Associated Press

PROVO, Utah. (AP) — BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is transferring after a tumultuous few months that included being named in a civil sexual assault suit that was later dismissed.

“After a lot of prayers, reflection and conversations with those I trust, I’ve made the difficult decision to officially withdraw from BYU and the BYU football program,” Retzlaff posted Friday on Instagram. “BYU has meant more to me that just football. It’s been a place of growth — spiritually, mentally and physically. I’m grateful for every teammate, coach, staff member and fan who’s supported me along the way.”

Retzlaff reportedly faced a suspension for violating the honor code at the university, which is run by the Mormon church, after acknowledging a consensual sexual relationship in his defense against the lawsuit.

Retzlaff threw for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions last season as the Cougars contended for a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake avoided commenting on Retzlaff’s situation at Big 12 media days earlier this week, saying it was a private matter and he shouldn’t comment before Retzlaff.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There’s a debate in the public relations industry concerning the best time to release bad news. Well, not really. A consensus was reached long ago. The answer? Late afternoon on a Friday. With everyone eager for the weekend, such news has a tendency to hug the earth, well under anyone’s radar.

•••••••

• Which brings us to yesterday. Another Friday. And a bombshell announcement that anyone with a dollop of common sense knew was coming – though it was met with protestations of surprise.

In one corner stood the newly formed College Sports Commission. In the other, the plaintiffs’ attorney in the recently approved game-changing House settlement. In between? Everyone else who has an interest in college athletics, from fans to athletes, collectives to school administrators.

The subject: What qualifies as viable NIL payments under the settlement agreement. It’s kind of important.

The CSC, an entity created by the five power conferences – as the House lawsuit started before realignment, the Pac-12 is part of it – to oversee and enforce the settlement’s financial strictures, issued some guidance Thursday. What did it say? We’re paraphrasing here but, at its core, the ruling stated work done for boosters’ collectives, no matter what it is, isn’t going to be approved. According to the CSC, only the CSC can decide what is true NIL and what is prohibited pay-for-play. And working for school-affiliated collectives is the latter.

If true, the soft NIL salary cap envisioned after the House settlement was approved by the courts is actually a pretty hard one. At least for the athletes.

But is it true? Not according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys, who had to break away from their celebration – they were granted about $750 million in fees Friday – to issue a rejoinder.

In a letter sent to the power conferences and the NCAA, the attorneys basically asked “what the heck are you thinking?”

According to reporting by Yahoo! Sports and The Athletic, the attorneys who wrote the agreement with the NCAA and power conferences, Jeffrey Kessler and Steve Berman, stated:

“We urge the CSC to retract the July CSC Memorandum and clarify that the valid business purpose requirement applies to NIL collectives in the same manner as any other entity. If the CSC does not retract the statement, Class Counsel will have no choice but to pursue relief from the Special Master as the July CSC Memorandum is already causing injury to class members.”

In other words, the CSC is wrong, the agreement stipulated the collectives are businesses too and they can pay the athletes what they want. And that’s what the courts agreed to.

Who is right? The people who wrote the agreement and saw a federal judge approve it, or a new business whose only charge, really, is to rein in spending and limit movement for colleges’ athletic employees?

Guess what? We’re about to see another round of court proceedings. And more attorneys getting rich.

In the end, the CSC’s power play will fail. Collectives will be able to hold golf tournaments and fundraisers, hosted by the star quarterback and middle linebacker, and those two players will be paid the going rate – or fair-market value, as the agreement allows.

How much is that? The market decides, right? That is what fair-market value means. Just as the market decides how much a plumber in Pullman or an electrician in Electric City should be paid. The athletes’ current rate is pretty high, built on competition between schools for athletic abilities in demand.

Which is why the CSC tried its Hail Mary on Thursday, hoping to catch the attorneys’ defense napping. They weren’t.

It pretty obvious the side that lost the House case in a rout is trying to win in the court of public opinion. To alter the settlement after the fact, defining NIL collectives as businesses that have just one purpose, to funnel money to athletes.

It’s true, actually. But almost every business ever created has just one purpose: To funnel money to someone. To take it from the customers’ pockets and put it into someone else’s bank account. Owners. Shareholders. Politicians.

Collectives are no different in that regard. And the House settlement recognizes that. If the athletes’ name, image and likeness talents help a business, any business, make money, the athlete deserves to be compensated. Fairly.

Yes, fairness is relative. It is decided by what the market. Not some made-up commission funded by ownership. With one true purpose. Put the owners back in control.

• I have a couple Friday lunch buddies. Smart guys, well-educated by the best public and private colleges in the state of Washington. And it always astounds me when they start throwing around statements such as “now that the transfer portal has closed” and the like.

Really? Is it ever closed? Well, yes and no. The entity the NCAA created to facilitate the new-world transfer process has time limits. Rules. Dictums. Great PR.

But it’s not necessary. Almost anyone can transfer anytime during the offseason. And play right away.

That lesson was driven home right after the last football season, when Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Worthy, denied portal entry by the Badgers because he had signed a two-year NIL contract, transferred to Miami. And he’ll be manning a spot in the Hurricanes’ secondary in the fall.

Yes, Wisconsin is suing Miami, trying to prove the school’s representatives tampered with a binding contract. Big deal. Money might have to change hands but Worthy is going to be playing.

Just as former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff will be slinging the ball for someone else come August training camp.

Retzlaff ran afoul of BYU’s honor code. He admitted to sexual relations out of wedlock. Was suspended seven games. A senior with NFL hopes, he didn’t want to sit. Portal closed? BYU unwilling to grant him a release? Big deal.

He can’t talk with another school? His representatives can. (As an aside, how silly is that NCAA rule?) After weighing offers, he can enroll at his next school, be accepted and then play.

No portal entry. No problem. And guys, if you are not going to eat it, can I have your fortune cookie for Donut?

•••

WSU: Jaylen Wells has a productive NBA rookie season with Memphis. But the Grizzlies have changed coaches and gone away from a pretty radical offensive concept he seemed to fit well in. So he’s in Las Vegas, playing summer league and showing the new staff what he can do in the new system. Theo Lawson is in Vegas as well and covered Wells’ first outing. Theo also delved into every player Friday with local connections. … Elsewhere in the (current, old and future) Pac-12 and the nation, Jon Wilner posted his usual Friday mailbag and it ran in the S-R this morning. … Pat Forde has 40 observations – Forde and forty, get it? – on the upcoming college football schedule. … Oregon State has Houston in its schedule. … Oregon’s most intriguing game may be the matchup with Penn State. … The two quarterbacks competing to start for Colorado are not enemies. … Can Arizona State keep Phoenix-area recruits from leaving town? … An Arizona player is ticked off by his video game rating and wants to do something about it on the field. … Fresno State is prioritizing new facilities as it gears up to join the Pac-12 next season.

Gonzaga: The women’s NCAA tournament is undergoing some changes this year. The top 16 seeds will be announced early, though not their seeding, so the schools have another day to get ready to host the first two rounds.

Preps: Another Spokane-area baseball player has made an All-Star team. Former Mt. Spokane pitcher Drew Rasmussen, is back from arm surgery, pitching well and Friday was named a replacement pitcher for the American League.

EWU and Idaho: Around the Big Sky, the newest member of Weber State’s men’s basketball staff prides himself on his work ethic. … Head coach Mike Bibby recently talked about his journey to Sacramento State. … Utah Tech and Southern Utah are about to embark on their final football season in something called the United Football Conference. They join the Big Sky next season. … Women’s basketball recruiting never stops. At least at Montana.

Indians: With the game tied at four heading into the ninth inning, the Spokane fans were probably anticipating a walk-off win. Instead, Eugene scored four times in the top of the inning and walked out of Avista Stadium with an 8-4 decision.

Mariners: Just about every day Cal Raleigh has done something worth writing a column about. If I did, it would bore you to death, right? Well, there was nothing boring about what Raleigh did late in the M’s 12-3 blasting of the Tigers on Friday night. He pulled an outside pitch out to left in the eighth inning and then crushed a grand salami in the ninth. The All-Star catcher has 38 dingers, just one short of Barry Bond’s pre-break record. And he has two games in Detroit left. … How has he blossomed this year? Adam Jude tries to explain it. … Julio Rodriguez also hit a two-run bomb, his off baseball’s best starter, Tarik Skubel, that came when the game was in doubt. He also had big news before the game, bowing out of the All-Star contest. He was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. … There were some controversial replacements announced Friday, including a rookie pitcher who has made fewer starts this year than Cy Young used to make in a week. We have our thoughts on the biggest snub, Mariner shortstop J.P. Crawford. The guy is having an All-Star caliber season, even if he is never picked. He just has been aced out this year due to seasons from guys like Jeremy Pena. … We linked this Times’ column on Matthew Boyd yesterday. It is on the S-R site today. He is one of the most-intriguing players on either roster. 

Storm: After an awful outing against the Sun in Connecticut, Seattle rolled in the home rematch 79-65 with a late 19-5 run.

Wimbledon: The women’s final is about to begin as we type this. Can Amanda Anisimova become the first American to win on the famed grass since Serena Williams? … The men will meet Sunday morning in a rematch of the French Open final. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. two-time defending champ Carlos Alcaraz.

Reign: Seattle made a couple contract decisions this week.  

Sounders: If Stefan Frei can’t go for a while, his backup is ready.

•••       

• Summer weather is wonderful. The sun waking me up at 4:45 a.m. is not. But no big deal. It’s Saturday. A nap is in the offing. Maybe two. What else is there to do? Until later …

Remember when all it took to win a national championship in college football was an elite roster, a hot-shot coach and a favorable schedule? The haves and have-nots were clearly defined, and success hinged on player development and maintaining depth — especially for blue bloods looking to keep the train on the tracks.

The ingredients that define the nation’s best jobs haven’t necessarily changed, but this summer’s landmark revenue-sharing decision could spark a parity boom unlike anything the sport has seen. More programs may soon challenge for seats at a historically exclusive table.

College football’s top jobs aren’t supposed to change year to year, but sweeping changes to recruiting — including the transfer portal and NIL-related contracts — have intensified the conversation around which programs are making the right moves for long-term success.

Five factors were used in determining a cumulative score for the nation’s featured jobs:

• Recruiting (High school, transfer portal)
• Resources (NIL, donors, TV revenue)
• Talent pool (geographical significance)
• Administrative edge
• Executable expectations 

Each of these categories was assigned a subjective number grade 1-5 with ‘1’ being the lowest classification and ‘5’ being elite.  

Diamond tier (4.4+)

Texas (4.8), LSU (4.8), Ohio State (4.6), Georgia (4.4), Alabama (4.4)

Four of these five programs have combined to win eight of college football’s 10 national championships during the playoff era. And they’re all positioned for immense success over the next several years. Texas is the only program to reach the playoff semifinal in consecutive years and with rosters costing more than ever to build, the Longhorns are well-suited to thrive.

Surprised to see LSU near the top of the list? You shouldn’t be. The past three coaches in Baton Rouge have each collected national titles and Brian Kelly may get that opportunity in 2025 — or else. The money at LSU has put Kelly in a win-or-bust situation. The Tigers have the nation’s No. 1 portal signing class, a deep coaching staff and no excuses should the team fall short. LSU is one of the few programs where you’re fired if you don’t sniff the national title early in your tenure.

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said before the 2024 season his Buckeyes distributed record amounts of NIL to athletes over the previous year. And with one of the nation’s most expensive rosters, Ohio State ran roughshod through the expanded playoff and captured a national title. Bjork understands what it takes to assemble a championship-caliber two-deep and Ryan Day has proven he can shoulder heavy scrutiny. Ohio State is the Big Ten’s best job.

There’s no coincidence that three of the five coaches leading these programs currently rank in the top 1% of the sport when it comes to wins over ranked competition. That speaks to the “executable expectations” side of the equation here and how much resources and talent go into winning big in college football.

Kirby Smart has managed to accomplish what Mark Richt could not at Georgia. He has taken the program to the top of the pedestal. He’s done it the old-fashioned way — by stocking the line of scrimmage with the best players in the country. With an expansive recruiting budget, the Bulldogs will continue to bring in top talent annually even if Smart prefers the heftiest NIL checks go to proven players.

Alabama brings up the rear of the diamond tier. Spoiled by the greatness associated with on-field results over the last decade and change, Alabama fans should temper expectations just a bit under Kalen DeBoer. Expecting annual playoff appearances in the expansion era is one thing, but judging success by national championships is another.

Elite tier (4.0+)

Notre Dame (4.2), Michigan (4), Oregon (4), USC (4), Florida (4), Oklahoma (4), Penn State (4), Texas A&M (4)

Marcus Freeman proved last season that Notre Dame is built for success in the expanded College Football Playoff. Despite being the only independent program among the sport’s top-tier jobs — and not quite matching the TV revenue of its SEC and Big Ten counterparts — resources aren’t a concern in South Bend. Freeman has followed Brian Kelly’s national recruiting model, and the Irish should remain an annual playoff threat given how their schedule typically compares to their roster strength.

No argument here if someone wants to put Michigan in the diamond tier of college football jobs. But the verdict is still pending in the sign-stealing investigation, and the potential ramifications for Sherrone Moore and his staff over the coming years could be significant. Jim Harbaugh’s national championship run in 2023 — the program’s first title in 26 years — set sky-high expectations for Moore, much like the almost unreachable bar Alabama fans have set for Kalen DeBoer after Nick Saban’s retirement.

It certainly feels like Oregon is knocking on the door under Dan Lanning, The Ducks went unbeaten in their first Big Ten season before a tough playoff matchup led to an early exit in the Rose Bowl. Oregon’s recruiting reach has expanded under Lanning, and staff continuity has helped accelerate the program’s upward trajectory.

USC is finally addressing its long-overdue facilities upgrade. The Trojans broke ground in November on the $200 million Bloom Performance Center, a major investment in the program’s infrastructure. Lincoln Riley — and whoever eventually follows him — must focus on keeping California-based five-stars in state, especially at quarterback. USC should be able to pick its signal caller from the West Coast every cycle, but that’s not happening right now.

Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher a record-setting buyout to walk away because an eight-win average wasn’t good enough — even with his BCS title pedigree from Florida State. Expectations are sky-high for a program that has posted just four winning SEC records since joining the league in 2012. Facilities are elite, the Aggies sit in a talent-rich recruiting region, and resources are limitless. It’s time to win — big.

Silver tier (3.6+)

Clemson (3.8), Tennessee (3.8), Miami (3.8), Florida State (3.6), Auburn (3.6)

What do these five programs all have in common? Each has won at least one national championship, proving it can be done. That history is part of the battle when climbing the mountain — knowing that past success could be channeled again down the road.

Whenever Clemson inevitably leaves the ACC and lands in one of the two super conferences during the next round of realignment, the Tigers will join the financial ranks of other elites thanks to an expected revenue boost. But whenever Dabo Swinney’s tenure ends, his successor will face a massive challenge trying to replicate that level of success. National parity has increased, and recruiting looks far different than it did during Clemson’s title runs.

Josh Heupel has restored Tennessee to national relevance following the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance, but is there a ceiling in Knoxville? The Vols are still chasing the SEC’s top tier and constantly battling Alabama, Georgia, Florida and LSU for the same talent.

Miami, Florida State and Auburn have adapted to the modern era with an aggressive focus on the transfer portal. All three programs are building rosters year to year, with limited time for player development. Long term, it may benefit the Hurricanes and Seminoles to return to basics — however that may look — and win recruiting battles within Florida, rather than consistently entering bidding wars in the portal.

At Auburn, the coach who follows Hugh Freeze will go only as far as the boosters allow. It may not be the most difficult job in the SEC, but expectations are borderline unrealistic. Like most perennial top-20 programs, Auburn has a short leash when there’s little early return on investment — especially at a place that’s already reached the mountaintop.

The post Tennessee State’s hockey program launch delayed until 2026-2027 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The debut of Tennessee State’s hockey team has been postponed to the 2026-2027 season. According to a statement from the university, the delay will allow more time to focus on fundraising, recruiting, faculty planning, and staff development. However, while the launch is delayed, Tennessee State is said to still be preparing for the 2026-2027 season.

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“Working closely with the NHL and the Predators, we agree that an additional year will provide the program with the time and resources it needs to launch at full strength and with long-term financial success in mind,” TSU Interim President Dwayne Tucker said in the statement.

The decision to postpone the season was made in collaboration with Tennessee State, the NHL, the Nashville Predators, and College Hockey Inc. Kevin Westgarth, NHL vice president, hockey development and strategic collaboration spoke about the decision in a statement.

“Deferring the inaugural season of TSU Tigers hockey to 2026-27 is the right step to build a foundation worthy of the university…We have faith in President Tucker’s vision and look forward to adding new names to the TSU Athletics history alongside legends like Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and NBA champion Dick Barnett. Hopefully, we’ll see an ex-Tiger raise the Stanley Cup one day, not too far in the future.”

The Nashville Predators chief marketing officer Bill Wickett added, “We applaud university leadership, led by Interim President Tucker, for its desire to ensure that when the Tigers step on the ice for the first time, they are doing it for a long time, and we pledge to walk hand-in-hand with that leadership in making it happen.”

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In 2023, Tennessee State announced the creation of the first HBCU hockey program. The delay sets back the initial goal of the team by the 2026-2027 school year to fully transition into a Division I program. In the original timeline, Tennessee State planned for the team to operate as a club organization in the upcoming school year.

Related: Deion Sanders’s call for a college football salary cap is hypocritical

Related: Florida A&M lands former Tulane tight end in transfer portal

The Washington Nationals are at a pivotal point in their rebuild to relevance, owning the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft that begins on Sunday night in Atlanta.

There are multiple intriguing prospects they can choose from, including prep shortstop Ethan Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and brother of Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022 and is now in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles.

Washington this week fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez.

Bold choice.

The Nats’ head-scratching move — more for the timing than the actual decision — injected another layer of uncertainty to a draft that might be one of the most unpredictable in recent years. The first three rounds of the 20-round draft will take place on Sunday with the rest of the selections on Monday.

Washington promoted Mike DeBartolo to interim GM and he’ll supervise the team’s selections. He was previously the team’s assistant general manager and has been with the franchise since 2012.

DeBartolo said he’ll lean on the evaluations of the team’s scouting department but also has his own opinions about the process and will be the decision maker. Money will also be a factor, as teams have to work within their bonus pool.

The Orioles are at the high end this year with more than $19 million to spend. The Yankees — who don’t pick until No. 39 — are at the bottom with roughly $5.3 million.

“They’ve been working hard for this moment, almost even before the last draft ended,” DeBartolo said. “So, I’ll bring my own voice to that process, and I’ll work collaboratively with them, and take what they have to say and ultimately be responsible for making the picks.”

There is little consensus about whom the Nats might select at No. 1, though some of the top prospects are a pair of left-handed pitchers — LSU’s Kade Anderson and Tennessee’s Liam Doyle — along with Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette and prep shortstops Holliday and Eli Willits.

“There are several really talented players that are going to be in the mix for us,” DeBartolo said. “We have to decide how to strategize with our bonus pool money and what the player bonus pool demands are and run through all those scenarios over the coming days.”

After the Nationals, the Los Angeles Angels have the No. 2 selection. The Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals round out the top five.

Left-handed college pitchers lead the pack

Several of the top prospects are left-handed college pitchers, including Anderson, Doyle and Florida State’s Jamie Arnold.

Anderson helped LSU win the College World Series title last month, throwing a complete-game shutout in Game 1 of the championship series. He finished 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA with 180 strikeouts in 119 innings.

Anderson had Tommy John surgery in high school.

Doyle rocketed up mock drafts with a terrific season for the Vols, finishing 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings. Arnold was a breakout star for Florida State in 2024 before regressing a bit last season, but he still finished with 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 119 strikeouts.

“Obviously, college left-handers are kind of a premium right now,” Mariners vice president of amateur scouting Scott Hunter said. “There’s a few of those at the high end of the draft.”

Corona stars

Corona High School — about 45 miles from Los Angeles — could have three players drafted in the first round.

The prep powerhouse is led by right-handed pitcher Seth Hernandez, regarded as a potential top five pick. Shortstop Billy Carlson is also expected to be selected early in the first round.

Third baseman Brady Ebel isn’t quite as highly-regarded — he’s the No. 64 prospect according to MLB.com — but there’s potential that he could still sneak into the opening round.

A fourth Corona player, Ethin Bingaman, is a two-way player committed to Auburn but could be drafted in the top five rounds.