Nick Saban turns heads by asking Trump to fix NIL, but progress needs to happen
For years, college sports has been the headliner of the fall season. The loud crowds chant for their team while the school band blasts the school anthem during crucial moments in the game. Institutions are given tons of money to fund various sports programs and give their teams the best facilities possible to maximize their […]
For years, college sports has been the headliner of the fall season. The loud crowds chant for their team while the school band blasts the school anthem during crucial moments in the game. Institutions are given tons of money to fund various sports programs and give their teams the best facilities possible to maximize their potential. At the same time, EA Sports’ College Football 25 shared the likeness of the schools top players.
With all this going on and the players not seeing a dime of the profits, something had to change and it did. There has been no secret about players wanting to be compensated for all the work they’ve done to make their respective school profitable. The NCAA made it illegal to accept any benefit as a student-athlete until 2021 when NIL deals became legal to obtain. The Name, Image, and Likeness payout have given players a clear avenue to make money. They can promote products for various companies.
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The issue with all this now is that players are entering the transfer portal for a chance to earn a bigger paycheck. This has become a growing problem since the idea was passed. Some players have become check collectors by staying at a school for a short period before heading to a new stop. There are very little regulations behind any of the movements.
Back in 2021-22 the number of transfer players reached 1,907 and grew to over 2,500 this year. This has become an issue for college coaches. There are certain schools who can’t keep up with payment demands. Ten college basketball schools are preparing to spend a reported $10 million to keep a top roster in 2025.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has an immense disdain for NIL deals.
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“”I think all the things that I believed in for all these years no longer exist in college athletics. It’s always been about developing players, it was always about helping people be successful in life.” Saban said. He met with President Trump this week to talk about federal regulations with NIL.
While there are other coaches who share the same sentiment, there are a few who believe this is a great opportunity for young kids to learn about finances and how to protect your money. Arkansas basketball coach John Calapari believes this is the kind of responsibility they need for the real world. “I think it’s really good for our student-athletes. I mean, it’s finally allowing them to earn what they are worth,” said Calapari.
Calapari has a valid point to say the least. These young men go through life with very little understanding of how the world works with money and how easily it can be manipulated, especially in the NFL. Those contracts have loopholes that many don’t understand until something occurs. You go from having nothing to having the world in a few short years.
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However, that’s often the argument people try to make. Players can’t handle such a large amount of money at a young age. Isn’t part of growing up allowing yourself to make mistakes so you can learn how to be smarter for the future? Now that’s not saying go blow through your money, but learn how to navigate through the world of finance. That’s what makes these NIL deals intriguing.
Still, the dialogue surrounding NIL deals has had its impact in the collegiate world. No matter how you look at this mixed noise, we’ll see players move about at their own leisure. Let’s just hope we grow, not regress to where future generations can profit too.
Jump To Top of Page The Future of Georgia’s Secondary: 2025 Safety Outlook Georgia defensive back Zion Branch (2) during Georgias practice session in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA) Here’s a look at the Georgia safety position for the 2025 football season, including previous college experience and the likelihood of substantial […]
The Future of Georgia’s Secondary: 2025 Safety Outlook
Georgia defensive back Zion Branch (2) during Georgias practice session in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)
Here’s a look at the Georgia safety position for the 2025 football season, including previous college experience and the likelihood of substantial minutes for each listed player:
The Bulldogs are looking to replace key veterans in the secondary, including Dan Jackson and Malaki Starks, and have been active in the transfer portal to bolster the safety room.
Here are the players listed at safety and their outlook for 2025:
Zion Branch
Previous College Experience: Redshirt Junior. Transferred to Georgia in the spring of 2025 after three seasons at USC. He saw action in his last two years, redshirting in 2022. He accumulated 41 tackles, 3 TFLs, one sack, and one forced fumble at USC. In 2024 (his redshirt sophomore year at USC), he had 19 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 3 passes defended in 10 games. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he had 22 tackles and one TFL.
Likelihood of Substantial Minutes:High. Branch is projected to be a key contributor and is listed as the second strong safety on some depth charts. He was a highly-touted transfer and has reportedly acclimated well to the Georgia system, flashing during G-Day. He’s expected to push for significant playing time.
Jaden Harris
Previous College Experience: Redshirt Junior. Transferred to Georgia in the spring of 2025 after three seasons at Miami (FL). He totaled 47 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, and one interception in 25 games played and 15 starts for the Hurricanes. In 2024 (his redshirt sophomore year at Miami), he started all 13 games with 40 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and an interception.
Likelihood of Substantial Minutes:High. Harris brings plenty of previous starting experience from Miami and is expected to have ample opportunities for reps at Georgia. He could also see some action at the “STAR” (nickelback) position.
Adrian Maddox
Previous College Experience: Senior. Transferred to Georgia in the spring of 2025. He played his junior season at UAB, tallying 44 tackles, 2 TFLs, two forced fumbles, and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown. Before UAB, he played two seasons at Alabama State, where he was a preseason All-HBCU defense selection and a freshman finalist for the Jerry Rice Award. At Alabama State, he had 41 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, two forced fumbles, seven pass breakups as a sophomore, and 49 tackles, 6 TFLs, and two interceptions as a freshman.
Likelihood of Substantial Minutes:High. Maddox is another highly-regarded transfer expected to compete for a starting spot, potentially opposite KJ Bolden at safety. He also flashed during G-Day.
Todd Robinson
Previous College Experience: Freshman. Robinson is a true freshman in 2025. He was a four-star prospect out of Valdosta HS in Georgia, where he played quarterback and safety.
Likelihood of Substantial Minutes:Moderate to Low (for substantial starting minutes). As a true freshman, Robinson will likely need time to develop and adjust to the college game. While he’s a talented prospect, the immediate starting spots will likely go to the more experienced transfers. However, he could see playing time on special teams and in rotational depth roles and could push for more minutes as the season progresses or in case of injuries.
Jacob Fleming
Previous College Experience: Redshirt Junior. His college experience details are not as extensively highlighted as the transfers. He is listed as a Redshirt Junior for the 2025 season.
Likelihood of Substantial Minutes:Low to Moderate. With the influx of experienced transfers, Fleming may have a harder time cracking the primary rotation for substantial minutes. He will likely provide depth and could see playing time on special teams.
Zach Stipe Associate AD / Communications
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CINCINNATI – A new path for college athletics begins July 1, as athletics departments nationwide will begin directly sharing revenue with student-athletes following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement […]
CINCINNATI – A new path for college athletics begins July 1, as athletics departments nationwide will begin directly sharing revenue with student-athletes following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement on Friday by Judge Claudia Wilken.
The University of Cincinnati Athletics Department has spent months preparing for this shift and has opted into the settlement. The settlement allows schools to directly share up to approximately $20.5 million with student-athletes, while also providing back-pay to certain former athletes. The newly established College Sports Commission will oversee this system, alongside strengthened regulation of third-party NIL deals through NIL Go, ensuring a more transparent and sustainable model for the future of college sports.
Cincinnati plans to be a full revenue-sharing participant in line with its Big 12 peers to compete for championships.
The Athletics Impact Fund, created earlier this year, will play a key role in helping Cincinnati fund this new model by providing critical resources to support revenue sharing and ensure the Bearcats continue to compete for championships.
“This is a transformative moment for college sports and for Cincinnati Athletics,” said Director of Athletics John Cunningham. “We anticipated this change and have been planning carefully to position the Bearcats for continued success in this new model.”
Here is everything you need to know about the House settlement and how it affects the Bearcats.
Revenue Sharing and the Impact Fund
Under the settlement, athletics departments may distribute up to an estimated $20.5 million annually in direct revenue to student-athletes, which includes scholarships.
Cincinnati intends to be full participants in revenue sharing, and will use the newly-formed Athletics Impact Fund to support it.
Fans interested in contributing to the Impact Fund can visit GoBearcats.com/Impact to learn more.
NIL Go
To bring consistency and transparency to NIL deals, the settlement introduces NIL Go, a new reporting platform for all third-party NIL agreements valued at $600 or more. This ensures deals reflect legitimate business partnerships.
Director of Athletics John Cunningham played a key role in shaping the future of college athletics as a member of the House Settlement Implementation Committee, where he served on the subcommittee that partnered with Deloitte to help define and formalize the national NIL process—work that will directly support Cincinnati’s efforts to thrive in this new model of student-athlete compensation.
College Sports Commission
Oversight of revenue sharing and NIL activity will be handled by the independent College Sports Commission, which was established to provide fairness and consistent enforcement of the new system. Learn more at collegesportscommission.org.
UC Positioned to Thrive in New NIL Landscape
Cincinnati is uniquely positioned to thrive in this more regulated NIL landscape, with eight Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the region and a strong network of local businesses that can engage with UC student-athletes through compliant, transparent partnerships.
UC’s Director of NIL & Innovation Eddie Taylor just won the NIL Educator of the Year Award at AthleteCon on Friday. The Bearcats took home the Best Institutional NIL Department at the NIL Summit in 2024, as well.
Businesses interested in pursuing NIL partnerships with Bearcats student-athletes should contact Taylor at eddie.taylor@uc.edu for more information.
Roster Flexibility and Student-Athlete Support
The settlement also removes previous NCAA scholarship limits, giving Cincinnati greater flexibility to offer more educational and athletic opportunities. Cincinnati will utilize this flexibility to continue supporting its 16 varsity sports and maximizing opportunities for student-athletes.
What About Former Student-Athletes?
Former and current student-athletes who began competing in 2016 through Sept. 15, 2024 are eligible for name, image, and likeness (NIL) backpay. Both parties negotiated a settlement to distribute $2.78 billion to eligible student-athletes. Backpay amounts will be determined by a distribution plan designed by the plaintiffs in the case. Institutions will not have a say in backpay amounts.
Backpay monies will not be paid to former student-athletes directly from UC but as a part of the NCAA’s legal settlement process.
The deadline for former student-athletes to apply for backpay was Jan. 31, 2025.
How Can I Help?
In anticipation of this decision, Cincinnati Athletics and the University of Cincinnati launched the Athletics Impact Fund in April. The purpose of the Impact Fund is to provide UC with the resources to recruit and retain top student-athletes who will position its athletic programs to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference and on the national stage.
Please visit this link if you would like to make a donation to the Athletics Impact Fund.
Looking Ahead
As this new model begins, Cincinnati is ready. The Bearcats are committed to providing an unparalleled student-athlete experience and competing for championships in this evolving landscape.
“We are confident in our position and excited for what’s ahead,” Cunningham said. “Thanks to the support of our community and the strength of our department, we are well-prepared to thrive in this new era.”
About Cincinnati Athletics:
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles. The Cincinnati men’s basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first non-Power Five program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
In 2023, the Bearcats entered a new era as a Power Four School when they officially joined the Big 12 Conference, positioning Cincinnati among the nation’s premier athletics programs.
Off the field, UC student-athletes continue to find success, as well, collectively posting a school-record 3.52 GPA in the spring of 2025.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics’ mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
Dick Vitale has an extension with ESPN — and a college basketball event in his honor
Associated Press Dick Vitale is inextricably intertwined with college basketball, with his iconic voice, exuberant style and enthusiastic catchphrases melding into a soundtrack for nearly five decades of the sport’s history. And the broadcasting great’s influence is sticking around next season, too, both in person on game days and through an addition to the college […]
Dick Vitale is inextricably intertwined with college basketball, with his iconic voice, exuberant style and enthusiastic catchphrases melding into a soundtrack for nearly five decades of the sport’s history.
And the broadcasting great’s influence is sticking around next season, too, both in person on game days and through an addition to the college basketball calendar named in his honor.
ESPN announced Monday that Vitale has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season, while ESPN Events is launching the Dick Vitale Invitational — the first matchup coming with a season-opening tilt between Duke and Texas on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Fittingly, the announcement comes on Vitale’s 86th birthday, and months after he returned to the airwaves after being gone for two years amid a fourth battle with cancer. The Basketball Hall of Famer, also a former college and NBA coach, has been with ESPN since it launched in 1979 and called the network’s first college basketball broadcast.
“So many times, awards and honors come to people after they’re long gone,” Vitale said of the Invitational’s birth in an interview with The Associated Press. “And to get it while you’re living is just a great, great feeling.”
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
Clemson plan to pay players revenue, NIL after House settlement approved
Beginning July 1, Clemson athletes will be paid revenue directly by the school plus third-party income they already earn for use of their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House settlement, which resolves three federal antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and four power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC), […]
Beginning July 1, Clemson athletes will be paid revenue directly by the school plus third-party income they already earn for use of their name, image and likeness.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House settlement, which resolves three federal antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and four power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC), on June 6. Her approval will allow schools that opt into the revenue sharing format to begin paying its athletes up to an annual cap estimated at around $20.5 million. That doesn’t include NIL pay, which is still allowed.
This is a huge shift in college sports, which moves closer to a professional model.
Here’s what Clemson fans need to know about this new system.
Each school will have a salary cap
There will be a cap of approximately $20.5 million that a school can pay its athletes per academic year. That is 22% of the average revenue from ticket sales, media rights and sponsorships by power conference schools. That cap will increase each year, similar to how pro leagues’ salary caps increase.
Schools determine which athletes are paid and how much, as long as the total doesn’t exceed the cap. Presumably, schools will spread revenue among several players, similar to a pro team’s payroll.
Players can still have as much NIL money as the market will, but those deals must withstand a new vetting process.
Here’s how Clemson could divide revenue
Athletic director Graham Neff did not specify exact percentages to how much revenue sharing will go to each sport, but he said it will distribute money according to revenue each sport produces. This means football will command a stronghold of the estimated cap, which football coach Dabo Swinney hinted at in November.
“We’re going to be as good as anybody out there,” Swinney said. “Nobody will have more money, so then we will have the opportunity.”
A model was prescribed in the preliminary House settlement: Approximately 75% to football players, 15% to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and 5% to other sports. This model for revenue distribution is just a baseline as schools will adjust those percentages based on need and different strategies. Conferences may also set standards for each member school to follow.
Clemson will also fully fund every roster position, increasing scholarships totals from 275 to 425. This will cost around $2.5 million of the $20.5 million, so there will be $18 million available to directly pay players
Football will likely exceed that percentage as it generates the most profit. In fiscal year 2024, Swinney’s program brought in around $87.2 million, about 72% of Clemson’s revenue across 21 sports, and netted a profit of $19.4 million profit, according to its latest NCAA financial report. This will cause other sports, like its men’s basketball program, to receive a lower percentage of the cap.
The scholarship increases will be huge for Clemson’s other sports though. Baseball will have 34 instead of the previous 11.7 limit, which will help Clemson’s program that has hosted three straight regional tournaments. The extra scholarships may also attract athletes to schools willing to fund them, especially non-revenue sports like baseball, soccer, softball and lacrosse.
Clemson opted in to revenue sharing but every school will not
Athletic department budgets have relied on this revenue for decades, but now they must share a significant portion of it with athletes. Schools will either have to cut expenses, increase revenue or both if they decide to opt in.
Clemson has prepared for the revenue-sharing era by adding a student athletics fee, increasing season-ticket prices for football games, approving the sale of alcohol at sporting events and hosting non-NCAA sports on campus like the Savannah Bananas in April. It also created a revenue-generating entity, Clemson Ventures, that will produce in-house sales and sponsorship and facilitate NIL deals with business for Clemson athletes
$20.5 million is the floor, not the ceiling due to name, image and likeness
Athletes can earn revenue-shared money from schools and NIL dollars. This is because businesses and third-party collectives fund NIL, while revenue shares will come directly from the school.
This means the richest schools and their boosters can exceed the $20.5 million cap if they want to maximize player pay and build more talented rosters.
This method may not be feasible in the long run, though, as those same boosters and fans, who donate and buy tickets from athletic departments and fund NIL collectives, could grow tired of paying athletes through two different entities.
How NIL deals will be vetted post-House Settlement
The power conferences are creating a new NIL enforcement arm called the College Sports Commission. Regardless of if a school opts in to making NIL payments, any Division I athlete who has a deal, or deals, worth $600 or more will have to report those deals to a system called “NIL Go.”
That data will be evaluated to determine whether the deal has a “valid business purpose” and is within “a reasonable range of compensation,” whatever those terms are deemed to mean. This means the NCAA will no longer police revenue sharing or NIL.
This new process could turn NIL into what it was intended to be: Businesses paying athletes for endorsements rather than fans funding NIL payrolls. Still, it’s a difficult standard to define and uphold, meaning lawsuits could come.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
St. John's, Rick Pitino Given Elite Ranking for Transfer Portal Activity
Rick Pitino is aiming to build a resurgent season, where the St. John’s Red Storm emerge as one of the top teams in college basketball. However, St. John’s roster will look significantly different this upcoming season, thanks to the Red Storm’s activity in the transfer portal, which has landed seven impact players. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello […]
Rick Pitino is aiming to build a resurgent season, where the St. John’s Red Storm emerge as one of the top teams in college basketball.
However, St. John’s roster will look significantly different this upcoming season, thanks to the Red Storm’s activity in the transfer portal, which has landed seven impact players.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello recently ranked his top transfer portal draft classes heading into the 2025-26 season, and the analyst ranked the Red Storm at No. 1.
“St. John’s narrowly got the top spot. The Red Storm had huge success last season leaning on a talented perimeter group built from the transfer portal, and they’re hoping to do the same in 2025-26,” wrote Borzello.
“Rick Pitino landed five top-100 transfers, led by former first-team All-Big East selection Hopkins and former top-25 recruits Jackson and Sanon. Sellers adds shooting, and Mitchell brings an intriguing amount of versatility. Jackson and Sanon are not natural point guards, so Darling provides insurance at that position.”
Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino argues a call during the first half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The players new to the St. John’s program this season are Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon, Ian Jackson, Dylan Darling, Dillon Mitchell, and Handje Tamba.
Not only did the Red Storm land some of the most talented players in the transfer portal, but their arrival will address massive voids on St. John’s roster.
Jackson will provide an upgrade at the point guard position, and Sellers will help St. John’s be a more consistent outside shooting team.
On paper, the Red Storm should be a championship contender next season. However, we still have to see how this team will mesh on the court.
STEPHEN A. CALLS OUT LEBRON for Giannis and NBA eras comments 
| First Take
