NCAA member schools can compensate their players across all sports beginning July 1, according to the approval issued by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken.

• College athletes can now be compensated for their name, image, and likeness.
• The settlement covers athletes whose careers began between 2016 and Sept. 15, 2024.

A federal judge has granted final approval of a settlement of three antitrust cases addressing the compensation of college athletes Friday, ending a protracted legal debate and ushering in an extraordinary era that will allow NCAA member schools to directly pay their athletes.

A lot of other fan bases appear to be heavily pocket watching USC. Instead of analyzing what their own recruiting efforts could be doing differently, it seems that with each opportunity that presents itself, there are a lot of efforts to dismiss anything positive that comes from the Trojan side.

The latest comes as a reaction to the latest USC commit, Mark Bowman, reportedly having NIL opportunities that can be in the range of $8-10 million for his estimated three years as a student-athlete. For some reason, these figures are drawing a lot of outrage throughout the college football nation.

Forget that the figures are a rough estimate and are taking all avenues into consideration over the course of three years. This news is seeing a lot of pearls being clutched, particularly among those fan bases who have enjoyed having a considerable advantage paying athletes, both since the inception of NIL and before it was actually allowed.

In earnest, it is not as if USC has handed Bowman or anyone a check for that amount before even stepping foot on campus as a player. This type of figure should instead highlight something that should have been known anyway.

The Trojans have a greater ability to pay student-athletes through the multiple avenues and what comes with being a part of the program. It is something of a complete mystery how people are disregarding how Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world and have simply not been as active or as well organized as they could have been in recent years.

All that is being reflected now is a return to the norm. Apparently that is too much of a bridge too far for others to not believe that some form of cheating or unabashed money waving is not going on.

Things are, in fact turning around at USC

What is nice about these allegations are two things. For one, it shows how worried the rest of college football is. Whether they wish to admit it or not, USC is simply following the currently agreed upon rules that all (allegedly) abide by. 

More importantly, the baseless accusations are not at all what is leading to the latest recruiting successes or why many feel good about USC. Because the money aspect is a distant secondary talking point during the recruiting process, it will be clear soon enough that those who pledged themselves to join USC did so for more than a one-time big pay day. 

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics is calling on Red Raider Nation to pack Rocky Johnson Field Saturday afternoon to welcome back the National Runner-Up softball program after its historic run at the Women’s College World Series.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. Saturday with the Red Raiders expected to arrive by 2 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field. Admission is free with parking permitted in the lots immediately surrounding Rocky Johnson Field.

The Red Raiders captured the nation’s attention this season during their historic run to the Women’s World Series, going from a bubble team a year ago to the peak of college softball in less than a calendar year. With only three returning players from a year ago, Texas Tech developed over the course of head coach Gerry Glasco‘s first season, eventually winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles before hosting the NCAA Regional round for the first time.

 

Texas Tech won 13 of its final 15 games to end the season, defeating two WCWS mainstays in UCLA and Oklahoma in the process, en route to advancing to the championship series against Texas. The historic season ended Friday night with a 10-4 loss to Texas in the deciding game of the WCWS championship series. 

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady has signed another $1 million-plus NIL deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN first reported the deal.

“I’m thrilled that a player of the caliber of NiJa Canady can take advantage of her success and her hard work that she’s given to the sport and given to the school that she’s at,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said after Texas claimed the national title with a 10-4 win over the Red Raiders in the decisive Game 3 of the championship series on Friday night.

News of the name, image and likeness deal broke hours before Canady was set to pitch in the final game. She lasted one inning and gave up five runs on five hits.

Texas pitcher NiJaree Canady throws during the third game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals against Texas in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Canady signed a similar deal with Texas Tech last year after she had led Stanford to the World Series semifinals two straight years. She didn’t directly address either deal, but noted that her success has come with some negative attention as the sport has grown.

“I feel like more eyes are on the sport,” she said, “Of course, that comes with positives and negatives. There’s always like, negative attention that comes with it. But I feel like for the whole and just growing the sport and just giving younger girls something to look up to — it means a lot.”

Despite the rough finish, she led the nation in wins with 34 and threw every pitch in Tech’s first five World Series games. Glasco said her success and the exposure she has brought the school has made it all worthwhile.

“I’m not an expert,” Glasco said. “ Somebody could really do an in-depth study. But I have no doubt it (the first deal) would exceed a million dollars of value. I think it was of great value for our school.”

Glasco said there has been too much negative attention brought to the money Canady has earned.

“I found it almost insulting to her at times when I listened to broadcasts how much they talked about it because, like I said, I don’t hear it when we talk about — when we watch a men’s basketball game or a men’s football game, and to me that’s not right,” Glasco said. “That shouldn’t be that way.”

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