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Byrne Fires Back at Notion that Tide Doesn’t Care About Fans

Amid the constant changes in college athletics, fans can feel like they’re being left behind. While the SEC has done a better job of maintaining fan engagement, largely by making sure most of the games can be viewed without an extra subscription service, it’s more expensive than ever to be a college football fan.   […]

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Amid the constant changes in college athletics, fans can feel like they’re being left behind. While the SEC has done a better job of maintaining fan engagement, largely by making sure most of the games can be viewed without an extra subscription service, it’s more expensive than ever to be a college football fan.

 

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Without getting into politics, it’s the flat-out truth that it is more expensive than ever to attend a college football game if you don’t live in the city that your favorite team plays in. College football fans feel alienated by the constant demand for money to support their favorite team. Then on top of that, they’re being asked to donate more money to their school’s collective to “help with NIL” and the growing costs of college football rosters.

 

It can make fans feel like their favorite school doesn’t care about them, and Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has faced that criticism in recent months. Byrne spent time on various radio shows and television networks asking Alabama fans for more donations to Yea Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s NIL collective. Fans took it as if Byrne doesn’t care about you unless you donate money to his athletic department.

 

That simply isn’t the case, however. On Tuesday, Byrne joined Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on Mac and Cube to discuss, calling the perceived lack of care for fans, ‘a bunch of hooey.’

 

“The fans are critical,” Byrne told the two former SEC stars. “I know sometimes people say the athletics department doesn’t care about fans. That’s a bunch of hooey. We may not charge the prices they want us to charge. I understand and appreciate the fact people are trying to make budgets work and be a part of things they’re interested in, which we’re fortunate we have so many fans at Alabama. We need to make sure we do everything we can to give them a good product out on the field and courts at the same time to give them outside the stadium from the time they get here to the time they get to their seats, hopefully it’s as efficient a process as possible.”

 

Byrne had spent time over the spring asking fans for more donations to Yea Alabama. According to Alabama’s Athletic Director himself, that has now changed thanks to the House v. NCAA Settlement from federal judge Claudia Wilkin. Fans giving to the collective will now be “very limited going forward,” according to Byrne. The collective will now convert into a content and marketing site.

 

Byrne said the Tide is constantly trying to evolve with what it provides to fans.

 

“We are trying to evolve with what the services that we offer to ur fans,” Byrne said. “At the same time, too, we have to make sure the fans understand why we are changing the way we did.”

 

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men’s basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.

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AJ Dybantsa Breaks Silence on Instagram After Winning MVP at FIBA U19 World Cup

Team USA went to Switzerland with names like Morez Johnson, Mikel Brown Jr., Koa Peat, and Caleb Holt. They faced Germany in the finals. Germany entered undefeated, led by Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, but Team USA’s roster depth and gameplay were something special. In the FIBA U19 World Cup final on Sunday, the USA won […]

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Team USA went to Switzerland with names like Morez Johnson, Mikel Brown Jr., Koa Peat, and Caleb Holt. They faced Germany in the finals. Germany entered undefeated, led by Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, but Team USA’s roster depth and gameplay were something special.

In the FIBA U19 World Cup final on Sunday, the USA won 109-76 over Germany. The MVP of the game was none other than AJ Dybantsa, who is projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

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After Earning MVP Honors, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Has Something to Say

Soon after the final whistle and celebrations, Dybantsa took to Instagram to post a story with a picture of him with his medals on it. He captioned it, “powered by wings. ” He also tagged Red Bull, his NIL sponsor, in the story.

The FIBA U19 MVP heads to BYU with serious hype and joins the team as one of the highest NIL earners in college basketball. Dybantsa signed a Red Bull NIL deal last October, and he’s already making sure the world remembers who’s backing him. At just 17, he’s already carrying a $4.1 million NIL valuation per On3. That kind of money doesn’t come without earning it.

Dybantsa earned the MVP honor at FIBA by averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 boards, and 2.3 assists. He led the tournament in free-throw attempts, shot 68% inside the arc, and converted at a near-perfect 84% rate from the line. Those numbers tell the story of a player who knows how to get to his spots and finish.

His defense was equally impressive. Dybantsa guarded point guards, dove for loose balls, and anchored the press. Despite being the top scorer, he never coasted on the defensive end. While his 2-for-18 mark from deep is concerning, and his three-point shot needs work, there’s no denying he can play on both ends and break down defenses with his athleticism and basketball IQ.

The tournament showed why scouts are already penciling him in as the top pick in two years. Dybantsa’s ability to impact winning at the highest levels of international competition speaks volumes about his readiness for college basketball.

What Dybantsa’s Arrival Means for BYU’s Championship Hopes

Dybantsa heads to Provo this fall, and summer workouts are already underway. He joins a program looking to be a national contender. With eight scholarship players gone and names like Egor Demin and Dallin Hall departed, this roster is brand new.

BYU does have some returning senior starters, including Keba Keita and Richie Saunders. Big man Mihailo Boskovic and sharpshooter Dawson Baker provide a seasoned core. This foundation gives the Cougars enough experience to compete while Dybantsa adjusts to college basketball.

The incoming class surrounding Dybantsa is loaded with talent. At the same time, many fans felt Brown Jr. was the authentic MVP of the FIBA U19. Baylor transfer and fellow five-star Rob Wright brings power conference experience. Washington’s Dominique Diomande adds size and athleticism. Southern Illinois guard Kennard Davis provides proven scoring ability, while Idaho’s sniper Tyler Mrus stretches the floor. UC Riverside veteran Nate Pickens rounds out a mix of high-upside freshmen, power conference transfers, and seasoned mid-major standouts.

For Dybantsa, who’s already being talked about as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, this roster gives him the flexibility and space he needs to develop his game. The Cougars’ first exhibition is set for October 18 against Nebraska. Nebraska should be worried if FIBA was a preview of what’s coming.

Coach Kevin Young has built something special in Provo, and Dybantsa’s arrival could be the final piece needed to make a serious run at cutting down the nets in March.





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Christine Brennan reveals DeWanna Bonner confronted her after Caitlin Clark-Dijonai Carrington eye poke incident

Christine Brennan once again found herself at the center of one of the biggest stories in sports last year during the WNBA playoffs. The USA Today columnist was writing a book about Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and was among media covering the team’s first round series against the Connecticut Sun, which featured DeWanna Bonner. […]

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Christine Brennan once again found herself at the center of one of the biggest stories in sports last year during the WNBA playoffs. The USA Today columnist was writing a book about Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and was among media covering the team’s first round series against the Connecticut Sun, which featured DeWanna Bonner.

Perhaps the biggest storyline that emerged within minutes of the start of Game 1, when Sun guard Dijonai Carrington poked Clark in the eye. In a media availability later on, Brennan asked Carrington whether she had done so intentionally.

Carrington, of course, said it was an accident, but that in itself became a story. The WNBA Players Association later released a statement that directly called Brennan out and called for her credentials to be revoked.

Bonner, Brennan revealed in an excerpt of her book about Clark published on CNN, even confronted her afterward to stick up for Carrington. Brennan’s full book is set to be released July 9, and you can read the columnist’s account of that interaction below.

Just a couple of minutes after Carrington’s interview session was over and she walked away, I was standing near the other reporters at the side of the court when her teammate DeWanna Bonner walked toward me.

“You disrespected my teammate,” she said.

I put out my hand and tried to introduce myself, but Bonner did not want to shake it.

“You attacked my teammate,” she said.

I motioned to my phone in my hand. “Can I tell you what I said?

I was happy to show her the video I had just taken of Carrington’s answers to my questions. I again tried to introduce myself since Bonner and I had never met, but Bonner wanted no part of that.

“You attacked my teammate,” she said again.

I tried to introduce myself once more. “I asked her a question to give her a chance to respond to a controversy.”

“You disrespected my teammate,” Bonner said again, walking away.

Bonner never raised her voice, nor did I. 

Of course, that doesn’t seem like much given the fact that Bonner was likely just sticking up for her teammate. However, with the context of what has happened since, it becomes a lot more interesting.

Bonner signed a one-year contract with the Fever this offseason and became Clark’s teammate. She played nine games before leaving the game due to personal reasons. It was later reported that she did not intend to return to the team and preferred to play elsewhere.

It’s unclear exactly what happened to cause the sudden decision from Bonners, but the Fever later waived her. She has still yet to sign with a new team as of this writing.

As for Brennan, this will be the eighth book she has written and all the drama will certainly drum up some interest once it hits the shelves. With the increased interest in the WNBA since Clark joined last season, it surely has plenty more interesting nuggets from the phenom’s first year.





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Georgia commit Brayden Fogle shares unique moment when UGA won his recruitment

Four-star tight end Brayden Fogle is the most recent player to commit to Georgia football. The No. 8 tight end in the country announced that Georgia was where he wanted to play college football on July 4 after a long recruiting process. However, according to Dawg Nation’s Jeff Sentell, Fogle knew for quite some time […]

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Four-star tight end Brayden Fogle is the most recent player to commit to Georgia football. The No. 8 tight end in the country announced that Georgia was where he wanted to play college football on July 4 after a long recruiting process.

However, according to Dawg Nation’s Jeff Sentell, Fogle knew for quite some time that Georgia was the right place for him. Fogle opened up about the moment he knew he wanted to play for Georgia, and this story will immediately make him a fan favorite in Athens.

“I was walking back to the parking garage and I kind of knew,” Fogle shared via dawgnation.com. “This was where I wanted to be I guess. You know?”

“It really hit me in the hotel,” Fogle continued. “My hotel room, I just looked out, and I could see the stadium. It was nighttime. The stadium was lit up red. I could see it just lying in my bed, looking out my window. I was just thinking of all the things that have happened in that stadium and the opportunities that people get from that stadium and the most-watched team in college football. Like getting that platform. It still hasn’t sunk in for me yet. I told my Mom today that it’s a life-changing opportunity I was given and it is so exciting.”

Brayden Fogle feels at home at Georgia

It is always really cool to learn why recruits chose to commit to Georgia. More often than not it has something to do with their relationships with the coaching staff, which undoubtedly played a role for Fogle, but for him it was much more than not.

Fogle spoke about the opportunity given to him while playing at Georgia. There is no greater cathedral in all of college football than Sanford Stadium, and getting to play at Georgia will give him exposure he can’t get at many other places.

On top of that, the history of success at Georgia really appealed to Fogle as well. And knowing that he will have the opportunity to add to that is something he couldn’t turn down.

Fogle projects to be one of Jared Curtis’s top targets on offense in the coming years, and after reading this story it won’t be surprising when he eventually adds to the historic moments that have occurred at Sanford Stadium.



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Ranking Nico Iamaleava’s 2024 Performances: #13 Ohio State

Nico Iamaleava is one of the largest topics of conversation in college football ahead of his redshirt sophomore season with the UCLA Bruins. After a stellar redshirt freshman season with the Tennessee Volunteers that led them to their first ever College Football Playoff appearance, Iamaleava entered the transfer portal after a NIL dispute that was […]

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Nico Iamaleava is one of the largest topics of conversation in college football ahead of his redshirt sophomore season with the UCLA Bruins.

After a stellar redshirt freshman season with the Tennessee Volunteers that led them to their first ever College Football Playoff appearance, Iamaleava entered the transfer portal after a NIL dispute that was largely publicized and turned him into one of the most polarizing figures in college football.

He finished last season leading the Vols to a 10-3 record and passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.8% (213-334) completion percentage. With that being said, let’s rank Iamaleava’s best performances of the season, starting with No. 13 — CFP First Round vs. Ohio State.

Of course, if you’re a Bruins fan, you’re not going to like seeing your new star quarterback’s “worst” game of the season being a postseason game, but the context is surely helpful. It was Iamaleava’s worst passing game of the season, but he did finish the game with two rushing touchdowns.

His full stat line for the game was 14-for-31(45.2%) passing attempts for 104 passing yards, four sacks, 47 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries (the most he had all season) all for a passer rating of 73.3 and an ESPN Adjusted QBR rating of 61.9.

It was the eventual national champion Buckeyes’ game from the start, jumping out to a 21-0 lead. After scoring a field goal late in the second quarter, the Tennessee defense forced a three-and-out which led to a 16-play drive that finished with Iamaleava’s first score of the game, a two-yard rushing touchdown that cut Ohio State’s lead to 21-10 before halftime.

Ohio State didn’t let up coming out of the locker rooms for the second half, scoring on each of its first three drives before Tennessee could even add one, which was Iamaleava’s second rushing touchdown of the game with 1:56 remaining in the game. The Buckeyes won 42-17.

Let’s put this into context for Iamaleava, though. Optically, yes, this was a bad game. But this was his first ever postseason game as a redshirt freshman and he was playing against the best team in the nation. Despite struggling passing, he was able to march the Vols down the field on multiple long drives and get on the board with his legs.

Iamaleava showed poise in college football’s toughest conference all last season and is sure to be one of the Big Ten’s best signal-callers this coming season.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @cmorenoNBA and never miss another news story again on UCLA football and Nico Iamaleava this year.

Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.



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Burning Questions

The Ohio State men’s basketball team has one main goal next season: Make it back to the NCAA Tournament. It has been three years since the Buckeyes went dancing, and that is unacceptable for a program like Ohio State. Now, as head coach Jake Diebler enters his second season leading the program, the Buckeyes have […]

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Burning Questions

The Ohio State men’s basketball team has one main goal next season: Make it back to the NCAA Tournament.

It has been three years since the Buckeyes went dancing, and that is unacceptable for a program like Ohio State. Now, as head coach Jake Diebler enters his second season leading the program, the Buckeyes have to get back to the tournament this season to avoid another possible coaching search.

So, the question is simple: Did the Buckeyes and Diebler do enough in the offseason to upgrade the roster into a tournament team?

First of all, outside of the transfer portal, they returned the three players that had to return. Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal are the big three that are coming back to Columbus for the 2025-26 season.

Bruce Thornton averaged 17.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. Devin Royal averaged 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while rising sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. averaged 13.0 points per contest. From just those three players, the Buckeyes are returning 44.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, which is second in the Big Ten behind the possible No. 1 team in the country, Purdue.

Now, when it comes to the actual portal, they added a starting-level center, a starting-level power forward, and depth at the guard position. The one concern is the starting three spot and adding another wing, but there is a chance that they did add that.

The Buckeyes missed on Darrion Williams from Texas Tech, who would have come in and immediately jolted them into a top 15 team in the country, likely as a possible preseason All-American and one of the top players in the conference. Instead, they added international prospect Mathieu Grujicic — an 18-year-old freshman who can play multiple positions.

The obvious concern is his adaptation to the collegiate game, but he played at the highest level of Euro ball and has a versatile enough game to adapt easily, as long as he gets enough offseason time to get comfortable with the team, the system, and college life. If Grujicic can play more than they expect and become a legitimate fixture in the lineup, he can play the role of backup wing to Devin Royal and sure up the depth for the Buckeyes, and maybe even start at times when they want to play smaller.

The Buckeyes’ season will depend heavily on whether the two mid-major transfers that are likely to be starters (Noel and Tilly) can adapt to the Big Ten and level their games up. If they can, this is a team that can be in the top five of the conference and easily make it back to the tournament.

If they don’t, this will be another season on the bubble and failing to reach expectations.

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Michigan Sees Stunning Loss as Five-Star WR Calvin Russell Picks Syracuse

Five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell has committed to Syracuse, surprising many by choosing the Orange over Michigan and Oregon. This decision highlights a falling out over a $4.2 million NIL deal with Michigan, which reportedly did not materialize. Instead, Russell secured a three-year deal worth $4.3 million with Syracuse, making him the highest-rated recruit in […]

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Five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell has committed to Syracuse, surprising many by choosing the Orange over Michigan and Oregon. This decision highlights a falling out over a $4.2 million NIL deal with Michigan, which reportedly did not materialize. Instead, Russell secured a three-year deal worth $4.3 million with Syracuse, making him the highest-rated recruit in their program’s history. While Michigan is still poised with a strong recruiting class ranked No. 7 nationally, the loss of Russell is a significant blow to their efforts. This event underscores the increasing influence of NIL agreements in college football recruiting.

By the Numbers

  • Calvin Russell is ranked the No. 21 overall player and No. 3 wide receiver in the 2026 class.
  • He had 704 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on just 39 catches during his junior season.

State of Play

  • Michigan’s commitment of $10 million over four years to No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood raises questions about their financial strategy.
  • Syracuse’s acquisition of Russell demonstrates their growing competitiveness in the NIL space.

What’s Next

As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, expect more top recruits to weigh financial packages heavily in their decisions, potentially reshaping traditional power dynamics in college football recruiting.

Bottom Line

The loss of Calvin Russell highlights how crucial NIL deals are becoming in recruiting. Michigan must navigate this changing landscape carefully to maintain its competitive edge, while Syracuse illustrates the potential for emerging programs to attract top talent.





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