NIL
Cowboy Baseball Dominates Series Opener
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State cruised to a 12-0 win over UCF in Friday night’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 20-21 overall and 8-11 in Big 12 play, while UCF fell to 24-21 and 6-16 in the league. Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 12th start […]

With the win, the Cowboys improved to 20-21 overall and 8-11 in Big 12 play, while UCF fell to 24-21 and 6-16 in the league.
Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 12th start of the season and picked up the win with eight innings of shutout ball. The southpaw struck out seven while allowing just four hits and one walk to improve to 8-1 on the season.
Colin Brueggemann and Brock Thompson did the heavy lifting for the Cowboy offense, as both had two home runs and combined for six RBIs.
The Cowboys scored in each of the first five innings to take control.
In the bottom of the first, the Cowboys got runners at second and third with no outs after Alex Conover was hit by a pitch and Brayden Smith doubled. The next batter, Nolan Schubart, delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to give OSU a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Pokes took advantage of an error to add two runs, with a sacrifice fly by Conover making the score 3-0.
The lead reached 5-0 when Brueggeman jolted a two-run homer to right-center field in the third, and after Bodendorf finished his fourth scoreless inning, Thompson drilled a solo home run to right field to push the advantage to six.
In the fifth inning, Brueggemann reached the bleachers for the second time on the day — this one a solo shot for his 11th round tripper of the season. And after a Jayson Jones single, it was deja vu as Thompson left the stadium with his second long ball of the day and fifth of the year.
The sixth inning marked the first time in the game in which the Cowboys failed to score, but the Cowboys got right back to it in the seventh, with three runners crossing home plate, all on bases-loaded walks, to make it a 12-0 game.
Stormy Rhodes came out of the OSU bullpen and worked the final inning, striking out two to secure the shutout.
The Cowboys will look to clinch a conference series win Saturday, with the second game of the series starting at 6 p.m.
NIL
Matayo Uiagalelei NIL: How Much Are the Oregon Defender’s NIL Deals Worth?
Oregon Ducks defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei has grown significantly in the past few years, boosting his recruiting and sponsorship opportunities. Uiagalelei is a sophomore, five-star, impact defender who has an explosive, aggressive, and well-rounded pass-rushing ability. His sponsorship opportunities are on the rise due to the NCAA, which has expanded its guidelines around NIL transactions. […]

Oregon Ducks defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei has grown significantly in the past few years, boosting his recruiting and sponsorship opportunities. Uiagalelei is a sophomore, five-star, impact defender who has an explosive, aggressive, and well-rounded pass-rushing ability.
His sponsorship opportunities are on the rise due to the NCAA, which has expanded its guidelines around NIL transactions. So, what will be the worth of his NIL deals, and what is fueling his earning ability? Here’s everything you will need to know about Matayo Uiagalelei’s NIL contracts, net worth, and more.

The Value of Matayo Uiagalelei’s NIL Deals
As per On3’s NIL valuation, Matayo Uiagalelei’s NIL deals are valued to be $289,000 as of the end of October 2024. He is ranked No. 340 among college football players. This valuation is established based on all of the metrics that he has reached as a 5-star recruit, now 5-star defensive player.
Details about the player’s endorsement deals are not public yet, however, Uiagalelei is marketable because of his dominance on the field and the historic NIL reputation that the Oregon Ducks have established, which is further bolstered by the backing of Nike co-founder Phil Knight.
Oregon’s aggressive approach to NIL has built a “super squad,” with Uiagalelei among the beneficiaries. His valuation is comparable to teammates like Kobe Savage ($283,000) and Jestin Jacobs ($281,000), highlighting the Ducks’ deep investment in talent.
A notable deal includes a partnership with Pathway Sports and Entertainment for college football video game rights, which has become a great avenue for many Ducks players.
Matayo Uiagalelei’s Marketability
Uiagalelei’s appeal extends beyond stats. Born on July 2, 2005, in Bellflower, Calif., he was a top-20 recruit in the 2023 class, according to Rivals.com, and chose Oregon over Alabama, USC, and Clemson. His high school dominance at St. John Bosco, where he played both defensive end and tight end, gave a show of his versatility.
One of the most significant moments of his career came in 2023 when he sacked his brother, DJ Uiagalelei, then Oregon State’s quarterback, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
In 2024, Uiagalelei’s sophomore campaign solidified his star status. He recorded 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three pass deflections, leading the Big Ten in sacks. His performance against Purdue, where he performed three tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, earned him Ducks Wire Player of the Game.
Despite his $289,000 valuation, Uiagalelei’s NIL earnings lag behind top-tier stars, reflecting his status as a defensive player in a quarterback-driven market. However, his youth, 19 years old with two years of eligibility, gives him more potential for growth.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
Continued prime performance, especially in the College Football Playoff, could elevate his valuation significantly.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
NIL
Sam Leavitt Chose To Stay At ASU Because Of Culture
Sam Leavitt chose to stay at Arizona State despite rumors of other college football teams offering more NIL money to lure the Sun Devil quarterback into the transfer portal. ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt said he opted to stay at ASU because of the culture and the trust he has with coach Kenny Dillingham. Sam Leavitt […]

Sam Leavitt chose to stay at Arizona State despite rumors of other college football teams offering more NIL money to lure the Sun Devil quarterback into the transfer portal. ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt said he opted to stay at ASU because of the culture and the trust he has with coach Kenny Dillingham. Sam Leavitt and Kenny Dillingham are on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26. Plus, Willie Bloomquist and the ASU baseball team snuck into the NCAA Tournament. Join Anthony Totri, Erik Ruby and Shane Dieffenbach as the guys discuss it all and more on the PHNX Sun Devils show!
check out the phnx sun devils show where the guys discuss sam leavitt’s return to asu!
0:00 – Intro
2:00 – Sam Leavitt is Mr. Sun Devil
6:45 – This is what activating the valley is
13:15 – Why Sam Leavitt stayed at ASU
20:40 – Jordyn Tyson on Leavitt
25:00 – ASU on CFB 26 Cover
45:30 – ASU Baseball in the NCAA Tournament
NIL
Hershey native named Penn State basketball’s 1st general manager
After reports surfaced earlier this month, Penn State men’s basketball has welcomed the first general manager in its program’s history. Scott Pera, a Hershey, Pennsylvania, native and 1989 Penn State Harrisburg graduate, has officially assumed the position, according to a release Tuesday. The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman first reported the news. Pera has worked […]

After reports surfaced earlier this month, Penn State men’s basketball has welcomed the first general manager in its program’s history.
Scott Pera, a Hershey, Pennsylvania, native and 1989 Penn State Harrisburg graduate, has officially assumed the position, according to a release Tuesday. The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman first reported the news.
Pera has worked with Nittany Lions head coach Mike Rhoades before, serving as an assistant on Rhoades’ staff at Rice from 2014-2017. Pera then took over as the Owls’ head coach and recorded a 96-127 record through seven seasons.
In the release, Penn State offered some clarity on Pera’s role. He’ll work on long-term roster and recruiting strategies, NIL, fundraising and scheduling for the program.
“I am thrilled to be the new GM of Penn State Basketball,” Pera said in a statement. “To have this opportunity at my alma mater with one of my best friends is such a unique and awesome opportunity. I am looking forward to helping Coach Rhoades continue to grow this program as we navigate the constantly changing landscape of college basketball. I hope to assist him and the staff in a variety of ways to help them take Penn State back to the NCAA Tournament.”
Before Rice, Pera worked as an assistant at Penn and Arizona State. He was also a highly successful high school head coach at Annville-Cleona in Pennsylvania and Artesia in California, the latter at which he coached NBA superstar James Harden.
“We are really excited to have Scott Pera join our program as General Manager,” Rhoades said. “Scott is well equipped to navigate the new landscape of college basketball and brings a wealth of experience, passion and leadership with him. He directly knows how I want to operate a program and develop our young men moving forward. It is great to bring Scott back home and work with him again. Please welcome Scott and his family to PSU.”
NIL
Why Yaxel Lendeborg withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft to play for Dusty May at Michigan is right decision
The offseason wins for Michigan coach Dusty May carried over into the week of the deadline to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft. Former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg — the No. 1 ranked player in CBS Sports’ transfer rankings — announced he was bypassing the draft and instead returning to school for the 2025-26 college […]

The offseason wins for Michigan coach Dusty May carried over into the week of the deadline to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft. Former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg — the No. 1 ranked player in CBS Sports’ transfer rankings — announced he was bypassing the draft and instead returning to school for the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Lendeborg, a projected first-round pick in two recent mock drafts by CBS Sports, will headline one of the premier transfer portal classes in college basketball, which ranks second behind St. John’s in the 247Sports recruiting rankings.
With Lendeborg official in the fold, it raises exceptions for a team that reached the Sweet 16 and won the Big Ten Tournament title in Year 1 of May’s tenure. Lendeborg received a NIL package believed to be in the neighborhood of $3 million to return to school, sources indicated to CBS Sports.
That price tag may be hefty, but the return on investment of luring Lendeborg out of the draft waters could be well worth the investment for a team ready to take the next step into national title contention. Michigan opened at 25-1 (12th-best odds) on FanDuel during the first week of April to win the 2026 national title. Just under two months later, the Wolverines have the fifth-best odds (17-1) with Florida, Louisville, Kansas and St. John’s to cut down the nets next spring.
When May accepted the job at Michigan last offseason, he was walking into a situation where a once proud program had fallen on tough times. The Wolverines went 8-24 in Juwan Howard’s final season, their worst mark since the early 1980s. No team in NCAA history (since the Sweet 16 was introduced in 1975) had ever lost as many games in one season and reached the second weekend of the tournament the following year.
It’s no secret that the key to Michigan’s success last year was its towering frontcourt of Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin — two transfers who had career years during their lone season with the Wolverines. Michigan was the only team in the country last season that had two 7-footers in its starting lineup regularly.
That unique lineup didn’t click right away, but when things came together around the time of Big Ten play, Goldin and Wolf were an unstoppable force. Wolf led the Big Ten with 15 double-doubles, while Goldin finished with eight. The player who finished as the Division l leader in double-doubles was Lendeborg, who recorded 26 double-doubles in 37 games. He averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds, which ranked fourth in Division l basketball.
Projected first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg to withdraw from 2025 NBA Draft, will transfer to Michigan
Shanna McCarriston

May is thinking big — literally and metaphorically — with his transfer portal haul. Michigan added Illinois forward Morez Johnson Jr., who averaged 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in a reserve role. The Wolverines also added one of the tallest players in the sport in UCLA big man Aday Mara, who is an imposing presence at 7-foot-3.
Could May be thinking big again with this lineup? It’s possible. Lendeborg is a lock to start at one of the forward positions, while Johnson or Mara could slide into the starting lineup next to him. Mara only averaged 13.0 minutes per game at UCLA, but his impact went beyond the box score. The former highly touted prospect from the 2023 recruiting cycle recorded 1.6 blocks and shot 59% from the floor.
Why Lendeborg withdrawing makes sense for both parties
There is no such thing as a guarantee in the NBA Draft. It doesn’t mean promises still don’t happen from NBA teams and decision-makers. Players who are ringe first-round picks often rely on promises to determine whether to run it back in college or stay in the NBA Draft. The volatility of how the first round of the NBA Draft plays out sometimes results in those promises being broken.
Had Lendeborg stayed in the draft, he would’ve likely been a fringe first-round pick or an early second-round selection. Younger players — such as one-and-done stars — declare for the NBA Draft with the idea of being one step closer to a second contract, which often results in a major payday down the line.
With NIL being such a key factor in draft decisions over the last five years, players — who aren’t guaranteed lottery picks or mid-first-round selections — often find themselves with opportunities to make more money at the college level. One recent example is Texas Tech star JT Toppin, who didn’t even go through the draft process. If Toppin declared for the NBA Draft, he would’ve likely been in the same boat as Lendeborg as a potential first-round pick.
Toppin will earn approximately $4 million in NIL money this season with the Red Raiders.
For more context on why players run it back, here is a chart of how much each rookie between picks No. 20 and 30 will make during Year 1 of their rookie scale contract. All data is via Spotrac.
Pick Number | Year 1 Salary |
20 | $3,658,800 |
21 | $3,512,520 |
22 | $3,372,240 |
23 | $3,237,480 |
24 | $3,108,120 |
25 | $2,983,320 |
26 | $2,884,560 |
27 | $2,801,280 |
28 | $2,783,880 |
29 | $2,763,960 |
30 | $2,743,800 |
Lendeborg can improve his draft stock by having another standout season at Michigan. He will be the face of one of the top Big Ten contenders who can make another leap toward national title contention. Lendeborg will be 23 during the 2026 NBA Draft, but a one-year difference won’t matter much if he can produce at the Big Ten level.
It may be a risk not taking the “guaranteed” NBA money by opting out of the 2025 NBA Draft. Lendeborg is betting on himself to improve his stock in the early-to-mid first-round range by coming back to school. By all accounts, in a year from now, it could become a win-win for all parties if his stock improves and Michigan takes another jump.
In the short term, Lendeborg’s addition gives Michigan a true identity and direction heading into next season. Michigan was patient while Lendeborg went through the pre-draft process — even when his stock was increasing as a potential first-round pick. The patience paid off, and the Wolverines might have a future All-American to show for it.
If you want all of the latest Michigan news and scoop, there’s no better place than TheMichiganInsider. It’s the most trusted source for intel on the Wolverines and has the largest and most dedicated community of Michigan fans. The staff led by long-time insider, Sam Webb, will tell you what’s happening before it happens. Sign up for a VIP membership now and uncover all of the insider info, analysis and more.
NIL
Anonymous ACC coach questions if Carson Beck is worth NIL money he received
Miami shelled out a lot of money to bring in transfer quarterback Carson Beck this offseason. Beck comes to Miami after five seasons at Georgia, including the past two as the starter, and has an NIL valuation of $4.3 million according to On3. But one anonymous ACC coach told Athlon Sports that they have questions […]

Miami shelled out a lot of money to bring in transfer quarterback Carson Beck this offseason. Beck comes to Miami after five seasons at Georgia, including the past two as the starter, and has an NIL valuation of $4.3 million according to On3.
But one anonymous ACC coach told Athlon Sports that they have questions on whether all that investment will pay off. Beck is expected to step in as starter after Cam Ward is gone to the NFL and the Hurricanes are banking on him to lead them to a College Football Playoff berth.
“Is [Carson] Beck worth all that money?” the coach wondered. “No one really knows right now, but that’s the question you have to ask.”
Beck ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal this offseason according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He helped the Bulldogs reach the SEC title game last season before suffering an injury in that game and missing their College Football Playoff quarterfinal, which they lost.
Beck put up solid numbers in his two seasons as a starter in Athens, throwing for 7,426 yards, 52 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 27 games. He certainly has the experience to lead a team on a deep Playoff run, but has never started in a CFP game in his career.
Regardless, Miami is willing to take a shot on Carson Beck much like it did with Ward, who transferred in from Washington State last offseason. That worked out well as he helped the Hurricanes reach the ACC Championship and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
But even then, Miami lost to Clemson in the conference championship and failed to make the College Football Playoff. Another anonymous coach who spoke with Athlon Sports noted a pattern for Miami in paying up for the top transfer players the past couple of seasons rather than focusing on team chemistry.
“I think there’s a bigger question here on how and why they spend what they do on the guys they pick,” the coach said. “It’s sort of like a Dodgers or Yankees mindset, spending on top-end recruits and portal guys, and not really a team-focused culture. You’re still in Florida, you still have to prioritize the high schools, and they’ve done that in NIL.”
Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see whether Miami’s gamble with NIL money pays off this time around. In addition to Beck, the Hurricanes also signed former LSU receiver CJ Daniels, the No. 41 overall player in the portal.
NIL
Multiple people fill GM role for Kirby Smart. How others in SEC operate
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.—Georgia football lists nearly 70 people on its online staff directory ranging from high-profile coordinators to strength coaches to a performance chefs to recruiting staffers. One title that isn’t found is that of a general manager on coach Kirby Smart’s staff. That puts Georgia in the minority in the SEC where 12 SEC […]

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.—Georgia football lists nearly 70 people on its online staff directory ranging from high-profile coordinators to strength coaches to a performance chefs to recruiting staffers.
One title that isn’t found is that of a general manager on coach Kirby Smart’s staff.
That puts Georgia in the minority in the SEC where 12 SEC football programs list general managers, a growing position with sometimes nebulous responsibilities in the changing world of college athletics where top players can command seven figures in NIL and players come and go with the transfer portal.
“We have people that fill that role,” Smart said Tuesday May 27 at the SEC spring meetings. “It may be three, four people including myself, but we’re very clear in the roles of our staff members and what they do. They learn that throughout the recruiting process.”
Smart said recruits are introduced to people throughout the organization, but as far as a general manager what that role is seems to vary.
“If I ask every coach what their general manager does, they all do something different,” Smart said. “In the NFL, they do different than what they do at our level.”
General manager hires have made splashes in the last year, from former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck at Stanford to former NFL coach Ron Rivera at Cal to Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy at Oklahoma.
Some college football general managers have been in place for several years.
Barton Simmons, who was scouting director for the website 247Sports, was hired in 2021 to be general manager at Vanderbilt
Arkansas hired Remy Cofield this spring. He was director of scouting for the Boston Celtics, a franchise he worked for since 2013. Cofield is listed second on the school’s athletic staff directory behind athletic director Hunter Yurachek.
He works with football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball. He was hired by Yurachek with input from coaches and has been on the job less than two months.
“I think it’s still a work in progress, to be totally honest with you,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman told the Athens Banner-Herald. “Right now, he’s the communicator of the NIL. That would be the majority of his job right now. As it continues to work forward, I think he’ll have more to do with our current roster, our needs, who we’re recruiting. Right now, he’s the good or bad guy when it comes to NIL. He’s taken that off of me.”
Cofield is in communication with agents and recruits.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer brought general manager Courtney Morgan with him from Washington when he took the job after the 2023 season.
“There’s a lot of trust that I put on Courtney to have the authority not just with recruiting, the organization there, but also he’s involved what our big picture looks like when it comes to creative (video and graphics) and how that applies to recruiting,” DeBoer told the Athens Banner-Herald Tuesday.
Morgan also has a hand in roster management and works with a director of player personnel to “help me bring it all together,” DeBoer said. “I think maybe at other programs there isn’t as much involvement or maybe there’s other layers to it, hiring of certain staff members.”
Morgan also is involved in conversations with recruits on NIL figures.
“We try not to have anyone other than one specific person, you know with understanding what the numbers are going to be as we move into the rev share time,” DeBoer said. “Where that really starts is with the collectives and your people with the collective and talking those numbers. Courtney is pretty aware what those numbers are and understanding the questions that are coming to him and why those questions are being asked.”
Florida hired former Falcons director of football administration and director of football operations Nick Polk as its GM. North Carolina brought on former NFL executive Michael Lombardi for that role under Bill Belichick.
“We’ve got a lot of people in charge of roster management, including myself, including our football office staff,” Smart said before spring practices. “Our operations slash player development, player personnel staff, everybody gets involved in that. It’s a team effort. So, we reorganize and restructure some things in terms of what falls under whose duty and whose aspects. But at the end of the day, I’m not ready to run off and go hire somebody that’s just going to make all the decisions for what goes on the football field. I think I’ve got to stay involved in that heavily. We’ve got the capacity and the quality of people in the areas that I think we need.”
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