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Ohio State launches group to support NIL opportunities

The university’s Department of Athletics and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties have formed the Buckeye Sports Group. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University announced it’s launching a new strategic group that’s designed to support, streamline and enhance Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes. The university’s Department of Athletics and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports […]

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The university’s Department of Athletics and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties have formed the Buckeye Sports Group.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University announced it’s launching a new strategic group that’s designed to support, streamline and enhance Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes.

The university’s Department of Athletics and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties have formed the Buckeye Sports Group, according to a release.

“By creating a dedicated team of NIL leaders, this strategic partnership will empower Buckeye student-athletes to maximize their brand value while competing at the highest level,” the university says.

The announcement comes after a federal judge approved the terms of a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement last week, which will allow schools to directly pay players through licensing deals.

Ohio State says a key part of the settlement is the implementation of a Fair Mark Evaluation process and a “range of compensation” designed to establish standardized benchmarks for NIL deals across sports and institutions. The Buckeye Sports Group intends to serve as a centralized hub for NIL brand deal facilitation, corporate partnerships, student-athlete storytelling and NIL support.

The Buckeye Sports Group will have access to Learfield’s Compass NIL technology to facilitate deal transactions and gain insights into student-athlete interests.

The group will support Ohio State student-athletes with a focus on three areas: deal facilitation and management, content creation and storytelling and support services.

“Ohio State has always been a leader in college athletics, and this initiative is another step forward to build upon our strong NIL foundation,” said Ohio State’s Deputy Director of Athletics Carey Hoyt. “By combining the power of our athletic brand with Learfield’s expansive network, we are creating an innovative, full-service approach to NIL that directly benefits our student-athletes.”

In a move to streamline and optimize NIL operations, the group will work to consolidate existing NIL collectives under a single marketing team. The founding members of THE Foundation and The 1870 Society, two existing NIL collectives, will remain engaged and serve in an advisory capacity to the new group.

“We’re incredibly thankful for everything our NIL collective’s leadership, businesses and donors have done to support our student-athletes,” Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director Ross Bjork said. “Their commitment has helped shape the landscape in powerful ways. As we move forward with a more unified approach, we’re excited to combine efforts and further strengthen the NIL success of our student-athletes.”

To read more about the new group, click here.



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Kirby Smart’s unique NIL strategy will pay dividends for Georgia in the long run

Kirby Smart has made his NIL strategy very clear at Georgia. He is willing to pay recruits and players what he thinks they are worth, but he will not go over the top with how much he spends on any one player, especially if that player is an underclassmen or high school recruit. Smart discussed […]

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Kirby Smart has made his NIL strategy very clear at Georgia. He is willing to pay recruits and players what he thinks they are worth, but he will not go over the top with how much he spends on any one player, especially if that player is an underclassmen or high school recruit.

Smart discussed this strategy last week at SEC Media Days, and unsurprisingly it made national headlines. Some college football fans claimed that this means the game is beginning to pass Smart by, but when thinking about it more this strategy from Smart should work out extremely well in the long run.

NCAA’s salary cap will help Georgia win in the long run

The NCAA has released a salary cap across all of their schools that limits the amount an athletic department can pay their players in all of their sports. Schools can add NIL deals on top of this revenue sharing, but in theory this should level out the playing field.

So if this salary cap is enforced, teams will have to strategically decide where and how they want to spend their money. Do they want to overpay for a couple of the top recruits or would they rather spread the wealth to have a more well-rounded team?

Smart has clearly gone with the latter, as seen in a recent survey indicating the 10 teams who have spent the most this season. Georgia somewhat surprisingly was not even on this list.

The team that topped the list is SEC rival Texas who has spent more than every other team in the country. This might explain why Texas has been able to beat Georgia out for multiple five-star recruits over the last week.

If Texas is spending all of this money on the 2026 class though, in theory they should have less to spend in the coming years with future resources already devoted to these recruits. This is where Georgia will be able to get the upper hand because they should have more money than Texas to spend.

The NCAA enforcing this salary cap is a big if, but Georgia fans should be excited because even after not spending as much money as other programs, Georgia still has the No. 2 recruiting class in the country.



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Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud arrested on domestic battery charge

Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged. According to the Butler County Times Gazette, Judge Chad Crum found probable cause to charge Cloud and […]

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Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged.

According to the Butler County Times Gazette, Judge Chad Crum found probable cause to charge Cloud and ruled him to have no contact with the victim moving forward. It is a Class B misdemeanor and he will be back in court on Sept. 22.

The report states that the incident occurred on April 20. The Butler County Sheriff’s office was called to the scene of an altercation between Cloud and his significant other. He was arrested and subsequently bonded out. Police allege that Cloud “did knowingly cause physical contact with another person, in a rude, angry or insulting manner.”

This is not the first incident where the police have been involved with Cloud and his significant other. On March 27, Cloud was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly destroying her cell phone. That is also classified as a misdemeanor and both charges came from the BCC Department of Public Safety.

Cloud is an All-American for Butler Community College and is committed to the Bulldogs’ 2026 class. He has had an interesting ride, originally committing to Georgia on January 7, 2021. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt sophomore went on to commit to the Bulldogs four years later.

So far during his time at Butler, Cloud has posted 48 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also had three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to his credit.

However, it’s unclear what the future for Cloud will look like after landing such a charge. He is set to play this upcoming season at Butler before moving on to Georgia in 2026. Butler declined to comment on the matter, per the Gazette’s report. Of course, Cloud is presumed innocent until proven guilty on all charges.

Before college, Cloud was a three-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings,
a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 1,561 overall player in his class, and No. 161 defensive lineman in that cycle.

Georgia will begin its 2025 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Marshall at home. Looking ahead, they will kick off SEC play against Tennessee during Week 3 on Sept. 13.



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SEC stalwart predicts Texas A&M to make College Football Playoff in 2025

Texas A&M could maybe be one of the most slept-on teams in the entire country next year with the way they’re currently being discounted by many members of the media. This is an Aggie team that is set to take strides forward after being on the brink of an SEC championship berth last year— albeit […]

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Texas A&M could maybe be one of the most slept-on teams in the entire country next year with the way they’re currently being discounted by many members of the media. This is an Aggie team that is set to take strides forward after being on the brink of an SEC championship berth last year— albeit with an easier schedule than they’ll have in 2025, but the point stands.

With so many factors favoring a big season for the Aggies, it’s puzzling that there’s not more public momentum around them being a dark horse candidate to make some postseason noise. They certainly cut the profile of a team that could do so, but you wouldn’t know it by surveying the headlines.

One veteran of the league, though, has his eye on the Aggies to do more than make a little noise— he sees them getting to the playoff. Rusty Mansell, a longtime insider for the Georgia Bulldogs, has made the call that the Aggies will be a part of the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Rusty Mansell predicts Texas A&M football to make College Football Playoff in 2025

One of the most trusted voices covering the Georgia Bulldogs for years, Mansell has been around this conference for quite some time. Diving into the Aggies apparently gave him some maroon and white optimism, as he told Michael Bratton while at SEC Media Days.

Mansell was impressed by what the Aggies have going into next year and when asked for a bold take by Bratton on the “That SEC Podcast,” he ventured that A&M would be part of the 12-team group. “They’ve got enough,” he said, calling Marcel Reed a “problem” for opponents.

He and Bratton agreed that Reed was overlooked and underrated, with Bratton comparing Reed to a media darling in DJ Lagway. Mansell mentioned Reed’s accuracy as a plus— something that Aggie fans know he showcased well down the stretch after it being a question mark earlier on.

Hopefully time will prove Mansell right. He has a good outlook here and I think he’s diagnosed things correctly for the Aggies. Don’t be surprised if, come November, these discussions are far louder than they are right now.



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North Texas Coach Roasts Pac

North Texas coach Eric Morris didn’t hold back when asked about potentially joining the Pac‑12 as a travel partner for Texas State. With a grin and a tone dripping in honesty, Morris responded, “Nah. The Pac‑12 is the old Mountain West now.” That blunt assessment cuts deep, not just at a conference on the rise, […]

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North Texas Coach Roasts Pac

North Texas coach Eric Morris didn’t hold back when asked about potentially joining the Pac‑12 as a travel partner for Texas State.

With a grin and a tone dripping in honesty, Morris responded, “Nah. The Pac‑12 is the old Mountain West now.” That blunt assessment cuts deep, not just at a conference on the rise, but at the shifting landscape of college sports.

 

Morris went on to explain how grueling long travel is while shuttling between regions and opponents. He pointed out that North Texas already faces enough hardship with trips inside the FBS’s traditional footprint. Adding cross‑country flights to a Midwest‑majority league would complicate everything from injury recovery to practice schedules.

This isn’t the first time Morris has questioned North Texas’s fit in a Power setting. With the Mean Green mentioned as a potential backup candidate for future expansion by the Pac‑12, rumors have circulated about pairing them with Texas State for logistical convenience. But Morris showed just how low that priority might truly be.

In Morris’s view, the landscape has undergone a change. The Pac‑12 may once have stood toe‑to‑toe with the Power Four, but post‑realignment, its reach feels more like a callback to the old Mountain West model—regional, less prestigious, and not worth the upheaval. That kind of candid perspective reveals where North Texas really stands on lofty expansion talk.

For fans tracking realignment, Morris’ words may raise eyebrows. Power Five status still matters, but the costs—in time, travel, and recovery—can outweigh the benefits. Morris isn’t just rejecting speculation. He’s drawing a line in the sand: North Texas will fashion its own path, one that’s smarter than chasing names.

And in that voice, informed, unapologetic, and unapologetically real, Morris fits right into an evolving college football world that values honesty above hype.

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Roethlisberger Concerned College NIL Is ‘Taking The Love Of The Game Away’

Ben Roethlisberger expresses concern about the impact of college NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals on the love of the game, suggesting that financial incentives may diminish genuine passion among players. While he acknowledges the benefits, such as improved financial literacy and the ability for players to support their families, he worries that the emphasis on […]

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Ben Roethlisberger expresses concern about the impact of college NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals on the love of the game, suggesting that financial incentives may diminish genuine passion among players. While he acknowledges the benefits, such as improved financial literacy and the ability for players to support their families, he worries that the emphasis on money could lead teams to prefer less talented but more motivated players. He reflects on historical sentiments about amateurism in college sports and suggests the need for guardrails in the evolving NIL landscape to protect players and maintain the essence of competition.

By the Numbers

  • Highly touted OT recruit Felix Ojo secured a three-year deal worth $5.1 million with Texas Tech.
  • The NIL model is generating significant earnings for college athletes that were previously kept under the table.

State of Play

  • NIL deals have blurred the lines between amateur and professional sports, changing recruitment dynamics.
  • Players are entering the NFL with previous financial experience from NIL, altering team drafting strategies.

What’s Next

Moving forward, the college football landscape may see increased regulations to manage NIL deals and protect both players and institutions. As this situation evolves, it will be critical to maintain a balance between financial opportunities and preserving the competitive integrity of the sport.

Bottom Line

Roethlisberger’s insights highlight a crucial tension in modern college athletics: the need for compensation versus the preservation of passion for the sport. Stakeholders must consider how to navigate these changes without compromising the essence of college football.





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Georgia offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson arrested on drug-related charges

A Georgia football player is facing charges after he was arrested on Wednesday. Sophomore offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson was charged with felony possession of marijuana of more than one ounce, according to a report from the Athens Banner-Herald. Marc Weiszer of the Banner-Herald reports that Jahzare Jackson now faces an additional three drug-related charges. In […]

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A Georgia football player is facing charges after he was arrested on Wednesday. Sophomore offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson was charged with felony possession of marijuana of more than one ounce, according to a report from the Athens Banner-Herald.

Marc Weiszer of the Banner-Herald reports that Jahzare Jackson now faces an additional three drug-related charges. In addition to the charge above, he also faces possession and use of drug-related objects, possession of marijuana less than an ounce and holding or supporting a wireless device with any part of his body. All three of those charges are misdemeanors.

Jackson was booked into the Clarke County Jail on Wednesday evening just before midnight and spent roughly four and a half hours there. He was released on bonds totaling $5,030, per the Banner-Herald.

Jahzare Jackson is not the first Georgia player to run afoul of the law this offseason. In March, receiver Nitro Tuggle and offensive lineman Marques Easley were suspended following traffic-related infractions.

Meanwhile, a current Georgia commitment is facing charges related to an alleged domestic battery. That news broke on Saturday.

Seven Cloud arrested on domestic battery charge

Jahzare Jackson was the second player or commitment in as many days to make headlines for a recent legal issue. Georgia JUCO commit Seven Cloud is facing charges regarding domestic battery that stem from an April incident in Butler County. The defensive lineman appeared in front of a judge on Monday, July 14, where he was formally charged.

According to the Butler County Times Gazette, Judge Chad Crum found probable cause to charge Cloud and ruled him to have no contact with the victim moving forward. It is a Class B misdemeanor and he will be back in court on Sept. 22.

The report states that the incident occurred on April 20. The Butler County Sheriff’s office was called to the scene of an altercation between Cloud and his significant other. He was arrested and subsequently bonded out. Police allege that Cloud “did knowingly cause physical contact with another person, in a rude, angry or insulting manner.”

This is not the first incident where the police have been involved with Cloud and his significant other. On March 27, Cloud was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly destroying her cell phone. That is also classified as a misdemeanor and both charges came from the BCC Department of Public Safety.

While Cloud has not yet joined the Georgia program, Jahzare Jackson played in every game last season. He was expected to compete for a backup job on the offensive line this fall.

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this report.



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