NIL
Kansas State University
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Behind five scoreless innings from Tazwell Butler and five runs batted in by David Bishop, K-State set a school record for most conference wins in a season en route to a 9-5 victory against Cincinnati Saturday afternoon at UC Baseball Stadium. With the win, the Wildcats (31-23) finish the regular season […]

With the win, the Wildcats (31-23) finish the regular season with a winning record for the sixth consecutive year, that includes a 17-13 mark in Big 12 play. The Cats’ 17 conference wins are the most in school history, breaking the previous record held by the 2013 team.
“Guys played well in a pressure situation, you always love to see that,” seventh-year head coach Pete Hughes commented. “They set the tone early. They didn’t let the first two games in the series beat them today, and we took the momentum right from the beginning of the game and kept it in large part by great offensive efforts, by Seth Dardar and David Bishop.”
Bishop, a native of Marietta, Georgia, achieved his career day with a three-run blast in the second – his fourth homer of the year. The senior first baseman ended the day going 2-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored.
In addition to Bishop, seven other players contributed to the Wildcats’ 12 hits. Dardar posted a three-hit day (3-for-4) to pace the offense, that included his 12th homer, while Maximus Martin was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The 1 through 4 spots in the lineup combined to hit .412 (7-for-17) with four RBI.
“Tazwell Butler was our MVP today. He settled in with a lead, let people make plays behind him, and got some strikeouts. He was our MVP today,” added Hughes.
Butler (1-1) was awarded his first victory at K-State, after firing five scoreless innings in relief of starter Lincoln Sheffield. The Sandy Springs, Georgia product limited the Bearcats (31-23, 16-14 Big 12) to just two hits in his 15th outing of the season.
K-State now turns its efforts towards the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, starting Wednesday, May 21. The single-elimination championship field of 12 will be announced at the conclusion of the conference’s final game on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
K-State jumped on the board in the first, as Keegan O’Connor drilled a two-out double off the wall in right field to drive in Martin from second.
The Wildcats continued to put pressure on early, exploding for five runs in the second.
Dee Kennedy was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by catcher Bear Madliak’s bunt for a single, before the duo each advanced 90-feet on a wild pitch. With runners in scoring position, Bishop doubled into right center to extend the lead, 3-0.
A sacrifice bunt moved Bishop to third, until Shintaro Inoue lifted a ball deep into left field, allowing Bishop to score.
Maximus Martin singled up the middle and came around the bases in the next at bat, as Dardar hit a towering shot off the basketball arena in right field to hand the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.
In the third, AJ Evasco and Dee Kennedy each walked and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from Madliak. With one out, Bishop belted his fourth homer of the year out to left center, making it a 9-2 ball game.
The Bearcats chipped away at the Cats’ lead, tallying a run in four of the first five innings to pull the score within four, 9-5.
Butler relieved Sheffield in the fifth and inherited a runner on first with no outs. The right-hander retired 11 consecutive batters to preserve the four-run lead.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored nine runs on 12 hits, committed no errors, and left eight runners on base.
- UC scored five runs on 11 hits with one error committed and six men left stranded.
- Eight players contributed a hit with three recording multiple.
- Dardar went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, followed by Bishop and Martin each with two hits.
- Bishop drove in a career-high five RBI, highlighted by a three-run homer in the second.
- Dardar and Bishop each homered, marking K-State’s 28th game hitting two or more.
- Sheffield was tagged for five earned runs on nine hits in his four innings.
- Butler fired five scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out five to earn the win (1-1).
- K-State scored all nine runs in the first three innings.
- Schultz (0-2) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.
- Niehaus led UC’s offense, going 3-for-4, while Sefcik drove in a team-high two RBI.
TEAM NOTES
- The Cats’ 17th Big 12 victory marks the most conference wins in a season in school history.
- With the win, K-State tied the all-time series 3-3, while it was the Cats’ first win in Cincinnati.
- K-State has homered in 39 of 54 games this season, hitting multiple in 28 of those (25-3).
- The win marked the first regular season finale victory since 2017.
NIL
Here’s how fans want Michigan Football to divvy up money to build roster
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. There’s a new revenue-sharing model for the University of Michigan Athletics Department and all other […]

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There’s a new revenue-sharing model for the University of Michigan Athletics Department and all other college institutions following the NCAA vs House Settlement. Michigan will be able to share $20.5 million in revenue with student-athletes. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has said that he expects 75% of that revenue ($15.38 million) to go to football.
Earlier this week, we asked fans how they want Michigan Football to divvy up money to build out its roster, and now the results are in.
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45% of fans believe the majority of the money should be spent on recruiting, 36% want the most allocated to roster retention, with 19% of fans thinking the transfer portal should be the priority.
The needs of a team will vary year by year, and thus, how the money is allocated will vary just the same. Perhaps the most proper strategy of all will be balance and making sure the program isn’t lacking in one area between recruiting, roster retention, and the transfer portal.
How did you vote this week? Let us know in the comments and come back next week for another edition of SB Nation Reacts.
Brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook.
NIL
Razorback nation begins to spiral after Arkansas baseball’s loss in the CWS
Arkansas in the postseason, especially when the Diamond Hogs make it to Omaha, never makes it easy. The Hogs are heading to the losers’ bracket to take on Murray State on Monday afternoon after being shut down by LSU in their first game of the College World Series. The PTHD (post-traumatic Hog disorder) has hit […]

Arkansas in the postseason, especially when the Diamond Hogs make it to Omaha, never makes it easy. The Hogs are heading to the losers’ bracket to take on Murray State on Monday afternoon after being shut down by LSU in their first game of the College World Series.
The PTHD (post-traumatic Hog disorder) has hit fans hard, and they’ve taken to social media to list their grievances, make self-effacing jokes, and scream into the void like Grampa Simpson yelling at the clouds. No doubt tonight’s game was important, and the journey to make the CWS final has just become much more difficult. However, some still have hope that the Hogs can overcome this initial error.
The social media reactions below highlight how much of the Razorback nation feels after watching Arkansas lose its first game against the Tigers.
Arkansas baseball vs LSU, CWS: Social media reactions
Starting strong is Hogs fan Randall Hog on X, posting a hilarious meme of the cartoon Bugs Bunny after what looks like a long day. After watching Arkansas baseball come up short in the postseason time and time again, much of Razorback Nation can relate.
— Randall Hog (@RandallHogWPS) June 15, 2025
HawgSports beat writer Connor Goodson calls back to Arkansas’ recent struggles with purple teams in the postseason. In 2023 and 2024, the Hogs ran into TCU and Kansas State, respectively, in the Regional rounds. Both played a part in knocking the Razorbacks out of the tournament those years.
I’d be alright with Arkansas baseball never facing a purple team ever again in the postseason.
— Connor Goodson (@ConnorGoodson) June 15, 2025
Razorback faithful and former America’s Got Talent star Tyler Davis makes a joke about LSU owning Arkansas. It would be funny if it didn’t hurt so much.
Should’ve played the game on Father’s Day with the way LSU son’d us in Omaha yet again.
— Tyler Davis (@TylerDavis93) June 15, 2025
When Arkansas played Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, Arkansas’ offense was shut down in a similar way. However, the Razorbackers official X account is already looking toward the future against Murray State.
This has the same feel as the SEC Ole Miss game. Doubted they would make it to the finals without a loss, but this one was just so important. On to Murray State.
— Razorbackers (@RazorbackersFS) June 15, 2025
To add insult to injury, Arkansas lost by making small errors on defense and coming up empty on offense, but Oregon State made comically bad plays against a not-so-great Louisville team and still won. Best of Arkansas Sports contributor Michael Main almost foresees the loss on Friday, posting this video and caption.
Oregon State doing stuff like this and still winning the game makes me wonder why the baseball gods hate Arkansas so much.
— Michael Main (@MichaelMain__) June 14, 2025
Kade Anderson was electric
Even in a loss, you have to give credit where it’s due. LSU lefty Kade Anderson was amazing on the mound. He single-handedly held the best offense in the country to three hits and one run in seven innings, striking out seven batters.
One X user put it bluntly. The Razorbacks just couldn’t beat one of the best pitchers in the country.
Arkansas going to have to run through the losers bracket is going to be tough. Just couldn’t beat one of the best pitchers in college baseball!
— thetoff4 (@JoshuaKoretoff) June 15, 2025
Jake Crain of Crain & Co. points out that Anderson had a performance that some people only dream of. Anderson probably did cement his legacy with that performance, and the Hogs just happened to be the victims.
Kade Anderson just did what every little league ball player dreams of for his favorite college team.
Awesome stuff.
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) June 15, 2025
Is Arkansas the Gonzaga of college baseball?
One X user makes an interesting point. The Gonzaga Bulldogs have had one of the best runs under Mark Few, but they haven’t quite gotten over the hump to win a national championship. But is Arkansas really the Gonzaga of college baseball? For how long Dave Van Horn has been on the Hill, one could argue Gonzaga of College Basketball instead.
Gonzaga basketball = Arkansas baseball
— Sam Beavers (@SamuelcBeavers) June 15, 2025
NIL
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark Discusses Post-House Priorities
Share Tweet Share Share Email Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark joined the Triple Option podcast this week, hosted by Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram, and Rob Stone, to outline his top priorities as college athletics enters a new, unsettled era. In the detailed conversation, Yormark highlighted three key battlegrounds: the House settlement, College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion, […]

NIL
Texas Tech Grant McCasland values culture, mitigates distractions building his team
The Texas Tech athletic program has made national news with its name. Image and likeness (NIL) program over the last month. It has been reported that the school has spent upwards of $55 million across all of its sports programs, and it is alleged that they are using their gains in that realm to buy […]

The Texas Tech athletic program has made national news with its name. Image and likeness (NIL) program over the last month. It has been reported that the school has spent upwards of $55 million across all of its sports programs, and it is alleged that they are using their gains in that realm to buy next year’s softball World Series.
Buying a team, or the implication that a program is willing to spend money on a championship, implies a lack of importance in culture. Texas Tech has been building its football, basketball, and softball programs with the power of an elite NIL program. That does not mean they are sacrificing culture at the same time. Men’s basketball head coach Grant McCasland recently spoke out about that very issue.
“We’re not gonna roll the dice on anybody. This is gonna be like this fits for this reason, and if not, we’re not gonna do it because I love our team too much to disrupt what we have.”
Are roster & staff additions coming for #TexasTech? Grant McCasland weighed in Friday.… pic.twitter.com/OdC25fMkmP
— RedRaiderSports.com (@RedRaiderSports) June 13, 2025
Grant states, quite simply, that he will not add players or staff who will impact team building. He is implying that team building is more intricate than buying the best available player on the market. McCasland has excelled in the transfer portal, snagging game-ready players from other power conference teams. His recent statement indicates that he has had a more analytical approach to team building. Knowing that amassing talent alone is not the way to win a championship shows the leadership of McCasland and his team.
The Red Raider hoops program has a bright future, built with precision and thought. According to McCasland’s statements, these public and powerful initiatives surely resonate across all Texas Tech programs and serve as a testament to Tech’s willingness to utilize NIL, within certain limits.
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NIL
A deep dive into the futures of Alabama Football, SEC teams and top Power Four teams
In the current era of one-season massive roster rebuilds, the duration of two seasons of college football is tantamount to forever. At the end of the 2026 season, Alabama Football will be three seasons into its post-Nick Saban era. What can Crimson Tide fans expect? ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg thinks he knows. Previously, ESPN has provided […]

In the current era of one-season massive roster rebuilds, the duration of two seasons of college football is tantamount to forever. At the end of the 2026 season, Alabama Football will be three seasons into its post-Nick Saban era. What can Crimson Tide fans expect? ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg thinks he knows.
Previously, ESPN has provided three-season Power Four Power Rankings projections. Rittenberg’s latest projection covers only the 2025 and 2026 seasons. His conclusions are subjective, using the criteria: returning quarterback, likelihood of a multi-year quarterback on the roster, offensive line and defensive line outlook, roster management, star power, and coaching staff.
Alabama football fans will not love Rittenberg’s ranking of the Crimson Tide program. Alabama is the fifth-highest ranked SEC football program at No. 10 overall. Nine SEC football teams are in the top 22 of the rankings, led by Texas at No. 1 and Georgia at No. 3. Also ranked in the top 22 are No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 15 Florida, No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 18 South Carolina, and No. 22 Missouri. The rest of the SEC is No. 27 Oklahoma, No. 28 Texas A&M, No. 37 Auburn, No. 47 Vanderbilt, No. 52 Kentucky, No. 55 Arkansas, and No. 59 Mississippi State.
Among the other three Power Four conferences, the Big Ten has seven programs in the top 25; the Big 12 and the ACC have four each. Five Big 12 programs are ranked below Mississippi State, as are three Big Ten programs.
Alabama Football Program Ranking
Two main factors reduced the Alabama Crimson Tide’s program ranking. One is not having a returning starting quarterback. The other is that Kalen DeBoer must prove themselves by making a College Football Playoff field. Given those criteria, Rittenberg’s No. 10 ranking for the Alabama Crimson Tide is more plausible.
Rittenberg did not factor 2025 Strength of Schedules into his projections. However, using his program rankings, the Alabama Crimson Tide will play at least six 2025 teams ranked in the top 27 programs for the next two seasons. Getting through that gauntlet with only a loss or two would indicate that Rittenberg’s No. 10 program ranking for the Crimson Tide is too low.
NIL
Standout baseball transfer commits to Florida Gators
The Florida Gators have landed a talented baseball transfer who had a strong 2025 season for another program in the Sunshine State. That player is Jaden Bastian, according to Jacob Rudner of Baseball America. Bastian, who plays center field, is transferring to UF from Jacksonville. He is considered one of the top college baseball players […]

The Florida Gators have landed a talented baseball transfer who had a strong 2025 season for another program in the Sunshine State. That player is Jaden Bastian, according to Jacob Rudner of Baseball America.
Bastian, who plays center field, is transferring to UF from Jacksonville. He is considered one of the top college baseball players in the transfer portal. Last season, Bastian hit .302/.433/.552 with 11 homers, 10 doubles, 5 triples and 33 RBI. Additionally, he recorded 36 stolen bases in 2025.
Bastian, a native of Winter Garden, Fla., just completed his sophomore season with the Dolphins. He also had a productive freshman season, when he posted a slash line of .263/.421/.465 with 6 home runs, 2 doubles, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
Here are Florida’s other baseball pickups thus far since the season ended:
RHP Russell Sandefer commits
Florida landed UCF right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer on June 6. Sandefer went 2-3 this season and recorded a 3.38 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 50.2 innings as a sophomore for the Knights. He had the third lowest ERA on the team.
C/DH AJ Malzone commits
The Gators landed their second commitment on June 5 from junior college catcher/DH AJ Malzone of Wabash Valley College in Illinois. In 2025, he batted .347 and had 10 homers, 58 RBI and a .602 slugging percentage over 58 games.
RHP Ricky Reeth commits
Notre Dame pitcher Ricky Reeth committed to Florida on June 5 for his final year of eligibility. This season Reeth posted a 4-2 record, 4.31 ERA and 43 strikeouts against 12 walks in 22 appearances. He allowed 23 earned runs and 44 hits in 48 innings.
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We have exciting news to announce from our good friend Andy Luedecke from MyPerfectFranchise.net. He is a big baseball fan and from his line of work he has seen first hand the fantastic traits that baseball players bring to the franchise world. Andy is offering up a donation of $500 – $1000 to Florida’s Baseball NIL collective if any member of GatorsOnline.com purchases a franchise. We think this is a cool opportunity to help the UF baseball program!
Now is the perfect time to contact Andy to learn more. Remember his services are 100% free and he’s here to help if you have any questions about business ownership! Go to MyPerfectFranchise.net to learn more or you can text or call Andy at 404.973.9901.
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