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Opinion: 10 Problems With Wisconsin’s Lawsuit Against Miami

Just shy of two months ago, Cameron Anthony Ward stood on a Green Bay, Wisconsin stage, about 140 miles northeast of the University of Wisconsin, celebrating his selection as the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Wisconsin Badgers, who finished their season in November after only mustering five wins, did not have […]

Published

3 weeks ago

June 22, 2025

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College football is about two months away from resuming the gridiron battles. But on Friday, the University of Wisconsin picked a different kind of battle: Bucky Badger filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami in Wisconsin state court alleging that Miami tampered with contracts between Wisconsin and its NIL collective (VC Connect, LLC). A copy of Wisconsin’s Complaint is available here (thanks to Margaret Fleming and Front Office Sports). In civil litigation, a Complaint is a document that launches the lawsuit by stating the alleged facts occurred and how those alleged facts were illegal. The full Complaint is worth a read, but snippets are discussed below.

Wisconsin’s lawsuit, the first of its kind brought by one university against another in the NIL era, has a host of problems.

1. Gee Whiz, Who Could be “Student-Athlete A”

At the center of the lawsuit is “Student-Athlete A.” This mystery student is described as a “DI college football player” who “arrived in Madison, Wisconsin for his freshman year” in June 2024, and played in “most games” during his freshman season. But then, this anonymous athlete requested to be placed in the transfer portal, Wisconsin refused, and “Student-Athlete-A” enrolled at the University of Miami anyways.

There is a real need to sometimes keep witnesses anonymous, but this is dumb. Obviously Xavier Lucas is “Student-Athlete A.”

2. Wisconsin is Elevating Its NIL Contracts Above NCAA By-Laws

One of the most startling facts in the Complaint is that Wisconsin admitted that it refused to enter Lucas into the Transfer Portal for no reason other than it believed Lucas was breaching his NIL contract(s):

As Lucas’ attorney previously explained, that’s not how that works:

Yes. Wisconsin violated NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.3.1, which required Wisconsin to enter Xavier Lucas’ information into the national transfer database within 2 business days. The NCAA now must punish Wisconsin for its blatant violation of the Bylaws. Failure to do so would be a clear… https://t.co/wo58kr6Lcd

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) January 18, 2025

Wisconsin is obligated under NCAA Bylaws to timely enter into the Transfer Portal any athlete wishing to enter. Wisconsin admitting in court that the only reason it ignored an NCAA Bylaw was because of an NIL contract dispute is astonishing. It’s no secret that the NCAA is losing its influence/respect, but could the Badgers at least be subtle about it?

3. Wisconsin Sued Miami, Not Lucas, But Will Still Drag Lucas (and His Mother) Into Litigation

So if Lucas breached some contracts, why not sue the young man for breaching some contracts? He’s an adult, he signed those agreements, and he’s probably being paid a healthy enough sum that he can hire a lawyer and/or pay some sort of breach penalty.

The answer is obvious…it would be a really, really bad look for Wisconsin to start suing its players. So Lucas is not named as a defendant.

Instead, the Complaint bends over backwards to paint the University of Miami as the villain. While the majority of the Complaint is about Lucas, Wisconsin’s main claims are that Miami tortiously interfered with two contracts – one contract between Wisconsin and Lucas (the “University Contract”), and another contract between the NIL collective and Lucas (the “Collective Contract”). According to the Complaint, the Collective Contract would compensate Lucas before July 1, 2025 when the University Contract would kick-in (after the House v. NCAA settlement was expected to have been resolved).

Even if Wisconsin didn’t sue Lucas, he’s not going to escape being entangled in this litigation. To prove its case, Wisconsin must show that Lucas in-fact breached those contracts. Wisconsin also has to show that Miami’s interference caused the breaches. That second step would be unnecessary if Wisconsin had just sued Lucas! But by crafting the Complaint the way Wisconsin did, Wisconsin is telegraphing that Lucas and his mother will be necessary witnesses who should expect to be subpoenaed in this lawsuit.

The clear message from Wisconsin is this: if any student athlete dare to leave your NIL deal early, if we don’t sue you we will at least sue the school you transfer to, and we will not hesitate to drag you and your mother into the litigation. Wisconsin’s crazy if they think this won’t affect their recruiting.

4. Wisconsin’s Lawsuit is on the Heels of Getting Hit With Recruiting Violations

Speaking of Badgers recruiting, the timing of the lawsuit couldn’t be richer. Just last week, the NCAA announced that Coach Fickell’s staff committed recruiting violations in 2023 for impermissible contact with recruits. Wisconsin football staff members made 139 (!) calls to 48 (!!) recruits in violation of NCAA rules.

The aftermath is that Wisconsin is on a one-year probation, and a former assistant coach and a former director of player personnel were each slapped with a one-year show cause penalty. Boy, it sure would be hypocritical if the lynchpin of Wisconsin’s lawsuit is that Miami had “impermissible contacts” with a student athlete…

5. Fellow Big Ten Member Nebraska Did the Same Thing

While on the subject of hypocrisy, it’s a little known fact that last year the University of Nebraska pulled a similar stunt with a highly coveted prospect. Mac Markway was a four-star, top 250 overall prospect for LSU. Markway played for the Tigers his freshman season, but then abruptly unenrolled five practices into fall camp. A few days later, the story is that Markway worked with a sports agent to secretly transfer without ever entering the Transfer Portal. When interviewed, Markway’s dad said that his son wanted to transfer closer to home. Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule swore that he knew nothing about Markway until he showed up at practice one day asking to join the team.

There’s no reason not to believe the Husker’s story. It’s a nice story, and frankly LSU should be commended for not (publicly) putting up a fuss about Markway’s departure. It has to be disruptive when a highly rated prospect leaves in the middle of Fall camp. Although not reported on, it would be surprising if Markway hadn’t signed some sort of NIL deal with LSU.

But when Xavier Lucas says he wants to transfer near his Fort Lauderdale home because his father was “suffering from a serious, life-threatening illness,” apparently that’s a gross breach of contract. It’s fine when Nebraska “facilitated” Markway’s enrollment outside the transfer portal, but when Miami “facilitates” Lucas’ enrollment that’s “impermissible contact.”

6. If Wisconsin Wins, How Are Athletes Not Employees?

Whether student athletes should be considered “employees” is a subject of hot debate. Classifying student athletes as employees would have a host of implications including entitling them to minimum wage, overtime pay, and a right to form a labor union. The NCAA and its members have consistently taken the position that athletes are not employees. But if Wisconsin has its way and a court agrees that Wisconsin was justified in denying Lucas the right to transfer schools because of a contract with Wisconsin, how is Lucas not considered an employee who can be restricted from talking with other Universities (ahem, employers)? Bucky better be careful what he wishes for.

7. Workout Chats Now Mean You Are Program Committed

One thing the Complaint attempts to demonstrate is that Lucas was 1,000% committed to Wisconsin until big, bad Sebastian the Ibis swooped in and soiled Lucas with impure thoughts:

This only further demonstrates how strained it is for Wisconsin to sue Miami instead of just suing Lucas. Apparently, talking about weightlifting and shooting some social media videos means you’re in a committed relationship. Ask any college student if that’s true. It’s not.

8. Miami Allegedly Outbid One of Wisconsin’s Richest NIL Contracts in History

In one breath, the Complaint alleges that Lucas “was offered one of the largest NIL financial commitments of any [Wisconsin] athlete.” In another breath, Wisconsin alleges that Miami offered “financial terms more lucrative than those included in the [Wisconsin] Contracts.”

So if that’s true, is one of Wisconsin’s “largest NIL financial commitments” in history laughably small, or is Miami just that flush with cash?

By the way, a plausible reading of the Complaint allegations is that Lucas was railroaded into signing a new NIL agreement just days after Wisconsin’s end-of-season throttling by Minnesota, and he quickly realized how badly he got hosed and looked to transfer. If that’s the story, does Wisconsin really emerge as the good guy for low balling teenagers?

9. How Awkward Will It Be When Miami Joins the Big Ten?

The Big Ten issued a statement that it’s “supportive” of Wisconsin in its lawsuit. From the Big Ten’s perspective, it “believes that the University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of [Wisconsin]’s efforts to preserve it.”

The problem is that the next round of realignment is rapidly approaching, and Miami’s brand and strong TV ratings will be one of the most alluring additions. Miami has always been the villain – a role Hurricanes fans accept with glee – so perhaps this lawsuit is just priming the storylines for when Miami joins the Big Ten, not unlike a wrestling heel switching between WCW and WWE. The University of Miami has always been Razor Ramon, right?

10. But Seriously, What Damages?

Ultimately, the lawsuit seeks damages to compensate Wisconsin for the “loss of financial and promotional benefits [Wisconsin and its Collective] anticipated receiving” from Xavier Lucas’ NIL and participation on the football team. How you could calculate the loss of a freshman DB from a 5-7 football team is incomprehensible. How Wisconsin, not Lucas, would lose value because they could not promote his NIL is also incomprehensible. How many tickets will Wisconsin fail to sell to Lucas’ fans? How much will Lucas’ departure hinder the Big Ten from negotiating a new media rights deal? The world may never know…

…because this lawsuit will almost certainly settle. Wisconsin talked tough when Lucas forced his way to Miami, and evidently Wisconsin felt compelled to follow through with this lawsuit. In some ways it’s an important lawsuit because it could shape the future of NIL disputes in college athletics. In other ways, the lawsuit is extremely problematic. Most likely the later will carry the day, the schools will settle, and the Badgers and Hurricanes will be conference rivals a decade from now.

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NCAA Tournament expansion is ‘right direction to at least explore,’ SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says

Imagn Images SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated his interest in expansion of the NCAA basketball tournaments expansion Monday, saying “we think there are enough quality teams to make this growth appropriate.” “Nothing in college basketball is static,” Sankey said from the 2025 SEC Kickoff event in Atlanta. “So tournament expansion is certainly worth exploring.” The […]

Published

12 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Imagn Images

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated his interest in expansion of the NCAA basketball tournaments expansion Monday, saying “we think there are enough quality teams to make this growth appropriate.”

“Nothing in college basketball is static,” Sankey said from the 2025 SEC Kickoff event in Atlanta. “So tournament expansion is certainly worth exploring.”

The NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees debated expansion at their respective meetings last week but made no recommendation on whether to expand or remain at 68 for 2026 and beyond.

NCAA tables tournament expansion, delaying March Madness decision with 72, 76-team options still possible

Bryan DeArdo

Though not a part of either committee, Sankey is arguably the most influential figure in college sports, and he made it clear that — over the long-haul — he favors growth from the current 68-team bracket configuration to one including 72 or 76 teams.

“To be clear, we support expansion,” Sankey said. “But you just don’t jump into it. So, if there are reasons from a broadcast point, a financial point, logistics point or competitive realities that don’t support expansion, again, we’re going to be fine. But in general, think this is the right direction to at least explore.”

Sankey’s bullishness on expansion suggests the matter won’t be receding from view anytime soon, and it’s still possible that expansion could be approved for as early as the 2025-26 season.

However, Sankey noted that the SEC “is going to be fine whether the bracket expands or not.” The SEC placed a record 14 teams in the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament and landed 10 teams in the women’s tournament.

Amid the dawn of revenue-sharing in college athletics, leaders are looking for new opportunities to drive revenue. BUT NCAA leaders have yet to clearly articulate if or how expanding the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments would increase payout to NCAA schools.

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Ruling on NIL collectives may reshape college sports scene

Valid businesses would only be allowed to make payments to student athletes Boise State fullback Tyler Crowe (33) celebrates his touchdown against Penn State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Dec. 31 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press) ALBUQUERQUE – A new enforcement agency in […]

Published

32 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

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Valid businesses would only be allowed to make payments to student athletes

Boise State fullback Tyler Crowe (33) celebrates his touchdown against Penn State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Dec. 31 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)

ALBUQUERQUE – A new enforcement agency in college sports has drawn a firm line regarding the regulation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments to athletes – a move that could dismantle how many school-affiliated collectives currently operate.

Last week, the College Sports Commission issued new guidance that significantly narrows what qualifies as a “valid business purpose” for NIL deals. The announcement came just days after the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement took effect on July 1, establishing a clearinghouse called NIL Go to review third-party deals exceeding $600.

The goal is to prevent schools from circumventing the new $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap by routing funds through booster-backed collectives.

According to the CSC, any entity whose primary function is paying athletes – rather than offering legitimate goods or services to the public – fails to meet NIL Go’s standards. This includes collectives that host events or sell merchandise primarily to fund player payments. Even if these events are open to the public or involve promotional efforts, the CSC says they still don’t qualify.

The ruling has sent shock waves through the NIL ecosystem. In the four years since NIL deals became legal, school-affiliated collectives have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into athlete compensation – often functioning as unofficial arms of athletic departments. These groups have paid athletes for appearances, endorsements, and social media promotions. But with the CSC now rejecting most of these deals, that model appears to be collapsing.

A memo sent to Division I athletic directors clarified the new standard: agreements with collectives primarily created to pay athletes or benefit specific schools will no longer be approved. While external NIL deals are still allowed, they must be with companies offering real products or services to the general public and must reflect fair market value.

The backlash was immediate. The Collective Association, which represents NIL collectives nationwide, called the CSC’s interpretation “misguided,” arguing it ignores both legal precedent and the economic realities of college athletics. The group claimed collectives are essential to athlete support and are being unfairly targeted.

Adding to the frustration, collective leaders like Dalton K. Forsythe of Utah State’s Blue A Collective reported widespread rejections of submitted NIL deals. “Nearly 100% of collective-backed NIL deals are being denied,” Forsythe posted on X, citing inconsistent standards and poor communication from NIL Go.

Mountain West Conference emblem is attached to a field marker along with the emblem of Colorado State during an NCAA college football game between Colorado and Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Despite the chaos, NIL Go has approved over 1,500 deals since launching in June, ranging in value from hundreds to millions of dollars. More than 12,000 athletes and 1,100 institutions are already registered. However, most approved transactions have involved athletes and legitimate businesses – not donor collectives.

Ultimately, the CSC has made clear that the future of NIL lies in traditional sponsorships and commercial endorsements, not donor-funded payouts. Whether courts will uphold these rules – or whether athletes will challenge them on antitrust grounds – remains to be seen. For now, though, the days of collectives writing large checks behind the scenes may be coming to an end.

The College Sports Commission’s new enforcement guidance is expected to significantly impact the Mountain West Conference (MWC), where many schools have relied on donor-driven collectives to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Potential Fallout for Mountain West Schools

This shift could hit programs like Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State particularly hard. These schools have developed strong football reputations but lack the deep financial backing of Big Ten or SEC institutions.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty celebrates after winning the offensive player of the game for the Mountain West Championship NCAA college football game against UNLV, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

Boise State has relied on a passionate fan base and collective support to maintain its status as a Group of Five powerhouse. Without that funding source, Boise could fall behind in the NIL arms race.

Utah State’s Blue A Collective is already feeling the pressure. Director Dalton Forsythe reports that nearly all of their NIL submissions are being rejected under the new rules, calling the standards “unclear and unrealistic.”

Fresno State and San Diego State have used competitive NIL offers to retain local talent, but that ability may diminish without collective-based funding, making it harder to keep players from transferring out.

As the NIL landscape undergoes its most dramatic shift yet, the Mountain West Conference finds itself at a crossroads.

The new rules may level the playing field in theory, but in practice, they risk sidelining programs that have used creativity and community support to stay relevant.

With traditional collectives on the chopping block and commercial partnerships harder to come by in smaller markets, MWC schools must now adapt quickly – or risk falling further behind in a system increasingly tilted toward the power conferences.

The next chapter in college athletics will be defined not just by talent on the field, but by who can navigate the off-field rules best.

Roger Holien is a contributor for SB Nation.com and Mountain West Connection

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Players Era 2025: Schedule announced for NIL-driven Players Era Men’s Championship

Las Vegas will once again be the place to be during Feast Week this college basketball season. Coined “November Mania,” the Players Era Men’s Championship announced its schedule for the newly expanded 18-team men’s basketball NIL multi-team event in November in Las Vegas on July 14, and to no surprise, it’s quite loaded. Advertisement Then […]

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33 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

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Las Vegas will once again be the place to be during Feast Week this college basketball season.

Coined “November Mania,” the Players Era Men’s Championship announced its schedule for the newly expanded 18-team men’s basketball NIL multi-team event in November in Las Vegas on July 14, and to no surprise, it’s quite loaded.

Then called the Players Era Festival, the NIL-driven event by storm last season and has quickly become a must-play event with NCAA Tournament caliber teams, so much so that teams paid their way out of already scheduled multi-team events to participate in it last season.

Headlining the first two days of competition in Las Vegas is Gonzaga vs. Alabama on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Preceding the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide on Nov. 25 is St. John’s vs. Iowa State, two teams that are notoriously known for their defense under Rick Pitino and T.J. Otzelberger.

REQURIED READING: College basketball too-early Top 25 rankings after transfer portal, NBA draft

Day 2 of the 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship field is headlined by an Elite Eight rematch of Houston vs. Tennessee and then Iowa State vs. Creighton, two teams that were already scheduled to meet in October for an exhibition.

The 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship field includes 14 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and nine teams — Auburn, Houston, St. John’s, Alabama, Iowa State, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan — that were seeded at least a five seed or higher in the field of 68. Eleven teams that appear in the USA TODAY Sports too-early top 25 poll will also compete in Las Vegas.

The four-day multi-team event will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena from Monday, Nov. 24 through Thursday, Nov. 27 with the championship game taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

There will also be a four-team Players Era Women’s Championship featuring South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Duke that will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Thursday, Nov. 27 in Las Vegas.

Here’s what to know from the July 14 announcement of the 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship:

Players Era Championship bracket 2025

The returning teams to the Players Era Festival include Alabama, Houston, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Oregon, San Diego State and Creighton. The only team that isn’t returning to the Players Era Championship from last year’s field, which Oregon won, is Texas A&M. The Aggies were replaced in the field by Maryland, which hired away Buzz Williams from Texas A&M this offseason.

Here’s a full breakdown of who is competing in the 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship:

Players Era Festival 2025 schedule

Here’s a look at schedule for the 2025 Players Era Men’s Championship, which will take place MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas:

Monday, Nov. 24

Rutgers vs. Tennessee | 1 p.m. ET
Creighton vs. Baylor | 2 p.m. ET
Kansas vs. Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. ET
St. John’s vs. Iowa State | 4:30 p.m. ET
Houston vs. Syracuse | 6 p.m. ET
Auburn vs. Oregon | 8 p.m. ET
Gonzaga vs. Alabama | 9:30 p.m. ET
Michigan vs. San Diego State | 10:30 p.m. ET
UNLV vs. Maryland | Midnight ET

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Rutgers vs. Notre Dame | 1 p.m. ET
Iowa State vs. Creighton | 2 p.m. ET
Kansas vs. Syracuse | 3:30 p.m. ET
St. John’s vs. Baylor | 4:30 p.m. ET
Houston vs. Tennessee | 6 p.m. ET
Michigan vs. Auburn | 8:30 p.m. ET
Gonzaga vs. Maryland | 9:30 p.m. ET
Oregon vs. San Diego State | 11 p.m. ET
UNLV vs. Alabama | Midnight ET

Wednesday, Nov. 26

Third Place Game: 7 p.m. ET
Championship Game: 9:30 p.m. ET

Note: For those that didn’t make the championship or third place game on Wednesday, November 26, they will play in consolation games across Wednesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 27 in Las Vegas

What is the Players Era Championshop?

The Players Era Championship is a one-of-a-kind multi-team event that takes place during “Feast Week” of the college basketball season in November, during Thanksgiving week. Debuted during the 2024-25 season with an eight-team field, The Players Era Championship is a NIL-driven multi-team event with some of the best college basketball teams in the country.

Each team will receive $1 million for participating in the event, while players and teams will have the opportunity to earn more NIL while in Las Vegas. The champion of the Players Era Championship will win an additional $1 million in NIL earnings as well. Noted by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, the total pot for the 2025 Players Era Championship will be north of $20 million in NIL-related earnings — quite the expensive multi-team event and regular season showcase event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Players Era Men’s Championship full field, schedule announced

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Tip times, matchups for NIL-driven college basketball tournament revealed

The Players Era Festival, an NIL-driven college basketball multi-team event set to feature Gonzaga and 17 other programs in its field this fall, has released the 20-game schedule for the 2025 edition from Las Vegas. The Players Era debuted this past November with eight teams competing in the Thanksgiving week tournament: Houston, Alabama, Rutgers, Notre […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Players Era debuted this past November with eight teams competing in the Thanksgiving week tournament: Houston, Alabama, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Creighton, Oregon, Texas A&M and San Diego State (Oregon beat Alabama in the championship round). In addition to those eight, the following 10 teams join the 2025 field: Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.

The Bulldogs drew Alabama for their first-round matchup, which has been set for Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. PST on TNT. The Zags will take on Maryland the next day at the same time, while being broadcast on TruTV. CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander first reported the matchups earlier this month.

Though the exact locations weren’t disclosed, each contest has been confirmed for either Michelob Ultra Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena. If the Zags win both matchups out of the gate, they’ll advance to the championship round set for Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m. In the likely event that more than two teams go 2-0 to start, point differential, total points scored and points allowed will serve as tiebreakers. The third-place game is the same day at 4 p.m. PST.

The 2025 Players Era Championship schedule has been released 🚨

Watch every game of the tournament on TNT, truTV, or streaming on HBO Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/rkbMKIQIgR

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) July 14, 2025

Every participating team is assured $1 million, with an additional $1 million awarded to the winner of Players Era. The pay structure is expected to work in a similar manner this year, with each school directly receiving compensation from event organizers, though how the teams divvy up the money to their players will be case-by-case.

With the House v. NCAA settlement reaching final approval, schools will be allowed to share up to $20.5 million per year in revenue with their student-athletes. Many schools won’t be able to reach that number, and some are planning to put portions of Players Era money into their overall rev-share cap, per Norlander.

According to The Field of 68, the team that finishes in second place will receive $500,000; third place will earn $300,000 and fourth will net $200,000.

The money will be as follows, source told @TheFieldOf68 :

Winner: 1 million
2nd place: $500,000
3rd place: $300,000
4th place: $200,000 https://t.co/dvjis1t2V9

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 14, 2025

Gonzaga’s nonconference schedule includes seven opponents that qualified for the 2025 NCAA Tournament: Oklahoma (Nov. 8 at Spokane Arena), Creighton (Nov. 11 at the Kennel), Kentucky (Dec. 5 in Nashville, Tennessee), UCLA (Dec. 13 in Seattle), Baylor (TBD), Alabama (Nov. 24) and Maryland (Nov. 25). Additionally, those seven teams makeJon Rothstein’s top 45 rankings of the offseason.

All times PST

Monday, Nov. 24
Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 10 a.m.
Baylor vs. Creighton, 11 a.m.
Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 12:30 p.m.
St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 1:30 p.m.
Houston vs. Syracuse, 3 p.m.
Oregon vs. Auburn, 5 p.m.
Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 6:30 p.m.
Michigan vs. San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.
Maryland vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 25
Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 10 a.m.
Iowa State vs. Creighton, 11:30 a.m.
Kansas vs. Syracuse, 12:30 p.m
St. John’s vs. Baylor, 2 p.m.
Houston vs. Tennessee, 3 p.m.
Michigan vs. Auburn, 5:30 p.m.
Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 6:30 p.m.
Oregon vs. San Diego State, 8 p.m.
Alabama vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26
Third-place game, 4 p.m. PST
Championship game, 6:30 p.m. PST

MORE GONZAGA NEWS & ANALYSIS

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Transfer Portal Softball Tracker – Cu Independent

Every year after the softball season ends, lots of players decide to leave their current teams and look for new ones. Maybe your team’s best pitcher will join a rival. Or maybe the hitter who gave you trouble last season might become your new teammate. Thanks to big NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Every year after the softball season ends, lots of players decide to leave their current teams and look for new ones.

Maybe your team’s best pitcher will join a rival. Or maybe the hitter who gave you trouble last season might become your new teammate.

Thanks to big NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and players moving closer to home, the transfer portal has turned softball into a busy, year-round event.

Here, we will share the biggest player moves, top names still available, and how this new system is changing the way college softball operates.

What is the Transfer Portal?

The NCAA Transfer Portal, launched in October 2018, has revolutionized the process by which student-athletes transfer to a new school.

For softball players, it serves as a centralized database where athletes can enter their information and make themselves available to other programs.

The process works in several key steps:

A player notifies their school’s compliance office of their intention to transfer.
The school enters the player’s information into the portal within two business days.
Once in the portal, coaches from other schools can contact the player.
The player can then evaluate opportunities and commit to a new program.

As of April 2024, significant rule changes have made transferring more accessible than ever.

The NCAA has eliminated restrictions on the number of transfers academically eligible athletes can make during their college careers, removing the requirement to sit out a year for multiple transfers.

For softball specifically, the transfer windows for the 2025-2026 season will open after the regular season and last 30 days. Graduate transfers can enter the portal at any time.

Latest Transfer Portal Listings

Here are some of the most notable players currently in the 2025 softball transfer portal:

Player Name	Position	School	Notable Achievements
Maya Johnson	Pitcher	Belmont	2024 All-American, looking for a Power Five opportunity
Desirae Spearman	Pitcher	New Mexico State	Conference USA Player of the Year, in high demand
Arianna Rodi	Infielder	UMass	Power hitter with two years of eligibility left
Ruby Meylan	Pitcher	Washington	Former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
NiJaree Canady	Pitcher	Stanford	National Player of the Year finalist

Recent Transfer Portal Commitments

Several major commitments have already shaped the 2025 softball landscape:

CeCe Cellura to LSU: The former San Diego State pitcher committed to the Tigers on May 26, 2025, bringing elite talent to an SEC powerhouse.
Ella Harrison to Auburn: Another pitcher on the move, Harrison leaves Rutgers to join the competitive SEC at Auburn, also committing on May 26, 2025.
New Mexico State’s Portal Success: The Aggies have been particularly active, securing nine incoming transfers to bolster their roster after a 30-win 2024 campaign.

These moves highlight how programs are increasingly relying on transfers to fill immediate needs rather than waiting for freshman development.

The immediacy of impact has made transfer recruiting a top priority for coaching staffs across the nation.

Rising Programs to Watch Out!

Several college softball programs have made strategic moves in the transfer portal, utilizing it to increase their competitiveness and improve their performance.

Texas Tech made a significant splash by landing Ni’Jaree Canady, considered one of the nation’s top pitchers, with a stellar 0.73 ERA and 337 strikeouts last season, which immediately positions the Red Raiders as a serious contender.
Nebraska, although not historically a softball powerhouse, has proven its ability to attract top talent through the transfer portal, helping to improve the program’s status.
Oklahoma State, with a series of key power-conference transfers, including Ruby Meylan, is setting itself up as a new standard in the Big 12, showcasing the potential of the transfer portal to take a team from good to great.

These programs highlight how strategic portal use can accelerate rebuilding and increase a team’s performance.

Resources for Tracking Transfer Portal Activity

If you want to stay up-to-date, here are some of the best places for real-time transfer news:

For more details, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Deadlines for Entering the Softball Transfer Portal?

Yes. There are sport-specific windows when athletes can enter the portal. Graduate transfers have more flexibility and can join at any time, but undergraduates must follow the designated transfer window for their sport.

Do Transfer Rules Differ Between NCAA Divisions?

Yes, while the general process is similar, some details, such as academic standards and scholarship rules, can vary between Division I, II, and III.

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Johnny Manziel thinks he would have stayed in college over the NFL ‘no matter what’ with NIL

Johnny Manziel truly believes he would’ve stayed in college football at Texas A&M in the NIL era, rather than go to the NFL as early as he did. Following two years as a starter, Manziel declared for the NFL Draft and was a first round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. However, his NFL […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Johnny Manziel truly believes he would’ve stayed in college football at Texas A&M in the NIL era, rather than go to the NFL as early as he did. Following two years as a starter, Manziel declared for the NFL Draft and was a first round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

However, his NFL career quickly flamed out and he had stints in the CFL a few years later, as well as Fan Controlled Football, an arena league. But, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been open and honest about his post-collegiate struggles on and off the field but has his moments where it’s fun to play the hypothetical game.

Just imagine Manziel, at the peak of his collegiate powers, rolling in the NIL dollars. And then coming back to Texas A&M on top of it? Oh man.

“I mean, I think no matter what, being in the NIL era, if that would have, you know, been the equivalent of 2013, I would have stayed no matter what,” Manziel said on Always College Football. “Just because, you know, a couple million bucks in College Station goes a really, really long way. And, you go to the NFL, or a first round pick, you know, you sign for $10 million or whatever it is, you know, that’s the two years that I had remaining at Texas A&M, to be able to make (that) through NIL. So I think, for me, when I think back about it now, I definitely, if there would have been any real money involved, I definitely would have stayed no matter what.”

This isn’t the first time Manziel alluded to more time in College Station. He spoke to fellow Heisman winner Matt Leinart about the topic back in December with NIL being such commonplace across college athletics.

“Yeah, I think so, just because, I mean, you know, you get into your rookie contract if you’re not taken high enough, I mean, you know, I could have stayed two more years in college and probably made what I made throughout the four years of your NFL deal for the most part,” Manziel said. “So I think it would have given me the opportunity to still be at a place today and then like that, be able to make money and be able to, you know, still continue to go play the college football life. It’s tough for me looking back, having left two years of eligibility on a table.”

Manziel burst onto the college football scene in 2012 when he became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy. That year, he threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns to help the Aggies to an 11-2 record.

Along the way, he set multiple records, including one against Arkansas when he had 557 yards of total offense. That broke Archie Manning’s record, and Manziel broke his own mark just two games later with 576 yards of offense in a single game. As a redshirt sophomore in 2013, Manziel threw for 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns as he finished fifth in the Heisman voting.

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