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

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FSU softball saw its 2025 season end with a sweep in the Super Regionals for the second consecutive year. Coach Lonni Alameda saw some roster holes in the pitcher’s circle that needed addressing at the conclusion of 2024.

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

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

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

Play it back

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

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

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

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

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

Deloitte predicts that women’s sports will make over $2 billion in 2025, and only continues to grow, as universities across the country reconsider how their money will go towards men’s and women’s programs.

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

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

Find Brad on X @BradPushkar

Find Jackson on X @FOX19Jackson

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

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

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

The betting odds usually help identify the early contenders.

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

2025-26 John Wooden Award odds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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As college athletics enters the revenue sharing era, some schools are testing athletes and agents with contracts that include eye-catching conditions. Last week, CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer reported that Florida State is making noise in college football circles for including unusual clauses in its contracts with athletes.

“One clause, which CBS Sports has seen a copy of, allows the team to extend a player at the end of their contract unilaterally without having to negotiate with the player,” Hummer wrote. “Another section on team rules — common in most NIL or rev share deals — includes a maximum $2,500 fine on the first offense if a player loses team equipment such as a pair of cleats. The max fine for using a controlled substance for the first time is $1,000.

“There’s another clause about things that would constitute a breach of contract. Among them is ‘illness or injury which is serious enough to affect the value of rights granted to the school.’ The way it’s written allows Florida State to renegotiate or even cancel a player’s contract at its discretion after any sort of injury — among other potential liquidated damages provisions included as part of the contract — including those that happen on the football field.”

Florida State is including these clauses to protect itself from any unforeseen threats in the revenue sharing era. After all, plenty of loopholes and unexpected issues related to NIL emerged during the past few years.

Alas, some people believe that Florida State’s attempt to get ahead of any future issues might hurt the program’s chances to land highly-touted prospects. On a recent episode of The Triple Option podcast, former NFL running back Mark Ingram questioned Florida State’s reported contracts.

“Players aren’t going to go there,” Ingram said. “For one, this contract gives Florida State way too much control over your future and your money. It exposes you to risk, injury, discipline, loss of leverage, all that. So if you’re a top player and you got Florida State on your visit, and they give you this, I’m sure there’s another university that’s going to give you better conditions and treat you like a partner and not an asset.

“If it’s me, I’m asking, ‘I need some time. Give me a copy of that. I need to review this.’ Then, when I see what’s actually happening in this contract, I’m coming back with some more player-friendly clauses in the deal… If you’re not willing to negotiate, institute the player-friendly clauses that I’m requesting, then I’m probably gonna leave and go to another school.”

After posting a 2-10 record last season, Florida State can’t afford any more setbacks. The Seminoles will kick off their 2025 campaign with a showdown against Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.

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