NIL

CofC player has first hearing after filing NCAA lawsuit

College of Charleston basketball player Ante Brzovic is scheduled to graduate from the downtown university on Friday with a degree in political science. Brzovic’s future as a college athlete, however, will be determined in the next 48 hours. Brzovic filed a lawsuit in federal court against the NCAA in April seeking another year of eligibility. […]

Published

4 weeks ago

May 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

College of Charleston basketball player Ante Brzovic is scheduled to graduate from the downtown university on Friday with a degree in political science.

Brzovic’s future as a college athlete, however, will be determined in the next 48 hours.

Brzovic filed a lawsuit in federal court against the NCAA in April seeking another year of eligibility. He spent the better part of 90 minutes testifying on May 6 in a preliminary hearing to determine if the Croatian’s case can move forward against the NCAA.

U.S. District Judge David C. Norton is expected to announce his decision in the next couple of days.

The 6-10 Brzovic is entered in the NBA draft, but he has until May 28 to withdraw his name and return to play a fifth season of college basketball.

“This is a novel issue that will eventually be decided by the Supreme Court,” said Mark Peper, Brzovic’s co-attorney in the case. “Judge Norton understands Ante’s predicament. This is time sensitive. If Ante doesn’t get to withdraw his name, then the hearing doesn’t matter because he loses his eligibility.

“Judge Norton said he’ll make a thumbs up or thumbs down ruling as early as (May 7) and then would follow that up with a more lengthy order.”

The complaint argues the NCAA is violating federal antitrust law by not granting Brzovic a waiver and by limiting his economic opportunities to receive NIL benefits because of his prior attendance at a Division II school.

In the lawsuit, Brzovic’s attorneys asked the court to grant an injunction that would prevent the NCAA from enforcing its bylaws pertaining to its five-year eligibility rule.

Peper argued that Brzovic’s first two seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State — a Division II program — were a missed opportunity under NCAA rules because he lost a year while adjusting to life in the United States.

If Norton grants the temporary injunction, Brzovic would be free to continue his college basketball career and sign with a high major program.

“If we win, that means he gets to play, and we will continue to fight the NCAA,” Peper said. “If he loses, then his career is over. Unfortunately, there is no remedy available to him.”

Brzovic enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma in 2020 during the pandemic but redshirted as he learned English and adjusted to life in the U.S.

He transferred to College of Charleston before the 2022-23 season and made an immediate impact. This past season the 6-10 Brzovic led the Cougars in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg).

Brzovic testified that he earned $75,000 in NIL income during the 2023-24 season and $300,000 this past year. He used the initial $75,000 to pay off his parent’s home mortgage.

Brzovic entered the NCAA’s transfer portal in March and immediately started to receive seven-figure offers from major programs. The offers ranged from $1.5 million to $2 million.

“The bottom line is that this isn’t all about the money,” Brzovic said. “It’s really about the circumstances when I first got to the United States. Money is a factor, of course, but not the only factor.”

In late March, Brzovic applied for a waiver seeking another year of eligibility, but the NCAA rejected the waiver April 1.

Brzovic is the second former Division II athlete seeking another year of eligibility.

Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean was granted a preliminary injunction in February that will allow him to maintain his college eligibility and continue playing football for the Badgers this fall.

U.S. District Judge William Conley issued his ruling just days after a hearing where Fourqurean’s attorneys argued the two seasons he played at D-II Grand Valley State shouldn’t count against his college eligibility.

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NIL

USC Trojans 5-Star Commit Mark Bowman Rumored To Make $10M In NIL Deal

The USC Trojans landed a major recruiting victory with the commitment of five-star tight end Mark Bowman, a Mater Dei standout and the No. 1 player at his position in the 2026 class. Bowman’s decision to join the Trojans not only strengthens USC’s grip on the top recruiting class in the country, but it also […]

Published

8 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lincoln Riley. — Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC Trojans tight end Lake McRee (87) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies cornerback D.J. Graham II (4) — Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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NIL

Rep. Brendan Boyle Says B1G, SEC Are Rigging the College Football Playoff

On this edition of the PoliticsPA podcast, Voices of Reason, host Steve Ulrich talks with Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-02) about the changing landscape of college sports. From NIL policies and Title IX to the growing influence of major conferences, Boyle shares his concerns about fairness, the impact on Pennsylvania schools, and why this issue is […]

Published

46 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On this edition of the PoliticsPA podcast, Voices of Reason, host Steve Ulrich talks with Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-02) about the changing landscape of college sports.

From NIL policies and Title IX to the growing influence of major conferences, Boyle shares his concerns about fairness, the impact on Pennsylvania schools, and why this issue is gaining attention in Congress.

We talk about the CFP (College Football Playoff), NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), SEC (Southeastern Conference), the B1G (Big Ten Conference) and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).

We did not forget about politics, as we delved into the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and its impact on Pennsylvania.

A timely and informative discussion you won’t want to miss. “Voices of Reason” is the antidote to a political environment too often mired in animosity and hidden agendas. This podcast cultivates intelligent discussions that give way to real-world solutions even when guests don’t share the same perspectives. The key: everyone gets a fair shake. Visit www.politicspa.com for news and updates.

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NIL

Wisconsin Badgers will get chance to avenge NCAA tournament loss with added rematch

The Wisconsin Badgers’ NCAA tournament run last season ended earlier than fans wanted or expected. Greg Gard will get a chance to avenge that loss with a rematch added to the schedule for 2025-26. The program announced Tuesday that Wisconsin will face BYU in a non-conference matchup on Nov. 21. The game will be played […]

Published

47 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Wisconsin Badgers’ NCAA tournament run last season ended earlier than fans wanted or expected.

Greg Gard will get a chance to avenge that loss with a rematch added to the schedule for 2025-26.

The program announced Tuesday that Wisconsin will face BYU in a non-conference matchup on Nov. 21.

The game will be played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, the home arena for the Utah Jazz.

The Badgers lost to the Cougars when they played in the Round of 32 last march, falling two points short in a valiant comeback effort 91-89.

John Tonje set a school record for points in an NCAA tournament game that night with 37, but the team trailed by double-digits for much of the contest.

Tonje won’t be there to avenge the loss, but John Blackwell should still have the bad taste in his mouth from defeat when he gets his second shot at it in November.

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NIL

Steve Spurrier describes Florida’s baseball season as ‘above average’

Saturday brought a close to the 2025 baseball season for Florida, even if some off-field headlines have dominated since then. East Carolina was the one to eliminate the Gators before Coastal Carolina took the honors of advancing out of the Conway Regional and into the Super Regionals. While the end result was not what everyone […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Saturday brought a close to the 2025 baseball season for Florida, even if some off-field headlines have dominated since then. East Carolina was the one to eliminate the Gators before Coastal Carolina took the honors of advancing out of the Conway Regional and into the Super Regionals.

While the end result was not what everyone in Gainesville wanted, Steve Spurrier still gave Florida a thumbs up on the season. Especially considering how SEC play began, the Ol’ Ball Coach gave the Gators credit for responding well and getting into the NCAA Tournament.

“To start off 1-11 in conference play and come back and make a run through the tournament,” Spurrier said via Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “It was an above-average year. I know Coach Sully (Kevin O’Sullivan) would say it’s not a great year, by any means. But it was above average.”

Six of the final SEC series resulted in wins for Florida, including a pair of sweeps against Missouri and South Carolina. The Tigers coming to Condron Family Park is what got the run started, as Florida went 14-4 against conference foes down the stretch. Just enough to put them into position for the NCAA Tournament.

Getting a win in Hoover, even if it was against South Carolina, certainly helped. Florida heard its name called when the full bracket was released on Monday, extending the postseason streak to 17 years.

However, results were not the same once in the field. The previous two years for O’Sullivan have produced runs to Omaha for the College World Series. Florida was even runner-up back in 2023, falling in the championship series to the LSU Tigers.

East Carolina was able to take Florida down twice this go-round. Once in the opening game and again in an elimination game on Saturday. Fairfield is the lone win the Gators could scrap together, earning a massive 17-2 win.

Spurrier describing the season as “above average” might speak to where the program, as a whole, is at the moment. Florida expects a lot of success and wants to get back to dogpiling soon. One national championship came back in 2017 and everyone wants another shot at college baseball’s crown.

This was not the season Florida would achieve that goal. O’Sullivan will get another opportunity in 2026, hoping to put together another great team. Hopefully, the overall assessment from Spurrier is a little more positive this time next year.

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NIL

Kentucky debuts in Top 35 of ESPN’s Football Power Index Rankings

ESPN revealed its first Football Power Index rankings for the 2025 season this morning, and I’m sad to report that your University of Kentucky Wildcats are not in the Top 25; however, they’re not too far outside of it. Kentucky is No. 34 in the debut rankings, one of just three SEC teams outside the […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The SEC may have taken a tiny step back last season, but the FPI forecasts a season in which it just means more. The top three teams are all from the SEC, led by Texas (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Alabama (No. 3). The Cats host the Longhorns on October 18 and travel to Athens to play the Bulldogs two weeks prior on October 4. Nine SEC teams are in the top 15 and 13 in the top 25.

Even though Louisville beat up Kentucky to end the 2024 season, the Cards are No. 41 in the FPI, seven spots behind the Cats. Toledo, which opens the season at Kroger Field on August 30, is No. 73, and Eastern Michigan is No. 124. Tennessee Tech plays in the FCS, so they weren’t included in the rankings.

1. Texas – Oct. 18, home
2. Georgia – Oct. 4, away
3. Alabama
8. Texas A&M
10. Tennessee – Oct. 25, home
12. LSU
13. Ole Miss – Sep. 6, home
14. Auburn – Nov. 1, away
15. South Carolina – Sep. 27, away
16. Oklahoma
18. Florida – Nov. 8, home
22. Arkansas
23. Missouri
34. Kentucky
52. Mississippi State
56. Vanderbilt – Nov. 22, away

Other Kentucky opponents:

41. Louisville – Nov. 29, away
73. Toledo – Aug. 30, home
124. Eastern Michigan – Sep. 13, home

Kentucky has the 7th hardest schedule in the country

The FPI projects Kentucky’s record to be 5.6-6.4. Of course, that isn’t actually possible, but the fancy computer model gives the Cats a 50.7% chance of getting six wins. Kentucky will have to do it against one of the toughest schedules in the country. The FPI ranks Kentucky’s schedule as the seventh hardest in the FBS. Not surprisingly, all of the teams ranked ahead of Kentucky are also from the SEC: Florida, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.

The FPI is higher on Kentucky than another computer model, Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings. Kentucky is No. 43 in the SP+ rankings, with the Cats’ offense coming in at No. 79, the defense No. 31, and the special teams No. 14. Like the FPI, only two SEC teams rank lower than Kentucky in the SP+: Vanderbilt (No. 55) and Mississippi State (No. 71). The SP+ also ranks Kentucky’s schedule as one of the toughest in the country, No. 8 in the SOS rankings.

Only 88 days until the season opener vs. Toledo.

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NIL

Alan Bratton Named Dave Williams Coach of the Year

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma State’s Alan Bratton was honored on Tuesday as the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year it was announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The distinction marks the second time he has received the honor. He was named the coach of the year in 2018 and was a finalist […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma State’s Alan Bratton was honored on Tuesday as the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year it was announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

The distinction marks the second time he has received the honor. He was named the coach of the year in 2018 and was a finalist for the award in 2016 and again in 2021.

Last week, Bratton led the Cowboys to their 12th national championship at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

The victory capped a run of five consecutive wins to end the season and gave OSU seven wins overall.

After closing the fall with a victory at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, the Cowboys won their spring opener at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate. They would finish second in three of their next four starts and also had a third-place showing as well.

OSU would start its string with a win at the Haskins Award Invitational before winning the Mountaineer Invitational. The Cowboys would bring home their 57th conference title, winning the Big 12 Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa before capturing their NCAA-best 17th regional title at the NCAA Urbana Regional.

Individually, four Cowboy sophomores garnered All-Central Region honors with Ethan Fang, Gaven Lane, Eric Lee and Preston Stout all earning the distinction. Fang and Stout were also named first-team All-Americans as well as Arnold Palmer Cup selections.

Stout finished the year with wins at the Cabo Collegiate and the Big 12 Championship, while sophomore Eric Lee won the Mountaineer Invitational.

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