Last season, Tennessee achieved its best regular-season record in years and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in team history. The Volunteers are looking to build upon last season’s successes. However, there are several obstacles to overcome.

One of Tennessee’s biggest obstacles is replacing departed talents. The Vols lost some key players, including defensive end James Pearce and running back Dylan Sampson. The biggest exit was quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA this spring following a dispute with the team over NIL compensation.

Podcaster and Former QB Caleb Pressley Gives Blunt Take on NIL Drama

Nico Iamaleava’s exit sparked many debates about the impact of NIL on college sports, and former quarterback Caleb Pressley has shared his take on the issue.

“Tennessee is who I grew up on, and they didn’t pay Nico, or that’s a story, they didn’t pay their quarterback.” He said.

“He wanted like $4 million is the story, and they’re giving him two million. And so they said, ‘Get out of here.’ I think it’s crazy. I think pay him. Everyone was on Tennessee’s side, right? Everyone thought Nico’s an idiot, and maybe that’s true, but to me, I would have liked to see Tennessee just pay up,” Pressley explained.

“As a freshman… he beat Clemson in the first time he ever played in the Orange Bowl… he took Tennessee to the playoffs. In my opinion, He’s going to be the overall number one pick, and they’re talking about two million bucks.”

The Vols will begin their 2025 season in Atlanta when they face the Syracuse Orange. This will be the fourth overall meeting between these two sides in a series that Tennessee edges 3-0. It will be the teams’ first matchup since 2001.

Tennessee will enter next season with Joey Aguilar, the former App State transfer that Iamaleava beat out at UCLA as the signal-caller. Aguilar isn’t quite on the same level as Iamaleava, and it remains to be seen if Tennessee made the right decision by not giving the now-UCLA quarterback his demands.

RELATED: Analyst Calls Offseason ‘Strangest in Years’ Following Nico Iamaleava’s Tennessee NIL Dispute, UCLA Transfer

Meanwhile, across the country, new Bruins quarterback Iamaleava will lead UCLA through a schedule that includes Utah, Penn State, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, Washington, and USC.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

NIL is affecting every athletic department in the country. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban is the co-chair of President Trump’s commission studying college sports, with the hope that the committee can find a solution to the growing problem of NIL in college athletics.

However, NIL continues to rage on, with the price for five-star freshmen going up, and players re-upping contracts every offseason to stay with their current team.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is the latest to warn the college football world about NIL. In a recent interview with Paul Finebaum, Smart sounded off on the current state of college athletics.

“I just want to be able to have freshmen come in and not make more than a senior,” Smart said, “and I’d like for other sports to be able to still survive.”

Smart’s comments come on the heels of five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell choosing the Miami Hurricanes over Georgia. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Cantwell is expected to draw $2.5 million in his first season in Coral Gables.

Smart is cautious about President Trump finding an answer, even with his new committee.

“People have talked about Congress. That’s not easy. Not a lot gets done quickly there.”

Smart also issued a warning about Olympic sports on college campuses.

“You know, we’re probably one to two years away from a lot of schools cutting sports.”

Olympic sports are not typically revenue-driving sports, with several losing money on operations. Football and men’s basketball can keep them afloat, but with the growing costs in the two sports, Olympic sports may begin to get cut for schools to remain competitive in the revenue sports.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men’s basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State baseball will be returning to a big-league ballpark in 2026.

On Friday it was announced that the Diamond Dawgs are part of a six-team field for the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas from Feb. 27-March 1, 2026. Arizona State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA and Virginia Tech are also competing at the event.

Specific matchups and game times will be announced at a later date.

“We can’t wait to welcome six more elite programs to Globe Life Field to close out our 2026 college baseball slate as part of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series,” said Jared Schrom, senior vice president of REV Entertainment. “Next year’s field will be one of the best that we have ever hosted and college baseball fans are in for a treat as the nation’s top programs visit Arlington.”

MSU opened its memorable 2021 campaign at Globe Life Field and went 2-1 at the event with victories against Texas and Texas Tech en route to the program’s first national championship.

The Bulldogs played in an MLB venue earlier this season against Rice, Arizona and Oklahoma State in Houston’s Daikin Park.

Home Plate Reserved tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. CT at GlobeLifeField.com. This premium offering, which provides access to all three days of the tournament, includes: reserved seats behind home plate, reserved parking, early entry, discounts on concessions, souvenir hat and cup (with unlimited soft drink refills) and access to a private bar and restrooms.

Home Plate Reserved tickets are $156 for adults and $84 for youth (13 and under), before taxes and fees. Group ticket rates are available for groups of 10 or more by contacting REV Entertainment at 817-533-1833. General admission tickets will go on sale at a later date. A portion of proceeds from all three weekends will benefit Shriners Children’s.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook and Instagram.

NiJaree Canady is good enough to carry a team to the Women’s College World Series. Just ask Stanford softball.

The Ringer‘s Tate Frazier talks about what he is hearing regarding NBA draft rumors and combine week (1:39), before talking with former Creighton and Utah State guard Steven Ashworth about playing in the new Big East, watching the college basketball landscape shift over the past five years, pitching his own NIL deals, his relationship with Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton’s 2025 tournament run, experiencing the NBA draft process, and more (15:30). Finally, Tate closes the show with some shout-outs, including some great news from Dick Vitale, Brad Underwood’s contract extension, and Will Wade grabbing headlines in Raleigh (37:25).

Host: Tate Frazier
Guest: Steven Ashworth
Producer: Kyle Crichton