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John Blackwell wasn’t interested in transferring. Only Wisconsin Badgers or NBA Draft

John Blackwell gave serious consideration to entering the NBA Draft this offseason, but that was the only way he was leaving the Wisconsin Badgers. He withdrew his name from the draft last month, confirming he would be back playing for Greg Gard this season, but apparently other schools came calling, too. He told Jesse Temple […]

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John Blackwell gave serious consideration to entering the NBA Draft this offseason, but that was the only way he was leaving the Wisconsin Badgers.

He withdrew his name from the draft last month, confirming he would be back playing for Greg Gard this season, but apparently other schools came calling, too.

He told Jesse Temple of Badger Connect that he heard from other schools this spring, but he didn’t have any interest in playing for a different college basketball program.

He share with Temple his strong rebuttal for those schools that reached out, telling them that they should have recruited Blackwell out of high school if they wanted him to play for them.

He was locked in on his basketball journey. He wanted to see if he was ready for the NBA, and if he wasn’t, he knew that returning to the Badgers was his next best option.

It’s a refreshing show of program loyalty in the NIL and transfer portal age that sees top players regularly bouncing between schools.

It might not have been the response he wanted from the pros, but another year at Wisconsin will give him the opportunity to be the No. 1 option for Gard and try to lead the team to postseason success.

Maybe then, the NBA Draft will be more likely.



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Clemson baseball adds veteran left-handed reliever with SEC experience

Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night. Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich. Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on […]

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June 29, 2025

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Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night.

Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich.

Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on Saturday, he picked up a commitment from 23-year-old left-handed reliever Michael Sharman. He previously spent time with Tennessee before starting 16 games with Georgia Highlands in the JUCO in 2024 with 101 strikeouts in 92.2 innings, per Jon Blau.

This is a nice get for the Tigers who need all the pitching help they can get. Sharman has plenty of experience at the age of 23 and it’s especially reassuring that he spent time with one of the bigger baseball powers in the SEC.

When he was with Tennessee, he had a 3.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.

Clemson is quietly building one of the best rosters in college baseball ahead of the 2026 season. The Tigers have landed some legitimate MLB prospects to play the field and if they end up making it to campus, Clemson will have one of the best offensive teams in the ACC next season. They could also be in line to host another regional.

Addressing pitching needs should make fans happy as it was the biggest weakness in 2025. Bakich is taking his “getting back to a World Series” quote seriously so far this offseason.

Bakich and Brad Brownell have owned the transfer portal recently. Dabo next?





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Ranking the Top Five WVU Players Who Would Have Broken the Bank in the NIL Era

NIL has changed the game in college athletics in a big way. Not only can athletes earn money from local and national businesses, but they can now be paid directly by the university they attend, thanks to the House Settlement. This got me thinking. Which former West Virginia legends would have made the most money […]

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NIL has changed the game in college athletics in a big way. Not only can athletes earn money from local and national businesses, but they can now be paid directly by the university they attend, thanks to the House Settlement.

This got me thinking. Which former West Virginia legends would have made the most money had NIL been a thing during their playing days?

Before I get into my top five, I want to make it known that I tried to include some defensive players, but there was just no room. Plus, we all know skill players on offense are the ones who typically make the most money.

Honorable mention: RB Avon Cobourne, WR Stedman Bailey, LB Darryl Talley, CB Aaron Beasley.

Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images

Nov 23, 2012; Ames, Iowa, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Tavon Austin (1) rushes down field against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images / Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images

I know what you’re thinking..what?!? Fifth?!? As special as Tavon Austin was, wide receivers just aren’t valued as much as quarterbacks, of course. Don’t get me wrong, he was widely viewed as one of the most electrifying players in college football during his playing days, but his national audience really exploded after his senior year when the “Only One” highlight video went viral. Tavon would have made a lot of money, but probably not as much as his quarterback.

Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images

Nov 23, 2012; Ames, Iowa, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith (12) drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. West Virginia defeated Iowa State 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images / Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images

Speaking of the guy who threw it to Tavon, Geno checks in at No. 4. Heck, you could make a case that he should be a spot higher, but I’ll explain my reasoning for that here in a second. Geno was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football and wasn’t afraid to take shots downfield. Other schools would have been doing everything they could to pry him out of Morgantown if the NIL era were during his time. Could you imagine the type of money that would have been thrown at him after the Orange Bowl? Holy smokes.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Dec 1, 2007, Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back (10) Steve Slaton runs in the Mountaineers 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Mylan Puskar Stadium. Duhart recovered the fumble. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Slaton is the highest-ranked non-QB on this list. I have him just ahead of Geno because he was, after all, an All-American and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. You also have to keep in mind how valuable running the football was in the early 2000s. With the numbers he posted in ’06, it would have made it very difficult for WVU to keep others away.

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Dec 27, 2008; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Pat White (5) speaks to the fans while holding the game most valuable player award after his teams win over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. West Virginia defeated North Carolina 31-30. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Had Pat White arrived in Morgantown, say, 10 years later, he would have been viewed as a first-round draft pick. When he came out, the NFL hadn’t really opened up to the idea of smaller, mobile quarterbacks, and yet he still went in the second round. White was an unstoppable force during his college days and would have had some massive offers after the Sugar Bowl, let alone after the Fiesta Bowl, when schools could have tried to take advantage of Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan.

Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

Oct, 1988; Morgantown, WV, USA,FILE PHOTO; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Major Harris (9) on the sideline during the 1988 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images / Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

“The Maj” was truly ahead of his time. He was a unique talent back in the 80s, as dual-threat quarterbacks were more of a rarity. All of the blue bloods would have done everything they could to try to get their hands on the unicorn at the most prized position. This is what puts Major ahead of Pat (on this list) for me. He would have had more value because there was nothing else like him in college football. As far as who the greatest Mountaineer ever is? That’s a different debate, and one I’m not taking a side on. Sorry.

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

WVU Found an Athletic OL Project With Big Upside in Justyn Lyles

Big Surprise or a Total Flop? CBS Sports Lays Out Best, Worst-Case Scenarios for WVU

No More Preseason Picks: Big 12 Ditches Poll After Media Misses Again and Again

Darian DeVries Can’t Even Congratulate the Man Who Helped Him Land the Indiana Job



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As Jerome Bettis Jr. Starts at Notre Dame, His Father Questions NIL Era

Jerome Bettis lived life as a major college athlete in the early ’90s when he helped form one of the great backfields in the history of Notre Dame football. He then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Rams and Steelers before retiring and eventually returning to South Bend some 30 […]

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Jerome Bettis lived life as a major college athlete in the early ’90s when he helped form one of the great backfields in the history of Notre Dame football. He then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Rams and Steelers before retiring and eventually returning to South Bend some 30 years later to earn his degree.

Now Bettis is enjoying life on the other side of things, this time as a parent of a Notre Dame football player. Jerome Bettis, Jr. is a freshman wide receiver for the Fighting Irish and is getting set for his freshman year this coming fall.

The elder Bettis can certainly see differences in college sports now versus when he played for Lou Holtz, and some of them he’s not too fond of.

“One of the first two questions is gonna be money.” Bettis told the Sporting News, “That was never in the equation. What you used to look for is not necessarily the priority as much. That’s the scary part about this new NIL world that these players are living in. The educational side, I think, is now put on the back burner with the understanding that it’s about the NIL and it is about playing time, right? And, I think that’s the way this, it’s kind of been skewed. I’m not a big fan of, kind of how the process is. I understand it,” Bettis told Andrew Hughes.

Don’t get it confused, Bettis isn’t against NIL, but he’s certainly not a fan of the lack of true commitment that comes these days.

“I think the NIL is necessary, but I do believe you’ve gotta find a way to get the players a little bit more commitment, in a sense that, right now, NIL with the transfer portal makes it a free agency fest. I think it really disrupts a young person’s opportunity with the education. Because if I’m transferring year to year, how is the education affected by that? Because ultimately, what I try to make sure of, that the young people understand when I’m talking to them, is that even if you do have an incredible NFL career, you may play eight, 10 years.

Bettis noted that even those with the best NFL careers post-college have a lot of life left following their playing days.

“You’re gonna be 32, 33, 34 years old. That degree is going to be necessary at some point. You have a long life to live. That education with pay dividends and will be a factor. But if you’re not considering it at all, then it can be to your detriment.”

Jerome Bettis runs against Northwestern in 1992

Sep 1992; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish runningback (6) Jerome Bettis in action against Northwestern at Soldier Field. / RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Based on reading the headline on The Sporting News webpage today, I was worried that Bettis was going to come off sounding like an old man yelling at a cloud. I think what he has to say speaks to why Notre Dame is having so much success in recruiting lately, and specifically with sons of former NFL players.

Those guys get what life is like during a pro football career as well as after. At 16 or 17 years old they may think football will last forever, but before you know it, it’s done, and there are decades upon decades left to live and thrive elsewhere.

Having a degree in something other than Underwater Basket Weaving is a key part of the opportunity that is afforded and Bettis probably has experience of former teammates in the pros could have used more of the academic opportunity, and fears those missed chances may only get worse with this generation when they jump from program to program on an annual basis.





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Many college football fans believe NIL is ruining the sport they love. In today’s age, it feels like players have no loyalty and are chasing the biggest paycheck over staying with a program and developing throughout their careers. Despite the criticism of NIL, one of the benefits is that it allows high school athletes to […]

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June 29, 2025

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Many college football fans believe NIL is ruining the sport they love. In today’s age, it feels like players have no loyalty and are chasing the biggest paycheck over staying with a program and developing throughout their careers.

Despite the criticism of NIL, one of the benefits is that it allows high school athletes to immediately make money to support their families through things like brand deals. One  that has taken advantage of NIL is Adidas, and the company just announced its newest class of football stars to represent the brand.

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Adidas Unveils Stacked 2025 NIL Class Featuring Top Football Recruits

Adidas recently announced its 2025 NIL class, featuring six top recruits in the 2026 cycle. Each of these athletes will be featured in brand campaigns for the company throughout their final year of high school.

The class is headlined by five-star Tyler Atkison, the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class, and five-star LSU commit Tristen Keys, the No.1 wide receiver in the 2026 class.

Along with Atkinson and Keys, Adidas class also features four additional top receiver recruits: five-star Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr, five-star Calvin Russell, four-star Ohio State commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and four-star Texas A&M commit Madden Williams.

It’s a star-studded high school class for Adidas and represents the ever-changing landscape of college athletics in the age of NIL.

While there are obviously downsides to the current NIL system, the fact that these young athletes can sign with a company like Adidas and earn money before they even get to college highlights how NIL can be so special and make massive impacts on these players’ lives.

Every athlete that Adidas signed to this campaign has proven themselves at a high level and are all regarded as some of the best high school football players in the country. They’ve earned the right to be able to make money off of their name, image, and likeness, and Adidas is giving them the platform to do so.

Time will tell if their college careers pan out. Still, they have at least had the opportunity to make life-changing money by signing with Adidas for their senior years and will attempt to solidify their place in college football during the 2026 season.

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Clemson football has 5th-best offense in EA Sports College Football 26

Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26. Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when […]

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June 29, 2025

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Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26.

Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when they start their dynasties or Road to Glory modes.

If you do pick Clemson, you’ll have the seventh-best overall team in the game (also tied for the second-highest-rated) which features one of the best offenses. Yes, Clemson will have one of the top offenses in the game when it’s usually known for defense.

Clemson will have the No. 5 offense in the game when it’s released with a 89 overall rating, according to a new ratings reveal on Friday.

Clemson’s offense is behind only Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, and Arizona State. You could make legitimate arguments that they could be ahead of everyone not named Texas because of the returning production and the fact that the Tigers have the best quarterback in the country but this is a pretty good spot.

Plus, it has LSU at No. 6 which is only going to set up an epic showdown in Death Valley to begin the season as two of the most explosive offenses square off under the lights.

Clemson is surprisingly not the only ACC team to crack the top 10 as Miami also has an 89 rating at No. 10, but the Tigers have more pieces and proven experience.

Raise your hand if you can’t wait until this game comes out.





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After NCAA denied his eligibility request, Louisville’s Aly Khalifa can now play in 2025-26

Aly Khalifa, who was a member of Mark Pope‘s BYU team during the 2023-24 season, will take on his former head coach later this season. On Friday, the Louisville men’s basketball program announced that Khalifa has been ruled eligible for the upcoming 2025-26 season after his original waiver request was denied by the NCAA in […]

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Aly Khalifa, who was a member of Mark Pope‘s BYU team during the 2023-24 season, will take on his former head coach later this season.

On Friday, the Louisville men’s basketball program announced that Khalifa has been ruled eligible for the upcoming 2025-26 season after his original waiver request was denied by the NCAA in May. Khalifa, a 6-foot-11, 275-pound pass-first center, redshirted the 2024-25 season at Louisville while recovering from knee surgery.

After missing out on the opportunity to face Pope and Kentucky last season (a 93-85 home win for UK), Khalifa will finally have that chance on November 11 when the Cardinals host the Wildcats at the KFC Yum! Center. Admittedly, the video of Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey announcing to the team that Khalifa can play next season is pretty cool.

Khalifa, who hails from Egypt, began his college career at Charlotte for two seasons, where he was named the Conference USA Rookie of the Year in 2021-22. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he had his best statistical season thus far: 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 28.6 minutes per outing. Not known as the fastest or most athletic player on the floor, Khalifa carved out a role as a playmaker and floor-spreader.

So naturally, once he dipped into the transfer portal in 2023, Pope came calling with plenty of interest. Khalifa signed with BYU and started 26 of 29 games with the Cougars in 2023-24. He was Amari Williams before Pope had Amari Williams — someone who initiated the offense from the high post and helped direct traffic. Khalifa averaged 5.7 points, four assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game for BYU.

Khalifa considered following Pope to Kentucky last offseason (a return to BYU was also on the table), but he elected to join Kelsey at the school up the road. Khalifa told KSR during the NCAA Tournament that there we no hard feelings between him and Pope.

“He’s a great coach, that’s what he deserves, that’s what they expect as well from the head coach at Kentucky. It’s his dream job,” Khalifa said in March. “We had a great year last year and this year he’s having a great year. Hopefully it goes on. But I’m not surprised at all. I knew he was gonna be good. He has a lot of great pieces from the portal he got. I wish the best for him.”

The Big Blue Nation should be excited that Khalifa was ruled eligible — there won’t be any room for excuses from Louisville fans when Kentucky wins again this fall.



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