NIL

Mike Vrabel responds to belief he could return to college football: ‘Not right now’

There are only 32 NFL head coaching positions and, right now, Mike Vrabel has one of them with the New England Patriots. So, it’s not a surprise that for the time being, he’s not considering a return to the college game. The topic of the college game came up for Vrabel when he made an […]

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

There are only 32 NFL head coaching positions and, right now, Mike Vrabel has one of them with the New England Patriots. So, it’s not a surprise that for the time being, he’s not considering a return to the college game.

The topic of the college game came up for Vrabel when he made an appearance on The Triple Option. There, he joked with Urban Meyer, whom he worked for when he was an assistant coach with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“Three years in college was enough for me,” Vrabel said. “And I took off for the NFL and I’m sure Urban told you. Urban didn’t want to hire me. He’ll tell you, he didn’t want to hire me, or that was just his way of motivating me, and he did a good job because I learned a lot there, but I just felt like the pro game was where I wanted to be.”

Vrabel played his college football at Ohio State in the middle of the 1990s for John Cooper. He’d go on to play in the NFL for more than a decade, winning three Super Bowls for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. He has since been inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame.

After his playing career ended in 2010, Vrabel quickly got into coaching at Ohio State. At the time, he was the linebackers coach in 2011. That was the interim season for Luke Fickell between Jim Tressel and Meyer. He’d stay there through 2013 when his first NFL coaching opportunity opened up. By 2018, he’d be the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

A bit ironically, Vrabel is now coaching the Patriots. Meanwhile, Belichick has made the jump to the college game at North Carolina. That’s something that he wishes Belichick luck with moving forward, but not something he necessarily wants for himself.

“If Bill feels like he wanted to go down to North Carolina and try to recreate that,” Vrabel said. “I wish him a lot of luck in the world, unless they’re playing Ohio State.”

It’s difficult to imagine an NFL head coach jumping to college completely on their own. Between recruiting, the Transfer Portal, and academics, there are a lot more off-the-field challenges to manage. On top of that, college jobs are generally less prestigious and while not every salary is publicly known, the NFL can almost always pay more, too. So, it’s no surprise that, for the time being, Vrabel is happy to continue leading the franchise he made his name playing for at the NFL level instead of returning to college.

“Not right now,” Vrabel said. “No. No. Not right now.”

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NIL

Texas Tech Signs Softball Star NiJaree Canady to Another Seven-Figure NIL Deal

In July 2024, Texas Tech—a school with virtually no softball history to speak of—landed Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady in the transfer portal. The Red Raiders lured Canady with a $1 million NIL deal, the largest for a college softball player since the practice’s legalization. Talk about a return on investment. Texas Tech will play Texas […]

Published

2 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Talk about a return on investment. Texas Tech will play Texas Friday in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series finals—with the winner taking home the national championship.

Before the big showdown, however, the Red Raiders got some accounting done. On Friday, Canady’s manager Derrick Shelby told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Canady had signed another million-dollar NIL contract with Texas Tech.

Canady is 34-6 this season with a 0.97 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 239 innings pitched. She’s also slashing .280/.418/.645 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 107 at-bats.

The Red Raiders had made seven NCAA tournament appearances ever before this year. How quickly the state of a program can change in college sports’s brave new world.

More on Sports Illustrated

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UofL vs Miami super regional schedule

Louisville baseball coach Dan McDonnell on Super Regional game vs. Miami Louisville’s Dan McDonnell talks the day before the NCAA Tournament Super Regional game against Miami at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville baseball is facing Miami in a best-of-three NCAA super regional series at Jim Patterson Stadium. The winner will advance to the College World Series. […]

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4 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Louisville baseball is facing Miami in a best-of-three NCAA super regional series at Jim Patterson Stadium. The winner will advance to the College World Series.
Chris Dominguez, who was Bellarmine’s head coach for two years, is part of the Miami baseball coaching staff.

Dan McDonnell’s first season as Louisville baseball head coach ended in the program’s first trip to the College World Series. Chris Dominguez was a big part of that feat as the MVP of the Columbia Regional before totaling three home runs in the CWS.

Dominguez, who was Bellarmine’s head coach for two years, is back in Louisville this weekend as a member of Miami’s coaching staff. U of L and the Hurricanes are set for a best-of-three NCAA Tournament super regional series, which begins at 3 p.m. today at Jim Patterson Stadium.

“Chris is, you hate to say one of your favorites, because you have a lot of favorites,” McDonnell said. “But man, he was a fun kid to coach because he played so hard between the lines. But I call him a gentle giant. He was just a sweet person outside the lines.”

The 2009 Big East Player of the Year was an assistant on Bellarmine’s coaching staff for a year before being named the Knights’ head coach in 2022. He returned to his hometown this season as an assistant coach for Miami. McDonnell coached against his former player the past three seasons when Dominguez was at Bellarmine. But this will be the first time this season that the two will be in opposite dugouts since Louisville and Miami didn’t play during ACC action.

“You knew that Chris was going to be a darn good coach because he’d always come back here in the offseason,” McDonnell said. “He loved (to) talk hitting, working with the hitters, and so him being at Bellarmine and Miami and back and forth the past couple go rounds, we’ve stayed in touch. It’s a guy that we should always celebrate whenever he comes here.”

Stay tuned below for updates throughout the first game of the Louisville vs. Miami super regional series.

Stream Louisville baseball vs. Miami (free trial)

Munroe, without even registering a hit, helped add to U of L’s lead. He flied out to right field, which allowed Matt Klein to score.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB

UM left two runners on base as Forbes struckout Cuvet swinging.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB

The Cardinals lost one challenge but have one remaining after unsuccessfully questioning whether Hurricane Michael Torres was actually safe at first.

After a double from Klein, and intentional walk of Rose and King Jr. getting hit by a pitch, the Cards had loaded the bases with zero outs. Pike hit a line drive to the Ciscar, but that allowed Klein and Rose to score. Then, Munroe his a three-RBI homer in his second at bat to put Louisville up 7-1.

5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB

Hurricanes starter AJ Ciscar was swapped for left-handed pitcher Jake Dorn after Louisville recorded four hits and five runs.

Ciscar went back to the bullpen with one strikeout, one walk, and six earned runs in 2 and 1/3 innings.

Forbes started off strong, striking out Max Galvin swinging. But then he hit Daniel Cuvet, Gonzales hit a double off the next pitch, and Forbes walked Derek Williams. With the bases loaded and just one out, Zion Rose caught a fly ball while Cuvet scored. Forbes struckout the next and final batter swinging.

1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB

Garrett Pike and Jake Munroe kicked things off with back-to-back out-of-the-park homeruns. Then Miami left fielder Max Galvin caught three flies in a row to end the inning.

2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB

Forbes walked the second and third batters of the inning and hit the fourth, making for a bases-loaded situation with just one out. But he showed great resolve, striking out the next two batters swinging, saving Louisville from an early deficit.

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB

Only Matt Klein managed to get on base for the Cards (single up the middle) as Ciscar struckout Zion Rose, and two other Louisville batters (Eddie King Jr. and Lucas Moore) succumbed to Miami’s defensive playmaking.

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB

Forbes struck out two batters, one swinging and one looking. Miami batter Max Galvin hit a single and stole second as Forbes recorded his second strikeout. Left fielder Zion Rose caught a fly from Dorian Gonzalez Jr. to end the inning.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB

Right-handed pitcher Patrick Forbes will get the start for U of L. Forbes has a 3-2 record, 98 strikeouts, a 4.62 ERA and has played in 60 and 1/3 innings this season. AJ Ciscar will start for Miami. Ciscar has a 6-1 record, 64 strikeouts, 3.78 ERA and has pitched in 64 and 1/3 innings this year.

Louisville is in postseason form and playing with a ton of momentum right now. Going 3-0 in the regional with almost a week off to prepare will give the squad the time it needs to take Game 1 of the series. Louisville 8, Miami 4.

Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regional round between U of L and UM has been delayed from 3 p.m. to 3:36 p.m. due to inclement weather. Gates will reopen for fans at 2:56 p.m.

Date: Friday, June 6
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Jim Patterson Stadium

Here is the latest college baseball schedule and NCAA Tournament bracket update.

Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

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Texas Tech softball forced decisive Game 3 in finals of WCWS vs. rival Texas

Why Texas Tech, Texas will win 2025 WCWS It’s a Lone Star State Women’s College World Series this year, and reporter Jenni Carlson breaks down one reason Texas Tech will win and one reason Texas will win the WCWS. Texas Tech defeated Texas 4-3 in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series, forcing a […]

Published

5 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas Tech defeated Texas 4-3 in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady struck out Kayden Henry with the tying run on third to secure the victory.
The Red Raiders rallied from a Game 1 loss, scoring two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings.

OKLAHOMA CITY — It wouldn’t be MAYhem without a little drama spiced in, even if it technically comes in June.

More than 2 million people tuned in to watch the Texas Tech softball team’s contest against Texas in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series on Wednesday night. Those TV viewers were greeted with a tense contest until the final out, a bummer of an outcome for the Red Raiders that put them on the brink of elimination.

Things looked to be heading that same direction in Thursday’s Game 2. Once again, it was NiJaree Canady relatively cruising in the circle until the very end. The Red Raiders added more runs to back Canady this time, taking a 4-1 lead into the seventh.

And once again, Texas mounted a comeback, getting the tying run at the plate with nobody out. If a one-run lead was trouble in Game 1, surely Canady could make a three-run cushion stick 24 hours later, right?

The Longhorns caused more trouble, plating two runs and getting the tying run to third. But Canady had two outs. One more to go and the Red Raiders extend their season another day. At the plate was Kayden Henry, a fellow client of Prestige Management Group, which helped Canady land with Texas Tech a year ago.

“Just go right at her,” Canady said of facing Henry. “I feel like my team, we did a really good job of scoring and getting a good lead, so just having to go right at her.”

Canady threw 88 pitches in Game 1, and the Longhorns made her work into the triple digits in Game 2. But if Canady was tired at that point, she wasn’t about to show it with the game on the line. Three pitches, all over 70 miles an hour, right by Henry for the game-ending strikeout.

About 24 hours after the deflation of letting the late lead slip, Canady and her teammates let out thunderous roars for the 4-3 win to set up the winner-take-all championship game on Friday.

“I think the bottom of the seventh,” head coach Gerry Glasco said, “our fortitude and our determination and the way we reacted there at the end was a testament to the toughness that they’ve acquired by playing these tough games.”

Glasco said he told the Red Raiders after Wednesday’s loss that the team always learns 10-times more from setbacks than triumphs. The lesson from the Game 1 loss? No free bases. Canady attacked Henry from the first pitch and got the job done.

“I was just fighting for my team,” Canady said. “Like I said, last night was on me, so I have to just leave it out on the field just for them.”

Facing an array of pitchers as Texas tried to avoid using ace Teagan Kavan (who wound up coming on in relief in the sixth, giving up a pair of runs from inherited base runners), the Red Raiders scrapped together a pair of two-run innings.

The first came when Texas Tech loaded up the bases for the second time. Alana Johnson, prone to fighting off pitches, went seven pitches deep in an at-bat before getting plunked to drive in one run. A wild pitch on the next offering scored the other.

In the sixth, looking to get some insurance, Glasco again called for Raegan Jennings to pinch-hit. One of three returnees to Texas Tech from a year ago, Jennings missiled a single into center and accounted for one run. Then catcher Victoria Valdez, behind the plate for every one of Canady’s 195 pitches in the two games, ignored Glasco’s sign to stop at third.

Instead, Valdez kept running when Mihyia Davis’ hit got away from the Texas first baseman, sliding in for the fourth run.

“As soon as Mihyia hits a ball I have to go,” Valdez said, “because I was already supposed to be at third and I would have scored anyway. So I had to score from second.”

The Red Raiders have relied on a motto of being selfless and playing for each other. As much of the focus is on Canady, the ace pitcher can’t provide all the scoring as well. It’s taken each member of the lineup coming through at different times throughout the WCWS to be playing on the final day of the season.

“It’s a team effort,” Valdez said. “We all want to be there for NiJa. We want to be there for each other. And like on an off day, you see more than one person going in, and it’s not just one person getting us through.”

In addition to being selfless, the Red Raiders also adopted the motto of “our shot at forever,” adapted from the book “One Shot at Forever” by Chris Ballard. The book, set in Macon, Illinois, — about three hours from Glasco’s hometown — follows the Macon High School baseball team, coached by English teacher Lynn Sweet, during the 1971 season.

The Macon Ironmen became the smallest school in modern Illinois history to make the state final. They did so by taking down a powerhouse team in Lane Tech in the semis, adding a bit more magic to the season.

The parallels between the Ironmen and the Red Raiders are hard to miss. From the opponents in the semifinals — Lane Tech for the Ironmen, Oklahoma for the Red Raiders — to the backstory of their head coach — Glasco, who used to lead quail hunting expeditions in Mexico until the cartel made it too dangerous and Sweet, the teacher who did things a bit differently than his counterparts in the late 1960s.

There is one aspect Texas Tech hopes not to replicate: Macon High lost the state championship to Waukegan High after that dramatic semifinal win. The Red Raiders have their sights set on their own Waukegan High: the Texas Longhorns.

“I’m going to enjoy it either way,” Glasco said. “And I’m going to be proud of my kids either way.”

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USC Trojans Athletics Expands NIL Footprint with Learfield Partnership

After a somewhat disappointing first season in the Big Ten Conference, USC is leveling up their NIL efforts on the football and basketball recruiting trails and via a groundbreaking partnership with college sports’ leading media and technology brand. Building on the major momentum for football coach Lincoln Riley’s top-ranked 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans’ athletic […]

Published

21 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Building on the major momentum for football coach Lincoln Riley’s top-ranked 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans’ athletic department announced this week a new 15-year deal with Learfield to support the school’s NIL, revenue generation and multimedia rights efforts.

USC athletics will use Learfield’s NIL services that include leadership resources, strategic content creation and the Compass platform for brands and athletes.

According to Learfield, their Compass NIL platform integrates into the company’s partner database of over 12,000 brands, that will create new opportunities for student-athletes to help secure more deals.

Home of the second largest media market in the United States and a passionate and affluent alumni network, USC has surprisingly struggled with NIL in years past, but has recently reinvested their resources — both internally and externally — to compete nationally for the top recruiting classes.

“We are thrilled to announce this transformational partnership with Learfield and to leverage their innovation and expertise in our work to win the new era of college athletics,” said Jen Cohen, USC’s Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics. “Learfield’s combination of cutting-edge solutions, forward-thinking revenue-generation strategies, and collaborative leadership and focus will be invaluable in our work to better engage new and existing fans, promote and expand the iconic USC brand, and to generate the resources needed to maximize our investment in student-athletes.”

In addition to the NIL services, Learfield’s Studios — the largest college athlete content platform — will help create premium content featuring Trojan athletes, coaches and teams to help build the individual and collective brands of USC.

“From increased storytelling and NIL opportunities for student-athletes, to providing world-class experiences for our fans in every engagement, this partnership will elevate our entire institution and help ensure USC remains the place to be for student-athletes to reach their fullest potential in all they do for years to come,” Cohen continued.

USC’s Learfield announcement coincided with the school’s annual “Day of SCupport” with fan donations to the Trojan Victory Fund helping student-athletes with scholarship support, enhanced nutrition, equipment and educational resources.

Finishing 7-6 in 2024, the USC football team looks to bounce back when the new season kicks off Aug. 30 at home versus Missouri State.

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NiJaree Canady Signs Second Seven-Figure NIL Deal with Texas Tech

The “Million Dollar Arm” may need a new nickname. After signing a historic million-dollar contract last year, Nijaree Canady has inked another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech. Canady is partnering with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, The Matador Club, and will make $1.2 million in the new deal. The Red Raider ace has been stellar […]

Published

23 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The “Million Dollar Arm” may need a new nickname. After signing a historic million-dollar contract last year, Nijaree Canady has inked another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech.

Canady is partnering with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, The Matador Club, and will make $1.2 million in the new deal.

The Red Raider ace has been stellar in the circle this season. She has a nation leading 0.97 ERA and has recorded 317 strikeouts.

Canady’s thrown every pitch during her team’s run in the WCWS.

In game one of the championship series she held Texas to just two earned runs and four hits and seven strkeouts in the 2-1 loss. Canady bounced back in game two only allowing two earned runs on six hits en route to a 4-3 win.

In 2024, she was named USA Softball’s player of the year and was a top three finalist again this season. She spent two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech.

Canady has been dominating the headlines, weather it be her performance in the circle or a certain number that’s been repeatedly spoken on the broadcasts. Either way, this is great for women’s sports. It’s bringing attention and ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza is thrilled.

“You can have all kinds of theories about what it’s going to take to bring people to our sport, what will get them excited, get their attention,” Mendoza said. Right now, I’m watching all these men’s sports shows, and they’re talking about softball. This is exactly what we’ve wanted. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Canady and the Red Raiders look to take home their first WCWS title in school history. The winner-take-all game three against Texas is set for Friday night at 7:00pm CT.

More News: WCWS Finals: Texas Tech Softball Dedicates Game 2 Win to Lubbock Amid Tornado Outbreak

More News: Patrick Mahomes Shows Up in OKC to Cheer on Texas Tech Softball

More News: Texas Tech Softball: NiJaree Canady Reflects on Game 1 Loss in WCWS Championship Series

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Five-star LB Tyler Atkinson talks about NIL and his recruitment journey

Linebacker Tyler Atkinson remains uncommitted for his college football school. However, while the five-star senior from Grayson is still discerning for home, his NIL potential will skyrocket if he continues to play at a high level. Speaking of which, the Class of 2026’s best linebacker addressed the issue revolving name, image, and likeness deals. He […]

Published

41 minutes ago

June 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Speaking of which, the Class of 2026’s best linebacker addressed the issue revolving name, image, and likeness deals. He shared two perspectives about NIL in his recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast.

Atkinson shared with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and fellow five-star prospect Chris Henry Jr., “If you come in the mindset of ‘Oh, I’m good’ and get comfortable, now you’re going to have everybody that was under you pass you because now you’re comfortable and think you already made it when you ain’t make it.”

This is the mentality that inspires Tyler Atkinson to continually work hard. During his junior year, he had 77 solo tackles, 32 tackles for losses, 46 hurries, and 13 sacks for Grayson. His impact helped the Rams finish with a 14-1 record, composed of 14 consecutive victories after their season-opening one-point loss to Collins Hill.

More importantly, Atkinson was instrumental in helping Grayson win the Georgia High School Association Class 6A state championship over Carrolton. In that game, Atkinson had 13 total tackles, four hurries, two passes defended, and two sacks.

Meanwhile, Tyler Atkinson added about NIL, “But if you get the mindset when you get all this money and you start investing into it and just put on to the side and stay focused and stay locked in, the real money is when you get in the NFL.”

Atkinson is careful with choosing a school because of one important reason

The Grayson linebacker is one of the five uncommitted prospects in the Class of 2026 top ten. Given his unbelievable talent, he received offers from over 40 college football programs, including his home state team Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson, Auburn, Ohio State, and Alabama, among others.

However, he’s taking his time with his decision because he wants to maintain good relations with recruiters and coaches. Atkinson said, “I’m just figuring out the relationship piece and is this scheme right for me. Relationships go a long way. Say, I wouldn’t just come here and tell you these top schools and make a school feel a certain way.”

His reason for keeping peace with these people? “Because you want to always keep relationships because this coach might end up at that school where you’re at or might end up in the pros. So, I ain’t break it down yet because when I break it down, I’m going to do it the right way.”

While the waiting game for Tyler Atkinson’s commitment continues, the victorious school will be getting a player committed to excellence.

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