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Sean Payton stresses playoff mistakes can have big consequences

Published

5 months ago

January 8, 2025

Sean Payton stresses playoff mistakes can have big consequences

Considering how tough postseason football is, being over .500 is impressive. Of course the highlight of Payton’s career was winning Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s not like we pay more attention to the details this week then we did in Week 5. But you also understand in playoff football, unlike the other sports, it’s three hours,” Payton said.
Buffalo is the No. 2 seed and Denver is the No. 7 seed for a reason. But on any given Sunday, a huge upset can happen. The Broncos are hoping to play a clean game and pull one of those off.
Broncos Country has seen a fair share of playoff mistakes cost their team a shot at a championship over the years. Payton is in teaching mode, hoping to avoid those against the Bills.
“When you do this long enough, personal fouls, behavior penalties, these little things that can swing the outcome of a game. The margins, because you’re taking the top teams in the league, get closer and therefore the mistakes can be of great consequence,” Payton said.
“I think you’re educating them as to what wins. Ball security, and the field position,” Sean Payton said. “Obviously we’re playing a real good football team and we’re going to have to play a real complete game.”
And he’s won nine of them, sporting a 9-8 record.
What Payton’s saying is in basketball, hockey or baseball, you get to play a series at the professional level. That’s not the case in football. One bad day can end your season.
Considering the Broncos haven’t made the playoffs since 2015, very few guys on this roster have postseason experience. And no one from the Super Bowl 50 team still plays in Denver.
On Wednesday, Payton was asked about stressing the details of the postseason to his young roster.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has coached in 17 playoffs games.
Given Payton is the veteran with playoff experience, the team will need to lean on him heavily before its showdown with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The winner advances to the divisional round, the loser goes home.

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O’Fallon bounces back to earn Class 3A girls soccer state semifinal victory

By Chris Walker, Special to the Post-Dispatch Feeling déjà vu had O’Fallon feeling all right Friday night at North Central College in Naperville. Senior Allie Tredway, who played a key role in O’Fallon’s state championship victory in 2023, did it again to lead the Panthers to a 2-1 victory over Barrington in a Class 3A […]

Published

7 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Chris Walker, Special to the Post-Dispatch

Feeling déjà vu had O’Fallon feeling all right Friday night at North Central College in Naperville.

Senior Allie Tredway, who played a key role in O’Fallon’s state championship victory in 2023, did it again to lead the Panthers to a 2-1 victory over Barrington in a Class 3A girls soccer state semifinal.

The Panthers (22-2-1) will face Naperville North (17-5-3) in Saturday’s state championship game at 7 p.m.

Tredway assisted Kiley McMinn in double OT of their state title 1-0 win over Barrington two years ago.

This time she did the scoring, finishing a ball from Claire Nieroda with 26:06 remaining to break a tie in a 2-1 victory.

“I mean, I looked up and I saw she was open and I knew she could do it,” Nieroda said. “i just put it through and let her do the rest and it was just a great finish.”

Nieroda told Tredway to make the run, crossing her the ball after galloping down the sideline for about 30 yards.

“At halftime Claire told me to make the runs because she saw that it was open, but I didn’t realize how wide open,” Tredway said. “Like there was nobody but me and the goalie there.

“I saw her coming out and I knew that she was tall and so I knew I didn’t have to hit it that far over, but if I kind of chipped it a little it had a chance of not going over.”

She didn’t think it was destined for the back of the net.

“I was honestly just surprised,” Tredway said. “I didn’t think it was going in and I’m just so glad it did because everybody wants a chance to win state, and we want to do it again.”

O’Fallon headed into halftime full of enthusiasm after tying the game at 1-1 with 1:43 to go before the break.

Tredway powered her way through a handful of defenders and the ball came out, falling toward Claire Nieroda’s cousin, Delaney Nieroda who sent it in.

“She got through and it popped out and I just saw it and I hit it,” Delaney Nierorda said. “The goalie went the wrong way, and it was great. It was amazing. I mean it’s always who’s willing to make a run, who’s willing to put in that last jab to make sure you’re in the box in every moment. And I know a couple of times before I scored that goal, there were times where I was angry at myself for not making that last run but what separates the players is who’s going to make that last run to be there to tap it in and score that.”

Barrington (19-2-2) put the Panthers in a 1-0 hole midway through the opening half thanks to a goal from Maddie Martin-Johnson.

It was one of the Fillies only chances as they’d only fire off two additional shots.

“We knew that if we could just get possession of the ball and slow it down a little bit we’d be OK,” O’Fallon coach Justin Judiscak said. We wanted to control the tempo of the game. We know that Barrington has an amazing group of girls. They’re very athletic, very strong on the ball, very direct. So we wanted to slow the game down because if it was gonna be a back and forth game, we knew that they were probably going to outrun us. They’re fast.”

Illinois Class 3A girls soccer state semifinal: O’Fallon 2, Barrington 1

O'Fallon beats Barrington in Illinois Class 3A high school girls soccer state semifinal — O’Fallon’s Allie Tredway (2) waves to the crowd during pregame introductions in their Class 3A state semi-final soccer match between O’Fallon at Barrington. June 6, 2025.

Gary Duncan, Special to the Post-Dispatch

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Track and field: Card hopes her last state meet is her best – West Central Tribune

ST. MICHAEL — Lauren Eilers kept tabs on the competition. The senior distance runner on the Willmar girls track and field team wanted to know how she stacked up against Class AA’s best after breaking the five-minute mark in the 1,600-meter run. Already the school’s record-holder in the 1,600, Lauren ran a career-best 4:56.25 at […]

Published

19 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ST. MICHAEL — Lauren Eilers kept tabs on the competition.

The senior distance runner on the Willmar girls track and field team wanted to know how she stacked up against Class AA’s best after breaking the five-minute mark in the 1,600-meter run. Already the school’s record-holder in the 1,600, Lauren ran a career-best 4:56.25 at the Section 8AA championship.

As it turned out, Lauren stood alone at the top of the state qualifiers.

Lauren is the top seed in the Class AA girls’ 1,600. And she’ll look to finish off her prep career as a state champion at the Minnesota State High School League Track and Field Championships next week at St. Michael-Albertville High School. The Class AA prelims start at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The championships are at 9 a.m. Thursday.

“I thought maybe someone would get under five as well,” Lauren said, “but that didn’t happen.”

The 1,600 finals run on Thursday. After her last race, Lauren’s confidence is riding high.

“It builds up confidence knowing that I’m the only girl that has broken five,” Lauren said. “But also, everyone’s going to be running faster and it’s more competitive because it’s state.

“I just have to go run my own race.”

The No. 2 seed in the 1,600 is a familiar foe for Lauren. That’s Alexandria senior Kasey Soderholm. Her state qualifying time was 5:01.64. The other top seeds are St. Peter’s Keira Friedrich (5:02.57), Chisago Lakes’ Annika Hall (5:03.27) and Monticello’s Isabel Mahoney (5:03.37).

“I also ran against her in cross-country,” Lauren said of Soderholm. “Having her there and knowing that she’s going to push me no matter what, whether I’m having a bad day or a good day, she’s going to be there to push me and all the other girls, too.”

Lauren finished fifth in the 1,600 last season, running a time of 5:03.41. This is Lauren’s fifth straight season qualifying for state track.

This state meet will also be Lauren’s busiest. She’s also the fifth seed in the 800 (2:16.15) and is the anchor in the 10th-seeded 4×400 relay (4:03.43). Mallory Beier, Erin Eilers and Sophie Negen also run in the 4×400.

A cross-country and girls hockey standout, state track is Lauren’s finale as a Willmar High School athlete. She’ll resume her running career in college at Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

“It feels sad but also it’s good because these are the best times I’ve been hitting all my career,” Lauren said. “So it’s good to see the improvement over the years. I’ve been getting better and putting the work in and it’s paying off.”

Willmar senior Erin Eilers, middle, competes in the girls' 100-meter hurdles at the Cardinal Invitational on Monday, April 21, 2025 at Hodapp Field in Willmar. — Willmar senior Erin Eilers, middle, competes in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles at the Cardinal Invitational on Monday, April 21, 2025 at Hodapp Field in Willmar.

Since they came onto the varsity team as seventh-graders, Erin Eilers and her twin sister Lauren were near each other as distance runners.

But last season as a junior, Erin went from distance running to the hurdles. It was something she had wanted to try. Kody Fossum and Brady Krupa, then assistant coaches and now co-head coaches of the track team, decided to take Erin up on that once she was ready to take the leap, so to speak.

“They were like, ‘If you want to do it, we’ll help you but if you actually want to be good at it and you take it seriously, we’ll take it seriously, too,’” Erin said. “So we made that deal last year and we’ve just been working from there.”

Now, Erin’s getting her chance at state to compete in the girls’ 300 hurdles. She’s the sixth seed after winning the section title with a school record of 45.44. This is her fourth state trip overall.

“It was really emotional, honestly,” Erin said of setting the record. “I’ve been working on trying to break the school record since last year but I only had four races last year. Coming into this season, I told the coaches my goal is to break the school record.”

A little sibling rivalry flared up in Erin.

“Like, Lauren’s got two (in the 1,600 and 3,200), so I have to have one, you know,” Erin said. “It was my goal to get that. From there, I just want to keep pushing myself.”

The top seed in the 300 hurdles is Providence Academy’s Maddyn Greenway at 43.98. Behind her are Winona’s Alexis Urbick (44.62), Cloquet’s Makenzie Lynch (44.62), Mankato West’s Grace Jacobson (45.11) and DeLaSalle’s Laila Moses (45.33).

“I’m just going to run my race and just try to stay confident and push myself,” Erin said. “I know there’s going to be girls that are faster than me so they can pull me with them and I can get to the finish line at a good time.

“I feel like it’ll be a good race.”

Erin will also resume her track career at Division II Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She plans on running the 400 hurdles and the heptathlon.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Erin said about her final high-school meet. “We’ve just had all this time. And the younger girls, I’m gonna miss seeing them every single day.”

W - Sully Anez and FF - Jaden Miller - DSC_0780.JPG — Willmar’s Sully Anez (right) catches up to Fergus Falls’ Jaden Miller (left) in the boys 1600-meter run at the Central Lakes Conference Championships on May 22, 2025, at Alexandria High School.

Making his fourth and final trip to state is Willmar boys distance runner Sully Anez.

The senior and future South Dakota State University runner qualified for both the 1,600 and 3,200. He’s the fifth seed in both with a time of 4:18.64 in the 1,600 and 9:29.95 in the 3,200.

The top seed in the 1,600 is Totino-Grace’s Matthew Lindgren at 4:15.30. Owen Chapman of Orono is the top seed in the 3,200 at 9:19.61.

When looking at the improvements Anez has made through the years, Fossum keyed in on Anez’s discipline.

“There’s a large discipline with distance running that not a lot of people consider,” Fossum said. “So to me, his mental determination to continue to fight through every lap, every milestone, every mark, is what sets him apart from his sophomore year that I first saw him to his junior year to this year.”

Anez ran in both events last season, placing fifth in the 3,200 at 9:19.26 and sixth in the 1,600 at 4:18.92.

Willmar is bringing three field athletes to state.

Sophomore Maddison Molacek is the fifth seed in the girls’ discus with a qualifying toss of 125 feet, 4 inches. Stewartville’s Ella Theobald leads the pack with a qualifying throw of 145-10. Junior Mallory Beier is the 10th seed in the girls’ long jump at 17-1.75. Simley’s Ayisat Adebayo is the top seed at 17-11.5. Sophomore Briar Schuett is in the boys’ long jump as the 29th seed at 20-9.75. Becker’s Carter Reckelberg has the top seed at 24-8.75.

New London-Spicer junior Danica Pederson is tied for the two seed in the girls’ high jump. Her qualifying mark of 5-5 ties her with DeLaSalle’s Laila Moses. Mankato West’s Leila Pratt is the top seed at 5-5.25.

Kyla Vick also made state for NLS. She’s the 16th seed in the girls’ 3,200 at 11:27.07. Chisago Lakes’ Annika Hall is the top seed at 10:48.57.

Minnewaska senior Owen Meulebroeck reaches the final hurdle in the boys' 110-meter hurdles at the Essler Invitational on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at New London. — Minnewaska senior Owen Meulebroeck reaches the final hurdle in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles at the Essler Invitational on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at New London.

The Class A championships kick off with prelims at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and the championships at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. A total of 26 area athletes in individual events and 11 relays will compete over two days.

Three defending state champions are back from last season.

Minnewaska has a pair of returning champions in senior Owen Meulebroeck and junior Jayda Kolstoe. Meulebroeck won the 300 hurdles last season at 39.86. He’s the fifth seed this time at 40.46. The top seed is Osakis’ Andrew Jones at 37.62. Meulebroeck is also the 16th seed in the boys’ 110 hurdles (15.84). United South Central’s Brant Blosser is the number one seed at 14.62. Kolstoe won the girls’ shot put at 43-9.25 last season as a sophomore. She comes into state this time as the 10th seed at 36-8. The top seed is La Crescent-Hokah’s Brooklyn Mitchell at 42-7.25. Kolstoe is also in the girls’ discus as the two seed (126-0). The top seed is Litchfield junior Chloe Kowalczyk at 129-5.

The other returning champ is Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd’s Brayson Boike. He won the boys’ triple jump last season at 45.3.25. He is the seventh seed ths time around at 43-2. Windom’s Job Ogeka is the top seed at 45-4. Boike is also tied for the third seed in the high jump (6-4) and the fourth seed in the long jump (21-11).

Other notes in Class A:

The girls’ hurdles is be chock-full of area contenders. The 100 hurdles has Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City’s Kenlie Blom (fourth, 15.21), Minnewaska’s Lauryn Ankeny (sixth, 15.32), Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg’s Ava Noble (eighth, 15.37) and Central Minnesota Christian’s Sophia Vogel (14th, 15.69). Noble (fourth, 44.79), Ankeny (fifth, 44.83) and Vogel (44.92) are also in the 300 hurdles.
The girls’ discus also features four area athletes with Kowalczyk (first, 129-5), Kolstoe (second, 126-0), Montevideo’s Elizabeth O’Malley (11th, 119-0) and MACCRAY/Renville County West’s Emma Thein (16th, 114-6).
Minnewaska has both of the top-seeded relays from the area. The Laker boys’ 4×100 with Tristan O’Neil, Kaiden Harvey, Carter Meyer and Asante Adams is seeded third (43.54). The girls’ 4×800 with Ella Larson, Maia Larson, Nori Song and Olivia Danielson is also a three seed (9:42.85).

100 Hurdles: Kenlie Blom, ACGC; Lauren Ankeny, Minnewaska; Ava Noble, Benson/KMS; Sophia Vogel, CMCS

4×100 Relay: CMCS; Litchfield; Benson/KMS; Minnewaska

300 Hurdles: Ava Noble, Benson/KMS; Lauryn Ankeny, Minnewaska; Sophia Vogel, CMCS

800: Brynn Gloege, LQPV/DB; Nori Song, Minnewaska

4×400 Relay: Benson/KMS; Minnewaska

Long Jump: Carly Tolifson, Benson/KMS

High Jump: Aubrey Polzin, Minnewaska; Carly Tolifson, Benson/KMS; Mamie Luft, Benson/KMS

Discus: Chloe Kowalczyk, Litchfield; Jayda Kolstoe, Minnewaska; Elizabeth O’Malley, Montevideo; Emma Thein, MACCRAY/RCW

4×800 Relay: Minnewaska; MACCRAY/RCW

1,600: Frida Barrera, MACCRAY/RCW

Pole Vault: Keala Carroll, Benson/KMS; Klaira Shackelford, YME

Triple Jump: Sophia Vogel, CMCS

Shot Put: Jayda Kolstoe, Minnewaska; Catherine Fank, BOLD/BLHS

110 Hurdles: Owen Meulebroeck, Minnewaska

4×100 Relay: Minnewaska; Benson/KMS

300 Hurdles: Owen Meulebroeck, Minnewaska

800: Adam VanBinsbergen, Montevideo

200: Asante Adams, Minnewaska; Jack Gross, BOLD/BLHS

3,200: Taylor Nelson, BBE; Ian Mills, Minnewaska

Triple Jump: Brayson Boike, LQPV/DB

Shot Put: Noah Dietel, Litchfield

High Jump: Brayson Boike, LQPV/DB

Long Jump: Brayson Boike, LQPV/D-B; Jack Gross, BOLD/BLHS

300 Hurdles: Erin Eilers, Willmar

800: Lauren Eilers, Willmar

Discus: Maddison Molacek, Willmar

Long Jump: Mallory Beier, Willmar

High Jump: Danica Pederson, NLS

1,600: Lauren Eilers, Willmar

1,600: Sully Anez, Willmar

3,200: Sully Anez, Willmar

Long Jump: Briar Schuett, Willmar

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WIAA State Track and Field day one results | Sports

COPYRIGHT 2025 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED. The WIAA State Track and Field Championships got underway at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Early on Friday, the D2 and D3 teams got things started. The Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates […]

Published

42 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The WIAA State Track and Field Championships got underway at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Early on Friday, the D2 and D3 teams got things started.

The Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates kicked off the day with a second place finish in the 4×800 relay. Addy Duellman, Ana Knecht, Macy Hunger and Paxtyn Duellman finished in 9:42.51.

Later in the day, Addy Duellman would race in the 3200m run. It was neck and neck going into the last lap, but Duellman would pull away winning in 10:35.96. It was a new personal record by almost 30 seconds. Westby’s Elizabeth Curtis would finish the race in third place.

Prairie du Chien’s Blake Thiry had an eventful day. He would take first in the D2 long jump at 23 feet 6 3/4 inches. Thiry would also finished with the top qualifying time in the 110m hurdles and the 300m hurdles. Thiry will race in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles and jump in the triple jump on day 2.

Arcadia’s Ted Teske finished in third place in the D2 long jump.

Luther’s Jack Schmeling finished in second place in the D3 high jump. Schmeling set a new personal record by multiple inches as he cleared 6 feet 8 inches. He will participate in the discus on day 2.

Cochrane-Fountain City’s Grayden Barum would finish in 4th in the high jump and Kickapoo/La Farge’s Adam Boisen would finish in 6th.

Westby’s Madelyn Vonfeldt took fifth in the D3 Pole Vault clearing 5 feet 9 inches.

Declan Gregg of Aquinas would finish in 5th place in the D2 1600m run. Gregg will race in the 3200 on day 2.

North Crawford’s Carter Emler took fourth in the D3 long jump while Aidric Egge of Kickapoo/La Farge finished in fifth and Jay Stetzer finished in sixth.

North Crawford’s Gavin Tamling took fourth in the D3 shot put and De Soto’s CJ Milliren finished in fifth.

For full results visit pttiming.com

Later in the day the Division 1 schools took to the stage.

Onalaska’s Manny Putz was the returning 1600 meter champion looking to defend his title. Going into the last lap, Putz trailed De Pere’s Grady Lenn. Lenn took a big lead, but in the final 200 meters Putz closed the gap. It was neck and neck down the stretch, but Lenn held on for the win. Putz took second in 4:02:25. Lenn finished in 4:01:79. Both runners broke the old d1 state record. Putz will compete in the 3200 meter on Saturday.

More Onalaska athletes shined in the field events. Freshman, Wylder Burch took third place in the high jump. Burch set a new personal record in the biggest event of the year.

Over at the long jump pit, Onalaska Sophomore, Gabe Mauss would jump 23 feet 10 inches on his second jump of the day. It was a huge personal record and would land him third place on the podium.

Many other runners would qualify into the finals which are set for Saturday, June 6th.

For full results visit pttiming.com

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Elementary-aged volleyball camp planned for August at RSHS

Kyle A. Pillar – Sports Editor ROCKINGHAM — As the sport of volleyball continues to grow in interest and participation in Richmond County, so does the anticipation for Richmond Senior’s annual development camp. Head coach Ashleigh Larsen announced this week that plans for the Lady Raider volleyball program’s sixth annual summer camp are finalized. Held […]

Published

43 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Kyle A. Pillar – Sports Editor

ROCKINGHAM — As the sport of volleyball continues to grow in interest and participation in Richmond County, so does the anticipation for Richmond Senior’s annual development camp.

Head coach Ashleigh Larsen announced this week that plans for the Lady Raider volleyball program’s sixth annual summer camp are finalized.

Held the past five summers for girls in elementary and middle school, the camp is being done a little differently this year.

Set for Aug. 5 and 6, the camp is two days this year and is only open to girls who are entering first through fifth grade.

The cost per camper is $40 (plus a $3 service fee on GoFan) and each daily session will begin at 8 a.m. in Richmond’s gymnasium.

Lady Raider Volleyball Camp Registration Link

Larsen shared the camp’s mission is to “teach, educate and raise the level of volleyball skills for the campers, as well as teach the team concept. This will lead to success on the volleyball court through middle and high school.”

She also encouraged local youth to “keep active this summer by being a part of a winning tradition.”

Helping with instruction during the camp will be current and former Lady Raider players. Larsen added that the focus will be on the sport’s fundamentals with the younger group, including passing, serving and hitting drills.

Even though no camp will be held for middle school players (rising sixth to eighth graders), a skills clinic is planned for Aug. 11 at Richmond at 6 p.m.

The cost is $10 per athlete (cash only) as Larsen, assistant coach Melissa Dennis and former William Peace University volleyball player Georgia Grace Anderson will “cover skills and concepts needed for tryouts.”

There is no pre-registration for the middle school clinic.

Larsen can be contacted via email at ashleighlarsen@richmond.k12.nc.us with questions.

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Some NCAA Athletes Can Now Be Paid by Schools

A multibillion-dollar settlement was approved on Friday by a federal judge, allowing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I schools to directly pay college athletes for the first time. House v. NCAA was filed by former Arizona collegiate swimmer Grant House in 2020, challenging a decades-old prohibition on schools cutting checks directly to athletes, according […]

Published

58 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Some NCAA Athletes Can Now Be Paid by Schools

House v. NCAA was filed by former Arizona collegiate swimmer Grant House in 2020, challenging a decades-old prohibition on schools cutting checks directly to athletes, according to the Associated Press.

This decision made by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken marked a major legal and cultural shift for college sports, ending nearly a century of strict amateurism and paving the way for schools such as the University of Houston, Texas, and Texas A&M to participate in a new revenue-sharing mode.

Under the settlement terms, schools are expected to begin issuing payments to athletes as early as July 1.

The NCAA is set to pay out nearly $2.8 billion in back damages while capping each school’s annual direct payments to athletes at $20.5 million for the 2025-26 academic year.

Why It Matters

This development fundamentally alters the landscape of college sports in the United States, affecting athlete compensation, recruitment, and competitive balance.

For decades, NCAA rules disqualified student-athletes from receiving compensation beyond scholarships, despite the enormous revenues generated by college football and basketball.

The settlement responds to growing advocacy and legal action over athletes’ rights, reinforcing that players are entitled to a share of the wealth they help create.

Experts said the model could serve as a precedent for other states and potentially drive further reforms on a national scale, especially in light of similar legislative pushes like those recently seen in Texas.

NCAA National Office — National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquarters is seen in Indianapolis around March 2018.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquarters is seen in Indianapolis around March 2018.
getty

What To Know

The settlement in House v. NCAA concluded three federal antitrust lawsuits that alleged the NCAA unlawfully restricted college athletes’ earnings for years.

Wilken’s approval authorized schools to pay up to $20.5 million per year to athletes, with this cap set to increase annually during the 10-year agreement. In addition to new revenue-sharing, the NCAA will disburse nearly $2.8 billion in back payments to athletes who competed from 2016 onward, according to ESPN.

Shortly after the settlement, Texas advanced its own bill permitting universities to enter into direct name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with student-athletes. The bill cleared the state Senate unanimously and awaits Governor Greg Abbott‘s signature. The measure would take effect on September 1, and Texas officials said it was needed to maintain the state’s competitive edge in recruiting and retaining top-tier athletes.

Colleges such as the University of Houston and Texas A&M announced plans to distribute the maximum allowable $20.5 million, with football and men’s basketball expected to receive the majority share of funds. Texas committed to funding all 21 sports up to the full scholarship roster limit, allocating 75 percent of funds to football and 15 percent to men’s basketball, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Schools opting into the settlement, including the Power Four conferences, must designate which student-athletes remain above roster limits by early July, with regulatory oversight shifting to the newly established College Sports Commission.

Questions remain regarding the classification of college athletes as employees, the appropriate cap on compensation, and federal involvement. NCAA and school leaders continue advocating for congressional action to clarify legal uncertainties and preserve a degree of centralized control within college sports.

What People Are Saying

NCAA President Charlie Baker wrote in an online statement on Friday: “Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports,” Charlie Baker, NCAA President wrote in an online statement Friday. “This new framework that enables schools to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes and establishes clear and specific rules to regulate third-party NIL agreements marks a huge step forward for college sports.”

He added: “…We can now turn toward what most agree is our primary function: providing a world-class academic and athletics experience. With these changes in place, including release from future litigation on these subjects for the next decade, the foundation of college sports is stronger than at any point in years. The NCAA can increase focus on reforming clunky governance structures and, most importantly, prioritizing fair competition, academics and student-athlete well-being.”

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement issued to local news station KBTX: “The approval of the House settlement agreement represents a significant milestone for the meaningful support of our student-athletes and a pivotal step toward establishing long-term sustainability for college sports, two of the Southeastern Conference’s top priorities. As the journey to modernize collegiate sports continues, we remain focused on identifying and implementing innovative opportunities for our student-athletes across all sports while maintaining the core values that make collegiate athletics uniquely meaningful.”

What Happens Next?

Schools participating in the settlement will begin direct payments to athletes starting July 1.

Lawmakers and college sports leaders continue to push for further regulatory and legislative clarity at the federal level as implementation proceeds.

Sports

Track and field: Wildcats shine at Div. 4 state meet | Sports

The Wilmington Boys and Girls Track and Field teams competed at the Division 4 State Meet at Merrimack College on Friday (May 30, 2025) and Sunday (June 1, 2025). The boys were led by senior Ashvin Baker, who placed 6th in the 200 on Friday with a time of 22.87 and then 6th in the […]

Published

60 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Wilmington Boys and Girls Track and Field teams competed at the Division 4 State Meet at Merrimack College on Friday (May 30, 2025) and Sunday (June 1, 2025).

The boys were led by senior Ashvin Baker, who placed 6th in the 200 on Friday with a time of 22.87 and then 6th in the 400 on Sunday with a time of 50.79.

On Friday for the girls, Maddie Krueger was 10th in the discus with a distance of 86 feet and Julia Heller also competed.

Lexi LeBlanc was 14th in the 200-meter dash in 26.8 seconds and Maeve White took 29th in the 400 hurdles in 1:14.38.

Charlotte Kiley ran the two mile and placed 15th in 12:12.03.

For the boys, along with Baker, three Wildcats ran the two mile. Dean Ciampa was 14th in 10:09.55, Jake Cronin placed 25th in 10:37.46 and Gavin Dong was 28th in 10:52.28.

In the triple jump, Marvins Jean took 16th with a distance of 40 feet, 3 inches and Cam Pereira was 21st with a leap of 39-7.5.

On Sunday, Abby Howie was 14th in the javelin with a distance of 88 feet, 11 inches.

Kaylin Mulik was 11th in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 10 inches, and Kiley was 13th in the mile in 5:35.8.

Isabel Carriere was 30th in the 400 in 1:04.8.

The Wildcats had three relay teams compete.

The girls 4 x 800 relay of Leah Doucette, Josie O’Mahony, Bella Zaya and Kiley was 18th in 11:38.75.

The girls 4 x 100 relay of Kayleigh Walker, Lily McLaughlin, Avery King, Caroline Broussard was 20th in 53.67.

The girls 4 x 400 relay of Isabel Carriere, Celina Vo, Maeve White, Abby Joyce was 17th in 4:37.82.

For the boys, Pereira was 25th in the 110 hurdles in 17.17, Martin Philiossaint was 19th in the 100 in 11.42 and Jean was 26th in the long jump with a distance of 20 feet, 2.25 inches. Also long jumping was Jenks, who was 27th with a leap of 20-1.5, and Philiossaint.

Dean Ciampa competed in the mile and was 29th in 4:47.77 and two Wildcats ran the 400 as Baker was sixth and Cam Jenks was 21st in 54.18.

The boys also had three relay teams in action.

The 4 x 800 Relay team of Gavin Dong, Jake Cronin, Evan Cummings and Cooper Holleran was 13th in 8:54.42.

The 4×100 relay of Martin Philiossaint, Tyler Alfred, Ayden Bellevy and Cam Periera did not finish and the 4 x 400 relay of Cam Jenks, Dean Ciampa, Chase Heffernan and Ashvin Baker was 11th in 3:42.62.

Wilmington has six boys and six girls competing at the MSTCA Multi Championships at Regis College/Weston High School on Monday, June 9 and Tuesday, June 10.

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