College Sports
MCWS Final down, but among most-watched in best-of-three era
With the series ending in a sweep, the Men’s College World Series Final was no match for last year’s three-game set. The two-game LSU-Coastal Carolina Men’s College World Series Final averaged 2.50 million viewers on the ESPN networks, down 11% from last year’s three-game Tennessee-Texas A&M series (2.82M) but the most-watched sweep since the final […]

With the series ending in a sweep, the Men’s College World Series Final was no match for last year’s three-game set.
The two-game LSU-Coastal Carolina Men’s College World Series Final averaged 2.50 million viewers on the ESPN networks, down 11% from last year’s three-game Tennessee-Texas A&M series (2.82M) but the most-watched sweep since the final shifted to a best-of-three format in 2003 (ten total series).
Sunday’s Game 2 averaged 2.78 million viewers across ABC and ESPNU, down five percent from Tennessee-Texas A&M Game 2 last year (2.92M) but still the sixth-largest audience for an MCWS game on the ESPN networks.
Facing breaking news coverage, Saturday’s Game 1 averaged 2.18 million on ESPN and ESPNU — down 4% from last year’s opener (2.26M).
This year’s MCWS Final ranks as the fourth-most watched in the best-of-three era. LSU has played in three of the top four, with the Tigers’ 2023 win over Florida (2.86M) and 2009 win over Texas (2.76M) ranking first and third respectively. (Last year’s series, which ranks second, is the lone exception.)
The complete Men’s College World Series averaged 1.21 million viewers, down 22%
from last year (1.56M) but still the third-largest audience for the event since 2011 — behind only last year and 2023 (1.65M). The MCWS averaged fewer viewers than the Women’s College World Series earlier this month (1.3M), though the two-game MCWS Final outdrew the three-game WCWS Final (2.2M).The full NCAA baseball tournament averaged 537,000 viewers.
College Sports
Color of Hockey: Bark ‘can do everything’ in Panthers front office
Still, Bark thrived and moved on to Lake Forest College, an NCAA Division III school in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he had 67 points (17 goals, 50 assists) in 75 games as a center from 2009-13. He was named team captain his senior season, but injuries limited him to one game. “I was the shortest […]

Still, Bark thrived and moved on to Lake Forest College, an NCAA Division III school in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he had 67 points (17 goals, 50 assists) in 75 games as a center from 2009-13. He was named team captain his senior season, but injuries limited him to one game.
“I was the shortest guy on the team (5-7, 170),” he said. “Maybe you call it passionate and fiery, and I call it kind of stupid, but I thought I was 6-foot-2. So that led to a lot of unnecessary head trauma.”
His injury history, however, led to a life-changing opportunity. Zito was looking for some help in 2011 when he was president and co-founder of Acme World Sports, a Chicago-based agency that represented several of the NHL’s top players. Justin Taylor, a forward for Lake Forest in 2009-10 and the son of Tim Taylor, Zito’s hockey coach at Yale University from 1984-87, recommended Bark.
“He said, ‘My buddy ‘Barks,’ he got hurt, he’s not traveling this weekend, he’ll do it for you, he’s a great guy,’” Zito said. “’Oh, and maybe he wants an internship or something.’ Okay, he’s an intern. He gets in there and we’re, like ‘Oh, my God.’”
Bark became an associate for Acme from 2012-15, supporting agents in operations, regulatory compliance, contracts, global market dynamics and hockey analysis.
“That was the most fun stuff,” he said. “People use the term ‘family’ a lot in business settings. But working with that agency, seeing the bond these guys formed with players, with people, as you help them achieve their dreams. I mean, that’s as strong as it gets, bordering maybe on something you could call familial.”
Zito was so impressed with Bark’s work that he invited him to be a part-time analyst for the Columbus Blue Jackets while attending the Moritz School of Law at Ohio State University, when Zito was an assistant general manager under GM Jarmo Kelalainen with Columbus.
The part-time gig turned into full-time employment and five seasons with the Blue Jackets, with whom Bark rose to manager of scouting operations and player evaluation.
“It was an incredible experience because the Blue Jackets at the time, we were a draft and develop team,” he said. “There was a heavy focus on the amateur draft and having the right pieces to build that team. It was a multifaceted experience, and it shaped a lot of how I view player evaluation and how scouting operations should run.”
College Sports
Flyers, Porter Martone to have conversation about playing in NCAA
There is a big decision looming for top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone, and him and the team are scheduled to have a conversation regarding this decision in the next couple of weeks. We are in a new era of prospect development for this sport. With the new agreement between the CHL and NCAA, where […]

There is a big decision looming for top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone, and him and the team are scheduled to have a conversation regarding this decision in the next couple of weeks.
We are in a new era of prospect development for this sport. With the new agreement between the CHL and NCAA, where players no longer have to pick a lane when they’re 15 years old and can now switch between the two major North American development leagues before players turn pro. As long as a player is not signed to an NHL team, they can go between college hockey and Canadian juniors if they so please.
This is provides a major stepping stone for some players and one of the key players that will need to make a decision is Flyers first-round pick Porter Martone.
The 18-year-old winger was simply one of the best players in the OHL and arguably the entire CHL last season for the Brampton Steelheads. Even before he was drafted, he put up a nearly triple-digit point total and while other players produced just as much, Martone was miles ahead of those peers physically.
Given that level of success and draft pedigree after the Flyers selected him with the sixth overall draft pick last month, multiple schools are clamoring for Martone to commit to them and take that next step in his hockey development. Despite that, the player himself has recently said that his goal is to make it to the NHL for next season.
While that is absolutely the mindset you want your top prospect to have, it gets a little bit tricky. There is no denying that in a vacuum, Martone should play in college next season. He is too good to return to the OHL but is not one of those franchise-changing talents that can waltz right into the NHL and make an impact. It’s the perfect middle ground — a stepping stone to play against older players and face a higher level of competition before signing with the Flyers potentially at the end of next season.
Therefore, it’s going to be a conversation.
“Martone obviously has all kinds of offers,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said Sunday. “He wants to play in the NHL and that’s a discussion we’ll have with his agent. As much as we want him to play, we have to make sure we do what’s best for him. We’ll figure that out in the coming weeks and see what he wants to do, and go from there.”
While it won’t be a drastic decision one way or the other, and Martone will still likely turn into a very good NHL player at the end of the day, it is still fairly important what path he chooses to go down for next season.
Heading to college hockey is the most stable but it also prevents Martone from getting the experience of an NHL training camp this fall, as he would be ineligible to participate and the next time we could see him in Flyers colors would have to wait until next spring when he inevitably signs his NHL contract after his college season ends.
Trying his best to make the NHL is riskier and could lead him to playing in a not-so-great development environment. If Martone makes the Flyers full-time, that’s great. It might not be ideal for those who would rather see prospects gradually climb the proverbial hockey ladder, but it would at least be exciting. But regardless, if Martone decided to go down this path, he would have to sign his NHL entry-level contract and that would prevent him from playing college hockey at all.
So, with his shiny new contract, if Martone doesn’t make the Flyers or just plays a few games like Jett Luchanko did at the start of last season, that means he has to go back to the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads. Unfortunately, that would be going back to a Steelheads team that has been torn apart by either graduating players or prospects heading to college hockey.
All seven of the top scorers on last year’s Steelheads squad except Martone, are not returning next season. Plus, they just lost their goaltender Jack Ivankovic to the University of Michigan. And to make this much more dramatic, because of the new NCAA-CHL agreement taking place, this is a weakened OHL — a junior league that now has even fewer top prospects because some of them are now playing NCAA hockey instead.
That doesn’t feel like a great environment for Martone to really further his game and get better at the areas of the game he needs to improve. It would just be letting him plateau but be a year older when he tries to make the NHL as a full-time player and being slightly more comfortable with it.
So, all of that is to say that it would make sense if the Flyers are going to try to push Martone over to college hockey, even if the player seems passionate about trying to play in NHL games as soon as possible.
Luckily, we’re dealing with a very mature prospect. Someone who has captained multiple teams and is miles ahead in between the ears compared to other past prospects.
“To see his maturity, how he handles himself around the group and even around you guys,” Flahr said to the media. “He’s a pretty comfortable kid. I think once he gets around NHL players he’s going to stand out even more. I think he’s a player that’s always looking around, learning. The pace of his game is going to have to pick up, but you see the hands, the vision, the ability to make plays very few guys even on our big team can make. There’s a process, he’s a young guy, but we’ll see what he can do.”
College Sports
July 07, 2025 – Bulldawg Illustrated
Jump To Top of Page UGA Uses of NIL Fines to Curb Off-Field Behavior As the Georgia Bulldogs gear up for another shot at the national title in 2025, they’re also pioneering a new approach off the field. Following a series of off-field incidents, particularly those involving speeding and reckless driving, Kirby Smart’s program has […]

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UGA Uses of NIL Fines to Curb Off-Field Behavior

As the Georgia Bulldogs gear up for another shot at the national title in 2025, they’re also pioneering a new approach off the field. Following a series of off-field incidents, particularly those involving speeding and reckless driving, Kirby Smart’s program has implemented a groundbreaking solution: utilizing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) fines to enforce discipline. This unique strategy sets them apart in the world of major college football.
A Crisis of Conduct
Georgia’s off-field problems, particularly with traffic violations, have caused a storm of finger-pointing and harrumphing. However, there have been tragic consequences involving UGA players and cars, as well as a number of unsafe incidents.
The most tragic moment came in January 2023, when a high-speed crash claimed the lives of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. Despite increased awareness and internal efforts to curb dangerous driving, violations continued.
Turning to NIL for Discipline
At this year’s SEC Spring Meetings, Kirby Smart made headlines by confirming that Georgia’s NIL collective, the Classic City Collective, has begun issuing financial penalties to players for off-field behavior.
“It’s really trying to punch the pocketbook,” Smart said. “They feel that more than they do anything else.”
Some players have reportedly had large payments withheld over conduct violations, particularly reckless driving.
How the NIL Fines Work
Through contracts that include morality clauses, the collective can fine players or withhold NIL payments if they engage in dangerous behavior—such as driving at high speed.
Smart emphasized that the intent isn’t punitive—it’s corrective: “We don’t get to decide what the collective does. But we’re in communication with them about our expectations. They know what’s important to us.”
A New Culture in Athens
The policy is already changing the internal culture. Senior leaders have begun to view fines as a tool for accountability, particularly now that financial consequences are tied to specific behaviors. One player mentioned to The Athletic, “This is a team, not a bank. If you mess up, it costs you.” Players receive a briefing on the policy as soon as they arrive on campus, and the potential loss of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money has introduced a new level of personal responsibility.
Legal and Ethical Red Flags
While the policy may work in the locker room, legal experts warn that it could cross the line.
“If you’re docking pay based on behavior, you’re entering the realm of employment law,” said sports law analyst Michael McCann. “That’s tricky when the NCAA insists players aren’t employees.”
Recruiting Risks and Rewards
From a recruiting perspective, Georgia’s NIL discipline model is a double-edged sword.
Some parents and high school coaches may welcome the structure, seeing it as a sign of maturity and character development. Others may view it as an overreach, particularly when other programs offer similar NIL money without the strings attached.
Still, Georgia continues to thrive on the trail. In fact, the last few weeks have produced an exceptional haul of high school talent. Whether NIL fines will eventually impact recruiting success remains to be seen.
Leading the Way—or Taking a Risk?
Georgia might be the first major program to link NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) compensation to off-field behavior, but it likely won’t be the last. If this policy proves effective in reducing violations and avoids legal issues, other programs will likely adopt similar measures. Collectives are rapidly evolving, and many are looking for ways to connect financial investments with character and conduct.
However, Coach Smart remains cautious: “I don’t think NIL alone is going to fix it. It’s just one piece of the puzzle. We’re still focused on mentoring and having discussions. NIL simply adds another layer.”
As we enter the 2025 season, Georgia’s use of NIL fines could become a defining storyline, not just in Athens but across the college football landscape.
It’s a test case for how schools can balance new athlete freedoms with old-school discipline. And it could shape the future of NIL as more than just a market but a carrot/stick mechanism for team control.
For now, Georgia is taking the lead; whether it continues or falls behind depends on how well the Bulldogs can walk the tightrope between freedom and responsibility in college football’s new era.
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College Sports
How Penn State Is Capitalizing on the New Era of College Hockey
In November 2024, the NCAA Division I Council changed the landscape of college hockey forever by permitting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) athletes to compete in NCAA games. The new rule takes effect Aug. 1, and college teams are positioning themselves to sign the best young players from the CHL. What does this mean for Penn […]

In November 2024, the NCAA Division I Council changed the landscape of college hockey forever by permitting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) athletes to compete in NCAA games. The new rule takes effect Aug. 1, and college teams are positioning themselves to sign the best young players from the CHL.
What does this mean for Penn State hockey, and how are the Nittany Lions approaching their post-Frozen Four future? Here’s a look at how Penn State seeks to capitalize on the influx of new talent into college hockey.
RELATED: Penn State left the Frozen Four hopeful about its future
New talent pours into NCAA hockey
Between the ages of 16-20, players with NHL aspirations often choose one of two routes to develop and prepare for professional hockey. Athletes may choose the CHL, where the premier junior hockey players of the world compete before their transition into the NHL. Or they might commit to an NCAA program.
While college hockey churns out professional players every year, the talent difference between the NCAA and the CHL is substantial. Twenty-one CHL athletes were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, compared to just five from NCAA programs.
Before the new legislature, players who signed CHL deals couldn’t begin their playing careers in Canada and then transfer to the NCAA. But now, CHL players are flooding into college hockey, making it a prime spot for NHL prospects to develop.
Penn State adapted to the new circumstances almost immediately, bringing in six CHL athletes: Jackson Smith, Shea Van Olm, Lev Katzin, Luke Misa, Nolan Collins and Joshua Fleming. And the Nittany Lions are looking for more, having been linked to Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 draft.
The deal has changed college hockey forever as more top-end talent will commit to NCAA programs, leading to higher traction for the sport.
Revenue sharing plays a big role
In June, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement regarding payments to former, current and future players. The settlement allows schools to pay athletes directly, which gives the NCAA an advantage on the CHL.
The CHL provides players with stipends and benefits, arguing that they’re amateurs, similar to the former NCAA position. Through revenue sharing, some NCAA programs can offer players higher earnings.
Penn State has not released its revenue-sharing breakdowns, including how much men’s hockey will receive, but coach Guy Gadowsky appears to have access to funding that allows him to offer some of the top CHL prospects. Generally, Penn State believes it is well-positioned to take advantage of revenue sharing beyond football, as Athletic Director Pat Kraft has said.
“We’re trying to be able to manage the money so that if we need to move on someone, no matter what the sport is, we have the ability to say, ‘Hey, there’s the No. 1 fencer in the world, and we need to go use rev share to maybe tilt it our way,'” Kraft said. “We’re going to be able to do that.”
“I appreciate how much love [Penn State] showed me throughout the process…The way they play and how I play, I think it’s a great fit!”
Caught up with our newest Nittany Lion and first round draft pick Jackson Smith at @BlueJacketsNHL Dev Camp this week!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/esob37P9yu
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) July 3, 2025
How Penn State is capitalizing on college hockey’s new era
Penn State is pursuing some of the top young prospects in hockey. The Nittany Lions received a commitment from Smith, who became the program’s first player to be a first-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Penn State also reportedly has been connected with Porter Martone, the Philadelphia Flyers’ No. 6 overall pick of the draft, and McKenna, the consensus top player of the 2026 NHL Draft cycle.
Dating to June, the McKenna sweepstakes reportedly has been a two-team race between Penn State and Michigan State. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freedman Friedman mentioned Penn State as McKenna’s most likely destination on the 32 Thoughts hockey podcast. Hockey journalist Frank Servalli further reported that McKenna recently visited State College. McKenna could announce a decision at any time.
While Penn State is an attractive destination following its Frozen Four run, the program’s ability to offer Smith and other athletes competitive deals has contributed to its offseason success. Combined with the lessons his team learned last season, Gadowsky said he is “very optimistic” about Penn State’s future.
“It’s not just a lesson in hockey for next year … but it’s a lesson that these guys are going to carry with them well beyond Penn State and also well beyond hockey,” Gadowsky said after the Frozen Four. “It’s true. You can talk about it as much as you want: ‘Oh, that’s the way to do things.’ But when you’re really faced with a challenge and you’re really in a down spot and you pull each other together and lift each other up and you see success, it’s something you don’t forget. For not only because of the young talent but because of the lessons we learned, yes, I’m very optimistic about the future.”
More Penn State Sports
College Sports
Middlebury soccer wins NCAA semifinal
Middlebury’s Abigail Blyler dribbles the ball during a women’s college soccer game earlier this year. Provided Photo GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Middlebury women’s soccer team made the most of its only shot on goal Friday night to earn its first NCAA finals appearance in program history. Simone Ameer started the game on the bench and […]

Middlebury’s Abigail Blyler dribbles the ball during a women’s college soccer game earlier this year.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Middlebury women’s soccer team made the most of its only shot on goal Friday night to earn its first NCAA finals appearance in program history.
Simone Ameer started the game on the bench and ended up the hero during a 1-0 Division III semifinal victory over top-ranked Washington University-St. Louis (21-1). Forward Ellie Greenberg assisted Ameer in the 49th minute and Panthers goalie Ursula Alwang (three saves) recorded her ninth solo shutout of the season.
College Sports
Hugh Freeze Blames NIL Shadiness, Not Golf, For Recruiting Woes
© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Audio By Carbonatix The Auburn Tigers are struggling to recruit ahead of Year 3 in the Hugh Freeze era. The program, which often finds itself in the top half of the SEC rankings, is rated near the bottom of the Power 4. The Tigers‘ […]


© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Audio By Carbonatix
The Auburn Tigers are struggling to recruit ahead of Year 3 in the Hugh Freeze era. The program, which often finds itself in the top half of the SEC rankings, is rated near the bottom of the Power 4.
The Tigers‘ 2026 class currently sits at 85th nationally in the 247 Sports recruiting rankings. That’s good for dead last in the Southeastern Conference.
Some of that is due to quantity. Auburn has a league-low seven commitments this offseason and is the only school in single digits.
Some has to do with quality. The Tigers’ average prospect rating is 88.99, which ranks 11th out of 16 SEC teams.
What gives? Freeze was hired in large part due to his recruiting prowess. The Tigers took a chance despite his checkered past. To this point, it hasn’t paid off.
The team is 11-14 across two seasons with the head coach at the helm. Still, they’ve had back-to-back Top 10 recruiting classes to fall back on. That’s changed this summer.
With struggles now being seen both on and off the field, Auburn football supporters are growing anxious. It’s led to over-the-top criticisms from the fanbase.
Hugh Freeze golfs too much!
At least according to some fans. They believe he’s prioritized his golf game above recruiting. Those claims cite his 10 trips to the links over the first 20 days of June.
Auburn’s recruiting ranking alone was enough to cause uneasiness. Rival Alabama’s dominance has fans spiraling.
The Crimson Tide boast a Top 5 class. They’ve swiped a pair of five-star prospects from the Tigers’ grasps in the last week.
Cedarian Morgan, the top-ranked player in the Yellowhammer State, committed to Alabama on July 2nd. Three days later, Jireh Edwards chose the Crimson Tide after taking an official visit to Auburn.
Alabama has been stuffing Auburn in a locker on the recruiting trail. Hugh Freeze says golf isn’t to blame for his poor recruiting. Instead, he referenced shady NIL practices from his competitors.
“We’re doing things the right way,” he said when discussing the House settlement surrounding player payment. “At the end of the day, that’s really what we have to do, in my opinion. We can’t put ourselves in jeopardy…
“If others are operating in a manner not with that, I’m hopeful that they’ll be called out on that at some point… We’re going by what we believe to be the accurate interpretation of [the settlement]. It’s not really to our advantage to what we’re doing right now because others, I think, are operating in a different manner.”
That sudden attention to rule following came off as ironic given his previous firing from Ole Miss. Still, Hugh Freeze believes he’s been put at a disadvantage. He hopes that changes in the coming weeks.
Auburn is struggling to recruit. Should they experience a third straight losing season, criticism of the head coach will grow. But hey, maybe this latest excuse can buy him another few rounds of golf!
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