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Ranking All 18 Women's Big Ten Transfer Classes

Published

5 months ago

July 28, 2025

Ranking All 18 Women's Big Ten Transfer Classes

The skinny: Purdue may have finished in the bottom four of the Big Ten in 2024-25, but coach Katie Gearlds is bringing in the conference’s top transfer class. Feldman, Henderson and Nya Smith were mid-major stars and double-digit contributors at past stops. Feldman was a first-team All-Big Sky selection this past season, while Henderson was the SoCon’s Rookie of the Year. Kiki Smith, the 2024 NJCAA DI Women’s Player of the Year, will bring invaluable high-major experience after a breakout season at Arkansas. Daye is a well-rounded veteran after three seasons in the Big East with St. John’s. Expect Stahl to have a significant interior impact coming off a season in which she averaged 7.4 points and 7.2 rebounds.

2. Wisconsin

Incoming transfers: Shay Bollin, 6-foot-3 graduate senior forward (Illinois); Kyrah Daniels, 6-foot junior wing (Missouri State); Destiny Howell, 6-foot graduate senior wing (Howard); Gift Uchenna Okeke, 6-foot-3 senior forward (Southern Illinois); Laci Steele, 5-foot-11 junior wing (NC State); Breauna Ware, 5-foot-7 redshirt junior guard (Stony Brook).

The skinny: Wisconsin didn’t fare much better than Purdue in 2024-25, but will look to rebound with a transfer class that has the potential to help the Badgers possess one of the top offenses in the Big Ten. Uchenna Okeke was a two-way machine in the frontcourt for Southern Illinois, averaging 14.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Ware flourished at Stony Brook this past season, contributing 14.7 points per game and leading the Seawolves in three-point shooting at 35 percent. Howell was a three-time All-MEAC selection, the conference player of the year in 2022-23 and looks ready for a high-major opportunity. Daniels was key in lifting Missouri State to an MVC regular-season championship in 2024-25, averaging 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. If Bollin and Steele can prove effective high-major contributors, the Badgers will have several new offensive weapons and depth as well.

Former MEAC Player of the Year Destiny Howell joins the Badgers

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3. Rutgers

Incoming transfers: Faith Blackstone, 6-foot graduate senior guard (Stephen F. Austin); Kaylah Ivey, 5-foot-8 graduate senior guard (Boston College); Imani Lester, 6-foot-3 junior forward (Kansas State); Nene Ndiaye, 6-foot-1 junior forward (Boston College); Yacine N’Diaye, 6-foot-4 junior forward (UNC Greensboro); Lauryn Swann, 5-foot-7 sophomore guard (Arizona).

The skinny: Despite losing star freshman Kiyomi McMiller in the portal, this offseason still can be viewed as a success for Rutgers. McMiller’s production will be difficult to replace, but Blackstone is a great start. She started her career at Syracuse, but really emerged with Stephen F. Austin this past season. Swann was a Big 12 All-Freshman selection in 2024-25, averaging 8.0 points per game on 39 percent shooting from three. Expect her to see an increase in minutes with the Scarlet Knight. The Boston College duo and Lester transfer in from high majors in search of additional playing time. Lastly, N’Diaye brings size and gives Rutgers possibly the biggest frontcourt rotation in the conference to pair with its strong backcourt talent.

4. Michigan State

Incoming transfers: Jalyn Brown, 6-foot-1 senior wing (Arizona State); Marah Dykstra, 6-foot-2 senior forward (Montana State); Rashunda Jones, 5-foot-8 junior guard (Purdue).

The skinny: In addition to maintaining a core of the group that helped carry Michigan State to a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten, the Spartans added a trio of scorers. Joining former Big Ten Sixth Woman of the Year Theryn Hallock in the backcourt will be Jones, who brings Big Ten experience. As the primary ballhandler for the Boilermakers, she averaged 9.8 points and 3.7 assists per game. Dykstra is a two-time All-Big Sky selection and will pair well in the frontcourt alongside Spartans leading scorer Grace VanSlooten. But it’s Brown who has the potential to be the most impactful transfer for coach Robyn Fralick after a season in which she finished in the top 50 nationally in scoring at 18.0 points per game.

5. USC

Incoming transfers: Kara Dunn, 5-foot-11 senior guard (Georgia Tech); Londynn Jones, 5-foot-4 senior guard (UCLA); Dayana Mendes, 6-foot-3 sophomore forward (Washington State); Yakiya Milton, 6-foot-5 junior forward (Auburn).

The skinny: National Player of the Year JuJu Watkins is back for another season, and with her returning, USC is the favorite to repeat as regular-season champions. But two star seniors departed for the WNBA Draft, which left coach Lindsay Gottlieb to venture into the portal in search of veteran talent. Dunn, a two-time All-ACC selection, will help to replace some of that lost production; she was the Yellow Jackets’ leading scorer at 15.5 points per game. Jones and Mendes have shown flashes with successful programs and can be solid role players. And though Milton has yet to find her footing at the high-major level, her size and versatility can help fill a void left by the loss of Kiki Iriafen (6-foot-3) and Rayah Marshall (6-foot-4).

Londynn Jones makes the move across town to the Trojans from a Final Four program

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6. Oregon

Incoming transfers: Avary Cain, 6-foot-1 sophomore wing (UCLA); Mia Jacobs, 6-foot-2 senior forward (Fresno State); Astera Tuhina, 5-foot-9 senior guard (Washington State).

The skinny: With Oregon losing four key contributors, it was important that coach Kelly Graves be active in the portal to help rebuild this rotation. In Jacobs, the Ducks have their next star. She averaged a double-double this past season (18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds), finishing in the top 45 nationally in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles. Meanwhile, Tuhina did it all in the backcourt for Washington State: 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Cain, a former five-star recruit, needs to prove she’s a capable high-major contributor.

7. Maryland

Incoming transfers: Yarden Garzon, 6-foot-3 senior wing (Indiana); Oluchi Okananwa, 5-foot-10 junior guard (Duke).

The skinny: Following another good season under legendary coach Brenda Frese, Maryland was able to hold onto leading scorer Kaylene Smikle and build from there. The Terrapins will look for returnees down the depth chart to step up, but the two portal additions figure to be relied upon heavily. Garzon is proven at this level and averaged 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection. Okananwa racked up awards in her two seasons at Duke: She was picked to the ACC All-Freshman Team, won ACC Sixth Woman of the Year and was selected to the 2025 ACC All-Tournament team. It’s a small transfer class, and both need to produce to help maintain the program’s level of success.

8. Michigan

Incoming transfers: Kendall Dudley, 6-foot-2 sophomore forward (UCLA); Ashley Sofilkanich, 6-foot-3 junior forward (Bucknell).

The skinny: With two of the nation’s best freshmen returning in Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, coach Kim Barnes Arico added a top-10 talent from the portal. Sofilkanich dominated on both ends in the Patriot League this past season; she averaged 19.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, and was the league player of the year. She led the conference in scoring and blocked shots, and finished in the top 30 nationally in scoring. Sofilkanich also was ranked as the No. 10 player in the portal by TPR. The transition from the Patriot League to the Big Ten undoubtedly is a significant one, but Sofilkanich should have no problems given her talent. Dudley is a former five-star recruit, and if the Wolverines can unlock her talent, she’ll be an impactful addition in the frontcourt.

9. UCLA

Incoming transfers: Gianna Kneepkens, 6-foot graduate senior guard (Utah).

The skinny: UCLA lost a handful of valuable pieces to the portal, but they will be offset by the addition of Kneepkens, TPR’s top-ranked transfer. She was a first-team All-Big 12 selection who averaged 19.3 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range. She joins a Bruins roster that already boasts star center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice.

The Bruins welcome the top player in the portal class from former Pac-12 foe Utah.

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10. Nebraska

Incoming transfers: Emily Fisher, 6-foot junior wing (Maryland); Claire Johnson, 5-foot-9 sophomore guard (Samford); Eliza Maupin, 6-foot-3 senior forward (Kansas State); Hailey Weaver, 6-foot redshirt senior guard (Northwestern).

The skinny: Nebraska managed 21 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024-25, but with Alexis Markowski out of eligibility, the Huskers need several returnees to step up. If coach Amy Williams can get continued development and production from the likes of Britt Prince, Natalie Potts and Logan Nissley, the transfers can be key role players. Johnson is the strongest addition; she was a second-team All-SoCon pick as a freshman. Fisher and Maupin bring high-major experience, but will be expected to improve with an increase in minutes. Weaver joins Nebraska after a year off from basketball and is an experienced veteran and a versatile offensive piece.

11. Penn State

Incoming transfers: Amiya Evans, 6-foot-2 senior forward (Georgia); Kiyomi McMiller, 5-foot-8 sophomore guard (Rutgers).

The skinny: Penn State finished last in the Big Ten in 2024-25 and lost some talent to the portal, but the additions of McMiller and Evans mean the roster is shaping up to be vastly improved. Gracie Merkle and Moriah Murray return and will be joined by McMiller, who had a standout freshman season for Rutgers. She averaged 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 21 games. Evans is a former highly touted four-star prospect who will look to finally meet the lofty expectations set for her when she signed with Georgia.

12. Illinois

Incoming transfers: Aaliyah Guyton, 5-foot-7 sophomore guard (Iowa); Gisela Segura, 5-foot-11 graduate senior wing (Long Island); Maddie Webber, 5-foot-11 junior guard (Villanova).

The skinny: Illinois lost its top three scorers, but with a highly regarded freshman class, coach Shauna Green didn’t need to invest heavily in the portal. Webber is the standout from this transfer class; she averaged a career-high 13.3 points and was a second-team All-Big East selection. She led Villanova to the semifinals of the 2025 WBIT and is ready for a big role with a more consistent high-major program. Segura brings some versatility on the offensive end and should be a respected veteran presence in a youthful locker room. Guyton will look to find her footing after stumbling at Iowa.

Maddie Webber took Villanova to the semifinals of the WBIT.

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

13. Iowa

Incoming transfers: Emely Rodriguez, 6-foot sophomore wing (UCF); Chazadi Wright, 5-foot-4 sophomore guard (Georgia Tech).

The skinny: Though leading scorer Lucy Olsen graduated, there’s a solid returning core that led coach Jan Jensen to opt for youth from the portal. But that doesn’t mean this duo can’t have a major impact for the Hawkeyes. Rodriguez was selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman team after averaging 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. Wright started 12 games and played in 33 for an NCAA Tournament team, averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 assists. It’ll be a battle for the duo to secure consistent starter minutes, but they can help the Hawkeyes achieve another 20-win season.

14. Minnesota

Incoming transfers: Tracey Bershers, 6-foot-2 graduate senior forward (UAB); Brylee Glenn, 5-foot-10 graduate senior guard (Kansas State); Finau Tonga, 6-foot-2 graduate senior forward (San Jose State).

The skinny: Minnesota kept all three double-digit scorers from this past season and did a good job of adding to a solid core. Tonga looks the part of a serviceable Big Ten forward after averaging 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds this past season. Breshers likely will join her in the frontcourt rotation, but don’t discount her offensive profile as a 6-foot-2 forward who shot 43 percent from deep on 129 attempts in 2024-25. Glenn was competitive in her first two seasons at Kansas State. but a decline in minutes this past season saw her production decrease. Give her additional playing time and she’s a proven high-major guard, a known two-way talent and, now, an experienced veteran in Minnesota’s backcourt.

15. Washington

Incoming transfers: Yulia Grabovskaia, 6-foot-5 senior center (Michigan); Avery Howell, 6-foot sophomore guard (USC).

The skinny: Despite the return of Elle Ladine and Sayvia Sellers, the loss of 6-foot-4 senior forward Dalayah Daniels to the WNBA is a big one. To try to help replace her, the Huskies added Grabovskaia. A native of Russia, she’s steadily improved since arriving in the United States in 2023 and averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this past season. Howell, on the other hand, brings notable expectations as a former top-25 prospect. Though she didn’t quite meet those expectations as a freshman, the move to Washington offers her the opportunity to carve out a role with more consistent playing time.

16. Indiana

Incoming transfers: Jerni Kiaku, 5-foot-7 senior guard (Duquesne); Zania Socka-Nguemen, 6-foot-3 sophomore forward (UCLA); Chloe Spreen, 5-foot-10 sophomore guard (Alabama); Phoenix Stotjin, 5-foot-8 sophomore guard (Arkansas); Edessa Noyan, 6-foot-3 junior forward (Virginia).

The skinny: Indiana lost leading scorer Yarden Garzon to Maryland and didn’t do much to recoup that lost production. Kiaku averaged 13.2 points per game this past season, is a former MEAC Rookie of the Year and should slot into the starting lineup. Stotjin was productive in stretches for Arkansas and should continue to develop as a sophomore. Socks-Ngueman and Spreen struggled to get consistent playing time as freshmen even though both were top-50 prospects. Similarly, Noyan hasn’t been able to find her footing after two seasons in the high-major ranks and starting 23 games for Virginia this past season.

17. Northwestern

Incoming transfers: DaiJa Turner, 6-foot-3 redshirt senior forward (TCU); Tate Walters, 5-foot-9 graduate senior guard (Furman).

The skinny: Melannie Daley, Caileigh Walsh and Taylor Williams are gone after finishing as Northwestern’s three top contributors this past season. Walters will be asked to help fill some of that production; she was a two-time All-SoCon selection who averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 2024-25. She’ll likely slot into the starting lineup. Turner looks to be more of a depth piece after making just 35 appearances in four seasons at TCU.

Tate Walters will asked to play a big role, likely slotting into the starting lineup.

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

18. Ohio State

Incoming transfers: T’Yana Todd, 6-foot senior guard (Boston College); Kylee Kitts, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman forward (Florida).

The skinny: Cotie McMahon was lost to the portal and Taylor Thierry to the WNBA, and though co-Big Ten Rookie of the Year Jaloni Cambridge remains, this roster is worse than 2024-25’s. Todd will be tasked with picking up some of the slack; she averaged 13.7 points this past season. Kitts is an intriguing case, as she reclassified to join Florida a year early, then redshirted. With a season of Division I practice experience under her belt, she has the potential to be an impactful addition.

NIL

New college football program emerges as landing spot for Dylan Raiola

Published

24 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The arms race to sign Dylan Raiola is on, as the former Nebraska quarterback is reportedly poised to enter the college football transfer portal for the 2026 season.

A former five-star prospect, Raiola is expected to be one of the most prominent names in this year’s portal cycle, and one college football program is already interested.

Who is interested in Dylan Raiola?

Dylan Raiola has received interest from ACC hopeful Louisville, which has been in communication with the quarterback’s representatives, according to On3 Sports.

Other schools are believed to be in the mix for Raiola, but the Cardinals are actively scouting a potential replacement for Miller Moss as his college football career is coming to its conclusion after this season.

DJ Lagway, the former Florida starting quarterback who is also set to transfer in this cycle, was named a candidate for Louisville to sign in the same reporting.

A known QB developer

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm is considered one of the best quarterback coaches in the country, helping groom Tyler Shough into a draft selection, and Moss is coming off a 2,500-plus yard campaign in 2025.

And the Cardinals were said to be in the mix for Cam Ward two offseasons ago before he ultimately landed at Miami.

The program is willing to spend money at the position, handing over more than $1.5 million this season to Moss, who transferred from USC to Louisville.

What Raiola has done on the field

Raiola was in the midst of an improved second outing with Nebraska under the direction of offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen before a broken fibula limited him to just nine starts this season.

In those games, Raiola surpassed 2,000 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, and his completion mark improved from 67.1 percent as a freshman to a better 72.4 percent rate in his second year with the Cornhuskers.

How the college football transfer portal works

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a private database that includes the names of student-athletes in every sport at the Division I, II, and III levels. The full list of names is not available to the public.

A player can enter their name into the transfer portal through their school’s compliance office.

Once a player gives written notification of their intent to transfer, the office puts the player’s name into the database, and they officially become a transfer.

The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and NCAA rules forbid anyone from refusing that request.

The database includes the player’s name, contact information, info on whether the player was on scholarship, and if he is a graduate student.

Once a player’s name appears in the transfer portal database, other schools are free to contact the player, who can change his mind at any point in the process and withdraw from the transfer portal.

Notably, once a player enters the portal, his school no longer has to honor the athletic scholarship it gave him.

And if that player decides to leave the portal and return to his original school, the school doesn’t have to give him another scholarship.

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Why the NIL era will continue to force more QB transfers

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

College Football Enquirer co-hosts Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss the decisions by Dylan Raiola and DJ Lagway to enter the transfer portal and why the moves are a sign of more to come when quarterbacks are paid highly but don’t meet expectations on the field. Check out the full conversation on the “College Football Enquirer” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

I do think we’re seeing something a bit different now.

And we started to see it last year, but Ross brought it up with the Royala situation.

I talked about it with the Lagway situation.

These guys are established starters.

Who, if one had a coaching change, that adds something to it, But the other didn’t have a coaching change.

But neither of them lived up to their lofty expectations or lofty paycheck, And I do the latter, right.

And I do wonder until there’s a CBA and you have binding contracts both ways.

I don’t know that we’re gonna see, like, you gonna have to really earn and kind of sing for Your supper as a QB.

You’re gonna have to earn it, or you’re gonna have to be drastically underpaid.

Threatened to leave, then got overpaid.

So basically, if you’re a successful quarterback in a three-year span, you’re constantly Renegotiating: correct if you’re at one institution, yes.

You’d better be good enough to justify your price point or willing to take a cut.

That is the that’s the conundrum there and you can price yourself out of market Well.

And that’s, that’s the other thing people Need to be careful.

That’s what they, you know, We talk about a truly free market, and thats kind of what This is.

This is a truly free market, but there’s always An upper boundary.

It’s interesting how these things are going now to be handled financially in the offseason.

If there can be any stability, um, as you are performing at or above Expectation as a quarterback, because otherwise wethis is probably going to be the norm.

We’re probably gonna have a Black Monday type situation.

Every December, in the quarterback free agency market, if we don’t get a little more guard, A little more guardrails around that, yeah, until some kind of, you know, Bargaining agreement in more binding contracts are, uh, Uh, come to college football, which doesn’t sound like it’s anytime soon, Although, because of failures in Congress, the CSC participation agreement, I think there’s more, more than not, and this is something that was a topic in Las Vegas last Week, uh, um, is, yeah, more, more talk about, Well, what other options do we have?

Which is really just one other option.

Remember, coaches have always cut loose QBs.

They didn’t want it.

That’s always happened.

Yeah, runoff was like a common verb when coaches talked off the record about How they were gonna handle their roster.

We’re running that guy off.

So this is, if anything, a new market that gives at least these guys a little bit of cash first They get it before they go out the door.

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Ohio State QB Julian Sayin makes NIL announcement before College Football Playoff

Published

2 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Julian Sayin is steering Ohio State toward a national championship run with one of the most loaded rosters in college football. The Buckeyes secured the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff despite stumbling against Indiana in the Big Ten title game.

That loss stung, but it did not derail their season. Ohio State still earned a first-round bye alongside Indiana, Texas Tech, and Georgia.

MORE: Florida quarterback DJ Lagway announces transfer portal decision

While the team enjoyed some extra rest before the postseason grind begins, Sayin grabbed attention off the field. He announced a new NIL partnership with Wingstop and Dr Pepper, posting the news himself.

“Postseason calls for big plays with @drpepper and @wingstop, had to get the play card out,” Sayin wrote.

The deal adds to an already impressive NIL portfolio. Sayin previously signed with The Foundation, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and JLab Audio. His current NIL valuation sits at $2.5 million, according to On3.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin talks to media following the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.

Sayin’s path to Columbus took a detour through Tuscaloosa first. After a brief stint with Alabama, he flipped his commitment to Ohio State and headed to the Big Ten. That decision paid off immediately.

In his first season as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, Sayin led the team to a 12-1 record and a Heisman Trophy finalist nod. The former five-star recruit has lived up to the hype.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) motions during the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025. Ohio State lost 13-10.

His numbers back it up. Sayin has thrown for 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns this season, showing both control and efficiency under center.

He is playing alongside elite talent like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, and Arvell Reese. With that kind of firepower around him, Ohio State looks built for a deep playoff run.

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Ed Orgeron wants Trump ‘more involved’ in NIL regulation

Published

3 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

It has been less than half a decade since Ed Orgeron was last on a football sideline, but the sport has had a generational shakeup in the NIL era.

Coach O won a national championship at LSU with, in his words, “the best transfer ever” in Joe Burrow on a team he said is “up there” among the greatest college football teams ever. But the landscape has changed so much that even President Donald Trump signed a “Saving College Sports” executive order.

What remains of Trump’s executive order is a bit of a mystery, but Orgeron wants Trump to be “more involved.”

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Ed Orgeron wants President Trump “more involved” in NIL regulation after the president called college sports a “disaster.” (Rebecca Warren/Imagn Images, Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“I think he should be more involved. Something has to happen. Our sport is getting killed, man,” Orgeron said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

“I love players getting paid. I think it’s fair. But I think there ought to be a cap, and the transfer portal, there’s got to be rules on it. It’s kind of like the Wild Wild West. I’m talking to coaches, it’s like, ‘Hey man, we’re working 24/7, 12 months a year. It’s crazy when guys are coming, when they’re going.’ But you know what? It’s got to be give and take. Players have got to get a lot, but the schools have got to get some guarantee in return…

“I think the president, he loves football, he’s a friend of mine, the more he can step in and stop what’s going on in college football, the better off it’s going to be.”

Trump recently ripped the supposed “disaster” that is NIL.

“I think that it’s a disaster for college sports. I think it’s a disaster for the Olympics, because, you know, we’re losing a lot of teams. The colleges are cutting a lot of their — they would call them sort of the ‘lesser’ sports, and they’re losing them like at numbers nobody can believe. They were really training grounds, beautiful training grounds, hard-working, wonderful young people. They were training grounds for the Olympics,” Trump said in the Oval Office last Thursday.

President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd before the start of the NFL Super Bowl LIX football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

ARCH MANNING TO RETURN TO TEXAS FOR 2026 SEASON: REPORTS

“And a lot of these sports that were training so well would win gold medals because of it. Those sports don’t exist, because they’re putting all their money into football. And by the way, they’re putting too much money into it, into football.”

Orgeron has teamed up with player agent Tzvi Grossman to tap into the new NIL era and has learned a great deal as he tries to find his next stop in college football. But despite all the money being passed around, Orgeron still believes that one aspect of recruiting trumps all.

LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers, in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 27, 2021. (John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“You still have to recruit, you still have to evaluate, you still have to get the mamas, the champions, all that to have a championship football team, and then the (key) word develop,” Orgeron said. “Just because you’re paying the guys — I believe all our players should be paid, I’m with that — but the money that they get right now is not the money that Joe Burrow’s making. It’s not the money that Ja’Marr Chase is making, Derek Stingley’s making. So in other words, to develop at the school you’re going to go to is still important.”

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Ohio State QB Julian Sayin Announces NIL News Before College Football Playoff

Published

4 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Julian Sayin is looking to lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to the national title alongside several other stars like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Ohio State heads into the College Football Playoff with one of the best rosters in the country, starring Sayin and Smith along with Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese.

They’re heading into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed after losing to Indiana in the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes will have a bye week to begin the CFP.

Other teams that will benefit from the bye week include Indiana, Texas Tech and Georgia.

During his time off, Sayin shared some exciting news off the field. The Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback has partnered with Wingstop and Dr Pepper in his latest NIL deal.

“Postseason calls for big plays with @drpepper and @wingstop, had to get the play card out,” Sayin posted.

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Julian Sayin committed to Ohio State after spending some time with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While he was planning his college football career at Alabama, he made the move to the Big Ten and finished his first season as the starting quarterback as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Sayin was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 6 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) — Source: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Before signing his latest NIL deal and sharing the news with fans online, Julian Sayin had inked deals with The Foundation, Dick’s Sporting Goods and JLab Audio.

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NIL

DJ Lagway’s Florida flameout is a brutal reminder about modern NIL

Published

5 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

When NIL first became the way of the land in college athletics, it was meant to be a way for athletes to get a slice of the money that already existed. Coaches, administrators, and other executives were making big money, so why couldn’t the athletes who were the ones actually playing the sport?

In that regard, nobody is going to fault players like DJ Lagway for making millions during his time with the Florida Gators.

But it is how that money had to be raised and what fans were gaslit into believing that also highlight the folly of how the NIL Era in college football has been going.

DJ Lagway set to hit the transfer portal

Lagway’s camp wanted to make it clear that his departure from Gainsville isn’t over money. Whether or not that is actually true, there is a good chance that in the pre-NIL Era, Lagway would still be a Gator heading into next season. If all Lagway cost was a scholarship spot, Jon Sumrall would probably be more apt to keep Lagway around. After a poor 2025 season, we can also understand why Florida’s new staff would be hesitant to invest real resources in Lagway that could go toward other parts of the roster.

But this tale isn’t just about the money that will be spent going forward; it is also about the money already spent and what happens when one doesn’t get a return on investment.

There are no official NIL numbers publicly available, but it is believed Lagway made between $3 and $4 million in 2025.

Some of that came from sponsorship deals like Jordan Brand, Gatorade, Epic Games, and others. But another chunk of money came from whatever deal he signed with Florida Victorious, the NIL arm of the Gators, and this is where the college system is broken compared to the professional system.

If Lagway were an NFL QB and flamed out, it would be annoying, but it wouldn’t be the fans left feeling empty-handed. The money spent on NFL contracts is coming from the natural revenues the league collects, and fans aren’t asked to donate extra money that goes directly to contracts.

But in this first phase of the NIL Era, when teams couldn’t directly share revenue with players, it was the fans who were constantly bombarded with messages to give extra money to Florida to acquire and retain players. The underlying message was “Hey now, if you don’t give more money, some other fanbase will, and they will take DJ Lagway from Florida.”

Some fans might have signed up for the $10 a month plan. Others may have felt compelled to give more. Nobody, however, probably feels like their money was money well spent after this 2025 season.

And that really is the frustration for most fans, where they are gaslighted to believe things won’t get better without giving even more money, but aren’t given any kind of solace when that money gets covered in gasoline and burns up in flames.

So as Florida fans await the next QB to come to town on whatever NIL deal he will be on, Lagway’s journey is a reminder that there is no such thing as a sure investment in the world of college football.

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