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Liberty falls to #1 Texas A&M, 14-11, in extras, forcing winner take all game 7

What an emotional roller-coaster for Liberty softball in the first of two games in the Regional Final in College Station against the No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M. The Flames lost, 14-11, in eight innings, forcing a winner-take-all game seven of this regional later Sunday night with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. The […]

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1 month ago

May 19, 2025

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The Lady Flames struck first as Savannah Woodard led off the bottom of the first with a home run. After Rachel Roupe helped eliminate a Texas A&M threat in the second as she gunned out a runner at home from trying to score from third on a fly ball to right field. Liberty would add to its lead with five runs in the second, taking a massive 6-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by Roupe’s 21st home run of the season, a grand slam.

As expected the Aggies would start chipping away at the Liberty lead, adding one in the third with an RBI single. The host team would explode for six runs in the fourth to take their first lead of the game at 7-6. Liberty had two errors in the inning, a sign of things to come throughout the game, while A&M blasted two home runs and scored four of their runs with two outs.

The Aggies would continue to pile on, looking like they would win going away, adding three more runs in the fifth, pushing their advantage to 10-6. Roupe’s defensive heroics would again come up big for the Flames, helping to limit the damage as she doubled the runner off first after securing a fly out to end the threat.

Brynn McManus missed a three-run home run by just inches as her ball in the bottom of the sixth hit off the wall, it did score one run as Liberty cut the deficit to three. The Aggies made it 11-7 scoring one in the top of the seventh, in part due to another Liberty error.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Flames trailed by four and looked destined to be headed to another game against Texas A&M. But the two-time defending CUSA champions would not go down quietly. The first two hitters in the inning singled before Alexia Carrasquillo would pinch-hit and have an RBI single off the outfield wall, scoring one run. Savannah Whatley followed with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to two at 11-9. Woodard then grounded out moving the runners to second and third as Rachel Roupe stepped to the plate.

Roupe singled back up the middle, scoring a run to make it 11-10. McManus would walk to load the bases before Alyssa Henault was hit by a pitch to tie the contest. KK Madrey, with the bases loaded, battled to a full count before flying out to left field, ending the Liberty threat and sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Aggies took advantage of a sixth Liberty error on what should have been the second out of the inning. Texas A&M would plate three runs in the inning before retiring Liberty in order to end the game and force a winner-take-all game seven.

Elena Escobar pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Paige Bachman drew the loss, allowing seven runs, three of them earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings of relief.

After Liberty chased the first two Texas A&M pitchers in the second, Kate Munnerlyn was strong in relief. She ended up allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings, with most of that damage coming in the sixth and seventh innings.

*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics

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Xavier Lucas’ attorney denies Miami meeting alleged in Wisconsin lawsuit

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. While not mentioned in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A,” the complaint centers around defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami this winter. Lucas never actually entered the transfer portal. A […]

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16 minutes ago

June 22, 2025

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The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. While not mentioned in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A,” the complaint centers around defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami this winter.

Lucas never actually entered the transfer portal. A standout freshman cornerback in 2024 for the Badgers, Lucas posted 18 tackles and an interception in seven games. Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January, circumventing the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Wisconsin is seeking financial damages and a judgment that Miami’s actions “wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.” Lucas’ attorney, Darren Heitner, said in the winter that Wisconsin violated NCAA rules by refusing to place Lucas in the transfer portal.

In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges that a Miami staff member and alumnus met Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida in December 2024 after the defensive back signed a two-year, revenue-sharing deal with Wisconsin. That included a “compensation commitment” from Miami that was “more lucrative” than Wisconsin’s deal.

“Miami representatives communicated with Student-Athlete A and his family members, including an in-person December 2024 visit from a Miami coach and a prominent Miami alumnus to the Florida home of a relative of Student-Athlete A,” Wisconsin’s complaint states. “The information related to the in-home visit was communicated to UW-Madison by a relative of Student-Athlete A on December 18, 2024.”

Heitner denied the allegations, telling On3 on Saturday that Lucas never met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024. Heitner previously threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin if Lucas was not able to play at Miami.

“Wisconsin’s allegations that my client, Xavier Lucas, met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024 are false,” Lucas’ attorney Darren Heitner told On3.

Heitner is an adjunct professor of NIL at the University of Miami School of Law.

In the lawsuit, Wisconsin alleges that Miami communicated with Lucas, “knowingly inducing” him to do so despite being under contract with the Badgers. Wisconsin wrote in the filing that it hopes the lawsuit “will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.”

The University of Miami has yet to respond to a request for comment. The Big Ten is supporting Wisconsin, telling On3 in a statement that “The University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”

It’s an unprecedented moment in college football, with one university accusing another of tampering and it will put the NCAA transfer portal rules to the test.

“These are the type of tampering allegations that are typically fought behind closed doors at the professional sports level based on the leagues’ collective bargaining agreement,” sports lawyer and professor Dan Lust told On3 on Friday. “Here, in the absence of any type of similar mechanism at the collegiate level, this dispute is going to be fought in open court for the world to see the complex interplay of forces in and around the transfer portal. This is truly an unprecedented case and one that commands the attention of the college sports world.”

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College football: Wisconsin NIL collective sues Miami, allege tampering | Ap

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17 minutes ago

June 22, 2025

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Opinion: 10 Problems With Wisconsin’s Lawsuit Against Miami

Just shy of two months ago, Cameron Anthony Ward stood on a Green Bay, Wisconsin stage, about 140 miles northeast of the University of Wisconsin, celebrating his selection as the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Wisconsin Badgers, who finished their season in November after only mustering five wins, did not have […]

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1 hour ago

June 22, 2025

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College football is about two months away from resuming the gridiron battles. But on Friday, the University of Wisconsin picked a different kind of battle: Bucky Badger filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami in Wisconsin state court alleging that Miami tampered with contracts between Wisconsin and its NIL collective (VC Connect, LLC). A copy of Wisconsin’s Complaint is available here (thanks to Margaret Fleming and Front Office Sports). In civil litigation, a Complaint is a document that launches the lawsuit by stating the alleged facts occurred and how those alleged facts were illegal. The full Complaint is worth a read, but snippets are discussed below.

Wisconsin’s lawsuit, the first of its kind brought by one university against another in the NIL era, has a host of problems.

1. Gee Whiz, Who Could be “Student-Athlete A”

At the center of the lawsuit is “Student-Athlete A.” This mystery student is described as a “DI college football player” who “arrived in Madison, Wisconsin for his freshman year” in June 2024, and played in “most games” during his freshman season. But then, this anonymous athlete requested to be placed in the transfer portal, Wisconsin refused, and “Student-Athlete-A” enrolled at the University of Miami anyways.

There is a real need to sometimes keep witnesses anonymous, but this is dumb. Obviously Xavier Lucas is “Student-Athlete A.”

2. Wisconsin is Elevating Its NIL Contracts Above NCAA By-Laws

One of the most startling facts in the Complaint is that Wisconsin admitted that it refused to enter Lucas into the Transfer Portal for no reason other than it believed Lucas was breaching his NIL contract(s):

As Lucas’ attorney previously explained, that’s not how that works:

Yes. Wisconsin violated NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.3.1, which required Wisconsin to enter Xavier Lucas’ information into the national transfer database within 2 business days. The NCAA now must punish Wisconsin for its blatant violation of the Bylaws. Failure to do so would be a clear… https://t.co/wo58kr6Lcd

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) January 18, 2025

Wisconsin is obligated under NCAA Bylaws to timely enter into the Transfer Portal any athlete wishing to enter. Wisconsin admitting in court that the only reason it ignored an NCAA Bylaw was because of an NIL contract dispute is astonishing. It’s no secret that the NCAA is losing its influence/respect, but could the Badgers at least be subtle about it?

3. Wisconsin Sued Miami, Not Lucas, But Will Still Drag Lucas (and His Mother) Into Litigation

So if Lucas breached some contracts, why not sue the young man for breaching some contracts? He’s an adult, he signed those agreements, and he’s probably being paid a healthy enough sum that he can hire a lawyer and/or pay some sort of breach penalty.

The answer is obvious…it would be a really, really bad look for Wisconsin to start suing its players. So Lucas is not named as a defendant.

Instead, the Complaint bends over backwards to paint the University of Miami as the villain. While the majority of the Complaint is about Lucas, Wisconsin’s main claims are that Miami tortiously interfered with two contracts – one contract between Wisconsin and Lucas (the “University Contract”), and another contract between the NIL collective and Lucas (the “Collective Contract”). According to the Complaint, the Collective Contract would compensate Lucas before July 1, 2025 when the University Contract would kick-in (after the House v. NCAA settlement was expected to have been resolved).

Even if Wisconsin didn’t sue Lucas, he’s not going to escape being entangled in this litigation. To prove its case, Wisconsin must show that Lucas in-fact breached those contracts. Wisconsin also has to show that Miami’s interference caused the breaches. That second step would be unnecessary if Wisconsin had just sued Lucas! But by crafting the Complaint the way Wisconsin did, Wisconsin is telegraphing that Lucas and his mother will be necessary witnesses who should expect to be subpoenaed in this lawsuit.

The clear message from Wisconsin is this: if any student athlete dare to leave your NIL deal early, if we don’t sue you we will at least sue the school you transfer to, and we will not hesitate to drag you and your mother into the litigation. Wisconsin’s crazy if they think this won’t affect their recruiting.

4. Wisconsin’s Lawsuit is on the Heels of Getting Hit With Recruiting Violations

Speaking of Badgers recruiting, the timing of the lawsuit couldn’t be richer. Just last week, the NCAA announced that Coach Fickell’s staff committed recruiting violations in 2023 for impermissible contact with recruits. Wisconsin football staff members made 139 (!) calls to 48 (!!) recruits in violation of NCAA rules.

The aftermath is that Wisconsin is on a one-year probation, and a former assistant coach and a former director of player personnel were each slapped with a one-year show cause penalty. Boy, it sure would be hypocritical if the lynchpin of Wisconsin’s lawsuit is that Miami had “impermissible contacts” with a student athlete…

5. Fellow Big Ten Member Nebraska Did the Same Thing

While on the subject of hypocrisy, it’s a little known fact that last year the University of Nebraska pulled a similar stunt with a highly coveted prospect. Mac Markway was a four-star, top 250 overall prospect for LSU. Markway played for the Tigers his freshman season, but then abruptly unenrolled five practices into fall camp. A few days later, the story is that Markway worked with a sports agent to secretly transfer without ever entering the Transfer Portal. When interviewed, Markway’s dad said that his son wanted to transfer closer to home. Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule swore that he knew nothing about Markway until he showed up at practice one day asking to join the team.

There’s no reason not to believe the Husker’s story. It’s a nice story, and frankly LSU should be commended for not (publicly) putting up a fuss about Markway’s departure. It has to be disruptive when a highly rated prospect leaves in the middle of Fall camp. Although not reported on, it would be surprising if Markway hadn’t signed some sort of NIL deal with LSU.

But when Xavier Lucas says he wants to transfer near his Fort Lauderdale home because his father was “suffering from a serious, life-threatening illness,” apparently that’s a gross breach of contract. It’s fine when Nebraska “facilitated” Markway’s enrollment outside the transfer portal, but when Miami “facilitates” Lucas’ enrollment that’s “impermissible contact.”

6. If Wisconsin Wins, How Are Athletes Not Employees?

Whether student athletes should be considered “employees” is a subject of hot debate. Classifying student athletes as employees would have a host of implications including entitling them to minimum wage, overtime pay, and a right to form a labor union. The NCAA and its members have consistently taken the position that athletes are not employees. But if Wisconsin has its way and a court agrees that Wisconsin was justified in denying Lucas the right to transfer schools because of a contract with Wisconsin, how is Lucas not considered an employee who can be restricted from talking with other Universities (ahem, employers)? Bucky better be careful what he wishes for.

7. Workout Chats Now Mean You Are Program Committed

One thing the Complaint attempts to demonstrate is that Lucas was 1,000% committed to Wisconsin until big, bad Sebastian the Ibis swooped in and soiled Lucas with impure thoughts:

This only further demonstrates how strained it is for Wisconsin to sue Miami instead of just suing Lucas. Apparently, talking about weightlifting and shooting some social media videos means you’re in a committed relationship. Ask any college student if that’s true. It’s not.

8. Miami Allegedly Outbid One of Wisconsin’s Richest NIL Contracts in History

In one breath, the Complaint alleges that Lucas “was offered one of the largest NIL financial commitments of any [Wisconsin] athlete.” In another breath, Wisconsin alleges that Miami offered “financial terms more lucrative than those included in the [Wisconsin] Contracts.”

So if that’s true, is one of Wisconsin’s “largest NIL financial commitments” in history laughably small, or is Miami just that flush with cash?

By the way, a plausible reading of the Complaint allegations is that Lucas was railroaded into signing a new NIL agreement just days after Wisconsin’s end-of-season throttling by Minnesota, and he quickly realized how badly he got hosed and looked to transfer. If that’s the story, does Wisconsin really emerge as the good guy for low balling teenagers?

9. How Awkward Will It Be When Miami Joins the Big Ten?

The Big Ten issued a statement that it’s “supportive” of Wisconsin in its lawsuit. From the Big Ten’s perspective, it “believes that the University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of [Wisconsin]’s efforts to preserve it.”

The problem is that the next round of realignment is rapidly approaching, and Miami’s brand and strong TV ratings will be one of the most alluring additions. Miami has always been the villain – a role Hurricanes fans accept with glee – so perhaps this lawsuit is just priming the storylines for when Miami joins the Big Ten, not unlike a wrestling heel switching between WCW and WWE. The University of Miami has always been Razor Ramon, right?

10. But Seriously, What Damages?

Ultimately, the lawsuit seeks damages to compensate Wisconsin for the “loss of financial and promotional benefits [Wisconsin and its Collective] anticipated receiving” from Xavier Lucas’ NIL and participation on the football team. How you could calculate the loss of a freshman DB from a 5-7 football team is incomprehensible. How Wisconsin, not Lucas, would lose value because they could not promote his NIL is also incomprehensible. How many tickets will Wisconsin fail to sell to Lucas’ fans? How much will Lucas’ departure hinder the Big Ten from negotiating a new media rights deal? The world may never know…

…because this lawsuit will almost certainly settle. Wisconsin talked tough when Lucas forced his way to Miami, and evidently Wisconsin felt compelled to follow through with this lawsuit. In some ways it’s an important lawsuit because it could shape the future of NIL disputes in college athletics. In other ways, the lawsuit is extremely problematic. Most likely the later will carry the day, the schools will settle, and the Badgers and Hurricanes will be conference rivals a decade from now.

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Arizona State leans into NIL era with the Student Athlete Venture Studio

How the program, in partnership with GoDaddy, is helping student-athletes build businesses and their brands TEMPE, Ariz. — Four years ago, the NCAA started allowing student-athletes to get paid for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). A recent ruling involving a former Arizona State University swimmer will allow universities to pay their student-athletes directly with […]

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1 hour ago

June 22, 2025

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Arizona State leans into NIL era with the Student Athlete Venture Studio

How the program, in partnership with GoDaddy, is helping student-athletes build businesses and their brands

TEMPE, Ariz. — Four years ago, the NCAA started allowing student-athletes to get paid for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). A recent ruling involving a former Arizona State University swimmer will allow universities to pay their student-athletes directly with revenue-sharing.

At ASU, they’re thinking a few steps ahead by creating a space on campus to help athletes navigate the NIL era. Having a summer job and earning money can look different for college athletes but in Tempe, they’re encouraged to leverage sport as an entrepreneurial platform.

The University teamed up to launch the Student-Athlete Venture Studio in January. The program supports Sun Devils in their entrepreneurial and NIL journeys by providing resources and mentorship to kickstart careers.

The Co-Founders of the Student Athlete Venture Studio are Jeff Kunowski and Kate Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a former Sun Devil beach volleyball player, also carries the title of Sports Innovation Entrepreneurship Catalyst at the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute.

Her experience and initiative have helped shape what this program looks like for Sun Devil athletes. Fitzgerald says the Venture Studio resources are in place to help answer the questions someone just starting a business might have such as: “Where do I go with this? How do I organize my thoughts? How do I create media? How do I create content? How do I brand myself?” Fitzgerald said.

“While I was in undergrad, I launched my own company called VB America. It’s a volleyball lifestyle clothing brand… What I did when working with Jeff is say, ‘okay, this is everything I wish I had as a student-athlete that would’ve helped me. How can we make it possible for other student-athletes to get these same resources?”

Kunowski’s career has led him to work with various sports teams before returning to his Alma Mater to mentor students along their journeys and help drive sports innovation within Sun Devil Athletics. The Venture Studio is like “Shark Tank” for Sun Devils. At the end of the year, there is a Demo Day pitch competition where student-athletes can receive funding for their ventures. The goal is to inspire student-athletes to build their brands now and equip them with the skills they need to excel in business.

“We’re encouraging entrepreneurial mindset, design-thinking principles, things that are applicable while they’re here at ASU as an athlete and while they’re leveraging NIL,” Kunowski said. “To be able to be on the sideline witnessing the confidence levels rising, the ability to public speak, the ability to articulate an idea and put it into a framework that people can understand and gravitate towards, it really is just such an inspiring position to be in.”

Rising sophomore on the women’s lacrosse team, Sierra Ryan, says the support from Sun Devil Athletics has allowed her to focus her energy on getting her venture off the ground. With practices, games, training and all the other time commitments required to participate in sports, it’s often a challenge for athletes to focus on their ventures. Whether it’s through sport or a startup, ASU gives its athletes an opportunity to pursue their passions and tap into their competitive nature through this new program.

“My venture is Fuel Warden. It’s a nutrition and wellness management platform for elite athletes. It’s still in the works right now but I’ve been programming it myself and putting everything together, meeting with investors and things like that,” Ryan said. “Everything that you could need to truly succeed in entrepreneurship, they’re bringing here to athletes at ASU. Like, helping me scale my venture and look with my pitch decks when I’m meeting with investors… Literally an hour before [my lacrosse game] my coach was like ‘hey, you need to go do this pitch I’ll cut out 15 minutes for you to do it in the locker room. Everyone will leave for you so you can do your meeting.’ [My coaches] are flexible and they believe in me and that means the world.”

Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, email Lina at LWashington@12News.com.

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San Diego State's Marko Sipila joins Ole Miss in transfer portal move

OXFORD, Miss. — Marko Sipila’s baseball journey has always been about timing. As the 6-foot-4 right-hander packed up his San Diego State jersey for the last time, he did so knowing Ole Miss would not just be another college chapter. For both Sipila and the Rebels, this transfer comes at a moment when the stakes […]

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2 hours ago

June 22, 2025

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San Diego State's Marko Sipila joins Ole Miss in transfer portal move

OXFORD, Miss. — Marko Sipila’s baseball journey has always been about timing.

As the 6-foot-4 right-hander packed up his San Diego State jersey for the last time, he did so knowing Ole Miss would not just be another college chapter.

For both Sipila and the Rebels, this transfer comes at a moment when the stakes could hardly be higher.

Sipila, who officially committed to Ole Miss this week, brings with him a season’s worth of steady results. In 2025, he posted a 3.91 ERA across 71.1 innings, racking up 74 strikeouts to just 25 walks.

His arsenal, anchored by a fastball that sits between 90 and 93 miles per hour and complemented by a splitter, slider, and curve, has made him one of the most sought-after pitchers in the NCAA transfer portal.

“I’m excited for this next opportunity and to be part of something special in Oxford,” Sipila said in a statement announcing his commitment.

The move is not just about numbers, though.

For Ole Miss, coming off a tumultuous period of roster turnover, Sipila’s arrival signals a return to stability.

Coach Mike Bianco and his staff have been navigating a portal era that has seen as many as 2,000 college baseball players seeking new homes nationwide, reshaping rosters and expectations in real-time.

“It’s been really good,” hitting coach Mike Clement told the Ole Miss Spirit. “We feel we have a pretty solid chance to get a good baseline and core back from last year’s team.

“So, a little bit different from the chaos of last season, where you felt you were building it a little more from the ground floor. We’re in a better spot with what we feel like we have.”

Sipila’s path to the SEC has been anything but linear. He began his collegiate career at Colorado-Colorado Springs before transferring to San Diego State, where his development accelerated.

Beyond his regular-season numbers, he impressed in summer ball for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League, recording a 2.84 ERA and nine strikeouts in just three appearances.

Scouts have noted his poise and pitchability as reasons why he could quickly become a weekend starter in Oxford.

The Rebels’ offseason overhaul has been less dramatic than a year ago, but it’s still significant.

Departures include pitchers Riley Maddox, Connor Spencer, Mason Nichols, and several others who either graduated or entered the portal themselves.

Outfielders like Ryan Moerman and Mitchell Sanford are also moving on, forcing the staff to act decisively. Sipila is now the fifth addition via the transfer portal, joining a group that includes left-hander Grant Richardson from Grand Canyon and outfielder Daniel Pacella from Illinois State.

The NCAA’s transfer portal has changed the calculus for programs across the country. With a 45-day window for entry after the regular season, teams are forced to quickly evaluate talent and fit.

While the portal can create opportunities, it also leaves many players without a new home. Only about 45 percent of transfers found a school last cycle. For Sipila, landing at Ole Miss is both a testament to his talent and a reflection of how the transfer market now shapes college baseball’s balance of power.

Mike Bianco, entering his 25th season at the helm, has not shied away from the challenges or opportunities presented by the portal.

“The portal has proven huge as we try to get back to Omaha,” Bianco told local media earlier this month. “The key is not just bringing in talent, but the right kind of talent. We’re looking for guys who can handle the pressure of the SEC and who want to compete at the highest level.”

Sipila fits that mold. His strikeout-to-walk ratio, nearly three to one, suggests the kind of command that can play in a league notorious for patient hitters and deep lineups.

His ability to throw four pitches for strikes gives Bianco’s staff flexibility in how they deploy him, particularly with several rotation spots up for grabs heading into fall workouts.

For Sipila, the transition to the SEC is as much about embracing the moment as it is about proving himself. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, and raised in Minnesota, he’s navigated the country’s baseball geography in search of the right fit.

“I’ve learned to adapt at every stop,” Sipila said in a phone interview after his visit to Oxford. “The competition in the SEC is what every college player wants. The crowds, the energy, the chance to play for something bigger, it’s why I’m here.”

Ole Miss fans, still not far removed from the euphoria of a national championship run in 2022, are looking for signs that the program’s brief downturn was just a blip.

The addition of Sipila and other portal standouts has fueled optimism that the Rebels can once again contend in the loaded SEC West.

As one longtime supporter put it, “pitching wins championships, and we just got a lot better on the mound.”

There are still questions to answer before opening day. The Rebels’ defense will need to jell after a series of departures in the outfield and middle infield.

The lineup, while returning several key pieces, must replace the production of hitters who have moved on. But with Sipila anchoring a revamped rotation, the path back to the postseason is suddenly much clearer.

The broader story, though, is not just about Sipila or Ole Miss. It’s about how the transfer portal is redefining college baseball.

Coaches now spend as much time recruiting established college players as they do high school prospects. Roster continuity is harder than ever, and programs are forced to adapt or fall behind.

“You have to be nimble,” Bianco said at a recent SEC coaches meeting. “The game is changing, and we have to change with it.”

As summer turns to fall and rosters take shape, Sipila’s journey from San Diego to Oxford stands as an example of what’s possible in the new era.

For Ole Miss, it’s a chance to reset expectations and remind the baseball world that talent, no matter where it comes from, can still find a home (and the spotlight) in Oxford.

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USC Trojans’ NIL, Recruiting Success Making Noise After Luke Wafle Commitment

The USC Trojans have the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation thanks to USC coach Lincoln Riley and his coaching staff landing some of the top prospects in the class of 2026. With how well USC is recruiting, the Trojans are also having success with name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The USC Trojans […]

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2 hours ago

June 22, 2025

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