Longtime ESPN analyst and SEC pundit Paul Finebaum predicts one of the game’s top powers to falter in this season due to challenges stemming from the Name, Image and Likeness world of college football.

Schools have been forced to adapt to a new NIL era in the aftermath of the House settlement. The revenue-share model, allowing schools to allocate up to $20.5 million to athletes this year, is the new status quo.

Despite the settlement’s proposed intention to reign-in the unsustainable NIL spending, those lofty deals, sometimes undeserved in terms of on-field performance, continues to a sticking point.

In an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” Finebaum revealed his questions of Georgia and two-time national champion head coach Kirby Smart after an uncharacteristic 2024 campaign.

After not losing a regular season game for the better part of three seasons, the Bulldogs suffered regular season losses to both Alabama and Ole Miss. Smart and Co. responded with their third SEC championship before falling to Notre Dame, 28-10, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Georgia enters the 2025 season with questions at quarterback after Carson Beck’s transfer to Miami on a reported NIL package worth $4.5 million.

Gunner Stockton is the favorite after replacing an injured beck in the SEC title game and playoff appearance. And his first season as the full-time starter features matchups against playoff contenders like Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas.

Those matchups will come at home, but Finebaum isn’t high on Stockton, or Georgia as a program in the current NIL landscape.

“This year they have those games at home, so they have a chance,” Finebaum said during SEC Media Days. “But I don’t think Georgia has a quarterback, which is what is going to be their undoing. Gunner Stockton did not show me anything in the just epic loss and loss of not only the game, but loss of composure and maybe loss of traction.”

“So I think Kirby Smart has a lot to answer for when he gets here this week,” Finebaum said. “But, NIL is the reason just to double up on what everybody else has said, there’s just so much going on you, you can’t hold on to your rosters, so you’re going to lose critical backup people or starters that may be the difference between an undefeated season and losing two or three games.”

Georgia’s decision to move on from Beck, stick with Stockton and not sign a transfer quarterback will be a talking point all season.

What Smart and his staff do have, as Stockton progresses, is the nation’s No. 2 roster. Only Texas ranks higher than the Bulldogs in blue-chip ratio this year.

That’s due, in part, to dominant recruiting. While talking heads wonder if Georgia can keep up with the NIL surge, the Bulldogs have yet to finish outside of the top five in recruiting in the last nine years and are coming off the No. 2 class in the 2025 cycle.

The talent will be there for Stockton to be successful, and it’s up to the redshirt junior and the Bulldogs to silence the doubters.

That journey will begin in the season opener against Marshall on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m ET (ESPN).

Summers in State College are typically calm for Guy Gadowsky. The weather is beautiful and the streets are empty as Pegula Ice Arena sits blank, but this summer it’s been a touch more hectic.

While Gadowsky has enjoyed time in his backyard barbecuing, he said there’s a “little bit more” to do this offseason than in the past.

With the new changes to the NCAA landscape and college hockey, an influx of recruits have shown interest in Penn State. None of them trumped CHL superstar Gavin McKenna, who officially committed to the club on July 8.

“There was mutual interest, but nothing was done until after (his WHL season concluded),” Gadowsky said. “After his season, it was known he wanted to explore the NCAA, so that’s really when (we) really started looking at it… (We were) nervous until it’s done, but once it was on SportsCenter and done, it felt very, very good, and I’m pumped for the Penn Staters that get to watch this guy.”

The “Penn Staters” that get to watch McKenna might end up in awe. The consensus No. 1 ranked player in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft has dominated every competition he’s faced, and he was awarded the CHL David Branch Player of the Year following his 129-point performance last season.

Words such as generational have been thrown around McKenna, and he’s been mentioned as a true five-tool skater. The Canadian’s talent runs sky high, which has seen him draw comparisons to NHL greats, such as one of his childhood idols, Patrick Kane. But on Tuesday Gadowsky took it a step further by comparing him to Wayne Gretzky.

“I was fortunate enough to grow up to watch Wayne Gretzky play for Edmonton, and I think one of the things that makes him so special is that he is so creative,” Gadowsky said. “His mind is just very different. And there’s no way that I or anybody else on our staff thinks like Gavin does. He is a very, very, special, special, special athlete who thinks very differently.”

The comment stemmed from a development question. Will Gadowsky get “hands on” with McKenna despite just one year of coaching the superstar talent?

Entering his 14th season at the helm, Gadowsky knows a thing or two about how to develop a hockey player. He also knows when it’s time to take a step back and not mess with the creativity and raw talent a player like McKenna possesses.

“By no means am I ever going to talk to him about how his mind creates, that’s him and that’s going to be really fun to watch,” Gadowsky said. “That goes for all of our athletes as well. I mean that’s partly what I think makes Penn State hockey fun: we certainly encourage creativity.”

All the garnered interest in Hockey Valley from top recruits and media over the past several months was Terry Pegula’s vision back in 2012 when he completed his funding of $102 million to help jump the program to the Division I level.

He wanted the best hockey talent to come to Penn State and develop before flourishing in the NHL. This summer, the Buffalo Sabres owner got his wish, but that’s in large part to his contributions for the construction of Pegula Ice Arena and the facilities it holds for athletes — those state-of-the-art amenities are used as one of the main persuasion points when Gadowsky is talking to a recruit.

Regardless, Gadowsky isn’t limited to the facilities, he goes through it all when he shows the touring athlete why they should be a Nittany Lion, and McKenna clearly liked what he saw.

“There’s a lot of things that make Penn State hockey a really attractive program for any potential student athlete in it. We go through all of it, it’s not just one thing,” Gadowsky said. “It has to do with how we develop our facilities, the personnel, the philosophy of the administration, the support of the university and the support of Pegula Ice Arena and the great student body that makes it an incredible atmosphere. So I went through it all (with McKenna).”

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(Photo Credit: @HSKnights on X/Twitter)

On April 1st, a few days after his collegiate season ended at Providence College, Trevor Connelly signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Golden Knights. The former 1st Round (19th overall) selection scored 13 points in 23 games during an injury-riddled freshman year in college.

This type of move would not typically make headlines, as first-round picks usually do not take long to sign contracts with the NHL team that selected them. However, in Vegas’ case, the timing came as a bit of a surprise due to their history with NCAA players.

Connelly was the 14th player selected in the draft by the Golden Knights to play the following season in American college. This includes former 1st round pick Brendan Brisson and future NHLer Paul Cotter. Connelly is the first to be offered a contract following his first season.

Statistically, he did not post numbers that would have warranted becoming the outlier. He scored just four goals and 13 points in 23 games. He was also a -13 and took 29 penalty minutes. He was, however, impressive with Team USA at the World Juniors where he scored a goal and posted four points in seven games against the best prospects in the world.

I felt strongly about myself. After World Juniors this year I had an idea that I wanted to sign. I just kind of felt like my skillset and hockey IQ is ready to take the next step. Now it’s about building my frame and filling out and the rest will come along. -Connelly

Connelly played six games with the Silver Knights at the end of the AHL season scoring a goal and three assists. Henderson became the seventh different team he’s played for in the last six years, not including international duty.

To confuse matters a bit more, Connelly was selected in the WHL Expansion Draft by the newest team, the Penticton Vees. As a 1st round pick, it would be surprising to see him leave college, sign a contract, and then play in the CHL. But, the path is now available to him, and the Golden Knights, which raises even more intrigue about his future.

As for Connelly, he has his head down and is saying the right things as he progresses through the early stages of his professional career.

I had an idea that I wanted to be here at the end of the year, but you never know. You have to get offered a contract as well so I did everything I could this year to get here at the end of the year. -Connelly

As the only 1st round pick still under VGK control, Connelly’s future is one to keep a close eye on. He’s talented enough to be projected as a true impact player at the NHL level, but he has to get there first, and so far, it’s been a unique road.

HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac field hockey team has added seven newcomers to its 2025 roster, as announced by Nina Klein and the Bobcats Tuesday afternoon. 

The 2025 recruiting class features one transfer and six incoming First Years student-athletes. Alexa Kidd joins the Bobcats as a transfer while Jaelyn Crossman, Maaike Van Wensen, Jenna Livathares, Veronica Goettner, Rozemarijn Van Keulen, and Charlie Caunter each will be First Years. Van Wensen, Van Keulen, and Caunter are each from The Netherlands while Kidd, Crossman, Livathares, and Goettner are all from the United States.

Alexa Kidd comes to Hamden after transferring from Penn State and will be a sophomore. She most recently played at Ward Melville High School in New York. She was named the Suffolk County Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, leading Long Island, N.Y. in points. She was also named All New York State in 2023. 

Jaelyn Crossman joins the Bobcats as a First Year from Auburn, N.H., where she played for Pinkerton Academy and North East Elite. She was named All-State First Team all four years while also earning New England All-Region First Team and MAX Field Hockey New England Top 40 in 2023 and 2024. She was also named Team MVP three seasons in a row. 

Jenna Livathares will also be a First Year, hailing from Upper Saddle River, N.J., where she played for Northern Highlands Regional High School and New Heights Field Hockey. Finished high school with a team record of 75-7-3, leading her team to a runner-up finish in the New Jersey Group 3 State Finals and numerous league and county championships. She was named First Team All North Jersey in 2024 and invited to the New Jersey All-Star Game. 

Veronica Goettner is the last American in the 2025 class, joining the Bobcats from North Wales, Pa., where she played for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and Mainline Mayhem. Goettner reached the 2023 National Championships with the Mayhem, finishing in third place overall. She was also an All-Interac First Team selection as a Senior in 2024. 

Rozemarijn Van Keulen is the first of three Bobcats in the 2025 class from The Netherlands and is a First Year, most recently playing for Gooische Hockeyclub and is from Naarden. She finished fifth place in the National Championships the previous two seasons in the Elite National U16 League as a starter. 

Charlie Caunter is also from The Netherlands, hailing from Oldenzaal where she attended Twents Carmel College Lyceum and will be a First Year. She won a Super-B League National Championship, the second-highest league in the country. 

Maaike Van Wensen is the third and final Bobcat recruit from Europe, joining the squad from Apledoorn, The Netherlands. She was a member of The Netherlands Women’s First Team and won MVP of the u16 Regional Tournament. She was named Captain of AMHC Apledoorn u18s while also being a regular member of the AMHC First Team.

For more information on Quinnipiac field hockey, visit gobobcats.com/fh and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @QU_FH.

Women’s Golf Championship

October 3-5, 2025

Site: Reedsburg Country Club – Reedsburg, Wis.

Cross Country Championships

November 1, 2025

Host: UW-Oshkosh

Site: Moore’s Field of Dreams – Oshkosh, Wis.

Women’s Soccer Tournament

November 5, November 7, November 9, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Men’s Soccer Tournament

November 4, November 6, November 8, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Women’s Volleyball Tournament

November 11, November 13, November 15, 2025

All matches played at the higher seed

Wrestling Championship

February 14, 2026

Host: UW-Eau Claire

Swimming & Diving Championships

February 18-21, 2026

Host: UW-Whitewater

Site: Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center – Brown Deer, Wis.

Women’s Basketball Tournament

February 23, February 25, February 27, 2026

All games played at the higher seed

Men’s Basketball Tournament

February 24, February 26, February 28, 2026

All games played at the higher seed

Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament

February 21-22, February 28-March 1, March 8, 2025

All games played at the higher seed

Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament

February 25, February 28-March 1, March 8, 2025

All games played at the higher seed

Indoor Track & Field Championships

February 27-28, 2026

Host: UW-Platteville

Women’s Gymnastics Championship/NCGA West Regional

March 7, 2026

Host: Winona State University (Minn.)

Women’s Tennis Tournament

April 21, April 23, April 25, 2026

All matches played at the higher seed

Outdoor Track & Field Championships

May 1-2, 2026

Host: UW-La Crosse

Women’s Lacrosse Tournament

May 1-2, 2026

Host: Colorado College (if it is one of the top 4 seeds)

Men’s Tennis Championship

May 2, 2026

Host: Highest Seed From West Division

Baseball Tournament

May 7-9, 2026

Host: No. 1 Seed

Softball Tournament

May 8-10, 2026

Host: No. 1 Seed

Kai Trump Signs NIL Deal With Accelerator Energy Brand originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Kai Trump Just Leveled Up Her NIL Game, And She’s Only Getting Started

Six million followers. One rising golf career. And now, a power move into business.

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On July 15, future University of Miami golfer Kai Trump signed a NIL deal with Accelerator Active Energy, the same brand tied to Travis Kelce and Livvy Dunne. The announcement wasn’t subtle. It came with a bold video, a presidential-style speech, and a message that Kai isn’t just a face, she’s a force.

This isn’t your average endorsement. Kai is joining as an equity partner. That puts her in rare air among student-athletes.

And she hasn’t even swung a club in college yet.

NIL Meets Golf Meets Gen Z Influence

Trump’s deal with Accelerator is a clear signal: golf is stepping into the NIL spotlight. Until now, the sport has been slow to cash in on the explosion of college athlete branding. Kai changes that.

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She’s the first golf athlete to land a deal with the California-based energy drink. Her name will be featured in campaigns. Accelerator will become a staple on her social media. With over 6 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, she has the reach, and now, the brand alignment.

“She’s going to be a leading voice in NIL and beyond,” said Andrew Wilkinson, CEO of Accelerator.

He’s not wrong.

A Deal With Power Behind It

Travis Kelce. Livvy Dunne. Paula Badosa. Evan Carter. Now, Kai Trump joins the athlete roster of a company that’s picking winners.

Accelerator isn’t just hyping athletes. They’re building a team of cultural icons. Their formula? No sugar. No taurine. Just clean energy and brain-boosting blends. NSF Certified. Plant-based ingredients. The kind of thing that hits with both health-conscious athletes and everyday fans.

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For Trump, it’s about more than energy on the golf course.

“An energy drink like Accelerator helps me stay locked in,” Kai said. “Whether I’m training, studying, or traveling, it fits into everything I do.”

Related: Explaining The NCAA’s One-Time Transfer Portal Window

Why This Deal Matters

This is more than a one-off. It’s a blueprint.

Kai Trump just proved that women’s golf has a seat at the NIL table. She’s not waiting for college trophies or tour wins. She’s building her brand, and her bank account, before her first swing in NCAA play.

The partnership video, filmed at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, leans into her name but makes it clear: this moment is hers.

And she’s just getting started.

Related: CSC Blocks Collective NIL Deals, Sparks Antitrust Concerns

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.