STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State athletic department has announced the OSU NIL Alliance to provide a unified approach to revenue sharing and endorsement opportunities for the school’s student-athletes.

The Alliance will provide resources and partnerships for athletes as they navigate the era of name, image and likeness in college athletics.

“At Oklahoma State, we have long empowered our student-athletes to achieve success in academics and athletics,” OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said in a statement Wednesday, Dec. 17. “The launch of The Alliance represents a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes to become entrepreneurs in commercial activity driven by their brand. By streamlining our efforts and expanding our NIL initiatives, we’re aligning the brands of our student athletes with the strength of the OSU Athletics brand, our business partnerships, and the power of our loyal fan base.”

By ERIC OLSON, AP College Football Writer

Unlike last year’s debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff, weather should not be a factor in any of the first-round games this weekend.

Southeastern Conference teams Oklahoma, Mississippi and Texas A&M and one of the Big Ten’s four West Coast schools, Oregon, are hosting first-round games.

Last year, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State were hosts along with Texas. Conditions for the games played on the three cold-weather campuses were, ahem, quite seasonal for the week before Christmas. Kickoff temperatures were 27 degrees Fahrenheit for Indiana-Notre Dame, 25 with an 18-mph wind for SMU-Penn State and 25 for Tennessee-Ohio State. It was sunny and 60 for Clemson-Texas.

It was especially nasty in Happy Valley with gusty winds creating a feels-like temperature of 12 degrees.

The forecast for Friday calls for a temperature in the 50s and some wind for Alabama-Oklahoma. On Saturday, it should be in the 70s and sunny for Miami-Texas A&M, mid-60s and clear for Tulane-Mississippi and mid-40s with a chance of rain for James Madison-Oregon.

The picks, with CFP seed and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:

The Sooners beat Alabama 23-21 on the road five weeks ago despite being out-yarded 406-212. The difference was Eli Bowen’s 87-yard pick-6 and a couple other Oklahoma takeaways. If the Sooners play a clean game offensively and their defense comes close to shutting down Alabama’s run game like Georgia did in the SEC championship game, they will be off to the Rose Bowl to face No. 1 Indiana.

Pick: Oklahoma 19-17.

This matchup could come down to which line wins in the trenches. Miami first-team AP All-America tackle Francis Mauigoa is the star on one of the best offensive lines in the country, one that has allowed just 11 sacks. First-team All-American edge Cashius Howell leads an Aggies front four on a defense that has recorded 41 sacks, most in the nation.

Pick: Texas A&M 24-20.

The Rebels beat Tulane 45-10 at home in September and now will go for a second win over the Green Wave in Oxford. The wild card is how Mississippi’s players and holdover staff respond to Lane Kiffin’s departure three weeks ago. Tulane also is in transition, with Jon Sumrall leaving for Florida once the playoff run ends. One thing is almost certain: Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff will play better than he did in the first meeting.

Pick: Mississippi 31-21.

The Sun Belt Conference champion Dukes got into the playoff after Duke knocked off Virginia in the ACC championship game. For all they’ve accomplished under UCLA-bound Bob Chesney, they are out of their depth in this game. The Ducks were the unbeaten No. 1 CFP seed last year and were blown out by Ohio State in their first game, a quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. A first-round game at home will be no problem this year.

Pick: Oregon 45-10.

Conference championship week: Straight up — 6-4; Against spread — 6-4.

Season: Straight-up — 192-59; Against spread — 123-127-1.

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We are lucky to live in this state. Wyoming has space, community, and a shared identity that is rare in modern America.

Other than our world class-rodeo cowboys, we don’t have professional sports franchises competing for attention.

Instead, we have something better: a common bond in the University of Wyoming. Cowboy athletics — especially football — are not just a game. They are morale, identity, and more than most people realize, economic engines.

When the Cowboys are good and War Memorial Stadium is packed, the impact ripples far beyond Laramie. Ticket sales are only the beginning. Hotels fill from Cheyenne to Rawlins. Restaurants hum. Retailers sell brown-and-gold merchandise across the state.

A winning season doesn’t just lift spirits; it quietly generates millions of dollars in economic activity.

A decent bowl appearance adds direct revenue to the university itself, beyond the shared conference payouts. More importantly, competitive athletics help drive enrollment.

Yes, UW has strong academics and comparatively low tuition, and that matters.

But young people — like it or not — want to attend colleges where football and basketball are visible and successful. Athletics are the spotlight shining on the university. When the bulb is dull, it is hard for the university to shine.

Wyoming has done a lot of things exceptionally well. Through disciplined fundraising, generous private donations, and smart legislative matching, we have built world-class facilities in Laramie.

For decades, that was enough. Facilities, culture, coaching, and grit could overcome harsh climate and a small population college town. Sadly, that era is over.

Name, Image, and Likeness money has fundamentally changed the rules of college athletics.

This is not a moral judgment; it is an observation of fact. Programs willing to commit resources can be transformed almost overnight.

Texas Tech reportedly spent $28 million on NIL and made the College Football Playoff this year.

Indiana, through a coordinated effort involving boosters, the state, and private business, spent roughly $15 million and turned its program around in two years. They are the  #1 seed and sitting at 13-0 for the season.

Meanwhile, the University of Wyoming’s NIL budget for all sports combined this year was approximately $1.2 million.

For a more regional perspective, BYU reportedly spent $7 million just to land the top-rated basketball player in the country. The CU Buffs are committed to spending $20.5 million in NIL money next year.

UW officials are candid and realistic about what is needed going forward.

Wyoming does not need to spend $20 million to be competitive in the Mountain West. But, we need to be closer to $10 million or more, to compete consistently.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we don’t adapt, we won’t merely stay mediocre winning 4-5 games per year. We will slide backward. Conference realignment has already shown how quickly programs can be left behind.

A demotion to a lower division would mean loss of television revenue, reduced donor interest, declining recruiting, and — most damaging of all — loss of pride. Once that spiral begins, it is brutally hard to reverse.

And yet, Wyoming is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge.

Few states — if any — have a financial structure like ours. We have roughly $25 billion in permanent trust funds, generating about $1.86 billion in interest income annually.

We have a $1.9 billion rainy-day fund. This is energy wealth, carefully stewarded over generations.

We understand Wyoming’s conservative spending instincts. They are a virtue, not a flaw.

Even though we can easily afford it simply carving $10 million out of the general fund and handing it to an NIL pool, the expenditure would likely raise eyebrows.

But we already have a Wyoming solution successfully used in the past. A partnership between private donations and the State.

For decades, the Legislature has matched private donations for UW facilities, multiplying the impact of philanthropy while maintaining fiscal discipline. Why not apply that same model here?

A 2-1 match — two state dollars for every private dollar raised — would incentivize donors, limit state exposure, and quickly move Wyoming into a competitive NIL position without abandoning our values.

This is not about buying championships. It is about preserving relevance, protecting economic impact, and maintaining a shared institution that binds this state together. Cowboy athletics are not a luxury; they are a strategic asset.

The rules have changed. Standing still is no longer a viable strategy — it is reckless.

The question is not whether NIL money matters for Wyoming, it already does. The question is whether we respond with creativity and partnership, or whether we wait and watch something uniquely Wyoming quickly slip away.

In this state, we pride ourselves on being innovative when addressing problems in the state. Let’s follow that strategy now. Please contact your local legislators and ask them to promote and vote in favor of state partnership on the NIL issues for UW.

Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 – 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House. He can be reached at: YourInputAppreciated@gmail.com

Scott Ortiz is a Wyoming native and graduate of the university of Wyoming. He has practiced law in Casper since 1991. He can be reached at Sortiz@wpdn.net

The College Football Playoff field is officially set with a bracket full of heavyweights. While the seeding placed the Big Ten champion at the very top, those within the sport see a different outcome on the horizon.

An anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic surveyed coaches from the Power 4 and Group of 5 conferences to gauge their expectations. The results showed that 50 percent of the coaches believe one program will hoist the trophy in Miami, edging out a season-long favorite that carried 42 percent of the vote.

This program received the majority vote despite spending most of the regular season outside the top five of the rankings. They finished ahead of the team that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the major polls.

The remaining ballots were split evenly between the No. 1 seed and another Big Ten team. Each of those programs received four percent of the total tally.

The confidence in the projected winner stems from a strong finish to the regular season. This team just avenged its only loss of the year with a dominant performance in the conference championship game.

Coaches cite roster maturity and championship pedigree as the decisive factors. The voting data suggest that individuals who scheme against these teams weekly value recent momentum over final seeding.

Coaches pick SEC powerhouse to win national title

The Georgia Bulldogs are the heavy favorite among the coaching fraternity. Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has his team positioned for a run at a third title in five years after decimating the Alabama Crimson Tide 28-7 to win the SEC. The poll reflects a belief that Georgia is peaking at the exact right moment.

One Group of 5 head coach noted that the current field lacks a truly dominant force compared to previous years. However, this coach highlighted the growth in Athens as the difference.

“Georgia’s O-line has matured, so that team has taken a jump,” the coach said. “The QB is a winner. Defensively, Georgia can play big and can match up. They are really good and they are battle-tested.”

That quarterback is Gunner Stockton. He has added a new dimension to the offense with his legs. Stockton has rushed for 442 yards this season. This is significantly more production on the ground than previous championship quarterbacks produced for the program. The offense also benefits from the late-season surge of running back Nate Frazier. He rushed for 181 yards against Mississippi State and has solidified the ground attack.

The defense has also returned to form under defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. The unit recorded 12 sacks in the final five games of the season. An SEC defensive coordinator praised the team’s tactical efficiency.

“They look the cleanest,” the coordinator said. “They have been getting better as the season has gone on. They are going to stop the run and find your weaknesses. And they are good at using them against you.”

The primary challenger in the poll was the Ohio State Buckeyes. They spent most of the year at No. 1 before a loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. A Big Ten offensive assistant coach picked the Buckeyes because of their elite personnel on the outside.

“Ohio State. Georgia seems flawed,” the assistant said. “I know Indiana just beat them but I don’t think they can beat them twice. Ohio State was pretty banged up in that game. The wideouts will be healthier. On defense, Ohio State is really sound with great players.”

The Georgia Bulldogs will begin their pursuit of a third title in five years when they face the winner of the Ole Miss Rebels and Tulane Green Wave in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

Read more on College Football HQ

The College Football Playoff hasn’t quite started, but the transfer portal is heating up. The last week has seen some intriguing QB prospects make the portal dive. Here’s a rundown of the top five portal prospects (from On3.com’s rankings) and a quick thought on potential destinations for each.

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State QB

Leavitt remains On3’s top-ranked player in the portal. In 2024, he helped Arizona State reach the College Football Playoff by passing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for 443 yards and five more scores. His 2025 season was cut short by an injury in October, but in the portion of the year he could play, Leavitt passed for 1,628 yards and 10 scores in just seven games.

A week ago, we mentioned Indiana and LSU as possible destinations for Leavitt. Recent reports have confirmed both of those possibilities, with Oregon and Miami also mentioned. Of the four, it’s LSU that seems to have the dance card that’s filling up the quickest, with Trinidad Chambliss a potential nab for Lane Kiffin. Indiana and Oregon might now be the two most logical picks.

Dylan Raiola, Nebraska QB

Raiola was a five-star recruit for Matt Rhule, but after two up-and-down seasons, is looking to move on. He has passed for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. Raiola showed improvement in 2025, throwing for 18 scores and six picks, but his season was shut down early due to injury.

Raiola has been tied to Louisville early in the process, as the Cardinals look to replace Miller Moss. Miami is another school frequently mentioned in conjunction with Raiola, as the Hurricanes look to replace Carson Beck, likely with a portal addition.

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati QB

Sorsby headed to Cincinnati from Indiana, leaving that program just before IU’s fortunes jumped. He has played well at Cincinnati, throwing for over 5,600 yards in the past two seasons with 45 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Sorsby also rushed for over 1,000 yards and 18 scores over the past two seasons.

Early talk has linked Sorsby extensively with Texas Tech. No announcement has been made, but early indications are that he’s the likely successor to Behren Morton, and it’ll be a surprise if he ends up elsewhere.

DJ Lagway, Florida QB

A talented Florida passer, Lagway struggled with consistency in two up-and-down seasons as a Gator, ending up with over 4,100 yards and 28 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. His arm strength was legendary, but he often stacked bad decisions into some awful performances.

Lagway has been connected to Baylor early. His father played for the school, and it’s near his hometown. Another possibility is Clemson, where Lagway was recruited extensively and the Tigers could use a replacement for Cade Klubnik.

Drew Mestemaker, North Texas QB

Mestemaker exploded from out of nowhere. From being a high school backup to walking on at North Texas to becoming QB1 in 2025, he has always suprised. The redshirt freshman passed for 4,129 yards and 31 touchdowns this season.

Mestemaker might well follow his North Texas coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State. A longer-shot possibility might be Tennessee, where Joey Aguilar will have to be replaced.

The Transfer Portal has yet to open, but there are already players announcing they’ll be entering. Oftentimes, that’s as coaches tamper with other rosters and offer improved NIL or revenue-sharing deals. Now, Tennessee Volunteers athletic director Danny White believes he has a solution.

White took to Twitter on Wednesday. There, he quoted a post from Dan Wolken of Yahoo Sports, saying, “Everyone in college sports knows the solution, they just don’t have the stomach (yet) to execute it.” Wolken himself was responding to a complaint from Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz regarding tampering. That solution, which White wanted to highlight, is collective bargaining with the players.

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This,” Danny White wrote. “There is a pathway to build a much healthier environment for college athletics within the current laws of our country – it’s called collective bargaining. It will be complicated, hard, and likely not perfect, but it’s far past time that we roll up our sleeves and do the work.”

Collective bargaining is relatively common in the United States and in professional sports. In essence, it’s when representatives, usually a union, negotiate on behalf of a group of employees with the employer. They do so to come up with legally binding agreements on contracts, wages, hours, working conditions, and other considerations.

This would be a seismic shift for college sports because of the reality that collective bargaining fundamentally involves employees. That’s a status that colleges and the NCAA have been very tentative to give to student-athletes.

There are a few benefits to collective bargaining. In particular, as the NCAA has lost court battles, forcing it to allow things like NIL and unlimited transfers, this would be a legal agreement that would set some rules in stone. For instance, the maximum that a program spends, how often players can transfer, and multi-year contracts could all be negotiated.

Danny White is far from the only one who has suggested that collective bargaining could help college sports and tampering, in particular. When the Transfer Portal was cut down to one window, former player Chase Daniel called it smart and called for collective bargaining. ESPN’s Rece Davis did the same, calling for collective bargaining to end tampering.

Separately, 23 different Power Four GMs backed collective bargaining in a closed-door Athletes.org meeting in August. That group, which didn’t have any names attached, “agreed in unison” that it would be the best path forward for college sports.

For his part, Danny White has been out in the open, pushing for major changes in college sports before. In the past, he’s shared a proposal to establish a national organization to employ and unionize athletes. Of course, those changes still appear to be a long way away.