JMI Sports will continue to serve as the exclusive multimedia rights holder of UK Athletics. They’re also adding a few more responsibilities as the two extend their partnership over the next 15 years.
At the first board meeting of the new Champions Blue LLC., the artist formerly known as UK Athletics unveiled an extension between JMI Sports from 2034-2040. The deal, which began in 2014, is estimated to be worth $465 million. It’s an estimation based on projected ad revenues.
“It gives us stability,” Mitch Barnhart said following the board meeting. “I think in a landscape that is really crazy, partnerships and names change and move all over the place as fast as the transfer portal. We’ve had a partner we celebrated 10 years with last year… This gives us stability. If you look forward, it gives you a plan, a purpose, and an opportunity to say it’s our pathway.”
Part of that pathway is asking JMI to do more than broadcast games. JMI has created a BBNIL Suite that will serve as Kentucky’s in-house NIL collective. Their goal is to help negotiate deals with brands, and build the athlete’s brand, while also ensuring each deal passes through the newly established NIL Go clearinghouse.
“It gives us an opportunity so that our partners are somewhat protected, said Barnhart. “The intellectual property, institutional property; it’s really important that if people want to use our marks, use our facilities for part of their endorsement property, that’s part of the deal. You come to the University of Kentucky and you’re part of our family and you get to use our things, but also that’s part of the relationship. There’s a responsibility and a right that comes with that.”
This will work in conjunction with the new BBN United initiative. Fans can begin signing up for the UK Athletics VIP club on Thursday. Members will help Kentucky’s revenue-sharing efforts, all while receiving additional perks, like behind-the-scenes access, quarterly gifts, and exclusive content created by JMI.
As a part of the new agreement with JMI, UK will receive 80% of the net revenue from all inventory and advertising opportunities over the next 15 years. That will come in the form of new video signage at Kroger Field and Kentucky Proud Park. Naming rights are also on the table for a proposed entertainment district near campus, and other athletic venues across campus.
Aug 30, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Ty Simpson is receiving NIL offers to stay in college and transfer to another program ahead of Wednesday’s deadline to declare for the NFL Draft, according to AL.com.
Simpson has reportedly been offered NIL deals worth $4 million and higher with one deal having a chance to be worth $6.5 million, but he has already announced his intentions to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Tennessee native started at quarterback for the Tide in 2025 after waiting three years for an opportunity to earn the role. He lead the Crimson Tide to the second round of the College Football Playoff in his first year as a starter before having to leave the Rose Bowl with an injury.
Simpson finished his first year as the Tide’s starting quarterback with 3,567 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns.
Carson Beck was the latest high-profile college quarterback to back out of plans to enter the NFL Draft and take his talents to another school with a huge NIL Deal.
No signs point to Simpson doing the same at the moment.
Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
Under a week remains in the window for college football players to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the 2026 offseason. The portal officially opened on Jan. 2 and will remain open until Friday.
Over 4,000 players at all levels of college football have decided to enter the transfer portal in the last month. Some of the most notable entries into the portal include Power Four quarterbacks seeking better situations at their next school.
One of the first quarterbacks to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the offseason was former Nebraska signal-caller Dylan Raiola. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his second school.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was recruited to Nebraska by Matt Rhule as a five-star prospect in the Cornhuskers’ 2024 signing class. He passed for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and led Nebraska to its first bowl game in eight seasons and first bowl victory since its win over UCLA in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl.
Raiola broke his fibula against USC, limiting his season to just nine games. He passed for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions in his last year with Nebraska. Raiola announced his intent to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 15, 2025.
While many quarterbacks who entered the NCAA transfer portal were either clearly linked to another Power Five program or had already committed to one, Raiola’s portal journey has been much quieter despite his early entry. Some of the prospects for Raiola in 2026 are less conventional than those of most quarterbacks who enter the transfer portal.
Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Pete Nakos of On3 reported that one possible option for Raiola in 2026 would be to transfer to Oregon and that if Dante Moore returned to the Ducks, Raiola would still transfer there and use a redshirt.
“Sources have indicated that Raiola is in play to join the Oregon roster regardless of Dante Moore’s NFL draft decision,” Nakos said. “If Moore decided to return to school, Raiola could redshirt a season and be in line to start in 2027.”
Moore is currently projecting as the second best quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft behind Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. As it relates to Raiola, Moore also transferred to Oregon and redshirted a season while Dillon Gabriel started for the Ducks in 2024.
If Moore stays at Oregon and Raiola transfers there, it would resemble that of a transfer prior to the portal’s inception. College athletes used to be required to sit out one full season after transferring from one school to another, but that requirement ended after the portal’s launch.
Is Ty Simpson this year’s Carson Beck? That’s a question the talented Alabama junior quarterback could be entertaining as multiple QB-needy programs reportedly try to sway him to transfer rather than jump to the NFL.
Beck famously declared for the 2025 NFL Draft last January before reversing course days later and transferring to Miami, where he’s led the 10th-ranked Hurricanes to the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship game Dec. 19 against No. 1 Indiana.
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Simpson formally announced his intentions to enter the 2026 NFL Draft last Wednesday. But that move may be on hold after the Crimson Tide’s 2025 starter — through third-parties — has reportedly received high-dollar NIL offers from other Power Four programs, including one particular deal that could total as much as $6.5 million, according to AL.com. That reportedly includes three other SEC programs that are offering at least $4 million for Simpson’s services in 2026, per AL.com.
Prior to his draft declaration last week, On3 insider Pete Nakos reported Simpson was evaluating all his options regarding his future per his agent, Peter Webb of QB Reps. That potentially included returning to Alabama, declaring for the NFL Draft, or entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
“No decisions have been made about Ty declaring for the draft at this point, and he is still evaluating everything with his family and close advisors,” Webb told Nakos.
Simpson has long been considered a potential first-round lock, and is currently projected to be the third quarterback off the board according to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., behind only Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore, neither of whom have declared for the draft yet.
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Despite leaving Alabama’s 38-3 quarterfinal loss to Indiana early with a cracked rib, Simpson capped a strong redshirt junior season in Tuscaloosa by throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns to just five interceptions in his first year as the Tide’s QB1. That included powering Alabama to an 11-4 record and a first-round victory over Oklahoma in the 2025 College Football Playoffs.
This news about Simpson comes two days after his two backups — redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and five-star true freshman Keelon Russell — both negotiated new deals with Alabama’s team collective, Yea Alabama, to return for the 2026 season.
The 6-foot-6 and 235-pound Mack saw the first significant action of his Crimson Tide career on New Year’s Eve when he replaced an injured Simpson in the second half of a 38-3 loss to No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl national quarterfinal.
Former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman committed to Texas out of the NCAA transfer portal, he announced via Instagram on Sunday. The Longhorns were one of three visits by the wideout.
Coleman had a large role for the Tigers’ offense over the last two years. In 2025, Coleman had 56 catches for 708 yards, five touchdowns and 12.6 yards per catch. In two seasons, Coleman has 93 catches for 1,306 yards, 13 touchdowns and 14 yards per catch.
Coleman came to Auburn as one of the program’s highest-rated recruits in recent history. Largely, he lived up to that billing as across two seasons, he hauled in 84 passes for 1,215 yards and 12 touchdowns.
As a high school prospect, Coleman was a Five-Star Plus+ recruit in the 2024 class. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services, he was the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver.
He signed with the Tigers over offers from Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU and dozens of other major programs. Coleman was committed to the Aggies for nearly five months before they fired head coach Jimbo Fisher, and as a result, Coleman’s future position coach Dameyune Craig. He flipped his pledge from A&M to Auburn on December 1, 2023 — marking a massive recruiting win for Hugh Freeze.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
Texas is coming off a season where they just missed out on the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns finished 10-3 by beating Michigan 41-27 in the Citrus Bowl.
Led by QB Arch Manning’s second half of the season development, Texas got on a hot streak. That included a win over 11-0 Texas A&M to end the season. Coleman adds to a dynamic offensive approach under Steve Sarkisian next fall.
Georgia football suffered arguably the biggest loss in the Transfer Portal last offseason. Former UGA quarterback Carson Beck made the shocking decision this time last year to transfer to Miami, and that was something that no one saw coming.
Georgia ended up being fine without him as they went on to win the SEC, but losing Beck at the time was not fun.
Fast forward to this offseason and rumors are beginning to swirl of another departure that would be just as shocking and impactful as Beck.
Nate Frazier rumors are the last thing Georgia needs
One of Georgia’s best players this season was running back Nate Frazier. There were countless games where he put the team on his back and helped carry them to victory, and his success this past season has led to everyone at Georgia being excited for what’s to come next season.
Frazier however has not publicly announced that he will be back at Georgia next year and rumors are circulating that he could enter the Transfer Portal.
It’s impossible to state how big of a loss this would be for Georgia. Frazier finished the season just shy of 1,000 yards as he racked up 947 yards and six touchdowns on 173 carries. He also had dominant showings in a few games as well, most notably when he ran for 181 yards against Mississippi State. He was set to have an even bigger season next year as a junior, but that may not be occurring at Georgia anymore.
Frazier hasn’t entered the Transfer Portal yet, but it sounds like there is a chance he does. And if he does it Ohio State could be the team he lands with.
Kirby Smart and his staff have to do everything they can to keep Frazier in Athens. Georgia does have Chauncey Bowens who will return to their backfield for another season, but he can’t do it alone. He needs Frazier with him so Georgia can have one of the best running back duos in the country.
But there is a chance that doesn’t happen next season, and losing Frazier would feel a lot like losing Beck last year.
Ty Simpson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but that hasn’t curbed college football programs from trying to get the Alabama quarterback on their roster.
According to AL.com’s Nick Kelly, Simpson has been offered “a deal that could total $6.5 million” from one program, while three SEC teams have offered “at least $4 million and more.”
Simpson was the No. 26 overall player and No. 4 quarterback in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He’s a bit of a rare breed in today’s college football landscape in the fact that he waited three years at Alabama before becoming the starter, rather than transferring somewhere else.
Simpson played behind Bryce Young in 2022 and Jalen Milroe in 2023 and 2024 before eventually landing the starting job in 2025. While he had a few shaky outings, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this year, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions
His final game with the Crimson Tide came in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Indiana, where he threw for just 67 yards in a 38-3 blowout loss.
Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department considers Simpson to be the No. 30 overall player and the No. 3 quarterback in this year’s draft class. In the latest mock draft from B/R, Simpson is projected to land with the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 13 pick.
While Simpson is widely projected to be a first-round pick, the NFL combine should give him a good idea of where he might land in April. Assuming he’s a consensus first-round pick, it’s hard to imagine Simpson will return to the collegiate level.
If he isn’t so confident about going in the first round, perhaps he’ll take one of the lucrative NIL offers he’s reportedly received.