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A whole new ball game – The Hawk Eye

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Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is ruining college sports. 

NIL has drastically changed the landscape of college sports in its brief existence. Since its introduction in 2021, the NIL market has reached an insane $1.7 billion projected evaluation in 2024-25, which is up drastically from when it was first introduced. The landscape is still growing with the total NIL market projected to reach close to $2.5 billion in the 25-26 year. 

It’s clear that NIL can be an amazing tool for athletes, and it’s exciting to see athletes capitalizing on their name, image and likeness. NIL provides athletes the ability to earn money on the side and learn valuable business and communication skills while still playing collegiate sports. However, there is a fine line between NIL being used as a beneficial tool for athletes, and NIL being used by big schools with deep donor pockets to create an unfair advantage. 

The quick and dramatic rise of NIL has led to the landscape of college sports changing drastically. Recruiting has become a game of “Who’s got more money?” and the transfer portal has grown out of hand. It has led to coaches stepping down after decades on the job because they can’t navigate recruiting and team building anymore. It leads to situations where teams are left with no players returning — a situation that happened with the University of Baylor’s men’s basketball team this past year. 

Players are more prone to leave if they feel they can secure a better opportunity elsewhere and profit more from a different school. This has destroyed programs’ abilities to be able to build a team and a cohesive environment. If they lose a majority of their players year after year, there is no continuous culture to build upon, no leaders able to shape the young players and no way to build a competitive team year after year — unless they have money for it. 

It was seen in March Madness this year, as the death of the mid-major schools and Cinderella stories were put on display for the nation to see. Top programs from big conferences dominated the tournament, and there were hardly any upsets. It eventually led to four No.1 seeded teams making the Final Four — only the second time in history that has happened — and NIL played a huge role. 

Recruiting has changed as well, with high school athletes now eligible to profit off of NIL in the majority of states, and colleges throwing big numbers and perks at top recruits. The severity of these offers is mind-boggling. One of the prime examples of this is the insane offer Michigan recruit Bryce Underwood received after he signed a $10.5 million deal with the university. That deal is strictly a contract with the university and doesn’t include the money he can potentially make from brand deals, which proves how insane the NIL landscape is becoming. Top universities’ ability to throw astronomical amounts of money toward top recruits is ruining college sports. 

The major problem with the way things are run now is universities have too much spending. The bias in the distribution of money is stark with 53.1% of all NIL deals signed to football or men’s college basketball athletes. Part of this is due to the fact that they are the most popular of the college sports, and there are considerably more players on a football team’s roster than any other sport, but the numbers don’t lie: there is a clear discrepancy between male and female sports with corresponding NIL numbers. Women’s sports continue to rise in popularity, and the numbers may shift, but that still leaves a big gap between the pay of male and female athletes at the collegiate level. 

College sports are turning into a professional setting with the influence of NIL. The introduction of exorbitant amounts of money being thrown at young college athletes has destroyed the college landscape. The concept of loyalty to a school, program and fans has changed, and it is now a selfish environment being created. Athletes aren’t the ones to blame, but rather the nature of how the money is being handled and distributed. Thankfully, there is already something being done. In the 2025-26 year, there is a bill in circulation that would allow schools to share their athletic departments revenue with the athletes. This is both good and bad; a salary cap introduction may help lessen the blow to smaller schools who don’t have the same resources as bigger programs. In contrast, smaller programs that don’t generate as much revenue as bigger schools will still be at a massive disadvantage, even with a cap. 

NIL is still a huge uncertainty and a puzzle that remains unsolved. There are certainly ways to improve the system further, and there is hope that the system will improve with time. The NCAA could fully eliminate schools from the equation and make it so money doesn’t play a factor in recruiting, but there are some downsides to that, mainly for the schools still retaining 100% of the profits off of athletes. NIL is an enigma, standing as both a massive positive for college sports and athletes around the country, but also as a huge negative for the landscape of college sports. 

One thing is certain, if colleges and athletes don’t change and adapt to the new way of things in the era of NIL, then college sports will never be the same.



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College Basketball Rankings: Coaches Poll Top 25 updated after Week 8

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The USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll Top 25 has been refreshed following the eighth week of the season. It was a bit of a light week due to Christmas, but some showdowns still took place amid the holiday celebrations, resulting in some movement throughout the Top 25.

With conference play picking up this coming weekend, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of the season, where the rankings will fluctuate week-in and week-out. While this past week was packed with tune-up games and not a ton of riveting action, that won’t be the case from now until April.

Regardless, the Coaches Poll Top 25 is certain to see plenty of movement. For now, here’s how things stack up after Week 8. This week’s updated rankings are below.

Michigan enjoyed a full week off and enters the week undefeated at 11–0. The Wolverines return to action with home games against McNeese State on Monday and USC on Friday.

Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg has been the engine, stuffing the stat sheet with 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Michigan will look to stay perfect as conference play looms.

Arizona
Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona rolled past Bethune 107–71 last Monday to improve to 12–0 on the season. The Wildcats host South Dakota State before traveling to Utah for a road test on Saturday.

Freshman guard Brayden Burries has emerged as a steady scorer, averaging 14.0 points per game. Arizona’s depth and tempo continue to overwhelm opponents early in the season.

Iowa State remained perfect at 12–0 after an off week. The Cyclones host Houston Christian on Monday and West Virginia on Friday.

Junior forward Milan Momcilovic leads the team at 18.3 points per game. Iowa State’s balance continues to separate it from most of the field.

UConn had the week off and remains one of the nation’s most complete teams at 12–1. The Huskies head to Xavier on Wednesday before hosting Marquette on Sunday.

Junior guard Solo Ball leads the backcourt with 15.4 points per game. This week offers a strong measuring stick against Big East competition.

Purdue
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Purdue stayed idle last week but remains firmly entrenched near the top of the Coaches Poll with an 11–1 record. The Boilermakers face a tricky week with a home matchup against Kent State on Monday before heading to Wisconsin on Saturday.

Senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn continues to anchor the frontcourt, averaging a double-double at 13.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Purdue’s ability to maintain consistency through a two-game week will be closely watched.

Duke remained idle last week and sits at 11–1 entering a two-game stretch. The Blue Devils host Georgia Tech on Wednesday before traveling to Florida State on Saturday.

Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer has been dominant, averaging 23.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Duke will be tested defensively as ACC play intensifies.

Gonzaga extended its winning streak with a victory over Pepperdine on Sunday and sits at 13–1. The Bulldogs play three times this week, traveling to San Diego before hosting Seattle U and LMU.

Junior forward Braden Huff leads the way with 19.1 points per game. Gonzaga’s depth will be tested during the busy stretch.

Houston
John Jones-Imagn Images

Houston enters the week at 11–1 after a quiet stretch. The Cougars host Middle Tennessee State on Monday before heading to Cincinnati on Saturday.

Senior guard Emanuel Sharp continues to pace the offense with 17.9 points per game. Houston’s defensive pressure remains its calling card heading into conference play.

Michigan State enjoyed a week off and sits at 11–1 on the season. The Spartans host Cornell on Monday before traveling to Nebraska on Friday.

Senior forward Jaxon Kohler has been a force inside, averaging 13.9 points and 10.3 rebounds. Michigan State will look to sharpen its execution away from home.

BYU cruised past Eastern Washington 109–81 last Monday to improve to 12–1. The Cougars face a lone test this week with a road trip to Kansas State on Saturday.

Freshman star AJ Dybantsa has lived up to the hype, averaging 23.1 points per game. BYU’s offense remains one of the most explosive in the country.

11. Vanderbilt
12. North Carolina
13-T. Nebraska
13-T.
Louisville (+1)
15. Alabama
16. Texas Tech
17. Kansas
18. Arkansas
19. Illinois
20. Tennessee
21. Virginia
22. Florida
23. Iowa
24. Georgia
25. St. John’s

Dropped Out: No. 25 USC

Others Receiving Votes: Kentucky 35; USC 25; Utah State 14; Auburn 7; Saint Louis 6; Clemson 6; Seton Hall 5; Oklahoma State 5; Yale 4; UCLA 4; Saint Mary’s 4; LSU 3; California 2; Villanova 1; Miami (OH) 1; Indiana 1



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Petrino’s Friend Found a Workaround to Pay Taylen Green That’s Now Prohibited by NCAA

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Petrino’s Friend Found a Workaround to Pay Taylen Green That’s Now Prohibited by NCAA
photo credit: Craven Whitlow

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When Bobby Petrino returned to Arkansas after the 2023 season, his first task was finding a new quarterback.

In this era of college football, that also meant funding a new quarterback. For that, the former head coach leaned on his old friend Frank Fletcher.

The Little Rock-based businessman stepped up and footed a large chunk of the bill for Taylen Green, the talented signal caller Petrino identified to run his offense for the Razorbacks.

It hasn’t only been a transactional relationship, though. Over the last two years, Fletcher has been mindful of Green’s life after sports. Rather than simply handing the star quarterback a boatload of cash, he offered something few college athletes receive: personal relationship and mentorship.

“I had a wonderful two years with Taylen Green,” Fletcher said during Monday’s edition of Morning Mayhem on 103.7 The Buzz. “I was lucky that I happened to back a player that was that nice a kid and [had] great parents. I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m teaching him everything I know, and he wants to learn.”

Fletcher helped Green navigate the financial market by giving the QB1 homework, making him chart a series of stocks over a few months – something that could prove even more important after his subpar finish to the 2025 season likely impacted his pro prospects.