NIL

Otega Oweh trending toward a deadline day decision for the 2025 NBA Draft

If you were hoping to see Otega Oweh make his NBA Draft decision before the withdrawal deadline, I’ve got some bad news for you. NBA Draft consultant Rafael Barlowe told Jacob Polacheck he believes the Kentucky Wildcats standout won’t make a final decision until the May 28th deadline. So just like last year when Kentucky […]

Published

1 month ago

May 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

If you were hoping to see Otega Oweh make his NBA Draft decision before the withdrawal deadline, I’ve got some bad news for you.

NBA Draft consultant Rafael Barlowe told Jacob Polacheck he believes the Kentucky Wildcats standout won’t make a final decision until the May 28th deadline. So just like last year when Kentucky had to sweat out Jaxson Robinson’s decision until the very end, it looks like the same will happen with Oweh.

This would align with what Oweh recently said about his upcoming decision, suggesting he plans to have as many private workouts with teams as possible before making the call.

“I believe I’m a first round guy. I’m just gonna go through all these workouts, give it my all, then when it’s all said and done, I’ll see where I’m at, and I’ll make that decision,” said Oweh.

It’s normal for players to have workouts with teams even on the day of the withdrawal deadline, so it appears Oweh will make his pitch to as many NBA teams as possible in hopes of being a first-round pick in this year’s draft.

The good news for Kentucky is it can offer Oweh an NIL package that would be more than a late first-round or early second-round selection would net him.

For what it’s worth, none of the major NBA Mock Draft projections currently have Oweh even listed as a second-round pick. It only takes one team to buy in, but so far, that team has yet to emerge.

Let’s just hope this isn’t another Jaxson Robinson scenario in which Oweh waits until after the deadline to announce his decision, or a Hamidou Diallo scenario in which the announcement comes at midnight.

The withdrawal deadline is 11:59 PM ET on May 28th.

Link

NIL

A&M AD Trev Alberts gives insight on Texas A&M’s plan for the NIL Era

The House settlement judgment brought some clarity to NIL and revenue sharing, while simultaneously opening a brand-new can of worms that has led to several lawsuits in its wake. Still, it’s a positive step toward establishing a more level playing field across the board. Texas A&M Athletic Director Trev Alberts took time to discuss the […]

Published

23 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas A&M Athletic Director Trev Alberts took time to discuss the school’s plans for navigating this new landscape in college sports. He sees opportunities to capitalize on revenue options to keep Texas A&M competitive within the Power Five conferences.

One of the biggest questions: How did they decide which sports would be included in revenue sharing?

“Part of that decision-making was in concert with our increase in scholarship, so we didn’t look at the investments into individual sports, just from rev share. Some of the sports who didn’t get rev share are obviously getting massive increases in scholarship investment….”

“….we just try to look at what sports are we driving revenue in. We need to maintain the current revenue, and how do we accelerate and advance it? So difficult decisions and those can be adjusted and altered in the future, but that’s how we chose to start can”

Alberts also touched on how the university plans to modernize without losing the traditions that make Texas A&M one of the most unique programs in college sports.

“…..I’m going to push hard on the modernization, I’m going to push hard on thinking differently, because I think if we don’t, we won’t have the business success that we need to ultimately fund the support of our programs to win.”

Even with the House settlement establishing a few guardrails, there’s a long way to go. Alberts hopes federal lawmakers will step in to create clear, enforceable rules that everyone can follow—so schools can focus less on litigation and more on supporting student-athletes.

“…we all got into this to help young people, and we’ve spent all of our time playing defense to lawsuits, and that needs to end. It’s not in the best interest. College athletics is worth saving. It’s really important to the fabric of America, we’re better than this, and it’s time for leaders to lead.”

College athletics is slowly emerging from the chaos of the NIL era with early signs of a more unified regulatory structure. But the road ahead is still long.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

Link

NIL

Fisher Selected for College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The College Baseball Foundation, in collaboration with the College Baseball Hall of Fame, announced Monday (June 23) that former University of Michigan coach and Hall of Honor member Ray Fisher will be inducted as a member of its 2025 class. The 18th induction class will be honored at the 2026 Night […]

Published

25 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The College Baseball Foundation, in collaboration with the College Baseball Hall of Fame, announced Monday (June 23) that former University of Michigan coach and Hall of Honor member Ray Fisher will be inducted as a member of its 2025 class.

The 18th induction class will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions in Overland Park, Kansas, on Feb. 12.

Fisher took over for Carl Lundgren in 1921 and coached the Wolverines for 38 seasons until 1958, when he retired. He holds the Michigan record for overall wins, with 616 total victories — more than 150 ahead of the next closest coach. Fisher guided Michigan to 15 Big Ten titles, one NCAA berth and one national championship.

His accomplishments culminated in 1953, when he led Michigan to a 21-9 record — just the ninth 20-win season in program history. The Wolverines captured their second straight Big Ten title and defeated Ohio in back-to-back games to win the District title. At the College World Series, U-M beat Stanford, Boston College and Texas on consecutive days before dropping a rematch to the Longhorns, setting up a one-game title showdown. Michigan prevailed 7-5 on June 17, 1953, for its first national title.

Fisher’s 38-season tenure is tied for 32nd all-time in NCAA Division I baseball history. He received multiple honors after retiring, including induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1959 and selection to the second-ever Michigan Hall of Honor class, joining Fielding Yost.

Fisher will become the sixth Wolverine inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, tying Michigan for fifth all-time with Southern University for most inductees from one school. Casey Close was the most recent Wolverine to join the Hall in 2022. Jim Abbott, Barry Larkin and George Sisler are enshrined for their playing accomplishments, while U-M’s final inductee is Branch Rickey, who recommended Fisher for the Michigan job and coached the Wolverines from 1910-13.

Link

NIL

Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Opens Up On NFL Jobs, Commitment to Ducks

If a premium coaching job opens up, Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning is almost always instantly mentioned as a potential candidate. The 39-year-old Lanning is a rising star with the resume to back up his ambition, as Lanning leads all college head coaches with 25 wins and a 89.3 winning percentage since 2023. A winning […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning On NFL Jobs: ‘I’m Not Going Anywhere’ / Jake Bunn, Oregon Ducks on SI

Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning On NIL, Transfer Portal: 'We Aren't Always Highest Bidder' — Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning On NFL Jobs: ‘I’m Not Going Anywhere’ / Jake Bunn, Oregon Ducks on SI

Link

NIL

Between the Columns for Monday, June 23

It’s Monday morning, so it’s time for me to let you all know what’s been on my mind for the past week. We’ve got a couple more updates around the sport that I think are important to talk about. 1. Wisconsin is suing Miami. That’s an interesting thing to type. But more importantly, the University […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

1. Wisconsin is suing Miami.

That’s an interesting thing to type.

But more importantly, the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective are suing the University of Miami for tampering. We’ve heard a lot of coaches complain about tampering the past few years as the transfer portal has gotten ever more active each season, but nobody has ever done anything about it.

But now the Badgers have decided rising sophomore defensive back Xavier Lucas is the guy to make this a big issue about.

For some context, Lucas was a four-star corner in the class of 2024, we had him rated as the No. 45 cornerback in the country coming out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He played in all 12 Wisconsin games last year, making 18 tackles, a sack and an interception.

He transferred during the winter portal, but there were issues with his transfer because he claimed the Wisconsin staff refused to file the proper paperwork to enter his name in the portal.

I guess we know why now.

Wisconsin claimed a Miami staffer and “prominent alumnus” met with Lucas at a relative’s home in Florida and offered him money to transfer, which was shortly after Lucas had apparently signed a two-year contract with the Badgers’ NIL collective in December.

So the argument is Miami sent a staffer to offer money to knowingly break the contract.

Definitely tampering.

The question isn’t whether tampering has been happening. It has.

There have been reports from baseball coaches whose team’s are in the College World Series that their players are receiving texts and calls from other coaches while they’re still playing to get them to transfer. Same with softball, same with both men’s and women’s basketball. Football was happening through bowl prep. That’s one of the major reasons why there’s been talk about moving the portal windows after the postseason in each sport.

We all knew tampering was happening.

But, finally, we’re going to find out if it’s actually against the rules.

2. The timing is fascinating to me.

NIL

LSU Baseball Player’s NIL Deal With Crocs Turns Heads

LSU Baseball Player’s NIL Deal With Crocs Turns Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Some athletes wear lucky socks. Jake Brown? He wears Crocs. And now, the LSU Tigers star has turned his off-field fashion statement into a full-fledged NIL win by partnering with Crocs in a move that has fans buzzing and teammates styling. […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LSU Baseball Player’s NIL Deal With Crocs Turns Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Some athletes wear lucky socks. Jake Brown? He wears Crocs. And now, the LSU Tigers star has turned his off-field fashion statement into a full-fledged NIL win by partnering with Crocs in a move that has fans buzzing and teammates styling.

The deal didn’t start with an agent or a contract, it started with Brown’s love for quirky, customized Crocs, from Star Wars-themed Jibbitz to Pizza Planet prints. After Brown mentioned his passion for the iconic slip-ons in an interview during the Tigers’ 2025 College World Series run, Crocs came calling.

“They reached out and they said, ‘Hey, we’re looking forward to sending you a little bit of stuff. Just send us your address,’” Brown told Hurrdat Sports.

“They messaged back right away saying, ‘We actually want to hook up all the guys… we can overnight ship them to the hotel.’ I was like, ‘Absolutely. Yes. Please do that.’”

What followed was pure NIL magic. LSU’s team strolled into Game 1 of the CWS final against Coastal Carolina decked out in fresh Crocs, with Brown at the center of it all. His message to the team group chat, “Everyone send me your Croc size.”

The Tigers went on to win 1-0, led by a dominant shutout from pitcher Kade Anderson, who struck out 10 across nine innings. Confidence? Style? Luck? Whatever it was, it worked.

“I didn’t think they thought it was going to happen,” Anderson said. “In about five minutes, the group chat just, boom, boom, boom. It was blowing up.”

A few days later, LSU clinched its second national title in three years with a 5-3 win in the Men’s College World Series finals. Brown may not have thrown the final pitch, but his NIL savvy helped unify a locker room and earned him one of the most unique deals in college baseball.

The Crocs origin story? Even better.

Brown used some of his NIL cash to grab themed pairs and design ideas for a custom LSU-inspired version.

“I have Pizza Planet-Toy Story Crocs that I bought with per diem money thanks to Champ Artigues, our baseball ops guy… I love my Crocs,” he said.

He even pitched Crocs a Louisiana-style collab: gator and pelican Jibbitz, purple and gold themes, and of course, a Tiger or two.

In a crowded NIL landscape where logos and car deals often dominate the headlines, Jake Brown’s Crocs moment feels fresh, authentic, and fun. It’s a reminder that NIL isn’t just about the money. Sometimes, it’s about the magic of being seen, being yourself, and sharing it with your team.

So, what’s next?

If Crocs and Brown roll out that LSU-themed pair, fans, and maybe future recruits will be lining up to walk in his shoes.

Related: Oregon QB Turns NIL Into Detroit Dreams

Related: NIL Struggles Far From Over After NCAA’s House Settlement

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.

Link

NIL

Gamecock baseball icons become South Carolina’s first College Baseball Hall of Famers

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Gamecocks are officially in the Hall. Two of the most iconic figures in South Carolina baseball history, Kip Bouknight and Ray Tanner, have officially been selected for induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The honor is a testament to their impact not just on the diamond, but on the culture of South Carolina baseball. The pair are part of the 2025 induction class announced Monday by the College Baseball Foundation, marking the first time that the Gamecocks have ever been enshrined in the Hall.

They are part of a group of 21 inductees who will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions presented by Prariefire in Overland Park, Kansas, on February 12, 2026, the ceremonial kickoff to the 2026 college baseball season.

Kip Bouknight: South Carolina’s All-Time Ace

Bouknight is the most decorated pitcher in South Carolina history, and his stats speak for themselves.

Career record: 45-12, the winningest pitcher to ever wear garnet and black

School record 482 innings pitched and 66 career starts

457 career strikeouts, the most in program history

2000 SEC Pitcher of the Year and SEC Champion

During his best season in the year 2000, Bouknight went 17-1, leading South Carolina to a 55-10 record, an SEC title, and back-to-back Super Regionals in 2000 and 2001. He was also named a consensus All-American and the Golden Spikes Award. Bouknight is only one of five Golden Spikes winners in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Ray Tanner: A Baseball Empire

Tanner’s coaching resume is second to none in college baseball, and now his accolades will include a Hall of Fame nod. In his 16 years as head coach of the Gamecocks, he turned South Carolina into a national powerhouse.

738 wins at South Carolina, 1,133 career wins overall

Back-to-back national titles in 2010 and 2011

Runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2012

Six College World Series appearances

Three SEC Championships, six SEC East titles, and 10 NCAA Super Regional appearances

From 2010 to 2012, Tanner’s team posted an NCAA record of 22 straight postseason wins and 12 straight wins in Omaha. South Carolina set the standard for college baseball during that time. Tanner coached a star-studded lineup of Gamecock greats as well, including two National Players of the Year (Bouknight and Michael Roth), two SEC Players of the Year, and two SEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Last season, the field at Founders Park was officially renamed Ray Tanner Field in his honor.

Following his coaching tenure, Tanner serced as South Carolina’s Athletic Director from 2012-2024. In that time, he oversaw four national championships (2015 equestrian, 2017, 2022, 2024 women’s basketball), 21 SEC titles, and several of South Carolina’s best season.

History and Legacy

Bouknight and Tanner, whose numbers are both retired at South Carolina, will now forever be etched in college baseball history. It’s a statement for South Carolina baseball.

Link