Patrick Mahomes Gets Honest About Eli Manning’s Hot Take on NIL: “You’re Bringing So Much Money to the University”
Some college sports fans will tell you that they support the concept of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Others will tell you that true amateurism should have remained the standard in collegiate athletics. And there are plenty of people, athletic background or not, on both sides of the aisle. Take Eli Manning. In May 2024, […]
Some college sports fans will tell you that they support the concept of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Others will tell you that true amateurism should have remained the standard in collegiate athletics. And there are plenty of people, athletic background or not, on both sides of the aisle.
Take Eli Manning. In May 2024, he teamed with Jaxson Dart to raise money for his alma mater’s NIL collective. His general feeling on NIL when it was first introduced, though, paints a picture opposite to that of his future partnership.
“I know how immature I was at 20 years old and I wouldn’t have spent it the right ways. It scares me from that perspective, it scares me from chemistry of the locker room with some guys getting endorsements and if they’re not playing well, how his teammates will handle that.”
Manning has every right to change his mind, especially after experiencing three seasons with NIL. His adaptation of his mindset demonstrates an understanding of the nuance required for NIL debates.
When discussing NIL as a whole, you can’t limit the conversation to future NFL and NBA stars. There are thousands of players in countless other sports, not to mention football and basketball themselves, that will never get professional contracts, let alone generational wealth.
This is why Patrick Mahomes told CNBC’s Alex Sherman that NIL is a boon for college athletics.
“At the end of the day, I think it’s a good thing that players are getting paid. I mean… you’re bringing so much money to a university. There has to be a way that you can earn a profit. It doesn’t have to be a huge profit… it’s cool to see people that might not have the ability to earn this money at any other point of their life… being able to change their families.”
Non-athletes can use their talents to generate revenue while in college. Prior to NIL, universities saw immediate returns on a team’s hard work while the athletes pocketed nothing.
It wasn’t fair to the players. NIL took some of that power and redistributed it to them. So it’s good that Mahomes and others are recognizing that NIL’s main mission is being accomplished.
By Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Trucks.com, AutomotiveMap, and American City Business Journals. Eileen is an alumna of Pennsylvania State University and the State University of New York at Buffalo. Writers Page Eileen Falkenberg-Hull Senior Editor, Autos […]
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Trucks.com, AutomotiveMap, and American City Business Journals. Eileen is an alumna of Pennsylvania State University and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Portrait of Alysha Newman
Portrait of Alysha Newman
ILICH MEJIA
Olympic pole vaulter Alysha Newman is taking control of her athletic career with the help of OnlyFans—which has become a means for professional sportswomen to find their voice, establish their personal brand and fund their dreams.
The platform may be more popularly known for its links to pornography, but it has gained a reputation for empowering content creators to craft personalized photos, videos and messages; interact directly with fans; and receive monetary compensation.
“I wanted full control over my image, my brand, and how I connect with fans. OnlyFans gave me that autonomy,” Newman, who won bronze in the 2024 Summer Olympics and holds Canadian national and Commonwealth Games records, told Newsweek. “For years, athletes, especially women, have been told how to present themselves. I wanted to flip that narrative and own it. It’s not just a platform for content, it’s a platform for independence.”
Alysha Newman of Team Canada competes in the Women’s Pole Vault Final on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 07, 2024 in Paris, France. Alysha Newman of Team Canada competes in the Women’s Pole Vault Final on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 07, 2024 in Paris, France. Cameron Spencer/Getty
Athletes give their all in competition, but many quit before achieving as much success as they could have because they cannot afford to keep going. Experts have estimated that it can cost an athlete training for the Olympic Games around $100,000 per year for coaching alone. They also have to make time to train, narrowing job options.
Those competing in the world’s more popular sports often have an easier time finding sponsorship. Men’s sports tend to be better funded, with high-dollar broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals feeding their leagues and competitions. Plus, a larger audience translates to higher merchandise sales.
While countries such as the United States have passed laws (Title IX) creating a legal equal playing field for opportunity, the reality is less than ideal. Enter OnlyFans. Some female athletes showcase their bodies in sexual imagery on the digital platform, but others are leaving all their clothes on. For many, content varies and lives alongside the ability for fans to access training plans, get insight on the athlete’s training schedule and learn about their charitable endeavors.
Sharing the Highs and Lows
“I create a wide range of content, and it’s been really refreshing to share more than just diving—or at least more than just the highlight,” Ellie Smart, a Red Bull cliff diving athlete, told Newsweek. “There’s so much that goes into my career behind the scenes: the highs and lows, the joy, the setbacks, the hustle. Sharing all of it—not just the polished moments—has made the experience feel more real, and honestly, more fulfilling.”
Ellie Smart, a Red Bull cliff diving athlete. Ellie Smart, a Red Bull cliff diving athlete. Red Bull Media
Newman said of her content: “It’s authentic, confident, and curated by me. I share behind-the-scenes moments, athletic lifestyle content, training previews, travel diaries and, yes, glam content that highlights strength and femininity. It’s a full spectrum of who I am, unapologetically.”
The platform’s terms of service allow content creators more freedoms than social media, for example. “There were a lot of reasons behind my decision to start an OnlyFans. At my core, I’ve always been drawn to creativity, pushing boundaries and finding new ways to innovate—especially within my sport. OnlyFans gives me the freedom to do that on my own terms,” Smart said.
“Platforms like TikTok have flagged and removed some of my dive videos for so-called ‘nudity’ or even ‘suicidal behavior,’ which is not only frustrating but also completely misunderstands the athleticism and skill behind what I do,” she continued.
“At the same time, I’ve seen my viral dives shared across major social media pages that profit off the content—while I get nothing in return. That just doesn’t feel fair. OnlyFans gives me control. I can monetize my content if I choose to (my main page is currently free) and, more importantly, I can post what I want without worrying about it getting taken down, misrepresented, or exploited for someone else’s gain. It’s about creative ownership, respect for my work and having a platform that actually supports the direction I want to go.”
Ellie Smart prepares for a dive. Ellie Smart prepares for a dive. Red Bull Media
The money raised from their presence on the platform allows them to be pickier about other sponsorship deals and makes them less reliant on those contracts. That independence is flipping the traditional marketing equation for female athletes.
“Financial independence is power and it’s helped me make smarter business moves and reinvest in my athletic goals and personal brand,” Newman said.
Image Control
Working on their own platform also means athletes can express themselves in ways that are true and comfortable to them, on their terms.
“As an athlete, we are expected to be ‘female athletes.’ This means we can’t own our power. Confidence, in any aspect, is shamed. If I know I’m going to win, I’m going to say it,” Sabrina Stanley, a professional ultrarunner, told Newsweek. “In relation to confidence, women are asked to wear tiny shorts and sports bras but not lean into this image too hard. The industry can sexualize our bodies and make money off our images, but if the athlete takes the power and sexualizes herself, there is an issue.
Professional ultrarunner Sabrina Stanley running through mountain terrain. Professional ultrarunner Sabrina Stanley running through mountain terrain. Ri Ganey
“Men can be more forthcoming, revealing skin, and it is viewed as an athletic body, a powerful runner. As a female, I don’t feel it is acceptable for me to present in the same way. With OnlyFans, I can say, ‘Look at the work I’ve put in. This is my body; I’m proud, and I’ll make money off it, not the industry,'” she said.
Reliance on sponsor contracts can be difficult for athletes performing at the top of their game, and even harder for those who haven’t peaked yet or are nearing retirement age.
“The hardships I have encountered are injuries, the pressure to always perform, often [being] very lonely due to it being an individual sport and while managing things like funding, sponsorships and being under the public eye all at once. You feel completely respected when you’re winning and [there’s] no one to be seen when you aren’t,” Newman said.
While the athletes may see OnlyFans content as a means to an end, they are still in business, creating a brand and working to gain a following. This means they need to deliver content that their subscribers want. “They love the duality. The Olympian-meets-beauty, bold and feminine energy. One day it’s training footage, the next it’s a red-carpet moment or even asking fans what I look better in. I’ve learned to give them that balance: performance and polish. But I always lead with what feels authentic. My community supports me because they know it’s real,” Newman said.
Despite the realness, there is still a stigma surrounding female nudity and OnlyFans content. And there’s the matter of telling loved ones, friends and potential romantic partners about having an account. “My friends and family were nothing but supportive. They reminded me that I’ve worked incredibly hard to build a unique career and that there’s nothing wrong with owning that and creating space to share it on my own terms,” Smart said.
Newman echoed this: “My friends and family thought it was one of the smartest ideas I’ve ever had. They recognized really quickly how amateur athletes were undervalued and never seen.”
Stanley said: “There are a lot of people out there who don’t fully understand what OnlyFans is…. A man running up a mountain without a shirt on doesn’t make him less respected, nor should it for a woman.
Sabrina Stanley during an outdoor adventure in the mountains. Sabrina Stanley during an outdoor adventure in the mountains. Ri Ganey
“I desecrate my body to run 100 miles, and no one has ever told me to stop, to treat my body with more respect. But if I show a little nudity? I should be honoring my body more? If showing my physique overshadows my accomplishments, that is coming from someone who has no idea what it means to race 100 miles—I don’t have time for that.”
Frequently, athletes are sponsored by athleticwear brands. OnlyFans frees them of obligations to those companies. “I can pick the best running pack, rain jacket, shoes, poles…anything. Then I can be 100 percent honest with my audience about my experience with that gear without feeling like I am a snake oil salesman. This is how I wish all athletes could communicate with their audience,” Stanley said.
Gaining Confidence
For some athletes, OnlyFans hasn’t just changed their ability to be successful, it has also altered their lives in more impactful ways. “One of the most surprising and powerful things to come from joining OnlyFans has been the confidence I’ve gained in myself. I didn’t expect it, but it’s made me feel more empowered and in control of my image, my narrative and my life than ever before,” Smart said.
Canada’s Alysha Newman on the podium for the women’s pole vault final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 8, 2024, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. Canada’s Alysha Newman on the podium for the women’s pole vault final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 8, 2024, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty
“That sense of ownership—over my body, my work and how I share myself with the world—has been the most positive and unexpected shift in this whole journey.”
Slate, Stanley and Newman have their athletic endeavors sponsored by OnlyFans as part of the company’s marketing plan.
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CBS Sports releases Preseason Top 25 ahead of 2025 college football season
The 2025 college football season is just a few weeks away. Ahead of that, CBS Sports has released its Preseason Top 25 rankings. A Preseason Top 25 ranking can be a thankless task. Particularly, in the modern era of player movement, it’s difficult to tell exactly how any individual team will perform. After all, there […]
The 2025 college football season is just a few weeks away. Ahead of that, CBS Sports has released its Preseason Top 25 rankings.
A Preseason Top 25 ranking can be a thankless task. Particularly, in the modern era of player movement, it’s difficult to tell exactly how any individual team will perform. After all, there are times when transfers don’t work out and times when they do so better than anyone expected. There is also still some time in Fall Camp before the season begins, and some teams, even highly ranked ones, have questions to answer before toe meets leather.
For CBS Sports’ Preseason Top 25, voters came together to rank every team, through 136, in FBS football. That should give some consensus to who made it to the Top 25, as can be seen below.
The Texas Longhorns came up just short in 2024, falling in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. It was the second year in a row the Longhorns had their season end at the semifinal. Now, with CBS Sports ranking them first in their Preseason Top 25, Texas will hope to compete for a national championship this season.
This season, Texas is going to be led by Arch Manning at quarterback. There’s a ton of excitement around him, which has, at times, overshadowed the talent around him. Regardless, Texas has a ton of talent, and if Manning reaches the expectations on his shoulders, then there’s no reason why the Longhorns won’t be back in the Playoff.
The Penn State Nittany Lions mascot and cheer team take the field before the Penn State Spring Football Game at Beaver Stadium on April 15, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
In 2024, Penn State made its first ever trip to the College Football Playoff. There, the Nittany Lions would fall in the semifinal. However, with several key players, including their entire backfield, coming back, the Nittany Lions have high hopes.
CBS Sports has Penn State coming in second in their Preseason Top 25 rankings. They’re coming into the year with seniors at quarterback and running back. The Nittany Lions have once again reloaded on defense. In fact, the only major question for Penn State to answer is at the wide receiver position.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off a national championship season. It’s easy to go into the next season with a bit of a championship hangover, but head coach Ryan Day is hoping to avoid that. If they can live up to this preseason ranking, then Ohio State will be in a good spot to make the College Football Playoff once again.
Like many national championship-winning teams, Ohio State is dealing with a lot of roster turnover. The NFL took its share of starters from last season, which will always lead to some question marks. The biggest of those is at quarterback, and figuring those out is going to be vital.
The Clemson Tigers clock in as the top-ranked ACC team in the CBS Sports Preseason Top 25. This comes a year after they were able to make it to the College Football Playoff as ACC Champions. Now, there are once again expectations that Clemson can compete for a national championship.
Much of the excitement around Clemson comes from its experience. The Tigers are a veteran team full of players who look to have NFL futures. Importantly, that also includes quarterback Cade Klubnik, who hopes to prove he’s one of the best in the country.
Georgia students and mascot during the Bulldogs’ win over Tennessee Saturday night, November 17th (Photo: Conor Dillon / UGA Sports Communications)
The Georgia Bulldogs won two national championships in a row from 2021 to 2022. In the two years since then, the Bulldogs have been knocking on the door but failed to get back to those heights. Now, they want to find that national success in the era of the expanded College Football Playoff.
Like many schools, quarterback is the major concern for Georgia going into next season. Carson Beck left following the end of last season, leaving some questions about how Gunner Stockton is going to handle being the starting quarterback in Athens. If he can hit the ground running, there’s plenty of talent around him to thrive.
Amid a series of injuries, Notre Dame made a great run in the College Football Playoff. That included three massive postseason wins before falling in the national championship game to Ohio State. Still, it made it clear that the Irish are legit under Marcus Freeman and deserving of the Preseason AP Top 25 ranking.
Notre Dame comes into the 2025 season with a quarterback battle. That hasn’t been decided just yet. However, it is clear that the Irish have talent all over the field and, under Freeman, the expectations will always be high for their defense.
The Oregon Ducks had a massive year in 2024. They burst into the Big Ten, going unbeaten in the regular season and winning the conference. However, that was followed up by a College Football Playoff run that only lasted a game. Now, the Ducks want to rectify that.
Dante Moore takes over at quarterback for the Ducks. He will be their third quarterback in as many seasons. The success that they’ve had in that time has been incredible. The question is now whether or not Dan Lanning can get Oregon over the hump.
Big Al (Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports)
The Alabama Crimson Tide had a bit of a letdown season in 2024. They’d fail to win double-digit games for the first time since 2007. Of course, that was Nick Saban‘s first season, and now, going into Kalen DeBoer‘s second season, the Preseason Top 25 rankings again have high expectations for Alabama.
There is tons of talent on Alabama, as is often the case. The Crimson Tide are also dealing with a quarterback battle, though. Ty Simpson is expected to win that. Regardless of who wins it, though, they’ll need to be comfortable in DeBoer’s offense moving forward.
Expectations are always high for the LSU Tigers. Going into 2025 is no different. However, for head coach Brian Kelly, after not making the College Football Playoff in his previous three seasons with the program, there is some pressure to get there this season.
LSU has the weapons to get there too. Garrett Nussmeier is widely regarded as a future first round pick at quarterback. Then, the rest of the roster is littered with stars, like Harold Perkins. This could be a special year in Baton Rouge.
The Miami Hurricanes were just on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff last season. That was with the future first overall pick at quarterback. Now, head coach Mario Cristobal wants to take another leap forward and get there.
This offseason, the first order of business was to find a replacement for Cam Ward. Miami dipped into the Transfer Portal and ended up with former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. It’s safe to say how well that move works out is going to be key in determining what kind of season the Hurricanes are able to put together.
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The first official preseason poll of the 2025 college football season was released Monday with USA Today’s Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 poll, in which even the coaches believe Texas is back as a perennial national championship contender. The Associated Press’ Top 25 preseason poll, as voted on by the media, is expected to be released […]
The first official preseason poll of the 2025 college football season was released Monday with USA Today’s Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 poll, in which even the coaches believe Texas is back as a perennial national championship contender. The Associated Press’ Top 25 preseason poll, as voted on by the media, is expected to be released next week.
In the meantime, the oddsmakers at BetMGM have shaken things up a bit with its latest 2025 National Championship odds, which tend to mostly mirror USA Today’s Preseason Top 25 poll with a few exceptions. Much like the college football coaches, BetMGM’s oddsmakers are all-in on the Longhorns to finally break through and win its first national title in 20 years.
Of course, there’s still plenty of love for reigning national champion Ohio State as well as the sport’s last back-to-back champ in Georgia (2021-22) and the Big Ten team with a loaded roster that could rival last year’s Buckeyes in Penn State.
The Longhorns are the only college football team to make the last two CFP national semifinals and is the slight odds-on favorite to win it all in 2025, according to the BetMGM oddsmakers.
Certainly helping matters is the overwhelming hype surrounding new QB1 Arch Manning, who finally takes over as Texas’ new sheriff in town after two seasons playing behind Quinn Ewers. The ‘Horns also return one of the game’s most talented defenses with senior linebacker Anthony Hill and sophomore pass rusher Colin Simmons leading the way.
(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The defending champion Buckeyes land just behind Texas as one of college football’s leading favorites to run it back in 2025 after sweeping College Football Playoffs‘ first 12-team field in 2024.
Of course, those favorable odds take into account Ohio State’s offseason talent overhaul after a multitude of 2024 contributors graduated and/or left for the NFL — including OC Chip Kelly. But don’t discount the impact of superstar sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith and All-American junior safety Caleb Downs, even as the Buckeyes break in a new starting QB in 2025.
The BetMGM oddsmakers are still believers in the Bulldogs as serious national champion contenders two years removed from winning back-to-back CFP national titles in 2021-22.
Like several others on this list, Georgia will break in a new starting quarterback this season as Gunner Stockton is slated to take over for Carson Beck (Miami) behind center in Athens. Despite the changeover at QB, the Bulldogs also return a mostly intact offense that received a nice boost out of the transfer portal with the WR additions of Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas.
With returning senior QB Drew Allar and two 1,000-yard RBs in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the 2025 Nittany Lions are absolutely loaded with talent this season — on both sides of the ball.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was at Ohio State last season, will also have plenty to work with in senior pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton and junior linebacker Amare Campbell, as well as junior corner A.J. Harris. If veteran Penn State coach James Franklin can finally put it all together, 2025 very well could be the Nittany Lions’ season.
(Grace Smith-Indianapolis Star/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The Ducks certainly looked the part of a national championship contender as it rolled through the 2024 regular-season as the sport’s lone undefeated program, including winning the Big Ten in its first season.
But like many on this list, Oregon will be led by a new starting QB this season in Dante Moore, a former five-star transfer from UCLA that redshirted behind Dillon Gabriel last season. Of course, the Ducks enter Year 4 under head coach Dan Lanning, who’s improved Oregon’s record each of his first three seasons in Eugene, going from 10 wins in 2022 to a 13-1 mark in 2024. All that’s left is winning it all.
Much like the Nittany Lions, Clemson returns a majority of a roster that won the ACC last season and made its first CFP appearance since 2020.
Leading that charge is senior quarterback Cade Klubnik, who returns for his third season as the Tigers’ QB1, as well as a litany of talent on both sides of the ball. Defensively, new Clemson DC Tom Allen has plenty to work with this season, led by a pair of potential 2026 Top 5 draft picks on its DL in T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. Add in the game’s deepest WR room and the Tigers are clear title contenders.
BetMGM oddsmakers deliver their first big jump beyond its Top 6 leaders with the defending national champion runner-up Fighting Irish leading the second-tier of championship contenders in 2025.
Much of that hype is likely centered around a mostly veteran roster that’s led by junior RB Jeremiyah Love, who rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Like others on this list, Notre Dame will be led by a new QB1 this season, with redshirt freshman CJ Carr as the favorite coming out of Spring. Still, Marcus Freeman’s Irish are once again loaded for another title game run in 2025.
(Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)
Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer ere is here as the man that replaced Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa continues to implement his own unique style with an absolutely loaded Crimson Tide roster in 2025.
That includes what is arguably college football’s most experienced and talented defense that returns senior LBs Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson as well as senior DLs Tim Keenan III and LT Overton. Add to that a talented WR room led by star sophomore Ryan Williams and senior Germie Bernard, likely new QB1 Ty Simpson will have plenty of weapons to utilize this season.
The Tigers enter Year 4 under head coach Brian Kelly still seeking to re-establish itself as a perennial national championship contender since its last title in 2019.
LSU’s championship hopes in 2025 are certainly boosted by the return of senior QB1 Garrett Nussmeier, a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite as the SEC’s top returning passer after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 2024. The Tigers also feature a veteran defense led by former five-star pass rusher Harold Perkins and linebacker Whit Weeks.
BetMGM’s national champion odds take another massive jump beyond its Top 9 with 1,000-point bump for a trio of up-and-coming contenders that are likely still a year or two away from contending.
The 2023 champions enter Year 2 under Sherrone Moore with plenty of preseason hype, much of it centered squarely around superstar freshman QB Bryce Underwood, the 2025 No. 1 overall recruit. If Underwood can live up to the hype and give Michigan what it sorely lacked last season with a true playmaker at QB, the Wolverines could certainly make a championship case this season.
(Ole Miss athletics)
Like others on this list, Lane Kiffin and the Rebels will debut a talented but unproven new starting QB in redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons, who replaces Ole Miss’ all-time leading passer Jaxson Dart.
If Simmons can build upon what he did last year while playing behind Dart, the rebuilt Rebels added enough elite talent out of the NCAA Transfer Portal that they’ll once again challenge for a trip to Atlanta for the SEC championship as well as a potential Playoff appearance after barely missing out a year ago.
The Gators get the final nod among BetMGM’s Top 10 — or Top 12 with ties — due in large part to the potential surrounding uber-talented sophomore QB DJ Lagway.
Lagway certainly lived up to his own hype as the 2024 No. 1 overall recruit and effectively saved the job of Florida head coach Billy Napier by leading the Gators to a 6-1 record in seven starts last season. If Lagway can stay healthy — hardly a guarantee given an injury-plagued offseason — Florida certainly has the talent to challenge some of the SEC powers ahead on this list.
BetMGM’s latest 2025 National Championship odds for 13-26:
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — After an off day on Monday, the Eagles kicked off week two of Training Camp when they returned to practice on Tuesday morning. The energy was palpable on the practice fields outside Fish Field House, where spirited one-on-one battles took place between the offensive and defensive lines, as well as with […]
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — After an off day on Monday, the Eagles kicked off week two of Training Camp when they returned to practice on Tuesday morning.
The energy was palpable on the practice fields outside Fish Field House, where spirited one-on-one battles took place between the offensive and defensive lines, as well as with the wide receivers and defensive backs.
After practice, Head Coach Bill O’Brien met with the media, as well as offensive lineman Eryx Daugherty and defensive back Cam Martinez.
It didn’t take long for the defense to get going on Tuesday, as linebacker Bam Crouch intercepted a tipped ball on the first pass from competitive team periods. The veteran defensive back Martinez likes what he’s seen so far.
“I think we’re off to the right start. This is really about elevating how we can become better every day, taking it one day at a time. We’ve been doing really well so far, and I feel really good about the group we have.”
The offense would soon settle in after several tough, physical runs from Jordan McDonald and Alex Broome. For offensive lineman Eryx Daugherty, the mission is clear up front.
“We love our running backs. All of our running backs are agile. They can run, they’re good in space. They run over people, they run through people, they run around people… We’re focused on getting them lanes, getting them holes and alleyways for them to run and make plays.”
The wide receivers continued to make their presence felt, including an unsung veteran, redshirt senior Luke McLaughlin.
“I made an example of Luke in the team meeting the other day. He’s a great example of the role player that you’re looking for. Really good on special teams, got a good role on offense, and a guy that probably is going to play more than he did last year. He had a good day today. He’s a great kid. He’s a BC guy, practices hard, in great condition, does everything the right way. Can’t say enough about Luke McLaughlin. He’s awesome,” said Head Coach Bill O’Brien.
The Eagles will return to the practice field tomorrow morning before another off day on Thursday. Practices are closed to the public.
Peacock to broadcast 20 Big 12 men’s basketball games through sublicense deal
Big 12 basketball is coming to Peacock. The conference is entering a multi-year agreement with NBC to stream games on the platform, the two sides announced Tuesday. Peacock is set to air 20 Big 12 men’s basketball games this season, according to the announcement. The partnership came about through a sublicense deal between NBC and […]
Big 12 basketball is coming to Peacock. The conference is entering a multi-year agreement with NBC to stream games on the platform, the two sides announced Tuesday.
Peacock is set to air 20 Big 12 men’s basketball games this season, according to the announcement. The partnership came about through a sublicense deal between NBC and FOX Sports, Sports Business Journal’s Ben Portnoy reported. FOX and ESPN are the Big 12’s two primary media partners.
The full schedule of games is not yet available. However, NBC said it would include both conference and non-conference games.
“The Big 12 is thrilled to partner with NBC Sports and Peacock as we continue to expand access and coverage of Big 12 men’s basketball,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark in a statement. “Alongside our portfolio of existing media partners, NBC Sports and Peacock will provide our league with unprecedented promotion and storytelling.”
Big 12 basketball will also air on TNT Sports as part of a settlement which will see Inside The NBA move to ESPN through a sublicense deal. ESPN will also sublicense games to CBS through a deal that runs through 2027 – meaning the Big 12’s reach includes FOX, ESPN, NBC, CBS and TNT Sports.
“The Big 12 is one of the most successful conferences in college basketball, enjoying a recent run of excellence on top of a storied history for many of its prestigious programs,” said Rick Cordella, president of NBC Sports, in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with the Big 12 to showcase its top-tier college basketball players, teams, and rivalries, and promoting our slate of men’s games on Peacock alongside NBC Sports’ extensive portfolio of college sports and world-class events.”
Peacock continues to grow sports presence
Peacock has become a key player in the media rights space, including at the college level. Notre Dame football airs an exclusive game on the platform while the Big Ten airs nearly 200 men’s and women’s basketball games. Additionally, as part of the Big Ten’s media rights deal with NBC, conference football games also air on Peacock.
The Big East also has a deal in place with NBC to stream games on Peacock. It’s part of NBC’s investment in the basketball space, which includes being part of the new NBA and WNBA media rights deals.
NBCUniversal is also considering the launch of a cable sports channel, the Wall Street Journal reported. It would carry sports primarily streamed on Peacock.
The Big 12’s media rights deal with FOX and ESPN expired last year, but Yormark negotiated shortly after he took over as commissioner. That meant a new six-year deal worth $2.28 billion took effect this year, meaning the conference secured its media partners through 2031.
