After finishing 35-21 overall, the USC Trojans are headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015. USC coach Andy Stankiewicz has the Trojans’ program on the rise after a stellar season, but they aren’t done yet.

Heading to the Corvallis Regional hosted by Oregon State as the No. 3 seed, the three regional opponents are Oregon State Beavers, Saint Mary’s and TCU. USC kicks off their Regional run with a game vs. TCU on Friday at 12 p.m. PT.

Trending on the right side of the bubble by Selection Monday, the Trojans barely scraped into the NCAA tournament as they were listed as one of the Last Four In teams along with Arizona State, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.

Arguably the toughest of the three West Coast Regional brackets, Corvallis is hosting some of the best and underrated programs in the country, but interestingly enough has only two automatic qualifiers in the regional.

TCU won nearly 40 games and was on the brink of becoming a host seed before falling to Arizona in the Big 12 championship game. Saint Mary’s is also a 35-game winner and is red hot after stealing a bid away from San Diego in the West Coast Conference Tournament. The hosts, Oregon State, won 41 games and proved to be one of the best teams in the country regardless of conference affiliation.

It’s safe to say it will not be an easy road for the Trojans, who aren’t slouches themselves, finishing as the No. 4 team in the Big Ten and won 35 games. DraftKings places USC’s odds of winning the Corvallis Regional at +700, third-best in the bracket behind TCU at +165 and Oregon State at -125.

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For USC’s regional opener vs. TCU, the Trojans open up as +154 underdogs according to DraftKings’s odds. Last season, the Horned Frogs beat USC twice in non-conference play. The winner will meet the winner of Oregon State vs. Saint Mary’s on Saturday.

Stankiewicz has experience coaching in a Regional from when guided Grand Canyon to back-to-back appearences in the NCAA Regionals in 2022 and ’23. However, the Trojans’ roster is relatively unexperienced when it comes to postseason play.

Each game for the Trojans will be a battle, but they have shown multiple times this season that they could string together a couple of wins. USC’s offense, led by infielder Ethan Hedges, didn’t have the greatest end to the regular season, but will need to figure out a way to reset quickly or it could spell trouble for their postseason plans.

The Trojans will take on TCU at noon PT on Friday, May 30 at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU

GREENWOOD, Ind. – – For their work both on the field and in the classroom, five members of the Ball State softball team were named to the 2025 Academic All-District® Softball Team as selected by College Sports Communicators.
 
Representing the Cardinals on the list for the second straight season was redshirt junior shortstop McKenna Mulholland. Earning their first nods on the squad were senior first baseman Kaitlyn Gibson, senior outfielder Kara Gunter, sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak and junior pitcher Ella Whitney.
 
Mulholland, who graduated this spring with a degree in applied behavior analysis and held a 3.78 GPA at the time of the nomination, started all 51 games for the Cardinals at second base. She boasted a .277 batting average on the season and set the program’s single season record for times being hit by a pitch at 17. She was also credited with 29 RBI and 39 runs scored.
 
Gibson, who graduated this spring with a degree in league studies and held a 3.76 GPA at the time of the nomination, started all 46 games she played this season. She turned in a .229 batting average with 22 RBI and 19 runs scored. She also blasted four of her six career home runs this season, while adding five of her seven career doubles.
 
Gunter, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in athletic coaching education who compiled a 3.84 undergraduate GPA and held a 4.0 after her first semester at Ball State, Gunter started all 48 games she played in her lone season for the Cardinals. She produced a .313 average and logged collegiate highs of 51 hits, 44 RBI, 27 runs scored and 13 doubles.  
 
Pietrzak, a sophomore exercise science major who held a 4.00 GPA at the time of the nomination, started all 51 games at shortstop for the Cardinals. A First Team All-MAC selection this past season, Pietrzak led the league with 60 runs scored and produced a .376 batting average. She also ranked third on the team with seven home runs while collecting 25 RBI.
 
Whitney, a junior sport administration major who held a combined 3.85 GPA at the time of the nomination, started 27 games at pitcher, 16 as the designated player and seven at first base in her first season at Ball State. A Second Team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region honoree, Whitney ranked second in the MAC and 29th nationally with 20 pitching victories, while ranking second in the league and 124th nationally with 50 RBI.
 
To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must be a starter or key reserve, achieve sophomore standing at their current school, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50 and be nominated by her sports information director.

Pietrzak and Whitney are also finalists for CSC Academic All-America® honors which will be announced on June 17.

The No. 11-seeded Clemson Tigers are heading to the NCAA Tournament, a feat the team has accomplished 47 times in program history.

While the Tigers make their postseason push, two of their players have one of the more thrilling stories in college baseball.

There aren’t many instances of college athletes becoming entrepreneurs, which is slightly surprising in the NIL era of college sports.

Enter Clemson pitchers Aidan Knaak and Justin LeGuernic, who have accomplished just that.

Knaak and LeGuernic launched Cardiak Cats on Tuesday, which is their new athlete-owned brand that is named in the spirit of the Tigers’ thrilling come-from-behind style of play and was designed by the duo themselves.

The limited product launch is a unique blending of their on-field personalities and fan-fueled pride, and the two worked for months to design the perfect hat that encapsulates the energy and identity of Clemson.

Knaak and LeGuernic spoke in a press release about their efforts throughout the process and seeing it all come to fruition.

“This whole thing started with an idea during a road trip: what if we created something that really felt like us?” Knaak said. “We wanted a brand that captured the energy of playing in big moments and gave fans something authentic to rally behind.”

LeGuernic added the importance of being able to craft something and put their names behind their product.

“We worked hands-on with a design team to make sure every detail felt right,” LeGuernic said. “It’s about more than a hat… it’s about building something from scratch and putting our name behind it, literally.”

The Cardiak Hats launched on May 27 and are available exclusively on their website. There is a limited supply of the unique hats that will run ahead of the NCAA Regional Tournament.

It’s a historical launch, as it marks the first-ever independent student-athlete-owned apparel venture of its kind in college sports.

While all of the focus is on generating revenue for athletes through the upcoming House settlement, Knaak and LeGuernic serve as an important reminder that the student athletes can innovate and become entrepreneurs themselves in this evolving landscape.

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.

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Continued prime performance, especially in the College Football Playoff, could elevate his valuation significantly.

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