NIL

College basketball considering coach's challenge, whether to use quarters for men

Coach’s challenges may be coming to college basketball as soon as next season. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee on Friday proposed granting coaches one challenge per game to review “out-of-bounds calls, basket interference/goaltending and whether a secondary defender was in the restricted-area arc.” Coaches would need to have a timeout to request a challenge, […]

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1 month ago

May 9, 2025

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College basketball considering coach's challenge, whether to use quarters for men

Coach’s challenges may be coming to college basketball as soon as next season.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee on Friday proposed granting coaches one challenge per game to review “out-of-bounds calls, basket interference/goaltending and whether a secondary defender was in the restricted-area arc.” Coaches would need to have a timeout to request a challenge, and if a challenge is successful, coaches would be granted another for the rest of the game, including overtime. But if a challenge is unsuccessful, the coach would lose the ability to challenge for the rest of the game.

That proposal is one of several recommendations the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will review on June 10 for use during the 2025-26 season.

The committee recommended creating a working group to explore a long-discussed change from halves to quarters. It also proposed modifications to continuation rules, and whether officials can review basket interference/goaltending calls in the final two minutes of games.

Karl Hicks, the rules committee chairman and American Athletic Conference associate commissioner for basketball, said in a statement that the committee focused on improving the ends of games, which see an increased number of stoppages for official reviews. Under the proposal, officials would no longer review out-of-bounds calls unless a coach challenges the ruling.

“Coach’s challenges were deemed to be the most efficient way to accomplish this goal,” Hicks said.

Hicks said the committee found a substantial number of the reviews during conference and NCAA Tournament play came on out-of-bounds plays. Ultimately, after studying “other basketball leagues around the world,” the committee agreed that the NBA coach’s challenge system, first adopted in 2019, was the best fit for the college game.

Beyond the potential coach’s challenge, the committee’s most noteworthy recommendation is further exploration of changing men’s college basketball games from halves to quarters, which is the standard in the NBA, women’s college basketball and many other global basketball leagues.

The committee said there was “positive momentum” to make such a change, but also cited hurdles, including “the structuring of media timeouts to accommodate commercial inventory.” For that reason, the committee proposed creating a working group to study the issue and report back by this time next year.

Regarding continuation, the committee recommended that a player “who ends his dribble going toward the basket and absorbs contact from the defense, would be permitted to pivot or complete the step the player is on and finish the field goal attempt.” Currently, men’s college players are only credited with made shots when fouled while shooting the ball. Such a shift would track more closely with the NBA’s continuation rules.

“Our players are sophisticated, and the committee felt we were penalizing offensive players who made really good moves,” Hicks said. “We want to bring our game in line by what other levels of basketball are doing. When I say other levels, that includes the high school level. Their rule is more liberal than our college rules when it comes to shooting the ball. Hopefully, we won’t see as many officials waiving off baskets that will now be considered part of the shot.”

Another smaller recommendation is the ability for officials to call Flagrant 1 fouls when a player makes contact with another player’s groin. Presently, officials must call either a common foul or Flagrant 2, which ejects a player, in such scenarios.

(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

NIL

Big 12 Must Make Key Change to Keep Up With Rest of College Football

The college football landscape is evolving, and the Big 12 can’t waste time if it wants to keep up. Over the past few years, college football has begun to look more like the NFL. With players essentially having a free agency period with the transfer portal, and NIL delivering massive deals to players, the past […]

Published

22 minutes ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The college football landscape is evolving, and the Big 12 can’t waste time if it wants to keep up.

Over the past few years, college football has begun to look more like the NFL. With players essentially having a free agency period with the transfer portal, and NIL delivering massive deals to players, the past couple of years have already seen significant changes.

Now, with revenue sharing coming into college sports, the similarities to professional sports are only growing. While those changes have impacted everyone in college sports, there is still one key part of college football that has only been adopted by the top leagues.

Over the past couple of seasons, player availability reports have become more prevalent in college football. With the Big Ten and SEC already requiring these injury reports, the College Football Playoff is the next to follow suit, as reported by CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello.

These reports have been key in giving teams an idea of what their opponent might look like on the field in a given week and has given fans more transparency on injuries. While college football injuries had been covered up and effectively left up to coaches to report on in press conferences for years, these reports have been a significant move in the right direction.

Of course, that move in the right direction has only been relevant for the two conferences that have implemented that change. For example, any Oklahoma State injury information about a player who could be held out of a game will still likely be covered up throughout the week before fans find out during the game or mere minutes before kickoff.

With the increase in gambling popularity obviously being another factor in these reports being required, it’s apparent which conferences are ready for this era of college sports and which conferences will be left behind due to complacency. Brett Yormark has tried to make his conference one of the best in the country and talked about being at the forefront of change, but the Big 12’s lack of action on this issue shows that the conference might never be capable of being on the same level as the SEC or Big Ten.

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Who is Texas Tech softball facing in Women’s College World Series? Bracket, times set

The field for the 2025 Women’s College World Series is set and the Texas Tech softball team knows its path toward the national championship. Texas Tech was the first team to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City, sweeping Florida State in the Super Regionals with the series concluding Friday afternoon. The Red Raiders had to […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The field for the 2025 Women’s College World Series is set and the Texas Tech softball team knows its path toward the national championship.

Texas Tech was the first team to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City, sweeping Florida State in the Super Regionals with the series concluding Friday afternoon. The Red Raiders had to wait for the final possible game of the weekend to find out their opponent.

More: Turns out NiJaree Canady’s NIL deal with Texas Tech softball is a bargain | Giese

More: NiJaree Canady finishes Super Regional sweep to send Texas Tech softball to Women’s College World Series

Ole Miss will be first up for Texas Tech with the game set for 6 p.m. Thursday in a game that will air on ESPN2. The Rebels pulled off another upset by taking out 4th-seeded Arkansas 7-4 in the third game of their Super Regional series.

Like Texas Tech, Ole Miss will be making its first appearance in the WCWS in program history. Those two are joined by Big Ten teams Oregon and UCLA on their side of the bracket. The Ducks and Bruins will square off in the final game of opening day.

Other teams to make the WCWS field include Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech softball to face Ole Miss in Women’s College World Series first

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Coastal Carolina coach says CWS ejection was unwarranted and he was wrongly accused of bumping ump – 960 The Ref

OMAHA, Neb. — (AP) — Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall, tossed from the game along with first base coach Matt Schilling in the first inning of the College World Series finals Sunday, said his ejection wasn’t justified and he was wrongly accused of bumping an umpire. Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base when Schnall went to the top steps of the dugout, gestured at plate umpire Angel Campos with three fingers and began shouting at him.

The NCAA said Schnall was arguing balls and strikes, was given a warning and thrown out when he did not leave immediately. Instead, Schnall went onto the field to continue arguing.

The Tigers won 5-3 for their second national championship in three years.

When Schnall was arguing with Campos, one of the base umpires ran toward the confrontation and fell on his back.

“If you guys watch the video, there was a guy who came in extremely aggressively, tripped over Campos’ foot, embarrassed in front of 25,000, and goes ‘two-game suspension’ and says ‘bumping the umpire,’ Schnall said. ”There was no bump. I shouldn’t be held accountable for a grown man’s athleticism. Now it’s excessive because I was trying to say I didn’t bump him.

“It is what it is. If that warranted an ejection, there would be a lot of ejections. As umpires, it’s your job to manage the game with some poise and calmness and a little bit of tolerance.”

A spokesman said the NCAA stands by its original statement on the incident when asked for comment on Schnall’s remarks about bumping an umpire.

The NCAA in its initial statement on the incident said Schnall and Schilling engaged in “prolonged arguing,” which is to result in a two-game suspension. Schnall would miss the first two games of the 2026 season.

Schilling was thrown out for the comments he made while arguing, the NCAA said. If an assistant is ejected, he automatically also is suspended for one game. Schilling also got an additional two-game suspension under the “prolonged arguing” rule, the NCAA said. That means he will miss the first three games next year.

Associate head coach Chad Oxendine took over Schnall’s duties.

Schnall said he couldn’t hear Campos’ initial warning when he was arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.

“As a head coach, it’s your right to get an explanation for why we got warned,” Schnall said. “I’m 48 years old and I shouldn’t get shooed by another grown man. When I came out, I got told it was a warning issued for arguing balls and strikes, and I said it was because you missed three. At that point, ejected. If that warrants an ejection, I’m the first one to stand here like a man and apologize.”

That wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m not sorry for what happened,” he said. “I’m sorry for this being over. I’m sorry for how it ended.”

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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Ranking the top eight Big Ten football NIL valuations for 2025

Being able to compensate college athletes over the last few years has changed the landscape of college sports, most notably the revenue behemoth that is college football. Name, Image and Likeness has helped usher in a new era of bidding wars and recruiting efforts that didn’t exist just less than a decade ago. And now, […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Especially at a place like Ohio State that has a huge athletic department and a massive budget.

But NIL is still in practice, and there are still athletes getting paid for the usage of their name, so it’s a big deal. We always hear about the astronomical figures the top-end stars are pulling in, but there are smaller ones as well. However, the multi-million dollar contracts aren’t as prevalent as one would think. In fact, we’re ranking the top Big Ten NIL valuations, and there are fewer than ten that make the list worth mentioning.

Here’s a list of the top eight NIL valuations according to On3 in the Big Ten, ranked from least to most expensive. You may be surprised by what and who is on this list., and of course, the bigger programs with the most money like Ohio State appear on this list more than some that do not at all.

No. 8 – Evan Stewart, Wide Receiver | Oregon Ducks

NIL Valuation – $1.7 Million

National Rank – No. 25

Stewart had a great year last season, but played second fiddle to Tez Johnson in star power. This year, it should be him as the No. 1 threat and player personality many will follow.

NIL Valuation | $1.8 Million

National Rank – No. 21

Singleton is entering his senior year and is part of a running back tandem that should be very dangerous this season. He’s a star running back for Penn State, and that alone garners attention and a pretty significant NIL package.

No. 6 – Nico Iamaleava, Quarterback | UCLA Bruins

NIL Valuation | $2 Million

National Rank – No. 19

Nico is well-known after having a fantastic season last year with Tennessee. He is one of the most recognizable quarterbacks with all the potential he possesses with his dual-threat ability, and now he’ll be doing his work out in Westwood for UCLA.

NIL Valuation | $2.3 Million

National Rank – No. 17

Raiola’s commitment was highly publicized. He first committed to Ohio State, then Georgia, before finally landing at Nebraska, where he had family ties. He had a very impressive, though a bit inconsistent freshman campaign and should be poised for a continuation and further breakout in 2025.

No. 4 – Caleb Downs, Safety | Ohio State Buckeyes

NIL Valuation | $2.4 Million

National Rank – No. 15

Downs came to Ohio State via the transfer portal after becoming a freshman All-American at Alabama. He had a stellar sophomore campaign in Columbus and is a fan favorite. He might be the best defender in all of college football, playing for arguably the most-followed college football program. That all translates to a massive NIL package.

No. 3 – Bryce Underwood, Quarterback | Michigan Wolverines

NIL Valuation | $3 Million

National Rank – No. 10

There is a ton of hype for the No. 1 quarterback coming out of high school, and Michigan is hoping he makes good on all of it. There was a lot of buzz surrounding his recruitment, and he has many folks following what he might do at the college level, even though he has yet to do anything in Ann Arbor.

No. 2 – Drew Allar, Quarterback | Penn State Nittany Lions

NIL Valuation | $3.1 Million

National Rank – No. 8

Allar was a five-star quarterback coming out of Ohio before committing to play for Penn State. Though he has yet to win the biggest of games, he has a big arm and is the face of the Nittany Lions’ chances at not only making the College Football Playoff, but going on a run to a national championship.

No. 1 – Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver | Ohio State Buckeyes

NIL Valuation | $4.2 Million

National Rank – No. 3

Everyone knows Smith. He was an absolute star who flashed on the scene for Ohio State as a freshman after being ranked as the top overall recruit in the 2024 class. He more than made good on all that buzz and is arguably the best player in college football returning for two more seasons, still in Columbus. He is adored in Central Ohio and feared across the rest of the country.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

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Notre Dame misses out on top women’s college basketball recruit

The Fighting Irish are on the lookout for fresh talent to help keep them on an upwards trajectory under Niele Ivey, but have suffered a blow after losing out on one top star 15:25 ET, 22 Jun 2025Updated 15:27 ET, 22 Jun 2025 Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey has suffered a blow […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Fighting Irish are on the lookout for fresh talent to help keep them on an upwards trajectory under Niele Ivey, but have suffered a blow after losing out on one top star

15:25 ET, 22 Jun 2025Updated 15:27 ET, 22 Jun 2025

Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey has suffered a blow in recruitment for her 2026 class

Notre Dame women’s basketball has suffered a major setback in its recruitment for its 2026 class after missing out on elite prospect Savvy Swords.

The Fighting Irish are keen to continue adding to their squad in years to come as part of efforts to land them a first national championship since 2018, yet head coach Niele Ivey and co. will have to do so without the 5-star wing after she committed to Kentucky on Saturday.

It comes as Notre Dame added a fifth player to combat the departure of Olivia Miles after Kelly Ratigan decided to join via the transfer portal last month. The Fighting Irish had already acquired the services of Gisela Sanchez, Malaya Cowles, and Vanessa de Jesus, and more could still follow.

READ MORE: Jordan Spieth snubbed PGA Tour duo with blunt verdict on LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeauREAD MORE: WNBA urged to change rules after Caitlin Clark incident in Indiana Fever game

With regards to next year’s roster, however, Notre Dame will have to keep searching for the next best thing after losing out on the services of Swords, who also had offers from South Carolina, UCLA and Michigan, according to On3.

The 6-foot-1 star from Brookville (NY) Long Island Luthera is currently ranked No. 9 in On3’s top 2026 recruits in the nation, perhaps most notably averaging 16.3 points and six rebounds per game for Canada at last year’s U17 FIBA World Cup.

Swords achieved those stats while shooting 50 per cent from deep and 88 per cent from the free throw line, highlighting her versatility and strong ability to shoot from deep and rebound the ball at a high level.

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The teenager is the younger sister of current Michigan women’s basketball player Syla Swords, who earned freshman All-American and All-Big Ten honors in 2025. The 19-year-old is also a member of the Canadian national team and was an Olympian in 2024.

Swords took to Instagram on Saturday to announce her commitment to Kentucky, uploading a series of images from her signing shoot alongside the caption: “Big blue business. Let’s workk #committed.”

Her older sister, Syla, commented “so proud” followed by four love heart emojis, while premier point guard Maddyn Greenway, who was Kentucky’s first commitment in the 2026 class, wrote: “TEAMMIEEE.”

Notre Dame has already obtained the commitment of four-star college basketball prospect Bella Ragone to its 2026 class, who announced her decision with a TikTok video last month.

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In Ragone, the Fighting Irish have landed themselves a top-25 2026 wing, beating over 35 schools including Iowa, UCLA, and UNC to her signature. The 6-foot-2 wing from Georgia became the first commit in Notre Dame’s 2026 class.

Ranked No. 25 overall in the ESPNW 2026 rankings, Ragone used her brand of humor to announce her commitment, posting a short skit joking about telling a boy she’d be playing in Indiana. When he guessed Purdue, the clip cut to Ragone in a Notre Dame No. 5 jersey, flashing the camera with a smile and the caption, “Holy Airball.”

On Instagram, she reposted the announcement with a simple “Go Irish,” followed by clovers and her social media exploded with congratulatory messages from coaches, teammates, national recruits, and some of the most influential names in the game on her level.

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Colorado’s NIL Director Explains Why Mothers Can’t Be Agents, Despite Exceptions Like Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels

In today’s NFL, family often plays a big role in a player’s inner circle, especially mom. Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels have both shown this by employing their mothers as their agents, proving that, despite what some may say, moms can negotiate contract deals and become certified agents. For Jackson, his mother, Felicia Jones, acts […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

For Jackson, his mother, Felicia Jones, acts as his manager without NFLPA agent certification. Meanwhile, Jayden’s mother, Regina Jackson, holds her NFLPA certification and also has a dual master’s degree in hospital administration and entrepreneurial business.

That’s why, when the University of Colorado’s NIL director, Reggie Calhoun Jr., made this comment about mothers acting as agents, it caught us a bit off guard.

“Mom’s job is not to negotiate your deal. She doesn’t have that skill set. Mom has never negotiated a deal in her life. Her job is bookkeeping. Mom has always been good at keeping books. Let that be Mom’s job. Your agent is doing sales,” Calhoun shared via The Business of Athletes.

They’re puzzling remarks coming from Calhoun. A bit of basic research shows he never made it past the college level, so should he really be advising players on something he has little experience with?

As mentioned, Lamar has no agent. His mother, Felicia, serves as his business manager. And just to rub it in the face of Calhoun, she even negotiated her QB son’s massive 5-year, $260 million extension in 2023. So, what is the Colorado director even talking about?

Furthermore, Jayden’s mom, Regina, is a certified NFLPA agent. It’s something she worked hard toward becoming, going back to when he was at LSU. Now, she’s been spotted on several occasions by Jayden’s side as his mentor, seemingly keeping the star QB out of trouble.

All in all, Calhoun’s opinions on mothers being agents fall apart when you examine the landscape of today’s NFL. Lamar and Jayden are not the only ones to ever have their mothers represent them as agents. Odell Beckham, Jaylon Jones, and Preston Brown are all current and former players who opted to do the same.

Additionally, studies show that players in the 18-21 range are using their parents more than ever for representation. The trend may even continue to grow, as NIL rules become more stringent.

But through very different models, both Lamar and Jayden have shown us that it’s possible to be an elite NFL quarterback while having a mother as an agent. Certified or not, it can work both ways.

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