Especially over the last 15 years at Kentucky, it’s not often that someone who averages 16 points per game comes back for another season in the blue and white. But with the help of NIL, college basketball is able to retain top-end talent more often than it has in decades.

For example, Otega Oweh‘s decision to come back for a senior campaign in Lexington is massive for Mark Pope‘s second season coaching the Wildcats. Oweh, who earned Second-Team All-SEC in 2024-25, will begin next season as an All-American candidate and a top choice for Preseason SEC Player of the Year. With the 6-foot-5 guard leading the charge, UK will likely begin the 2025-26 season as a top 10 program.

UK statistician Corey Price dove into some historical numbers to find out just how rare it is for someone as productive and talented as Oweh to return after such a special season.

According to Price’s research, Oweh becomes just the third Kentucky player over the last 40 years to return for another season after posting minimum per-game averages of 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in the previous year. He joins pretty impressive company: Tony Delk (1993-94) and Reggie Hanson (1989-90).

That’s a solid duo of former Wildcats to be mentioned alongside. But that stat is also a bit cherry-picked. If we want to shrink the requirements, Oweh’s return is still something we don’t see often in Lexington. RareRookies (@rarerookies) discovered that only seven Kentucky players since 1992 have come back for another season after averaging 16 points per game the season prior. A couple of guys even did it twice.

Kentucky’s one-and-done approach with five-star freshmen under former head coach John Calipari meant that the Big Blue Nation didn’t see many of the team’s best players stick around for another season. But with NIL being used as a recruiting pitch and Pope’s eagerness to build continuity with his rosters, this list might continue to grow over the coming years.

Emerging Star on the Field and in the Market: Michael Hawkins Jr’s Rise in College Football

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive arena of college football, a new star is rapidly ascending. Michael Hawkins Jr., a freshman quarterback for Oklahoma, is not just making waves with his exceptional skills on the field but also marking his territory in the burgeoning Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) market. His journey, characterized by a remarkable dual-threat capability and mature composure, is a testament to the evolving landscape of college sports where talent meets opportunity.

A Dual-Threat Dynamo

Michael Hawkins Jr. stands out as a beacon of versatility and adaptability in the modern game. His ability to dismantle defenses, not just with his arm but also with his legs, has quickly made him a focal point of Oklahoma’s offensive strategy. This dual-threat prowess is not just a tactical advantage on the field; it’s a symbolic representation of the modern athlete’s multifaceted role in sports today. Hawkins Jr.’s playing style, which seamlessly blends power with agility, offers a glimpse into the future of quarterbacking, where versatility reigns supreme.

Navigating the NIL Landscape

Off the field, Hawkins Jr.’s impact is equally significant. His confirmed partnerships with major brands like Dr. Pepper and Leaf Trading Cards signal a new era where collegiate athletes can leverage their personal brand to secure lucrative deals. These high-profile NIL deals not only underscore Hawkins Jr.’s marketability but also highlight the shifting dynamics of college sports, where athletes now have unprecedented opportunities to benefit from their name, image, and likeness.

The Broader Implications

The rise of athletes like Michael Hawkins Jr. in the NIL space is a watershed moment for college sports. It represents a paradigm shift where the lines between amateurism and professionalism blur, offering a preview of how future generations of athletes will navigate their careers. Hawkins Jr.’s success in securing such deals as a freshman speaks volumes about his potential, not just as an athlete but as a brand ambassador. It underscores the importance of personal branding and marketability in the modern sports era, where athletes must excel both on and off the field to maximize their career opportunities.

A Promising Future Ahead

As Michael Hawkins Jr. continues to develop his game and expand his presence in the NIL market, his journey will undoubtedly inspire many young athletes who dream of following in his footsteps. His ability to balance athletic excellence with savvy business acumen sets a new standard for what it means to be a student-athlete in the 21st century. As college sports continue to evolve, Hawkins Jr.’s story will likely serve as a blueprint for the dual-threat athlete of the future: one who can dominate the competition while also building a personal brand that transcends the boundaries of the field.

In conclusion, Michael Hawkins Jr.’s early success is not just a personal triumph but a signpost for the future of college sports. His journey encapsulates the essence of the modern athlete: versatile, marketable, and unapologetically ambitious. As he continues to carve his path both on the field and in the marketplace, Hawkins Jr. is not just playing the game; he’s changing it.

Peter Mazzaferro, the all-time winningest football coach at Bridgewater State University, died on Friday evening, May 30, at the age of 94.

Pete was born on June 24, 1930 in Torrington, Conn., was a faculty member in the Bridgewater State Department of Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies for 34 years in addition to being the football coach.

A 1954 graduate of Centre College in Danville, Ky., Pete was a three-sport athlete, playing defensive end in football, ran the quarter-mile in track and was a member of the basketball team.

With a career record of 209-158-11, Pete ranks ninth on the national all-time list for victories by a Division 3 head coach.

Pete was 195-137-7 at Bridgewater State and is the all-time leader in Division 3 wins by a coach in New England.

He coached the freshman football team at Springfield College while pursuing a Master’s Degree and was drafted into the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Texas and Virginia.

Pete was a teacher and coach at Philmont, N.Y., and his first collegiate head coaching job was at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania where he was 12-19-3 from 1959-62 in addition to coaching basketball.

His first head coaching job in Massachusetts was at Curry College in Milton where Pete’s team was 2-2-1 in 1963.

Pete coached at Beaver Falls High School in western Pennsylvania in 1965 before being hired as an assistant at what was then known as Bridgewater State College in 1966.

While attending coaching clinics in the Catskills, Pete had met Bridgewater State coach Ed Swenson, who offered him a job on the Bears’ staff.

After two seasons as an assistant, Pete became the head coach in 1968, beginning a 36-year stint on the sidelines.

“If I had never met Ed Swenson back then,” Pete once said, “I guess I never would have known about Bridgewater State.”

The Bears won six New England Football Conference championships under Pete and reached the NCAA tournament in 1999 and 2000. They also qualified for the ECAC postseason in 1989 and 1992.

Pete was named the New England Football Writers Divisions 2-3 Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1999.

He received the George C. Carens Award in 1996 for outstanding contributions to college football and the New England Lifetime Achievement Award from the All-American Football Foundation.

Pete was inducted into the Bridgewater State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994, the Centre College Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2020.

Bridgewater State named the turf field at the Swenson Athletic Complex the Peter Mazzaferro Field during a ceremony he attended on Sept. 8, 2023 with many former players on hand.

On May 2 this year, Pete was at the Easton Country Club for the annual Bridgewater State Football Alumni dinner where he visited with former players.

Pete wrote a book entitled “Dropkick Me Through The Goalposts” where he discussed his life and long career in football.

After his Bridgewater State career ended, Pete was an assistant coach at Curry under former New England Patriots linebacker Steve Nelson in 2005 and at Stonehill College in 2006.

Pete was proud of his association with Bridgewater State University. During the 2024-25 academic year, Pete was on hand for several of the Bears’ football games and attended a number of men’s and women’s basketball games.

Pete was a great storyteller with an incredible memory about the details of numerous sporting events. He loved telling the story of how his alma mater, Centre, pulled off one of the greatest college football upsets, beating Harvard University in 1921.

Survivors include his son, Scott Grum of Sugar Creek, Ohio, and a nephew, Gary Spino of Milton, Mass.

The wake will be on Friday, June 6 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Chapman’s Funeral Home, 98 Bedford Street in Bridgewater, Mass.

During this week’s spring meetings in Destin, the SEC presented documents and graphics illustrating the “gauntlet” of the regular season. It showed the strength of the conference through multiple metrics such as Massey Ratings, SP+ and strength of record.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema then countered with numbers of his own. Then, when an Ole Miss fan called him out for his departure from Arkansas, he clapped back.

Bielema pointed out the way college football has changed in the last four years thanks to NIL and the transfer portal. He argued rosters are now more “balanced” than before, and he said to look at head-to-head records against power conferences during that window, especially considering the discussed Big Ten-SEC scheduling partnership.

“There is no better reality than recent history for reality. Maybe 2025 season, playoffs and bowl matchups head to head. Cant [sic] wait for that press release,” Bielema said at the end of his post.

Bielema, of course, coached in the SEC at Arkansas from 2013-17 following an impressive tenure at Wisconsin. He went 29-24 with the Razorbacks, including an 11-29 mark in conference play. An Ole Miss fan pointed out that record in response to Bielema’s post, and the coach answered with his record against the Rebels.

“Yes I do and the SEC was an awesome experience and extremely tough before today’s rules. And also remember going 3-1 vs Ole Miss during that time,” Bret Bielema wrote, along with a shrugging emoji.

The SEC’s documents illustrated the rigor of the conference schedule. In the last 10 years, the conference showed it only has two teams outside the Top 50 in both average strength of record and average Massey Rating. That, the league said, showed “clear evidence of the rigor of its regular season compared to other schools.”

How conference strength impacts CFP talks

The SEC and Big Ten are widely seen as the top two conferences in college football, and they are helping lead the charge when it comes to the College Football Playoff conversation. Future formats were a big part of the discussion in Destin this week, including a 5-plus-11 model that appears to be gaining steam.

Under that format, the five highest-ranked conference champions would be in the bracket, along with 11 at-large teams. SEC coaches voiced support for it although the previously reported model included a 4+4+2+2+1 bracket. That would include four bids each for the SEC and Big Ten, two bids apiece for the Big 12 and ACC, a spot for the Group of 6 and three at-large spots.

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed Big Ten athletics directors discussed the 5-plus-11 format on their weekly call this week. Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger added the sense is most would not support the model if the SEC stays at eight league games.