NIL

Contracts, buyouts, transfers

As the amateur model of college athletics disintegrates, a handful of unusual ideas have been floated as ways to reign in some of the chaos surrounding the explosion in name, image and likeness compensation and a transfer portal that sees thousands of athletes changing schools every season. Whether any of the ideas end up being […]

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1 month ago

May 12, 2025

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Whether any of the ideas end up being implemented is unknown and every school is awaiting a decision from a federal judge on whether a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement against the NCAA and the five largest conferences will take effect as early as July 1. If it does, that opens the floodgates for schools to share millions in revenue directly with their athletes amid a host of other changes.

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Here is a look at some of the topics:

Athlete contracts

A formal agreement between an athlete and a school is not a new concept, but with the uptick of NIL deals the thought of pro-style contracts is becoming increasingly more common.

There are plenty of ways to get creative with contracts. Rich Stankewicz, operations director for Penn State’s NIL collective Happy Valley United, said he favors an incentive-based approach — essentially adding money for athletes who not only perform but stick around.

“I personally really like the idea of incentivizing performance in school, those kinds of things that would only be occurring in the season while they’re playing,” Stankewicz said. “If more money is paid out in those time frames, then that gives the incentive for the player to stay and see those dollars from their contract, rather than potentially collect up front and then decide the grass is greener somewhere else three months later, barely doing any school, you know, without playing at all.”

Transfers and buyouts

This topic is red hot at the moment. Entering the transfer portal comes with the risk of not landing in a better spot — or any spot — but athletes have shown every single season over the past few years that they are comfortable going anyway. Athletic departments are beginning to fight back.

Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek recently encouraged the school’s NIL collective to pursue legal action after quarterback Madden Iamaleava departed for UCLA after just five months in Fayetteville. Iamaleava allegedly collected significant money upfront and cited homesickness as his reason for following his brother to California.

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This is a scenario Penn State hopes to avoid. And the importance of contract details is clear.

“Commonly, there’s nothing binding students in certain instances to the institution they’re with for the entirety of the contract,” Stankewicz said. “We’ve definitely looked into having measures in place to discourage transfers during the time of the contract. There are a bunch of different ways to do that, from buyouts to how you load the contract.”

Athletes as employees

Groundbreaking shifts in the landscape have sparked conversations about athletes becoming official employees of their universities.

It’s a controversial subject to say the least. Universities would become responsible for paying wages, benefits, and workers’ compensation and schools and conferences have insisted they will fight any such move in court (some already have).

Complexities go beyond the concept. While private institutions fall under the National Labor Relations Board, public universities must follow labor laws that vary from state to state and it’s worth noting that virtually every state in the South has “right to work” laws that present challenges for unions.

There is also a new administration in power now, said Michael LeRoy, a labor and employment professor at Illinois who has studied the NCAA and athlete rights.

“With the election of Donald Trump, and what that would mean for a new National Labor Relations Board, what that would mean for repopulating the courts with judges who are likely not congenial to that view, I no longer have much hope that we’ll get a ruling in the next 5-10 years that these are employees,” LeRoy said.

Despite the lack of employment status, LeRoy said, athletes should advocate for themselves and use the entertainment industry as a model. He said athletes currently are offered “take-it-or-leave-it” NIL contracts when a broader approach might have benefits.

“I think athletes should start to look at Hollywood and Broadway contracting arrangements that deal with publicity rights,” he said. “I think there’s a way to frame this collectively. The framework of collective bargaining and employment, I would say, the entertainment industry generally offers a blueprint for success.”

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Playing for another school

Things are so chaotic right now that the very lines of who an athlete is playing for could get blurred.

Saying he was inspired by the NBA’s G League, University of Albany basketball coach Dwayne Killings is proposing a two-way contract for college players. Albany would welcome transfers from top-tier programs who need more seasoning and help them develop — with plenty of game time vs. sitting on the bench — before sending them back to their original program, where they’d be ready to compete.

“The best development happens on the floor, not necessarily on the scout team, given the new 15-man scholarship limits,” Killings told CBS Sports.

And then there is Division III, which recently approved an unusual pilot program: Athletes would play for one school but do their coursework at another school that does not sponsor varsity athletics.

The NCAA said the program, which would run during the next academic year, “will offer expanded pathways for student-athletes to pursue their academic objectives and complete their participation opportunity.”

“This program intends to address the changing, dynamic higher education environment we find ourselves in right now,” said Jim Troha, president of Juniata and chairman of the DIII President’s Council. “It recognizes existing academic programs and provides flexibility to expand participation opportunities for student-athletes.”

The program will be assessed before any decisions on whether to make it permanent or expand it.

NIL

Pat Kelsey sends fiery message that reveals Louisville basketball’s true mission

Louisville basketball is trending in the right direction for the 2025-26 season, as the Cardinals are emerging as one of the top teams in college basketball. The Cardinals took a massive step last season, shattering multiple program records and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in quite some time. The addition of Pat Kelsey as […]

Published

17 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The addition of Pat Kelsey as head coach was an immediate success, and he elevated this program on and off the floor. Louisville was able to land elite recruits out of high school and from the transfer portal.

Kelsey was recently on ACCPM back in May, and he discussed his 2025-26 roster, which fired up all Louisville fans. Kelsey is clearly excited for this upcoming season, and he made sure that the Cardinals fans know they are eyeing a Final Four run.

Related: Pat Kelsey just reignited fierce Louisville-Kentucky rivalry and it’s here to stay

Pat Kelsey sends fiery message that reveals Louisville basketball’s true mission

The Cardinals currently have the tenth-best odds in the nation to win the 2026 National Title. Louisville is eyeing a Final Four run next season, as Kelsey stated in the interview that the fans and the program are craving to cut down some nets.

The Cards’ roster was recently ranked the best overall roster by Sleeper Media, and Kelsey clearly agrees. The Cardinals’ head coach was asked about his roster and the success he had in recruiting, and he is fired up for next season.

“We are excited. We love our team,” Kelsey stated on his roster. “We have a great core group coming back from the group we had last year. What we added in the portal we are excited about.”

Louisville guards are among the best in the country, having brought in multiple 5-star recruits, multiple 4-star recruits, and key returners. The head coach delivered a fiery message to the Cardinals faithful, emphasizing why they should be 110 percent committed to the upcoming season and why Louisville is poised for a deep run in April.

“”If you look at those first three transfer portal guys that we signed, the first one was Adrian Wooley, who was one of the best freshmen in the entire country. 50/40/80 splits as a freshman. Just going to be a phenomenal player. Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely were like boom, boom, right after each other. Isaac is one of the best shooting guards in the entire country, and Ryan Conwell is First-Team All-Big East and an absolute weapon. Our frontcourt, we have signed Mikel Brown. The makeup of our frontcourt is as good as any in our country. You add a veteran like Kobe Rodgers, who we brought in from Charleston, who sat out last year. Aly Khalifa, who is one of the best passing bigs in the world, Kasean Pryor, coming off that knee injury, J’vonne Hadley, who is just a winners winner, the ultimate Pat Kelsey type guy, Khani Rooths, who we think has a huge upside.””

Pat Kelsey

This Cardinals roster is stacked, and someone Kelsey forgot to mention is 4-star commit Sananda Fru. The 6-foot-11 center has elite athleticism and has the potential to start next season.

The Cardinals head coach’s fiery message makes it clear that Louisville eyes a Final Four run. He stated in the interview the city is buzzing, and fans are screaming for a Final Four run, and he has a simple response to all Louisville basketball fans.

“Let’s go do it.” Kelsey stated.

Related: Bold Louisville basketball prediction teases golden future under Pat Kelsey

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

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NIL

How elite recruits, schools are approaching new revenue-sharing/NIL era

A new era of college athletics is upon us and starting soon. After the NCAA’s House settlement, which was passed on June 6, schools can now legally pay players. Power Four schools — including Auburn — are expected to have a $20.5 million cap to begin with, splitting up the money how it sees fit […]

Published

34 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A new era of college athletics is upon us and starting soon.

After the NCAA’s House settlement, which was passed on June 6, schools can now legally pay players. Power Four schools — including Auburn — are expected to have a $20.5 million cap to begin with, splitting up the money how it sees fit between various sports. It changes the game and creates more 0f an NFL-like structure for football programs, with a salary cap and having to determine what’s fair-market value for players at different positions.

Five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan is one of the most coveted players in the country in the 2026 class, now navigating a new era of college athletics as the rules change in real time and will go into effect on July 1. He took his summer official visits and has one more trip remaining to Alabama next weekend. During his visit to Auburn last weekend he was able to talk revenue sharing, but things are still far from finalized and being able to throw out official numbers.

“I mean, they really can’t tell me for real. Because the new cap, the (revenue) sharing. They can’t give me a specific number because they’re still figuring out stuff and they don’t know,” Morgan said. “December, they’re going to be able to tell me a lot because they’re going to know a lot. But it was just like right now they know a little something about how the money is going to be spent. But they can’t just say how much.

“Most of (the other schools) told me the same thing. Because I know my first visit was Colorado. And I think when I was up there, they had just approved the cap. So June 1st, I think, that’s when it was. And then the next week, that was only the second week. So, like, just right now everybody is kind of on hold because they don’t really know a lot yet. But that’s what they’ve been telling me.”

NIL is still involved and a factor for recruits and players — but it’s changing. It’s turned into the wild west in recent years, with mega deals for players out of high school and players in the transfer portal.

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NIL

Cowboy Baseball Hires Hawksworth As Pitching Coach

STILLWATER – Former Major Leage Baseball pitcher and college coaching veteran Blake Hawksworth has joined Oklahoma State’s staff as its pitching coach. Hawksworth comes to Stillwater after serving the last two seasons as pitching coach at Oregon, where he led a pair of record-setting pitching staffs for the Ducks. “I spoke with people all […]

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35 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STILLWATER – Former Major Leage Baseball pitcher and college coaching veteran Blake Hawksworth has joined Oklahoma State’s staff as its pitching coach.

Hawksworth comes to Stillwater after serving the last two seasons as pitching coach at Oregon, where he led a pair of record-setting pitching staffs for the Ducks.

“I spoke with people all across the country about who the top pitching minds in the game were and what made them special,” said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. “We wanted someone who could really connect with our pitchers on a personal level while providing top-level instruction to them in the pursuits of performance excellence.

“Blake’s unique background as a player in Major League Baseball and now as a coach has introduced him to some of the brightest minds in the game, and his pitching knowledge gained as a performer and now that of a modern baseball instructor and coach is going to really bring a lot to the program.

“Our pitchers will enjoy his personality, his life experience, his mentorship and his passion for teaching and developing, and he’s a great fit with our staff as we create an awesome learning environment with all the modern tools at our disposal.”

A native of Canada who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, Hawksworth has spent over two decades playing and working in a variety of roles in professional and college baseball. Along with time spent as a big league pitcher and MLB agent, he has also been in charge of collegiate pitching staffs at Cal State Fullerton and Grand Canyon and served on staff at UC Irvine.

Hawksworth has coached 15 MLB Draft picks, 10 all-conference performers and three All-Americans in his four seasons as a collegiate pitching coach.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the Oklahoma State baseball program,” Hawksworth said. “This is a storied program with a tradition of excellence, and I’m grateful to Coach Holliday and the entire staff for the opportunity. I look forward to developing our pitchers both on and off the field, competing at the highest level and helping bring championships to Stillwater. Go Pokes!”

In his two seasons at Oregon, Hawksworth helped lead the Ducks to an 82-36 record, two NCAA Regional berths and a Super Regional appearance, and he coached seven pitchers who collected all-conference honors.

The 2025 Ducks pitching staff posted a 4.10 ERA and 502 strikeouts in 504 2/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .219 batting average. They led the NCAA in hits allowed per nine innings at 7.1, ranked fourth with seven shutouts and were ninth in WHIP at 1.25.

Leading the way was Grayson Grinsell, who earned All-America honors under Hawksworth’s tutelage, while Seth Mattox joined Grinsell as an All-Big 10 First Team pitcher and Jason Reitz was named to the All-Big 10 Third Team.

In two seasons under Hawksworth, Grinsell established himself as one of the top hurlers in program history; he tallied a 9-3 record, 3.01 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 2025 after posting a 7-2 record and 99 strikeouts as a sophomore. He ranks third all time in program history with 267 strikeouts, and he is in the top 10 in wins and winning percentage.

Hawksworth’s first season at Oregon saw him build a staff that included 12 newcomers into a group that combined to win the fifth most games in program history and set a school record with 550 strikeouts. That staff averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings, the third most in Ducks’ history.

Prior to his tenure at Oregon, Hawksworth was the director of operations at UC Irvine in 2023, which came on the heels of a two-year stint at the high school level as the pitching coach at JSerra High School in California. During that prep run, he helped lead the Lions to back-to-back appearances in the postseason title game and the program’s first-ever CIF championship.

Hawksworth’s first stint as a college pitching coach came in 2017 at Cal State Fullerton. The Titans’ pitching staff recorded a 3.64 ERA and helped carry the team to the College World Series, and two of Hawksworth’s pupils, Connor Seabold and Brett Conine, earned All-America honors.

In his lone season as GCU’s pitching coach, which came during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Hawksworth guided the staff to a 3.44 ERA in 18 games, and four pitchers off that staff were selected in the MLB Draft.

Alongside his coaching resumé, Hawksworth spent time working for the Scott Boras Corporation (2014-17 & 2018-19) as a MLB certified player agent, where he recruited top MLB and amateur prospects. He signed 2020 overall No. 1 pick Spencer Torkelson and captured over $20 million in revenue in his four years.

As a player, Hawksworth spent one season at Bellevue Community College, going 8-0 with a 0.18 ERA, before being drafted in the 28^th round of the 2001 MLB Draft by St. Louis.

A right-handed pitcher, Hawksworth rose through the organization’s ranks, earning billing as the Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect in 2004, and made his MLB debut on June 6, 2009. In 30 appearances as a rookie, he went 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA and appeared in the NLDS.

Hawksworth also spent the 2010 season with the Cardinals, pitching 90 1/3 innings in 40 appearances and winning four games before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In his final pro season, Hawksworth pitched in 49 games for the Dodgers. After battling injuries, he retired in 2014.

Hawksworth and his wife, Amie, have four children – daughters Madison and Presley and sons Jaxon and Luke.

“We are thrilled to welcome Blake and his family to Stillwater; he and Amie and their family are going to be a great fit in our community and within our staff,” Holliday said. “It became clear to me during the process that we have a lot in common, and we look forward to the future of Cowboy Baseball with Blake on staff.”

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NIL

WVU athletics announces creation of Gold & Blue Enterprises

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announces the launch of Gold & Blue Enterprises, an initiative designed to revolutionize the student-athlete experience and enhance the Mountaineers’ competitive edge in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. Gold & Blue Enterprises will play a central role in advancing the mission of WVU Athletics […]

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48 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WVU athletics announces creation of Gold & Blue Enterprises

Gold & Blue Enterprises will play a central role in advancing the mission of WVU Athletics by focusing on strategic initiatives that drive success in competition and in the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape. By serving as a key partner in the development of a comprehensive, innovative and sustainable NIL and revenue-generating ecosystem, Gold & Blue Enterprises will support Mountaineer student-athletes and position WVU as a national leader in the future of collegiate athletics.

Gold & Blue Enterprises will operate with two primary priorities: to generate new and diversified revenue streams that fuel the continued success of WVU Athletics, and to harness the strength and visibility of the WVU brand to elevate the personal and professional opportunities available to Mountaineer student-athletes.

“The launch of Gold & Blue Enterprises is a major breakthrough for WVU Athletics and its student-athletes. We are taking a hands-on approach to maximize Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for our students and develop innovative partnerships to generate the revenues we need to thrive,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “I want to thank everyone involved with helping to create and launch this proactive business venture that will work to keep WVU relevant and winning on the national stage. In today’s competitive NIL industry, the launch of GBE is a victory for all Mountaineers.”

Key Features of Gold & Blue Enterprises:

Comprehensive NIL Support: Offering a full suite of services, including education, compliance guidance and personalized brand development to support student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with leading marketing and advertising agencies to connect student-athletes with corporate partners, facilitating meaningful endorsement opportunities and brand alignments.

Innovative Business Structure: Operating with a private-sector approach, Gold & Blue Enterprises integrates sales, media, marketing and business operations to drive revenue and support the long-term sustainability of WVU Athletics.

Leadership and Governance: A dedicated leadership team will oversee Gold & Blue Enterprises, ensuring alignment with WVU’s mission and values while fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

Gold & Blue Enterprises draws inspiration from successful models at peer institutions, adapting best practices to meet the unique needs of WVU student-athletes and the broader Mountaineer community. This initiative underscores WVU’s proactive approach to the changing collegiate athletics landscape, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, strategic planning and student-athlete empowerment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.

NIL

NC State football celebration raises $470,000 for NIL

NC State football’s yearly NIL fundraiser was held on Tuesday night, and headlined by Bradley Chubb. The third-annual event raised around $470,000 for the program. It’s always nice to see Bradley Chubb back in town, and he also hosted a camp for kids in Raleigh over the weekend. (I suppose I’ll forgive him for going […]

Published

53 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NC State football’s yearly NIL fundraiser was held on Tuesday night, and headlined by Bradley Chubb. The third-annual event raised around $470,000 for the program.

It’s always nice to see Bradley Chubb back in town, and he also hosted a camp for kids in Raleigh over the weekend.

(I suppose I’ll forgive him for going to a Florida Panthers game and rooting against the Hurricanes.)

Fundraising for the booster NIL collective will remain important in the revenue sharing era, as this outside money does not count against the $20.5 million cap that schools can now spend directly. The spending shall continue same as it ever was.

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NIL

Ohio State’s 2026 Big Ten Schedule is Finalized

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s 2026 Big Ten regular season softball schedule will include four home series beginning March 6-8 and encompass 24 total games over the course of nine weekends. The Buckeyes will open conference play in early March, as the Buckeyes welcome Iowa to Columbus for a three-game series March 6-8. It will […]

Published

56 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s 2026 Big Ten regular season softball schedule will include four home series beginning March 6-8 and encompass 24 total games over the course of nine weekends.

The Buckeyes will open conference play in early March, as the Buckeyes welcome Iowa to Columbus for a three-game series March 6-8. It will mark the earliest that Ohio State has ever hosted a Big Ten contest.

After Iowa, Ohio State heads to West Lafayette, Ind. for a series vs. Purdue March 13-15. The Buckeyes then have an off weekend March 20-22 before returning home for a three-game set against Michigan State March 27-29.

In April, the Buckeyes travel to Minnesota (April 3-5) and Michigan (April 10-21) in back-to-back weekends before hosting Penn State April 17-19. To close the regular season, the Buckeyes travel to Oregon (April 24-26) and host Washington (May 1-3).

The full 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date this fall.

Ticket prices last season ranged from $5-$9 before fees. Seating at Buckeye Field is general admission. A limited number of student tickets will be available for free at each game with a BuckID on a first come, first serve basis. Children under two years old and younger will be admitted free but must sit on an adult’s lap.

Follow Ohio State softball on X (@OhioStateSB), Facebook and Instagram for more information regarding on-sale dates, special promotions and ticket pricing for the 2026 season.

Ohio State 2026 Big Ten Softball Schedule

March 6-8, 2026: Iowa (Columbus, Ohio)

March 13-15, 2026: at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)

March 27-29, 2026: Michigan State (Columbus, Ohio)

April 3-5, 2026: at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.)

April 10-12, 2026: at Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

April 17-19, 2026: Penn State (Columbus, Ohio)

April 24-26, 2026: at Oregon (Eugene, Ore.)

May 1-3, 2026: Washington (Columbus, Ohio)