The 2025 Oklahoma softball team was not on a par with the great Sooner teams of the past decade, a period that produced six national championships, as well as a national runner-up. Let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to top that.

Head coach Patty Gasso acknowledged as much before the 2025 college softball season had even started. With 14 newcomers and having to replace six starting position players along with a pair of starting pitchers, the longtime Sooner head coach well understood that this was not going to be the same dominant Oklahoma softball team of recent years.

Despite all of that, this year’s young Sooner squad went out and won 52 games, won the regular-season championship in the super-tough SEC and was co-champion of the SEC Tournament, and went 7-2 in NCAA postseason play, advancing to the Women’s College World Series, where the Sooners finished two wins shy of making it to the championship series.

That’s a pretty incredible showing from a team with as much roster turnover as Oklahoma had going into the 2025 season, and a solid foundation and expectation level to build on for the 2026 edition of Sooner softball.

The Sooners lose three players to graduation in All-American pitcher Sam Landry, first baseman Cydney Sanders and pitcher Isabella Smith, and four to the transfer portal with OF Hannah Coor, OF Maya Bland, INF Kadey Lee McCay and C Cori Hicks. Since Oklahoma’s season ended, the Sooners have added LSU transfer Sydney Berzon to the 2026 roster.

Largely because of what they’ve got returning for next season, the Sooners have not been as active in the transfer portal. As has been the case for most of the past decade, Oklahoma also has the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class coming in, a couple of whom (OF Kai Minor and C Kendall Wells) could become immediate starters.

In addition, RHP Sophia Bordi, who redshirted this past season and left the team late to deal with a personal matter, is expected back for the 2026 season. A two-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, Bordi was rated the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class nationally.

Projecting what the OU softball starting lineup will look like in 2026

Here is what the Oklahoma starting lineup will likely look like to start the 2026 season:

Three of the four infielders return for the Sooners in 2026. Redshirt freshman Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and freshman Gabbie Garcia firmly established themselves at third base and shortstop, respectively. The left-side duo combined for 35 home runs and 106 runs batted in, and between them accounted for just nine errors all season. BYU transfer Ailana Agbayani will return for her senior season at second base.

Sydney Barker, who hit .349 with eight home runs and became a key offensive contributor late in the season as a freshman, is the probable replacement for Cydney Sanders at first base. Barker can also play in the outfield, though.

The outfield spots will consist of Kasidi Pickering, the team’s second-leading hitter in 2025 (.392 average with 18 home runs and 58 RBI, in left, former Utah transfer and 2023 Pac-12 batting champion Abigale Dayton set in centerfield, and Tia Milloy and incoming freshman Kai Minor will battle it out as the starter in right field. Barker could end up in right if it doesn’t work out for her at first base.

Isabela Emerling returns as the starting catcher next season, although the Sooner are really high on incoming freshman Kendall Wells as the catcher for the future. One thing Emerling definitely needs to improve on is her ability to throw out base stealers.

The primary starters on the OU pitching staff will be LSU transfer Berzon, along with Kiersten Deal, Audrey Lowry and Bordi. Berzon and Bordi throw from the right side, while Deal and Lowry are southpaws.

Texas Tech, Oklahoma and 2025 national champion Texas will likely be the top three teams in college softball heading into the 2026 campaign, and I would expect the Sooners to make another strong run next season toward what would be a ninth national championship.

Read more about OU softball

The way-too-early Top 25 for 2025-26 is almost complete and grows closer to its final form after NBA Draft withdrawals by international prospects and commitments from the top transfers left on the board. The biggest change is the drop of Michigan State following Kaleb Glenn‘s season-ending injury.

Before getting into the top contenders next season, there are some rules to the exercise which must be noted. Some teams, players and coaches still have decisions to make before the tip off, so the list is always in flux. Here are the guidelines you need to know:

• There are still a number of players whose eligibility for next season remains in question. Waivers and senior decisions will shape the final roster. At the moment, those expected to run out of eligibility are out, but could return if granted another year.

These rankings will continue to be updated with many roster changes already confirmed and on campus for summer workouts. Here is the latest way-too-early look at what the Top 25 rankings could look like in the 2025-26 season.

1. Purdue

Key returns: CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith
Key additions: Oscar Cluff*, Omer Meyer, Liam Murphy*
Key departures: Myles Colvin
Projected lineup:

G: Braden Smith
G: Fletcher Loyer
G: CJ Cox
F: Trey Kaufman-Renn
C: Oscar Cluff

2. Houston

Key returns: Emanuel Sharp, JoJo Tugler, Milos Uzan
Key additions: Chris Cenac, Kingston Flemings, Isiah Harwell, Kalifa Sakho*
Key departures: Terrance Arceneaux, LJ Cryer, Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts, Mylik Wilson
Projected lineup:

G: Milos Uzan
G: Emanuel Sharp
G: Isiah Harwell
F: Chric Cenac
F: JoJo Tugler

3. Duke

Key returns: Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patick Ngongba
Key additions: Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Nikolas Khamenia, Dame Sarr, Sebastian Wilkins
Key departures: Cooper Flagg, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor
Projected lineup:

G: Cayden Boozer
G: Isaiah Evans
F: Dame Sarr
F: Cameron Boozer
C: Patrick Ngongba

4. Florida

Key returns: Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh
Key additions: AJ Brown*, Boogie Fland*, CJ Ingram, Xaivian Lee*, Alex Lloyd
Key departures: Denzel Aberdeen, Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin, Will Richard
Projected lineup:

G: Boogie Fland
G: Xaivian Lee
F: Thomas Haugh
C: Alex Condon
C: Reuben Chinyelu

5. Kentucky

Key returns: Brandon Garrison, Otega Oweh
Key additions: Denzel Aberdeen*, Mo Dioubate*, Braydon Hawthorne, Andrija Jelavic, Jasper Johnson, Jaland Lowe*, Malachi Moreno, Jayden Quaintance*, Kam Williams*
Key departures: Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, Jaxson Robinson, Amari Williams
Projected lineup:

G: Jaland Lowe
G: Otega Oweh
F: Kam Williams
F: Mo Dioubate
C: Jayden Quaintance

6. Auburn

Key returns: Tahaad Pettiford
Key additions: Abdul Bashir*, Elyjah Freeman*, Keyshawn Hall*, Filip Jovic, Kaden Magwood, KeShawn Murphy*, Kevin Overton*, Sebastian Williams-Adams
Key departures: Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson, Denver Jones, Miles Kelly
Projected lineup:

G: Tahaad Pettiford
G: Kevin Overton
G: Keyshawn Hall
G: Abdul Bashir
F: KeShawn Murphy

7. St. John’s

Key returns: Zuby Ejiofor
Key additions: Dylan Darling*, Bryce Hopkins*, Ian Jackson*, Dillon Mitchell*, Joson Sanon*, Oziyah Sellers*
Key departures: Brady Dunlap, RJ Luis, Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, Deivon Smith, Simeon Wilcher
Projected lineup:

G: Ian Jackson
G: Joson Sanon
G: Oziyah Sellers
F: Bryce Hopkins
C: Zuby Ejiofor

8. Iowa State

Key returns: Nate Heise, Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic
Key additions: Jamarion Batemon, Blake Buchanan*, Eric Mulder*, Dominick Nelson*, Mason Williams*
Key departures: Keshon Gilbert, Dishon Jackson, Curtis Jones,
Projected lineup:

G: Tamin Lipsey
G: Dominic Nelson
F: Joshua Jefferson
F: Milan Momcilovic
C: Blake Buchanan

9. Michigan

Key returns: Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle, Will Tschetter
Key additions: Elliot Cadeau*, Morez Johnson*, Yaxel Lendeborg*, Aday Mara*, Trey McKenney
Key departures: Tre Donaldson, Vlad Goldin, Sam Walters, Danny Wolf
Projected lineup:

G: Elliot Cadeau
G: Roddy Gayle
G: Nimari Burnett
F: Morez Johnson
F: Yaxel Lendeborg

10. Alabama

Key returns: Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell
Key additions: Amari Allen, Jalil Bethea*, Taylor Bol Bowen*, Keitenn Bristow*, Davion Hannah, London Jemison, Noah Williamson*
Key departures: Mo Dioubate, Grant Nelson, Clifford Omoruyi, Derrion Reid, Mark Sears, Jarin Stevenson, Chris Youngblood
Projected lineup:

G: Labaron Philon
G: Aden Holloway
G: Latrell Wrightsell
F: Taylor Bol Bowen
C: Aidan Sherrell

Ranking 11-25

11. Arkansas
Key returns: Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, DJ Wagner
Key additions: Darius Acuff, Malique Ewin*, Nick Pringle*, Karim Rtail, Maleek Thomas
Key departures: Jonas Aidoo, Johnell Davis, Boogie Fland, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero
Projected lineup: Darius Acuff, DJ Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin

12. Illinois
Key returns: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic, Ty Rodgers
Key additions: Zvonimir Ivisic*, David Mirkovic, Mihailo Petrovic, Andrej Stojakovic*
Key departures: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson, Will Riley, Tre White
Projected lineup: Kylan Boswell, Ty Rodgers, Andrej Stojakovic, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic

13. Tennessee
Key returns: Felix Okpara
Key additions: Amaree Abram*, Nate Ament, Jaylen Carey*, Ja’Kobi Gillespie*, Clarence Massamba
Key departures: Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic, Zakai Zeigler
Projected lineup: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Amaree Abram, Nate Ament, Jaylen Carey, Felix Okpara

14. Louisville
Key returns: J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor, Kobe Rodgers
Key additions: Mikel Brown, Mouhamed Camara, Ryan Conwell*, Sanandra Fru, Isaac McKneely*, Adrian Wooley*
Key departures: Terrence Edwards, Chucky Hepburn, Aly Khalifa, James Scott, Reyne Smith, Noah Waterman
Projected lineup: Mikel Brown, Isaac McKneely, Ryan Conwell, J’Vonne Hadley, Kasean Pryor

15. BYU
Key returns: Dawson Baker, Keba Keita, Richie Saunders
Key additions: Kennard Davis*, AJ Dybantsa, Khadim Mboup, Tyler Mrus*, Nate Pickens*, Xavion Staton, Rob Wright*
Key departures: Kanon Catchings, Egor Demin, Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Mawot Mag, Fousseyni Traore
Projected lineup: Rob Wright, Dawson Baker, Richie Saunders, AJ Dybantsa, Keba Keita

16. UConn
Key returns: Solomon Ball, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed, Jaylin Stewart
Key additions: Darius Adams, Silas Demary*, Dwayne Koroma*, Alec Millender*, Braylon Mullins, Eric Reibe, Malachi Smith*
Key departures: Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Liam McNeeley
Projected lineup: Silas Demary, Solomon Ball, Braylon Mullins, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed

17. Kansas                                                                             
Key returns: Flory Bidunga
Key additions: Melvin Council*, Jayden Dawson*, Darryn Peterson, Bryson Tiller, Tre White*
Key departures: KJ Adams, David Coit, Hunter Dickinson, Rylan Griffen, Dajuan Harris, Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr
Projected lineup: Melvin Council, Jayden Dawson, Darryn Peterson, Tre White, Flory Bidunga

18. Creighton
Key returns: Jackson McAndrew
Key additions: Aleksa Dimitrijevic, Josh Dix*, Owen Freeman*, Nik Graves*, Hudson Greer, Blake Harper*, Liam McChesney*, Austin Swartz*
Key departures: Steven Ashworth, Pop Isaacs, Jamiya Neal, Ryan Kalkbrenner
Projected lineup: Nik Graves, Josh Dix, Blake Harper, Jackson McAndrew, Owen Freeman

19. Texas Tech
Key returns: Christian Anderson, JT Toppin
Key additions: Donovan Atwell*, Tyeree Bryan*, LeJuan Watts*
Key departures: Devan Cambridge, Federiko Federiko, Elijah Hawkins, Chance McMillian, Kevin Overton, Kerwin Walton, Darrion Williams
Projected lineup: Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell, LeJuan Watts, JT Toppin, Luke Bamgboye

20. Arizona
Key returns: Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Motiejus Krivas
Key additions: Dwayne Aristode, Brayden Burries, Sidi Gueye, Ivan Kharchenkov, Evan Nelson*, Koa Peat
Key departures: Carter Bryant, KJ Lewis, Caleb Love, Trey Townsend, Henri Veesaar
Projected lineup: Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, Tobe Awaka, Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas

21. UCLA
Key returns: Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey
Key additions: Jamar Brown*, Donovan Dent*, Steven Jamerson*
Key departures: Dylan Andrews, Kobe Johnson, Sebastian Mack, Aday Mara
Projected lineup: Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey, Tyler Bilodeau, Xavier Booker

22. Baylor
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Obi Agim*, Juslin Bodo Bodo*, Cameron Carr*, Caden Powell*, Michael Rataj*, Dan Skillings*, JJ White*, Isaac Williams*, Tounde Yessoufou
Key departures: Jalen Celestine, VJ Edgecombe, Langston Love, Jayden Nunn, Josh Ojianwuna, Norchad Omier, Jeremy Roach, Rob Wright
Projected lineup: Dan Skillings, JJ White, Obi Agbim, Tounde Yessoufou, Michael Rataj

23. Texas A&M
Key returns: N/A
Key additions: Rashaun Agee*, Ruben Dominguez, Federiko Federiko*, Rylan Griffen*, Marcus Hill*, Josh Holloway*, Pop Isaacs*, Jacari Lane*, Mackenzie Mgbako*
Key departures: Henry Coleman, Andersson Garcia, Manny Obaseki, Pharrel Payne, Zhuric Phelps, Wade Taylor
Projected lineup: Pop Isaacs, Jacari Lane, Rylan Griffen, Mackenzie Mgbako, Federiko Federiko

24. North Carolina
Key returns: Seth Trimble
Key additions: Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon, Kyan Evans*, Jonathan Powell*, Jarin Stevenson*, Henri Veesaar*, Caleb Wilson, Jaydon Young*
Key departures: Elliot Cadeau, RJ Davis, Ian Jackson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Drake Powell, Jalen Washington, Jae’lyn Withers
Projected lineup: Kyan Evans, Seth Trimble, Jonathan Powell, Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar

25. Wisconsin
Key returns: John Blackwell, Nolan Winter
Key additions: Aleksas Bielauskas, Nick Boyd*, Braeden Carrington*, Austin Rapp*, Andrew Rohde*
Key departures: Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, John Tonje
Projected lineup: Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, Andrew Rohde, Austin Rapp, Nolan Winter

State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People’s Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People’s Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People’s Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People’s Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People’s Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People’s Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People’s Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People’s Rep’c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People’s RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People’s RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People’s Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People’s RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Head softball coach Lauren Karn, entering her third season at the helm of the Terrapins, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, has announced Maryland’s 2026 Big Ten softball schedule.

The Terps will open their conference slate at home at the Maryland Softball Complex, hosting Rutgers for a three-game series from March 6–8.

Maryland will then travel to the West Coast to face Washington in a three-game series from March 13–15, before returning to College Park to host Indiana from March 20–22.

The Terps will hit the road for back-to-back weekends, heading to Madison to face Wisconsin (March 27–29), followed by a trip to University Park to take on Penn State (April 3–5).

Maryland returns home for two consecutive weekends, welcoming Oregon to the Maryland Softball Complex from April 10–12, followed by a series against Illinois from April 17–18.

The Terps will close out their Big Ten regular season schedule on the road, traveling to East Lansing to face Michigan State from April 24–26.

Maryland looks to rebound from last season’s 16th-place finish in the Big Ten and make a push for a return to the Big Ten Softball Tournament.

Associated Press

The Pac-12 struck a media-rights deal with CBS on Monday that sets up the network to broadcast a minimum of four football and men’s basketball games per season on its main network and provide a cable and streaming presence for the reconfigured league from 2026-31.

Financial details of the new deal were not disclosed. Conference Commissioner Teresa Gould called it a “transformational partnership” that allows the Pac-12 to grow when it starts as a remodeled league in 2026-27.

An inability to secure a media deal is what nearly cratered the league in 2023, with all but Oregon State and Washington State departing for the Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Big Ten Conferences.

The Pac-12 already had deals in place to put all of the two remaining teams’ football games on the CW, ESPN and CBS for the upcoming season.

The new deal with what the league calls its “primary long-term media partner” kicks in the next season, when Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State will join the Pac-12 in all sports, with Gonzaga joining in everything but football.

The Pac-12 needs to add another football program to reach the minimum eight teams necessary to be in the Football Bowl Subdivision and, thus, the College Football Playoff. Multiple reports say Texas State has emerged as the top candidate.

Under the new deal, CBS will broadcast at least three regular-season football and men’s basketball games per season, along with the championship games for both sports. The league also will have what it called a “consistent regular-season presence” on the cable CBS Sports Network.

Details are still being finalized as Pac-12 media negotiator, Octagon, works on finding additional media partners for the league.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this upcoming season.

Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics.

The player in question in the filing is referred to only as “Student-Athlete A.” But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.

Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas’ name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall.

The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore.

“Indeed, student-athletes’ newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,” a portion of the lawsuit reads.

Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers cornerback decided to transfer.

Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers, and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and “a declaration that Miami’s conduct directed towards Student-Athlete A constituted tampering.”

A message left with the University of Miami seeking comment was not immediately returned. In a text message Friday, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football.

Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to “ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics.”

“While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,” the statement said. “In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community.

Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season.

Heitner said that Lucas hasn’t received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player’s request.

Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn’t put Lucas’ name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement.

In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts.

Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up.

Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks’ NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.