Griffin, the returning anchor of a Harding defense that was D-II’s stingiest in 2024 (national-low 200.6 yards per game allowed) and likely the best linebacker in the division going into the fall.
A former walk-on at Alabama before transferring to Harding ahead of the 2022 season, Griffin has twice since been named to the All-Great American Conference first team and earned an AP All-America first team nod this past season after 110 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. A reliable play stopper and big-game performer, Griffin acquired at least 10 tackles in five different games a season ago, also reaching double digits in the Bisons’ national quarterfinal loss to eventual national champion Ferris State.
Expect familiar sights out of Harding football this season with Griffin leading the charge on defense and another unforgiving rushing attack, both of which will be pivotal in the Bisons’ hunt for a second national title in three years.
Anthony Cardamone, LB, Grand Valley State
Few (if any) D-II football programs churn out talent like Grand Valley State, and the next potential NFL Draft prospect to come out of the Lakers’ vaunted setup might be waiting in the wings. Already a two-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team selection, Cardamone will step into the fold this fall as GVSU’s leader on defense following the graduation of defensive back Ian Kennelly (who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the NFL’s Detroit Lions), looking to finish off his career by helping lead the Lakers to their first national championship since 2006.
Still, Cardamone had a great 2024 regardless, as he finished fourth in the GLIAC in tackles (80) — a total of 26 of which came in the Lakers’ two playoff games against Indianapolis and Harding — along with 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks at season’s end. Cardamone was also integral to GVSU having the third-best pass defense (121.6 yards allowed per game) in the country last season, and if recent history is any indication, the Lakers should be battling among the nation’s top teams once again as Cardamone aims to rise up as their skilled veteran playmaker.
Shawn Collins, DB, Emory & Henry
The joint-team leader in interceptions for a Wasps squad that led the country in interceptions (27) is back in the secondary for an E&H program with a ton of momentum following its best season since 1998. One of the main catalysts behind the Wasps’ surprise surge to a 9-2 record in 2024 (including a perfect 6-0 mark at home), Collins had a breakout campaign a year ago with six interceptions, eight pass breakups, 38 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, all career highs as he staked his claim as the best ball-hawk in the South Atlantic Conference.
Collins was picked as an All-SAC Mountain Division selection — named alongside the other three starters in the E&H secondary — and also picked up an honorable mention nod on the Don Hansen All-America team for his efforts, and comes into 2025 as one of the most proven defensive backs in D-II after many similar-caliber players in his position graduated or transferred in the offseason.
The Wasps haven’t made the playoffs since making the leap from D-III in 2022, but with weapons like Collins in the fold, there’s a serious chance of E&H making some history this season.
When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?
The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.
The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas
College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll
End Of 2024 Season
Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1
Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1
Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2
Harding (Ark.) 12-2
Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1
Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2
Minnesota St. 11-4
Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2
Central Oklahoma 11-2
Western Colorado 11-2
Virginia Union 10-4
California (Pa.) 10-3
Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4
Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2
Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1
Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3
Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3
West Alabama 9-2
Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2
Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3
Wingate (N.C.) 9-2
Miles (Ala.) 10-3
Ashland (Ohio) 9-4
Central Washington 8-4
Augustana (S.D.) 8-4
Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.
Watch 2024 GVSU Football Highlights
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Stalions’ Wild Rant, Finebaum’s Texas Prediction, and SCORE Act Impact on NIL
Connor Stalions, a former Michigan football analyst, sparked controversy with a wild response to TCU coach Sonny Dykes’ comments about Michigan’s sign-stealing methods during the 2022 College Football Playoff. Stalions claimed he was never fooled by opponents and criticized the performance of Michigan players in that game. The outburst came as Michigan faces potential NCAA […]
Connor Stalions, a former Michigan football analyst, sparked controversy with a wild response to TCU coach Sonny Dykes’ comments about Michigan’s sign-stealing methods during the 2022 College Football Playoff. Stalions claimed he was never fooled by opponents and criticized the performance of Michigan players in that game. The outburst came as Michigan faces potential NCAA repercussions, with a ruling expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, a new Texas vs. Ohio State matchup has the college football world buzzing, especially after analyst Paul Finebaum confidently predicts a Longhorns victory. Additionally, the SCORE Act introduced in Congress could reshape NIL regulations for college athletes.
By the Numbers
Stalions admitted to knowing “almost every signal” against seven high-profile opponents between 2021 and 2022.
Brice Sensabaugh scored 37 points in the NBA’s Salt Lake City Summer League, setting a new record.
Yes, But
While Stalions’ comments stirred controversy, they also highlight the ongoing debate over competitive integrity in college sports. Critics may view his outburst as an attempt to deflect blame from Michigan’s performance, raising questions about accountability.
State of Play
The NCAA investigation into Michigan’s sign-stealing practices is ongoing, with a ruling expected within 30 to 90 days.
Ohio State’s football season opener against Texas is set for August 30, with both teams highly anticipated in the upcoming college season.
What’s Next
The NCAA’s impending decision could significantly impact Michigan’s season and coaching staff, while the new NCAA landscape may reshape NIL deals for athletes across the country. As the college football schedule approaches, the Texas vs. Ohio State game is positioned to draw significant attention.
Bottom Line
The unfolding drama around Connor Stalions and the NCAA investigation reflects broader issues in college sports, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in athletic programs. With looming regulatory changes, the landscape of college athletics is poised for significant transformation.
FAYETTEVILLE — The recent House v. NCAA settlement handed down by Judge Claudia Wilken started on July 1 and one of the parts to be implemented was to ensure name, image and likeness deals of $600 or more were market value. Some schools are already voicing their displeasure of the enforcement. The firm Deloitte’s NIL […]
FAYETTEVILLE — The recent House v. NCAA settlement handed down by Judge Claudia Wilken started on July 1 and one of the parts to be implemented was to ensure name, image and likeness deals of $600 or more were market value.
Some schools are already voicing their displeasure of the enforcement.
The firm Deloitte’s NIL clearinghouse — called “NIL Go” — was created to police and approve NIL deals in an effort to make sure they’re for a “valid business purpose” and within a fair-market “range of compensation,” according to Stewart Mandel of The Athletic.
The settlement is expected to allow roughly $20.5 million to be distributed by colleges for all student-athletes annually. Football programs are expected to have budgets of $13 million to $16 million, which is a far cry from some reports of some schools spending as much as $30 million to $40 million last year.
Schools are hoping to use NIL deals of $600 or more to attract talent, but it appears schools are trying to get approval for deals that don’t pass the mustard.
The Associated Press reported the newly formed College Sports Commission sent letters to schools Thursday stating it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools.
Those arrangements hold no “valid business purpose,” the memo said, and don’t adhere to rules that call for outside NIL deals to be between players and companies that provide goods or services to the general public for profit.
The College Sports Commission said more than 1,500 deals have been cleared since NIL Go launched on June 11, “ranging in value from three figures to seven figures.”
NIL Go has its critics, including Dalton K. Forsythe, director of Utah State’s Blue A Collective. He took to X on Thursday to voice his frustration.
“We’re hearing from peers across the country: nearly 100% of collective-backed NIL deals are being denied, regardless of size or structure,” Forsythe wrote in a post.
He also gave an example of NIL Go denying a deal the collective had submitted with the obligations the athlete was to fulfill.
“Here’s a real example of a deal we submitted that was denied,” Forsythe wrote. “It included social media posts, appearances, and brand promotion — real deliverables, clearly documented.
“Total compensation was $2,333. The athlete had responsibilities. The compensation matched the work. Still denied.”
One could assume several prospects have committed to the schools with the understanding that the money from NIL deals would be approved and would supplement their income. If the deals aren’t approved, prospects could possibly rescind their commitments and resume the recruiting process.
5-star eyes Hogs
University of Arkansas men’s basketball Coach John Calipari has the Hogs as one of the finalist for Class of 2026 5-star prospect Miikka Muurinen.
Muurinen, 6-10 and 200 pounds, of Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep, has narrowed his list of schools to Arkansas, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina State, North Carolina and Duke, according to recruiting analyst Sam Kayser.
“Muurinen is one of the most versatile forward prospects in all of high school basketball,” Kayser said. “His touch around the rim combined with his ability to stretch the floor make him a dynamic offensive weapon at 6-10.”
He arrived in the United States from Finland in July 2023 to attend Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kan., for his sophomore season before transferring to Compass Prep for his junior season.
ESPN and Rivals list him as a 5-star recruit. ESPN rates him as the No. 1 center and No. 11 overall prospect in the nation.
He made an official visit to Arkansas last year during the Sept. 20-22 weekend. He officially visited Utah and Michigan prior to visiting Fayetteville. He could make a return visit to Arkansas in the fall if he wishes.
“Muurinen’s recruitment is beginning to heat up with the talented forward narrowing his list to seven potential schools,” Kayser said. “Arkansas is one of the main teams in hot pursuit and is a serious contender in his recruitment. Would consider them one of, if not the favorite, at the moment.
“Indiana and NC State, who both made Muurinen’s top seven, both just recently offered Muurinen this week, while Duke, North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky and Arkansas are considered the five main programs involved. I expect Muurinen to start getting some visits scheduled and getting on campus within the next month or two.”
Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Iowa |
Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Iowa The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, […]
Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Iowa
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they’re entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Iowa using data from 247Sports. Here’s the players from Iowa set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.