Bill Belichick Breaks Silence on NIL Chaos originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

When a six-time Super Bowl champion like Bill Belichick speaks, the sports world listens and this time, it’s not about the NFL, but the chaos surrounding college football’s NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era.

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Belichick, who stunned fans by returning to the college sidelines this spring as head coach of North Carolina, didn’t mince words when asked about the state of NIL during the ACC Spring Meetings. With the highly anticipated House v. NCAA settlement still pending after nearly a month on U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s desk, the legendary coach made his stance clear.

“For me, it’s really pretty simple: I’d say, tell me what the rules are and then we’ll play by them,” Belichick told ESPN’s Rece Davis on the College GameDay Podcast. “Right now a lot of it is up in the air.”

Belichick, now 73 and in his first college role since the 1970s, is entering this new chapter amidst massive uncertainty. More than 2,000 athletes entered the football transfer portal in 2024 alone, and the current NIL landscape is largely unregulated which is fueling concerns among coaches and administrators across the country.

If approved, the House settlement is expected to reshape enforcement through a newly formed College Sports Commission. Power Four conferences have already drafted new membership contracts that would bind schools to future decisions by this independent body in an attempt to stabilize the current free-for-all.

“Whatever it is… we’ll figure it out,” Belichick added. “But I’d say right now it’s a lot of ‘we’re not sure.’… I think things will settle eventually.”

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His comments echo sentiments from fellow ACC coach Dabo Swinney, who simply stated, “We just want some rules.”

The anticipation for clarity is palpable. With the NCAA expected to relinquish enforcement power to this new commission, coaches like Belichick are asking for one thing: a clear rulebook.

Belichick isn’t just adjusting to college football, he’s calling for its transformation. And until there’s structure, even the greatest minds in football are left waiting.

Related: Former Kentucky Great Has Words About NIL: “I’m Glad I Didn’t Play in That Era”

Related: Former Ivy League Star Turns Heads With Groundbreaking $6 Million NIL Deal

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

DALLAS, Texas (June 5, 2025) – The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be played Friday, Dec. 26, at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff time for the 16th edition of the postseason college football game is set for 7:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. 

“We are excited to announce that the 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be part of the extended Christmas holiday weekend,” Brant Ringler, the bowl’s executive director, said. “The men and women who serve as heroes each and every day deserve to be recognized and thanked, and for our community to be able to honor them on a national stage is truly special.”

This is the seventh time that the game has been played on Dec. 26, the most common date in the bowl’s annals. It also matches the earliest game date in the event’s history. On Dec. 26, 2023, the game between Texas State and Rice had an attendance of 26,542, which was the largest crowd at Ford Stadium during the 2023 season.

In December 2014, the bowl began honoring first responders, including police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, correctional officers, search and rescue, dispatchers, security guards, federal agents, border patrol agents and military personnel who have specialized training and are the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency. In 2018, the game was renamed to reflect the efforts to show appreciation to first responders.

Ford Stadium has served as the site of the last six contests, four of which have been decided by a touchdown or less, including a thrilling 30-28 Texas State victory over North Texas last season. The game, previously known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl and TicketCity Bowl, was originally contested at Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Previous teams selected for the bowl include Air Force, Army West Point, Boise State, Boston College, Houston, Illinois, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Memphis, Penn State, Purdue, Rice, Southern Miss, Texas State, Texas Tech, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, UTSA, Washington, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Western Kentucky.

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is one of 17 college football bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events. For additional information, please visit FirstResponderBowl.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X. 

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube.

The Big Ten and SEC are still making waves as the House v. NCAA settlement hits more delays. On this episode of Follow The Money, Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, Jon Heidtke and host Andrew Monaco touch on those topics, the impact of NIL in softball and much more.

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NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University student-athletes continued to excel academically during the Spring 2025 semester. The 22 varsity programs combined for a department GPA of 3.22, with 12 teams posting GPAs above the average.

A total of 217 Cadets earned a GPA between 3.4 and 3.9, while 55 student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, earning them President’s List honors.

Norwich’s women’s programs were led by Women’s Cross Country, which posted a department-high 3.656 team GPA. Women’s Ice Hockey (3.652) and Women’s Basketball (3.640) closely followed.

On the men’s side, Men’s Ice Hockey led all programs with a 3.651 team GPA, just ahead of Men’s Golf (3.646) and Men’s Tennis (3.636).

Football led the way in terms of total representatives on the Dean’s List with 22. After receiving National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Team Scholar Champions earlier this year, Men’s Wrestling ended the year with 17 student-athletes on the Dean’s List, the second most among men’s teams. Men’s Ice Hockey paced the department in President’s List honorees with 11.

On the women’s side, Women’s Rugby led the way with 19 players on the Dean’s List. Not far behind is Women’s Soccer with 15 student-athletes. Women’s Soccer also tied Women’s Ice Hockey in President’s List honorees with four each.

 

 
Norwich student-athletes continue to uphold the University’s mission by excelling in academics, service, and sport while also upholding the values of Division III athletics.