NIL

Badgers news

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wisconsin Badgers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The Wisconsin Badgers have had quite the offseason, as they hit the transfer portal hard […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wisconsin Badgers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Wisconsin Badgers have had quite the offseason, as they hit the transfer portal hard to offset the losses of six scholarship seniors and four other transfers.

That led to early commitments from San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia wing Andrew Rohde, and Portland forward Austin Rapp.

Then, Wisconsin ended up also landing Tulsa guard Braeden Carrington and 19-year-old Lithuanian forward Aleksas Bieliauskas, getting them to 13 scholarships and 14 total players for the 2025-26 season.

Heading into next year, the Badgers will need their transfers to make quite the impact, as the only returning starters are Nolan Winter and John Blackwell, who are both expected to take another jump in their respective junior years.

So, which transfer will make the biggest impact in 2025?

Boyd comes in as the expected starting point guard, having averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three for the Aztecs in 2024-25.

He should take off some of the load from Blackwell in the backcourt, providing Wisconsin with a primarily ball-handler and facilitator who meshes well in the Badgers’ pick-and-roll offense.

Rohde is a shooting wing who averaged 9.3 points per game last season, while hitting over 41 percent of his threes. He was a sneaky facilitator as well, averaging 4.3 assists per game, and presents a solid frame at 6’6, 200 pounds.

The Virginia transfer took a big jump up from his sophomore campaign, where he shot just 29.3 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from three, and should have a big role with the Badgers in 2025.

Rapp was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while hitting 35.2 percent of his threes. He should slot in well with Winter in the frontcourt as another shooting big that works well in the pick-and-pop.

As a freshman in 2024, Rapp has high potential, and should continue to develop as he gets stronger and more efficient from the field.

The last two new additions are Carrington, a senior guard from Tulsa, and Bieliauskas, a 6’9 forward who should provide frontcourt depth.

Carrington’s biggest asset is his experience, having played several years at Minnesota before spending last season at Tulsa. He’s never been efficient as a scorer, but he has some upside as a three-point shooter (33.2 percent in 2024), and he can play defense off the bench at the wing spot.

Bieliauskas is more of an unknown, as I haven’t gotten to see much of his overseas film, but the stats indicate a stretch big who can shoot the three and rebound at a good level. Those two assets will be needed off the bench for Wisconsin in 2025.

So, of the bunch, which transfer will make the biggest impact in 2025? Let us know by voting in the Reacts poll above and sharing your thoughts in the comments below!

NIL

EA Sports Releases Covers for ‘College Football 26’ Video Game

EA Sports is set to release their newest video game this summer, highlighting the most talented college football players in the business. The upcoming release has generated excitement for players and programs, opening up plenty of opportunity for name, image and likeness business. EA Sports brought back their beloved game last year after things were […]

Published

36 minutes ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

EA Sports is set to release their newest video game this summer, highlighting the most talented college football players in the business.

The upcoming release has generated excitement for players and programs, opening up plenty of opportunity for name, image and likeness business.

EA Sports brought back their beloved game last year after things were put on hold amidst some legal issues involving NCAA Football 14.

But now, progressive NIL rules and regulations have brought life back to EA Sports’ virtual football game, and fans have been excited about it ever since.

Ryan Williams (Alabama) and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) will be starting their sophomore seasons in 2025. Both receivers had impressive freshman years, which helped earn their spots on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.

Smith had an especially successful college football debut, leading the entire freshmen receiving class with 76 catches for 1,315 yards on his way to winning a national championship with the Buckeyes.

The evolution of NIL rules and regulations pioneered this new movement for EA Sports, giving each player that is featured in the game an estimated $600 and a copy of the video game.

The game is set to be released on July 10, 2025, carrying EA Sports’ new-found legacy after the success of “College Football 25.”

EA Sports will continue their promotion of their new game this week.

The trailer will be released on Thursday and is sure to generate even more excitement before the pre-order date approaches.

The special deluxe edition of the game will feature the coaching staff of teams on the cover, with reports that some coaches will be available during gameplay.

EA Sports is set up nicely and ready to build off the success of the video game from last year, and that should only create more interest in the sport and create a larger NIL platform for the players.

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NIL

An In-Season Tournament, The MLB Cup, is just what Baseball Needs

The days when the Boys of Summer dominated sports headlines are no more. Major League Baseball has transformed into a regional sport. In recent years the league has innovated, with much success, to draw in more casual fans. The MLB can take a page from the NBA and European soccer to build on that momentum. […]

Published

55 minutes ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The MLB Cup is exactly what professional baseball needs to re-establish itself as the sport of the summer.

The Genesis of the Idea

From the mind of Steven Peake, this proposal sounds too good to be true. He’s a fan of Tottenham Hotspur, the 17th-best team in the English Premier League that just threw a parade for winning the Europa League, an in-season tournament. Even though they were nearly relegated, Tottenham went on a run that captivated the rabid fanbase.

Tournaments like the Europa League and the FA Cup have years of built-up capital to over-emphasize their significance. Creating the passion cannot happen overnight, but there is value in creating in-season tournaments.

The NBA Cup’s ratings were the best of the year outside of postseason play, even better than the traditional Christmas Day tentpole event. Adding an MLB Cup in July and into August creates a tentpole event that draws not only regional fans, but also national attention during the most uneventful part of the sports calendar.

The MLB Cup Format

This is a work in progress, but it’s rather simple. The National League and American League compete in the All-Star Game for homefield advantage in the MLB Cup. After the All-Star break, each Monday is an open date, dedicated to the single-elimination tournament. Win or go home.

There are 30 MLB teams, so I’ll let the powers that be determine the proper bracket, but the event should take one month, culminating with the final four at the Field of Dreams. The day after the doubleheader, two teams battle it out for the MLB Cup, finishing in fireworks over the cornfields in Iowa.

What makes this event magical is that single-elimination baseball can create chaos in a sport that needs it. The Dodgers and Yankees are a great World Series matchup, but so many small-market teams feel completely left by the wayside, all thanks to the absence of a salary cap. We all know the Reds’ postseason hopes will be cooked by July, but who’s to say they couldn’t get hot in the MLB Cup? If they go on a run, every casual in the area will be locked in, hoping for a miracle that ends near a corn-maze.

It’s an imperfect proposition we cooked up on Kentucky Roll Call, but it could be the start of something that creates a can’t-miss baseball event in the middle of the summer.

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.

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Texas A&M Coach Frustrated With Lack of Clarity in Upcoming NCAA Settlement

The impending House vs. NCAA settlement approval is expected to shake up NIL and college football in some significant ways. Everything from NIL salary caps to roster limits will be implemented in some fashion or another starting on July 1. While many view this new framework in a largely positive light, some have voiced concerns […]

Published

57 minutes ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

While many view this new framework in a largely positive light, some have voiced concerns over the expedited nature of the implementation and how the rules are, in essence, being switched around on programs in the middle of the offseason.

One prominent figure who falls into this category is Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko, who recently discussed his frustrations with the uncertainty surrounding the settlement implementation at the annual SEC spring meetings.

According to Outkick’s Trey Wallace, Elko’s frustrations primarily centered on the proposed $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap.

He compared it to the NFL model, noting that they would never suddenly decide to change their cap rules in the middle of the offseason.

“I couldn’t imagine an NFL team getting halfway through the offseason and deciding to change their salary cap rules,” Elko said. “That’s what I guess we’re doing.”

Elko’s frustrations aren’t entirely without merit, as nobody truly knows just how much these new regulations will change the college football landscape until they are actually put into place.

The salary cap is just one of many groundbreaking changes that could be implemented.

The new rule is set to allow athletic departments to pay their student-athletes directly, with a cap of $20.5 million to be split among each sport. Athletes will still be allowed to receive outside NIL endorsements, but these will now require approval from an independent clearing house.

Roster limits are also expected to be added to the sport, with each school allowed to have up to 105 athletes on their football roster each season, which is 20 more than the 85 scholarship limit the NCAA had been allowing up to this point.

It’s clear that this new era of NIL is going to cause far more confusion than answers at the outset, but it’s something Elko and every other coach will have to deal with.

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Greg Sankey reacts to Zakai Zeigler eligibility lawsuit

Former Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler made headlines around the college sports world on May 21 when it was revealed that he had filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility. The 2025 Third Team All-American and 2x SEC Defensive Player of the Year claimed that he was banned from competing in […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Greg Sankey reacts to Zakai Zeigler eligibility lawsuit

Former Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler made headlines around the college sports world on May 21 when it was revealed that he had filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility.

The 2025 Third Team All-American and 2x SEC Defensive Player of the Year claimed that he was banned from competing in his final year of his five year eligibility window while going after a graduate’s degree. He however was not yet playing during the 2020-21 season, in which players got an extra year of eligibility. His first season of college basketball was the 2021-22 campaign.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey touched on the topic in his opening remarks at the 2025 SEC Spring Meetings on Monday.

“I think the conversation has to be informed with the why it didn’t advance before,” Sankey said when discussing whether or not players should be granted five years of eligibility. “This is primarily an undergraduate experience. There will be a lot more summer school, but we’ve got a lot of waivers out there. I think some of the rationale for advancing the idea ties back to ‘can we get through the waivers and just have something standard?’ You can do that with four years of eligibility.”

Diego Pavia paved the way

Sankey doesn’t seem to be a fan of this passing, but the precedent has already been set. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a case seeking an extra year of eligibility last year, as he claimed that the NCAA’s rule of counting JUCO participation (thus cutting his Division 1 career short) limited him the ability to profit from his name, image and likeness.

Zeigler however did not play a season at junior college. He played all four seasons at Tennessee (138 games), where he started in 83 games. He played in at least 30 games all four seasons and leads Tennessee’s program all-time in steals (251) and assists (747). His claim is that previous athletes in the NIL era received an extra year of eligibility, so he should too.

“There are plenty of court cases now related to five years, four years, they’re all over the place. Should my year count at junior college? What about my year at Division 2? Should it count at Division 3? I played two years of NAIA baseball and one year of junior college basketball, so perhaps there’s something out there for me,” Sankey said with a bit of a grin.

It seems as if the SEC commissioner isn’t a fan of all players receiving an extra year of eligibility, but he along with Tennessee fans everywhere will be on pins and needles waiting for a decision.

NIL

Texas Basketball Head Coach Sean Miller on Culture, NIL, and Building a Championship Program

Texas Men’s Basketball’s new coach Sean Miller discusses his ambitious vision to build a championship program amidst the evolving NIL landscape. He emphasizes the importance of ingraining values, fostering a winning culture, and enhancing community connections to attract and develop talent that aligns with the Texas brand. The interview sheds light on his recruiting strategies, […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By the Numbers

Duration of interview: 58 minutes
Coaching discussion starts at 2:08, with insights about NIL around 10:30

State of Play

Coach Miller highlights the unique challenges of NIL in college basketball.
Recruitment strategies are being revamped to attract talent in a competitive landscape.
The program aims to reflect the culture and values of both the university and the Austin community.

What’s Next

As Texas basketball progresses, the focus will be on implementing Miller’s strategic vision to ensure seamless integration of NIL opportunities while maintaining a winning tradition. Expect further developments in recruiting pipelines and community involvement initiatives.

Bottom Line

Sean Miller’s recruitment and program development approach is crucial for Texas basketball’s future success. By balancing NIL potential with solid core values and community engagement, he aims to elevate the program’s status and bring home a championship.

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NIL

Nick Mingione reveals his approach to Kentucky baseball’s bubble watch

Following a week of waiting after an early exit from the SEC Tournament, Kentucky heard its name called for the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Clemson Regional. The ‘Cats have now made three consecutive Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. It however was a tumultuous final day […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It however was a tumultuous final day of waiting for Nick Mingione’s team, as they had dropped completely out of both D1Baseball and Baseball America’s Field of 64 Projections. It however was revealed following the Selection Show that Kentucky was not even in the “Last Four In,” but was safely in the field as the 13th and final SEC team.

“You’d have to ask the players what it was like for them,” Mingione said on Tuesday. “We met [last] Tuesday morning before we headed back from Hoover and I literally just laid it out for the guys. I just said here’s the deal, we’re just gonna talk. This is what we do as a family when something’s on your brain and heart. I felt like I did a bad job after Tuesday’s game with them and my messaging to them. I just slept on it and prayed on it and we’re gonna meet Wednesday morning. And we just layed it all out for them, like here’s where we’re at at this point. At this point, we have put our season into other people’s hands to make a decision.”

Poor end to season put Tournament berth in jeopardy

Kentucky’s lone run in its 5-1 loss to Oklahoma in the First Round of the SEC Tournament was scored via an error, keeping the ‘Cats from being shut out for the first time this season. Their poor performance in Hoover coupled with the fact that it had just been swept at Vanderbilt the weekend prior made it questionable whether or not the program would hear its name called during the Selection Show.

“Typically when you don’t win a [conference] tournament, that’s what happens. With our league and being up to 16 teams, I don’t think anybody felt like they really knew who was gonna be in and who’s not and how all of this was going to work. But what I told them was I believed in what we accomplished during the regular season. We proved we can play with any team and every team and therefore if you can do that in the Southeastern Conference, you can beat the best teams and play with the best teams.”

In what was regarded as a rebuilding season for a Kentucky program that lost seven of its nine offensive starters, its entire starting rotation and multiple bullpen pieces, the ‘Cats accrued a 29-24 (13-17) record with series victories over Texas A&M, Tennessee, South Carolina and Oklahoma. With one win in the Clemson Regional, Kentucky would have four consecutive 30-win seasons for the first time since 2015-2018.

Kentucky sits at No. 38 in RPI Rankings

“But, we were gonna wait and see and I’m sure for them it was a bit of a rollercoaster, but my message to them was really clear the whole time. I still believe in this team and I believe that we’re gonna keep playing. But, we put it in other people’s hands. But I still believed in our track record and our resume. We played one of the toughest schedules in the entire country and we beat some of the best teams in the entire country.”

Heading into the Selection Show on Monday afternoon, Kentucky sat at No. 38 in the RPI Rankings with a 8-19 Q1 record, a 4-1 Q2 record, a 7-3 Q3 record and a 10-1 Q4 record. It’s sweep of Oklahoma in early May to get it to 13 conference wins was crucial, as it gave them the bump it needed to clinch a Tournament appearance.

Nick Mingione and the No. 3 seeded ‘Cats will open play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at noon against No. 2 seed West Virginia in the Clemson Regional.

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