NIL and the transfer portal have changed college football forever.
NIL
Morning Buzz
Start your morning with Buzzcast with Abe Madkour: Eyes on the W and its momentum; Celtics deal close to completion; Maryland pulls from the pro ranks and previewing the Sports Business Awards
The WNBA opens its 29th season on Friday as it nears “an exciting yet pivotal inflection point.” The league has expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Valkyries, seen the hiring of eight first-time head coaches and overhauled rosters in the offseason. But “just wait for what 2026 has in store.” Not only will the WNBA add two more franchises in Toronto and Portland, “all but two veterans are going to be free agents at the end of this season.” Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb said that the “optionality and unprecedented nature of what awaits next season is exciting.” All unanswered questions pertaining to the CBA will “need to be fleshed out before any of that chaos can ensue.” It’s all “gearing up for what may be one of the most anticipated WNBA seasons to date” (N.Y. POST, 5/16).
The Valkyries kick off their first season after “blockbuster demand from fans.” Their lone preseason home game “saw a whopping” 17,428 in attendance, the third highest-attended preseason game “in league history.” The team kicks off the season with more than 10,000 full season ticket holders (REUTERS, 5/15).
Thanks to Wings G Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, sports fans are “paying more attention to the Wings.” Bueckers, making her WNBA debut tonight against the Lynx, is tasked with “helping lift the Wings’ on-court product” and is expected to “drive the Wings’ cultural relevance in a North Texas region that loves sports but” is still “learning to fully embrace professional women’s hoops” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/16).
Charter Communications has “agreed to combine with privately held” Cox Communications in a deal that unites “two of the biggest US cable providers.” The transaction will “value Cox at about” $34.5B, including debt. The Cox family will “be the largest shareholder in the combined company with a stake of about” 23% and will have seats on the board. Cox’s systems and regional footprint are “expected to complement those of Charter,” increasing the chances of a deal “passing muster with regulators.” Charter, which operates under the Spectrum brand, is the “top cable TV company” (BLOOMBERG, 5/16).
A letter sent to Celtics shareholders said that Bill Chisholm has “obtained sufficient commitments to purchase the Celtics,” and his ownership group has “been finalized.” The deal will “not become official” until it receives approval from the NBA Board of Governors, likely in June or July, which is “expected to be a formality.” Chisholm’s group will purchase 51% of the team this summer, “with the balance closing in 2028.” It is “unclear what percentage of the team Chisholm is purchasing,” but he is “required to own at least” 15% in order to hold the controlling stake. Chisholm and current majority owner Wyc Grousbeck have “sat together in TD Garden courtside seats often,” including the Celtics’ Game 5 win against the Knicks (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/16).
The Bengals “alleged a conflict of interest between another negotiator” Hamilton County has hired for ongoing stadium discussions hours after the county moved to terminate its longtime riverfront counsel, noting that the negotiator “is also doing work” for the Browns. The Bengals said that they were “surprised the county retained an outside stadium consultant, Inner Circle Sports, that also does work for the Cleveland Browns.” The Bengals said in a statement, “This was not disclosed to the team initially, and the team undertook research to finally uncover this truth. The team has expressed concern to the county that a stadium consultant performing services for the Cleveland Browns might not have Cincinnati’s best interests at heart.” The statement was “in response to one made earlier Thursday by Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich.” Pillich, who represents the county, said that the team has “all but refused to talk to [David] Abrams [of ICS],” and that the Bengals “will not dictate who negotiates for the county.” An agreement between the county and ICS “calls for a $25,000-per-month retainer, assuming Abrams works on the project in a particular month, plus additional fees for certain services.” The deal “could ultimately be worth” more than $1M (CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER, 5/15).
A current Suns employee “sued the team” in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Tuesday, “citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.” The lawsuit is the “fourth filed against the Suns by a current or former member of the organization in the past seven months.” Suns’ director of safety, security and risk management Gene Traylor, who joined the team in January 2023, is the plaintiff in the case. He alleges the team “discouraged him from taking protected leave after he was diagnosed with cancer.” In response, the Suns “denounced” Sheree Wright, one of two attorneys representing Traylor (ESPN, 5/15).
Today’s Black-Eyed Susan and tomorrow’s Preakness Stakes will “mark the last one” at what will eventually be known as the old Pimlico Race Course. The nonprofit Maryland Jockey Club will be the “new operator at Pimlico,” taking over from 1/ST Racing and the previous version of the Maryland Jockey Club. Once Saturday’s race is contested, work on dismantling Pimlico will “proceed full bore with the demolition of the grandstand/clubhouse structure — where the grandstand is already condemned and closed — expected to start in June.” Pimlico’s racing surfaces will not be altered, but the new grandstand/clubhouse will be “considerably smaller, housing maybe 6,000-8,000 fans on a regular basis” (BLOODHORSE, 5/15).
Grand Slam Track announced that it has cut its Philadelphia event at the end of the month “from three days to two.” Organizers realized over the course of the first two showcases — held in Kingston, Jamaica, and Miami — that there “was too much time between races each day.” Fans in attendance “complained,” as did the athletes competing. The Philadelphia event, held at Franklin Field, will be on May 31 and June 1, with May 30 being removed from the calendar. The move might “prompt questions about ticket sales, and organizers haven’t said much about that yet.” But they are “issuing full refunds for anyone who bought May 30 tickets, and partial refunds for anyone who bought multi-day packages” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/15).
MLB is highlighting geographical rivalries with its inaugural Rivalry Weekend presented by Booking.com. Every team will play its designated rival, with 11 interleague series and four non-interleague series. The weekend will be highlighted by Mets RF Juan Soto returning to the Bronx to face his former team, the Yankees, and Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani hosting his former team the Angels (MLB).
The World Trade Center will “host free watch parties” for the Mets-Yankees series. The three-day event will see every game shown on a “large projection screen with speakers.” Fans can also “have their photo taken with a World Series trophy” (MLB.com, 5/14).
The Padres will host the Mariners Friday for the “first official game of the Vedder Cup” — named after Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. The rivalry came after the Mariners and Padres “joined together this offseason” with the approval from Vedder, whose family moved to the San Diego area when he was a child, to give the “matchup between the ‘natural rivals’ an official name after years of it being referenced that way unofficially.” It started years ago as a “fun running joke among baseball scribes and bloggers in San Diego who were fans of the band, caught on by their colleagues in Seattle who were also fans of the band, and was later adopted by a subset of Padres and Mariners fans in general on social media” (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/15).
Prodigy Search is partnering with the McLendon Foundation as the Preferred Talent Partner of the McLendon Leadership Initiative. The Foundation is committed to creating educational opportunities and expanding career pathways across the sports industry. Prodigy Search will lead the recruiting, vetting, and placement process for the McLendon Leadership Initiative’s 2025-26 class of Fellows. (Prodigy Search).
Churchill Downs Racetrack is looking for a Senior Dir/International Sales. The Louisville-based position is responsible for spearheading and overseeing the development of businesses in international markets, aiming for revenue growth and pipeline creation to international markets (Churchill Downs Racetrack).
The Snow League is looking for a League Experience Dir. The remote based position is responsible for leading the end-to-end design and implementation of experience programs for Athletes, Media, VIPs, Fans, and Staff/Vendors (The Snow League).
Wasserman is looking for a Manager of Social Media. The N.Y.-based position is responsible for being the primary manager of the main brand social media account, working with all areas of the company to support the vision and ensure active, growth-driven feeds (Wasserman).
Speed Reads…
Vancouver will “host the 76th FIFA Congress” on April 30, 2026, winning out over co-hosts U.S. and Mexico (CP, 5/15).
The Pittsburgh Riveters, a USL W League club, will play at Highmark Stadium Friday for their “first-ever game.” Breeze Airways is the primary uniform sponsor (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/15).
Morning Hot Reads: College track and field at risk amid NCAA changes
The Portland OREGONIAN went with the header, “Is the future of college track & field, including Oregon, in jeopardy? ‘If we don’t act now, we’ll never save it.’” College track, a “revenue loser everywhere,” even in Track Town USA, is “beginning to look like so much collateral damage” as the NCAA nears major, structural changes to intercollegiate athletics. Virginia track coach Vin Lananna and others say that unless college track “becomes something the public can easily watch and understand, it risks descending into a tiny niche, contested by only a handful of schools.”
Also:
Social Scoop…
“You shouldn’t be punished for hitting it in the fairway!”
Scottie Scheffler was left angry at a ‘mud ball’ issue after round one of the PGA Championship 💬 pic.twitter.com/rwnvXQ2ZnE
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 15, 2025
Saturday nights are for lacrosse 🥍🤩
This is Saturday Night Lacrosse— Every weekend. All summer long.
Starting on May 31st
7PM ET on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/9DtTCvgobg— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) May 15, 2025
Regarding the idea of “women first”, she queried, “Women demand equal rights on land–why not on sea?”
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…
“Who is Margaret Brown? (Molly Brown)”
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This is the most beautiful, horrific confluence of events in history and no one can correctly predict where this thing is going. From the outside, there is a train-wreck feel to what we’re witnessing. It’s going to hell and there’s a rush order on hand baskets.
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Players deserved to get their piece of the pie, but the sport is losing its way and there is no quick fix though a college football commissioner — Mack Brown, perhaps? — is sorely needed.
MORE CED: Arch Manning is on a collision course with super stardom
The portal doors opened Friday and later that day, there were upward of 4,500 players filing into college football’s version of a gas station selling Powerball Quick Picks. That’s roughly one third of all FBS players.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks into the crowd after the loss to Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-StatesmanWhen did so many players become disgruntled? Actually, some of them were quite content at their schools until something or someone convinced them they could improve their bottom line.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025.
Then they heard the “P” word. And off they went.
Of course, many proven performers from big programs — players like ex-Auburn wideout Cam Coleman — are going to land somewhere for some fat coin, but there are countless others who will be back in their hometown trying to figure out how to talk their former head coach into taking them back.
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MORE HORNS: Texas nabs Michigan State tight end
Let’s be honest. There’s no way all 4,500 will be on somebody else’s sideline this fall. Although the sport has taken on the look of a haphazard version of the NFL — a real pro league with a real organizational plan and more than 100 years of pretty solid business practices with billions in profits — the NCAA is strictly amateur hour when it comes to its most valuable asset: the players.
Meanwhile, high school stars are playing second fiddle to grown men who are in the portal with college tape to their advantage. A player like incoming Texas running back Derrek Cooper, a four-star standout from Florida, will sign a lucrative deal, but head coach Steve Sarkisian will also have to navigate how much time he wants to devote to bringing in freshmen as opposed to a proven upperclassmen at a higher price in many cases.
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Sarkisian lamented how the recruiting game has changed in the years since the portal and NIL became the new way of doing business.
“That’s the reality of the situation of college football right now, and that’s where we are,” he said the day before the Longhorns’ Citrus Bowl win over Michigan. “I think there’s nothing wrong with that. We just got to tighten it up, and hopefully we can get there sooner rather than later. I’m probably going to be on the phone with an agent (later) that’s going to throw a number at me that I’m going to be like, ‘Good luck. I hope you get it. If you don’t, call us back. But I can’t do that.’”
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates with his team after beating Texas A&M Aggies 27-17 during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Lone Star Showdown in Austin, Texas, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-StatesmanWhy are so many players transferring?
The annual mass exodus every year bears no explanation. Vegas mob boss Nicky Santoro put it best minutes before he got whacked at the end of “Casino:” The dollars.
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I’ve been a player’s advocate for as long as I can remember and it makes me smile to know there are young men from humble backgrounds who are able to help their families with the bills while also receiving an education.
MORE CED: Will Muschamp was a nice hire but the Horns have bigger issues
These athletes have always deserved to get paid beyond their scholarship, but the NCAA cowered in a corner when it could have put some sort of universal guardrail in place that’s better than the salary cap, but that’s not easily enforceable among 136 separate programs. Sure, no one batted any eye over the last 40 years while coaches and athletic directors pocketed millions as the major conferences, ESPN and Fox earned billions on the backs of athletes who filled stadiums as actual amateur performers.
Once players were given the opportunity to transfer and take advantage of their name, image and likeness, the proverbial floodgates opened. The current situation has become unsustainable. That light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train with no brakes.
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It brought to mind Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock’s comments in August when he was asked about the portal. The Huskies play in the Mid-American Conference, aka the MAC, and Hammock addressed losing 19 players from an 8-5 team that made national headlines by upsetting eventual national runner-up Notre Dame in Week 2 of the 2024 campaign.
Hammock played running back at NIU from 1999 to 2002 before carving out a successful coaching career, including five years mentoring running backs for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. He spoke of how his experience in DeKalb helped prepare him for life after his playing days and how everything has flipped as the chase for dollars intensified from coast to coast.
MORE HORNS: Final grades for Texas football
“In life, you’re going to make decisions,” Hammock told reporters in August. “Sometimes, it’s going to work in your favor. Sometimes, it’s not. I told our team the other day, ‘We lost all these guys. Let’s see who plays. It’s all good when people put on Twitter ‘All glory to God, I’m going in the transfer portal.’ Let’s see if they play. How many of them guys are going to play or travel or get snaps?”
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It’s today’s game. Everyone has players and if there is a chance to leave a smaller program for a lucrative offer from a football factory, who can blame them?
Here’s the problem: Some of those athletes are receiving flimsy advice. They’re taking on the role of the dog from the old Aesop fable who was crossing a bridge with a bone in his mouth only to see another dog staring up at him — actually his own reflection from the water — with what appears to be a larger bone between his jaws. He dives for the bigger bone, and the pup ends up with nothing.
Texas Longhorns receiver Parker Livingstone (13) makes a catch during the game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida.
MORE HORNS:Sean Miller wants more toughness
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In some cases, it’s a gamble to leave a good situation. Texas wideout Parker Livingstone — quarterback Arch Manning’s roommate — announced last week on social media he was entering the portal and during his lengthy post, he added a line that sparked conversations everywhere.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be going into the portal looking for a new home,” Livingstone wrote. “Some things are out of my control. Such is the reality of the ever-changing landscape of college football.”
Was he saying the Horns fired him?
Did Livingstone leave because he asked for more money and didn’t get it? Was he told his current salary was being earmarked for another player?
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Livingstone committed to Oklahoma Tuesday for $800,000 which is double what he made at Texas, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle’s Kirk Bohls. Either way, it was a rather cryptic post since it’s common knowledge the Horns are pursuing the more electric Coleman, who was second among SEC sophomores with 56 catches and third in catches of 30-plus yards with six. Coleman reportedly visited the UT campus Saturday.
Decades before the portal era, players were pushed out of programs, but that may not be the case with Livingstone. Only the player and the employer — that’s right, employer — know.
The current model is doomed for failure. The sport is feeding on itself and while programs like Texas, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame can survive because of collectives and massive bankrolls, the smaller schools will soon be faced with having to cut costs to keep up, which means the possible loss of nonrevenue producing sports.
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Coach Prime on portal dangers
Deion Sanders has the unique position of being a head coach and the father of a former college player — Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders — who profited off NIL. Deion Sanders, speaking on a recent Barstool Sports podcast, said the thirst for money is problematic because priorities are being misplaced.
“They want to go chase the bag instead of chase the game,” Sanders said. Chase “the game. The game’s got the bag. Don’t chase the bag.”
Then, later, “You’re chasing NIL instead of NFL and that’s not the right thing. I’ve never chased money in my life. I chased greatness and guess what came with greatness? The money.”
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MORE HORNS: Texas women’s star Jordan Lee on 3-point play
Somewhere along the way, the college experience has taken a back seat to a dream lifestyle before adulthood. It’s good, legally obtained money, but it’s fast money and young people whose brains aren’t fully developed aren’t always equipped to handle the speed of this particular game.
Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, right, and his son Shedeur Sanders had to wait until Saturday’s fifth round before the Cleveland Browns drafted the quarterback.
Kirby Lee/Imagn ImagesHammock has sage advice for whoever will listen.
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“Learn the lessons that you need to learn to be successful in life for the next 40 or 50 years of your life,” he said. “I would do it again for free because of the things I learned. That’s why I’m standing here today, because of what I learned in college. Not because of how much someone gave me.”
The portal closes Jan. 16, but the teams playing in the national championship game will get an extra four days to do some last-minute shopping. Until then, some players will emerge with bigger bags while others will spend several hours over these next few weeks watching a cellphone that doesn’t ring.
They will sheepishly declare for the NFL draft because what else is there if no college team wants them? A few will sign free-agent deals, but won’t make it through two weeks of an NFL training camp before the Turk comes calling saying, “Coach needs to see you and don’t forget to bring your playbook.”
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That first college locker never looked better.
The 2025 College Football Playoff has reached its semifinal round. No. 10 Miami (12-2, 6-2) will face No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1, 7-1) in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix on Thursday to open the semifinals (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN).
The second of the two semifinal games is between No. 5 Oregon (13-1, 8-1) and No. 5 Indiana (14-0, 9-0) on Friday in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST, ESPN). It is a rematch for the Ducks and Hoosiers, as Indiana prevailed 30-20 at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 11, 2025.
One of the most intriguing elements of the rematch involves the battle between the two quarterbacks. Of course, 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is one-half of the battle.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder originally suited up for Justin Wilcox at California in 2022 to begin his college career. 2023 was the first time the Golden Bears featured Mendoza in their offense. He passed for 1,708 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
Mendoza started all but one regular-season game at California in 2024. He threw for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for another 105 yards and two touchdowns. He transferred to Indiana the following offseason.
Through 14 games with Indiana, Mendoza has passed for 3,172 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 256 yards and six touchdowns.
In addition to the Heisman Trophy, he has received the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Associated Press Player of the Year, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and All-Big Ten First Team distinction.
All of these accomplishments in such a short period of time have piqued the interest of franchises at the top of the 2026 NFL draft who are in need of a new starting quarterback. Mendoza is considered the best quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft class, and the Las Vegas Raiders are drafting No. 1 overall and are in need.
Mike Renner of CBS Sports recently linked Mendoza to the Raiders in a projection for the 2026 NFL draft.
“This guy lives in the playbook. You watch the interviews, you watch him talk about the game of football, you see one of the most cerebral minds coming out of the draft in recent memory,” Renner said. “This guy lives it, he loves it. I think if Tom Brady gets this guy in a room, he’s going to fall in love with how much Fernando Mendoza loves the game of football.”
If the Raiders do in fact select Mendoza, he will be the first quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Raiders since they selected JaMarcus Russell in 2007. The last multi-year starter the Raiders selected was Derek Carr in 2014, but he was selected No. 36 overall in the second round.
By Sam Jane, Chris Vannini, Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo
Just days after Demond Williams Jr. signed a contract with Washington to return to Seattle for his junior season, the quarterback reversed course and announced Tuesday night he would enter the transfer portal.
The shocking decision sends ripples through the Washington program and the college football transfer portal. Williams had signed a contract agreeing to return to the Huskies, a Washington source close to the negotiations told The Athletic on Tuesday night. Yet, Williams said on Instagram that transferring was “best for me and my future.”
Washington has no intention of releasing Williams from the contract he signed on Jan. 2, a program source told The Athletic. The dispute could lead to a messy debate over the circumstances surrounding Williams’ status.
Williams, however, had not filed any paperwork with Washington compliance officers to have his name entered into the portal before making his announcement on social media.
As of now, nothing has been submitted.
Washington is prepared to pursue legal action to enforce the terms of the contract, according to a person briefed on the situation.
There have been several recent examples of schools taking issue with player transfers. After cornerback Xavier Lucas transferred from Wisconsin to Miami, Wisconsin said Lucas had entered into a “binding two-year NIL agreement” that included “substantial financial compensation” and allegedly attempted to prevent him from transferring. Georgia’s athletic department is also seeking $390,000 from former defensive end Damon Wilson II, claiming his transfer to Missouri terminated his name, image and likeness agreement with the Bulldogs’ collective.
Williams and Washington head coach Jedd Fisch share the same agent at Wasserman football.
Williams followed Fisch to Seattle two years ago after committing to Arizona out of high school. However, before signing with Fisch at Arizona, Williams initially committed to Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin in late 2022. He de-committed the following summer. Williams started the 2025 season, with Fisch not holding back the hype for his quarterback entering the season.
“I would probably say, at this age, not even 19, he’s the best player I’ve ever been around,” Fisch said on the Until Saturday podcast last spring. “… My goal from when I started recruiting him in high school, and I told him this, we’re going to partner up and find a way to be in New York City when it’s time for the Heisman.”
Williams threw for 4,009 yards and 33 touchdowns against nine interceptions while adding 893 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 26 career games at Washington. In his first season as the starter, he passed for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns, earning All–Big Ten honorable mention honors.
After a four-touchdown performance in Washington’s blowout win over Boise State in the Bucked Up LA Bowl, Williams seemed poised to be one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten this year.
“He does have incredible potential,” Fisch said. “He’s not loud, but I would say he is vocal. He speaks softly and carries a big stick. He’s not going to yell or scream and do all those things that you necessarily would need him to do, but he leads by example. He works his tail off. He never misses anything. He’s constantly involved with the team. He knows when to take the right reps. He knows when to jump in, jump out. So all that being equal, I think his leadership skills are certainly good enough.”
Now Williams says he is moving on. Williams is entering the portal with a do-not-contact tag, according to ESPN, meaning Williams likely already has a landing spot in mind. Notable schools that are currently or could be in the quarterback market include LSU, Miami and potentially Oregon. He instantly becomes one of the top players available in the transfer market.
Washington, which played in the 2023 national championship game under Kalen DeBoer, is 15-11 under Fisch in the last two years, including 9-4 this past season. This would be a major loss for the program.
iStockphoto / © Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Oklahoma State football landed a major upgrade at quarterback in the transfer portal with the commitment of Drew Mestemaker. The North Texas product was the nation’s top passer in 2025.
He will now look to continue his success at the Power 4 level with the Cowboys. He will be paid handsomely upon arriving to Stillwater.
Mestemaker’s story is one of the best in college football. He’s quickly gone from unlikely contributor to one of the sport’s most intriguing prospects.
He entered the transfer portal after his redshirt freshman season with the Mean Green. That move came after his head coach, Eric Morris, was hired by Oklahoma State.
The quarterback opted to follow Morris to the Big 12.
Who is Drew Mestemaker?
The passer was a lowly rated recruit in the 2024 cycle. He made more headlines as a punter and safety than as a quarterback. He walked on at North Texas having not started a football game under center since his ninth-grade season.
Mestemaker sat on the sidelines as a rookie, not making his first start until the team’s bowl game matchup against Texas State. In that debut, he shined.
The signal caller accounted for nearly 450 yards of total offense in a narrow postseason defeat.
The performance provided fans with their first introduction to the talented gunslinger. He put the college football world on notice in 2025.
Mestemaker led the country in yardage as the nation’s only 4,000-yard passer. He threw 34 touchdowns to just nine interceptions while leading the Mean Green to a 12-win season.
He hoped to turn that success into a new opportunity at season’s end and quickly jumped at the chance to cash in with Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys offered $7.5 million.
According to Bill Haisten of Tulsa World, Drew Mestemaker landed a two-year deal to take his talents to Stillwater. In Year 1, he is expected to earn a salary of $3.5 million.
That number increases to $4 million should he stay on to lead the team in 2027.
Haisten reports that a single Oklahoma State booster pledged the money to pay for the quarterback’s transfer. While the financier remains anonymous, the writer says the donor hails from the Oklahoma City area.
The Cowboys had to compete with the likes of Indiana and Oregon to secure Mestemaker’s commitment. The hiring of his head coach played a positive role in that recruitment.
The money didn’t hurt either!
Mestemaker’s massive NIL deal signals a shift in the school’s player payment thinking. The Cowboys have caught up in the new landscape of college sports.
Previous coach Mike Gundy claimed to have only had “around $7 million” for his entire roster across his last three seasons in Stillwater. Oklahoma State’s new quarterback could exceed that number on his own by the time he leaves campus.
For Drew Mestemaker, it’s something that didn’t appear possible just two seasons ago. He’s gone from walk-on to millionaire seemingly overnight.
Oklahoma State will lean heavily on their new football star in hopes of righting the ship under a new coaching staff.
Updated Jan. 6, 2026, 3:21 p.m. ET
Damon Wilson is headed back to a familiar place after one season with Missouri football.
For the second time in his three-year collegiate career, the edge rusher is entering the transfer portal. Wilson played his first two seasons with Georgia in 2023 and 2024, but opted to enter the portal last year. Wilson will have one year of eligibility remaining.
In his lone season with the Tigers, Wilson finished with 23 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery.
Following his decision to transfer from the Bulldogs, the University of Georgia sued Wilson for $390,000 in liquidated damages due to an unfulfilled contract with the Bulldogs’ former NIL collective, Classic City Collective. Wilson countersued Georgia in late December.
Wilson signed with the Bulldogs out of Venice, Florida, as a five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports Composite rankings. He was the No. 17 overall player, the third-ranked edge rusher and the No. 4 player from Florida.
In 26 games with the Bulldogs, Wilson had 26 tackles (six tackles for loss), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Damon Wilson II stats
Here’s a look at Wilson’s stats in his three collegiate seasons with Georgia and Missouri:
- 2023 (Georgia): Four total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks
- 2024 (Georgia): 22 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
- 2025 (Missouri): 23 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery
Updated Jan. 6, 2026, 8:27 p.m. ET
- Tennessee athletic director Danny White sarcastically responded on social media to fans who criticized the football team’s lack of transfer portal moves.
- Fans connected the team’s perceived lack of NIL funds to White’s focus on the planned Neyland Entertainment District.
- White’s social media clapback drew mixed reactions, with some fans calling it inappropriate and others defending his wit.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White appeared to take exception to fans blaming him for the football team’s relative inactivity in the transfer portal, and he responded with sarcasm.
Some UT fans didn’t believe this was funny or appropriate for an athletic director. Other fans applauded White’s wit in the face of criticism. It all transpired Jan. 6 on social media.
“I’ve been thinking that the Neyland Entertainment District could win us a national championship. Man, I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Thank you for your insight!” White posted on X, responding to a UT fan about a touchy topic that requires context.
So let’s explain.
Why Danny White’s Neyland Entertainment District was targeted
It all started when White was tagged in a post on X that criticized Tennessee football’s work in the transfer portal. The Vols have added only two players since the portal opened Jan. 2, second-fewest in the SEC.
Some frustrated fans believe that UT doesn’t have enough NIL money to outspend competitors for the top transfers. They blame White, who raised football ticket prices in the 2025 season with a 10% talent fee to help UT’s portion of NIL pay for players.
White actually can’t increase UT’s NIL budget, which is capped by the College Sports Commission, an independent regulatory body established by the power conferences. Nevertheless, fans targeted his latest facility project in their criticism.
“For all the good he has done @AD_DannyWhite needs to throw some money at the portal and give up on turning Neyland into a night club,” @johnboy7501, who identifies as a UT fan, posted on X.
Another UT fan, @Irish_Hammer_71, then replied on X: “100% – we need to go after top tier talent in the portal. Not names to fill a roster spot. Entertainment districts don’t win national championships. That is still the goal, right?”
Those UT fans were referring to the Neyland Entertainment District, an ambitious project in the planning stages to be built adjacent to Neyland Stadium. The mixed-use sports entertainment district would include a hybrid condo-hotel overlooking the stadium, a rooftop bar, restaurants, shops, event space and fan experiences.
The project was initially estimated to cost $167 million, not including the G10 garage reconstruction and a stadium gate ramp reconfiguration to align with the district. The preliminary schedule projected completion in late 2028, but a lot of factors could determine that.
White has proudly promoted the development of the Neyland Entertainment District since it was first announced in 2023. So the UT fans appeared to have struck a nerve.
How Tennessee fans responded to White’s social media post
The fact that White responded to Tennessee fans in that way raised eyebrows. Most athletic directors don’t respond directly to fans’ criticism, especially on social media.
That’s why UT fans fired back on X. Here’s just a sampling.
@BoRansom: “Being a sarcastic prick will really endear you to us. Big brain decision there.”
@jgrider98: “This is embarrassing.”
@DoubleJBranum: “You should’ve just texted a buddy! Can’t clap at a fan on Twitter. Be better!”
@SomeRndmGuyUT: “This is a bad look Danny. The original post wasn’t even directed at you. Seriously man, don’t go looking for fights.”
@VOLndator: “You think that you have it all figured out and you don’t Danny. Read the room.”
Others UT fans defended White for responding to what they thought was a misguided gripe, blaming a future facility project for a perceived lack of NIL money to pay transfers.
@BarstoolTenn: “Don’t fall for the rage baiters danny”
@garrickledford: “Thank you, Danny. Please continue to dunk on the curmudgeons. GBO.”
@Wesley_Hayes99: “Entertainment district will be a revenue source for the university, and in turn will help us compete for championships. Chess, not checkers kids.”
Why Danny White can’t increase Tennessee’s NIL budget
Putting the social media kerfuffle aside, White had a valid point, albeit expressed in an ill-advised way.
Funding for a university facility project is unrelated to NIL money paid to players. Specifically, the Neyland Entertainment District is being developed through a public-private partnership. And it will generate revenue for the university from condo sales, hotel room and event space rentals, food and beverage sales, retail, sponsorships and more.
Meanwhile, NIL money is a fixed line item on the athletic department budget.
Four hours after his original social media post, White explained.
“It is being built, and funded, by private developers. It’s a public-private-partnership, similar to the residence halls we are building,” White posted on X. “There are no funds associated with this project that could be used, in any way, for NIL. There could however, be NIL opportunities for our athletes once the project is complete and open for business.”
Since July 1, colleges have been allowed to pay student-athletes directly for use of their name, image and likeness. But that money is capped at $20.5 million per year for all schools. No matter how much money White wants to dedicate to bolstering the football roster, his hands are tied by those NIL restrictions for direct school-to-player pay.
Student-athletes can earn additional NIL money from third parties like NIL collectives, university partners, boosters and business owners. And that third-party money, which often comes from wealthy donors, creates the gap between the richest football programs and the second-tier programs.
Granted, UT works with NIL partners and collectives to generate third-party money for its athletes. But that third-party NIL money is outside the purview of the university and athletic director. And by rule, university employees aren’t allowed to guarantee third-party NIL money to recruits and transfer prospects.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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