NIL
Morning Buzz
Start your morning with Buzzcast with Ted Keith: Recapping Day 2 of the Brand Innovation Summit in Chicago; NWSL Championship heading to San Jose; Atlanta gets closer to NHL dreams
The NWSL will hold its 2025 championship on Nov. 22 at PayPal Park in San Jose, where second-year club Bay FC plays its home matches as a tenant of the Earthquakes. It marks the second time in three years the league will hold its title game in California after Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego hosted in 2023. CPKC Stadium in K.C. hosted the match last year.
The decision to award hosting duties to Bay FC comes as little surprise given the massive investment the club’s owners, led by private equity firm Sixth Street, made with its then-record $53M expansion fee in 2023. The team has been a strong draw out of the gate, averaging 13,617 fans per match during its inaugural regular season in 2024. The club is scheduled to host a match later this season at Oracle Park in S.F., where it hopes to set a new NWSL single-game attendance record.
The title game will air on CBS for the fourth straight season and also stream on Paramount+. Google Pixel will make its second appearance as the match’s presenting sponsor.
The league will continue its practice of hosting its championship at a neutral site rather than allowing the higher-seeded participating team to host the match. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has expressed a preference for the neutral-site model from an operational and promotional standpoint.
The College World Series starts today in Omaha, and Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said that he is “aware of the potential for immigration-related demonstrations” at the event. Posting on X, Schmaderer wrote, “Our goal is to support the free expression of speech while also ensuring the safe enjoyment of the sporting event itself. Both can and should occur peacefully and without disruption to public safety.” Protests against federal immigration enforcement operations have “popped up in the nation’s major cities,” including L.A. Tensions are “elevated in Omaha” after ICE raided a meatpacking plant earlier in the week. While the OPD has “always maintained a strong police presence” during the tournament, department officials plan to “take extra precautions this year” (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 6/12).
The Univ. of Michigan’s athletic department is “projecting a balanced budget” of $266.3M for FY2025-26, receiving $15M in “support from the university.” Michigan’s athletic department “received the funds from the university to help offset expenses associated with” the House settlement. Michigan will spend $20.5M to “fully participate in revenue sharing and will add approximately” $6.2M in new scholarships. Michigan football will play six games at Michigan Stadium this season and “revenue from spectator admissions is projected to decrease” by $19.1M “compared to the revenues from eight home games in 2024,” reflected in FY2024-25. Distribution from the Big Ten from television contracts is “expected to increase” by $5.8M (DETROIT NEWS, 6/12).
Tennis player Ben Shelton has joined WME roster of tennis players. The list includes Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Shelton had been repped by Team8 since 2022, when he turned pro (TENNIS, 6/12). This is a “major blow” to Team8, as Coco Gauff left the company in April to launch her own venture in conjunction with WME. Now, they are losing a “second American tennis star” in three months. Team8 was co-founded by former tennis player Roger Federer and his long-time agent Tony Godsick. Meanwhile, Shelton remains “one of the faces of On’s tennis division,” while Federer is a “shareholder, ambassador, and collaborator for the Swiss sportswear brand” (SI, 6/12).
Rogers Communications “cleared the last hurdle in its purchase” of Bell’s stake in MLSE, and the transaction is “expected to close next month.” The Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission on Thursday approved Rogers’ takeover of Bell’s NBA TV Canada assets. The boards for the NHL, NBA, MLS, CFL and AHL “all approved the change in ownership” earlier this month. Rogers announced in September that it had agreed to purchase Bell’s stake in MLSE for C$4.7B. The purchase would “double Rogers’ stake in the company” to 75% (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/12).
Singer Taylor Swift and Chiefs TE Travis Kelce “were among the celebrities that flocked to Amerant Bank Arena” for Game 4 of the Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup Final. There were “rumblings ahead of Thursday’s game that the couple “might attend the final.” The VIP entrance to the arena was “closed off and the media elevator was not available to be used for a period of time before pregame warmups began.” The pair was “shown on the television broadcast during the first period of the game” (AP, 6/13). Video of their arrival “was shared on X by the NHL’s official account.” The pair thoughtout the night “was seen cheering on the Panthers while sitting in the team’s section” (TODAY.com, 6/12).
The Oilers won the game 5-4 in OT to tie the series at 2-2. Game 5 will take place Saturday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
The Bears are “exploring a sale of the minority stake” owned by late Andre McKenna Sr., according to sources. The exact size of the stake is unknown. McKenna, a former chair of McDonald’s, died in 2023. It is likely the Halas family, along with team investor Pat Ryan, will “have the right of refusal for any potential investors.” Galatioto Sports Partners was hired to handle the potential sale. Bears CEO Kevin Warren has been “considering private equity transactions” since the league granted approval for institutional investors last year. A number of NFL teams have sold minority stakes in recent months, including the 49ers, Chargers and Dolphins (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/11).
Scenes from Day 2 of Brand Innovation Summit
The second day at SBJ’s Brand Innovation Summit saw discussions held about the buildup to the World Cup, next gen sports content, partnering with college athletics and much more.
In case you missed it, here are some of the things that have been covered so far at the conference:
The World Bowling League, backed in part by Dodgers SS Mookie Betts, will “roll out with six franchises … early next year.” The league is in the “advanced stage of finalising franchises in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India.” WBL CEO Adi Mishra was light on details but said that pro bowlers “would compete in the core sport while celebrities would take part in auxiliary events, with teams collecting points throughout the season.” He also did not provide financial details of Betts’ purchase but indicated that negotiations on the “sale of the remaining franchises were in the final stages” (REUTERS, 6/13).
SBJ checks out the 1895 Club, the USGA’s top hospitality offering at the U.S. Open.
BetMGM is looking for a VP/Media & Growth Marketing. The Jersey City-based position is responsible for leading strategy, development, and activation of digital, offline, SEO, affiliate, media partnerships, and social media of driving player acquisition for sports betting, etc (BetMGM).
BetMGM is looking for a Senior Dir/CRM Operations & Player Communications. The Jersey City-based position is responsible for owning the player lifecycle communications, optimization, and operations marketing strategy across CRM, loyalty, lifecycle, and omnichannel engagement for all brands and product verticals (BetMGM).
The White Sox are looking for a Dir/Marketing & Advertising. The Chicago-based position is responsible for managing the annual marketing and advertising budgets, executing high-impact campaigns, refining segmentation strategies for both general and Hispanic markets, and optimizing media performance across paid, email, web, and app channels (White Sox).
PGA Tour is looking for a Community Engagement Manager. The Charlotte-based position is responsible for building and implementing the year-round community engagement and messaging plan, managing charity and outreach programs hosted by the Truist Championship and cultivating positive relationships with key community constituents and local media (PGA Tour).
Speed Reads…
A crowd of 5,126 “showed up to watch” the S.F. Unicorns face the Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket season opener and the Bay Area debut at the Oakland Coliseum (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/12).
Sources said that Grizzlies G Ja Morant has “parted ways” with Lift Sports Management. He joined the agency in April 2024 (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/12).
Morning Hot Reads: Is It Necessary?
The TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL went with the header, “Does St. Petersburg need baseball?” When the city landed an MLB team in 1995, it was “lauded as a statement of credibility — the kind of deal that would make it easier to convince developers … to invest in the city.” Thirty years later, city leaders are “staring down the possibility of losing the Rays.” Losing a professional sports franchise “has long been regarded as a black eye, particularly for up-and-coming Sun Belt cities like St. Pete.” But the city has “grown tremendously since the first pitch was thrown” on March 31, 1998. Some real estate developers and civic leaders say St. Pete “has evolved so much since then that the Rays’ potential departure won’t be a catastrophic economic blow.”
Also:
Social Scoop…
“The gate-keeping of who is and isn’t allowed to talk about hoop when … the biggest experts talking about hoop seem to have some of the wildest opinions out there, I think is unfair.”
Nick Wright responds to Tyrese Haliburton (and ex-NBA stars in media): pic.twitter.com/SzOJWK3I03
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 12, 2025
Vernon Krause, the man behind ‘The Gathering’ brought to tears when I asked him about seeing this positive vote after years of hard work by him and his team.
They’re ready for an #NHL team, should the league decide to expand and come back to Georgia. pic.twitter.com/HqnmOnXs64— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) June 12, 2025
“In 2024, 21 years after it was first released, the original cast album for this show made the Top 40 for the first time.”
Off the presses…
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back pages and sports covers from some of North America’s major metropolitan newspapers:
Final Jeopardy…
“What is ‘Wicked’?”
Continue Reading
LUBBOCK, Texas – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football unveiled its 2025 All-Texas College Football Team following championship weekend, with the seven Power Four programs in the Lone Star State accounting for 40 of the 56 players selected. Texas Tech led all programs with eight honorees.
Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Jacob Rodriguez was tabbed the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to being selected as one of Texas Tech’s four First-Team All-Texas Defense picks. Joining the standout linebacker on the first team were defensive end David Bailey, defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and cornerback Brice Pollock. That quartet played a key role in elevating the Red Raiders to top-five national rankings in turnovers gained (1st, 31), rushing defense (1st, 68.5 yards per game), scoring defense (3rd, 10.9), total defense (5th, 254.4), and sacks (T-5th, 3.0 per game).
Defensive end Romello Height, an integral part of Tech’s pressure-heavy front, was named to the Second-Team All-Texas Defense. Height recorded 54 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, the seventh most in the FBS. Bailey led all of college football with 74 pressures.
On the offense, running back Cameron Dickey and offensive lineman Howard Sampson were each named First-Team All-Texas Offense, while running back J’Koby Williams was tabbed to the second team.
A total of 56 players were selected, with 28 on offense and 28 on defense. Texas Tech’s eight selections led all teams, followed by seven for Texas A&M, and six for the Texas Longhorns. The six Group of Five programs had a combined 16 players on the list, led by North Texas with six.
Eddie Robinson and George Munger Coach of the Year finalist Joey McGuire was named the DCTF Co-Coach of the Year alongside Texas A&M’s Mike Elko. Both head coaches have their teams in this year’s College Football Playoff, with the Red Raiders earning the No. 4 seed and the Aggies the No. 7 seed.
DCTF 2025 ALL-TEXAS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM (Texas Tech selections)
First-Team All-Texas Offense
RB: Cameron Dickey, So.
OL: Howard Sampson, Jr.
First-Team All-Texas Defense
DE: David Bailey, Sr.
DT: Lee Hunter, Sr.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Sr.
CB: Brice Pollock, Jr.
Second-Team All-Texas Offense
UTL: J’Koby Williams, So.
Second-Team All-Texas Defense
DE: Romello Height, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: LB, Jacob Rodriguez
Co-Coach of the Year: Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Joey McGuire (Texas Tech)
To view the complete 2025 All-Texas College Football Teams, visit TexasFootball.com.
– TECH –
Four years after being fired by LSU, Ed Orgeron has not been shy about his desire to get back into coaching.
Plenty has changed in the college football landscape in those years, most notably players being able to get paid via name, image and likeness deals and now through revenue sharing directly from the schools themselves. That’s an adjustment every coach has had to make, and some have adapted to the new way of the college football world better than others.
In a recent appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys,” Orgeron joked that after all his years coaching in the SEC, paying players via NIL will only require a “minor adjustment.”
“They say, ‘Hey coach, you been out of coaching for awhile. How you gonna adjust to NIL?’ Orgeron said. “I said, well, it’s a minor adjustment. ‘What do you mean?’ Well, back then we used to walk through the back door with the cash. Now we just gotta walk through the front door with the cash.”
Orgeron has long been known as an elite recruiter and that’s not a title one could get without knowing how to get things done in the shadows. Now all those conversations and negotiations happen above the table, and Orgeron is pretty confident he can make that small adjustment if he were to land back on a sideline soon.
Orgeron, of course, coached LSU to a national title in 2019 but was let go following the 2021 season. In all, Orgeron had a 51-20 record leading LSU, but went just 11-11 combined in the two years following the national championship. He has not coached since, but the 64-year-old is looking to get back in the action — perhaps even back in Baton Rouge with the Tigers.
I’m emptying my notebook on the football coaching searches at Washington State and Portland State. Also, I have thoughts on the bowl game opt-outs by a growing number of schools. And I have some information on James Madison University, Oregon’s first-round opponent in the College Football Playoff.
Plus, a cameo in today’s installment by the front-desk manager at Planet Fitness.
Let’s go…
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox Sports NFL color analyst Troy Aikman wanted to help UCLA football through name, image and likeness donations, but his experience has made him apprehensive about contributing again.
Aikman shared his experience on Monday’s episode of “Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch,” hosted by The Athletic’s sports media reporter Richard Deitsch.
“I gave money to a kid,” Aikman admitted. “I won’t mention who. I’ve done it one time at UCLA. I never met the young man. He was there a year, but he left after the year. I wrote a sizable check and he went to another school. I didn’t even get so much as a thank-you note, so it’s one of those deals where I’m done with NIL. I want to see UCLA be successful, but I’m done with it.”
NIL has become big business in college football. According to 247 Sports, the top five schools in spending (Texas, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia and Texas A&M) spent a combined $98 million in NIL money in 2025, and the number will likely increase next season.
Aikman still believes NIL money should go to players, but he says the system needs changes that benefit the sport without creating a convoluted mess.
“There has to be some leadership at the very top that kind of cleans all of this up, starting with players who accept money. There has to be some accountability and responsibility on their behalf, to have to stick to a program.”
NIL
Ed Orgeron on SEC paying players before NIL: ‘We used to walk through the back door with the cash, now we walk through the front door’
Few recruiters in college football worked harder than Ed Orgeron. No matter which school he was representing, Orgeron did a great job bringing in some great talent. However, most of his work came in the pre-NIL era, meaning he could not, technically, use money in the process.
So when talking about how he would adapt with NIL now legal, Orgeron hilariously said there would just be a slight difference. He does not have to be subtle about the aspect of giving certain recruits a bag to help gain a commitment.
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“You know what?” Orgeron began on Bussin’ With The Boys. “They say, ‘Hey, coach. You know, you’ve been out of coaching for a while. How are you going to adjust to NIL?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s a minor adjustment.’ They said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Back then, we used to walk through the back door with the cash. Now, we just got to walk through the front door with the cash.’”
The question began by specifically mentioning SEC programs. Orgeron has worked for four of those throughout his career, one of which likely involved zero recruiting. His first job within the SEC came at Arkansas as the assistant strength coach. But as Orgeron climbed up the ladder in his career, prominent roles became available.
None more memorable than being LSU‘s head coach from 2016 through 2021. Everyone remembers the famous national championship in 2019, led by Joe Burrow, and backed by one of the best rosters college football has ever seen. Orgeron was also in charge at Ole Miss beginning in 2005, lasting three seasons.
Lane Kiffin employed Orgeron as the assistant head coach, defensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator at Tennessee in 2009. Everyone knows how that ended, infamously leaving for USC, only for Orgeron to follow him.
Getting back to the present — reports indicate Orgeron might be interested in getting back into the coaching world. He has not held a position since getting fired by LSU, making it four seasons now. One even suggested Orgeron might be a candidate to link back up with Kiffin in Baton Rouge.
If something does come to fruition, a great recruiter will be joining the program. Orgeron is one of the best, even when paying players was not totally legal. But now, his job is a whole lot easier with a direct parth through the front door.
SMU has launched Mustang Partners, a new revenue-generating division focused on pursuing revenue and brand opportunities to benefit both athletes and the athletic department.
With the full-service revenue, NIL and brand unit, SMU becomes the latest school to launch such a program in recent months — joining Clemson, Kentucky and Michigan State — as athletic departments look to expand revenue streams.
Mustang Partners’ portfolio will include sponsorships in collaboration with media and technology company Learfield, philanthropy, exclusive gameday experiences and ticket sales, and it will add commercial NIL, special events and trademark and licensing.
“Mustang Partners is a bold new chapter in the story of SMU athletics,” SMU Athletic Director Damon Evans said in a statement. “Today’s rapidly evolving collegiate athletics marketplace demands programs to be more innovative, more adaptable and more resolute in pursuing new opportunities and ideas. This new venture will position SMU at the forefront of the next era of collegiate athletics.”
SMU closed the 2025 fiscal year with “historic momentum,” according to its news release, led by a record-breaking year for the Mustang Club. The club raised $65,058,040 in cash gifts from 6,158 donors, the highest single-year cash total in SMU history.
The Mustangs also sold a record number of football season tickets in 2024, doubling 2023’s total and increasing revenue 157%. SMU also saw substantial increases in concessions (108%), parking (98%) and licensing revenue (120%).
Mustang NIL is a strategy to drive financial and branding opportunities for SMU athletes.
The division will focus on the development of new premium amenities within Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Moody Coliseum and other athletic venues. The school completed a market study to evaluate new premium areas within Ford Stadium this fall.
Mustang Partners expands on trademark and licensing activities, including the addition of the university’s first full-time director of trademarks and licensing.
The division will also focus on booking special events and concerts into SMU venues, as well as rentals of premium hospitality areas for corporate retreats, meetings and private events.
Brian Ullmann, executive director of athletics, will lead Mustang Partners’ staff of 60. The senior leadership team will include Alex Gary, deputy athletic director of external relations; Lauren Adee, deputy athletic director/chief marketing officer/chief revenue officer; and Sean Penix, senior associate athletic director/commercial strategy.
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