Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Jakus sits down with “Inside The Owls Burrow” host Frank Forte to discuss Florida Atlantic’s offseason and how the 2025-26 season will look in his second year at the helm in Paradise.

 
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Mark Conrad, director of the sports business program at the Gabelli School of Business, tells Forbes that getting creative could be the key to retaining college athletes in the era of NIL and more lax transfer rules.

Across NCAA Division I men’s basketball, more than 2,500 players entered the transfer portal in 2025, according to college basketball recruitment website VerbalCommits.com, nearly triple the 957 that did so in 2019, a year after the new transfer system was introduced.

“Because players can leave and go to other schools, how do you keep them happy?” says Mark Conrad, director of the sports business program at Fordham University. “You can’t sign them to long-term contracts, yet you want them to stay.”

One strategy might be to keep around a professional athlete like [Trae] Young, a four-time NBA All-Star who was the league’s fifth overall draft pick in 2018. He could help Oklahoma identify talent, mentor young players and balance the egos that come with uneven compensation in a locker room, Conrad contends. Young could also assist with creating a culture of retaining athletes—even if that might be a bit ironic for a player who spent a single season in college, in 2017-18, before turning pro.

Desmond Claude, a dynamic All-Big Ten guard, has become one of the most coveted names in the transfer portal after a breakout season at USC. With his market value peaking, top programs and their NIL collectives are vying for his signature ahead of the 2025-26 season.

NIL Era Heats Up as Top Programs Pursue Claude

Claude’s transfer saga has quickly become one of the most closely watched stories of the offseason. After averaging 15.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds at USC—earning All-Big Ten honorable mention—Claude entered the portal just before the deadline, immediately drawing interest from college basketball’s elite.

According to Jeff Goodman, “Tennessee and Oregon both reached out to USC transfer Desmond Claude today… Claude also looking at Alabama and Gonzaga. SMU has also been in the mix”.

Tennessee and Oregon both reached out to USC transfer Desmond Claude today, source told @thefieldof68.

Claude also looking at Alabama and Gonzaga. SMU has also been in the mix.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 28, 2025

Gonzaga, Alabama, and Washington have emerged as frontrunners, each offering unique advantages. Under Mark Few, Gonzaga touts a consistent NCAA Tournament pedigree and a system that develops NBA talent, making it an attractive destination for Claude to raise his draft stock.

Alabama, meanwhile, is leveraging its strong NIL resources and immediate backcourt needs, especially after losing key guards in the offseason. “A return to the NCAA is the expectation… I think that’s a good pressure. I’d rather that pressure to the other way. I like a little pressure on me,” said Alabama coach Nate Oats, underscoring the program’s high standards and the opportunity for Claude to play a starring role.

The NIL landscape has fundamentally shifted the calculus for top transfers like Claude. Washington, for example, is aggressively rebuilding its roster and, with robust NIL backing, can offer both a featured role and financial incentives that rival any program in the country. The competition is fierce, and as one analyst noted, “Money talks, baby. And where the money is, people are going to follow that. That is the next level for some people now”.

Decision Looms: Fit, Role, and NIL Offers in the Balance

As the recruitment nears its conclusion, Claude is weighing more than just basketball fit. Alabama and Texas A&M are reportedly confidently positioned in the driver’s seat, providing a clear, immediate role along with a strong NIL package, while Gonzaga remains a compelling option for player development and national exposure.

The delay in Claude’s Alabama visit has only intensified speculation, with both sides expected to revisit discussions after the NCAA dead period in June.

Other programs, including Tennessee, Oregon, and SMU, have made late pushes, but the consensus is that the combination of NIL power, on-court opportunity, and national profile will determine Claude’s next stop.

KEEP READING: Bruce Pearl’s Lineup for New Season Predicted After 6’9” Star’s Transfer Portal Acquisition

As one insider put it, “Claude is looking for a proven backcourt mate to share playmaking & a team built for a deep run,” indicating that both competitive ambitions and financial security are at the heart of his decision.

In the new era of college basketball, Claude’s recruitment exemplifies how NIL collectives and transfer portal dynamics are reshaping the sport. As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on where this All-Big Ten guard—and his soaring portal value—will land next.

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AI-assisted summaryDawkins acknowledges the challenges posed by the transfer portal, having lost key players like Keyshawn Hall to Auburn and Moustapha Thiam to Cincinnati.UCF has recruited new players, including Riley Kugel, B.J. Freeman, Themus Fulks, and Jamichael Stillwell, to rebuild the roster.Dawkins believes that while money is a factor in recruiting, UCF offers other attractive qualities to potential student-athletes.ORLANDO — Passion still burns for UCF men’s basketball coach Johnny Dawkins, much like it did during his playing days at Duke. That, he says, will never change.

“As a player, they had to tear the jersey off my back. As a coach, they’re going to (have to) tear my suit jacket off,” Dawkins said Wednesday at the Waldorf Astoria, the first day of the Big 12 Conference’s spring meetings. “I love mentoring young people. I love working with them. I think our mission is sometimes getting lost right now with everything that’s going on, and our sport is changing so fast.”

College basketball’s sweeping changes include, in no particular order, the pending House settlement and revenue sharing, possible NCAA Tournament expansion on the horizon and the growing divide between power conferences. Additionally, year-to-year rosters are unrecognizable in the age of the transfer portal.

UCF basketball roster turned over in NCAA transfer portal

Dawkins will field nearly an entirely new squad come November, following a 20-17 campaign in which the Knights advanced to the inaugural College Basketball Crown‘s championship game and pocketed $100,000 in Name, Image and Likeness prize money. Top scorer Keyshawn Hall departed for Auburn after initially entering the NBA draft, and — more controversially — starting center Moustapha Thiam joined rival Cincinnati in a package deal with assistant coach Mamadou N’diaye.

Thiam, a 7-foot-2 native of Senegal, was the program’s highest-rated recruiting signee ever. In his lone season, he averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds while ranking fourth in the nation with 88 blocked shots.

“I wish them well,” Dawkins said. “That’s in the past for me and my team. We want to be successful, and we want to continue to try and build a successful roster here at UCF. I wish them well in their future endeavors at their next stop.”

Former Mississippi State guard Riley Kugel, former Arizona State guard B.J. Freeman and the Milwaukee duo of point guard Themus Fulks and double-double machine Jamichael Stillwell headline the Knights’ additions from the portal.

UCF is far from the only team across college basketball needing to replace most — or virtually all, in the Knights’ case — of its statistical productivity. Fellow Big 12 program Baylor had an entirely bare cupboard by the time the portal closed April 22, when also factoring in graduation and NBA draft declarations.

Johnny Dawkins: ‘UCF has great things to build off’

Roster retention is still a hope for Dawkins in the future, even with UCF lagging behind its power conference counterparts financially. CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported in April that at least 10 Division I teams will operate with basketball roster budgets of at least $10 million for the 2025-26 season, including a pair from the Big 12 (BYU and Texas Tech).

Money is, undoubtedly, a major factor in modern recruiting, but Dawkins contends it’s still not the only thing — and that UCF can still attract quality players with more modest resources.

“You have to make the most with what you have,” Dawkins said. “Some people may have more monetarily, but some people may have more in climate, or better facilities, or a better community. So, it depends on where you are, but there are assets everywhere.

“We have great things to build off here. And sometimes I think it gets overlooked because a lot of the conversation revolves around just straight money that’s been allotted, one way or another. That’s a part of our game, no question about it — and we have money here at UCF, too. We’re not a place that doesn’t have money; we have more than that. We have so many more things to offer student-athletes, and I think that’s why we have been so attractive to a lot of young people that want to be here.”

AI-assisted summaryFAMU football coach James Colzie III is actively recruiting for the 2025 season, focusing on high school prospects due to a large graduating senior class.The Rattlers have addressed key roster needs through recruiting and the transfer portal, particularly at quarterback and defensive line.Colzie aims to replicate the successful team composition of the 2023 Black College National Championship team.The team is currently engaged in organized team activities (OTAs) with a mix of returning players and newcomers.FAMU’s 2025 season opens against Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic on August 30.Florida A&M football has wrapped up most of its recruiting for the upcoming 2025 season.

In the past weeks, head coach James Colzie III and his Rattlers football staff have been on a recruiting tour, assessing talent and extending offers to prospects.

Stops included South Florida, South Georgia, Atlanta, Kansas, Tallahassee, and others.

“My miles have been picking up. Getting some perks,” Colzie told the Tallahassee Democrat with a chuckle. “It’s been great traveling around and being the head football coach at Florida A&M.”

FAMU football will have a large contingency of seniors this season.

So, Colzie has recruited with foresight, emphasizing offering high school prospects the opportunity to join the Rattlers after graduation. For example, FAMU recently offered quarterback Taylor Jacobs Jr., who will graduate from Tallahassee’s Lincoln High School in 2026.

“We’re sitting at about 32-33 seniors for this upcoming season. In a way, that’s great. We’re an older team and mature,” Colzie said. “When you think of recruiting, you must be a year ahead. I think it allows us to bring in some high school guys to help lay some foundation to continue building for the future.”The NCAA’s recruiting dead period was from Sunday, May 25, until Wednesday, May 28, meaning coaches couldn’t make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations or permit official or unofficial visits from prospects.FAMU immediately picked up its recruiting efforts after the dead period. On Thursday, May 29, the Rattlers got a commitment from Jett Peddy, an all-conference quarterback from Long Beach City College.

“You guys have an idea of what we needed to address. And for the most part, I think we have,” Colzie said. “But we’re still not done. We still have some guys we’ll bring in after the dead period, and we’ll bring in another couple of guys next weekend. Hopefully, then we’re done.”

FAMU football coach James Colzie III to put final touches on 2025 team through recruiting

This offseason, the Rattlers have lost All-Southwestern Athletic Conference performers in tight end Koby Gross and defensive tackle James Ash to the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Both left FAMU, a Football Championship Subdivision team, for Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Gross went to Ball State, and Ash now plays for Auburn.

Some former FAMU football players were encouraged to transfer for reasons such as fixing the culture or attempting to build the best roster possible.

“Those are some tough conversations and decisions you must make,” Colzie said. “But at the end of the day, you’re still trying to make sure you have the best football team for this campus and university. We were able to do that. As we go through recruiting and being able to connect, a lot of those guys we brought in were to fill holes. They’ve done a good job up to this point.”

As summer recruiting starts for FAMU, Colzie is envisioning what he wants the 2025 Rattlers team to look like. The second-year head coach said FAMU football’s 2023 team that won the Black College National Championship is the ideal makeup for success. Colzie was the assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach that year.

That means Colzie is looking to strengthen the defensive line, especially with Ash’s departure for Auburn.

“That’s tough. Maybe it’s not one guy this time. Maybe it’s two,” Colzie said of replacing Ash.

“I think you’re always trying to find interior defensive linemen. I looked at our 2023 team. We didn’t have a bunch of superstars, but we had a bunch of guys that were big, tough, and could fly around. We got to get ourselves back to that. I think we’ve done that with some of the guys we currently have here and a couple of guys we did bring in. We will go as far as our defensive and offensive line goes.”

FAMU football returners, newcomers meshing well during organized team activities

The Rattlers are currently amidst organized team activities during FAMU’s Summer A semester.

Eighty-eight players are on campus, and 95-96 percent of the FAMU football team will be on campus during Summer B, Colzie says.

It’s been constant depth chart movement. Transfer quarterback RJ Johnson III, offensive lineman Gozy Okeke, and defensive lineman DJ Jones have performed well during FAMU’s OTAs.

Returning players like All-SWAC offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable, wide receiver Goldie Lawrence, and defensive linemen Nick Dimitris, Antonio Camon, and linebacker Brian Norris Jr. have done well.

And there are others.

“Some of those guys we’ve picked up in the portal have surprisingly done some good things already,” Colzie said. “You talk about the portal guys and the transfers you brought in, but you can’t forget about the guys you already have that are here.”

FAMU football opens its season versus the Howard Bison on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Miami’s Orange Blossom Classic. The Rattlers will return from the 2024 season that saw them finish 7-5, the program’s lowest win total since 2018.

“We’ve kind of built them up and made them a little bit upset of what some people may be saying or thinking,” Colzie said of motivating his players as they prepare for the 2025 season.

“They got a little chip on their shoulder. They’re excited to get ready to play Howard, but they know there are steps before we get to Howard. It starts in the weight room, continues on the field in our OTAs, and how we install as a coaching staff. I’m happy with where we are, but I’m not. I know we’re nowhere near a finished product.”

Florida A&M Football 2025 ScheduleWeek 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Garden’s Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNUWeek 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN PlusWeek 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 6 p.m.Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEKWeek 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC)Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― at Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m.Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina CentralWeek 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming)Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC)Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC)Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.mWeek 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC)Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium)Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville’s FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

FOX Sports announced a portion of its 2025 college football schedule on Thursday afternoon, and it is stacked with must-see matchups.

In addition to announcing the first three “Big Noon Saturday” games of the season and the entire Week 1 slate, which is highlighted by a heavyweight showdown between Texas and Ohio State, FOX also announced the return of “FOX College Football Friday,” which will mostly feature a mixture of Big Ten and Big 12 matchups.

“FOX College Football Friday” kicks off on Aug. 29 with Auburn taking on Baylor in Waco, Texas, and concludes with the Mountain West Championship on Dec. 5 on FOX.

With the likes of Auburn, Nebraska, USC, Oregon and Arizona State all featured on “FOX College Football Friday,” there will be plenty of individual star power taking the field.

Let’s take a look at the complete Friday night slate and then highlight eight names to watch this fall during “FOX College Football Friday.”

Auburn at Baylor (Friday, Aug. 29 on FOX)

Player to watch: Jackson Arnold, QB, Auburn

Jackson Arnold transferred from Oklahoma to Auburn over the offseason. He was the fourth-best quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, via 247 Sports.(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

I’m eagerly awaiting to find out if Auburn coach Hugh Freeze believes Arnold is good enough to start for not just one, but two SEC programs in two years. Arnold showed up to Oklahoma after winning National Gatorade Player of the Year at Guyer High School (Denton, Texas) in 2022. In his first start at Oklahoma, he completed 26 of 45 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in an Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. Every other start after that failed to hit that high-water mark, even after helping Oklahoma get past No. 7 Alabama last season.

At Auburn, Arnold enters the building as the most talented prospect in what should be a loaded QB room for Freeze.

Kansas State at Arizona (Friday, Sept. 12 on FOX)

Player to watch: Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas State

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson had 605 rushing yards and seven rushing scores to go with 2,712 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season as Kansas State’s starting quarterback. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Johnson will begin this season as the front-runner to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after passing for more than 2,700 yards and rushing for more than 600 with 32 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a sophomore. Alongside the explosive Dylan Edwards, Kansas State’s backfield is the fastest in the Big 12. The Wildcats should feel good about their chances of winning the Big 12 title and being selected for the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history this season.

Iowa at Rutgers (Friday, Sept. 19 on FOX)

Player to watch: Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa

Former South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski transferred to Iowa over the offseason after helping the Jackrabbits win two FCS titles. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

For too long, the Hawkeyes have longed for a quarterback who could simply get out of the way of Phil Parker’s otherworldly defense. For nearly the first half of the season last year, Cade McNamara was able to do just that. But after an injury, the Hawkeyes were forced to put their offensive hopes and dreams on the back of departed running back Kaleb Johnson.

Now, they need a great QB more than ever and Kirk Ferentz found one in Gronowski. His pedigree is that of a winner. He is 49-6 as a starter, a two-time FCS national champion, Walter Payton Player of the Year (FCS Heisman) and a first-team All-American. His ability to make plays in the passing and rushing game makes him a natural fit for Ferentz’s ball-control, complimentary style of football.

TCU at Arizona State (Friday, Sept. 26 on FOX)

Player to watch: Josh Hoover, QB, TCU

TCU’s Josh Hoover is the Big 12’s top returning passer in 2025, throwing for 3,949 yards last season. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

After throwing for more than 3,900 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, Hoover should be expected to be a 4,000-yard, 30-TD QB in 2025. Indeed, his talent on tape is so prodigious that he reportedly turned down a seven-figure NIL deal to transfer. Last season, Hoover threw for at least 212 yards in every start and at least 300 yards in six of his starts.

Nebraska at Minnesota (Friday, Oct. 17 on FOX)

Player to watch: Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska

Dylan Raiola enters his second season as Nebraska’s starting quarterback, helping the Cornhuskers play in their first bowl game in eight seasons. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Raiola enters his sophomore season having led the Huskers to their first bowl game appearance in eight seasons. The next step in his evolution needs to be contending for the Big Ten championship. In a league that has produced the last two national champions, that’s a tough task. But so is playing through the middle of the field where many expect Minnesota to be.

If Raiola can mature into a credible downfield passer, accumulate 3,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns with Dana Holgorsen calling plays, there’s every reason to believe the Huskers can put themselves in position to contend for a CFP spot.

Northwestern at USC (Friday, Nov. 7 on FOX)

Player to watch: Jayden Maiva, QB, USC

Jayden Maiava went 3-1 as USC’s starting quarterback last season. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

After getting his first start against Nebraska last year, Maiva threw for at least 221 yards in each game and accumulated 15 total touchdowns. In partnership with Lincoln Riley, Maiva could turn into one of the upper-tier QBs in the Big Ten.

Minnesota at Oregon (Friday, Nov. 14 on FOX)

Player to watch: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Former UCLA QB Dante Moore will likely replace Dillon Gabriel as Oregon’s starting quarterback in 2025. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

At this point in the season, quarterback Dante Moore and wide receiver Dakorien Moore ought to have generated a partnership worth national recognition. This quarterback-wideout combo features one of the most entertaining passers of the 2023 class with the best wide receiver in the 2025 class. Following Heisman finalists Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore has the physical tools to lead Oregon to another Big Ten championship.

Arizona at Arizona State (Friday, Nov. 28 on FOX)

Player to watch: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson is one of the top returning receivers in the country after recording 1,101 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns last season. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Not many wideouts were more dependable and prolific as Tyson was at Arizona State last season. In four of his last six games for the Sun Devils, Tyson recorded 100 receiving yards or more — one game with 99 — and ended the season with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdown catches. With Sam Leavitt back at QB, Tyson could be the best wideout in the Big 12.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young.

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