NIL

SEC football coaches want one January transfer portal window, but issue is complicated

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — At the SEC’s annual spring meetings at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort, decisions on the future of college football are at the forefront as athletics directors, presidents, coaches and more gather. The impending decision on the House v. NCAA settlement, the structure of the College Football Playoff and the number […]

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1 week ago

May 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SEC football coaches want one January transfer portal window, but issue is complicated

The impending decision on the House v. NCAA settlement, the structure of the College Football Playoff and the number of conference football games the league will play each year are among the hottest topics at the meetings, which began Tuesday.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, however, brought up a different issue when speaking to reporters about the most pressing matters to the league’s coaches. It’s an important one, but one that seems to have taken a backseat among the many big-picture subjects being discussed in the Florida Panhandle this week.

“The biggest decision that has to be made in college football right now, by far, to me, is when is the portal window, and is there one or two?” Smart said.

The issue is front-of-mind for coaches. It’s especially important for those like Smart who are perennial postseason contenders.

As it stands now, the first transfer portal window for football runs for much of the month of December, when teams like Georgia are in the thick of playoff preparation.

“It’s really hard to be playing in a championship setting and having to deal with that,” Smart said. “But when I brought that up as a complaint or a problem, it was told to me, ‘There’s no crying from the yacht.’ If you want to play in these environments, you have to be willing to do that.”

For a team like Arkansas, which has never been on the kind of proverbial yacht from which Smart is accustomed to a good view, transfer portal season is still a problem in a different way. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said frequently throughout the offseason and spring practice that he wants to see college football move to one portal window.

Pittman hasn’t dealt with players transferring while trying to manage a championship run, but he has dealt with players leaving in search of more money after spring practice. He hopes to see one portal window in January.

“You’re having spring ball for a lot of reasons. One of them is to get better,” Pittman said in April. “The biggest challenge is that [players] improve, improve, improve and then what does that mean? ‘Well, my money should improve.’ Well, you just signed a contract in January and we may not have the money available.

“It’s just a constant part of fighting that. I want to be able to pay the players, but I also want to know what my team is supposed to look like after spring ball.”

The rest of the league’s coaches and the American Football Coaches Association share Pittman’s view and have a consensus in support of one January window, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Tuesday afteroon.

But Smart also mentioned a growing contingent of coaches would prefer to have the lone window be in April or May and hold some practices or NFL-style organized team activities in June. That, Sankey said, isn’t of interest to the league’s coaches.

“We talked specifically through, you’re going to have [players] that don’t want to be there if you don’t have a January portal,” Sankey said. “You’re going to have tampering as people think about, ‘Maybe I’m going to move in April.’ Those are two high-level concerns.

“They said we’d rather have the current circumstance than moving to some kind of April-only window. That’s highly problematic.”

It’s a problem further complicated by calendar concerns like high school camps and official visits. Plus, there’s the academic calendar, which affects when players can transfer as they must enroll in classes.

There’s also the “cap year” from July 1 to June 30, dictating when the amount of revenue sharing money schools have will reset under the yet-to-be-approved House v. NCAA settlement.

All of these concerns and questions are among the many complex topics coaches and administrators are discussing beside the beach this week. But not many of them will actually get clear solutions during the SEC’s meetings.

“That’s not being decided by us today,” Smart said of the portal issue. “A lot of people don’t even know how it’s getting decided or who’s deciding it….In my opinion, it’s the implementation committee, which comes from the [House] settlement. Eight ADs — two from each Power 4 conference — who will hear the conferences’ perspectives. And ultimately, those eight ADs, which are appointed…will have to make a lot of implementation decisions that are not part of the settlement.

“That’s very critical, in my mind. It’s not really talked about. Like, nobody’s talking about the portal [amid the settlement]. They just don’t think it’s a big deal.”

NIL

College sports settlement means NCAA schools can directly pay players

NCAA member schools can compensate their players across all sports beginning July 1, according to the approval issued by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken. Latest on NCAA settlement that would allow revenue sharing for college athletes USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Berkowitz discusses the latest on judge’s refusal to approve NCAA settlement that would allow revenue […]

Published

15 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NCAA member schools can compensate their players across all sports beginning July 1, according to the approval issued by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken.

College athletes can now be compensated for their name, image, and likeness.
The settlement covers athletes whose careers began between 2016 and Sept. 15, 2024.

A federal judge has granted final approval of a settlement of three antitrust cases addressing the compensation of college athletes Friday, ending a protracted legal debate and ushering in an extraordinary era that will allow NCAA member schools to directly pay their athletes.

According to the approval issued by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in Oakland, California, schools will be able to compensate their athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness across all sports through an expected initial annual allotment of $20 million-$23 million per school, according to estimates. The changes are set to go into effect July 1.

The total allotment for NIL payments will be guided by a cap of 22% of the combined total of certain revenues of Power Five conference schools. The dollar amount is set to grow annually.

The agreement resolves lawsuits involving the NCAA, the Power Five conferences and lawyers for the plaintiffs by providing a 10-year settlement worth about $2.8 billion in damages, most of which is to be paid to compensate current and former athletes who were unable to participate in NIL contracts. Athletes whose college careers began between 2016 and Sept. 15, 2024, are eligible for compensation.

The damages money will come from the NCAA, which the largest share will come from the association’s central office via new revenue, cost savings and reserve funds. The remainder will come from reductions in NCAA distributions to Division I members, with roughly a quarter coming from members of the Power Five conferences.

During the process of the settlement approval, there were several objections to Wilken made in-person and in writing last month. It is expected there will be some of those objectors appealing her approval. An appeal must be made within 30 days of the decision.

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Judge approves House v. NCAA settlement, allowing schools to pay college athletes

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35 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

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USC’s NIL success sparks envy and outrage, recruiting surge is about more than money

A lot of other fan bases appear to be heavily pocket watching USC. Instead of analyzing what their own recruiting efforts could be doing differently, it seems that with each opportunity that presents itself, there are a lot of efforts to dismiss anything positive that comes from the Trojan side. The latest comes as a […]

Published

53 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The latest comes as a reaction to the latest USC commit, Mark Bowman, reportedly having NIL opportunities that can be in the range of $8-10 million for his estimated three years as a student-athlete. For some reason, these figures are drawing a lot of outrage throughout the college football nation.

Forget that the figures are a rough estimate and are taking all avenues into consideration over the course of three years. This news is seeing a lot of pearls being clutched, particularly among those fan bases who have enjoyed having a considerable advantage paying athletes, both since the inception of NIL and before it was actually allowed.

In earnest, it is not as if USC has handed Bowman or anyone a check for that amount before even stepping foot on campus as a player. This type of figure should instead highlight something that should have been known anyway.

The Trojans have a greater ability to pay student-athletes through the multiple avenues and what comes with being a part of the program. It is something of a complete mystery how people are disregarding how Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world and have simply not been as active or as well organized as they could have been in recent years.

All that is being reflected now is a return to the norm. Apparently that is too much of a bridge too far for others to not believe that some form of cheating or unabashed money waving is not going on.

Things are, in fact turning around at USC

What is nice about these allegations are two things. For one, it shows how worried the rest of college football is. Whether they wish to admit it or not, USC is simply following the currently agreed upon rules that all (allegedly) abide by.

More importantly, the baseless accusations are not at all what is leading to the latest recruiting successes or why many feel good about USC. Because the money aspect is a distant secondary talking point during the recruiting process, it will be clear soon enough that those who pledged themselves to join USC did so for more than a one-time big pay day.

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Texas Tech Red Raiders – Official Athletics Website

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics is calling on Red Raider Nation to pack Rocky Johnson Field Saturday afternoon to welcome back the National Runner-Up softball program after its historic run at the Women’s College World Series. Gates will open at 1 p.m. Saturday with the Red Raiders expected to arrive by 2 p.m. at Rocky […]

Published

56 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics is calling on Red Raider Nation to pack Rocky Johnson Field Saturday afternoon to welcome back the National Runner-Up softball program after its historic run at the Women’s College World Series.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. Saturday with the Red Raiders expected to arrive by 2 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field. Admission is free with parking permitted in the lots immediately surrounding Rocky Johnson Field.

The Red Raiders captured the nation’s attention this season during their historic run to the Women’s World Series, going from a bubble team a year ago to the peak of college softball in less than a calendar year. With only three returning players from a year ago, Texas Tech developed over the course of head coach Gerry Glasco‘s first season, eventually winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles before hosting the NCAA Regional round for the first time.

Texas Tech won 13 of its final 15 games to end the season, defeating two WCWS mainstays in UCLA and Oklahoma in the process, en route to advancing to the championship series against Texas. The historic season ended Friday night with a 10-4 loss to Texas in the deciding game of the WCWS championship series.

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Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady signs a second $1 million-plus NIL deal, AP source says

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady has signed another $1 million-plus NIL deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly. ESPN first reported the deal. “I’m […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady has signed another $1 million-plus NIL deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN first reported the deal.

“I’m thrilled that a player of the caliber of NiJa Canady can take advantage of her success and her hard work that she’s given to the sport and given to the school that she’s at,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said after Texas claimed the national title with a 10-4 win over the Red Raiders in the decisive Game 3 of the championship series on Friday night.

News of the name, image and likeness deal broke hours before Canady was set to pitch in the final game. She lasted one inning and gave up five runs on five hits.

Texas pitcher NiJaree Canady throws during the third game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals against Texas in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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Canady signed a similar deal with Texas Tech last year after she had led Stanford to the World Series semifinals two straight years. She didn’t directly address either deal, but noted that her success has come with some negative attention as the sport has grown.

“I feel like more eyes are on the sport,” she said, “Of course, that comes with positives and negatives. There’s always like, negative attention that comes with it. But I feel like for the whole and just growing the sport and just giving younger girls something to look up to — it means a lot.”

Despite the rough finish, she led the nation in wins with 34 and threw every pitch in Tech’s first five World Series games. Glasco said her success and the exposure she has brought the school has made it all worthwhile.

“I’m not an expert,” Glasco said. “ Somebody could really do an in-depth study. But I have no doubt it (the first deal) would exceed a million dollars of value. I think it was of great value for our school.”

Glasco said there has been too much negative attention brought to the money Canady has earned.

“I found it almost insulting to her at times when I listened to broadcasts how much they talked about it because, like I said, I don’t hear it when we talk about — when we watch a men’s basketball game or a men’s football game, and to me that’s not right,” Glasco said. “That shouldn’t be that way.”

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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Tennessee plan to pay players revenue, NIL after House settlement approved

University of Tennessee athletes will be paid revenue directly by the school, beginning July 1, in addition to third-party income they already earn for use of their name, image and likeness. The revenue sharing era has officially arrived with approval of the House settlement on June 6, which resolved three federal antitrust lawsuits against the […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

University of Tennessee athletes will be paid revenue directly by the school, beginning July 1, in addition to third-party income they already earn for use of their name, image and likeness.

The revenue sharing era has officially arrived with approval of the House settlement on June 6, which resolved three federal antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and four power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC).

Any NCAA member school opting into the revenue sharing format can pay its athletes up to an annual cap of approximately $20.5 million. That doesn’t include third-party NIL pay, which is still allowed.

This is a monumental shift in college sports, which moves even closer to a professional model as the NCAA and major conferences try to avoid further litigation.

Just like the NIL era, which began in 2021, UT will dive headfirst into revenue sharing. Here’s what UT fans need to know about this new system.

There’s a salary cap for each school

There will be a cap of approximately $20.5 million that a school can pay its athletes per academic year. It will be 22% of the average revenue from ticket sales, media rights and sponsorships by power conference schools. That cap will increase each year.

Schools determine which athletes are paid and how much, as long as the total doesn’t exceed the cap. Presumably, schools will spread revenue among several players, just like the payroll of a pro team.

Additionally, a player can earn as much NIL money as the market will pay, but those deals must withstand a new vetting process.

Here’s how Tennessee could divide revenue

UT has not disclosed its approach to revenue sharing. But it appears UT, like most SEC schools, will distribute the money according to revenue each sport produces.

A model was prescribed in the preliminary House settlement: Approximately 75% to football players, 15% to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and 5% to other sports (including baseball).

But for many schools like UT, those percentages will be calculated from an $18 million budget instead of $20.5 million, because $2.5 million will count toward new scholarships with increased roster limits. Extra scholarships should attract talented athletes to schools willing to fund them, especially in sports like baseball, soccer, swimming and track, among others.

That model for revenue distribution is just a baseline. Schools will adjust percentages based on need and different strategies, and conferences may set standards for each member school.

Why male, female athletes won’t be paid equally

Lawsuits are anticipated, arguing that revenue should be shared equally among male and female athletes based on Title IX principles for publicly funded universities. An appeal to the settlement on any grounds must be made within 30 days of the decision.

For now, most schools believe it’s riskier to violate guidance from the multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement than violating Title IX. Until there’s clear legal guidance, most schools will pay athletes based on the revenue their respective sport generates.

Also, President Donald Trump’s administration provided cover for that approach by rescinding former President Joe Biden’s Title IX guidance for paying college athletes.

Salary cap doesn’t include NIL

Athletes can still earn NIL money in addition to their share of school revenue. NIL income comes from businesses, boosters and third-party collectives. Revenue shares come directly from the university’s athletic budget.

The richest schools and boosters will utilize those two income streams to maximize player pay in a high-dollar arms race to build the most talented rosters.

However, a breaking point could be on the horizon. Athletic department revenue relies on donations and ticket sales. NIL collectives rely on money from those same boosters and fans.

Eventually, supporters could grow tired of paying athletes, especially through two different entities.

That means $20.5 million is the floor, not the ceiling

Because there is no limit on NIL, the estimated $20.5 million cap on revenue will be a starting point for player pay by the richest schools.

Imagine $15 million going to a football roster in revenue, and then another $10 million in NIL pay supplementing those same players. A few schools will lean on wealthy boosters to pull that off, but many others will reach their breaking point. Paying revenue to athletes will be difficult enough. After all, that money must be squeezed out of the athletic budget that was already in place. Tightening the belt could mean cutting sports that generate very little revenue, or reducing staff.

UT’s skyrocketing revenues put it in better shape than most, but every school will face hard decisions.

Tennessee opted in, but not every school will

Athletic department budgets have relied on this revenue for decades. Now they must share a good portion of it with athletes.

It becomes a simple equation: Either cut expenses or increase revenue, or both.

Tennessee gets a revenue bump from increased ticket prices, which includes a “talent fee” to aid in player pay. But there also will be budget cuts. That means Danny White, the Sports Business Journal’s Athletic Director of the Year, must manage UT’s money wisely.

Most power conference schools will opt into revenue sharing. Some mid-major schools won’t be able to afford it. They all have the option to spend well below the cap.

Tennessee athletes will be under contract

UT athletes will sign an agreement to receive a specific amount of revenue from the university, which must be offered and perhaps negotiated.

In theory, players under contract who enter the transfer portal would have to pay a buyout to the school or forfeit a portion of their revenue, but that’ll likely meet legal challenges. Almost every college sports rule has been tested in the courts.

Multi-year contracts especially would trigger buyouts, but it’s believed that those will go to only a few star players. After all, schools don’t want to commit to too many athletes over multiple years, and vice versa, at least not until the environment appears more stable.

Most revenue-sharing contracts will be one-year deals, at least until schools can settle into long-term strategies. That’s similar to scholarships, which are awarded each year and then routinely renewed.

Schools will try to hide player payroll from public

Schools don’t want media and fans to have access to their payroll. It would invite scrutiny and stir up disputes in locker rooms. That’s why Tennessee lawmakers have been preparing legislation that would keep secret that public money paid to college athletes, and other states are doing the same.

But there’s a reasonable argument that it should be available because athletes will receive money from public institutions. That battle over public records lies ahead.

There will be a cap management database to track how much schools pay players, but it’s still in development. It may track payments by sport or even position. Schools will have access to that data for their own budgeting purposes. But they’d like to keep it from public view.

NCAA won’t police player pay anymore

Power conferences are creating a new enforcement arm, the College Sports Commission, to ensure that schools abide by the athlete compensation rules, Yahoo Sports reported, including the revenue cap and NIL.

A new NIL clearinghouse will vet deals to determine if they are “legitimate, fair market NIL agreements and not being used for pay-for-play,” according to an NCAA memo sent to member schools on Feb. 13.

That could turn NIL into what it was intended to be: Businesses paying athletes for endorsements rather than common fans funding NIL payrolls. But that’s a difficult standard to define and uphold, so it’ll certainly face lawsuits.

Nevertheless, this means the NCAA will not police revenue sharing or NIL. Instead, the association will focus on eligibility and academic matters. It’s the next step in what appears to be an inevitable break between the power conferences and the NCAA structure.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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