Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday we were watching a clip of Nick Saban taking a shot at Jimbo Fisher’s roster-building techniques at Texas A&M as NIL first made its way into college athletics? 

The entire landscape of sports has changed, and some will argue it has only gotten worse along the way, ever since that press conference inside the Aggies’ football facility in College Station, Texas. As we sit here, waiting for July to roll around, with the new era of athletics set to begin, it’s hard not to look back and think about how far we’ve come. 

The problem with looking back, though, is we see how many mistakes were made along the way. How bad leadership at the highest levels turned out to be, given that NIL was rolled out like a game of dodgeball with zero rules. 

Sure, there were some rules put in place, but it was undoubtedly a free-for-all as collectives were formed under the guise of helping athletes procure deals that would see them take part in the local automotive dealership commercial, or one of the many BBQ restaurants located in a college town. 

House V. NCAA Settlement Now Hinges On Roster Limits Being Phased In, Or Judge Will Deny Settlement

While it’s easy to look back while trying to look forward, it’s certainly not very hard to put the blame on the folks who decided to allow NIL to begin, without guardrails that would put us in the spot we are currently in. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for these college athletes making the most money they can off their talents that are displayed on a field, or court, during a season. 

Legalizing What Was ‘Illegal’ Just Five Years Ago In College Sports

Clearly, college sports were just late to the party. It’s funny to think about all the fuss that was made over Johnny Manziel making loads of money signing autographs in a Miami hotel room, and the scrutiny that followed. If we’re honest, it’s even crazier to think that just five years ago, Jeremy Pruitt was fired from his job for being involved in payments to athletes, most notably a fast-food bag full of cash given to a parent’s mom. 

Seriously, that’s where we were just five years ago. Trust me, I remember digging up the details of everything that was going on within that football program, only to now think how crazy it is that somebody was fired over paying players. 

Obviously, there were other things that led to Pruitt being fired, which included a hotel scheme that was centered around making sure players weren’t paying for their trips on official and unofficial visits. 

Jeremy Pruitt Sues NCAA, Claiming $100 Million In Lost Wages And That Tennessee Conspired To Have Him Fired

Sure, there’s more to that story, which includes the then athletic director ‘resigning’, but still being paid more than $30,000 a month for a situation that some folks around the program at the time assumed he knew was going on. But that’s certainly in the past. While players on campuses across the country used to drive around in their Dodge Chargers or Challengers, we’re now seeing them drive a Lamborghini or Mercedes. 

Pretty crazy how much we can tell athletics has changed just by the car a player is driving, compared to just five years ago. But, we were always headed in this direction. A semi-professional model in college sports that looks more like an NFL roster as the days roll on. 

And while a lot of this might freak you out as a fan, we just have to learn to adapt. Sure, I’m a college sports fan, so I can include myself in this conversation. Hell, I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t, because it sure beats covering politics on a daily basis, but that’s just my preferred choice. Yes, I do love politics as well, but that’s just not my cup of tea when it comes to this profession. 

The President Involved In College Sports? Schools Directly Paying Players?

It’s funny that I bring up politics, because right at this moment there is an athletic director, commissioner or lobbyist talking to a lawmaker about how to ‘fix’ the problems with NIL and college athletics. I’d say it’s a pretty wild coincidence that I’m in some way covering a President, while still focusing on collegiate sports. But that’s where we are right now in this landscape, as leaders look to Congress for help in this ever-changing world where NIL has been at the forefront of nearly every conversation that involves a school. 

I know it’s aggravating for people who think this is a runaway freight train. Trust me, I see the emails you write every day that fill my inbox. Oh, and some of you certainly have some good ideas on how to fix our current situation. 

Texas A&M Goes Full-Send Into NIL Without Fear Of NCAA After President Says There Are ‘No Rules,’ Texas Rolls Out New State Law

But, we are headed for more change, and it’s assuredly going to agitate fans even more, which is hard to believe. Schools are about to start cutting weekly or monthly checks to players on a roster. Exactly the thing that coaches have been caught doing, and subsequently fired for over the last few decades, is about to become an everyday occurrence. 

Negotiations for a pay raise, or a contract extension, are going to be held inside the very building where an assistant coach would’ve been given a show-cause penalty if they had slid the top players a few hundred dollars in a manila envelope just years ago. 

That’s insane!

Sure it is. But don’t let it ruin the sport, as a fan. Players have been paid by schools for decades now. It just used to come in a different way. As everything gets bigger, and players pick schools by how much one is willing to pay over the other, don’t lose sight of why you still love whichever sport that thrills you. 

Let me know what you think. Email me at TREY.WALLACE@OUTKICK.COM

And no, we won’t stop writing about how much schools are spending on a roster, given that’s what collegiate sports have become. We’ve got contracts, negotiations, buyouts, pay-raises, holdouts and just about everything else you see in the professional leagues. 

You’ve Come This Far. Don’t Allow This To Change Your Outlook On College Sports. 

While this might take away a bit of the ‘purity’ of college sports, you’re still going to be infuriated when your team loses. Christmas or Thanksgiving will be miserable if your favorite football team is not in the College Football Playoff. That message board you post on at least five times a day will be humming with some of the funniest or worst takes imaginable. 

The thrill of watching your favorite team run out of a tunnel or dugout will still be the same as it was ten years ago, though it might cost you a bit more to attend those games down the road. Don’t blame me, I’m just the reporter. 

The point is that while the phrases ‘House Settlement’ or ‘front-loaded deals’ will be discussed, along with ‘collective,’ – which is a horrible name, by the way, for a large group of fans and boosters who are renting players – don’t lose sight of why you’re still hanging around. 

Oh, and if you need a quick reality check on why you still love these crazy sports, go attend the College World Series in Omaha, or the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. 

Some say this is the end of college sports. I say we’re just getting started. 

Let me know what you think. Email me at TREY.WALLACE@OUTKICK.COM

The name of the game with NIL in college sports is typically being a high-power star on a competitive team, be it college football or men’s or women’s basketball.

An underrated value that college athletes can bring to name, image, and likeness partnerships is an ability to market themselves, on-camera savviness that will actually draw in target audiences, or personal journeys told through NIL deals.

The NIL market is also, unfortunately, not really one that highlights greater inclusivity, equitable compensation, and accurate representation of BIPOC athletes and creators—the latter of whom are forgotten college students eligible to monetize their name, image, and likeness. 

Director of Talent for Kensington Grey, Deneka Dousant, is creating a new blueprint for WNBA partnerships that have a focus on culture and the unique journeys of each creator or athlete, and she shared that strategy and insights with NIL Daily On SI. 

She initially carved out a space in the marketing and creator landscape with an emphasis on women of color being paid the same as their counterparts with equal engagement, such as deals with beauty companies. 

Her agency represents college students, top creators, WNBA stars, and more, though she leaves the on-court contracts to traditional agencies. Dousant set out to leverage opportunities in the beauty, fashion, and wellness space that tell the stories of the women creating the content.

“When we’re looking to partner with a company like Fenty, maybe it’s not even about the makeup; maybe it’s the skincare prep and caring for their hair,” Dousant explained. “There are so many more elements that we can come to the table with, with athletes, and it also comes from their personal stories. We rep Black and Brown creators who have their own hair journeys. They have issues, for example, when they sweat a lot and aren’t just able to use the products in the shower or locker room and always have to bring their own. It’s the little things like that we’re trying to carve out. We want it to resonate with viewers sitting down watching their stories as well, who are often athletes themselves.”

Dousant is intentional in the partnerships she cultivates, especially in the WNBA, as she’s focusing on brands that are already showing up for the stars. As the playbook for companies shifts, so does the strategy.

Serena Williams recently became the co-owner of the Toronto-based WNBA team, with Sephora as their official partner. Every announcement they make is now presented by Sephora, making that a prime pitch for athletes in the WNBA for companies known to partner with them already.

While highlighting the stories behind the creators is a focus, there’s also a need for talent that knows how to make an impression on social media. Dousant used the example of NBA player Jared McCain, who is great at incorporating brand content in a fun way.

“I’m not saying I want to go out and sign the top player, but they don’t know how to hit record or aren’t natural on camera,” Dousant explained. “I’m actually looking for creators and the type of talent that comes through as content-first, because we still want to be able to deliver quality to our brands. I’ve signed really big names in the space in the past, but it didn’t translate when it came time to feature a product in their content or make it sound genuine, like they actually use it; there was a big disconnect. You can sign the biggest name, but then it falls flat when it’s time to record content.” 

Dousant is poised to make waves by capitalizing on the timing and synergy with brands showing up, but she makes a critical point about the ability for stars to market themselves and translate content into engagement and sales or whatever the desired end goal may be.

While the company focuses on BIPOC stars entering the WNBA, college stars can take these lessons and apply them in their NIL endeavors. Arguably, taking marketing courses and learning how to leverage name, image, and likeness is as critical to brand deals as on-court success can be.

The 2025 Big Ten Softball Tournament gets underway Wednesday in West Lafayette with Purdue serving as the host school. Michigan comes in as the defending champion, winning the 2024 title over Indiana.

Coming into this year’s tournament, newcomer Oregon is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by fellow west coast school UCLA as the No. 2. Nebraska and Ohio State are No. 3 and 4, serving as the final two teams with byes into the quarterfinals.

Host school Purdue grabbed the final seed in the Big Ten Tournament, seeded at No. 12 and taking on No. 5 Northwestern. Not everyone makes the postseason tournament, leaving the bottom five teams in the conference home for the postseason. So with that, let’s take a look at the Big Ten Softball Tournament bracket and schedule.

Wednesday, May 7 (First Round) 

Game 1: No. 11 Penn State 6, No. 6 Iowa 2
Penn State pulled off the upset to advance into Thursday’s quarterfinals with a controlling win, never trailing Wednesday afternoon. Things got off to a great start in the top of the second inning as Michela Barbanete hit a two-run home run and the Nittany Lions never looked back. She added an RBI in the top of the fifth just for good measure as well.

Game 2: No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Washington – 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN) 
Game 3: No. 9 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Michigan – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN) 
Game 4: No. 12 Purdue vs. No. 5 Northwestern – 7 p.m. ET (BTN) 

Thursday, May 8 (Quarterfinals) 

Game 5: No. 3 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Penn State – 11 a.m. ET (Big Ten Network) 
Game 6: No. 2 UCLA vs. Game 2 winner – 1:30 p.m. ET (BTN) 
Game 7: No. 1 Oregon vs. Game 3 winner – 4:30 p.m. ET (BTN) 
Game 8: No. 4 Ohio State vs. Game 4 winner – 7 p.m. ET (BTN) 

Friday, May 9 (Semifinals) 

Game 9: Game 5 vs. Game 6 winner – 5 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
Game 10: Game 7 vs. Game 8 winner – 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN) 

Saturday, May 10 (Championship) 

Game 11: Game 9 vs. Game 10 winner – 4 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)

Oregon comes in as the No. 1 seed, as well as the highest ranked Big Ten team in the country. They were ranked No. 7 and received a first place vote in the most recent softball top 25. UCLA was ranked No. 10 and Nebraksa was No. 19 in the latest top 25.

Ohio State rounded out the Big Ten teams that were ranked with a No. 22 ranking as of May 5. There’s no doubt the competition of the Big Ten Softball Tournament is at some of its best this season.

STILLWATER – First team All-Big 12 performers Rosie Davis, Amanda Hasler and Ruby Meylan highlight a group of six Cowgirls who collected All-Big 12 honors as the conference announced its yearly awards today.
 
Tia Warsop was named a second team All-Big 12 honoree, while Megan Bloodworth and Tallen Edwards were named to the conference’s first All-Defensive team.
 
All three Cowgirls selected to the first team were unanimous selections.
 
One of the conference’s most complete players, Davis is slashing .352/.462/.592 and leads the team with 49 RBIs, a mark that is fourth in the Big 12 and inside the top-100 nationally. She also has added 29 runs scored, 10 doubles, eight home runs and a team-best 28 walks. The Readyville, Tenn., native has come through when it matters, with four late game-tying or go-ahead hits on the year.
 
This marks the second consecutive season in which Davis earned All-Big 12 recognition after being named to the All-Freshman team last season.
 
Hasler has been a force at the plate during Big 12 play as she is tied for the team lead with a .383 batting average to go with two doubles, eight home runs and 17 RBIs while leading the conference in slugging percentage (.936) and OPS (1.459). Her 15 long balls on the year rank fifth in the conference and 59^th in the nation.
 
This marks the first all-conference award of Hasler’s career.
 
The Cowgirls’ ace, Meylan has performing at an elite level in the circle all year with 21-7 record and a 1.59 ERA to go with 225 strikeouts in 189.0 innings pitched. She leads the conference and ranks inside the top 10 nationally in strikeouts, innings pitched and shutouts (six). She is also the only pitcher in the conference to win three Big 12 Pitcher of the Week awards this season (March 4, March 25 and April 22).
 
This is the third first team all-conference award in Meylan’s career as the Washington transfer earned those honors twice at her previous school.
 
Warsop has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year as she leads the team with a .364 batting average and ranked inside the top 10 of the conference in that statistic for most of the season. She’s a threat on the basepaths as she’s contributed with 32 runs scored and is successful on 19 of her 20 stolen base attempts on the year.
 
This marks the first all-conference award of Warsop’s career.
 
New to the Big 12 yearly awards this season is the All-Defensive team, where the left side of the Cowgirl infield is both represented in Bloodworth and Edwards.
 
Bloodworth, the heart of OSU’s defense for the past two seasons at shortstop, boasts a .972 fielding percentage in Big 12 play in 71 chances. Edwards, the Cowgirls’ third baseman who began her career as an outfielder, is one of nine players in the Big 12 with a 1.000 fielding percentage in at least 50 chances.
 
Oklahoma State begins postseason play at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship with a second-round matchup against Arizona State set for 11 a.m. on Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Fans can stream the contest on ESPN+ or listen on the Varsity Network app with Ryan Breeden on the call.
 
2025 Oklahoma State Softball All-Big 12 Honorees
 
All-Big 12 First Team
 
Rosie Davis – IF*
Amanda Hasler – C*
Ruby Meylan – P*
 
All-Big 12 Second Team
 
Tia Warsop – OF
 
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
 
Megan Bloodworth – SS
Tallen Edwards – 3B
 
*indicates unanimous selection
 

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Big 12 Conference announced its winners for the 2025 softball yearly awards on Wednesday morning. The Red Raiders were represented by 10 different players over the various teams. Gerry Glasco, in his first season in the league, was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and NiJaree Canady was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

Mihyia Davis and NiJaree Canady were named unanimous selections to the Big 12 First Team as Alana Johnson and Bailey Lindemuth also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors to set a new program record for most Big 12 First Team selections (4).

Demi Elder, Alexa Langeliers and Lauren Allred earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors while Hailey Toney and Lindemuth were named to the All-Big 12 Freshmen Team.

Davis and Victoria Valdez were named to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team for outfield and catcher, respectively.

The Red Raiders finished the season with a 20-4 record in Big 12 play, winning all eight series and sweeping four of them.

UP NEXT: Tech will head to the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City as the No. 1 seed where they will get a first-round bye. The tournament is played May 7-10 at OGE Field at Devon Park.

 

Will Howard was the most sought-after quarterback in the transfer portal prior to the 2024 college football season. He chose to play at Ohio State but Miami offered him more NIL money.

The reigning national champion recently revealed why he picked the Buckeyes over the Hurricanes and it serves as a great recruiting tool for Ryan Day.

Howard began his college football career with four up-and-down years at Kansas State. The Wildcats ultimately squeezed him out in favor of Avery Johnson, which led him to enter the portal as a rising fifth-year senior with one year of eligibility remaining.

USC, Texas A&M and Auburn were considered to be the schools in most need of a quarterback at the time. However, it ultimately came down Miami and Ohio State. Howard called it a “long, weird journey.”

The decision to play one season in Columbus was made with one thing in mind. Well, two. Howard wanted to win a national championship and to best develop as a player with the NFL as the goal.

Both of those things worked out. Will Howard won a national title in January and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round last month.

There was a lot of chatter about the amount of NIL money spent by the Buckeyes on last year’s roster. The most circulated number was $20 million. It was assumed that Howard received a good chunk of those funds on a one-year deal. And he probably did!

However, he revealed the truth about NIL on the Footbahlin Podcast. The Hurricanes actually offered him the most amount of money. Howard chose development over finances.

It is always interesting to hear an athlete pull back the curtain on the current landscape of college athletics. There are schools that use money as their primary recruiting tool, like Miami!