NIL

Report: SEC indicates it is not supporting multiple CFP automatic bids after ‘pushback’

Following this week’s spring meetings, the SEC indicates it is not supporting multiple automatic bids to the College Football Playoff, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported. The league received “pushback” from coaches and data, which led to the change in support for the proposed 4-4-2-2-1 format. Top officials at Georgia and Alabama played key roles in […]

Published

1 month ago

June 1, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Following this week’s spring meetings, the SEC indicates it is not supporting multiple automatic bids to the College Football Playoff, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported. The league received “pushback” from coaches and data, which led to the change in support for the proposed 4-4-2-2-1 format.

Top officials at Georgia and Alabama played key roles in the conversations this past week, Dellenger added, considering the model could have limited the SEC to four spots in the CFP. They also pushed back on the idea of “play-in games.”

Throughout the week in Destin, the sense was SEC coaches had more support for a 5-plus-11 model than the 4-4-2-2-1. Under the latter, the SEC and Big Ten would each receive four bids to the CFP, while the Big 12 and ACC would get two bids apiece, and one spot would be for the Group of 6. There would also be three at-large spots.

More info is being socialized with other conferences about the discussions Thursday from SEC ADs & presidents.

The league is indicating that it is *not* supporting a multi-AQ format (4-4-2-2-1), preferring instead more at-large bids + a selection committee criteria change.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 31, 2025

Under the 5-plus-11, the five highest-ranked conference champions would make the field, along with 11 at-large teams. However, Dellenger noted, it “is in no way a guarantee for approval.”

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed Big Ten athletics directors discussed the 5-plus-11 format on their weekly call this week. Dellenger also added the sense is most would not support the model if the SEC stays at eight league games.

The SEC’s conference schedule could be a reason for the coaches’ hesitancy about the 4-4-2-2-1 model, Dellenger said. That could lead the league to add a ninth game, one of the central points of discussion during this week’s meetings. Dellenger wondered how many coaches want the additional league game, and he heard frustration was building around the 4-4-2-2-1 format.

“I think they’re not in favor of that for a few reasons,” Dellenger said. “One, I think most of the coaches in the SEC don’t want to play a ninth conference game. I think when you have a 4-4-2-2-1 format, that would lead itself to playing a ninth conference game. I don’t know how many coaches want to play these play-in games that they talked about doing, along with the 4-4-2-2-1.

“So the ADs heard today from some somewhat, I heard, frustrated coaches at this model. We have a real serious consideration here from the SEC ADs and presidents today, and then tomorrow, for this 5-11 that has more at-larges than the automatic qualifiers.”

During its spring meetings, the SEC presented documents and graphics illustrating the “gauntlet” of the regular season. It showed the strength of the conference through multiple metrics such as Massey Ratings, SP+ and strength of record.

The documents illustrated the rigor of the conference schedule. In the last 10 years, the SEC showed it only has two teams outside the Top 50 in both average strength of record and average Massey Rating. That, the league said, showed “clear evidence of the rigor of its regular season compared to other schools.”

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NIL

3 More Athletes Appeal NCAA NIL Settlement To 9th Circ.

By David Steele ( July 3, 2025, 7:04 PM EDT) — Two former wrestlers, including an Olympic medalist, and a former walk-on football player have joined the list of college athletes announcing plans to appeal the $2.78 billion name, image and likeness settlement with the NCAA, arguing that they are receiving far too small a […]

Published

24 minutes ago

July 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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NIL

FSU softball has been eerily quiet in the transfer portal since the season ended

FSU softball saw its 2025 season end with a sweep in the Super Regionals for the second consecutive year. Coach Lonni Alameda saw some roster holes in the pitcher’s circle that needed addressing at the conclusion of 2024. She went to the transfer portal and secured two pitchers (Julia Apsel and Annabelle Widra) to provide […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

She went to the transfer portal and secured two pitchers (Julia Apsel and Annabelle Widra) to provide experience and depth. The move paid off big-time as those two pitchers helped FSU produce one of the best and deepest pitching staffs in the country in 2025.

They consistently had four reliable options to choose from, which led them to the ACC regular-season crown and another Super Regional appearance. They happened to run into one of the most dominant pitchers in recent years against Texas Tech to end their season.

FSU will lose a lot from last year’s team, including Apsel and Widra. They will also lose Michaela Edenfield, Katie Dack, Jahni Kerr, and Amaya Ross on offense. However, FSU has yet to land a single player from the transfer portal.

Play it back

A look back at Team 42#Team42 pic.twitter.com/hDFFsZyERM

— Florida State Softball (@FSU_Softball) June 12, 2025

I should note that FSU signed one of the top prep recruiting classes nationally, with top hitters and pitchers. The 2023 recruiting class featured instant-impact freshmen like Isa Torres, Jaysoni Beachum, Kennedy Harp, and Ashtyn Danley. The 2024 class saw freshman Jazzy Francik become an impact player.

There’s potential for 2-3 players in the 2025 recruiting class to make an impact as freshmen. Is that what Coach Lonni Alameda is banking on going into 2026? There’s still time to add some pieces from the transfer portal, but I’m not sure how many top players remain available.

If they choose to go the youth route, that’s a sizeable gamble for a team expected to compete for championships. FSU returns two experienced players, Jazzy Francik and Ashtyn Danley in the circle. Torres, Beachum, and Harp(if she fully recovers from her injury) will lead the way offensively. I’m not panicking, but this is something to monitor.

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NIL

ACC year

Terms of the settlement between Florida State, Clemson and the ACC show the conference’s year-by-year exit fees. The figures show the amount schools would have to pay if they want to leave, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy. If a school were to leave the ACC in 2025-26, it would owe $165 million. That number drops […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Terms of the settlement between Florida State, Clemson and the ACC show the conference’s year-by-year exit fees. The figures show the amount schools would have to pay if they want to leave, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy.

If a school were to leave the ACC in 2025-26, it would owe $165 million. That number drops to $147 million in 2026-27, $129 million in 2027-28 and $111 million in 2028-29. After it hits $93 million in 2029-30, schools would owe a $75 million exit fee from 2030-2036.

Florida State, Clemson and the ACC all approved the settlement in March after the two schools filed lawsuits regarding the conference’s grant of rights. FSU’s suit centered on the grant of rights, while Clemson sought to clarify language about whether the university controls its broadcast rights.

ACC year-by-year exit fees, if any schools want to bolt

$165 million in 2025-26
$147 million in 2026-27
$129 million in 2027-28
$111 million in 2028-29
$93 million in 2029-30
$75 million in 2030-31
$75 million in 2031-32
$75 million in 2032-33
$75 million in 2033-34
$75 million…

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 3, 2025

The exit fees line up with the proposal approved by the schools, which also included a new revenue distribution model based on a rolling average of TV ratings. The proposal also said schools would keep their media rights after paying the exit fees.

Under the new revenue model, a majority share – 60% – of the base media rights will be placed into a viewership pool to be distributed via a TV ratings-based model, the settlement terms said. It will take effect this year.

When it approved the settlement, Clemson projected the “opportunity” for more than $120 million in new revenue over the next six years in its board meeting. It includes the “viewership pool,” as well as enhanced ACC “success initiatives.”

Florida State trustee Drew Weatherford also said praised the way things “drastically changed” after he and others made it clear the school was willing to leave the ACC. He called the settlements a win for all sides.

“I’m proud of where we’ve where we’ve landed,” Weatherford said. “We made some commitments 14 months ago that we would do everything in our power to ensure that we could compete at the highest level. I think we’ve done that here. We also made it clear that we were willing to seek a new home if something drastically didn’t change.

“But the good news is that things have drastically changed since we had that conversation – for our benefit – and there’s been a lot of work done. … So I just want Seminole nation to know that the future is bright. I am extremely encouraged and I’m confident that we will remain one of the top athletic brands in the country for decades to come, and I wasn’t that confident 14 months ago. So I just commend the entire board, the entire organization, for getting to where we are today. Net and net, I think it’s a really great outcome for everybody involved.”

NIL

Previewing top teams this high school football season

Deloitte predicts that women’s sports will make over $2 billion in 2025, and only continues to grow, as universities across the country reconsider how their money will go towards men’s and women’s programs. Host Brad Pushkar is joined by Betsy Ross as they discuss the impact of how women’s sports are growing, how the NIL […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Host Brad Pushkar is joined by Betsy Ross as they discuss the impact of how women’s sports are growing, how the NIL settlement relates to Title IX, and what this means for both the short term impacts on college sports, and the long term future of athletes across the country.

19 On The Clock is a podcast produced by FOX19 NOW in Cincinnati, featuring High School & College teams across Cincinnati and the Tri-State as discussed by hosts Brad Pushkar and Jackson McCarty.

Find Brad on X @BradPushkar

Find Jackson on X @FOX19Jackson

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NIL

Ole Miss Baseball Slugger Unexpectedly Reveals Intentions to Enter Transfer Portal

Mike Bianco and the Ole Miss Rebels lost a projected key piece to the program’s 2026 roster on the final day of the NCAA Transfer Portal window. Rebels rising-sophomore Ethan Suroweic requested to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal prior to the July 1 deadline, according to 247Sports. The expectation is that Suroweic will not return […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ole Miss Baseball Slugger Unexpectedly Reveals Intentions to Enter Transfer Portal

Mike Bianco and the Ole Miss Rebels lost a projected key piece to the program’s 2026 roster on the final day of the NCAA Transfer Portal window.

Rebels rising-sophomore Ethan Suroweic requested to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal prior to the July 1 deadline, according to 247Sports.

The expectation is that Suroweic will not return to Oxford for the 2026 season after revealing his intentions to the staff.

During his freshman campaign, Suroweic appeared in 11 games with three starts, but the belief was that the youngster would take on a critical role moving into next spring.

He hit .375 in 16 at-bats where he launched a pair of home runs during the 2025 season.

Ole Miss in line to lose Ethan Suroweic, an expected power bat in the lineup in 2026. The rising sophomore requested to enter the portal prior to the deadline. https://t.co/dLF7pahVg2

— Chase Parham (@ChaseParham) July 3, 2025

The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder was a Top-100 prospect prior to signing with the Ole Miss Rebels with Bianco speaking highly of the talented infielder, according to 247Sports.

“He’s earned this, and we’ve tried to figure out how to get him some at‑bats and it’s tough,” Bianco said after Suroweic’s first career start in May.

“In the live (batting practices) in practice of the guys who don’t play much, he’s really separated himself and has done really well. Kind of penciled like we were going to have to get him a start by the end of the year.”

Bianco and Co. have been active in the NCAA Transfer Portal with eight additions to this point.

Who’s in for the Rebels?

No. 1: Grant Richardson – Pitcher [Grand Canyon]

This month, the Rebels added their first commitment of the offseason after Grand Canyon left-handed pitcher Grant Richardson pledged to the Rebels.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder came out of the bullpen for first six appearances of the season before developing into a top-of-the-rotation pitcher and starting his final eight games.

Richardson had the highest strikeout rate per nine innings in Grand Canyon’s all-time history at 12.43 (min. 50 innings).

The talented southpaw ranked among the Western Athletic Conference’s tops in: strikeouts per nine innings (12.43, third), strikeouts (70, eighth), ERA (3.73, 12th) and opponent batting average (.245, 13th).

During his 2024 campaign, Richardson struck out 70 batters and walked 30 in 50.2 innings as a sophomore.

No. 2 Tristan Bissetta – Outfielder [Clemson]

The South Carolina native entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons with Clemson where he saw significant production during the 2024 season.

Bissetta’s 2025 campaign was cut short due to injury, but still managed to hit .227 with a .358 on-base percentage in 31 games played.

In 75 at-bats last season, Bissetta logged 13 runs with 17 hits, 16 RBI, 15 BB with 28 strikeouts.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder hit .298 with seven homers and 34 RBI during the 2024 season in his most productive year with the Tigers.

No. 3: Daniel Pacella – Outfielder [Illinois State]

Pacella, a First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, started in 56 games for the Red Birds last season on his way to a career year with the program.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder logged 59 RBI, which became the seventh-most in a single season in program history, while also leading Illinois State with a .355 batting average.

He had 41 extra-base hits during the 2025 season, including 20 home runs. The home run count is the second-most in a single season in program history.

Pacella wrapped up his time at Illinois State second all-time in career home runs with 45 total and RBI with 169 across three seasons.

One of the most decorated players in Illinois State baseball history, Pacellla was a back-to-back all-conference selection during his time with the program.

He’ll be a player to keep tabs on in the 2025 MLB Draft with the Ole Miss Rebels looking to get him to Oxford for the 2026 season.

No. 4: Wil Libbert – Pitcher [Missouri]

The left-hander is coming off of his redshirt-freshman campaign with the Missouri Tigers where he threw more innings than any pitcher for the program in 2025 with 53.2.

Libbert started in 11 of his 14 total appearances last season while ending the year with a 6.04 ERA. He rounded out the season with a 3-4 record.

Now, he heads to Oxford with three seasons of eligibility remaining after missing his true freshman campaign in 2024 following Tommy John surgery he had during his senior campaign in high school.

No. 5: Marko Sipila – Pitcher [San Diego]

Bianco and the Ole Miss Rebels landed a commitment from San Diego State right-handed pitcher Marko Sipila, he announced via social media this month.

The talented 6-foot-4, 205-pounder will make his way to Oxford for his final season of eligibility in 2026 after a standout stint with San Diego.

Sipila led the Aztecs last season while he pitched a 3.91 ERA over 71.1 innings.

He holds a four-pitch mix with a fastball (90-93 mph), splitter (82-85), slider (81-85) and curveball (75-78), according to On3 Sports. Sipila had a 74:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2025.

The Mountain West transfer began his playing career at Colorado Springs where he’ll now round out his playing career in the Magnolia State.

No. 6: Landon Koenig – Pitcher [NDSU]

Koenig, a talented right-hander with multiple years of eligibility, is coming off of a strong 2025 season with the Bison on the mound.

As a freshman in 2024, Koenig started in all 14 games he appeared in on the mound where he second on the team with 41 total strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched.

This past season, Koenig appeared 19 games with 46.2 innings pitched where he served a relief role for his North Dakota State squad.

He finished with a 5.40 ERA with 46 strikeouts while giving up 57 hits and 28 earned runs.

Now, Koenig will head to Oxford for his third season of college ball with an opportunity to take on a significant role in Ole Miss’ new-look pitching staff.

No. 7: Owen Kelly – Pitcher [Saint Louis]

Kelly, an All-Atlantic 10 selection during the 2025 season, was one of the most coveted pitchers in the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder finished the 2025 season with a 4.61 ERA in 80 innings pitched for the Billikens.

Kelly totaled 80 strikeouts with 29 walks and has a fastball up to 95mph as he looks to make his way to Oxford for the 2026 season.

Bianco and Co. add the high-upside right-hander to the rotation for next season with a massive pitching haul heading to Oxford.

No. 8: Dom Decker – Infielder [Murray State]

Decker, who’s coming off of a standout season with the Racers, has pledged to the Rebels over the Tennessee Volunteers down the stretch in his process.

The 6-foot, 205-pounder hit .351 in 2025 with 16 doubles and 47 walks along with 15 hit by pitches during the 2025 season with Murray State.

Ole Miss and Tennessee were viewed as the contenders in Decker’s process while he navigated his Transfer Portal recruitment. He was in Oxford for a visit this weekend with the program sealing the deal.

Decker received a look at Swayze Field and the Ole Miss Rebels during the Oxford Regional in May where the Murray State Racers ultimately captured a win in order to punch a ticket to Super Regionals.

Prized Ole Miss Football Wide Receiver Commit ‘Locked in’ With the Rebels

Ole Miss Football Quarterback Target Seeing Stock Soar After Elite 11 Performance

Ole Miss Women’s Basketball Lands in Early Top-25, Named ‘Offseason Winners’

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.

NIL

2025 Wooden Award Odds: Braden Smith Favored; Dybantsa Fourth

While we are still a few months away from the start of college basketball season, it’s never too early to talk about the game’s stars. The Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men’s college basketball player. Duke’s Cooper Flagg won the honor this past season, but now that he has […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

While we are still a few months away from the start of college basketball season, it’s never too early to talk about the game’s stars.

The Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men’s college basketball player.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg won the honor this past season, but now that he has taken his talents to the NBA, who’s next?

The betting odds usually help identify the early contenders.

Let’s check out the early odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 3.

2025-26 John Wooden Award odds

Braden Smith, Purdue +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
JT Toppin, Texas Tech +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
AJ Dybantsa, BYU: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Darryn Peterson, Kansas: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Darrion Williams, NC State: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Solo Ball, UConn: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Otega Oweh, Kentucky: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Donovan Dent, UCLA: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

The 2025-26 college basketball season is set to kick off in early November.

Leading the odds is Purdue’s Braden Smith at +500, followed closely by Texas Tech’s JT Toppin at +750.

Smith, entering his fourth season as a Boilermaker, had his best season in 2024.

The Big Ten Player of the Year compiled 567 points, 313 assists, 162 rebounds and 78 steals in his last season, becoming the only player in NCAA history to record at least 500 points, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a single season.

Smith was a finalist for both the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy in 2024.

Behind him is Toppin, the 2024 Big 12 Player of the Year. Toppin led the Red Raiders with averages of 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19 double-doubles last season. The 6-foot-9 forward also helped lead Texas Tech to the Elite Eight.

In terms of fabulous freshman on the list, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa (+1200) and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson (+2000) are among the top-ranked NBA prospects heading to the college ranks. Both are favored to potentially be next year’s No. 1 pick.

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