NIL
Nick Saban, Texas billionaire may have differing agendas on Donald Trump’s commission
At the urging of Nick Saban and others, President Donald Trump has gotten involved to try and fix the many issues that have arisen in college sports with unregulated NIL. NIL, which stands for Name, Image, Likeness, was initially pushed for and ultimately established as a mean for athletes to get a slice of the […]
At the urging of Nick Saban and others, President Donald Trump has gotten involved to try and fix the many issues that have arisen in college sports with unregulated NIL. NIL, which stands for Name, Image, Likeness, was initially pushed for and ultimately established as a mean for athletes to get a slice of the pie as institutions constantly profited off of athletes working for free.
Instead, it has turned into an unregulated pay-for-play scheme that has turned college sports upside down. Pay-for-play together with the Transfer Portal has fundamentally changed collegiate sports, particularly college football, to something almost unrecognizable.
Every change in college sports has seemingly been to the detriment to fans. The almighty dollar has been the driving force behind every decision. And in the interest of fairness, it’s the almighty dollar that is the driving force behind a lot of college football’s decision makers pushing back against NIL. Because what’s coming next is likely revenue sharing, and schools do not want to have to share money with the players.
Saban has been outspoken against the unregulated nature of NIL in college sports for a while now. People have taken that as sour grapes for a coach who stacked talent in Tuscaloosa and won at a never-before-seen level. But Saban is retired now. He’s not advocating for Alabama; he’s advocating for college sports in general. A sport he gave the majority of his professional life to. He sees a major problem and wants it to get fixed.
Saban was an obvious choice to be named co-chair of President Trump’s Commission to study college sports. Many fans have argued that college football needs a commissioner and if that day ever came, Saban would be the most obvious choice. He’s the greatest coach in the history of the sport and understands it at a fundamental level that most never will.
But Saban won’t be alone leading this commission. Texas billionaire and Texas Tech Board chair Cody Campbell will co-chair the commission with Saban., The two might have very differing agendas.
Saban, Campbell, not likely to see eye-to-eye on NIL
Before the NIL era, Texas Tech was a middling team in the Big 12. They would have flare ups from time-to-time where they would win 10 games or so, particularly under the late, great Mike Leach. But the Red Raiders were far from a legitimate power in the sport.
The best players weren’t flocking to Lubbock to play for Tech. Until now.
According to ESPN, Texas Tech spent north of $10 million to bring in one of the top Transfer Portal classes in the country. The Red Raiders have purchased a contender in the Big 12, and a team that will be a popular pick to make the College Football Playoff this season.
If there were guardrails and regulations against NIL, that would have been unlikely to happen. It stands to reason then, that Campbell, the leader of Tech’s NIL efforts, would have zero incentive to return to any kind of status quo. This era has led to a significant raise in his team’s profile. Going back would likely change that.
It’s that fact that likely means that Saban and Campbell will have differing agendas. There’s no going completely back. College sports are forever changed. But there does need to be guardrails to maintain a semblance of competitive balance.
Now that most players have used their COVID years, you’re going to see more and more of a swing in college sports toward the “haves” and away from the “have nots.” Some teams will no longer be able to compete. Some might drop sports altogether. None of that is good for the athletes.
It remains to be seen what comes out of this presidential commission. It will be interesting to see if Saban and Campbell can find common ground to make some needed adjustments to the current landscape of college sports.
NIL
Oregon Ducks’ Dante Moore Shares His Journey, Donates NIL Money To Hometown
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is preparing to lead as the team’s starter in 2025. Before the season begins, Moore is demonstrating his leadership off the field, returning to his hometown in Detroit. One of the ways Moore sought to help is by using his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings to help his alma […]
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is preparing to lead as the team’s starter in 2025. Before the season begins, Moore is demonstrating his leadership off the field, returning to his hometown in Detroit.
One of the ways Moore sought to help is by using his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings to help his alma mater. Moore returned to Martin Luther King High School and donated a $10,000 check to the football team.
The Oregon quarterback also hosted a book signing for his children’s book, “From Journey to Dream.” The book is about Moore’s journey from childhood to playing college football. Moore spent a season with the UCLA Bruins before transferring to Oregon where he sat for a season behind Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Moore hopes his book can help inspire those pursuing their dreams. He recounted his mistakes and that while things may not go as expected, it is a learning experience.
“I feel like this book will be good for kids just to read and understand,” Moore said at the book signing.
Moore was originally committed to Oregon before flipping to UCLA. The flip was just another step in his journey to becoming the Ducks’ starter.
In Moore’s one season with UCLA, he passed for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He finished the season with a 53.5 completion percentage and entered the portal. Both Moore and Gabriel transferred to Oregon following the 2023 season. Gabriel became the starter, causing Moore to sit for a season.
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Instead of holding a grudge and entering the portal again, Moore embraced the season as a learning experience.
“If you have a dream, chase it. Many people think the sky’s the limit, but I say reach for the stars,” Moore continued. “Many things don’t happen to go your way, I feel like you just learn from them. My freshman year at UCLA, a lot of mistakes happened there, but overall, I learned from them.”
“All these expectations and things like that, my work will show that any expectation or anything people expect me to do, I know I can do it,” Moore said.
There are high expectations for taking over as Oregon’s starting quarterback. Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist and was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ducks have produced two first-round quarterbacks since Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. After Herbert in 2020, the Denver Broncos selected former Ducks quarterback Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Oregon is coming off an undefeated regular season and was ranked the No. 1 team in the nation. Although the postseason did not go as Oregon would have wanted, losing against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the Ducks are expected to be back in the College Football Playoff in 2025.
“This year has been a learning year for me,” Moore told On3’s Pete Nakos. “Transferring in with Dillon was probably one of the best things I ever did. Coming to Oregon and competing with Dillon and standing behind him. I learned a lot from him. He’s been in college for quite some time, and I’m glad that the Browns picked him up.”
NIL
Why female athletes are challenging the NCAA’s $2.8bn settlement | College sports
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair. Eight female […]
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair.
Eight female athletes filed an appeal this week, arguing the agreement violates Title IX, the US law banning sex-based discrimination in education. They say the way the money is divided, largely favoring football and men’s basketball players, shortchanges women by more than $1bn.
Their appeal has paused all back payments, potentially delaying them for more than a year. However, the NCAA’s new plan to allow schools to pay current players directly starting 1 July will still go ahead.
So what does this all mean for athletes as well as the future of college sports? Here’s what’s going on …
What is the NCAA settlement about?
The NCAA agreed to pay $2.8bn to compensate athletes who were previously barred from earning income off their name, image, and likeness (NIL), including things like video game appearances, jersey sales, or social media sponsorships. The settlement covers athletes going back to 2016.
It also clears the way for a major change: beginning 1 July 2025, colleges will be allowed to directly share revenue with current players, up to $20.5 million per school per year.
It’s a major shift from the NCAA’s traditional amateurism model, which argued that athletes should only be compensated with scholarships, not salaries or endorsement income.
Who’s appealing the deal and why?
Eight female athletes who competed in soccer, volleyball, and track have filed an appeal. Their names include Kacie Breeding (Vanderbilt) and Kate Johnson (Virginia), along with six athletes from the College of Charleston.
They argue the deal violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. Specifically, they say the settlement gives up to 90% of the money to men in football and basketball, depriving women of $1.1bn in rightful compensation.
What is Title IX and how does it apply here?
Title IX is a 1972 US law requiring equal access and treatment for men and women in federally funded education programs, including athletics. Colleges must offer comparable resources, scholarships and participation opportunities across men’s and women’s sports.
The female athletes argue that since NIL bans affected both genders equally, compensation for those bans must also be equitable, and that using historical TV revenue (which favors men’s sports) ignores systemic barriers women have faced in marketing and media exposure.
What did the judge say about the Title IX argument?
US district judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week and rejected Title IX-based objections, saying they fell outside the scope of the antitrust case. The female athletes disagree and are now asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene.
What happens to the money in the meantime?
Because of the appeal, no back pay will be distributed until the court rules. That delay could last several months or longer. According to the NCAA’s lead attorney, the organization will continue funding the settlement pool, but the money will sit untouched until the case is resolved.
The current payout formula is based on historical media revenue and licensing data. Because football and men’s basketball generated the majority of money for schools – especially through TV contracts – those athletes stand to receive the most compensation.
Critics say that approach bakes in decades of inequality, because women were denied the same marketing exposure and investment in the first place.
What are the broader concerns about this settlement?
Some worry that schools will cut so-called “non-revenue” sports – like wrestling, swimming or gymnastics – to fund revenue-sharing with top athletes. Others fear this pushes college sports closer to a professional minor league system, undermining education and competitive balance. Still others say that without clear Title IX guidance, women may continue to be marginalized even in a post-amateurism era.
What happens next?
The Ninth Circuit will now review the appeal. Briefs are due by 3 October, and while both sides say they’ll push for speed, appeals in this court have been known to take 12 to 18 months.
Until the case is resolved, no back payments will be made to athletes who played between 2016 and 2021. But the revenue-sharing era is coming, whether or not the NCAA is ready for it.
NIL
Why female athletes are challenging the NCAA's $2.8bn settlement
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair. Eight female […]
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair.
Eight female athletes filed an appeal this week, arguing the agreement violates Title IX, the US law banning sex-based discrimination in education. They say the way the money is divided, largely favoring football and men’s basketball players, shortchanges women by more than $1bn.
Their appeal has paused all back payments, potentially delaying them for more than a year. However, the NCAA’s new plan to allow schools to pay current players directly starting 1 July will still go ahead.
So what does this all mean for athletes as well as the future of college sports? Here’s what’s going on …
What is the NCAA settlement about?
The NCAA agreed to pay $2.8bn to compensate athletes who were previously barred from earning income off their name, image, and likeness (NIL), including things like video game appearances, jersey sales, or social media sponsorships. The settlement covers athletes going back to 2016.
It also clears the way for a major change: beginning 1 July 2025, colleges will be allowed to directly share revenue with current players, up to $20.5 million per school per year.
It’s a major shift from the NCAA’s traditional amateurism model, which argued that athletes should only be compensated with scholarships, not salaries or endorsement income.
Who’s appealing the deal and why?
Eight female athletes who competed in soccer, volleyball, and track have filed an appeal. Their names include Kacie Breeding (Vanderbilt) and Kate Johnson (Virginia), along with six athletes from the College of Charleston.
They argue the deal violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. Specifically, they say the settlement gives up to 90% of the money to men in football and basketball, depriving women of $1.1bn in rightful compensation.
What is Title IX and how does it apply here?
Title IX is a 1972 US law requiring equal access and treatment for men and women in federally funded education programs, including athletics. Colleges must offer comparable resources, scholarships and participation opportunities across men’s and women’s sports.
The female athletes argue that since NIL bans affected both genders equally, compensation for those bans must also be equitable, and that using historical TV revenue (which favors men’s sports) ignores systemic barriers women have faced in marketing and media exposure.
What did the judge say about the Title IX argument?
US district judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week and rejected Title IX-based objections, saying they fell outside the scope of the antitrust case. The female athletes disagree and are now asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene.
What happens to the money in the meantime?
Because of the appeal, no back pay will be distributed until the court rules. That delay could last several months or longer. According to the NCAA’s lead attorney, the organization will continue funding the settlement pool, but the money will sit untouched until the case is resolved.
Why is most of the money going to men’s football and basketball players?
The current payout formula is based on historical media revenue and licensing data. Because football and men’s basketball generated the majority of money for schools – especially through TV contracts – those athletes stand to receive the most compensation.
Critics say that approach bakes in decades of inequality, because women were denied the same marketing exposure and investment in the first place.
What are the broader concerns about this settlement?
Some worry that schools will cut so-called “non-revenue” sports – like wrestling, swimming or gymnastics – to fund revenue-sharing with top athletes. Others fear this pushes college sports closer to a professional minor league system, undermining education and competitive balance. Still others say that without clear Title IX guidance, women may continue to be marginalized even in a post-amateurism era.
What happens next?
The Ninth Circuit will now review the appeal. Briefs are due by 3 October, and while both sides say they’ll push for speed, appeals in this court have been known to take 12 to 18 months.
Until the case is resolved, no back payments will be made to athletes who played between 2016 and 2021. But the revenue-sharing era is coming, whether or not the NCAA is ready for it.
NIL
Everyone will soon know who Bryan Seeley is and what the College Sports Commission does
The Kentucky athletic department has started a Champions Blue LLC. to help them transition into the new era of college athletics. Revenue-sharing will arrive on July 1 and all participating universities must participate in “NIL Go” which will serve as a clearinghouse for any third-party deals. Schools will be paying out of pocket but they […]
The Kentucky athletic department has started a Champions Blue LLC. to help them transition into the new era of college athletics. Revenue-sharing will arrive on July 1 and all participating universities must participate in “NIL Go” which will serve as a clearinghouse for any third-party deals. Schools will be paying out of pocket but they will be also involved in making sure athletics are being paid within the rules of a new system.
Who will they report to? We now know the answer.
Major League Baseball (MLB) executive Bryan Seeley has been named as the CEO of the College Sports Commission (CSC). The MLB vice president of legal and operations will now be tasked with making sure that college athletes and schools are following the rules that have been established in the House v. NCAA settlement.
“I am honored to serve as the first CEO of the College Sports Commission at this pivotal moment in the history of collegiate athletics,” Seeley said in a statement last week. “I look forward to implementing a system that prioritizes fairness, integrity, and opportunity, while preserving the values that make college sports unique. I am energized by the work ahead and excited to begin building out our team.”
“Bryan brings unwavering integrity and a wealth of relevant experience to his new role leading the College Sports Commission and working to ensure a smooth implementation of this new system,” power conference commissioners said in a joint statement. “We’re grateful to have an individual with his credentials and expertise at the helm, and we look forward to his leadership as we transition into this new era of college sports.”
Bryan Seeley will be asked to help form the CSC’s investigative and enforcement teams. This commission will play an integral role in enforcing the settlement’s terms and working hand-in-hand with “NIL Go” and Deloitte. His main job will be to enforce revenue-sharing and roster limits rules and regulations. The NCAA is officially ceding power to the CSC to enforce rules upon those participating in revenue-share. Seeley and the CSC are essentially the governing body of power conference athletics now.
You will be hearing his name a lot moving forward.
The CSC’s new leader is expected to make a seven-figure salary and will quickly become one of the most important individuals in college athletics. A former attorney, Seeley brings investigative experience and will be someone that power conference leaders rely on heavily to help run the new system that they have created.
Lawsuits are still expected — the NCAA is still looking for Congressional assistance on Capitol Hill — but Bryan Seeley will become an important face for the new era of college athletics. Expect to see the new hire do multiple interviews as the CSC becomes the new policing agency for the revenue-sharing era. Whenever a school gets in trouble, they will have to deal with Seeley for any violations regarding salary cap management.
The new day is here.
NIL
Kentucky baseball receives two more transfer portal commitments
Nick Mingione is putting in work with the transfer portal once again. Kentucky baseball landed a pair of portal commits on Friday, bringing the number of transfer additions this offseason up to seven. Indiana junior infielder Tyler Cerny was the first to join the Bat Cats, with Grand Canyon sophomore pitcher Connor Mattison announcing his […]
Nick Mingione is putting in work with the transfer portal once again.
Kentucky baseball landed a pair of portal commits on Friday, bringing the number of transfer additions this offseason up to seven. Indiana junior infielder Tyler Cerny was the first to join the Bat Cats, with Grand Canyon sophomore pitcher Connor Mattison announcing his decision to follow suit less than an hour later. Both rank among the top 40 players (Cerney at No. 37, Mattison at No. 11) to enter the portal this offseason, according to 64Analytics.
With the Hoosiers in 2025, Cerny hit for a .281 average with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 32 RBI. After amassing 173 games played at IU, he’ll have one year of eligibility remaining with Kentucky. Meanwhile, Mattison posted a 5.40 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 33.1 innings pitched with the Lopes this past season. The righty, who tossed a no-hitter as a freshman in 2024, will have two years of eligibility left upon his arrival in Lexington.
After making the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season in 2025 — the first such streak in program history — Mingione is again doing a terrific job in the portal. Kentucky is losing 12 players to exhausted eligibility and has lost 13 more as outgoing transfers. But the ‘Cats have already brought in seven new faces via the portal (six of them right-handed pitchers), including Friday’s new additions. More are expected to come soon.
Below is Kentucky’s current incoming portal class for 2026. Note that Echeman, Bennett, and Cerny are all eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft.
Mingione is also bringing in a 13-man high school class and returns a key group of core pieces from last season’s roster, headlined by Tyler Bell, a Freshman All-American from the 2025 campaign. The likes of RF Ryan Schwartz, RHP Nate Harris, and LHP Ben Cleaver will also come back to Lexington for next season. Several more Wildcats, such as 2B Luke Lawrence and OF Carson Hansen, are eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft but can return for another college season.
Derek Terry of Bat Cats Central reports that another portal commitment is expected to come on Saturday. Let Mingione cook.
NIL
Bucky McMillan shows college basketball he’s not afraid with daring non-conference scheduling move
Bucky McMillan is showing fans that he’s NCAA Tournament-minded with the news that came down today of his scheduling a series against the Florida State Seminoles. Though FSU has had some rough patches, they’re still a premier name that has put several big time players into the NBA over the last few years, such as […]
Bucky McMillan is showing fans that he’s NCAA Tournament-minded with the news that came down today of his scheduling a series against the Florida State Seminoles. Though FSU has had some rough patches, they’re still a premier name that has put several big time players into the NBA over the last few years, such as Jonathan Isaac, Scottie Barnes, and Terance Mann.
A perennial complaint against Buzz Williams during his time in College Station was a lack of premier non-conference games. This lessened quite a bit by Buzz’s last two years, but the poor strength of schedule for the Aggies was always an albatross when it came time to compare resumes.
This is a step in the right direction on that front for the Ags. This game will take place on Black Friday, according to a report by Jon Rothstein, which will no doubt put it only hours before the Aggies’ football game against Texas later that day.
Texas A&M basketball schedules series against Florida State Seminoles
FSU finished out last year ranked 90th in the NET— so if that’s where they are come next year, it should be a game that will look good as a win for the Aggies should that be the outcome, but not too terrible of a loss for a tournament team if things go the other way.
Of course, that’s assuming that “tournament team” is the realistic goal to which this squad is aspiring. With the way that McMillan has put the personnel together here, this could be a team that challenges for a dark-horse conference championship run.
That’s far off, and we still more than anything need to see how the team gels. As of right now, though, they will have an early-season spot on their schedule to impress fans, who will no doubt be waiting around for the final regular-season football game of the year.
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