NIL

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Sign up for the daily newsletter, Jay’s Plays of the Day, to get sports betting recommendations for the top games of the night and the week ahead. Weekend winners › Scottie Scheffler. Wow. Just wow. He ran away from the field at the Byron Nelson event over the weekend, finishing at 31 under. He won by […]

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1 month ago

May 5, 2025

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Sign up for the daily newsletter, Jay’s Plays of the Day, to get sports betting recommendations for the top games of the night and the week ahead.

Weekend winners

› Scottie Scheffler. Wow. Just wow. He ran away from the field at the Byron Nelson event over the weekend, finishing at 31 under. He won by eight shots people. Eight. Here’s hoping good Scottie meets great Rory in two weeks at the PGA Championship.

› Game 7s. Sure, there is the occasional clunker in there, but for the most part, the win-or-turn-in-the-gear settings are wicked cool. Especially in the NHL playoffs, which delivered a thrilling Winnipeg win in double OT last night.

› WNBA preseason. Seriously. The idea of playing preseason games at the college sites of some of the league’s biggest stars is truly inspired. PT Barnum would approve. And Caitlin Clark returning to a packed house at Iowa was super cool.

› Big budget MLB crews. Visor tip to an informed regular who passed along that the top four teams — Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies — in payroll this year are a combined 29 games over .500, and the top two — Dodgers and Mets — are 45-24.

Which leads us to the Yankees’ stars. Aaron Judge is only hitting .423 — it’s May friends — with 11 homers and 33 RBIs, and free agent signee Max Fried has looked like Steve Carlton in his prime. Fried is 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA.

› Sovereignty. No, this is not about the Trump administration. Rather, this is about the horse that claimed the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Side note: It was the most-watched Derby since 1989. Side note, part II: As JTC noted on social media, every Derby entry this year was related to Secretariat in some way. Wow.

Weekend losers

› UT baseball. The Vols were No. 1 in the country about six weeks ago and appeared to be a juggernaut. After dropping two of three over the weekend at home, UT has lost its last three series in Knoxville and four of its last five overall.

› The Braves. Yes, they salvaged the third game of the series against the visiting Dodgers, but it’s time for a clear look at a team that is the personification of mediocre. They are 5-11 against the four NL contenders they have faced this season and 15-18 overall.

› The Steelers QB room. When the last-gasp plan is to sign the 41-year-old distraction that is the QB formerly known as Aaron Rodgers, well, you are either asking the wrong questions, or you are asking them entirely too late.

› James Harden. The beard tallied all of seven points — yes, seven, on eight shots — in the Clippers’ Game 7 collapse against Denver. Yikes. In the last 13 elimination games, Harden’s teams are a staggering 2-11, and that includes Game 6 of the Denver series.

NIL confusion

NIL feels omnipresent in modern sports, and as the looming House v NCAA settlement gets reworked, the news was far from encouraging recently.

First, there are the reports that Texas is spending $40 million in NIL money on its football roster. Who could possibly keep up with that?

Second, there comes a report that Donald Trump met with Nick Saban last week, and Trump is looking at a possible executive order to limit NIL payments. While the idea seems nonsensical, it’s clear that the playing field has never been less level.

What should be done? Well, Saban’s concerns echo those of a growing number of disgruntled college sports fans.

Without collective bargaining, trying to impose blanket salary caps for college players feels destined to be headed to court, right? And that’s with or without a presidential executive order.

The collectives are massive and only growing — in size and in power.

And the ripple effects are how former five stars like Arik Gilbert and Jaden Rashada end up at Savannah State and Sacramento State, respectively.

Again, there is an overwhelming sense of chasing windmills here because it’s clear the system is cracked, but the solutions feel untenable at this point.

But at least they have landing spots.

The spring football portal closed over the weekend, and multi-time major college starters like Emmanuel Karnley (CB at Miami and Arizona) and TJ Ferguson (OL at Alabama and FSU) are still waiting for their next destination.

Thoughts?

This and that

› Some UT football news over the weekend from Paschall — rules are rules, people — with the Vols adding a portal CB. Also in this news is UT hiring Amorrow Morgan as an assistant coach for men’s basketball.

› Saw this over the weekend, too. Eddie Van Halen was an all-time artist. Michelangelo with a guitar, if we’re being honest. Folks my age will appreciate this.

› On a similar note (Spy?), David Lee Roth performed live over the weekend — his first live performance in five years — and reportedly crushed it.

› Gregg Popovich stepped down as the Spurs coach and moved into the front office to run the team.

Today’s questions

Happy Cinco de Mayo, friends.

What’s the best Mexican dish? Also, tequila, friend or foe? (It’s a definite foe for me.)

Weekend winners and losers. Go.

As for today, May 5, let’s explore:

Cy Young pitched the first perfect game in the “modern” era of baseball. That was in 1903, which really stretches the term “modern”, in my opinion.

Adele is 37 today.

Since it is 5/5 on the calendar, Rushmore of most famous 55s, and have some fun. (And yes, the Sammy Hagar classic is a frontrunner for sure.)

NIL

Weekend Wrap, sponsored by Crystal Creek Partners

Weekend Wrap, sponsored by Crystal Creek Partners Owned by two Texas Aggie lettermen, Crystal Creek Partners specializes in commercial and residential real estate properties in the College Station area. Their properties are all custom newer construction in prime locations, including homes in The Estates of College Station and Commercial Spaces in South College Station’s Tower […]

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18 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

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Weekend Wrap, sponsored by Crystal Creek Partners

Owned by two Texas Aggie lettermen, Crystal Creek Partners specializes in commercial and residential real estate properties in the College Station area. Their properties are all custom newer construction in prime locations, including homes in The Estates of College Station and Commercial Spaces in South College Station’s Tower Point and Tower Center. If you’re looking for a single-family home for 4 students or flexible space for your growing business, reach out to Crystal Creek Partners to learn more.Crystal Creek Partners is looking to expand their property portfolio in the College Station area to include additional student rentals and VRBO properties. If you are interested in selling a property, we’d love to talk .

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You can also check out their newest vacation property in College Station here.

House v. NCAA settlement reached

Several weeks after an anticipated settlement was expected to be reached, the now-infamous House v. NCAA case was concluded Friday night. For the first time, players can now be paid directly by universities for their athletic endeavors.

The settlement allows NCAA member schools to directly compensate student-athletes for their NIL, up to a capped amount of approximately 22% of specified revenue (for instance, media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships). The cap for the 2025-26 athletic year is estimated at approximately $20.5 million.

NIL deals are still within the rules, likely pushing the total significantly higher for players. The vast majority of the revenue dispersed by universities will go to football and basketball.

A new independent body, the College Sports Commission, will be responsible for implementing the settlement terms governing revenue sharing, NIL and roster limits. There will also be a clearinghouse to oversee and approve any NIL deals greater than $600.

Football scholarship limits will eventually be set at 105, with baseball moving to 34 full scholarships and basketball going from 13 scholarships to 15. Texas A&M had already announced that it would fully fund all those scholarships.

““The approval of the House settlement agreement represents a significant milestone for the meaningful support of our student-athletes and a pivotal step toward establishing long-term sustainability for college sports, two of the Southeastern Conference’s top priorities. As the journey to modernize collegiate sports continues, we remain focused on identifying and implementing innovative opportunities for our student-athletes across all sports while maintaining the core values that make collegiate athletics uniquely meaningful,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.

Aggie commits shut down their recruitment after weekend official visits

Two of A&M’s top offensive recruits for the 2026 recruiting class took one look at Aggieland this weekend and shut down their recruitments entirely. Four-star wideout Aaron Gregory and 4-star running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. both re-affirmed their commitments this weekend.

“I don’t feel the need to (take other visits). Respect to all the other programs that are still showing interest and support, but A&M checks every box for me and my family,” Gregory told AggieYell.com.

Aggies raid the Owls nest for two players

Texas A&M’s baseball program has picked up its first two transfers of the offseason, and both come courtesy of Florida Atlantic.

The first, pitcher MJ Bollinger, committed Friday. Serving as FAU’s closer, Bollinger made 28 appearances, third-most on the team, and had a 3-3 record with a 2.01 ERA and 11 saves. He struck out 39 in 44 2/3 innings, walked just 13 and had a WHIP of 1.12.

Outfielder Jake Duer joined Bollinger on the commit list Sunday. Duer started 34 games before a hip injury ended his season prematurely, but he was outstanding when healthy. He hit .428 with 11 doubles, 2 home runs and 27 RBI for an OPS of 1.048. In 138 at-bats, Duer struck out just 10 times.

With Duer likely filling the void in left field with Terrence Kiel II in center and Caden Sorrell in right, A&M utility player Jamal George entered the transfer portal Sunday morning.

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NIL

NCAA colleges can pay athletes after US$2.8bn NIL settlement approved

US$2.8bn settlement resolves three antitrust cases against governing college sports body Division I athletes from 2016 onwards to be financially compensated by NCAA and power conferences Power conferences form regulatory body to oversee payments The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) US$2.8 billion settlement for three antitrust lawsuits has received final approval from a federal judge, […]

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1 hour ago

June 9, 2025

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NCAA colleges can pay athletes after US$2.8bn NIL settlement approved

US$2.8bn settlement resolves three antitrust cases against governing college sports body
Division I athletes from 2016 onwards to be financially compensated by NCAA and power conferences
Power conferences form regulatory body to oversee payments

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) US$2.8 billion settlement for three antitrust lawsuits has received final approval from a federal judge, paving the way for member schools to directly pay student athletes.

First announced last year, the settlement resolves three cases that claimed the governing college sports body illegally restricted college athletes from earning money through name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsements.

The settlement will also establish a new revenue-sharing model in college sports, with schools able to pay their athletes roughly US$20.5 million in NIL revenue over the 2025/26 campaign. The annual cap is expected to rise annually over ten years and will take effect beginning on 1st July.

The NCAA, alongside its five power conferences, will also pay nearly US$2.8 billion in damages to Division I athletes who competed in college from 2016 onwards. The payments will be made over ten years.

Final approval was granted by Judge Claudia Wilken after changes were made with regards to roster limits, satisfying objections made to the settlement.

“This result is a fantastic win for hundreds of thousands of college athletes,” said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. “We look forward to overseeing this process and watching the revenue-sharing benefits unfold for college athletes over the next 10 years.”

“Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilising college sports,” wrote Charlie Baker, NCAA president, in a public letter. “This new framework that enables schools to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes and establishes clear and specific rules to regulate third-party NIL agreements marks a huge step forward for college sports.“

The settlement is the culmination of a multi-year process.

In June 2021, the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the NCAA in a case, stipulating that the governing college sports body could not stop schools from paying athletes in education-related benefits. The comprehensive defeat left the organisation vulnerable to fresh legal challenges to its rules limiting compensation.

Since then, student-athletes have been able to earn money from third parties and companies through NIL deals. There has also been an increase in the involvement of boosters, which are payments made by collectives using NIL deals to recruit athletes to their favoured school.

Now, schools will be responsible for NIL spending. Last year, a federal judge issued an injunction preventing the NCAA from enforcing rules to stop schools from making NIL payments when recruiting athletes.

To regulate payments from schools and boosters, the power conferences have launched a new regulatory body called the College Sports Commission. It has hired Bryan Seeley, the executive vice president of legal and operations at Major League Baseball (MLB), as its chief executive.

In a statement, the commission said Seeley and his team would ‘build out the organisation’s investigative and enforcement teams and oversee all of its ongoing operations and stakeholder relationships’.

‘Seeley and his team will also be responsible for enforcement of the new rules around revenue sharing, student-athlete third-party name image and likeness (NIL) deals, and roster limits,’ the commission said.

‘The commission will investigate potential rules violations, make factual determinations, issue penalties where appropriate, and participate in the neutral arbitration process set forth in the settlement as necessary.’

NIL

Two Sons Of Hall Of Famers Officially Sign With WWE – TJR Wrestling

WWE has announced its latest class of NIL athletes. As first reported by USA Today, WWE has announced its fifth NIL class, and three names have already caught the eye. The latest class includes the sons of Scott Steiner, Mark Henry, and Titus O’Neil. You can find the full class below. Jacob Henry – Oklahoma, […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2025

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WWE has announced its latest class of NIL athletes.

As first reported by USA Today, WWE has announced its fifth NIL class, and three names have already caught the eye. The latest class includes the sons of Scott Steiner, Mark Henry, and Titus O’Neil.

You can find the full class below.

Jacob Henry – Oklahoma, Football & Wrestling
Brock Rechsteiner – Jacksonville State, Football
TJ Bullard – Central Florida, Football
Meghan Walker – Nebraska, Track and Field
Fatima Katembo – LSU Shreveport, Basketball
Madison Kaiser – Minnesota, Hockey
Kerrigan Huynh – University of Central Oklahoma, Track and Field
Gina Adams – Lynn University, Basketball
Bianca Pizano – Michigan State, Field Hockey
Zuriel Jimenez – Columbia University, Track and Field
Hidetora Hanada – Colorado State, Football

The company’s NIL program was launched in late 2021 and allows college athletes to make money from their name, image, and likeness.

Life In WWE Is The Family Business

Mark Henry enjoyed a long association with the sports entertainment giant after signing with the company following the 1996 Olympic Games. After leaving the company in 2021, Henry signed with AEW and stayed with the Tony Khan-led company for three years.

Meanwhile, Scott Steiner has had a much more tumultuous relationship with WWE and has repeatedly and openly criticised Triple H in the past. However, in more recent years, the star confirmed the pair have “buried the hatchet.”

Back in January, Scott Steiner confirmed WWE was planning to offer his son a NIL contract.

Steiner’s nephew, Bron Breakker, is widely considered one of the most impressive rising stars in WWE today, with fans and observers across the industry tipping him to be a main event player for years to come. Following two runs with the NXT Championship and two runs with the Intercontinental Championship, Breakker joined forces with Seth Rollins in the days after WrestleMania 41.

Breakker’s most recent appearance came at Money In The Bank, where he helped Seth Rollins win the men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

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4-star recruit reaffirms all-in, Illinois football “over everybody”

It is hard to recruit in today’s landscape, but the Illinois football program has managed to knock recruiting out of the park. Landing big-time recruits has not been a specialty for the Illini over the years. But the 2026 class seems different. We have multiple four-star commitments and a national recruiting ranking of No. 14 […]

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2 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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It is hard to recruit in today’s landscape, but the Illinois football program has managed to knock recruiting out of the park.

Landing big-time recruits has not been a specialty for the Illini over the years. But the 2026 class seems different. We have multiple four-star commitments and a national recruiting ranking of No. 14 in the country.

While commitments are great, holding on to those recruits is the key. Early National Signing Day is still a half-year away, and there is an entire season before that. But on Sunday, Illinois had one of its biggest recruits reaffirm his pledge to the Orange and Blue.

Linebacker Cam Thomas took to social media to let the Illinois fanbase know that he had completed his official visit and it is, “#Illini over everybody!”

Thomas, a four-star linebacker who ranks as the No. 333 player in the class of 2026, could have gone nearly anywhere. The Ohio product had offers from teams like Michigan, Louisville, and Oregon, among the 28 total scholarships he has been offered.

Illinois football still has to make Cam Thomas a priority and play well in the fall

The reaffirmation from Thomas is always nice. He is an elite recruit, and Illinois needed to show out this weekend. That looks to be the case.

Bret Bielema and the Illinois coaching staff can’t coast on those words by Thomas, though. We still have to make him a top priority and keep checking in with him throughout the coming months.

This fall is going to be key, too. Illinois needs to continue winning. We are projected to be a contender for the College Football Playoff, and if we lay an egg, that would be bad.

Lastly, while I am pumped and excited to have Thomas join the Illini, there are a few big hitters out there that have yet to swing for this kid. My eyes are on Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Alabama. If any of those three teams come in with an offer, Illinois’ mission to hold on to Thomas would be a little bit harder. It is great that Thomas is locked in with the Orange and Blue, but we can’t let up. It has to be pedal to the metal with this recruitment for the Illini.

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Colleges Cleared to Pay Athletes Directly Under Landmark NCAA Settlement

In a groundbreaking shift for college athletics, schools will soon be allowed to pay athletes directly, following a federal judge’s approval of a multibillion-dollar settlement that reshapes the structure of amateur sports. The decision finalizes an agreement between the NCAA, major athletic conferences, and Division I athletes, bringing an end to years of legal battles […]

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3 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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Colleges Cleared to Pay Athletes Directly Under Landmark NCAA Settlement

The approved settlement resolves three antitrust lawsuits that challenged the NCAA’s long-standing restrictions on athlete pay. Under the terms, the NCAA will pay nearly $2.8 billion in back damages over the next decade to athletes who competed from 2016 to the present. Beginning July 1, schools may begin issuing payments to current athletes, with an annual cap starting around $20.5 million per school.

This change builds on the momentum from 2021, when athletes were first permitted to earn money from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Unlike NIL compensation, which came from third parties, the new system enables schools to directly pay athletes, marking a significant departure from amateurism standards.

The NCAA and conferences must now rapidly implement the infrastructure for this new model. A new organization—the College Sports Commission—will oversee enforcement, assuming roles previously held by the NCAA’s central office. The commission recently appointed MLB executive Bryan Seeley as its chief executive officer.

Key rules are also being introduced to curb abuses of booster influence. Deals between boosters and athletes will now require a legitimate business justification. Additionally, schools must navigate new roster size regulations, although protections have been added to ensure athletes aren’t removed solely due to the new limits.

While this settlement resolves major disputes, legal uncertainty remains. Questions about whether college athletes should be considered employees are still unsettled, and leaders continue to press Congress for legislative intervention to stabilize the evolving system.

The first institutional payments are set to begin just weeks from now, marking a historic transformation in how college sports are operated.

Source: ESPN

NIL

‘Paying for a Mismatch’: Analyst Breaks Down USC’s $10M Tight End Deal

USC’s latest recruiting coup has sent shockwaves through college football: the Trojans landed five-star tight end Mark Bowman, reportedly set to earn up to $10 million in NIL deals. The staggering figure, more commonly reserved for quarterbacks, has ignited debate—but analysts say USC is investing in more than just a position. They’re paying for a […]

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3 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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USC’s latest recruiting coup has sent shockwaves through college football: the Trojans landed five-star tight end Mark Bowman, reportedly set to earn up to $10 million in NIL deals.

The staggering figure, more commonly reserved for quarterbacks, has ignited debate—but analysts say USC is investing in more than just a position. They’re paying for a game-changing mismatch.

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Why USC Paid $10 Million For A Tight End

When news broke that Bowman, the nation’s top tight end, would be earning between $8 million and $10 million in NIL deals at USC, the reaction was swift and polarized. Critics questioned the wisdom—and fairness—of such an outlay for a non-quarterback, while rival fanbases accused USC of buying its way to the top.

Yet, as analyst J.D. PicKell explained, the investment is about much more than Bowman’s position.

“USC is not paying for a tight end,” PicKell said. “USC is paying for a mismatch in their game plan every single weekend… You’re not thinking about how much you’re paying Mark Bowman when he’s catching a game-winning touchdown against Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship… The mismatch part of it is awesome. That’s what you’re actually paying for.”

Bowman’s rare blend of size, speed, and versatility makes him a nightmare for defenses, precisely the kind of weapon head coach Lincoln Riley has built his offenses around. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, Bowman moves like a receiver but blocks like a lineman, drawing comparisons to NFL-bound stars. In his last season at Mater Dei, he hauled in 32 passes for 435 yards and eight touchdowns, proving his ability to impact both the passing and running game.

USC’s approach is as much about strategy as it is about spectacle. Riley’s offense thrives on creating mismatches, and Bowman’s skill set fits perfectly into a system designed to exploit defensive weaknesses with tempo, motion, and creative personnel packages.

The Trojans aren’t just buying a player—they’re securing a tactical advantage that could define the next era of USC football.

Beyond the Numbers: The New NIL Reality

The Bowman signing emphasizes a massive change in college football recruiting. Even among signings sparked by NIL, financial packages are becoming a central part of the pitch for elite talent.

Though the $10 million number is eye-popping, it’s also emblematic of the market’s new realities. Top programs use their resources and location — USC’s campus in Los Angeles is a big part of the pull — to sell athletes on exposure and the earning potential few schools can offer.

But money wasn’t the only factor in Bowman’s decision. USC’s proximity to his Southern California home, the prestige of playing for a historic program, and the chance to be a focal point in Riley’s high-powered offense weighed heavily. Other bluebloods like Georgia and Texas were in the mix with competitive offers, but USC’s holistic pitch proved decisive on and off the field.

But they have not been without controversy. Others fear that NIL-created recruiting disparities will widen the haves-and-have-nots gap, ruin team chemistry, and chip away at the establishment amateur ethos of sports at the college level.

KEEP READING: ‘It’s a Blessing to Carry That Legacy’: 5-Star Ohio State Commit Chris Henry Jr. Reflects on His Father’s Impact

But as PicKell and others say, this is just the new normal: programs must be aggressive and clever to get the sorts of difference-makers that can change the game.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!

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