Indifference curves are tools economists use to model the utility or satisfaction individuals derive from different combinations of two competing goods or factors. In this case, the factors are ‘swag’ and ‘safety.’ Players wear guardian caps only if their safety outweighs the cost of looking less stylish.

A player who prioritizes long-term health and injury prevention will have a curve that values safety. A player who deeply values looking good and building a personal brand may have an indifference curve that bends in the opposite direction to heavily favor swag, showing they are willing to sacrifice a lot of safety for a little more style.

To quote NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders: “You look good you feel good, you feel good you play good, you play good they pay good, they pay good you live good…” Prime Time’s famous mantra captures the psychology of many NFL players in a single sentence. 

In a league where contracts are short, careers are shorter, and public image can be just as important as performance, how you look on the field matters. NFL players are not just athletes–they’re brands. Their uniforms, cleats, visitors, and even celebrations are carefully curated parts of their identity that are scrutinized by millions of people every Sunday. A sharp or iconic look can lead to endorsement deals, jersey sales, and sponsorships. A bad look, however, can cost you recognition. NFL players are highly visible public figures, and their appearance is a critical aspect of how they market themselves. 

Given the state of the NFL’s current helmet technology, many players feel like they must choose: Wear safe, ugly gear like guardian caps, or stick with traditional helmets and have more autonomy in their image. While the NFL can solve this problem by simply mandating guardian caps for both games and practices, that may only create further backlash from players who see it as infringing on their autonomy or damaging their brand. Instead, the NFL should prioritize innovation and developing newer, more advanced helmets with better protection. One helpful way to look at this is through the NFL’s helmet technology Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF).

In their current state, guardian caps grant players a higher level of safety than current helmet technology alone does (as demonstrated by the combination of swag and safety offered by a guardian cap being at a point above the current PPF). However, for players who prioritize swag, there is no intersection between the guardian cap tradeoff line and their indifference curve, meaning that these players would never opt to wear a guardian cap even with the safety benefits.

This should be the NFL’s path forward. This means investing in new helmet research, continuing to partner with forward-looking equipment manufacturers, and perhaps even allowing players to have a say in customizing their helmets. In so doing, the NFL can ‘push’ its PPF curve outward, offering helmets that look good and provide better protection.

The science is clear: concussions are dangerous, repeated head trauma even more so, and safer equipment reduces risk. The economics are also clear: adoption will remain limited unless safety gear complements player identity. Bridging that gap is the league’s responsibility.

Excitement is building in Ann Arbor as the 2025 Michigan football season inches closer. Expectations are sky-high thanks in large part to five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, but as exciting as Underwood’s arrival is, the Wolverines’ success this year will depend on more than just its new quarterback.

There are plenty of unknowns on this roster — transfers, returning players with something to prove and position battles still being decided. If this team is going to make another serious run at a Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines need more than a few key guys to step up in a big way.

Here are six players who could swing the entire season.

Marlin Klein

Michigan’s offense is undergoing a bit of a transformation, and one of the key questions is: Who replaces the production of Colston Loveland?

Enter Marlin Klein — the 6-foot-6 senior has been a part of Michigan’s offensive rotation since 2023 and now becomes the leader of a deep but unproven position group.

Physically, Klein has everything you want in a TE1 — size, speed, and experience (418 snaps last year). What he doesn’t have yet is consistent production, just 13 catches for 108 yards in 2024. But if he can take a leap like Luke Schoonmaker did in 2022, he could become a major weapon for the Wolverines in the passing game and a safety net in high-pressure moments.

With Michigan desperate for reliable pass-catchers, Klein’s emergence as a legitimate No. 1 option at the position would be a massive boost.

Jyaire Hill

The secondary is one of Michigan’s biggest strengths on paper, but the on-field performance of that unit will strongly hinge on the continued development of cornerback Jyaire Hill.

Hill flashed his high-end potential late in 2024, allowing just seven receptions for 68 yards over his final six games. He has the speed (10.7 100m) and size (6-foot-2) to be a lockdown corner, and he’s already being talked about as a potential 2026 first-round pick.

The question isn’t whether Hill is talented, it’s whether his consistency and maturity can match. He’ll likely be paired with Zeke Berry on the outside, and both must take another step forward with Will Johnson now in the NFL.

If Hill becomes a true No. 1 corner, Michigan’s defense could again be among the best in the nation.

Donaven McCulley

Michigan’s offense has lacked a go-to wide receiver since the departure of Roman Wilson two years ago. In 2025, the Wolverines can’t afford to have the same issue. That’s where Donaven McCulley comes in.

The 6-foot-5 transfer from Indiana had 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He was the guy for the Hoosiers, and now Michigan hopes he can be the same in Ann Arbor.

There’s a clear opening for a WR1, and McCulley is the most proven candidate. His ability to separate, make contested catches and stretch the field will be critical in taking pressure off the run game and unlocking the vertical passing game. If he lives up to his potential, he could be the X-factor that pushes Michigan’s offense to the next gear.

Tré Williams

On paper, Michigan’s defensive line is loaded with depth. But replacing Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — two of the program’s most dominant interior linemen in recent memory — is no small task.

Tré Williams may be the guy to help ease that transition. The former Clemson Tiger has all of the measurables needed (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) to make an immediate impact and flashed some of that potential in 2024 with two sacks. If he can build on that momentum, Williams could help the Wolverines maintain their defensive dominance.

While Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and Ike Iwunnah will rotate in — along with fellow transfer Damon Payne Jr. — Williams has the experience and physical profile to be a true difference-maker. If he emerges as a disruptive force inside, the Wolverines might not miss a beat up front.

Zeke Berry

Jyaire Hill might be getting more offseason buzz, but Zeke Berry is every bit as important to Michigan’s 2025 secondary. After switching between roles in 2024, he’ll once again be projected to start full-time on the outside this year.

Berry and Hill need to become a cohesive, high-performing duo if Michigan hopes to go toe-to-toe offensively against teams like Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State, all of which bring serious firepower at wide receiver.

Obvious Mention: Bryce Underwood

Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention Bryce Underwood. The five-star freshman quarterback is already the face of the program before taking a single snap. His size, arm talent and athleticism are elite, and he’s fully embraced the pressure that comes with being a quarterback at Michigan.

If Underwood is as good as advertised, Michigan is a College Football Playoff team. But even if he’s just solid, the Wolverines should win 9-10 games behind their defense and run game. Still, his ceiling is the program’s ceiling. If he reaches it early, Ann Arbor could be rocking come December.

As is the case every year, as we advance, changes abound in college basketball, with the transfer portal and NIL being as significant as they are. For the second straight year, Virginia Tech men’s coach Mike Young saw another offseason of roster turnover, but after the mass exodus last year, this year’s portal has been different.

The Hokies landed some key players out of the portal and even got some huge retention from some key players, with Tobi Lawal returning from the NBA Draft being the biggest retention. The 2025-26 season is a big one for Virginia Tech, which is looking to rebound from a dreadful 13-19 season and a first-round elimination in the ACC Tournament. With that said, let’s take a look at how the Hokies roster is shaping up as we enter June.

Virginia Tech 2025-26 men’s basketball roster breakdown

Back Court

Ben Hammond
Izaiah Pasha
Brett Freeman
Jailen Bedford
Jaden Schutt

The good news here is that Ben Hammond is returning after coming on over the second half of the season and in ACC play. He saw the floor well, came up with big plays defensively shot well when he was given the opportunity. Jaden Schutt, having a year under his belt after coming over from Duke and playing a whole season, should help.

What should we think about the guards and wings? Izaiah Pasha should be an upgrade over Brandon Rechsteiner, who left for Colorado State in the transfer portal and freshman Brett Freeman will have a chance to develop behind Hammond and Schutt.

Front Court

Tyler Johnson
Sin’Cere Jones
Tobi Lawal
Amani Hansberry
Antonio Dorn
Solomon Davis
Christian Gurdak

As for the front court, there is a lot of inexperience in the middle with Mylyjael Poteat leaving and Patrick Wessler leaving in the portal. Antonio Dorn could be a very underrated addition for Young, and there is a lot of interest surrounding incoming freshman Christian Gurdak, a four-star recruit.

I think Virginia Tech should be ok in the backcourt, and the real question is how quickly their frontcourt players, mainly in the middle, can come together and jell? That will be big by the time ACC play comes around in late December, as those will be a gauntlet of 18 games. There are still some roster spots open that Young can fill over the summer, but just by the looks of things now, this certainly has the chance to be a team that wins more games next season than they did in 2024-25, which isn’t saying a lot. There is reason for hope.

Privacy Manager