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If Tennessee chooses state law over NIL pledge, it risks being kicked out of SEC

AI-assisted summaryPower conferences are requiring member schools to sign a loyalty pledge regarding new NCAA player pay rules or face potential expulsion.The pledge mandates adherence to these rules despite state laws that may allow circumvention, and waives the right to sue the NCAA.Tennessee’s new law, designed to protect universities from lawsuits related to player pay, […]

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If Tennessee chooses state law over NIL pledge, it risks being kicked out of SEC


AI-assisted summaryPower conferences are requiring member schools to sign a loyalty pledge regarding new NCAA player pay rules or face potential expulsion.The pledge mandates adherence to these rules despite state laws that may allow circumvention, and waives the right to sue the NCAA.Tennessee’s new law, designed to protect universities from lawsuits related to player pay, is at the center of this conflict.Tennessee aims to comply with the forthcoming NCAA system but seeks legal protection if the rules are challenged in court.A new Tennessee law triggered the power conferences of college sports into demanding member schools like the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt to sign a loyalty pledge over new player pay rules or face possible expulsion.

Knox News confirmed the existence of the loyalty document through a source with direct knowledge of the situation. The source requested anonymity because those correspondence are between the conferences and member schools.

The document is being circulated by the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and the SEC. It demands that member schools agree to follow new rules involving paying players despite state laws giving the freedom to circumvent the rules. And the pledge also requires schools to waive their right to sue the NCAA or conferences if they disagree with the implementation of those rules.

The document has not been finalized. But potential consequences of not signing it include expulsion from the conference or participation in playing games against other power conference schools.

The new Tennessee law applies to all four-year universities in the state, public and private. UT and Vanderbilt are in the SEC, one of four power conferences.

A clause in the law permits Vanderbilt and private universities to opt out of the protections of the state law in order to cooperate with the NCAA. Additionally, it appears that UT is guiding the approach of the law because of how it’s utilized lawmakers against the NCAA in the past.University of Memphis (American Athletic Conference), Middle Tennessee State (Conference USA) and other state universities are in mid-major conferences that likely won’t require a pledge to follow the new college sports player pay rules.For better or worse, this makes Tennessee the epicenter of another earthquake in college sports.The Tennessee football team runs through the T before the start of an SEC conference game between UT and Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.What University of Tennessee said about SEC threatExpulsion from the SEC seems inconceivable for UT, a charter member since 1932. But whether it’s a legitimate threat or a negotiating tactic remains to be seen.In a statement to Knox News, UT pledged to comply with the pending House settlement, which will create the new system for player pay, while acknowledging the need for the state law.

“The University of Tennessee has committed to following the House settlement if it is approved,” UT said in a statement. “That commitment has not changed. We appreciate the Tennessee General Assembly’s forethought in passing NIL legislation that provides future protections for student-athletes and institutions beyond the House settlement.”

Vanderbilt and the SEC did not immediately respond to a Knox News request for comment.

Threatening a loyalty pledge is a bold move by the NCAA and power conferences and, most certainly, in response to the new Tennessee law, which was signed by Gov. Bill Lee on May 1 and surfaced about two weeks later.

The law protects Tennessee universities from anticipated antitrust lawsuits by athletes and NIL collectives unhappy with the player-pay rules coming to college sports.

The new NCAA system will include a salary cap of direct school-to-player pay, roster limits, revenue sharing that challenges Title IX principles of publicly funded institutions and a clearinghouse that vets NIL contracts. It could help stabilize college sports, but lawsuits challenging those rules are expected.

If athletes, boosters or collectives sue, the new state law allows Tennessee universities to opt out of those college sports rules and shift liability toward the NCAA and conferences. It also prevents the NCAA from penalizing schools that circumvent those rules for purposes of following the law.

Only a federal law, a valid court order or antitrust exemption for college athletics can supersede Tennessee’s new law. That escape hatch for Tennessee schools sounded alarms across the college sports landscape.

How Tennessee could disrupt the new system in college sports

Opinions about Tennessee’s approach vary around college sports.

About a dozen states have enacted similar laws in the everchanging arms race of paying college athletes with few restrictions. But Tennessee’s law is believed to be the strongest and most evasive to NCAA rules and the conditions of the pending House settlement.

The timing of Tennessee’s new law is also problematic.

A new NCAA system for paying athletes could begin as early as July 1, pending the multi-billion-dollar House settlement, which resolves three federal antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and four power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC).

That settlement could come any day now. There’s growing skepticism that it will solve the legal and structural problems in college sports, although some are cautiously optimistic that it’ll at least achieve some progress.

Opponents of the new state law believe Tennessee is nixing an effective agreement days before it’s signed by a federal judge. But proponents of the state law believe Tennessee is being proactive by keeping its legal options in anticipation of a system it believes will fail.

The most straightforward take of the situation is that Tennessee is protecting its own interests ahead of the SEC or college sports. Whether that’s a wise move or heavy handed is debatable, but it certainly got the attention of college sports leaders.

Here’s why UT wants state law for protection

Tennessee schools intend to comply with the system prescribed in the House settlement, but that plan remains hazy. UT, specifically, wants legal cover if the new rules violate antitrust law.

Here are examples of what UT fears if it’s not given liability protection by the state law.

  • A new clearinghouse will determine if NIL deals are legitimate and of fair market value. Legally, that appears to be a difficult standard to define. If an athlete or collective sues because an NIL deal is declined, UT wants the flexibility to approve the contract independent of NCAA rules or at least opt out of the system to avoid a lawsuit.
  • Lawsuits on numerous antitrust grounds are anticipated after the House settlement is approved. The NCAA, power conferences and schools could be sued. There’s no indication whether those suits would be successful. But UT doesn’t want to be among the defendants, and the state law says Tennessee schools don’t have to follow anticompetitive NCAA rules.
  • If damages are awarded in antitrust lawsuits, the state law says that Tennessee schools can’t be held responsible for paying them. Instead, the NCAA would be liable.
  • UT wants to avoid punishment from the NCAA if it opts out of rules that it finds to violate antitrust laws. If that occurs, the state law protects UT from NCAA sanctions. Notably, UT football is already on probation until July 13, 2028, as a result of the Jeremy Pruitt recruiting scandal.

Could Tennessee face another court battle?

Some college sports stakeholders believe Tennessee isn’t being a team player. But UT has reasons to distance itself from the NCAA in future lawsuits, and it has a good track record against the governing body.

They faced off in federal court in 2024 after the state of Tennessee, on behalf of UT, sued the NCAA to loosen its stringent rules over NIL benefits. UT won that battle.

On Jan. 31, 2025, the NCAA and a coalition of states led by Tennessee reached a settlement that protects student-athletes’ NIL rights during the recruiting process and prohibits the NCAA from bringing back its NIL recruiting ban.

And in 2023, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti threatened to sue the NCAA if it gave the UT football team a postseason ban in the Pruitt recruiting scandal. UT also won that battle, as the NCAA relented from issuing a postseason ban.

The bad blood between UT and the NCAA can’t be ignored as a backdrop to this state law. And don’t be surprised if Skrmetti or Tennessee lawmakers get involved again if this situation escalates.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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NIL

Texas Drops $500,000 Bombshell NIL Offer on 5-Star 2026 Recruit

With NIL now in play, college football recruiting has reached unprecedented heights. Programs across the nation are pushing financial boundaries to land elite talent. Five-star prospects now draw attention not only for their talent on the field but also for their potential to earn through NIL deals. Recently, one program made an offer that has […]

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June 26, 2025

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With NIL now in play, college football recruiting has reached unprecedented heights. Programs across the nation are pushing financial boundaries to land elite talent. Five-star prospects now draw attention not only for their talent on the field but also for their potential to earn through NIL deals. Recently, one program made an offer that has made headlines.

Kaiden Prothro Reveals Massive Texas NIL Package Worth $500,000

Five-star tight end Kaiden Prothro has surprised the recruiting world by announcing that Texas presented him with an NIL offer close to $500,000. That’s not a typo. The elite 2026 prospect, who is currently weighing offers from Georgia, Florida, and Texas, said most schools are in the same ballpark, except LongHorns.

“I’d say most of the schools are about the same,” Prothro said. “Besides, like, Texas is probably like half a mil.”

Since stepping into the SEC spotlight, Steve Sarkisian has been relentless on the recruiting trail. The Longhorns know that to compete in the conference’s brutal weekly grind, they need elite playmakers, and they’re willing to spend for them. A half-million-dollar NIL offer speaks volumes about Texas’ vision and commitment to becoming a powerhouse.

Prothro is one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2026 class. He is ranked No. 2 tight end nationally and No. 29 overall by On3. His size, speed, and receiving skills fit modern college offenses perfectly.

As his hometown, Georgia will surely become an easy favorite. The Bulldogs have a strong track record of developing top tight ends and winning championships. Their recent success gives them an edge beyond just NIL deals.

Billy Napier’s program is also among his top three favorites. The Gators are rebuilding and seeking impact talent for the SEC, and strong NIL offers might help their case.

College football values tight ends like never before. Programs invest big in players who can dominate in the passing attack. Prothro’s talent makes him a smart investment.

Experts say large NIL offers like this will become standard. With growing revenue, programs can spend more on top players, and the competition for recruits isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Prothro’s commitment may come at any time around July 12. He’s carefully weighing all his options. The $500,000 offer from Texas has definitely made his choice even more compelling.





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How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put | Ap

Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college. It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft […]

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June 26, 2025

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Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college.

It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft starts Wednesday night with its lowest total of those prospects in at least 10 years.


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Jay Bilas explains why NIL has positive impact on both college basketball, NBA Draft

This year, the NBA Draft saw its fewest early entrants in a decade. Just 106 players entered the draft by the end of April, which continues a downward trend from 363 declarations in 2021 just before the NIL era began. More players are opting to stay in college and hone their skills now that they […]

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This year, the NBA Draft saw its fewest early entrants in a decade. Just 106 players entered the draft by the end of April, which continues a downward trend from 363 declarations in 2021 just before the NIL era began.

More players are opting to stay in college and hone their skills now that they are able to enter into NIL deals and make money. To ESPN’s Jay Bilas, that helps both the college and professional games.

Bilas said the amount of talent returning to college programs means those players can become more well-rounded by the time they reach the NBA. As a result, both levels can benefit – and it makes the later rounds of the draft a bit more interesting.

“I think what we’re seeing is that NIL and the opportunity to make money while you’re in college has caused players that may have been fringe-first rounders or second-round picks to stay in school longer,” Bilas said on FOS Today. “Why go in when you’re doing so well financially in college? You can wait now and go when you really feel like you’re ready. So we’ve seen, the second round is a lot different with NIL that it would have been in past years, you would’ve seen a lot of players go. And now, they’re staying, and I think that’s nothing but a good thing, certainly, for college basketball, to keep more talent in the game.

“But I think it’s also good for the NBA that they’re getting finished products when they decide to go and players that are really [feeling] like they’re truly ready. I think that’s a good thing for the NBA, as well.”

One of the most notable draft withdrawals was Labaron Philon, who announced his decision to return to Alabama despite having first-round potential and initially saying he’d stay in the draft. On3’s James Fletcher III ranked the former touted recruit as the No. 27 overall player on his Big Board prior to his announcement.

Florida also won big with NBA Draft withdrawals, keeping Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu on the roster after last season’s national title. Former Memphis guard PJ Haggerty also withdrew from the draft and eventually announced his decision to transfer to Kansas State for an NIL deal reportedly in the “neighborhood” of $2.5 million. He was considered a fringe second-round pick.

The 2025 NBA Draft officially gets underway Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. Round 2 will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.





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Michigan big man Danny Wolf heads to Nets at No. 27 in the NBA Draft – Macomb Daily

Danny Wolf bet on himself when he made the decision to transfer from Yale to Michigan. He wanted to prove he could play on the perimeter. He wanted to prove he could play against the best in the Big Ten. He wanted to prove he had the talent to play at the next level. Wolf […]

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Danny Wolf bet on himself when he made the decision to transfer from Yale to Michigan.

He wanted to prove he could play on the perimeter. He wanted to prove he could play against the best in the Big Ten. He wanted to prove he had the talent to play at the next level.



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Jim Harbaugh donates team gear to support NIL at Michigan through Champions Circle auction

Jim Harbaugh is entering his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the former Michigan football coach is still supporting the program he took to three straight Big Ten championships and the 2023 national title.  Champions Circle is currently auctioning team-issued gear that Harbaugh wore during his time with the Wolverines. Proceeds from the online garage sale will […]

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Jim Harbaugh is entering his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the former Michigan football coach is still supporting the program he took to three straight Big Ten championships and the 2023 national title. 

Champions Circle is currently auctioning team-issued gear that Harbaugh wore during his time with the Wolverines. Proceeds from the online garage sale will support Michigan football NIL. 

“A lifelong football man and one of the sport’s most vocal advocates for student-athlete rights, Coach Harbaugh was among the most prominent college coaches in support of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) during his time at Michigan,” reads a press release.

“Before departing for Los Angeles, Coach Harbaugh generously donated a wide array of team-issued gear, much of it worn by him during his nine seasons at Michigan, to NIL collective Champions Circle. These items are now up for bid and funds from the items will benefit Michigan Football NIL.” 

The auction includes cleats, shirts, jackets and other memorabilia collected during Harbaugh’s tenure in Ann Arbor. Some of the featured items: 

  • A team-issued “MICH1GAN 1,000 Wins” bomber jacket given to the Michigan football team after becoming the first program to reach the 1,000 all-time win mark during the 2023 season.
  • Autographed “career hat” pack including one autographed hat from Jim Harbaugh’s high school football team, the Ann Arbor Pioneer Pioneers, one autographed hat from Jim Harbaugh’s college football team, the Michigan Wolverines, and one autographed hat from Jim Harbaugh’s second NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts.
  • Team-issued Air Jordan 13 football cleats worn by Jim Harbaugh. 

Those interested in the auction can shop the collection by clicking here. Bidding closes Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. ET. 

Champions Circle was the first name, image and likeness (NIL) collective to become an official partner of Michigan Athletics. 

“We welcome the Champions Circle as the first U of M collective to achieve the status as an official partner of the Michigan Athletics,” Athletic Director Warde Manuel said when that news was announced in 2023. “Champions Circle has been thoughtful and proactive in its approach to support NIL activities for student-athletes across our entire athletic department. They have done a tremendous amount of work to properly leverage our marks to benefit our young people.”

Other Champions Circle initiatives have included the “One More Year Fund,” which helped retain Blake Corum, Mike Sainristil, Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, Kris Jenkins and others for the 2023 national championship run. The “Those Who Stay (Home)” campaign helped welcome the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Bryce Underwood, to the program. According to Champions Circle, more than 11,000 individuals have donated to the NIL collective. 

“We want to thank our Founding Members and others associated with Champions Circle who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it possible to continue our work building championship teams at Michigan,” the organization said.



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A screenshot from College Football 26 showing Dabo Swinney’s in-game model sparked strong reactions online.

A screenshot from College Football 26 showing Dabo Swinney’s in-game model sparked strong reactions online. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is officially in a video game — but fans are wondering if EA Sports has ever actually seen him. Advertisement On Tuesday morning, EA Sports released a much-anticipated deep dive […]

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A screenshot from College Football 26 showing Dabo Swinney’s in-game model sparked strong reactions online. originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is officially in a video game — but fans are wondering if EA Sports has ever actually seen him.

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On Tuesday morning, EA Sports released a much-anticipated deep dive into the Dynasty Mode of College Football 26, unveiling gameplay footage and new features ahead of the July 10 release. Among the biggest additions: real head coaches are now officially featured on the sidelines — a major upgrade from the generic placeholders used in previous versions.

But when the Clemson faithful caught their first glimpse of Swinney’s digital likeness, the reaction was… not kind.

The model, which appeared in a screen capture during the EA Sports YouTube reveal, drew near-instant criticism across social media. Fans pointed out that while coaches like Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman, and James Franklin bear a strong resemblance to their real-life counterparts, Swinney’s digital double looks like a random character generated from scratch.

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“This isn’t Dabo. This is Dale from Clemson, who eats at the Esso every Sunday after church and thinks NIL is witchcraft,” one user joked on X.

Another fan added, “EA really looked at Dabo Swinney and said, ‘Let’s make him look like a divorced stepdad who sells pest control door-to-door.’”

Others compared the in-game Swinney to a mash-up of Jeff Daniels, Liam Neeson, Bob Odenkirk, and even former president George W. Bush — anything but the Clemson coach fans know so well.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney talks with media.© Ken Ruinard &sol; staff &sol; USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney talks with media.© Ken Ruinard &sol; staff &sol; USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

To be fair, the inclusion of actual head coaches — including assistants like Garrett Riley and Tom Allen for Clemson — is a welcome and long-awaited improvement. It adds authenticity and immersion to a franchise that had been dormant since 2013 due to NIL-related legal battles.

Still, many wondered how EA could get Swinney so wrong after reportedly receiving thousands of reference photos from Clemson. “If this is the worst part of the game, we’ll survive,” one fan admitted. “But seriously, they had one job.”

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This isn’t the first time EA Sports has missed the mark with a Clemson figure. In last year’s College Football 25 trailer, a quick shot of the Tigers running down The Hill showed an unrecognizable version of offensive lineman Walker Parks.

Parks, listed at 6’5”, 310 pounds, looked closer to 375 in the game — fans joked he was “one biscuit away” from needing his own zip code. The clip went viral and sparked a wave of laughs and eye-rolls across social media.

Now, with Dabo’s look causing a new stir, it seems Clemson still can’t catch a break from EA’s character modeling team.

EA Sports has yet to respond to the criticism, but based on the flood of memes and commentary, the developers may want to consider a last-minute patch — or at the very least, a more accurate rendering in next year’s release.

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Until then, fans will have to settle for watching “Not-Dabo” roam the sidelines, looking more ready to lecture on the dangers of TikTok at a Rotary Club than lead Clemson into Death Valley.

Related: FSU QB’s Trash Talk Gives Clemson Major Motivation for November Showdown

Related: Clemson Poised to Snatch 4-Star Safety From Jaws of Michigan, Miami

Related: Former MLB Umpire Who Ejected Clemson Star Strikes Again in CWS Controversy

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.



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