Could we be on the verge of seeing federal legislation on college athletics?

Some reports indicate such legislation could be introduced in Congress as soon as today.

Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger broke the news yesterday, with sources saying the proposed law known as the “SCORE Act” could be introduced as early as today in Congress.

The bill would do several things, such as codifying the House settlement, brings regulations to agents, preempts state NIL laws, and provide some enforcement strength to the new College Sports Commission, among other things.

One of the main concerns with the House settlement has been how it would hold up long-term, especially with lawsuits likely to be filed. Federal legislation would give the settlement staying power, while also providing some stability in the college sports landscape that college ADs and others have been asking for.

There’s no guarantee that this bill makes its way through Congress, but Dellenger said it “is on track to progress further than any all-encompassing athlete compensation legislation.”

This will be something to keep an eye on in the coming days to see when the SCORE Act is introduced and whether or not it can be a bipartisan effort to pass it.

Tweet of the Day

This would be quite a sight at a wedding!

Headlines

Why expanding the NCAA Basketball Tournament is a bad idea – Herald Leader

It’s looking like we’re headed toward 72 or 76 teams.

Almonor adds shooting, youth to TBT team – Vaughts Views

Really cool to see Ansley join the team.

Kentucky one of several schools pursuing Pulaski County prospect – KSR

The Cats were in early on Brady Hull.

CBS says pressure is mounting on Stoops – CBS Sports

Take a look at the CBS Sports Hot Seat ratings.

The mystery of Tarik Skubal – ESPN

Skubal has been incredible the last few seasons.

Deion wants salary cap for college football – Bleacher Report

What do you think?

How will the Thunder move forward with extensions for Big 3? – Yahoo

It will be a delicate juggling account for the Thunder front office.

Cooper Flagg vs Bronny James in Summer League is drawing interest – NBC Sports

How will Flagg fare in his first summer league game?

MLB to test Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System at All-Star Game – SI

It already received a trial run during spring training.

BRONX, N.Y.  – Announcing a 28-match slate for Fordham University Volleyball this fall, Head Coach Ian Choi unveiled the 2025 schedule for the Rams Thursday afternoon.

Featuring three tournaments amongst a 10-game non-conference calendar, the Rams will also play an 18-match Atlantic 10 slate of matches, with eight weekend series alongside a home-and-home midweek series against Rhode Island. The Rams will play the first five weeks of the season in the state of New York, with the final two weekends of non-conference play featuring matches at the Rose Hill Gym.

Following a pre-season exhibition against Fairfield on Aug. 20, Fordham opens the 2025 campaign on Aug. 29-30 up in Binghamton, playing a single match against the host Bearcats on opening night, before a pair against Lehigh and UConn the following day.

The following week, the Rams make a short trip down Broadway to Columbia for the third year in a row to take part in the Big Apple Tournament, Sept. 5-6. The Rams take on Northeastern at 11:00 a.m. before taking on New Haven in the first ever Division I bout between the two sides at 5:00 p.m. and wrapping the tournament the next day against the host Lions at 3:00 p.m.

Sept. 11-13 sees the Maroon and White play their first home games of the season with the 22nd edition of the Rose Hill Classic, welcoming Hofstra, FDU, and Temple to The Bronx for five total matches over three days. Fordham will host FDU to start things off on Friday, followed by Hofstra on Saturday and Temple on Sunday. Both Saturday and Sunday will also feature an additional neutral site contest.

The Rose Hill Classic will open a stretch that will see the Rams play 11 of 13 matches at the Rose Hill Gym from Sept. 11 to Oct. 18, before hitting the road for seven of the final nine contests in the regular season.

In one final tune up before conference play gets underway, Fordham will host Central Connecticut State on Sept. 20 at the Rose Hill Gym, before opening A-10 play with their third straight weekend at home, hosting Loyola Chicago Sept. 26-27.

The lone road weekend amidst the extended home stretch, the Rams head out to Ohio for a meeting with  defending A-10 Champions, Dayton, Oct. 3-4, which advanced to the NCAA Regional round with a pair of wins in the tournament last season.

From there the home games pick back up with a midweek clash against Rhode Island on Oct. 8, before George Washington comes to town for a pair of games in The Bronx that Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12. One week later the Rams will welcome Duquesne to the Bronx to close the homestand Oct. 17-18.

Making a trip out to Missouri, the Rams visit Saint Louis, Oct. 24-25, before a return trip up to Rhode Island in the midweek on Oct. 29. Fordham then hosts its final home games of the regular season on Nov. 1-2 with a pair of matches against Davidson, hosting senior day that weekend as well.

The final two weekends of the regular season send the Rams down to Virginia, taking on George Mason Nov. 7-8 and VCU Nov. 15-16, where the Rams will look to stay, as the top six seeds in the A-10 head to VCU for the 2025 Atlantic 10 Championship, Nov. 21-23 in Richmond.

Hampton Volley, a beach volleyball tournament organized by the legendary three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, will feature celebrity, professional, and local talent. The event is set to take place on Tuesday, July 22, from 9 AM to 6 PM at Kirk Beach Park in Montauk, and is free and open to the public for spectating.

Hosted by beach volleyball icon Kerri Walsh Jennings and CONTRA, this community event aims to bring the excitement of West Coast volleyball to the East Coast, offering an unforgettable day of celebration and giving back. The invitational tournament will feature eight dynamic teams, comprising celebrities, professional athletes, local lifeguards, standout amateurs, and community members, creating a unique competitive landscape.

Net Proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit two charities: the Hampton Lifeguard Association, which supports vital water safety initiatives in the community, and the p1440 Foundation, which empowers and inspires through the transformative sport of beach volleyball.

“I am incredibly thrilled to bring Hampton Volley to life and unite such an amazing group of individuals for this inaugural tournament,” said Kerri Walsh Jennings. “Partnering and rallying behind the Hampton Lifeguard Association and p1440 embodies everything I believe in – the power of sport, community, and giving back. This event will bring together neighbors and friends with incredible competition, joy, and a significant positive impact for these vital organizations.”

“We couldn’t be more honored to be a beneficiary of Hampton Volley,” said John Ryan Jr., president of Hampton Lifeguard Association and Chief Lifeguard of the Town of East Hampton. “This event is a fantastic way to bring together the community around the love of sport while enjoying our beaches. The funds raised will directly benefit our lifeguards and educational initiatives, making the water safer for all visitors.”

The inaugural Hampton Volley tournament will feature players including Brooke Nuneviller, Phil Dalhausser, Devon Newberry, Jaden Whitmarsh, Corinne Quiggle, Trevor Crabb, and Taylor Sander.

On Monday, July 21 (the day before the main event), Jennings will host a volleyball clinic for teens aged 11 through 18.

Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff published a letter to Tiger fans on Wednesday. Neff addressed how the changes in the college landscape will impact the athletic budget.

Clemson Family – 

I hope you and your family have had a wonderful Independence Day weekend and are having a great summer.

The 2024-25 athletic year has officially come to a close in June, and as we look out upon a new era of college athletics, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to Thank You. There’s never been a more transitional time in college athletics, and I’ve never been more confident in our position. This year had an incredible number of records, big-time hardware and many big steps forward in our department – competitively and in the classroom – and we’re looking for even bigger things in 2025-26.

In May, nearly 100 student-athletes walked the stage, and our program’s academic accomplishment continues to set a national standard. We’ve led the nation among public Power Four institutions in graduation success rate (96%), had our second-best Academic Progress Rate on record (996 out of 1000), and our student-athletes have set GPA records in eight consecutive semesters.

We saw Lacrosse go to the NCAA tournament for the first time in their brief history, and advancing to the Sweet 16, our Men’s Tennis team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, and our Women’s Tennis program made the Tournament for the first time since 2018. Our women’s indoor track and field program took home the ACC title. Rowing took great steps in its first season under Adrienne Martelli, who led the Tigers to a top-25 ranking in the final poll for the first time since 2014.

The Softball program, still in its relative infancy, won its first ACC Tournament Championship and advanced to a Super Regional for the third time in five full seasons, and won its first Super Regional game at eventual National Champion Texas’s home field. The whole Regional weekend McWhorter Stadium was electric!

Baseball was among the top 15 teams throughout the season, and is one of just two baseball programs to host a regional in each of the past three seasons. Gymnastics had another strong season, and we recently welcomed Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell as Co-Head Coaches, which sent a major message that our program is poised and ready to take yet another step forward.

This year, we’re one of two schools nationally with our Football, Men’s Basketball and Baseball teams ranked at the end of the season, and Clemson led those programs in graduation success rate. Additionally, we won 40+ Baseball games, 25+ Men’s Basketball games and 10+ Football games in the same season for the third time ever.

Our football program has a tremendous core intact and is being talked about nationally as a contender after its ACC Title and CFP appearance in 2024. We also recently announced a 12-year series with Notre Dame, and we’re excited that our game with LSU on Aug. 30 will be in primetime on ABC.

We recently opened the Watt Family Performance and Wellness Center, a new 55,000-square-foot wellness facility, which is the new national standard, and a day-to-day home for 18 of our 21 sports. Rarely do we have the opportunity to impact so many of our programs with one facility, and this fits the bill.

Suffice it to say – there’s never been a better time to be a Tiger.

Much has changed in the past few months as we’ve positioned ourselves for the future.

We have settled our lawsuit with the ACC, and in doing so negotiated an enhanced revenue distribution model that rewards viewership in football and men’s basketball. While we’ve been among the best in the conference in those metrics previously, we must continue to keep those incentives a focus.

The settlement of the House Case was recently approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, and the new roster limits, scholarship allowances and the ability to enter into licensing agreements with student-athletes are transformational. I’ve had the privilege to serve on a committee to outline the “new era,” and that has allowed Clemson to stay informed and strategic.

As we unveiled previously, we plan to be among the most aggressive in support of our programs, and will add nearly 150 new scholarship opportunities, share the full allotment of revenue allowed ($20.5 million in 2025-26), and be thoughtful in our approach. We released a lengthy letter and FAQ in October 2024, and most of the philosophy and direction released then has not changed. There are still many nuances that need to be ironed out, but Clemson continues to be positioned for broad-based success nationally, and certainly among the most visible sports.

While the landscape has been fluid, one thing that has been reinforced is that culture matters. The support Clemson and IPTAY provide to our student-athletes off the field and court, the people we have in place, and our leadership have offered so much more than just a chance to play. We’ve vowed to “keep Clemson Clemson,” and each of our donors and fans play a central role in that.

We’ve continued to innovate in our business practices, while scrutinizing our expenses and seeking several new revenue categories within Clemson Ventures. Alcohol sales in our venues began at the Spring Football Game, and we’ve seen consistent support that will have an impact on our bottom line. We also hosted the Savannah Bananas in a surreal night in Death Valley, and unique events in our venues will continue to build new opportunities.

To cut to the chase, there’s a lot going on, and we couldn’t invest in our programs and perform at the highest level without your support.

We are so grateful to you, and we can’t wait to see you this fall.

Graham

—courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University Volleyball head coach Sharon Quarles has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes set to join the program for the 2025 season. The incoming class includes a strong mix of transfers and freshmen, featuring five Division I transfers, one Division II transfer, three international signees, and two true freshmen.

The new additions bring Augusta’s 2025 roster to 16 student-athletes and represent every position group on the court. Quarles emphasized the athleticism, size, and diverse backgrounds of this year’s class.

“It is that time again to introduce our newest players to Jaguar Nation. We will be welcoming 11 student-athletes to the Jaguar family. Every position is seeing new players filling those roles and along with that comes tremendous opportunities for our players to make their mark.

As in the past, we have always recruited players that will help expand our offensive opportunities at the net and solid players in the backcourt. By adding some additional height in certain positions with the incoming class, we are encouraged to be able to continue maintaining and possibly fortifying our block.

In addition, we have added some additional culture to our roster this season with three international players hailing from Poland, Spain, and the Ukraine. Preseason will be a welcome time to have these 16 faces walking in as individuals bringing their skill and competitive drive to start the process of becoming a highly competitive team that will battle every night and bring excitement to the crowds that come to watch.”

Meet the Newest Jaguars

Alexis Belarmino

Daphne, Ala. | 5’11” | Setter | Sophomore | University of New Orleans

Belarmino is a Division I transfer with three years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman at UNO, she appeared in 21 matches, averaging 3.73 assists and 1.05 digs per set. Notable matches include 26 assists and 8 digs against Alcorn, 22 assists and 6 digs against Southern, and 20 assists versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. At Daphne High School, she was ranked 1st in Alabama and 2nd nationally in assists in 2022–23. She set a career school record with 3,649 assists, earned AL.com Super All-State Team honors twice, and was named to the 6A State Championship All-Tournament Team.

Sydney Harrington

Albany, Ore. | 5’10” | Setter | Senior | UNC Greensboro / VCU

Harrington brings two years of eligibility after competing at both VCU and UNC Greensboro. She appeared in 21 matches at UNCG as a defensive and serving specialist.

At West Albany High School, she was a First Team All-State and All-State Tournament honoree in 2022. She led her team to its first 5A State Championship since 2013 and was nominated for Oregon Sports Volleyball Player of the Year.

Lauren Nelson

Oro Valley, Ariz. | 6’0″ | Outside Hitter | Senior | Jacksonville University / Rhode Island

Nelson joins Augusta with one year of eligibility after playing at the University of Rhode Island and Jacksonville University. In 2024, she appeared in nine matches, totaling 39 kills, 16 digs, and 40 points. Her top performance came against Florida A&M with 11 kills and 6 digs.

As a sophomore in 2023, she added 19 kills and two blocks across nine sets. She opened her career at Rhode Island in 2022 with 65 kills, 18 digs, and 18 blocks in 18 matches.

Serenity Jones

Warner Robins, Ga. | 5’11 | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | Georgia State University

Jones redshirted her freshman year at Georgia State but brings strong high school experience. At Veterans High School, she appeared in 84 sets and tallied 162 kills while averaging 75.7% kill efficiency. She was a 2023 All-Region First Team selection and helped lead her team to a 30-9 record, winning both the 6A region and county championships.

Hunter MacFarland

Rome, Ga. | 5’6″ | Libero | Sophomore | Northwestern State

MacFarland saw action in 23 matches and 79 sets, finishing with 126 digs and 19 aces. She reached double-digit digs four times and posted a season-high 13 digs at Lamar.

At Rome High School, she recorded over 1,000 career digs, was a four-time all-region player, three-time defensive MVP, and earned the Rome Orthopedic Most Outstanding Student-Athlete award. She held leadership roles in the National Honor Society, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and was the soprano section leader in her school’s honors choir.

Isis Barrett

Lawrenceville, Ga. | 5’11 | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | St. Thomas Aquinas College

Barrett was a consistent presence in the middle last season, appearing in 25 matches. She averaged 1.5 kills per set and posted a .239 hitting percentage, along with 0.79 blocks per set.

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Patrycja Kabala

Warsaw, Poland | 5’10” | Outside Hitter | Sophomore | Palm Beach State College

Kabala competed in both indoor and beach volleyball at PBSC, winning two NJCAA beach national championships as part of the #2 pair. Indoors, she earned First Team All-Conference honors, was a Region 8 Offensive Player of the Week multiple times, and was runner-up for Region 8 Player of the Year. In 23 matches, she averaged 3.91 kills per set and 2.33 digs per set with a .285 hitting percentage. In beach volleyball, she was named a First Team Doubles All-American.

Angela Mateos

Seville, Spain | 6’3″ | Right Side | Junior | Southern New Hampshire University

Mateos competed in 25 matches for SNHU in 2024, where she averaged 1.73 kills per set and hit .179. She also contributed defensively with 0.53 blocks per set. Her height and international experience will bring a strong presence to Augusta’s right side attack.

Sofia Snitsarevych

Odessa, Ukraine | 6’2″ | Freshman | CSM Constana (Romania)

Snitsarevych brings international experience from both Ukraine and Romania. She earned a spot on Ukraine’s U17 National Team and helped secure podium finishes in tournaments in Belarus and Latvia. After moving to Romania, she won the U17 Romanian National Championship with CSM Constan?a and is currently playing with the club’s A1 team.

Ronya Shackleford

McDonough, Ga. | 5’11” | Outside Hitter | Freshman | Creekside Christian Academy

Shackleford is an incoming freshman who will add depth to the outside hitter position. She brings raw athleticism and potential to the court and joins a talented class of newcomers.

Shadé Rich

Evans, Ga. | 6’0″ | Right Side | Freshman | Greenbrier High School

Local product Shade Rich brings length and versatility to the right side. She joins Augusta from Greenbrier High School and is expected to provide immediate depth in the front row.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can GIVE by clicking here. Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University Athletics at www.AugustaJags.com and receive updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Instagram @augustajags

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros head volleyball coach Todd Lowery announced on Thursday the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2025 season, including Martina Franco, Sujeili Mermella, Dimitra Nanou, Ana Julia Peixoto, Valentina Sarti Cipriani, Aaliyah Snead, Carmina Tijerina, Shylah Totten and Maria-Angeliki Tsagkopoulou. 
 
“We are incredibly excited about this incoming class. Each student-athlete brings a unique combination of talent, character and drive that aligns perfectly with our program’s values. They’re not just great players, they’re the kind of teammates and leaders who will help us continue building something special,” Lowery said. 
 
Martina Franco | Sophomore | Outside Hitter | 5-11 | San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Argentina | UTSA
Franco spent the 2024 season at UTSA and played in 24 matches making 14 starts. She contributed 2.27 points per set while averaging 1.82 kills per set and 1.86 digs per set for the Roadrunners. Franco totaled 22 aces and 15 blocks in her rookie campaign. 
 
Prior to UTSA, Franco competed at Red Star de San Lorenzo Tennis Club and helped the squad achieve promotion to the A1 division of the Rosarina Association. She competed for Argentina in national events, including helping her country win the 2022 U19 South American Championship. She was a National Champion Santa Fe Region All-State Team honoree in 2022 and participated in the Villa Dora Senior Team National League after being called up to Argentina’s senior squad in 2023.
 
Sujeili Mermella | Junior | Setter/Defensive Specialist | 5-6 | San Antonio, Texas | St. John’s 
Mermella brings two years of Div. I experience to the Vaqueros after beginning her career competing in the Big East as a member of the St. John’s volleyball team. She played in 54 matches at St. John’s and made two starts at libero. She averaged 0.95 digs per set and totaled 15 assists and seven aces while boasting a .936 reception percentage in 2024. Mermella helped the Johnnies reach the NIVC Fab Four in 2024 and earn back-to-back postseason appearances. St. John’s played for the Big East tournament championship in 2023. 
 

Prior to her collegiate career, Mermella was a three-sport standout at Antonian College Preparatory High School in San Antonio, competing in volleyball, basketball and track & field. She was a two-time all-state and all-district first team honoree and earned Academic All-State nods in 2021 and 2022. Mermella was the team MVP and a finalist for Vype Private School Athlete of the Year in 2022 and also made the Express News All-Area Team and Super Team and the Under Armor All-American Watchlist. She played for the San Antonio Lady Stangs Volleyball Club. 
 
Dimitra Nanou | Freshman | Outside Hitter | 6-0 | Kozani, Greece | Panthires Kozanis
Nanou brings international experience to UTRGV after playing at a high level in Greece. She was a starter for the U17 and U18 Greek national teams. In 2023, Nanou was the MVP of the U17 Balkan Championship and was named the best receiver at the European Championship Qualification. 
 
Ana Julia Peixoto | Freshman | Outside/Right Side | 6-1 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | Montverde Academy 
Peixoto is a decorated indoor and beach volleyball player hailing from Brazil. As a high school junior in 2024, she led Montverde Academy with a 16-2 beach record, playing all but one match in the No. 1 spot, to help the team earn the Citrus League and Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A District 10 championships. She was named the team MVP and to the Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team. In Brazil, Peixoto captured second and third-place finishes in national championship beach tournaments. 
 
Indoors, Peixoto totaled 266 kills (2.82 kills per set) and 180 aces (1.91 aces/set) across two seasons at Montverde. She was named to the Florida Gem High School Classic All-Tournament Team in 2022. 
 
Valentina Sarti Cipriani | Senior | Right Side | 6-1 | Milan, Italy | CSU Bakersfield 
Sarti Cipriani played the 2024 season at CSU Bakersfield after a strong junior college career at the College of Southern Idaho. 
 
Last season, she made 15 starts and played in 28 matches at CSUB and averaged 1.57 kills, 0.54 blocks and 0.41 digs per set while competing in the Big West. Sarti Cipriani was a two-time NJCAA All-Region 18 honoree while playing for CSI and a 2023 NJCAA All-Tournament Team selection. She played in 58 matches, making 50 starts, and accumulated 485 kills, 36 aces, 208 digs and 120 blocks. As a sophomore in 2023, she contributed 2.77 kills/set, 1.00 digs/set and 0.86 digs/set. 
 
Aaliyah Snead | Junior | Middle Blocker | 6-2 | Atlanta, GA | Tyler Junior College
Snead played two years at Tyler Junior College, including one with UTRGV setter Isabella Costantini. She appeared in 47 matches and averaged 1.14 kills per set in her JUCO career with a .348 hitting percentage. As a sophomore in 2024, Snead totaled 119 kills, 94 blocks and 32 aces to contribute 2.1 points per set as Tyler went 11-21. 
 
Snead led the team in blocks in 2024 and was third in kills and points per set. She tallied a single-match high 14 kills on .521 hitting with seven blocks in a match against Blinn College. 
 
Prior to TJC, Snead was a standout at Dutchtown High School and with her club team, Atlanta Performance. 
 
Carmina Tijerina | Freshman | Defensive Specialist | 5-2 | Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico | Brownsville St. Joseph 
Tijerina had a strong high school career playing for St. Joseph Academy in Brownsville and for Venom volleyball club. As a senior in 2025, she earned TAPPS All-State honorable mention and TAPPS District 4-5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. She helped the Lady Bloodhounds win the first bi-district title in program history with her dynamic defense. 
 
Tijerina surpassed 1,000 career digs and had over 700 digs in the 2025 season. She tallied 44 digs and a whopping 10 aces in a tournament match early in her senior season. She is the younger sister of former UTRGV libero/defensive specialist, Regina Tijerina (2021-22). 
 
Shylah Totten | Freshman | Middle Blocker | 5-11 | Chesapeake, VA | Oscar Smith High School 
Totten will add needed depth to the middle position for UTRGV. She had a solid career at Oscar Smith High School and playing with the East Coast Volleyball Club. Totten has good length and a heavy swing in the middle. She is athletic and expected to develop well with the Vaqueros. 
 
Maria Angeliki Tsagkopoulou | Freshman | Outside/Right Side| 6-0 | Athens, Greece
Tsagkopoulou is an athletic and versatile addition with experience playing at a high level internationally, including with the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV). She was a standout at the European Volleyball Exposure showcase. She can line up and contribute at both pins and is “extremely light off the floor,” said Lowery. Tsagkopoulou will add length to the block and is expected to make an impact right away. 

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