College Sports

Tennessee’s AD just dropped a bombshell and It could change college sports forever

SEC AD says the only way forward for college athletics is collective bargaining If you’re a fan of college athletics—especially here in the heart of Big Blue Nation—you’ve probably felt the ground shifting under your feet. And now, Tennessee athletic director Danny White just confirmed what many feared and others suspected: “Collective bargaining… is the […]

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1 month ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SEC AD says the only way forward for college athletics is collective bargaining

If you’re a fan of college athletics—especially here in the heart of Big Blue Nation—you’ve probably felt the ground shifting under your feet. And now, Tennessee athletic director Danny White just confirmed what many feared and others suspected:

“Collective bargaining… is the only solution.”

Charlie Baker — Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Sports Gambling In U.S. | Kevin Dietsch/GettyImages

That’s not just a hot take. That’s a full-on detonation of the NCAA’s traditional model.

White, alongside University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman, is sounding the alarm as the House v. NCAA settlement barrels toward final approval. And if their words prove prophetic, college sports could be on the verge of becoming something unrecognizable.

Let’s break down what’s going on—and why it could matter as much to Kentucky basketball fans as the Final Four itself.

What is collective bargaining, anyway?

Think labor union.

Collective bargaining is when a group of workers—usually through a union—negotiate with their employer as a group. The goal? Better pay, better benefits, and better treatment.

Instead of every athlete trying to secure their own NIL deal or fight for medical care alone, they’d have unified representation. It’s how teachers, factory workers, and professional athletes hammer out contracts.

So what White is really saying is this:

Let’s make the NCAA the employer. Let’s make athletes employees. Let’s negotiate a binding contract for everyone.

That’s a seismic shift.

Why now? House v. NCAA and the $2.8 Billion ticking time bomb

Donald Trump — President Trump Welcomes 2025 NCAA Basketball Champion Florida Gators To The White House | Alex Wong/GettyImages

The call for collective bargaining comes just as the NCAA prepares to settle three landmark lawsuits—House, Hubbard, and Carter v. NCAA—in a deal worth $2.8 billion over 10 years. That deal would compensate past athletes denied NIL revenue and let schools share up to 22% of their annual revenue—around $20-22 million per school—with current players.

That sounds like a win, right?

Well, not exactly.

Critics say the deal:

Imposes a salary cap that could be illegal.
Fails to protect women’s sports or non-revenue athletes.
Limits fair-market NIL deals via a new regulatory clearinghouse.
Reduces scholarship opportunities, replacing them with “roster limits.”
Was negotiated without direct athlete input.
Favors big schools.

Even if U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken signs off—which appears likely—the lawsuits won’t stop. Lawyers are lining up for more already before it even becomes official. The Department of Justice is watching. And no one knows where the new rules will land.

White’s message is clear: This patchwork system is broken. Let’s build a new one.

But collective bargaining isn’t simple folks.

Turning college sports into a unionized labor force brings its own massive complications, including:

Who’s in the union? Just football and basketball players? Or every athlete, from gymnastics to golf?
Are athletes now employees? If so, what about their scholarships, taxes, and transfer freedom?
Title IX nightmares. Equal pay under employment laws could spark lawsuits from every corner.
School-by-school chaos. Will Kentucky negotiate a different deal than Florida or Alabama?
Who represents the athletes? NIL collectives? New unions? The NCAA’s not exactly trusted here.
And what happens if an athlete goes on strike before the NCAA Tournament?

The potential for chaos is real—but so is the potential for progress.

What it means for Kentucky and the SEC

Kentucky has always operated like a blue-blood NBA franchise in March and a southern football school in October. But with revenue-sharing, NIL regulations, and employment classifications in play, schools like UK may have to rethink everything about how they build rosters, fund Olympic sports even more, and even recruit.

Mitch Barnhart — Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness | Andy Lyons/GettyImages

Mark Pope’s Wildcats may benefit from a clearer, more structured compensation model—especially as ticket sales and TV money continue to grow. But it could also limit flexibility and bring unexpected legal challenges to Rupp Arena’s doorstep.

So what say you, BBN?

Do you want college sports to work like the pros?
Do you trust the NCAA, or anyone, to enforce a fair system for everyone?
Or is collective bargaining—the kind Danny White is calling for—the only real path forward?

We’re entering a new era of college athletics. The question is no longer if change is coming—but how much, and how fast.

And for once, Kentucky might not be able to dribble past the politics after all. Interesting times indeed.

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College Sports

Arizona GymCats head coach John Court extended through 2028

There’s no way to describe Arizona gymnastics’ 2025 season except highly successful. The team produced the Big 12 co-Specialist of the Year, the WCGA Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year, and the Big 12 Coach of the Year. Over two months after concluding his season, that coach of the year has signed an extension to […]

Published

25 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Arizona Athletics announced that John Court has been extended through the 2028 season on Thursday afternoon. His current contract was signed in 2023 and was due to expire in 2026.

Court has been at Arizona for 26 years. He served as an assistant under both Bill Ryden and Tabitha Yim. He finally took over the program after Yim left just before the 2017-18 school year. After serving as the interim head coach for most of the season, he was given the permanent title in March 2018.

Court’s teams improved each year and had a breakout season this year. The GymCats finished second in their first season in the Big 12. Their only conference losses came to Utah in both the regular season and at the conference championships.

The team then accomplished another first. They advanced to the NCAA regional finals for the first time since the postseason format changed in 2019, pulling off an upset over Georgia to take second in their session. They also defeated Arizona State for the third time this season. It made them one of the last 16 teams standing.

Court’s extension follows the announcement of assistant Kylie Kratchwell’s promotion to associate head coach on June 18. She shares that title with Court’s longtime assistant Taylor Spears. The pair joined first-year assistant Shelby Martinez in earning the WCGA’s regional staff honors for the South Central Region.

Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics

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College Sports

Arizona gymnastics coach John Court signs 2-year extension

Arizona continues to lock up head coaches who’ve enjoyed recent success at the UA. The latest to sign a contract extension is gymnastics coach John Court. Court inked a two-year deal that will keep him in Tucson through 2028, the school announced Thursday. Court became the third UA head coach to sign a new deal […]

Published

41 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Arizona continues to lock up head coaches who’ve enjoyed recent success at the UA.

The latest to sign a contract extension is gymnastics coach John Court. Court inked a two-year deal that will keep him in Tucson through 2028, the school announced Thursday.

Court became the third UA head coach to sign a new deal this week, following baseball coach Chip Hale and women’s tennis coach Ryan Stotland.

“We’re proud of the progress under Coach Court’s leadership and look forward to building on that momentum in the years ahead,” UA athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois said in a news release. “Under his direction, our gymnastics student-athletes are excelling academically with a 3.8 GPA this spring, serving our community with heart and delivering record-setting performances — including a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since the current format began in 2019. This extension reflects our belief in the program’s trajectory and the values it represents.”

Gymnastics: Arizona vs Sacramento State — Arizona gymnastics coach John Court, right, and his team point to the crowd while thanking them for coming to the meet before the winner was announced in the final home meet against Sacramento State at McKale Center on March 10, 2022.

Rebecca Sasnett, Arizona Daily Star 2022

Arizona finished in second place in its first season in the Big 12, earning Court the conference’s Coach of the Year award. The GymCats made the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in Court’s seven seasons. The only time they didn’t make it was 2020, when the season was cut short because of the pandemic.

“I’m grateful to Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois, President Dr. Suresh Garimella and sport administrator Kristen Arquilla for their continued trust and support,” said Court, who previously served as a UA assistant and has been part of Arizona gymnastics since 1999.

“It’s an honor to lead this program, and I’m excited to build on the momentum of last season. Our team is committed to competing at the highest level, excelling academically and making a positive impact in the community.”

Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social

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College Sports

College Hockey Inc » BU Alum Marie-Philip Poulin Headlines PWHL Player Awards

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Montreal Captain Named League MVP, Forward of the Year Former BU captain Poulin led the PWHL in goals (Photo: BU Athletics). The PWHL announced its 2024-25 postseason awards Wednesday, with all five individual player accolades going to former college hockey players. Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who starred at Boston University […]

Published

42 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Montreal Captain Named League MVP, Forward of the Year

BU Alum Marie-Philip Poulin Headlines PWHL Player Awards — Former BU captain Poulin led the PWHL in goals (Photo: BU Athletics).

The PWHL announced its 2024-25 postseason awards Wednesday, with all five individual player accolades going to former college hockey players.

Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who starred at Boston University from 2010-15, was a dual award winner, capturing both the Billie Jean King MVP Award and Forward of the Year honors. Poulin scored a league-leading 19 goals and finished fourth in the PWHL scoring race with 26 points in 30 games. She also tallied a league-record six game-winning goals.

Renata Fast, a member of Clarkson’s 2013-14 NCAA championship squad, was named PWHL Defender of the Year after collecting 22 in 30 contests for Toronto. She also led the league in hits (63) and average time on ice (24:39).

For the second year in a row, a Wisconsin alum captured PWHL Goaltender of the Year. Last year, it was Kristen Campbell; this year, Ann-Renée Desbiens took home the honors. Desbiens, the 2017 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, won a league-leading 15 games for Montreal in 2024-25 while posting a 1.86 goals against average and .932 save percentage.

Princeton alum Sarah Fillier, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, made good on her draft pedigree by winning Rookie of the Year honors. The first-year forward tied for the PWHL scoring crown with 29 points in 30 games, establishing a new rookie record in the process.

The PWHL also announced its all-star teams and all-rookie team; all 18 selections were former college hockey players:

2024-25 PWHL All-Star First Team

G: Ann-Renée Desbiens, MTL (Wisconsin)
D: Renata Fast, TOR (Clarkson)
D: Sophie Jaques, MIN (Ohio State)
F: Sarah Fillier, NY (Princeton)
F: Hilary Knight, BOS (Wisconsin)
F: Marie-Philip Poulin, MTL (Boston University)

2024-25 PWHL All-Star Second Team

G: Aerin Frankel, BOS (Northeastern)
D: Ella Shelton, NY (Clarkson)
D: Claire Thompson, MIN (Princeton)
F: Kendall Coyne Schofield, MIN (Northeastern)
F: Daryl Watts, TOR (Wisconsin, Boston College)
F: Tereza Vanišová, OTT (Maine)

2024-25 PWHL All-Rookie Team

G: Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern)
D: Cayla Barnes, MTL (Boston College)
D: Anna Wilgren, MTL (Wisconsin, Minnesota State)
F: Britta Curl-Salemme, MIN (Wisconsin)
F: Sarah Fillier, NY (Princeton)
F: Jenn Gardiner, MTL (Ohio State)

For more information on today’s award recipients, visit ThePWHL.com.

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College Sports

Schedule for IIHF World Junior Championship tournament released

COLORADO SPRINGS — The schedule for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament was released on Thursday, June 26. This will be the 50th year of the annual tournament. All-session and group play tickets are available here . Individual game tickets, if available, will be released at a later date. Teams will be divided into […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLORADO SPRINGS — The schedule for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament was released on Thursday, June 26. This will be the 50th year of the annual tournament.

All-session and group play tickets are available

here

. Individual game tickets, if available, will be released at a later date.

Teams will be divided into two groups and each country will play the other four teams in its group during the preliminary round. The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals on Jan. 2, with the winners playing in the semifinals on Jan. 4. The two semifinals winners will face off for gold on Jan. 5, with the two losing teams competing for bronze earlier that day.

Group A, which will play its preliminary round games Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul includes the U.S., Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany.

Group B, which includes Canada, Czechia, Finland, Latvia and Denmark will play preliminary contests at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship marks the seventh time the United States has hosted the tournament (1982, 1989, 1996, 2005, 2011, 2018).

Most recently, Team USA captured bronze in Buffalo, N.Y., at the 2018 World Juniors, led by Bob Motzko as head coach. The U.S. also took home bronze at the 2011 tournament in Buffalo and Niagara, N.Y. The U.S. first hosted the World Juniors in Minneapolis and Saint Paul in 1982.

World Junior Summer Showcase

USA Hockey will host the World Junior Summer Showcase from July 25-Aug. 2 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. The event, which also includes Canada, Finland and Sweden, serves as an evaluation for athletes seeking to make their respective national teams for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. There will be 11 international games will be played and tickets are now on sale by clicking

here

2026 IIHF World Junior Championship

Noon — Sweden vs. Slovakia, Xcel Energy Center
2:30 p.m. — Denmark vs. Finland, 3M Arena at Mariucci
5 p.m. — Germany vs. USA, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Czechia vs. Canada, 3M Arena at Mariucci

1 p.m. — Slovakia vs. Germany, Xcel Energy Center
3:30 p.m. — Latvia vs. Canada, 3M Arena at Mariucci
5 p.m. — USA vs. Switzerland, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Denmark vs. Czechia, 3M Arena at Mariucci

1 p.m. — Sweden vs. Switzerland, Xcel Energy Center
3:30 p.m. — Finland vs. Latvia, 3M Arena at Mariucci

Noon — Germany vs. Sweden, Xcel Energy Center
2:30 p.m. — Finland vs. Czechia, 3M Arena at Mariucci
5 p.m. — Slovakia vs. USA, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Canada vs. Denmark, 3M Arena at Mariucci

1 p.m. — Switzerland vs. Germany, Xcel Energy Center
3:30 p.m. — Latvia vs. Denmark, 3M Arena at Mariucci

Noon — Switzerland vs. Slovakia, Xcel Energy Center
2:30 p.m. — Czechia vs. Latvia, 3M Arena at Mariucci
5 p.m. — USA vs. Sweden, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Canada vs. Finland, 3M Arena at Mariucci

11:30 a.m. — A pool fifth-place team vs. B pool fifth-place team, 3M Arena at Mariucci
1:30 p.m. — Quarterfinals Game 1, Xcel Energy Center
3:30 p.m. — Quarterfinals Game 2, 3M Arena at Mariucci
5 p.m. — Quarterfinals Game 3, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Quarterfinals Game 4, 3M Arena at Mariucci

3:30 p.m. — Semifinals Game 1, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Semifinals Game 2, Xcel Energy Center

3:30 p.m. — Bronze medal game, Xcel Energy Center
7:30 p.m. — Gold medal game, Xcel Energy Center

Mick Hatten is a reporter and editor for stcloudlive.com. He began working for Forum Communications in November 2018 for The Rink Live and has covered St. Cloud State University hockey since 2010. Besides covering Huskies hockey, he is also covering other sports at SCSU and high school sports. A graduate of St. Cloud State, he has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and has been a youth hockey coach since 2014. mick@stcloudlive.com

For more coverage of St. Cloud and the surrounding communities, check out St. Cloud Live.

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College Sports

Football Names Dunphy and Mass as Captains Ahead of 2025 Season

Bree Smith ’27 Football 6/26/2025 9:45:00 AM Jarod Minassian Story Links EASTON, Mass. (June 26, 2025) – Stonehill College Football head coach Ei Gardner is excited to announce rising seniors Faisal Mass (Taunton, Mass.) and Brigham Dunphy […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Bree Smith ’27

Football
6/26/2025 9:45:00 AM

Jarod Minassian

EASTON, Mass. (June 26, 2025) – Stonehill College Football head coach Ei Gardner is excited to announce rising seniors Faisal Mass (Taunton, Mass.) and Brigham Dunphy (Barrington, R.I.) as its captains ahead of the 2025 season.

Both Dunphy and Mass have donned the purple and white for the Skyhawks for the past three seasons, earning the title of captains for their senior campaign. The duo will be part of the first graduating class for the Skyhawks, who spent all four seasons at the Division I level as members of the NEC. The Skyhawks will also be eligible for the Football College Subdivision (FCS) playoffs for the first time this fall.

“I am very excited for both Brigham and Faisal to have earned this recognition from their teammates,” said head coach Eli Gardner. “They have both embodied our cultural pillars of discipline, intellect, and grit throughout their time here at Stonehill, and this is a tremendous acknowledgment for them by their peers. Brigham is one of the hardest workers in our program and has an awesome approach to everything he does, on and off the field. He is smart, tough, and a great teammate. Similar to Brigham, Faisal has developed himself and his role to great heights during his time here. He is extremely mature and very well respected in our program. Our team did a tremendous job in selecting our captains for this season, but I know Brigham and Faisal would both agree that we have great leadership throughout this entire senior class. They will undoubtedly represent that and will do a great job of grabbing the shovel for us this season.”

Dunphy, a wide receiver who has also seen his share of carries out of the backfield, has tallied 29 catches for 397 yards and a touchdown in 18 games throughout his career. He has also run the ball 13 times for 51 yards and has tallied three tackles. Dunphy led the team in receptions (26), receiving yards (325), and receiving yards per game (40.6) a season ago. He also ranked in the top five on the Skyhawks with 51 rushing yards.

It’s a huge honor to have been named captain of this team,” said Dunphy. “I am so grateful for all my teammates and coaches who have been by my side the past three years, and I can’t wait to kick off the 2025 season. The team has been having a strong offseason, and I’m proud of the hard work we’ve been putting in. It’s time to show it between the lines; we are ready to go.”

Mass, a defensive end, has appeared in 22 games for the Skyhawks over the past three seasons, tallying 22 solo tackles and 20 assisted tackles, totaling 42, four of which have been for losses. Mass was ninth on the team and second among defensive linemen with 35 tackles last season. His three tackles for loss were tied for the fourth most on the Skyhawks. Mass recorded a pass deflection and a quarterback hit last season as well.

Being named a captain by my teammates and coaches means everything to me,” said Mass. “It’s more than just a title, it’s a sign of trust, respect, and belief in who I am both on and off the field. I take that responsibility seriously and am fully committed to leading by example and doing whatever it takes to help us win the NEC!”

Stonehill football will open its 12-game 2025 season on August 30 in Fairfield, Conn., when the Skyhawks take on Sacred Heart University to begin their fourth Division I campaign. The first game at the comforts of W.B. Mason Stadium will be on Saturday, Sept. 6, with Lafayette College making the trip to Easton, Mass.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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College Sports

Arizona GymCats head coach John Court extended through 2028

Published

2 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Arizona Athletics announced that John Court has been extended through the 2028 season on Thursday afternoon. His current contract was signed in 2023 and was due to expire in 2026.

Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics

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