NIL

Commissioners confident in new NIL rules, but who will enforce it?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maybe we’ve been reading this whole NIL rules thing wrong. It requires a look back through history. For over 100 years there’s been some kind of body to organize the schools to level the playing field for everybody. Nobody has found anybody who could enforce those rules and make it stick. With […]

Published

4 weeks ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maybe we’ve been reading this whole NIL rules thing wrong.

It requires a look back through history. For over 100 years there’s been some kind of body to organize the schools to level the playing field for everybody.

Nobody has found anybody who could enforce those rules and make it stick. With very few exceptions of the death penalty and some bans, nobody really pays much attention to punishments. Despite what they say publicly it really doesn’t bother them.

Now, conference commissioners say they’re confident about enforcing new rules around name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, but admit major questions remain about what happens when those rules are broken.

On Monday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and his counterparts from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 met with reporters to discuss the new enforcement regime.

The group, which included Greg Sankey (SEC), Tony Petitti (Big Ten), Brett Yormark (Big 12), and Teresa Gould (Pac-12), all said the new framework represents progress.

The specifics are still being hammered out.

“We’re in the process of developing some of those rules and structure and overall implementation of that,” Phillips said. “Now that we have Bryan [Seeley] on board, I think we’ll be able to move a little bit quicker. But we want to get this right.”

Former MLB executive Bryan Seeley was named CEO of the new College Sports Commission on Friday, just hours after the settlement was announced.

His task is to lead enforcement on everything from revenue sharing to NIL deal vetting and roster limits. Starting June 7, athletes must report NIL deals of $600 or more to the Commission.

It will be interesting to see if everybody plays follow the leader on that without finding a reporting loophole. Schools have been good at finding them for decades.

The stakes are high. In 2025-26, each school will be allowed an annual cap of $20.5 million for athlete payments, a figure that will increase over the next decade. The new system is designed to bring stability and fairness to student-athletes, Phillips said.

“Our schools want rules, and we’re providing rules, and we will be governed by those rules,” said Earmark. “If you break those rules, the ramifications will be punitive.”

That said, the exact penalties for violations are still unclear. What may be even murkier is nobody knows if this honor system will have penalties that bite hard enough to make anybody really follow them.

To ensure oversight, accounting firm Deloitte and LBi Software will monitor salary cap management and run the NIL clearinghouse, known as NIL Go. The platform will review deals to ensure they serve a valid business purpose, rather than acting as recruiting inducements.

“If you want an unregulated, open system, just raise your hand and let me know,” Sankey told coaches and university presidents. “And universally, the answer is, ‘No, we want oversight. We want guardrails. We want structure.’”

With states passing their own NIL laws, commissioners say they need help from Congress to standardize the rules nationwide.

Sankey, who recently discussed the issue with former President Donald Trump and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, emphasized that “Congress exists to set national standards and we’re not going to have Final Fours and College Football Playoffs and College World Series with 50 different standards.”

Leaders across college sports have echoed this call.

“A patchwork of state laws will make it impossible to run national championships on a level playing field,” University of Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins told The New York Times earlier this year.

Despite the uncertainty, commissioners are bullish about the new model.

“What’s not debatable is that this new model does bring stability and fairness to student-athletes in college sports,” Phillips said. “We’ve been in an unregulated environment with no rules and no enforcement. We’re now going to have a foundation and structure laying out those rules.”

Some athletes and advocates remain cautious.

“It’s a positive step, but true fairness won’t come until athletes have a seat at the table in shaping these rules,” said Jason Stahl, executive director of the College Football Players Association, in a statement to ESPN.

The next few months will be critical, as the College Sports Commission works to finalize enforcement details and schools adapt to the new system.

For now, the commissioners’ optimism is interesting, but don’t forget that’s largely for public relations correctness.

“Progress over perfection,” Yormark said. “We’ll meet the challenges as they come.”

Maybe the biggest challenge will be finding an enforcer everybody can agree to put up with. Rules are one thing, following them something else.

If everybody had a track record of honesty, none of it would really matter.

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NIL

Garrett Nussmeier’s Impressive NIL Valuation Ahead of 2025 Season

BATON ROUGE, La. (KPEL-AM) – LSU Tigers senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is gearing up for a fantastic final season in Baton Rouge. He’s also likely getting paid pretty well. $3.8 Million Valuation Puts LSU QB in Elite Company According to On3’s recent top 100 list, Nussmeier ranks as the fifth overall college athlete based on NIL […]

Published

26 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BATON ROUGE, La. (KPEL-AM) – LSU Tigers senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is gearing up for a fantastic final season in Baton Rouge. He’s also likely getting paid pretty well.

$3.8 Million Valuation Puts LSU QB in Elite Company

According to On3’s recent top 100 list, Nussmeier ranks as the fifth overall college athlete based on NIL valuation. His value is currently at $3.8 million.

Baylor v LSU – Kinder’s Texas Bowl

Alex Slitz, Getty Images

Arch Manning Tops NIL List with Nearly $7 Million

Topping the list is New Orleans native and Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who has an NIL valuation of $6.8 million. He’s followed by University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck, whose NIL valuation sits at $4.3 million.

The others ahead of Nussmeier are Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ($4.2 million) and BYU basketball forward AJ Dybantsa ($4.1 million).

READ MORE: Former LSU Tigers Starting Punter to Finish College Career at Another Louisiana School

SEC Dominates NIL Rankings with Strong Football Presence

Football continues to reign supreme when it comes to college sports. Oh, and so does the SEC. The top 10 of this list features four SEC quarterbacks and eight football players overall.

LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson Also Cracks Top 100

Nussmeier is not the only LSU Tiger who cracked the top 100 list. Star women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson ranked #51 overall with an NIL valuation of $1.5 million.

You can view the complete Top 100 On3 NIL Valuation list here.

Tigers Set to Kick Off Season Against Clemson on August 30

LSU fans are looking forward to seeing Nussmeier and the rest of his well-paid Tigers teammates as they open the 2025 season on the road against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, August 30.

5 Fun Outdoor Games at Lafayette Costco

Gallery Credit: Dave Steel

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NIL

Mikel Brown Jr. teases another level he’s ready to unlock for Louisville basketball

Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. just completed his second gold medal run with Team USA. The Cardinals’ incoming freshman defeated Germany on Sunday afternoon in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, and Brown was a key piece as he made the FIBA U19 World Cup All-Star Five. Brown led Team USA in points, assists, […]

Published

28 minutes ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Brown led Team USA in points, assists, efficiency, and made 3-pointers in their seven games, and while he might have been blatantly snubbed for the MVP, Louisville fans saw tremendous upside from the 5-star guard. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from downtown and controlling the pace of the game.

The Cardinals’ superstar had many highlights during his gold medal run, but one that went absolutely viral was his dunk attempt against New Zealand on July 5.

Related: Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. proves he’s the best PG in college basketball

Mikel Brown Jr. teases another level he’s ready to unlock for Louisville basketball

Some fans (Kentucky) may see it as a missed dunk, but the rest of the nation sees this insane clip as a 6-foot-5 185, 185-pound guard soaring through the air and almost landing the best dunk of 2025. Brown displayed his pure athleticism in this clip and is showing the world that even as a point guard, he has the capability to dunk over and on defenders, ask Kentucky commit Malachi Moreno.

Mikel Brown Jr

This is a point guard

Sheesh

pic.twitter.com/WHKF0HJNTY

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 5, 2025

Brown showed the world he can shoot from beyond the arc at an exceptionally high rate, while controlling the pace of the game. He was also creating space for himself and his teammates and finishing at the rim through contact. However, adding the ability to soar through the air like he did in this clip is him giving the ACC and the nation a brief glimpse of what is to come in 2025-26.

This dunk attempt is far more than just a missed dunk. Brown is going to be a force to be reckoned with for Louisville basketball this upcoming season, and he just showed he has the skills and leadership to lead a program to a championship.

Brown’s gold medal run had Kentucky and Duke fans admitting that he is the best point guard in the nation. He also had experts stating that he wouldn’t just be the best incoming freshman but might also be one of the best players in college basketball.

The 5-star phenom committing to Louisville isn’t just going to help this program in 2025-26, but it will change this program forever. Louisville basketball is back, and it might be better than ever. The Cardinals are now in the lead for 5-star recruits in the 2026 cycle, and it goes back to Brown being the first major recruit to give Kelsey a chance.

Brown’s athleticism and ability to dunk on defenders are becoming new skills, and adding that to his 3-point shooting, court vision, and elite playmaking skills makes it clear that he will be an unstoppable force.

Brown is ranked as high as No. 6 in the 2025 cycle and the No. 1 point guard, and he is the second-highest commit in Louisville history. Louisville fans are counting down the days for their season to begin, but more specifically until that blockbuster showdown on Nov. 11 against the Kentucky Wildcats from KFC Yum! Center.

Related: Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. has Kentucky fans admitting the hype is real
Related: Mikel Brown Jr.’s breakout proves Louisville basketball has an unsolvable problem

For all the latest on Louisville basketball’s offseason, stay tuned.

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NIL

Urban Meyer names college football program to ‘watch out for’ this season

Last season, Penn State made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, but fell short against Notre Dame in the semifinals after wins over Boise State and SMU in the first two rounds. Despite losing multiple impact contributors to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions return multiple key players, making this program one of […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Last season, Penn State made its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, but fell short against Notre Dame in the semifinals after wins over Boise State and SMU in the first two rounds.

Despite losing multiple impact contributors to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions return multiple key players, making this program one of the preseason favorites to make another run in the College Football Playoff.

During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer highlighted Penn State as one of his teams to watch for next season.

“Penn State is following the lead of the Wolverines and the Buckeyes,” Meyer said. “And that is, they have more seniors… Think about this, Colin. I never had the chance to coach fourth-year players. If I did, it was very rare. The difference between a fourth-year player and a rookie, or freshman, is night and day. You’re coaching grown-a** men. That’s a men’s locker room compared to a young person’s.”

Meyer highlighted the return of quarterback Drew Allar as one of the most important aspects of this team’s potential. He even went a step further, calling the Nittany Lions one of the most talented teams in the nation.

“Watch out for Penn State, man,” Meyer continued. “If Drew Allar can really improve as a quarterback, I agree with you, they’ve got the best backfield, I don’t think it’s close, in the country. They’ve got an offensive line that they can’t wait to get on the field. I think Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State are the most talented.”

Over the past two seasons, Allar has recorded 5,958 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns. He led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns in 2023, while ranking top five in the conference in passing yards both seasons. Allar’s success did not translate to the postseason as he failed to surpass 200 passing yards in all three CFP games.

Allar’s success has led to one of the highest NIL valuations in college football, ranking No. 8 nationally. He has the highest NIL valuation among Penn State players with a projected valuation of $3.1 million. Running back Nick Singleton also has a projected NIL value of $1.8 million, according to On3.

As Meyer noted, Penn State’s running back room will be one of the most talented in the nation. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen return after surpassing 1,000 rushing yards last season. The duo has combined for over 4,000 career rushing yards and has a chance to reset the record book with another big season.

Penn State opens the 2025 college football season on Aug. 30 against Nevada. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

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Louisville Cardinals News

Louisville football had one of its biggest weekends yet as the Cardinals officially flipped 4-star offensive tackle Jarvis Strickland from the Kentucky Wildcats. The Kentucky native is not only ranked as the top recruit from Kentucky in 2026, but he was also Mark Stoops’ best commitment. Strickland is ranked as high as No. 206 in […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Strickland is ranked as high as No. 206 in the nation and will now join the Cardinals’ elite offense in 2026. Louisville already has 4-star commitments in Briggs Cherry and Evan Hampton. The Cardinals now have earned commitments from four of the top five recruits in the 2026 class.

Full story: Louisville football rips Kentucky’s No. 1 commit in crucial rivalry win

Louisville football lands big-time TE

After Strickland committed, the Cardinals added to their 2026 class as 3-star tight end, Julius Miles, committed to Louisville Saturday evening. Miles is ranked as the best tight end out of Florida and the No. 22 tight end in the nation.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound tight end ranks No. 548 in the nation after his massive junior season with Freeport High School, where he secured 59 catches and 895 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Louisville basketball one step closer to their first 2026 commitment

Louisville basketball gets massive news from Cole Cloer, as Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals make the elite 4-star shooting guard’s top eight. Louisville will now be in a heated recruiting battle with North Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina State, Alabama, UConn, Florida, and Indiana.

Cloer ranks as the No. 9 shooting guard in the 2026 cycle and the No. 24 overall recruit. The 6-foot-8, 185-pounder received an offer from Louisville back in 2024 and went on to visit Louisville in January 2025. The Cards’ have yet to earn a commitment from the 2026 class, but they are closing in on a few targets.

5-star phenom announces commitment date

5-star Jason Crowe Jr. announced his commitment date, and while Louisville has an absolute long shot of earning his commitment, it is worth watching. The 5-star phenom ranks as high as No. 4 in the 2026 class and will announce his commitment on July 18.

It is worth noting he has earned over 11 offers from big-time programs, and while he hasn’t announced a finalist list, On3 Sports gives USC a 53.0 percent chance of landing Crowe.

NIL

Clemson football has the No. 1 player in 3 position groups in College Football 26

It’s a big day for video game lovers as EA Sports College Football 26 has made its early release, and Clemson football fans are especially excited because the Tigers are represented well. Clemson has one of the best teams in the game, rated in the top 10, but it also has some of the best […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s a big day for video game lovers as EA Sports College Football 26 has made its early release, and Clemson football fans are especially excited because the Tigers are represented well.

Clemson has one of the best teams in the game, rated in the top 10, but it also has some of the best overall players. Obviously if you’re one of the best teams, you’re going to have some elite players on the roster and EA Sports treated Clemson well with some of the ratings.

In fact, three different Tigers were rated the No. 1 overall players at their position in the game.

For starters, Cade Klubnik is rated the top quarterback in the game with a 92 overall rating. He is tied with Garrett Nussmeier as the top overall quarterback and he’s widely considered the best passer in the country heading into the 2025 season after passing for over 3,600 yards and 26 touchdowns last year with just six picks.

On the edge, TJ Parker is rated the top overall rusher. He had 57 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles, and he’s the best edge rusher in the new game.

Lastly, Peter Woods is rated the best defensive tackle in the game. This is, again, no surprise given the fact that he’s been talked about as the No. 1 overall NFL Draft prospect for 2026. He had 28 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in 2024 as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in college football.

Clemson has the best player at 30 percent of the position groups in College Football 26.

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NIL

NIL’s boundaries under scrutiny as basketball Hall of Famer sues Harlem Globetrotters

Basketball legend Lynette Woodard is suing the Harlem Globetrotters for misappropriation of her Name, Image and Likeness. Woodard rose to stardom at Kansas as a four-time All-American before becoming a two-time Olympian and the captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a gold medal. After a WNBA career and professional stints in Europe […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Basketball legend Lynette Woodard is suing the Harlem Globetrotters for misappropriation of her Name, Image and Likeness.

Woodard rose to stardom at Kansas as a four-time All-American before becoming a two-time Olympian and the captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a gold medal.

After a WNBA career and professional stints in Europe and Japan, she was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. Additionally, Woodard is a member of the National High School Hall of Fame, the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Black Legends Professional Hall of Fame, the State of Kansas Hall of Fame and the African American Hall of Fame.

In the midst of her legendary career, Woodard became a member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 1986. She became the first woman to ever play for a men’s professional basketball team and spent two years touring with the team.

According to a report from Sportico’s Michael McCann, Woodard’s suit against the Harlem Globetrotters includes 14 claims, one of which being the alleged misappropriation of her NIL in a clothing line.

Harlem Globetrotters partnered with streetwear brand UNDRCRWN in 2022 and released a Lynette fleece sweatsuit, which was “named in honor of Lynette Woodard … whose breakthrough participation made the Globetrotters the first co-ed professional team,” according to the report.

Woodard’s contract – according to her attorneys Michael L. Murphy, Elliott C. McGraw and Michael B. Clohisy – included a California choice of law provision, which indicates that California’s NIL legislation is in effect.

And by being a part of the collective bargaining agreement between the Globetrotters and United Basketball Players Association, Woodward maintains that she is owed royalties from Lynette fleece sweatsuit. The CBA states that when merchandising revenue exceeds $5,000 in one year, a player is owed 25% royalty rate of net merchandising revenue.

Woodard, 65, alleges that the Globetrotters “never sought” her consent, because they knew she “would not give it for free.”

She is seeking profits from the sale of the apparel line as well as damages, attorney’s fees and an injunction that would block what she terms further infringement, according to Sportico.

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