NIL

Texas Tech Red Raiders – Official Athletics Website

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 12-seeded Red Raiders (48-12) advanced to their first ever NCAA Super Regional after defeating Mississippi State (39-19) 9-6 on Sunday night at Rocky Johnson Field in front of a record crowd. Texas Tech used 14 hits and eight RBI and needed all it to get past the Bulldogs, who did […]

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May 19, 2025

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LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 12-seeded Red Raiders (48-12) advanced to their first ever NCAA Super Regional after defeating Mississippi State (39-19) 9-6 on Sunday night at Rocky Johnson Field in front of a record crowd.

Texas Tech used 14 hits and eight RBI and needed all it to get past the Bulldogs, who did not quit despite going down 5-0 early in the third inning.

Hailey Toney went 3-for-4 with two home runs out of the nine hole and Mihyia Davis also went 3-for-4 from the lead off spot. Toney and Davis combined to score five of the Red Raider’s nine runs and set the tone for the offense.

NiJaree Canady got her 28^th win of the season going 5.0 innings, striking out four batters and allowing six runs, three of which were earned. Chloe Riassetto picked up her team-leading third save of the season after throwing a phenomenal 2.0 innings that featured a crucial double play ball to get Tech out of sixth inning jam.

Lauren Allred led the team with eight RBI on the weekend including three in this game thanks to a two-RBI single in the second inning and an RBI double in the sixth inning which gave Tech some insurance.

How it happened:
Tech was the designated visiting team in the game and got a run in the opening after a Davis single and Allred walk got runners at first and second. Bailey Lindemuth came up to bat and after a few early strikes made the adjustment and lined a ball down the left field line to bring home Davis.

The Red Raiders added three more runs in the second inning with an RBI from Alexa Langeliers after Demi Elder, Logan Halleman and Toney loaded the bases on three straight singles which featured some great small ball action by Halleman and Toney. Allred cashed in two more runs with a long single into right center field to give Tech a 4-0 lead.

Canady retired the first six batters she faced as the Red Raiders were in firm control heading into the third inning.

Tech added another run in the third inning after Lindemuth doubled again and came around to score on a Bulldog error.

A pair of errors by Tech allowed Mississippi State to get back in the ball game in the third as they added three runs, all unearned, on three hits but also left two stranded. Toney responded quickly to lead off the next inning as she launched her fifth homer of the season over the left field wall on the first pitch.

Alana Johnson got things started for Tech in the fifth inning after the Bulldogs scoreless fourth. Johnson drew a 17-pitch walk which got the crowd and the team hyped up and she would later score off a sacrifice fly from Elder to make it 7-3, Tech.

The Bulldogs added three more runs in the fifth inning thanks to two doubles and a single and made things interesting heading into the sixth inning with the score at 7-6.

Toney again got Tech back on track as she led off the inning with a solo shot to left followed by an RBI double from Allred to score Davis from first and give Tech some more insurance with a 9-6 lead.

Riassetto came in for the final two innings and was masterful as she got one of the best hitters in the SEC to ground into a double play and allowed just one base runner in the final two innings via a hit by pitch. Tech got the final out on a fly out to right field as the nearly 2,200 fans in attendance cheered on the team’s historic accomplishment.

UP NEXT: Tech will travel to Tallahassee, Florida to take on the No. 5-seeded Florida State Seminoles.

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NCAA D-1 Tennis Player Files Explosive Objection to NIL Settlement Against Duke University, Citing Broken Promises and Retaliation

In a dramatic twist to the ongoing College Athlete NIL Litigation, Duke University tennis player Samuel Landau, an NCAA Division I Athlete, has filed a limited objection to the proposed House settlement, accusing the school of luring him with false promises of NIL payments and retaliating when he spoke out. $45K NIL Deal, Potential False […]

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May 19, 2025

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In a dramatic twist to the ongoing College Athlete NIL Litigation, Duke University tennis player Samuel Landau, an NCAA Division I Athlete, has filed a limited objection to the proposed House settlement, accusing the school of luring him with false promises of NIL payments and retaliating when he spoke out.

$45K NIL Deal, Potential False Rumors, and Anti-Semitic Accusations Surface in Filing

The objection, which was filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland division, claims that Duke Men’s Tennis Head Coach Ramsey Smith promised Landau $45,000 in NIL compensation in addition to his scholarship to secure his transfer to Duke in late 2023.

According to the objection, Coach Smith assured Landau and his family multiple times, including in an April 2024 text message to Landau’s mother, that the player would be “well taken care of.” However, once Landau joined the program, he alleges that the NIL money never came through.

The objection, filed by Landau’s attorney, Rodger Landau, paints a troubling picture of alleged misconduct within Duke’s athletic department. It accuses the university of retaliating after Landau raised concerns about the NIL payments. According to the filing,

Coach Smith allegedly spread false rumors that Landau had a drug problem, citing a false statement from University of Texas coach Bruce Berque, which has since been denied in writing by the Texas program.

The filing alleges that Duke officials wrongly suspected Landau, who is Jewish, of running a social media account that was critical of his own team members, invoking what the family describes as an anti-Semitic trope. Landau argues that the current language in the proposed settlement is too broad and could allow Power 5 schools to escape liability for NIL misconduct, including false inducements and broken promises.

He is urging the court to revise the settlement to include expanded audit rights and establish an arbitration process for student-athletes to seek compensation for unpaid NIL deals. He proposes allowing arbitrators to impose penalties of up to $5 million per athlete for proven fraud or retaliation.

If such revisions aren’t made, Landau is calling for Duke University to be excluded from the House Settlement altogether. He argues that Duke, with its $12 billion endowment, has demonstrated an unwillingness to honor NIL commitments and has weaponized its institutional power to suppress dissent.

The NIL era has meant that college athletes can now earn money from their name, image, and likeness through endorsements and sponsorships. Earlier, college athletes were not paid and did not gain monetary benefits from the revenue generated by prestigious college sports programs.

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Why the Ohio State football program has mastered the transfer portal

The Ohio State football program has had to navigate a lot of changes in recent years to the game. From having a new College Football Playoff format, to NIL, to the transfer portal, the Buckeyes have done their best to navigate uncharted waters. Figuring out the transfer portal has been a multi-year process. It has […]

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2 hours ago

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May 18, 2025

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The Ohio State football program has had to navigate a lot of changes in recent years to the game. From having a new College Football Playoff format, to NIL, to the transfer portal, the Buckeyes have done their best to navigate uncharted waters.

Figuring out the transfer portal has been a multi-year process. It has changed every single year since players were allowed to transfer as many times as they want. Now, the Ohio State Buckeyes have to recruit their own players to stay at the end of every season.

That’s something that Day and his coaching staff have been able to do very well over the years. That was on display during the Spring transfer portal window when Ohio State didn’t lose a single scholarship player. That shows that they have mastered the transfer portal.

Ryan Day and the Ohio State football team have mastered the use of the transfer portal

The other good thing about what Day has done is that he hasn’t tried to build an entire roster with just transfer portal players. He has supplemented his normal recruiting with transfer guys. Kids out of high school will always be the priority under Day, which is how it should be.

Day has done a very good job of landing elite players and depth pieces in the portal. Getting guys like Caleb Downs, Will Howard, and Quinshon Judkins is always great, but now he has gotten guys like Phillip Daniels and CJ Donaldson, who will help the depth of the current starters.

The Buckeyes have done one of the best jobs of anyone in the country when it comes to figuring out how to recruit kids from the portal. Day deserves credit for a lot of things, but that’s certainly something that he needs more credit for moving forward.

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Ohio Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith adds to NIL empire with Wahlberg deal

As college athletes continue to reshape the business of sports through NIL deals, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continues to rise to the forefront of the movement. The standout freshman, who played a key role in the Buckeyes’ national championship run last season, is seeing his NIL profile soar once again after securing a […]

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May 18, 2025

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Ohio Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith adds to NIL empire with Wahlberg deal

As college athletes continue to reshape the business of sports through NIL deals, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continues to rise to the forefront of the movement.

The standout freshman, who played a key role in the Buckeyes’ national championship run last season, is seeing his NIL profile soar once again after securing a new endorsement agreement.

Shedeur picked the player he’s most excited to swap jerseys with, leaving the elite players aside

Jeremiah Smith’s $4M NIL valuation rises again

Smith, just 19 years old, has already become one of the most recognizable names in college football.

Report: 49ers QB Brock Purdy Signs Five Year, $265 Million Extension

After a record-setting freshman season with 76 receptions, 1,315 yards, and 15 touchdowns, he now holds a $4 million NIL valuation, making him the most valuable non-quarterback in the country, according to On3 Sports.

That number is expected to climb further after Smith announced a partnership with the Mark Wahlberg Auto Group, a Columbus-based dealership co-founded by the actor and entrepreneur.

The agreement with Wahlberg’s brand strengthens Smith’s growing influence both on and off the field.

Standing in front of a luxury vehicle, Smith confirmed the collaboration on social media, joining a roster of brands that includes Red Bull, Nintendo, Lululemon, and Ricart Automotive.

The financial terms of the new deal have not been disclosed, but it’s another notable addition to what’s quickly becoming one of the most diverse NIL portfolios in college sports.

Smith’s continued marketability reflects not only his on-field talent but also his presence as a marketing figure.

Ranked No. 4 overall on the On3 NIL 100 list-behind only Arch Manning, Cooper Flagg, and Carson Beck, Smith has managed to stand out in a field typically dominated by quarterbacks.

While reports earlier in the offseason suggested other schools made attempts to lure Smith away with their own NIL packages, he has remained committed to Ohio State, even as the program prepares for a major transition at the quarterback position.

With two years of eligibility remaining before he can enter the NFL Draft in 2027, Smith’s role in the Buckeyes’ offense is expected to grow even larger.

As his influence expands, so does the blueprint for what it means to thrive in the modern college football era.

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Report: White House declined to comment on President Donald Trump’s commission on college sports

There’s still little information about the commission that president Donald Trump plans to form a presidential commission looking into college sports. According to a recent article from CBS Sports, the White House has still yet to respond to a request for official comment on the matter. Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports previously reported that the […]

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May 18, 2025

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There’s still little information about the commission that president Donald Trump plans to form a presidential commission looking into college sports. According to a recent article from CBS Sports, the White House has still yet to respond to a request for official comment on the matter.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports previously reported that the commission will seek to explore the transfer portal and debate of college athlete employment in the age of NIL. It was said that the commission would seek to “deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports.”

Still, it’s unclear exactly how it will do so or what it hopes to accomplish. American Football Coaches Association executive director Craig Bohl is a name that has been floated to join the commission and revealed he has been in contact with leaders about it but added that nothing is official.

“The only thing that I can say is that the AFCA, we’ve had significant conversations with, what I believe are the stakeholders in college football and our perspective and my perspective is that we listen to all the coaches and we certainly have some insight that I think is unique,” Bohl told CBS Sports. “But as far as the formulation of the commission, I’m not aware that anything has been set in stone. I’ve had dialogue, but there’s not been anybody from that commission to say, ‘Hey Craig, we want you on here.’ I’ve had a dialogue. I just don’t know where it’s all at.”

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban was reported to be serving as co-chair to Trump on the commission. This comes after the two met recently to discuss how the recent rise of NIL has impacted the parity of college sports.

However, Saban even admitted recently that he isn’t entirely sure the exact details on the commission. At this point, perhaps because it is still in its infancy, it doesn’t appear that many people are.

“To be honest with you, I don’t really know much about this commission,” Saban said Wednesday morning ahead of his annual appearance at the Regions Traditions Pro-Am in Birmingham, Alabama, according to BamaOnline. “I don’t really know what the commission will do. I think we know what needs to be done, I just think we need to figure out who’s got the will to do it.

“I learned one thing about coaching all these years: when you get into a subject like this that’s very complex, it’s probably good not to talk about it off the cuff. So I’ll find out more about it, and if there’s something I can do to help college football be better, I’ll always be committed to do that. I was committed to do that as a coach, to help players be more successful in life, and I’d continue to do that same thing now.”

Bohl was a college football coach for 40 years, most notably at Wyoming and North Dakota State. He was on Capitol Hill last month when he addressed members of the House Judiciary Committee at an NIL roundtable in April.

Bohl offered three key recommendations on agent regulation, standardization of contracts and urging congress to create a governing body to oversee NIL issues with coaches serving a formal role on such a body. One would imagine that those would be the same issues he would push hard to fix if part of the committee, and it seems a real possibility he could soon officially be on board with Donald Trump to find a solution that’s best for college sports.

“I know [President Trump] is a big college football fan,” Bohl said. “I do know he cares, and I do know that Coach Saban cares. I think it’s imperative that each lane, whether it’s a commissioner, whether it’s college presidents, whether it’s coaches or student athletes or some members of Congress, that everybody has an opportunity to engage and clarify and offer their perspective on a pathway forward.”

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DICK'S Sporting Goods Buying Foot Locker In $2.4 Billion Deal

DICK’S Sporting Goods (a leading U.S.-based full-line omnichannel sporting goods retailer) and Foot Locker (a leading footwear and apparel retailer) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which DICK’S will acquire Foot Locker. This deal implies an equity value of about $2.4 billion and an enterprise value of about $2.5 billion. […]

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May 18, 2025

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DICK'S Sporting Goods Buying Foot Locker In $2.4 Billion Deal

DICK’S Sporting Goods (a leading U.S.-based full-line omnichannel sporting goods retailer) and Foot Locker (a leading footwear and apparel retailer) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which DICK’S will acquire Foot Locker. This deal implies an equity value of about $2.4 billion and an enterprise value of about $2.5 billion.

Foot Locker has a history of sneaker expertise that sparks discovery and ignites the power of sneaker culture through a portfolio of brands, such as Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos. And it features about 2,400 retail stores across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Last year, Foot Locker achieved net worldwide sales of $8 billion. DICK’S expects to operate Foot Locker as a standalone business unit within its portfolio and maintain the Foot Locker brands.

The proposed deal represents an important strategic milestone for DICK’S where the combined company offers significant strategic and financial benefits:

1.) Create a global platform within the growing sports retail industry. The deal will better position the combined company to serve consumers worldwide and expand DICK’S addressable market opportunity. By integrating with Foot Locker, DICK’S will be poised to serve consumers not only in new locations in the U.S. through Foot Locker’s complementary real estate portfolio but also internationally for the first time. With strong long-term industry tailwinds, the combined company is well-positioned for long-term growth.

2.) Serve a wider set of consumers across differentiated concepts. Iconic concepts will cater to a broad spectrum of consumers, from performance-focused athletes to sneakerheads. Building on the learnings from DICK’S House of Sport and Foot Locker’s Reimagined Concept stores, the combined company will provide an unmatched immersive and innovative retail experience for consumers.

3.) Enhance relationships with brand partners through global reach. Together, DICK’S and Foot Locker will serve as stronger partners for key brands, offering multiple platforms for both established and emerging partners to showcase their assortments, connect with athletes, and increase visibility on a global level.

4.) Invest in future growth with an industry-leading omnichannel experience. DICK’S has a history of strong growth and looks to invest in and grow the Foot Locker brand, positioning the combined company for long-term success. This combination will drive growth through differentiated store concepts and robust digital experiences to enable sustainable, long-term profitable growth.

5.) DICK’S expects the transaction to be accretive to EPS in the first full fiscal year post-close (excludes transaction and other one-time costs to achieve synergies) and to deliver between $100 to $125 million in cost synergies in the medium-term achieved through procurement and direct sourcing efficiencies.

Under the terms of the merger, which the boards have unanimously approved of directors of DICK’S and Foot Locker, Foot Locker shareholders will elect to receive either 1.) $24 in cash or 2.) 0.1168 shares of DICK’S common stock for each share of Foot Locker common stock. And this election is not subject to a minimum or maximum amount of cash or stock consideration.

Based on the closing price of Foot Locker common stock on May 14, 2025, the $24 per-share consideration represents a premium of approximately 66% to Foot Locker’s 60-trading-day volume-weighted average price. The total consideration represents an acquisition multiple of approximately 6.1x fiscal 2024 adjusted EBITDA.

DICK’S plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash-on-hand and new debt.

The deal is subject to Foot Locker shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions, such as regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

Advisors: Goldman Sachs is serving as financial advisor to DICK’S and provided fully committed bridge financing. And Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as DICK’S legal advisor. Evercore is serving as financial advisor to Foot Locker, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is serving as Foot Locker’s legal advisor.

KEY QUOTES:

“We have long admired the cultural significance and brand equity that Foot Locker and its dedicated Stripers have built within the communities they serve. We believe there is meaningful opportunity for growth ahead. By applying our operational expertise to this iconic business, we see a clear path to further unlocking growth and enhancing Foot Locker’s position in the industry. Together, we will leverage the complementary strengths of both organizations to better serve the broad and evolving needs of global sports retail consumers.”

Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of DICK’S

“We look forward to welcoming Foot Locker’s talented team and building upon their expertise and passion for their business, which we intend to honor and amplify together. Sports and sports culture continue to be incredibly powerful, and with this acquisition, we’ll create a new global platform that serves those ever evolving needs through iconic concepts consumers know and love, enhanced store designs and omnichannel experiences, as well as a product mix that appeals to our different customer bases.”

Lauren Hobart, President and CEO of DICK’S

“Today’s announcement marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Foot Locker and is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to our mission. By joining forces with DICK’S, Foot Locker will be even better positioned to expand sneaker culture, elevate the omnichannel experience for our customers and brand partners, and enhance our position in the industry. We are pleased to provide shareholders with a transaction structure that offers the choice of significant and immediate cash value or the opportunity to invest in the combined company and benefit from the substantial upside potential. I am proud of all that our teams around the world, including our Stripers, have accomplished to reach this milestone moment, and am confident this transaction represents the best path for our shareholders and other stakeholders.”

Mary Dillon, CEO of Foot Locker

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