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Governor Stitt Signs Order to Support Oklahoma Student

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2025-01, aiming to keep Oklahoma’s postsecondary institutions and their student-athletes competitive in the changing world of intercollegiate athletics. Stitt said this proactive measure addresses the inconsistent national rules governing NIL payments, which have led to uncertainty and disparity among states and athletic conferences. Oklahoma institutions, which […]

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Governor Stitt Signs Order to Support Oklahoma Student

Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2025-01, aiming to keep Oklahoma’s postsecondary institutions and their student-athletes competitive in the changing world of intercollegiate athletics.

Stitt said this proactive measure addresses the inconsistent national rules governing NIL payments, which have led to uncertainty and disparity among states and athletic conferences. Oklahoma institutions, which belong to different conferences with varying regulations, faced potential disadvantages that this order seeks to mitigate.
The order permits the creation of foundations to serve as a clearinghouse for entities to contribute to NIL funds without fear of retaliation or investigation from athletic organizations such as the NCAA or athletic conferences. It also ensures that Oklahoma taxpayer dollars will not be used for these payments.
“Oklahoma is home to some of the nation’s most outstanding student-athletes,” said Governor Stitt. “This executive order ensures that these student-athletes have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other states. It’s about leveling the playing field and maintaining the competitive edge that defines Oklahoma athletics. This action is a critical step to protect Oklahoma’s student-athletes and ensures they have the opportunity to succeed on and off the field.”
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt
The order allows institutions to facilitate direct payments to student-athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) while federal and legal decisions on NIL payments are still pending.
Key provisions of the executive order include:

  • Authorization for Oklahoma postsecondary institutions to facilitate NIL payments to student-athletes.
  • Protection for institutions and individuals from investigations or adverse actions by athletic organizations for engaging in NIL-related activities.
  • Restrictions preventing the use of state-allocated funds for NIL payments.
  • Automatic expiration of the order upon final settlement approval in the federal NIL litigation or the enactment of a federal law governing student-athlete payments.

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Zakai Zeigler, SEC’s 2-time defensive player of year, suing NCAA to play 5th season in 5 years

Two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA over rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws. Zeigler’s lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The point […]

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Two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA over rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws.

Zeigler’s lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The point guard played four seasons at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers to consecutive Elite Eight berths before graduating earlier this month.

The Vols went 109-36 during Zeigler’s time with the school. Zeigler was a third-team All-American this season, which ended with Tennessee’s loss to eventual national runner-up Houston in the Elite Eight on March 30.

“We have requested a preliminary injunction to allow Zakai to compete in the upcoming season while pursuing his graduate studies,” according to a statement from the Garza Law Firm and Litson PLLC. “We look forward to a swift resolution of this matter so that Zakai can begin preparing for next season.”

The NCAA said in a statement the association fully supports athletes profiting from name, image and likeness along with other benefits and is working for such reforms, which includes a proposed $2.8 billion settlement of an antitrust lawsuit.

“A patchwork of different state laws, executive orders and court opinions, make it challenging for any league to operate on a fair playing field, including at the conference level and that’s why partnering with Congress to develop a national standard would provide stability for student-athletes and schools everywhere,” the NCAA said.

This latest lawsuit against the NCAA notes Zeigler “diligently completed his undergraduate degree in four years” and graduated this month. That makes Zeigler’s lawsuit different from athletes who started careers at junior colleges or lower-division NCAA schools and are seeking a fifth season.

Yet the NCAA rule limiting athletes to four seasons during a five-year window keeps Zeigler from playing a fifth season and earning NIL money in “the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes,” according to the lawsuit.

How much could Zeigler could earn in a fifth season with the Vols? The lawsuit says between $2 million and $4 million for 2025-26, given his record and visibility playing in the Southeastern Conference and based on projections from the Spyre Sports Group, the NIL collective associated with the university.

Athletes who redshirt or take five years to finish an undergraduate degree can earn NIL money each of their five years. The lawsuit also points to the NCAA’s redshirt system controlling who gets access to a fifth year of eligibility.

The lawsuit asks that the NCAA rule be declared a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Tennessee’s Trade Practices Act.



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‘Bizarre System’ – Paul Finebaum Warns NIL Could Eventually Break College Football, Backs Kirby Smart’s Concerns

As Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal reshape the College Football landscape, analyst Paul Finebaum sounds the alarm, warning of the potential decline of a sport that is very close to America’s heart. In a recent interview on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum called the current state of college […]

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As Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal reshape the College Football landscape, analyst Paul Finebaum sounds the alarm, warning of the potential decline of a sport that is very close to America’s heart.

In a recent interview on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum called the current state of college football an “existential threat,” referring to concerns raised by Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.

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With College Sports Network’s Transfer Portal Tracker, you can stay ahead of the chaos. Follow every entrant, commitment, and decommitment as they happen.

The ‘Bizarre System’ of College Football Can Break the Sport Says Paul Finebaum

Finebaum didn’t mince words when asked about the health of college football.

“I think college football is at a tipping point,” he said, pointing to the massive shifts in the sport’s landscape brought by NIL and the transfer portal.

While the 2024 season delivered some of the most thrilling moments in the sport’s history, like Alabama’s upset over Georgia and Michigan’s gritty Big Ten title run, it also highlighted off-field issues that are creating a slow-burning disconnect.

Finebaum noted that older fans, the backbone of college football’s loyal base, are growing frustrated. The lack of player loyalty, fueled by a transfer portal that allows athletes to leave “at a moment’s notice,” is eroding the emotional ties that bind fans to their teams.

Finebaum’s claims aren’t bogus; the numbers from the previous season show how on the money the analyst’s claims are. For example, in 2024, over 3,000 players entered the transfer portal, a 20% increase from 2022. This churn, combined with NIL deals that can see freshmen earning six-figure sums, has created what Finebaum calls a “bizarre system.”

Kirby Smart, speaking at a Regions Bank event in October 2024, highlighted the absurdity, saying, “It’s not right for a freshman to be paid more than an upperclassman.” Finebaum agrees with the statement, arguing that the issue isn’t players earning money but the lack of commitment to schools that makes the fans cheer for a team.

The Fan Disconnect

College football thrives on tradition. Rivals like Ohio State-Michigan or the Iron Bowl carry the emotions of generations of fans. But according to Finebaum, when players can switch teams with ease, that connection drops.

He acknowledges that the sport’s on-field product remains compelling for sponsors, as the viewership for the 2024 College Football Playoff hit 22.6 million for the championship game. Still, the disconnect can potentially “break” the sport off-field.

KEEP READING: Paul Finebaum Rips New CFP Format

Television executives and administrators may shrug off these concerns, but Finebaum believes the trickle-down effect is inevitable.

In the end, College football isn’t doomed, but it’s at a crossroads. Finebaum’s hope lies in the games themselves, which still captivate millions each Saturday. Yet, as Kirby Smart’s concerns highlight, the sport must address its “bizarre system” to preserve its soul. Without reforms, the disconnect could grow.

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!



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David Pollack calls for an end to conference championship games

College Football Playoff expansion could drastically alter the landscape for conference championship games. In fact, some high-profile analysts are already calling for the end of league title games. Former ESPN analyst David Pollack brought up the topic recently on the See Ball Get Ball podcast. He put things in no uncertain terms. “I think the […]

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College Football Playoff expansion could drastically alter the landscape for conference championship games. In fact, some high-profile analysts are already calling for the end of league title games.

Former ESPN analyst David Pollack brought up the topic recently on the See Ball Get Ball podcast. He put things in no uncertain terms.

“I think the conference championship games will be an interesting discussion point with that,” Pollack said, referring to playoff expansion. “Again, if you’re going to add on more and more games to the body, yeah, I do think (championship games should go away). But that’s also going to be money. That’s also going to be data points. But yes, that needs to go away.”

There’s going to be quite the tug of war between the powers at be in college football over conference championship games. On the one hand, they can be immense wealth drivers. Games like the SEC and Big Ten championship are huge events.

On the other hand, the games themselves are losing importance with the expanded playoff field. At what point do they become redundant or even a detriment to a team’s playoff aspirations?

Then there’s another factor for Pollack. And he’d know a thing or two about it.

“We need to talk about safety of kids at some point,” Pollack said. “Well when you keep putting on more and more games and they’re finishing with 20 games in a regular season, that’s a lot to ask, man. That’s a lot.”

So could conference championship games disappear altogether? Pollack’s take isn’t shared by everyone.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel believes there’s a world where both conference championship games and an expanded playoff can exist. How remains to be seen.

“I think that’s a conversation that’s going to continue to evolve right now,” Thamel said. “I just, my opinion is I don’t honestly think we’ll get there. I think it will go, there will be a conference championship game with guarantees and then there will be play-in games, if you will, on the others.

“And for the ACC and the Big 12, Jim Phillips in the ACC has been pretty open about creating extra inventory. And, look, in an era where everyone’s trying to squeeze out the last dollar, it would make sense to have two play-in games over one conference championship game. Just bottom line financials.”



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Tennessee guard sues for NCAA eligibility

Zakai Zeigler has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility after his Tennessee basketball career concluded. The lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction to allow Zeigler to compete in the 2025-26 season, arguing that he will suffer irreparable harm without immediate injunctive relief as schools are currently finalizing rosters and settling […]

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Zakai Zeigler has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility after his Tennessee basketball career concluded.

The lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction to allow Zeigler to compete in the 2025-26 season, arguing that he will suffer irreparable harm without immediate injunctive relief as schools are currently finalizing rosters and settling NIL agreements. It claims Zeigler could earn up to $4 million if eligible in the 2025-26 season based on an analysis from Spyre Sports Group.

Zeigler’s lawsuit attacks the NCAA’s redshirt rule, which allows a player a fifth year of eligibility as long as the player sat out a year of competition. Zeigler played four consecutive seasons and did not redshirt but argues that he should be allowed a fifth year of eligibility and earning potential instead of being essentially punished for not redshirting.

It notes that the fifth year is “the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes.”

“All NCAA athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation during each year of the five-year window — not just those selected to redshirt,” the court filings state.

The lawsuit indicates that Zeigler is not challenging the five-year eligibility window, but the four-year competition window within the five years. It notes that Zeigler’s class is the first class in the NIL era to “have their ability to engage in commerce truncated to four years” because prior classes were granted an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA’s rule permitting only four seasons of competition within the five-year eligibility window is an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws,” Zeigler’s counsel from The Garza Law Firm and Litson PLLC said in a statement.

Zeigler averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 assists in his four seasons with the Vols. He shot 33.1% on 3-pointers.

The 5-foot-9 guard had his best season as a senior, averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 assists. He set the Tennessee record for assists when he notched his 227th against Texas in the SEC Tournament to break Rodney Woods’ record that stood for 50 years.

The Wyandanch, New York, native holds the Tennessee record for assists with 747, which ranks third in SEC history. He broke Johnny Darden’s record with his 716th assist in Tennessee’s first-round NCAA Tournament win against Wofford. He also set the Vols record for steals with 215, which is tied for eighth in SEC history.

Zeigler’s 7.4 assists per game in 2024-25 ranks as the fourth-most in a season in UT history. Only Darden and Woods averaged more in a season.

Zeigler won back-to-back SEC defensive player of the year awards and is the only player in conference history to be a four-time all-defensive team selection. He was named first-team All-SEC in his junior and senior seasons after being a second-team pick as a sophomore.

Zeigler came to Tennessee as an unknown. The Vols added him in August prior to the 2021-22 season after seeing him excel at Peach Jam in Augusta, Georgia, months prior. Barnes expected to redshirt Zeigler since the Vols had five-star Kennedy Chandler. Zeigler forced the issue and became a Tennessee fan favorite as a freshman.

The undersized point guard took four-hour train trips in high school to play basketball. He skirted paying for fares he could not afford by jumping turnstiles and hiding in train car bathrooms. He bounced between places to stay when his family lost their home. He nearly gave up on basketball before Peach Jam, which ultimately changed his life.

The Zeiglers lost their home in a fire in New York City in February 2023. A GoFundMe raised more than $360,000 before it was stopped. The Zeigler family moved to Knoxville and bought a house, where they continue to reside.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.





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Nick Saban answers whether he will be on Donald Trump’s NIL commission

President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed interest in forming a federal commission to help navigate the Name, Image and Likeness issues within college athletics, but Nick Saban has reiterated that he does not believe that is necessary. Trump delivered the commencement address at the University of Alabama earlier this month. Saban, who was the head […]

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President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed interest in forming a federal commission to help navigate the Name, Image and Likeness issues within college athletics, but Nick Saban has reiterated that he does not believe that is necessary.

Trump delivered the commencement address at the University of Alabama earlier this month. Saban, who was the head football coach at the school from 2007-2023, also spoke at the commencement and introduced the president. A report claimed the two spoke before the ceremony and that Saban shared his belief that college sports needs federal rules to guide the implementation of NIL.

That has led to speculation that Trump could form a commission and appoint Saban the leader. While speaking at his Nick’s Kids golf tournament in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday, Saban said he is willing to help but has no plans to join a formal commission.

“I know there’s been a lot of stuff out there about some commission or whatever. I don’t think we need a commission,” Saban said. “I’ve said that before. I think we need — we know what the issues are, we just have to have people who are willing to move those and solve those and create some solutions for some of those issues. I’m all for being a consultant to anybody who would think that my experience would be beneficial to helping create some of those solutions.

“I know President Trump is very interested in athletics. He’s very interested in college athletics. He’s very interested in maintaining the idea that people go to college to create value for the future in terms of how they develop as people, students, graduation rate as well as having a balanced, competitive playing field. If I can be a consultant to anyone who might be able to help the future of college athletics, I would be more than happy to do that.”

Saban made similar remarks last week when asked about the possibility of trying to fix college athletics at the federal level.

Since retiring, Saban has been vocal about improvements and changes he believes should be made to college sports, and specifically college football. He has railed against fake injuries and sought rules to penalize that. He also made clear that the lack of rules for NIL has negatively impacted college sports, making college football players professional athletes of sports.

Even if he does not want a formal title, the 73-year-old Saban would undoubtedly have a role if the federal government stepped in to address NIL issues.





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UConn Lands Former USC Trojans Player Out of NCAA Transfer Portal

While the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team is still fresh off its 2025 NCAA national championship, that doesn’t mean the program’s staff isn’t already hard at work retooling the roster for next season. Of course, with Paige Bueckers (plus Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin) now no longer with the team, there are some big shoes […]

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UConn Lands Former USC Trojans Player Out of NCAA Transfer Portal

While the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team is still fresh off its 2025 NCAA national championship, that doesn’t mean the program’s staff isn’t already hard at work retooling the roster for next season.

Of course, with Paige Bueckers (plus Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin) now no longer with the team, there are some big shoes to fill for Geno Auriemma’s squad. Especially when it comes to Bueckers, her scoring, playmaking, and leadership qualities are nearly impossible to atone for.

However, UConn made a step in the right direction on May 20, as it was announced that they landed former USC Trojans player Kayleigh Heckel out of the NCAA transfer portal.

Heckel announced this with an Instagram post that showed a graphic of her wearing UConn gear with the caption, “k9 by name, husky by nature. see you in storrs! go huskiesss💙🤍#committed #backhome #blessed”.

Heckel was born in Port Chester, New York, which is about a two-hour drive away from Storrs, where UConn is located.

Heckel averaged 6.1 points per game in 16.9 minutes played during her freshman campaign with the Trojans last season. She is one of several freshmen from USC’s 2024-25 team who have now transferred schools.

It will be interesting to see where Heckel fits in on the roster and whether she can work to earn herself a spot in the starting rotation for Geno Auriemma. What’s for sure is that Heckel is a talented guard who could become an impact player next season, potentially helping the Huskies repeat as NCAA champions.

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