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Maryland slugger Hollis Porter commits to Texas Tech baseball team

The Texas Tech baseball team on Sunday landed its first commitment this offseason from the NCAA transfer portal, one that might be hard to top for impact. First baseman Hollis Porter, the third-leading home-run hitter this season in what’s now a 17-team Big Ten Conference, pledged to the Red Raiders, according to a report by […]

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Maryland slugger Hollis Porter commits to Texas Tech baseball team


The Texas Tech baseball team on Sunday landed its first commitment this offseason from the NCAA transfer portal, one that might be hard to top for impact.

First baseman Hollis Porter, the third-leading home-run hitter this season in what’s now a 17-team Big Ten Conference, pledged to the Red Raiders, according to a report by On the Clock | College Baseball and MLB Draft.

With Maryland this past season, Porter batted .303 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs on a team that went 27-29 and 12-18 in conference play. He had a .632 slugging percentage and a .997 on-base-plus-slugging, albeit with some swing and miss. He struck out a team-high 79 times in 231 at-bats.

Porter’s a 6-foot-4, 225-pound left-handed hitter from Moss Point (Miss.) East Central. He’s spent one college season apiece at Mississippi State, where he redshirted in 2023, Pearl River (Miss.) Community College and Maryland. At Pearl River, he hit .399 with 20 homers and 73 RBIs.

Now the Red Raiders might need to hold their breath to hold on to him. Having spent three years in college and about to turn 21, Porter’s eligible for the MLB draft that unfolds July 13-15.

Neshoba Central's Bryceton Spencer is safe at first as East Central's Hollis Porter has to reach to catch a high throw during the 5A MHSAA Baseball Championship at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Tech finished 20-33 this season, tying a program record for most losses set by the 1985 team that went 18-33.

The transfer portal window is open from June 2 through July 1. Ten Red Raiders players from this year’s team have their names in the portal, according to announcements by the players themselves or reports by reputable outlets. The most notable include catcher Dylan Maxcey, third baseman Garet Boehm and pitchers J.T. Drake and Zach Erdman.

Texas Tech head coach Tim Tadlock looks on from the dugout against Cincinnati during a Big 12 baseball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, at Dan Law Field.

Porter started all but one game for Maryland this season, and Tech first baseman Robin Villeneuve started all but three games while playing in all but one. Villeneuve, though a senior, has the option to return in 2026. The NCAA, in a December ruling, granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes who started their careers at non-NCAA programs and completed their eligibility this school year.

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15 Compelling College Players Who Could Go Quickly

Image credit: Gage Wood (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos) The MLB Draft is equal parts projection and persuasion—a search not just for talent, but for belief. The 15 players highlighted below are among the most compelling college names in this year’s class, each for a different reason. Some lit up Omaha, some carry freakish […]

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Gage Wood (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)

The MLB Draft is equal parts projection and persuasion—a search not just for talent, but for belief.

The 15 players highlighted below are among the most compelling college names in this year’s class, each for a different reason. Some lit up Omaha, some carry freakish tools, others are works in progress with tantalizing ceilings. This isn’t a ranking. It’s a snapshot of the players who captured our attention—and who might soon convince a front office to call their name early.

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Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU (BA Draft Rank: 4)

If Anderson’s brilliance wasn’t already clear by the time he reached Omaha, he removed all doubt once he got there. The LSU lefthander allowed just one run over 16 masterful College World Series innings, striking out 17—including a complete-game shutout in the national title game. His performance was surgical, unflinching and final.

But the truest measure of Anderson’s dominance came not from the stat sheet, but from the mouths of those who tried to hit him.

“He toys with you,” teammate Steven Milam told Baseball America.

That sentiment echoed through the LSU dugout and well beyond it. Armed with a fastball that danced at the top of the zone and breaking balls that spun at 3,000 rpm, Anderson carved his way through the 2025 season as the nation’s top college arm. He led Division I in strikeouts, earned first-team All-America honors, won Baseball America’s inaugural College Pitcher of the Year award and—fittingly—was named Most Outstanding Player in the College World Series.

To LSU head coach Jay Johnson, the decision for the No. 1 pick is obvious.

“His next pitch,” Johnson said in Omaha, “should be for someplace in the Washington Nationals organization. It’s not close.”

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (BA Draft Rank: 6)

There’s little mystery to Arnold’s place near the top of draft boards. The Florida State lefthander led the Seminoles back to national prominence with a 2.98 ERA and 278 strikeouts over 190.1 innings since the start of 2024, all while dominating in the crucible of the ACC.

But what makes Arnold compelling isn’t just what he is. It’s what he’s becoming.

Once a two-pitch arm, Arnold spent the offseason developing a changeup to round out his arsenal. By spring, it had turned into a real weapon—arguably too effective, he joked.

“It moves a ton so sometimes it’s hard to gauge where to start it,” Arnold told Baseball America. “But I’d say that’s a pretty good problem to have at this point.”

Arnold throws from a deceptive low slot and pitches with a poise that belies the pressure of his draft status. Where others might tighten, he leans in. Scouts believe that changeup could grade as plus or even double-plus in time, adding even more ceiling to an already high-floor profile.

Arnold enters the first round with one of the most complete arsenals in the class—and the mindset to keep sharpening it.

Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (BA Draft Rank: 8)

When Doyle returned on two days’ rest to close out Tennessee’s regional final against Wake Forest, some called it reckless. Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello had a different take.

“He’d have killed me if I didn’t let him go back out there,” Vitello said—smiling, but only partly joking.

That moment distilled what makes Doyle so compelling. His fastball is a unicorn: a double-plus four-seamer from the left side that dominated hitters all spring. But it’s his mindset—his unrelenting, almost murderous competitiveness—that sets him apart.

Doyle nearly edged out Anderson for the national strikeout lead and regularly overwhelmed hitters with just that one pitch. His secondaries lag behind, but evaluators rave about his makeup and believe it will carry him through the developmental process.

Doyle’s profile isn’t complete, but his drive is. He’s the kind of pitcher who grabs 100 mph on short rest and dares you to swing. And that might just be enough.

Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (BA Draft Rank: 11)

Bremner’s 3.49 ERA might not dazzle at first glance. But look closer—over the final six weeks of the season, few pitchers in the country were better. From April 4 to May 16, Bremner struck out 74 while walking just 10 in 43.1 innings, posting a 2.91 ERA and showcasing why so many evaluators believe in his upside.

The 6-foot-2 righthander owns one of the best changeups in the draft and pairs it with advanced command, mid-90s velocity and a calm, controlled delivery. His slider remains a work in progress—flashing promise but needing refinement—but his feel for sequencing and zone control gives him a strong foundation.

More than anything, Bremner’s second half told the story. He didn’t just improve—he surged, revealing the kind of polish and poise that wins over decision-makers in draft rooms. His best ball is still ahead of him and that sentiment could very well push him into the top-15 picks on Sunday night.

Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas (BA Draft Rank: 18)

No 2025 draft-eligible player delivered a more jaw-dropping moment than Gage Wood. On the sport’s biggest stage, the Arkansas righthander threw just the third no-hitter in College World Series history—missing a perfect game by a single hit batter—and broke the event’s strikeout record with 19.

It was a performance that felt mythic. But for those who’d seen him all year, it wasn’t a surprise.

“He had the best fastball in the SEC,” one opposing coach told Baseball America, calling it an “easy 80” on the scouting scale.

Wood’s fastball—explosive, late-rising and dominant—is his calling card, drawing comparisons to past SEC flamethrowers like Ty Floyd, who previously held the CWS single-game strikeout record. But he’s no one-trick arm. His curveball flashes plus, his slider and changeup show real promise, and his command tightened considerably in 2025.

For scouts who were already convinced, Omaha was simply confirmation. For everyone else, it was a revelation. Expect Wood to hear his name well before Day 1 ends.

Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina (BA Draft Rank: 25)

Only 16 Division I hitters drafted in the first round since 1982 batted under .300 in their draft year. Stevenson is likely to become No. 18 after Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette becomes No. 17 on Sunday night.

The North Carolina catcher hit just .251 this spring—a figure that puts him in rare and rather unflattering company—but also posted a .414 on-base percentage, walked nearly as many times as he struck out and mashed balls with a 96.5 mph average exit velocity, one of the best marks in the country.

It makes Stevenson one of this year’s most polarizing prospects. The hit tool is a legitimate concern, but almost everything else checks a box. He’s a plus receiver and blocker with an above-average arm, he controls the zone and he plays a premium position. He also doesn’t turn 21 until late July, giving him age-based upside.

The questions now: Which teams will overlook the batting average? And how high are they willing to take him?

Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson (BA Draft Rank: 27)

Cannarella does almost everything well. He’s a plus runner, a gifted defender in center field with elite instincts and range and a hitter with feel, bat speed and the potential for more power as his frame matures.

But for all that promise, there’s one glaring red flag.

Cannarella’s throwing arm is well below-average—closer to bottom-of-the-scale than just weak. He tore his right labrum as a sophomore, played through it, then underwent surgery before the 2025 season. Though he mostly returned to form at the plate, he was absent from pregame throwing drills and showed severely diminished arm strength in games. Scouts don’t expect him to ever reach average in that category.

At 6 feet, 180 pounds, Cannarella is a classic hit-over-power profile with some physical projection left. The power may come. The arm likely won’t.

Still, elite center field defense is a rare commodity—and that, combined with his contact skills and speed, may be more than enough for a team willing to live with the risk.

Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina (BA Draft Rank: 29)

If you ask opposing coaches who the best defensive catcher in this year’s draft is, many won’t hesitate: Caden Bodine.

“He’s the most complete receiver in the country,” one coach told Baseball America. And the numbers—and eyes—back it up.

Bodine is a high-level pitch framer with an elite feel for stealing strikes, a polished blocker and a strong, accurate arm. His work behind the plate helped anchor Coastal Carolina’s run to Omaha and earned him a reputation as the best defensive catching prospect in the class.

Offensively, Bodine brings advanced bat-to-ball skills and a discerning eye, but his lack of power raises questions about how his offensive game will translate to pro ball. He controls the zone, but the thump is light. In pro baseball, even strong defenders eventually need to do some damage.

Still, organizations value defense at catcher more than ever. And Bodine’s rare polish and poise behind the plate will give him a long runway to figure out the rest.

Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana (BA Draft Rank: 34)

Taylor didn’t leave much room for debate in 2025. He batted .374/.494/.706 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, 12 stolen bases and drew 52 walks to just 30 strikeouts—numbers that only solidified what he’s been since arriving in Bloomington. Across three college seasons, he never posted an OPS below 1.080 or hit fewer than 16 home runs.

In a draft light on proven college bats, Taylor stands out. His offensive polish, power and patience make him one of the safest bets to hit at the next level.

The question is how much value he can provide elsewhere. Taylor is a below-average athlete who’s likely confined to left field, where his glove and range may limit his impact. But when you hit like he does, teams tend to find room.

He’s a bat-first prospect in a draft starving for college bats—and that alone makes him a strong first-round candidate.

Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville (BA Draft Rank: 47)

Forbes is more blank canvas than finished product, but it’s the kind of canvas that comes with unopened paint in all the right colors.

After two years flashing vibrant stuff in relief, Forbes moved into Louisville’s rotation in 2025 and surged up draft boards with a brilliant opening month. The full body of work was less consistent—he finished with a 4.42 ERA over 71.1 innings—but the ingredients were undeniable: a 36.7% strikeout rate, a career-best 10.7% walk rate and flashes of dominance that few in the class could match.

Forbes is a dynamic mover with a whippy arm and a fastball that explodes out of a low three-quarters slot. It sits mid 90s and can touch 100 with late ride, especially dangerous at the top of the zone. He pairs it with a power slider that morphs in shape—sometimes tight and vertical, other times sweeping across the plate—especially effective against righthanded hitters.

His command remains fringy and his changeup rarely appears, but the raw tools are as loud as any arm on the board. What Forbes becomes will depend on which team is ready to pick up the brush.

Cam Leiter, RHP, Florida State (BA Draft Rank: 85)

Few players in this year’s draft offers more unknown—or more upside—than Leiter.

He transferred to Florida State after a solid freshman year at Central Florida and wasted no time showing scouts what made him one of the most electric arms in the class. In just seven starts and 35 innings in 2024, Leiter struck out 56 batters with a high-octane arsenal before a shoulder injury ended his season. Attempts to rehab eventually gave way to surgery, and Leiter didn’t throw a pitch in 2025.

When healthy, he’s a live-armed righthander with a 94-96 mph fastball that’s touched 99 and generated a 30% miss rate. He spins two distinct breaking balls—a hammer curve in the low 80s and a power slider that can blur into cutter territory at its top end velocity. Both flash plus. Against lefties, Leiter will fold in a firm changeup that keeps hitters off balance.

The injury history clouds his draft stock, but the pure stuff and 6-foot-5, 235-pound work-horse frame are loud enough to carry real belief. For teams willing to take a leap, Leiter offers the kind of upside few others can match.

James Quinn-Irons, OF, George Mason (BA Draft Rank: 87)

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Quinn-Irons didn’t look like someone who belonged in the Atlantic 10. And by the end of his career, he didn’t play like it either.

His junior season at George Mason felt like a parting gift. He hit .419 with 16 home runs, 24 doubles and 36 stolen bases while drawing walks, hitting for power and punishing pitchers who dared challenge him in the zone. It was the kind of year that turns heads in any conference. In the A-10, it bordered on absurd.

Quinn-Irons always had the frame, the athleticism, the raw tools. But in 2025, everything started to sync. The swing tightened. The chases came down. And while he still didn’t see much premium velocity, scouts could finally start dreaming big on a player who combined size and speed in ways few others in this class can.

He played all three outfield spots in college, and there’s a chance his straight-line speed keeps him in center. If not, the arm plays in right. Either way, Quinn-Irons was a giant for the A-10. Now he gets a bigger stage.

Cody Bowker, RHP, Vanderbilt (BA Draft Rank: 98)

Without high-octane velocity, Bowker might not be your typical SEC arm.

The Maine native began his college career as a two-way player at Georgetown, quietly flying under the radar until he committed fully to pitching as a sophomore. That decision changed everything. A transfer to Vanderbilt in 2025 gave him a national stage, and he made good on it—posting a 4.38 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 72 innings in the toughest conference in the country.

Bowker doesn’t overpower hitters, but he confuses them. His low-slot delivery adds funk and deception, making his 92–94 mph fastball—which will bump 95—play well above its velocity. His changeup is his best secondary, a fading, tumbling pitch that tunnels beautifully off his fastball and gets swings from both sides. He mixes in a slider and cutter that can sometimes blend, and his continued growth might depend on separating those shapes or introducing a softer breaking ball.

Bowker isn’t finished yet, but the progress is real—and evaluators have noticed. He’s a late-blooming, Northeast-built righty with the traits and temperament to start and the ceiling of a sneaky valuable Day 1 pick.

Grant Jay, C, Dallas Baptist (BA Draft Rank: 128)

There’s nothing subtle about the way Jay plays baseball.

Thickly built and power-packed at 6 feet, 225 pounds, Jay leaves an impression the moment he steps in the box. He hits the ball hard—and often, far. In 2025, he slugged 19 home runs, swiped 14 bases and became Dallas Baptist’s all-time home run leader, blending brute strength with surprising athleticism.

His hands are fast, his wrists strong, and when he connects, the ball jumps. But there’s some volatility baked into the profile. Jay’s swing can lengthen, and his aggressive approach leads to both below-average chase and zone contact rates. It’s a power-over-hit package, especially for a catcher.

That’s where things get interesting. Jay moves well for his size and owns a strong arm, but the finer points of catching—receiving, blocking, consistency—still need work. Some scouts see a future first baseman or corner outfielder. Others think the right development path could keep him behind the plate, where his offensive upside carries far more weight.

For a team willing to bet on strength, tools and positional value, Jay is the kind of swing worth taking. He could be a sneaky Day 1 pick.

Brody Donay, C, Florida (BA Draft Rank: 217)

Of the 15 players on this list, Donay is the least likely to come off the board on Day 1. But he might be the most fascinating gamble.

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Donay is hard to miss. He’s a towering presence with rare strength and some of the loudest raw power in the class. After transferring from Virginia Tech to Florida, a few subtle swing tweaks—wider base, quieter hands—unlocked a career year. He hit .303 with 18 home runs and posted the best strikeout and walk rates of his career. When he connects, the ball leaves in a hurry.

But getting to that power isn’t always easy. Donay remains a free-swinger with a high chase rate and one of the lowest contact rates among projected top-10 round picks. His defense is similarly split: a cannon arm but slow mechanics and below average receiving. Florida often used him at designated hitter, and his long-term home might be first base or right field.

He’s a player of extremes—huge tools, huge question marks. The team that drafts Donay won’t be playing it safe. But if it hits, the reward could be just as big as the risk.



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How some Big 12 football players are adapting to revenue-sharing

FRISCO, Texas — It’s been close to two weeks since revenue-sharing officially became a dynamic element in college athletics as part of the groundbreaking House settlement, and everyone involved is still getting their feet under them. It’s become a significant moment in intercollegiate athletics, with a Big 12 athletic director comparing it to historic events […]

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FRISCO, Texas — It’s been close to two weeks since revenue-sharing officially became a dynamic element in college athletics as part of the groundbreaking House settlement, and everyone involved is still getting their feet under them.

It’s become a significant moment in intercollegiate athletics, with a Big 12 athletic director comparing it to historic events like the creation of the NCAA (1906), the introduction of athletic scholarships (1956), Title IX (1972), the NCAA v. Board of Regents case (1984), and the Fair Pay to Play Act for NIL (2019).

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Institutions across the country had been working around the clock to prepare for the introduction of rev-share on July 1. That mandated educating athletes on the challenges they’ll face, including handling NIL through an online clearinghouse called NIL Go.

Schools now can directly pay athletes, with a cap set at $20.5 million. Most Power 4 programs will allocate a significant portion of that revenue pool toward football, approximately 75%, although this varies from school to school. Those institutions aren’t required to reveal what they’re paying players.

While the topic of money can be a sensitive subject, the players know they’re prepared.

“The topic of money is never really a discussion we intended to have, but they do a good job educating us on the changes or what’s to come,” said UCF linebacker Keli Lawson.

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For many institutions, education extends beyond traditional academics, embracing a holistic approach where player-development personnel collaborate closely with athletes to equip them for the multifaceted challenges they will encounter in their lives and careers.

“These life skills developments are about putting us in situations to be able to develop a part of our life that we probably weren’t taught growing up, such as creating an LLC [Limited Liability Company]. How do savings work? How does credit work? How are you able to build your credit when you’re trying to buy a home? How do you go about doing something like that? What is the difference between a lease and renting?” said Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Revenue-sharing payments, like NIL deals, are taxable income that athletes must report on their tax returns.

“They’re not just giving money and saying, ‘Here, do whatever you want with it.’ They’re putting us in situations to build a plan and find out what we can do with our finances rather than just going out and saying, ‘Oh, dang, I just got this much money. Let me go ahead and blow it all,’ and then realize that you’ll have taxes later down the line,” Daniels added.

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The Big 12 recently has entered into a multi-year partnership with PayPal, which will facilitate revenue-sharing payments from universities to their athletes through the popular online payment platform. This agreement will also enable athletes to receive NIL payments seamlessly.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said West Virginia was one of the first schools in the conference to utilize PayPal’s HyperWallet.

UCF AD Terry Mohajir talks NIL, construction, Space Game and International games

“Two weeks ago, they brought in a couple of people to talk to us about the revenue sharing because there have been so many changes,” said West Virginia receiver Jaden Bray. “We have to switch to a whole new app. We’ve got to upload everything. There’s so much stuff. So they do a great job of teaching us.”

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Daniels believes this new opportunity will prepare him for a possible career in the NFL.

“It’s a better chance, a better time for you to learn in college when you’re making hundreds of thousands of dollars than when you go to the NFL and you start making 10s of millions of dollars. What are you going to do with it then?” he said.

That said, some coaches warn their players against falling prey to unsavory third-party elements, especially like an agent.

“Some of these guys are taking 20-to-25% [of their income] from these guys,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “That’s outlandish. It should be 3-to-5% just like the NFL, and certification would be an absolute step in the right direction.”

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Originally from Germany, UCF offensive lineman Paul Rubelt faces limitations with NIL and revenue-sharing due to his status as an international student. However, he remains unfazed by the opportunities his teammates can seize that are often more lucrative.

“I’ve gotten so much through the school,” Rubelt said. “We get gear. We get free food. We receive disbursements, such as scholarship money and housing. That’s a lot of stuff and a free degree. I’m on my second degree now, so that’s more than I can ask of being an international student.”

Bianchi: How Scott Frost’s 5-word truth bomb blew up the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Rublet sees a significant advantage to revenue-sharing.

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“It’s awesome for players to get,” he added. “Can it be out of control? Probably. So there are good [things] and bad [things].”

Throughout it all, it still comes down to what is accomplished on the field, according to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

“The teams and coaches who can put that aside will focus on coaching and playing football and find a way to come together to get the best chance to win. That’s the only way I think we can handle the monetary side of college football at this time,” he said.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.



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Spartans’ Chiles NIL Apparel Now Available

Michigan State junior quarterback Aidan Chiles’ collection of clothing merchandise from the official Michigan State NIL store has officially been unveiled ahead of the 2025 regular season. Graphic tees, sweatshirts, jerseys and hoodies with name and number are all available. Many Spartan players have their merchandise available, but Chiles’ will surely be one of the […]

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Michigan State junior quarterback Aidan Chiles’ collection of clothing merchandise from the official Michigan State NIL store has officially been unveiled ahead of the 2025 regular season. Graphic tees, sweatshirts, jerseys and hoodies with name and number are all available.

Many Spartan players have their merchandise available, but Chiles’ will surely be one of the top sellers, alongside star receiver Nick Marsh and linebacker Jordan Hall. The new world of college football allows these student-athletes to make substantial money before even stepping on the field in August.

Per the Michigan State NIL Store webpage, the mission statement for how this site seeks to impact collegiate athletes is as follows:

“At The NIL Store, we prioritize athletes’ success by providing a platform to amplify their brand and connect with fans through officially licensed NIL merchandise. Fans can shop with confidence, knowing they’re supporting their favorite athletes while receiving top-quality product.”

College athletes now have a different level of wealth than the pre-NIL era, where players were pocketing their per diem money just to be able to buy a few nice things. Nowadays, a few hundred purchases on the NIL store will have a true freshman driving around campus in a new BMW.

Chiles’ overall performance will heavily impact the type of traffic that he will receive on this NIL store. Spartans basketball star Tre Holloman saw his NIL store skyrocket in sales following his buzzer-beater winner against Maryland and the performances he posted against bitter rival Michigan.

If Chiles can put together a winning season and make some highlight reel plays, there is no doubt that there will be a bunch of Green and White sweatshirts and jerseys with Chiles’ name on the back. People did the same with Spartan star hockey forward Isaac Howard.

Putting together a successful, winning season in 2025 means that everyone wins. The program as a whole, the fans and their sanity for Michigan State football, and the athletes that receive the monetary increase via the NIL Store.

You can find Chiles and several other Spartans at the official Michigan State NIL Store when you click here.

Stay up to date with everything MSU football when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, and give us your thoughts WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our lively community group, Go Green Go White, as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.





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The Weekender: Connor Stalions Goes On Unhinged Rant in Response to Sonny Dykes, Paul Finebaum Guarantees Texas Beats Ohio State Next Month and SCORE Act Could Drastically Reshape NIL

Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next. Connor Stalions Goes On Wild Rant Responding to Sonny Dykes In the history of great written works lost to time, it seems a tragedy nearly on par with the Library […]

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Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next.

Connor Stalions Goes On Wild Rant Responding to Sonny Dykes

In the history of great written works lost to time, it seems a tragedy nearly on par with the Library of Alexandria’s burning that the thousand-plus page Connor Stalions manifesto may never see the light of day. However, early in the hours of Saturday morning, the college football world received a glimpse into just how unhinged Stalions can present himself in print.

On the morning prior, acclaimed Amazon shopping cart detective Brett McMurphy posted a story with new quotes from TCU head coach Sonny Dykes regarding his knowledge of Michigan’s sign stealing antics ahead of the 2022 College Football Playoff. The article relays that Dykes’ staff was “inundated with phone calls and texts” regarding the Wolverines’ operation to steal opponent signals. Dykes himself said that, “everybody does it to an extent, but we had some intel that it was kind of next level there.”

Dykes went on to say that because TCU anticipated Michigan would heavily lean on the intel they had for a competitive advantage, the Horned Frogs were able to exploit what “we knew they knew.” He believed the Wolverines ultimately became frustrated enough about the situation in the second half that “they quit worrying about it.”

Just shy of 1 a.m. ET on Saturday morning, with his pride wounded by Dykes, Stalions felt compelled enough to respond directly to the story from his X account despite his acknowledgement of the NCAA’s ongoing investigation into his conduct.

Not merely satisfied with his brief response, Stalions came unglued over the next seven minutes and fired off six paragraphs in which he proceeded to make a series of wild admissions and statements. Those included throwing Michigan players under the bus for their performance against TCU, that he’s never been “fooled” by anyone, and that he knew “almost every signal” against at least seven high profile opponents in games between 2021 and 2022.

Stalions also called it “funny” that anybody would attempt to correlate stealing signs to any wins and losses at Michigan. When asked by an Ohio State fan about committing NCAA violations, getting a game ball if he offered no value and his invasion of the Central Michigan sideline, Stalions claimed he can’t discuss details of an ongoing investigation.

This is the first time Stalions has commented publicly on the sign-stealing scandal since the NCAA’s hearing with Michigan last month in which president Charlie Baker indicated a ruling would release within the next 30 to 90 days afterwards. The behavior from the former Wolverine analyst certainly appears curious given not only Michigan’s attempt at a preemptive punishment for head coach Sherrone Moore, but also his previous efforts to protect the program’s image at all costs. The criticism of player performance in losses particularly seems irregular given how often Stalions has attempted to redirect blame for Michigan’s problems onto himself as opposed to athletes or other staff.

Michigan opens its season on August 30th against New Mexico, which Moore will miss due to suspension before temporarily returning to coach against his alma mater Oklahoma the following week. Given the NCAA hearing took place last month across June 6th and 7th, a punishment could possibly arrive as late as two days prior to the road trip to Norman given the window established by Baker. Stalions indicated he’s “glad the truth will finally emerge” when the investigation concludes.

Paul Finebaum Guarantees Texas Beats Ohio State in 2025 Opener

As the beginning of the 2025 college football schedule finally draws near, infamous SEC apologist Paul Finebaum has already achieved midseason form with respect to drawing the ire of Buckeye fans.

Friday morning, Finebaum outright stated that he “not probably — definitely” believes Texas will beat Ohio State in the season opener for both schools while declaring his love for Longhorns quarterback Archie Manning. His profession included the statement that, “I am as married to Arch Manning as an old geezer like me can be.”

Finebaum previously picked Ohio State to beat Texas in last season’s CFP semifinal round due to a belief that the Buckeyes did not, “have to play that well, they just have to play consistently.” However, this time around he believes that Manning having, “experience of being an understudy to [Quinn] Ewers and understanding [Steve Sarkinian]’s system is what’s going to get them over the top.”

Manning threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in three starts for the Longhorns last season, but also only faced one Power Five opponent in the form of Mississippi State. The Bulldogs finished 2024 with a 2-10 record and lost all eight of their SEC games. The opener in Columbus will also serve as Manning’s first start on the road in his college career.

SCORE Act Could Reshape NIL in College Sports

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the “Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Edorsements (SCORE) Act” that could significantly alter the chaotic name, image and likeness landscape for college athletes and programs.

Several components of the bill would place parameters around how universities manage both the structure and financial support of their athletic departments. One mandate would require schools to maintain at least 16 varsity sports teams for what many speculate serves as a protection on behalf of Olympic programs. Another provision that would primarily impact Big Ten and SEC institutions appears to be that schools making at least $50 million in media rights revenue will not be able to allocate student fees towards supporting athletic endeavors.

As for new legislative measures impacting athletes themselves, players will not have permission to sign deals that would conflict with university codes of conduct or existing agreements between schools and other companies. This would effectively nullify the deal Jeremiah Smith signed with Adidas earlier this month given Ohio State’s preexisting relationship with Nike.

The SCORE Act would also require one of the collegiate associations with oversight to publicly disclose previously anonymous details of these deals — such as finite figure amounts — and would also create a one-time transfer rule.

Although a vote on the bill has yet to receive an announcement, Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger relayed at its introduction that the SCORE Act, “is on track to progress further than any all-encompassing athlete compensation legislation.” Pete Nankos of On3 said last Wednesday that the first subcommittee markup for the bill could happen as early as July 15th, with a subsequent committee markup by the end of the month.

ICYMI

Brice Sensabaugh Sets New Summer League Scoring Record

Tuesday night, former Ohio State basketball player Brice Sensabaugh scored 37 points in a 112-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies to set a new scoring record in the NBA’s Salt Lake City Summer League. Sensabaugh will look to carry that momentum into his third season with the Jazz after averaging just shy of 11 points per game across 71 appearances last regular season.

EA Sports CFB 26 Releases, Overall Ratings for Buckeyes Now Known

The second installment in the return of college football video games released this past week, as the standard edition of EA Sports College Football 26 became available to the public on Thursday. While Jeremiah Smith did not end up receiving his rumored 99 overall to start the game, he and Caleb Downs still find themselves as the two highest-rated players to begin the season and OSU boasts six total players with ratings in the 90s.

Reflecting on Illibuck Over a Century Later

When Ohio State travels to Memorial Stadium in October to play Illinois, it will mark a 100-year celebration of sorts for the second-oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten: Illibuck. Many already know that the tradition began with a live turtle, but few were aware of the facts around his demise in the care of the Fighting Illini or how the Buckeyes avenged his legacy in 1926 — until now.

What’s Next

  • 48 Days: Buckeye football season opener vs. Texas
  • 111 Days: Jim Knowles returns to Columbus
  • 139 Days: The Game





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Five Burning Questions for the 2025-26 Men’s Hoops Season

Somehow, it feels like just yesterday and a lifetime ago that the Florida Gators cut down the nets in San Antonio. A lot has happened since that memorable night in early April. Coaches have changed schools, rosters have reshuffled, the House vs. NCAA settlement was approved and Cooper Flagg was officially drafted No. 1 overall. […]

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Somehow, it feels like just yesterday and a lifetime ago that the Florida Gators cut down the nets in San Antonio. A lot has happened since that memorable night in early April. Coaches have changed schools, rosters have reshuffled, the House vs. NCAA settlement was approved and Cooper Flagg was officially drafted No. 1 overall.

It’s hard to believe how much action has been packed into just three months. The new college basketball landscape has made the offseason far busier and more chaotic, leaving us with an abundance of burning questions. We’ll gradually work through them over the summer as we look ahead to what should be a fascinating 2025-26 campaign.


IN A DOWN YEAR FOR THE ACC, JON SCHEYER AND DUKE CUT DOWN THE NETS TO REACH THE FINAL 4.

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1. Will the ACC bounce back after a lackluster season?

The ACC is coming off a historically bad season in which it received just four bids to the NCAA Tournament. Outside of No. 1 seed Duke, no ACC team advanced to the Round of 32. In the second annual ACC-SEC challenge, a series of matchups between the two conferences, the ACC went 2-14.  

The league’s struggles can be attributed to a number of factors. There has been heavy turnover among its coaches, as Hall of Famers like Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams and Tony Bennett retired, ushering in new eras for their respective programs. The ACC was also slower to adjust to the sport’s changing climate, shaped increasingly by the transfer portal and NIL. 

Ranking All 18 ACC Transfer Classes

Ranking All 18 ACC Transfer Classes

Hoops HQ’s partners at the Portal Report have ranked the ACC’s transfer crop from 1 through 18. Here’s how they ordered the classes and why.

In 2025-26, the conference has the potential to bounce back. Duke should be a powerhouse once again, and programs such as Louisville, NC State, Virginia, North Carolina, Syracuse and more appear on the rise. When I spoke with Syracuse coach Adrian Autry in June, he expressed confidence that the ACC will turn things around in a major way. 

“I think our whole conference kind of (had to adjust),” Autry told me. “Obviously Duke, they were the only ones who were kind of immune to it. It’s funny, you felt like they’ve always kind of operated on that level. Our league had to make that adjustment. I think this year, this will be the ACC that everyone is accustomed to. You look around the league, you look at these rosters, this league is going to be back to what it used to be. And I think it took our league a couple years from a basketball standpoint to make those adjustments.”

LEADING SCORER OTEGA OWEH (16.2 POINTS) RETURNS FOR A KENTUCKY TEAM VIEWED AS A THREAT TO FLORIDA IN THE SEC.

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

2. Will the SEC’s reign continue?

While the ACC floundered in 2024-25, the SEC had perhaps the greatest men’s basketball season ever for a conference. Before league play, it posted a winning percentage of 88.9 percent. The SEC went on to earn a record-breaking 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament. Four of those teams reached at least the Elite Eight (Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee), with the Gators going on to win the national championship.

Let the Chase Begin! An Inside Look at Blueblood Recruiting for 2026

There is no doubt which conference currently sits atop the throne in college basketball. The top SEC schools are loaded once again, led by Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas and Alabama. But the Big 12 and the Big Ten have arguably gotten stronger, with Purdue (more on the Boilermakers below) and Houston among the contenders for preseason No. 1 overall. Seven of the top 15 freshmen in the 2025 recruiting class picked a Big 12 school, including AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and five Big Ten schools are featured in the top 10 of Hoops HQ’s ranking of the best transfer classes (Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Washington and USC). 

THE 1-2 COMBO OF TREY KAUFMAN-RENN (LEFT) AND BRADEN SMITH HAS PURDUE ON THE SHORT LIST OF CONTENDERS.

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

3. Can Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn deliver Purdue its first national championship?

Purdue has a solid chance to open the 2025-26 campaign ranked No. 1 in the country. The Boilermakers are returning three standouts from last year’s team which finished fourth in the Big Ten and lost a nailbiter to Houston in the Sweet 16: 6-foot senior point guard Braden Smith, 6-foot-9 senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and 6-foot-5 senior guard Fletcher Loyer. Smith, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, will be one of the frontrunners for the Wooden Award; Kaufman-Renn made the All-Big Ten First Team with averages of 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds; and Loyer, a three-year starter, averaged a career-high 13.8 points and shot 44.4 percent from three.

Get Old, Stay Old, Get Paid: Purdue Has A Winning Formula

Coach Matt Painter’s squad had one glaring weakness in 2024-25: a lack of size. After 7-foot-4 freshman center Daniel Jacobsen suffered a season-ending injury in early November, Purdue had little rim protection and struggled immensely on the boards, ranking 362nd in the nation in blocks per game and 309th in rebounds per game. The Boilermakers will not only get Jacobsen back this season — they signed 6-foot-11 senior center Oscar Cluff, who averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds at South Dakota. The Portal Report ranked Cluff as the 10th best transfer (and No. 1 center) available this year. Purdue also added promising Israeli guard Omer Mayer, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv last season. Mayer starred for Israel at the FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2 steals in four outings.

The Boilermakers have reached the Final Four three times, most recently in 2024, but they have never cut down the nets. The 2025-26 roster has all the ingredients to finally get the job done: size, experience, depth and multiple All-American candidates. 

AJ DYBANTSA HAS BYU FANS AND NBA SCOUTS IN A FRENZY: HE’S WIDLY REGARDED THE TOP INCOMING FRESHMAN AND A LOTTERY PICK.

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4. Will BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa live up to the hype in an uber-talented freshman class?

The hype around incoming freshman A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 player in the class of 2025, has been building for years now. The 6-foot-9, do-it-all wing out of Utah Prep is finally set to make his college debut for the Cougars. He’s considered an early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and should contend for the Wooden Award if he lives up to expectations. Dybantsa caught the eye of NBA reps during U19 USA Basketball trials a month ago. “He was so damn good this week, it’s ridiculous,” one NBA scout told Hoops HQ’s Krysten Peek. “A.J. has a combination of physicality and depth when we’re looking at modern NBA play. He has the potential to excel on both sides of the floor and can deepen a team’s two-way versatility with his length, athleticism and IQ. I’ll be surprised if he’s not the No. 1 pick next year.”

AJ Dybantsa, Incoming BYU Freshman, Has a Busy Summer Ahead

Dybantsa is one of several freshmen with the potential to steal the spotlight in 2025-26. The new crop of rookies is just as loaded as last year’s class, which accounted for nine of the top 10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Hoops HQ’s draft expert Jonathan Wasserman currently projects 11 freshmen to be taken in the lottery of next year’s draft. Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Tennessee’s Nate Ament are all believed to be in the running for the No. 1 pick. Other names to monitor in the Freshman of the Year race include Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou, Arizona’s Koa Peat, North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., Arkansas’ Darius Acuff and more. 

Washington is getting a double-double machine in Hannes Steinbach

INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO COLLEGE HOOPS WITH WASHINGTON’S HANNES STEINBACH AMONG THE TOP NEWCOMERS.

FIBA via Getty Images

5. Will the uptick in international players continue to shake up college basketball?

Since NIL and eligibility rules changed, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of international players joining college basketball. The reason is simple: top schools are offering more lucrative contracts than what’s available overseas. High-level prospects also get the opportunity to transition to life in the U.S. before moving on to the NBA. 

The influx of talent from countries around the globe has already had a profound impact on the sport. Last season, stars like BYU’s Egor Demin and Illinois’  Kasparas Jakucionis — both of whom were selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft — helped their teams reach the NCAA Tournament.

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Who’s Going Number One?

Many more elite foreign players are entering the mix for the 2025-26 campaign. We got a peek at some of them at the FIBA U19 World Cup in early July. In addition to the aforementioned Omer Mayer, Hannes Steinbach, a 6-foot-9 forward from Germany who will play at Washington next year, was sensational, averaging 17.2 points and 14 rebounds per game. Argentinian Tyler Kropp, a 6-foot-8 forward, was the tournament’s leading scorer at 21.8 points per game. There are numerous other international recruits who could wind up being the X-factors for their respective programs, such as Italian wing Dame Sarr (Duke), Montenegrin guard Luka Bogavac (North Carolina), Serbian guard Andrej Kostic (Kansas State), Greek wing Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech) and German forward Sananda Fru (Louisville). Illinois coach Brad Underwood has assembled a roster with five players from the Balkan region, headlined by Serbian guard Mihailo Petrovic, who was an MVP candidate in the Adriatic League. 





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2025 SEC Media Days schedule, where to watch

Talking season is in full swing as SEC personnel are set to descend upon Atlanta this week for 2025 SEC Media Days. From July 14 to July 17, the league’s coaches will either get through their allotted time slot as quickly as possible, or they will take their chance to hype their respective teams just […]

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2025 SEC Media Days schedule, where to watch

Talking season is in full swing as SEC personnel are set to descend upon Atlanta this week for 2025 SEC Media Days. From July 14 to July 17, the league’s coaches will either get through their allotted time slot as quickly as possible, or they will take their chance to hype their respective teams just over a month before the season gets into full swing. 

Though there are no new schools, or even new coaches, entering the league in 2025, there’s still plenty to look forward to. Few names will demand as much attention as Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who will travel with coach Steve Sarkisian to represent the Longhorns in Atlanta. 

Manning, a former No. 1 overall recruit and scion of one of the most notable football families to ever grace the game, is entering his much-anticipated first season as Texas’ starter. He is also one of 11 expected starting quarterbacks that will be present at SEC Media Days. 

Texas is one of several SEC teams that are expected to be in the mix for a 12-team College Football Playoff, though the conference will be hunting for its first national title since 2022. It will be fascinating to see if Alabama improves from its somewhat disappointing nine-win campaign in its first year under new coach Kalen DeBoer, or how Tennessee — which lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal late in the spring — follows up its first playoff appearance in program history. 

Here’s a look at where to watch 2025 SEC Media Days, and a breakdown of the full appearance schedule ahead of the anticipated event. 

Where to watch 2025 SEC Media Days 

Dates: July 14-17 
Location: Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park | Atlanta, Georgia
TV: SEC Network | Live stream: ESPN+

2025 SEC Media Days schedule 

All times below Eastern

Monday, July 14 

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey (9:05 a.m.)

LSU — Brian Kelly (10:25 a.m.) | WR Chris Hilton JR., QB Garrett Nussmeier, LB Whit Weeks 

South Carolina — Shane Beamer (11:45 a.m.) | QB LaNorris Sellers, DB DQ Smith, DT Nick Barrett 

Ole Miss — Lane Kiffin (1:30 p.m.) | LB TJ Dottery, WR Cayden Lee, QB Austin Simmons 

Vanderbilt — Clark Lea (3:20 p.m.) | ATH Randon Fontenette, DB Martel Hight, QB Diego Pavia 

Tuesday, July 15 

Georgia — Kirby Smart (10:25 a.m.) | LB CJ Allen, DB Daylen Everette, QB Gunner Stockton 

Auburn — Hugh Freeze (12:15 p.m.) | QB Jackson Arnold, DL Keldric Faulk, OL Connor Lew 

Tennessee — Josh Heupel (1:30 p.m.) | LB Arion Carter, TE Miles Kitselman, DT Bryson Eason 

Texas — Steve Sarkisian (3:15 p.m.) | LB Anthony Hill Jr., QB Arch Manning, DB Michael Taaffe 

Wednesday, July 16 

Alabama — Kalen DeBoer (9:05 a.m.) | DL Tim Keenan III, LB Deontae Lawson, OL Kadyn Proctor 

Mississippi State — Jeff Lebby (10:50 a.m.) | QB Blake Shapen, DB Isaac Smith, WR Brenen Thompson 

Florida — Billy Napier (1 p.m.) | DL Caleb Banks, OL Jake Slaughter, QB DJ Lagway 

Oklahoma — Brent Venables (2:45 p.m.) | QB John Mateer, DB Robert Spears-Jennings, DL R Mason Thomas 

Thursday, July 17 

Missouri — Eli Drinkwitz (9:05 a.m.) | DB Daylan Carnell, OL Connor Tollison, DL Zion Young 

Kentucky — Mark Stoops (10:50 a.m.) | LB Alex Afari Jr., DB Jordan Lovett, TE Josh Kattus 

Arkansas — Sam Pittman (1 p.m.) | DL Cam Ball, QB Taylen Green, LB Xavian Sorey Jr

Texas A&M — Mike Elko (2:45 p.m.) | DB Will Lee III, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, LB Taurean York

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