The NCAA transfer portal arguably grants student-athletes more flexibility than ever. 

In the past, college athletes who elected to transfer could not compete in the first year after switching schools. 

The portal gives them the opportunity to play right away. Sweeping policy changes almost always bring both intended and unintended consequences. 

Since the advent of the transfer portal and the rise of name, image and likeness (NIL), the gap between college programs with deep-pocketed boosters and alumni and smaller schools with fewer financial resources has seemingly grown.

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Head coach Thomas Hammock of the Northern Illinois Huskies watches his team warm up before a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium Sept. 16, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock, who leads a program that does not compete in a Power Four conference, suggested the transfer portal contributes to an environment in which players and their parents’ priorities are in the wrong place.

TOM BRADY IMPLORES PARENTS TO ‘TEACH YOUR KID THE RIGHT VALUES’ AMID RISE OF NIL IN COLLEGE SPORTS

“I enjoyed my college experience,” Hammock said. “I didn’t get one dime. But the lessons I learned were more valuable than any money you could ever pay me. I appreciate that because that’s long term. People are losing the fact this is short term.

“Don’t lose focus of the long term. Get your degree and learn valuable lessons that are going to help you in the long term of your life. That’s the whole purpose. This is a transition from being a kid to a grown-up. I hope people don’t lose focus of that.”

Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock watches in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., Sept. 7, 2024. (Matt Cashore/Imagn Images)

Hammock pointed to more intangible opportunities at student-athletes’ disposal.

“Everyone’s talking about everything else besides the most important thing of going to college,” Hammock said. “Because if you’re going to college to get a couple of dollars, you might as well go get a job. 

“This is too hard to go get a couple of dollars. Learn the lessons that you need to learn to be successful in life for the next 40 or 50 years of your life. I would do it again for free because of the things I learned. That’s why I’m standing here today, because of what I learned in college. Not because of how much someone gave me.”

Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock during the first half at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill., Sept. 21, 2024. (Mike Dinovo/Imagn Images)

Hammock earned academic All-American honors twice during his playing days at Northern Illinois. The NIU Huskies have qualified for a bowl game in three of the last four seasons. Hammock coached NIU to an 8-5 record last year.

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The Huskies’ starting quarterback was among the litany of key players who left the program after entering the transfer portal.

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Michigan’s biggest fan isn’t all that worried.

Puffing on a cigar in the wake of the NCAA’s $20 million fine over the sign-stealing scandal that rocked college football, Barstool Sports CEO and Michigan alum Dave Portnoy laughed off the punishment.

“So the big, bad NCAA, that d–ckless organization — on the way out, corrupt, loses every lawsuit against them, NIL, can’t control nothing — they just fined Michigan $20 million, like we give a f–k about $20 million,” he said in one of his patented X videos. “Twenty million, that’s ashtray money, bro.”

ESPN estimates the fines will clear $20 million and could go north of $30 million.

The financial penalties start with a $50,000 fine, a 10% fine on the football budget, 10% on Michigan’s 2025-26 scholarships and the loss of postseason football revenue from the next two seasons.

Personnel-wise, coach Sherrone Moore received a one-game suspension on top of the two games he will miss this upcoming season, former coach Jim Harbaugh earned a 10-year show-cause order and Connor Stalions, a low-level staffer who allegedly masterminded the electronic recording of opposing teams’ signs, was handed an eight-year show-cause order.

Notably, the NCAA did not vacate the Wolverines’ 2023 national title.

Warning: Explicit language

Since the start of the 21st century, advancements in the internet have led to the expansion of media reporting and consumption. The rise and ongoing development of artificial intelligence (AI) is now changing the creation and consumption of media, requiring updated strategies for consumers and businesses alike. 

Forbes, one of the leading influences in international media, is adapting  to the maturation of AI, by naming Penn State alum, Kyle Vinansky, as the chief strategy and business officer and leader of the newly created  AI & Strategic Platforms Group. 

In this position, Vinansky will analyze how best to encapsulate the influence of AI and the various facets of social media into “identifying, building and scaling the next generation of revenue for Forbes,” according to a press release.

Vinansky started as a sales assistant and rose to his former position as the senior vice president of global sales at Forbes. He has  a B.S. in finance as well as a B.A. in media studies, with his interest in business enterprise and the impact of the media, intersecting in his new role.

He was a Schreyer Honors College scholar while at Penn State and credits his experiences in the honors college as what was able to “broaden his horizons.”

As a Pennsylvania native, Vinansky was attracted to the well established reputation of the honors college and the Smeal College of Business. He said the prevalence of the Penn State brand serves as  a “connective tissue” throughout numerous industries in the professional world.

His time at Penn State not only provided him with the opportunities for successful career development, but he said he found lifelong friends during his time at University Park.

“I still love that University Park and the university itself was so much of what drove the community for State College,” Vinansky said.

Vinansky’s career is due to his dedication to his craft and his commitment to understanding others, according to those around him.

“I think his ability to listen and just truly understand the business needs of our partners is what really sets him apart, ” Trey Newcomb, a sales manager at Forbes, said.

Newcomb, a Penn State alum who studied advertising/public relations, emphasized Vinansky’s extensive knowledge of Forbes history as well as his family-oriented character.

“He’ll talk to anyone the same way that he would talk to people on his own level, so I think that’s just another testament to who he is as a person and a professional.” Newcomb said.

Jessica Bertan, a member of the account management team at Forbes, worked alongside Vinansky when he was involved with the sales teams.

“He’s so well versed in not only our offerings, but how he speaks about the Forbes brand, and (Kyle) is such a master in storytelling,” Bertan said.

Bertan, a Penn State alumna  who studied advertising/public relations, said Vinansky is well informed on a variety of topics and not only knows it, but does his research, allowing him to understand it to a different degree than most.

As the AI industry continues to grow, there is uncertainty in how it will continue to develop and how it will apply to the everyday consumer.

“I don’t think everyone has to be an expert in AI, the technology, but I think everyone has to be very thoughtful about how quickly AI is changing things that we thought we knew really well, and thinking about how AI again is making the individual person better,” he said.

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HANOVER, N.H.—Dartmouth equestrian head coach Tenley Walsh announced the team’s 2025-26 schedule as the program comes off its first NCEA Single Discipline National Championship.

The Big Green start their defense of the national championship with three meets at home in the fall before closing out the regular season with two road meets in the spring.

Dartmouth opens the season against Centenary on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Morton Farm. It will be the first time in Dartmouth’s NCEA era that the Big Green and Cyclones will face each other.

On Saturday, Nov. 1 the Big Green take on Charleston in a rematch of both the 2025 ECAC Single Discipline Championship and the NCEA Single Discipline National Championship from a year ago. In 2024-25, the Big Green and Cougars faced off a total of four times with each team winning twice.

The Big Green close out the fall against Sacred Heart at Morton Farm. It will be the lone time the two teams faceoff in the regular season, last season the Big Green defeated the Pioneers twice in the regular season and once in the ECAC Single Discipline Championship.

 After the winter break, Dartmouth travels to Charleston to take on the Cougars on Sunday, Feb. 15.

To close out the regular season the Big Green take on Centenary on Sunday, Mar. 1 in Long Valley, N.J.

The Big Green start the postseason on Friday, Mar. 15 at the ECAC Single Discipline Championship in Charleston, S.C. An ECAC Champion will be crowned on Saturday, Mar. 21.

Dartmouth returns 10 riders from a year ago while adding three first years. All three Ariat All-Americans return this season for the Big Green including first teamer Samantha Takacs, second teamer Cassidy Exner, and Elise Stephens who was an All-American honorable mention as a first-year last season. Walsh was named NCEA Single Discipline Coach of the Year while assistant coach Megan McGill was named NCEA Jumping Seat Single Discipline Coach of the Year last season.

ATLANTA – Arizona State football redshirt senior wide receiver Coben Bourguet earns a second preseason recognition for his hard work on and off the field.

The Wuerffel Foundation announced their nominees to the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list, recognizing college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement. Coben Bourguet is part of the exclusive group.

View the Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list

Award Process
For the second consecutive year, the Wuerffel Foundation is partnering with Allstate to unite college football’s top community service honors through the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Eleven student-athletes from the Watch List will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and serve as semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.

Selection timeline
The 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by a national voting committee, with input from a fan vote.  The 2025 recipient will also serve as Captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show December 12th, airing on ESPN. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow on January 31, 2026, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

About the Wuerffel Trophy
Widely regarded as college football’s premier award for community service, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy celebrates student-athletes who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and University of Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who turned his football success into a lifelong mission of service, the award reflects his legacy of leadership and humanitarianism. This year marks the 21^st anniversary of the trophy’s founding.

Bourguet has been a part of the Sun Devil Football program since 2021, playing an integral role in the wide receiver room. A key member of the offensive scout team during the first part of his career, Bourguet has continued to improve during his time in Tempe. He has provided leadership and toughness on the practice field and in the locker room, which has been rewarded with playing time each of the past two seasons. Bourguet recorded his first career reception last year in the 49-7 victory over Arizona (11/30), hauling in a seven-yard pass from his brother, current Assistant Running Backs Coach Trenton Bourguet. 

Off the field, Bourguet has volunteered and dedicated his time to several local organizations in both the Phoenix and Tucson area. He is also actively involved in fundraising efforts for the Sun Angel NIL Collective, helping increase the support for his teammates and other Sun Devil student-athletes. He already earned his degree in engineering management from ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering in May 2024 and is pursuing his Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, on pace for a May 2026 graduation.

Coben in the Community
Coben Bourguet co-founded Bourguet Brothers Enterprises, a community engagement program leveraging our platform and athletic experiences to host various community events, including youth camps, local fundraisers, hospital toy drives and training sessions across Arizona. He has thrived as a Volunteer Coach and Program General Manager Tucson Turf Elite Football since 2020. Bourguet led the program to achieve #1 national ranking (Zorts National Power Index) for two consecutive years among 7-on-7 high school teams. He has also served as an ambassador, providing guidance and actively participating in a series of practices and games with underserved youth in the Tucson community through his work with the Lapan Youth Sports Camp.

ASU WR Coben Bourguet was recently nominated for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, and his brother, Trenton Bourguet, is an ASU assistant coach.

“That entire Bourguet family has really embodied what my vision is to be a Sun Devil.”@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/4BJx2BXknv

— Gabriella Chernoff (@GabbyJChernoff) August 11, 2025

Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Arizona State football redshirt senior wide receiver Coben Bourguet was nominated for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the American Football Coaches Association announced earlier in the offseason. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes student-athletes for community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.

More on Sun Devil Football’s 2025 preseason

Groza Award preseason watch list
The 2025 Lou Groza Award preseason watch list was released and it features a member of the Sun Devil Football team. With all three of last year’s finalists graduating, it’s a wide-open field on the thirty-player Watch List for the 2025 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Arizona State redshirt senior Jesus Gomez is one of the candidates.

Gomez transferred to Arizona State in the offseason after a succesful career at Eastern Michigan. A season ago, he went 20-of-25 on field goals, including an outstanding 18-of-21 (86%) accuracy on kicks of less than 50 yards. He had five games in which he made three field goals, highlighted by a program record 57-yarder at No. 25 Washington. After an outstanding fall camp, Gomez has emerged as the starting place-kicker for the Sun Devils. The Watch List includes nine returning kickers with at least nine field goals from 40+ yards while still connecting at 80% or better overall. Gomez is one of the nine, as he showed the ability to make any kick on the field.

Hornung Award preseason watch list
Sun Devil Football’s Jalen Moss is the latest Sun Devil to earn a spot on a national award preseason watch list. Forty-six players representing schools in ­­­­nine conferences have been selected for the 2025 Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list. Arizona State wide receiver Jalen Moss is one of the candidates, adding to the growing list of Sun Devils to receive preseason honors heading into the 2025 campaign. 

Now in its 16th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of the late football legend Paul Hornung. Moss is in a position to contribute heavily in Tempe after two outstanding seasons at Fresno State. He served as both a go-to wide receiver as well as a dynamic punt returner in 2024, impacting the game in many ways with the ball in his hands. This is the second consecutive year that the Hornung Award preseason watch list included a Sun Devil, with running back Cam Skattebo earning the distinction prior to last season. 

Butkus Award preseason watch list
Sun Devil Football’s Keyshaun Elliott is considered one of the top linebackers in the country heading into the 2025 season. The Butkus Foundation released the preseason watch list for the 41st annual collegiate Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker.  The 51-player list pays tribute to Dick Butkus’ iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his Hall of Fame career as the most feared defender in football history. One of the initial candidates is Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott. He is the latest Sun Devil to land on a preseason award watch list. Elliott has emerged as one of the elite players at his position and a leader of the Sun Devil defense. He is looking to become the program’s first Butkus Award winner.

AP Preseason Top-25
Sun Devil Football has been ranked No. 11 by the Associated Press in their 2025 preseason college football rankings. The buzz surrounding Arizona State continues as the AP Preseason Top-25 Poll features the Sun Devils at No. 11. It is the highest ASU has been ranked in the preseason since coming in at No. 8 prior to the 1998 season. Of the four Big 12 programs in the initial poll, Arizona State is the top-ranked team from the league. The 2024 Big 12 Champions finished at No. 7 in the final AP Poll of the 2024 season.