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College sports lurches forward, hoping to find a level playing field with fewer lawsuits

By EDDIE PELLS MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — On the one hand, what this new version of cash-infused college sports needs are rules that everybody follows. On the other, they need to be able to enforce those rules without getting sued into oblivion. Enter the College Sports Commission, a newly created operation that will be […]

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4 days ago

May 30, 2025

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By EDDIE PELLS

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — On the one hand, what this new version of cash-infused college sports needs are rules that everybody follows.

On the other, they need to be able to enforce those rules without getting sued into oblivion.

Enter the College Sports Commission, a newly created operation that will be in charge of counting the money, deciding what a “fair market” deal for players looks like and, if things go well, helping everyone in the system avoid trips to court whenever a decision comes down that someone doesn’t like.

With name, image, likeness payments taking over in college, this group will essentially become what the NCAA committee on infractions used to be – the college sports police, only with the promise of being faster, maybe fairer and maybe more transparent.

In a signal of what the CSC’s most serious mission might be, the schools from the four biggest conferences are being asked to sign a document pledging not to rely on state laws – some of which are more permissive of payments to players — to work around the rules the commission is making.

“We need to get out of this situation where something happens, and we run to our attorney general and file suit,” said Trev Alberts of Texas A&M, one of 10 athletic directors who are part of another group, the Settlement Implementation Committee, that is helping oversee the transition. “That chaos isn’t sustainable. You’re looking for a durable system that actually has some stability and ultimate fairness.”

Number crunching to figure out what’s fair

In this new landsacpe, two different companies will be in charge of two kinds of number crunching.

The first, and presumably more straightforward, is data being compiled by LBi Software, which will track how much schools are spending on every athlete, up to the $20.5 million cap each is allowed to distribute in the first year of the new arrangement expected to begin July 1.

This sounds easy but comes with the assumption that universities – which, for decades, have sought to eke out every edge they can, rulebook or no – will provide accurate data.

“Over history, boosters have looked for ways to give their schools an advantage,” said Gabe Feldman, a sports law professor at Tulane. “I think that will continue even with the settlement. It’s anyone’s guess as to how that manifests, and what the new competitive landscape looks like.”

Adding some level of transparency to the process, along with the CSC’s ability to deliver sanctions if it identifies cheaters, will be key to the new venture’s success.

“There’s legal risk that prohibits you from doing that,” Alberts said. “But we want to start as transparent as we can be, because we think it engenders trust.”

Good intentions aside, Alberts concedes, “I don’t think it’s illogical to think that, at first, it’s probably going to be a little wonky.”

How much should an endorsement deal be worth?

Some of the wonkiest bookkeeping figures to come from the second category of number crunching, and that involves third-party NIL deals. The CSC hired Deloitte to run a so-called clearinghouse called “NIL Go,” which will be in charge of evaluating third-party deals worth $600 or more.

Because these deals aren’t allowed to pay players simply for playing – that’s still technically forbidden in college sports — but instead for some service they provide (an endorsement, a social media shoutout and so forth), every deal needs to be evaluated to show it is worth a fair price for what the player is doing.

In a sobering revelation, Deloitte shared with sports leaders earlier this month that around 70% of third-party deals given to players since NIL became allowable in 2021 would have been denied by the new clearinghouse.

All these valuations, of course, are subject to interpretation. It’s much easier to set the price of a stock, or a bicycle, than the value of an athlete’s endorsement deal. This is where things figure to get dicey. Though the committee has an appeals process, then an arbitration process, ultimately, some of these cases are destined to be challenged in court.

“You’re just waiting to see, what is a ‘valid business purpose’ (for an NIL deal), and what are the guidelines around that?” said Rob Lang, a business litigation partner at Thompson Coburn who deals with sports cases. “You can see all the lawyer fights coming out of that.”

Avoiding court, coordinating state laws are new priorities

In fact, elements of all this are ripe to be challenged in court, which might explain why the power conferences drafted the document pledging fealty to the new rules in the first place.

For instance, Feldman called a law recently enacted in Tennessee viewed by many as the most athlete-friendly statute in the country “the next step in the evolution” of state efforts to bar the NCAA from limiting NIL compensation for athletes with an eye on winning battles for recruits and retaining roster talent.

“What we’ve seen over the last few years is states trying to one-up each other to make their institutions more attractive places for people to go,” he said. “This is the next iteration of that. It may set up a showdown between the schools, the NCAA and the states.”

Greg Sankey, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, said a league spanning 12 states cannot operate well if all those states have different rules about how and when it is legal to pay players.

The SEC has been drafting legislation for states to pass to unify the rules across the conference. Ultimately, Sankey and a lot of other people would love to see a national law passed by Congress that does that for all states and all conferences.

That will take months, if not years, which is why the new committee drafted the document for the schools to sign.

“We are all defendant schools and conferences and you inherently agree to this,” Alberts said of the document. “I sat in the room with all of our football coaches, ‘Do you want to be governed?’ The answer is ‘yes.’”

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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Top Sun Belt College Football Transfer Portal Additions In 2025

Among all of the Group of Five conferences, I would argue the Sun Belt is the league that brought in the least amount of talent via the transfer portal so far. The conference also saw a ton of talent move on with some transferring to other G5 programs while others went to Power Four schools. […]

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2 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Top Sun Belt College Football Transfer Portal Additions In 2025

Regardless, there are still some players who transferred into the Sun Belt who will make a name for themselves early on, along with a few guys who stayed within the conference.

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LB Luke Murphy, Coastal Carolina

There is an overhaul within the Chanticleers defense after they lost most of their starters to both the transfer portal and graduation. That means there are spots to be earned, and Murphy should claim one of the starting linebacker jobs. The Eastern Michigan transfer was second on the Eagles last season with 94 total tackles and added an interception.

DL Xavier Holmes, James Madison

Holmes was tabbed second-team All-Coastal Athletic Association last year following his standout season with Maine. He finished with 72 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception. He started each game the past two seasons and will be an immediate disruptor for the Dukes.

QB Walker Howard, Louisiana

After spending three seasons in the SEC, Walker decided to go back home to Lafayette, where he’ll have the opportunity to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns offense and potentially live up to his pre-college hype where he was ranked among the top QBs in the country prior to committing to LSU. He spent his freshman campaign with the Tigers before spending the last two seasons with Ole Miss. He never played meaningful snaps, but his dual-threat ability should help make Louisiana a conference title contender once again.

DB Lucas Struck, Old Dominion

This junior college product was part of an Iowa Western team that lost in the NJCAA Division I national title game last season and was one of the biggest contributors on its defense. It will be a big step up in competition for Struck, but I think the redshirt sophomore will play a key role in this Monarchs defense. He finished last season with 62 total tackles and five pass breakups.

DB Jayvon Henderson, South Alabama

The Jaguars didn’t bring in a ton of players through the portal, but defensive back was a position of need. Henderson has experience playing both cornerback and safety. He was named to the Phil Steele All-Freshman team following his 2023 campaign where he started at corner for ETSU but transitioned to safety last season.

QB Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss

Braxton may be the biggest transfer addition in the league, which is unfortunate for Marshall that he transferred within conference. The redshirt senior was part of the mass exodus that left when head coach Charles Huff took the job at USM. Braxton was 8-0 as a starter last season and passed for 1,624 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 610 yards and four scores.

CB Josh Moten, Southern Miss

Like Braxton, Moten transferred from Marshall and should be one of the top defensive backs in the league this season. He was an All-Sun Belt honorable mention as a junior last season and finished with five interceptions, five pass breakups, and 38 total tackles.

EDGE Kenard Snyder, Texas State

Snyder returns to the Sun Belt following his one-year stint at Iowa State. There, he played in 10 games where he had eight tackles and two sacks. He played for ULM from 2021-23 and had back-to-back seasons where he posted 60 tackles and double-digit tackles for loss. He earned all-conference honors in 2023 and should return as another solid defender in the league.

CB Kaleno Levine, Troy

There is an opportunity here for Levine to earn a starting cornerback spot and help a defense that struggled against the pass last season and snagged just six interceptions. The Trojans are returning some starters on defense, including two safeties, so if Levine can fill a void, the Troy defense can improve. The senior had a breakout season for Missouri State last year where he tallied 50 tackles and six pass breakups.

RB Zach Palmer-Smith, ULM

The Warhawks lost a standout running back to the portal in Ahmad Hardy, but Palmer-Smith can be a solid replacement. Palmer-Smith finished sixth in the FCS with 1,392 rushing yards last season and added 13 rushing TDs. The Richmond transfer was named second-team All-CAA and rushed for 100-plus yards in six games.

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6 players would could swing Michigan football’s season in 2025

Excitement is building in Ann Arbor as the 2025 Michigan football season inches closer. Expectations are sky-high thanks in large part to five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, but as exciting as Underwood’s arrival is, the Wolverines’ success this year will depend on more than just its new quarterback. There are plenty of unknowns on this roster […]

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3 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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There are plenty of unknowns on this roster — transfers, returning players with something to prove and position battles still being decided. If this team is going to make another serious run at a Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines need more than a few key guys to step up in a big way.

Here are six players who could swing the entire season.

Marlin Klein

Michigan’s offense is undergoing a bit of a transformation, and one of the key questions is: Who replaces the production of Colston Loveland?

Enter Marlin Klein — the 6-foot-6 senior has been a part of Michigan’s offensive rotation since 2023 and now becomes the leader of a deep but unproven position group.

Physically, Klein has everything you want in a TE1 — size, speed, and experience (418 snaps last year). What he doesn’t have yet is consistent production, just 13 catches for 108 yards in 2024. But if he can take a leap like Luke Schoonmaker did in 2022, he could become a major weapon for the Wolverines in the passing game and a safety net in high-pressure moments.

With Michigan desperate for reliable pass-catchers, Klein’s emergence as a legitimate No. 1 option at the position would be a massive boost.

Jyaire Hill

The secondary is one of Michigan’s biggest strengths on paper, but the on-field performance of that unit will strongly hinge on the continued development of cornerback Jyaire Hill.

Hill flashed his high-end potential late in 2024, allowing just seven receptions for 68 yards over his final six games. He has the speed (10.7 100m) and size (6-foot-2) to be a lockdown corner, and he’s already being talked about as a potential 2026 first-round pick.

The question isn’t whether Hill is talented, it’s whether his consistency and maturity can match. He’ll likely be paired with Zeke Berry on the outside, and both must take another step forward with Will Johnson now in the NFL.

If Hill becomes a true No. 1 corner, Michigan’s defense could again be among the best in the nation.

Donaven McCulley

Michigan’s offense has lacked a go-to wide receiver since the departure of Roman Wilson two years ago. In 2025, the Wolverines can’t afford to have the same issue. That’s where Donaven McCulley comes in.

The 6-foot-5 transfer from Indiana had 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He was the guy for the Hoosiers, and now Michigan hopes he can be the same in Ann Arbor.

There’s a clear opening for a WR1, and McCulley is the most proven candidate. His ability to separate, make contested catches and stretch the field will be critical in taking pressure off the run game and unlocking the vertical passing game. If he lives up to his potential, he could be the X-factor that pushes Michigan’s offense to the next gear.

Tré Williams

On paper, Michigan’s defensive line is loaded with depth. But replacing Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — two of the program’s most dominant interior linemen in recent memory — is no small task.

Tré Williams may be the guy to help ease that transition. The former Clemson Tiger has all of the measurables needed (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) to make an immediate impact and flashed some of that potential in 2024 with two sacks. If he can build on that momentum, Williams could help the Wolverines maintain their defensive dominance.

While Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and Ike Iwunnah will rotate in — along with fellow transfer Damon Payne Jr. — Williams has the experience and physical profile to be a true difference-maker. If he emerges as a disruptive force inside, the Wolverines might not miss a beat up front.

Zeke Berry

Jyaire Hill might be getting more offseason buzz, but Zeke Berry is every bit as important to Michigan’s 2025 secondary. After switching between roles in 2024, he’ll once again be projected to start full-time on the outside this year.

Berry and Hill need to become a cohesive, high-performing duo if Michigan hopes to go toe-to-toe offensively against teams like Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State, all of which bring serious firepower at wide receiver.

Obvious Mention: Bryce Underwood

Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention Bryce Underwood. The five-star freshman quarterback is already the face of the program before taking a single snap. His size, arm talent and athleticism are elite, and he’s fully embraced the pressure that comes with being a quarterback at Michigan.

If Underwood is as good as advertised, Michigan is a College Football Playoff team. But even if he’s just solid, the Wolverines should win 9-10 games behind their defense and run game. Still, his ceiling is the program’s ceiling. If he reaches it early, Ann Arbor could be rocking come December.

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The 2025-26 Virginia Tech men’s basketball roster is rounding into form: How does it look?

As is the case every year, as we advance, changes abound in college basketball, with the transfer portal and NIL being as significant as they are. For the second straight year, Virginia Tech men’s coach Mike Young saw another offseason of roster turnover, but after the mass exodus last year, this year’s portal has been […]

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3 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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The Hokies landed some key players out of the portal and even got some huge retention from some key players, with Tobi Lawal returning from the NBA Draft being the biggest retention. The 2025-26 season is a big one for Virginia Tech, which is looking to rebound from a dreadful 13-19 season and a first-round elimination in the ACC Tournament. With that said, let’s take a look at how the Hokies roster is shaping up as we enter June.

Virginia Tech 2025-26 men’s basketball roster breakdown

Back Court

Ben Hammond
Izaiah Pasha
Brett Freeman
Jailen Bedford
Jaden Schutt

The good news here is that Ben Hammond is returning after coming on over the second half of the season and in ACC play. He saw the floor well, came up with big plays defensively shot well when he was given the opportunity. Jaden Schutt, having a year under his belt after coming over from Duke and playing a whole season, should help.

What should we think about the guards and wings? Izaiah Pasha should be an upgrade over Brandon Rechsteiner, who left for Colorado State in the transfer portal and freshman Brett Freeman will have a chance to develop behind Hammond and Schutt.

Front Court

Tyler Johnson
Sin’Cere Jones
Tobi Lawal
Amani Hansberry
Antonio Dorn
Solomon Davis
Christian Gurdak

As for the front court, there is a lot of inexperience in the middle with Mylyjael Poteat leaving and Patrick Wessler leaving in the portal. Antonio Dorn could be a very underrated addition for Young, and there is a lot of interest surrounding incoming freshman Christian Gurdak, a four-star recruit.

I think Virginia Tech should be ok in the backcourt, and the real question is how quickly their frontcourt players, mainly in the middle, can come together and jell? That will be big by the time ACC play comes around in late December, as those will be a gauntlet of 18 games. There are still some roster spots open that Young can fill over the summer, but just by the looks of things now, this certainly has the chance to be a team that wins more games next season than they did in 2024-25, which isn’t saying a lot. There is reason for hope.

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Nijaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma

Nijaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma Privacy Manager Link 2

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3 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Nijaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma

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Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams Get Nod As College Football 26 Cover Athletes

Last Updated on June 2, 2025 College Football fans rejoice! EA Sports has revealed the cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams will be the two players gracing the cover of College Football 26. Further, the deluxe edition will feature legendary college […]

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4 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Last Updated on June 2, 2025

College Football fans rejoice! EA Sports has revealed the cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams will be the two players gracing the cover of College Football 26. Further, the deluxe edition will feature legendary college football players, notable coaches, and beloved mascots that reflect the pageantry of the sport. The deluxe edition will also feature some of the sport’s successful coaches, including Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Other college football players featured on the cover of the deluxe edition are Clemson QB Cade Klubnik, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, and Penn State RB Nick Singleton. EA Sports College Football 26 releases on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) makes a catch while Michigan Wolverines defensive back Jyaire Hill (20) pushes him out of bounds during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Photo courtesy: Matt Pendleton via Imagn

Given the success of EA Sports College Football 25, which became the highest-selling sports game in U.S. history, the anticipation for the sophomore installment of the game is very high. The cover featuring two of college football’s burgeoning young stars personifies taking fans’ experience of the game to another level.

“Last year, when we brought back the pride, pageantry, atmosphere, and traditions of College Football, the response from fans was overwhelming,” said Evan Dexter, VP of Franchise Strategy & Marketing, EA SPORTS College Football. “With College Football 26, we’re celebrating our sophomore season with two generational sophomore wide receivers on the cover, and we can’t wait for the world to experience even more heart and authenticity across athletes, stadiums, coaches, and fans.”

Both Williams and Smith put their imprint on college football last season with impressive freshman campaigns. Williams, known for his speed, elusiveness, and spectacular catch ability, shared his excitement about being a cover athlete.

“As a lifelong fan of EA SPORTS games, being on the cover of College Football 26 is a dream come true,” said Williams. “It was incredible to see myself in College Football 25 last year, and now to represent Alabama and share this moment with fans who’ve played EA SPORTS games for years is unreal.”

Entering his freshman season at Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith was surrounded by a lot of hype. However, he proved he was college football’s best offensive weapon, leading Ohio State to a National Championship. Smith is widely known for his physical route running and limitless catching radius. He expressed tremendous gratitude for having the opportunity to be on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.

“Being on the cover of EA SPORTS College Football 26 is a tremendous privilege, and I’m proud to represent Ohio State alongside Coach Day while carrying the Buckeye legacy forward, celebrating the passion of our fans and the tradition of this incredible program,” he said.

College Football fans can pre-order the EA SPORTS MVP Bundle now, which includes both the Deluxe Editions of EA SPORTS College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. The bundle includes 3-day early access to both games plus special bonuses. The Standard and Deluxe Editions of College Football 26 are also available for pre-order.

Darian is a Sports Industry Management graduate of Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Darian hosts The Jersey Podcast and is a sports documentary fanatic who loves to talk professional and college football and basketball.

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Texas Tech, ace stunningly end Oklahoma’s bid for softball five-peat

Texas Tech punched its ticket to the Women’s College World Series championship series in dramatic fashion after its million-dollar arm nearly had a strong outing come crashing down when Oklahoma hit a game-tying two-run blast in the top of the seventh. Red Raiders infielder Lauren Allred hit a sac fly to right field that allowed […]

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4 hours ago

June 3, 2025

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Red Raiders infielder Lauren Allred hit a sac fly to right field that allowed outfielder Mihyia Davis to score from third base, in a dramatic moment that saw Davis charge to the plate and beat out a throw from right field to win the game, 3-2, in Oklahoma City.

The game was one of the most anticipated of the year, with two-time NFCA Pitcher of the Year NiJaree Canady on the hill against Oklahoma, which has won the Women’s College World Series the last four years.

Canady has been one of the most dominant pitchers in Division I college softball and she continued that stretch in Monday’s game against the Sooners,

Canady pitched all seven innings of Monday’s semifinal game, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight of the 28 batters she faced.

The Red Raiders starter didn’t allow a hit until the middle of the second inning.

Texas Tech took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second and remained in the lead until the seventh, when Canady found herself with a runner on and two outs with Abigale Dayton at the plate.

Dayton hit a blast to right field to tie the game at two, setting the stage for the Red Raiders’ heroics in the bottom half of the seventh.

Monday’s win marks the first time in program history that Texas Tech will play for a softball national championship, and it comes in Gerry Glasco’s first year as head coach for the Red Raiders.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Canady had entered the game leading all DI softball players in victories with 32 and in ERA with 0.86.

She transferred to Texas Tech after spending last season with Stanford and signed a whopping $1 million NIL deal with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, the Matador Club.

Canady had helped lead Stanford to two consecutive World Series before transferring to Texas Tech.

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