NIL
Time ticking before Orioles on draft clock later today
The day has arrived when the Orioles can make bold strokes in painting a rosier future for the organization. The draft begins at 6 p.m. and the Orioles hold the 19th selection, followed by the 30th, 31st, 37th, 58th, 69th and 93rd through three rounds. The rest of it plays out Monday. The Orioles obtained […]

The day has arrived when the Orioles can make bold strokes in painting a rosier future for the organization.
The draft begins at 6 p.m. and the Orioles hold the 19th selection, followed by the 30th, 31st, 37th, 58th, 69th and 93rd through three rounds. The rest of it plays out Monday.
The Orioles obtained the 37th pick in the Competitive Balance A round after trading reliever Bryan Baker to the Rays. The move didn’t increase their workload or alter the strategy beyond having the extra selection.
“It’s exciting for our group because this is what we work towards all year is to get ready for the draft, and it just gives us another shot, another pick, some more money, which in terms of strategy gives you a little more flexibility to maybe do some more things,” said Matt Blood, the vice president of player development and domestic scouting. “But it’s really just another opportunity to get another really good player.”
The hope, of course, is that the Orioles land a bunch of them.
Scoring big in the draft is an ideal way to win without substantial increases in payroll. That’s also logic. And the farm system has taken the expected fall from atop baseball’s perch with player promotions and trades.
“My whole world is around now acquiring talent as well as developing talent, and when we have this many picks this high, it gives us an opportunity to acquire more talent than other teams have an opportunity to acquire,” Blood said. “And then it’s a challenge for our coaches to get them to be better than they came in and hopefully get up here and play, so yes, it’s very important.”
“Look, I think they’re all really important,” said executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. “By and large, we’ve drafted well the last six years or whatever, and a lot of that is the great players that you see out on the field. So all the drafts are important. But when you have this amount of picks, it is more important. There’s no question about it.
“We’ve just got a much bigger opportunity ahead of us and the draft is a lifeblood for a franchise like ours.”
The usual questions hang in the air.
* Are the Orioles attracted to specific characteristics in this class?
“It’s no different than normal,” Blood said. “I think we’re always looking for good baseball players, whether they’re pitchers or hitters, and the things that play at the major league level. That’s what we’re looking for, and that doesn’t really change.”
* Is there more pressure to take a pitcher with so many picks on Day One?
The highest drafted pitcher under Elias was Florida State right-hander Jackson Baumeister at 63rd overall in 2023. Oklahoma State’s Nolan McLean didn’t sign after he was chosen 81st in 2022.
“I personally don’t,” Blood said of feeling the pressure. “I think that my job is to pick the best player that we can possibly pick. And we have pitchers on the board, we have position players on the board, and ultimately we’re gonna be graded on the major league value that we draft. And so our job is to do the best we can at drafting major league value, and if that happens to be a position player, then it is. And if it happens to be a pitcher, then it is. I personally feel pressure to get major league value.”
Elias described it as “very possible,” so he’s saying there’s a chance.
“I hope that we do,” he added. “If you have a lot of picks like this, it’s nice to have a diverse set of picks. But I also, I’ve talked to people, I’ve seen drafts over the years where scouting directors will say they regret trying to diversify a group of picks for its own sake. We’re going to line up the board with how we think the talent is and we’ll take in that regard. But we definitely want to get some pitching in this draft.”
* But what about all those Day One picks?
“We have more picks, so more chances, so yes, if you’re doing the math that way,” Blood said. “I think that we’re gonna continue to follow our strategy of finding the best bet we can, and when you have four picks, that’s four chances versus one, so yeah.”
* Will the Orioles go college or high school at No. 19?
They aren’t saying because they don’t know. Draft life was much easier in the top five.
Blood didn’t agree that high school depth is more pronounced this year, but he added, “There’s definitely a nice group of players that we’re interested in and I think the industry is, as well, and we’re always very excited about young, athletic players, so that’ll be cool.”
* Can the Orioles repeat their recent success when selecting in the 30s and 40s?
That’s overall picks, not rounds, which don’t exist anymore.
Henderson was taken 42nd overall in 2019, Elias’ first draft class. Jordan Westburg was 30th in 2020. Dylan Beavers was 33rd in 2022.
“We absolutely want to,” Blood said. “There’s gonna be some good options there and we’re gonna be excited about the players that we get there. It’s better than picking in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s, so I’ll take it. Three picks there is very exciting for our entire group and I think it’s a great opportunity for the organization.”
* How about that draft money?
The Orioles are packing an unprecedented $19,144,500 in bonus pool funds. They can go overslot, for example, on a high school kid who falls to them.
“We’ll see,” Blood said. “I think that what it allows us to do is be dynamic. I think that we’re gonna be able to make some decisions that other teams aren’t gonna have the opportunity to make, and I think that based on how the draft comes to us – we are picking a little bit later at 19 and then down below that – we’ll have to see what happens. But we’re gonna have the ability to make some decisions that other teams aren’t, and that’s exciting.”
“That gives us a big opportunity to flex our muscle and hopefully, if there are players that cost a little extra money because they’ve got college commitments, we’ll be able to use it,” Elias said. “And I think that the fact that we had picks at 30 and 31 already, it makes us able to acquire a 37th pick because you’ve kind of already scouted players in that neighborhood of the draft. So we should be pretty well prepared for the picks at 37.”
* Can we trust a mock?
You’ll be ridiculed if you do.
The pundits fight the urge to punt on the Orioles, who reveal little to nothing. Heston Kjerstad, for example, seemed to catch just about everyone by surprise after going second overall in 2020.
The only common thread in 2025 is the likelihood of a position player at No. 19, which isn’t much of a reach.
MLB Pipeline has the Orioles selecting California prep third baseman Gavin Fien. ESPN says University of Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. CBS Sports tabs Washington prep third baseman Xavier Neyens, who ESPN predicts will go to the Orioles at No. 30. Baseball America’s 6.0 mock predicts that the Orioles will select Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette.
So yes, it’s an exact science.
NIL
One conference has reaffirmed that preseason polls should be done away with
While trying to push the most unpopular playoff expansion format possible, Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti and the league’s coaches did add their respective voices to something that should resonate with many college football fans – dumping the top 25 preseason polls. You aren’t going to find too many arguments from here about why the […]

While trying to push the most unpopular playoff expansion format possible, Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti and the league’s coaches did add their respective voices to something that should resonate with many college football fans – dumping the top 25 preseason polls.
You aren’t going to find too many arguments from here about why the preseason polls are necessary, and it’s good that one of the top superpower conferences is saying what most of us feel – let’s play some games first.
This wasn’t among the talking points for Big Ten coaches and officials in Las Vegas, but I brought it up to several and they agreed: The preseason polls should be obliterated. They carry too much meaning and shape debate, overvaluing/undervaluing teams before we know anything.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) July 26, 2025
The conference had already done away with the league media preseason poll, which inspired the Big XII to follow suit. I would expect the ACC to also jump behind the efforts to eliminate preseason polls, although they didn’t speak much about it publicly or otherwise during Media Days last week.
Fact is, in this new college football world of NIL deals and the transfer portal, it’s much harder to predict which teams are going to be good because many of them are so different from one year to the next. At a certain point, the pollsters can’t make an educated guess, so they simply start voting for logos.
Asked about preseason media poll, Tim Pernetti says they are moving away from it because it is more difficult to figure out what will happen with transfer portal. Adds that national polls should follow suit and not start until after the first month of the season.
— Guerry Smith (@Guersmith) July 25, 2025
Kansas State coach Chris Kleiman told Brandon Marcello of CBSSports,com that the AP and Coaches’ top 25 polls shouldn’t be released until the time that the College Football Playoff committee releases their first poll.
“When the CFP comes out, that’s when the first AP and USA Today poll should come out,” Kleiman said. “The narrative tells you everything, and unfortunately, that’s not great for the Big 12. It’s probably not great for the ACC. You know, it’s just not.”
It seems unrealistic to wait so long for the first top 25 polls to be released. In a perfect world, the final Sunday in September would be an ideal time. By then, many teams will have started conference play.
This isn’t to say preseason polls will go away even if the AP and coaches decide to do away with then. The magazines will continue to have polls and don’t be surprised if the TV networks use the opportunity to create more discussion around where ‘Team X’ might appear in the first poll. The lack of a poll before the end of September should only serve to feed the debate television.
There is still no perfect system to “get it right” in college football, but there should be greater efforts to get it less wrong.
NIL
Bain Selected to Nagurski Trophy Watch List – University of Miami Athletics
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami Hurricanes junior defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club to the top defensive player in college football. Coming off a sophomore season in which he […]

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami Hurricanes junior defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club to the top defensive player in college football.
Coming off a sophomore season in which he recorded 23 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks despite missing nearly four full games due to injury, Bain, Jr., earned All‑ACC honorable mention honors.
During an impressive 2023 freshman campaign, the Miami native posted 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks over 13 games, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, third-team All‑ACC distinction and multiple Freshman All‑America team selections.
Miami has produced two past winners of the Nagurski Trophy: Warren Sapp in 1994 and Dan Morgan in 2000.
Bain, Jr., becomes the second Hurricane to be recognized to a major preseason watch list; Carson Beck was named to the Maxwell Award watch list earlier in the week.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game.
NIL
NY Racing, Syracuse football team up for NASCAR at Watkins Glen
NY Racing announced a landmark partnership with SU Football NIL and the Syracuse University football team ahead of the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, August 10. The Orange will take center stage as a primary sponsor on the No. 44 Chevrolet, driven by veteran racer J.J. Yeley. The collaboration […]

NY Racing announced a landmark partnership with SU Football NIL and the Syracuse University football team ahead of the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, August 10. The Orange will take center stage as a primary sponsor on the No. 44 Chevrolet, driven by veteran racer J.J. Yeley.
The collaboration marks a unique crossover between college football and motorsports, bringing the identity and legacy of Syracuse University into the NASCAR spotlight.
“I’m excited to be a part of this NASCAR race,” said Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown. “I can’t wait to see the NY Racing Team compete while repping the Orange No. 44 DART.”
The Orange football program is riding momentum from a breakout 2024 campaign, which saw the team finish inside the top 20 of the national polls under Brown’s leadership in his first year at the helm. Syracuse competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The partnership carries deep symbolic significance. At Syracuse, the No. 44 is more than a jersey — it’s a revered part of the university’s athletic history. Legendary running backs Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Floyd Little all wore the number, embedding it into the school’s identity. Even the university’s zip code, 13244, reflects the importance of 44 to the Orange.
This tribute comes full circle for NY Racing Team owner John Cohen, who selected the No. 44 for his NASCAR team in honor of Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy and a Syracuse icon.
The race at Watkins Glen International promises to be more than just another entry in the NASCAR Cup Series — it’s a celebration of sports legacy, pride, and a partnership that connects the track to the turf.
NIL
EA Sports CEO addresses ‘opportunity’ for college basketball video game, goal to include every team
Last month, EA Sports announced its long-awaited return to the college basketball video game space now that players can be in the game thanks to NIL rule changes. The new installment is set to come out in 2028, according to the company. During a quarterly earnings call Tuesday, EA CEO Andrew Wilson received a question […]

Last month, EA Sports announced its long-awaited return to the college basketball video game space now that players can be in the game thanks to NIL rule changes. The new installment is set to come out in 2028, according to the company.
During a quarterly earnings call Tuesday, EA CEO Andrew Wilson received a question about the game’s return. While he didn’t provide too many details, he confirmed the goal is to include every men’s and women’s team.
Wilson also pointed out the “opportunity” presented to EA Sports, especially after the success of College Football 25. It became one of the biggest sports video games ever, and Wilson said basketball could get a boost as a result. In fact, he sees “momentum” in the college hoops space.
“We can’t say too much about it yet, but if I think about the opportunity, going back to where we are on College Football, college sport has one of the most vibrant fanbase in the world,” Wilson said, via Insider-Gaming’s Mike Straw. “And that trickles over to basketball certainly.
“We’re seeing momentum of fandom in college basketball also continue to grow. Fans, athletes, universities pour their passion into these sports. And it is that passion that makes it special, that makes the games different.”
EA Sports saw its return to the college football video game pay off in a big way last year as College Football 25 became one of the top-selling games of the year. Quick math shows EA brought in more than $400 million in sales from the game.
And while 2K Sports is also reportedly planning to challenge EA with a college basketball video game of its own, Wilson made it clear his company would maintain a commitment similar to what it did with football. That includes “capturing the action on the field or the court, representing the energy, pageantry, the traditions and celebrating the unique sights and sounds and stories of every school and rivalry,” he said.
“We feel like we deliver that incredibly well with College Football,” Wilson said. “We’d love to do the same for basketball. All 350 programs, men’s and women’s teams, the iconic traditions and rivalries, and of course, March Madness.
“So for us, college sports broadly is an exciting opportunity. We feel like we’ve done a really strong job, and remain committed to doing that in the context of college football. We believe that with what we’ve done with the teams, the technology, and our commitment around College Football, we’d have a great ability to do the same for college basketball, and as we look to try and activate against that opportunity, we’ll be able to share more.”
News of EA’s pending return to the college basketball space came in late June when Extra Points’ Matt Brown reported details of what could be coming. He said three companies filed formal bids to create a game, and the College Licensing Company recommended EA’s.
NIL
Sullivan Park playground in Colona severely damaged by fireworks
Colona police are investigating criminal damage to Sullivan Park equipment after fireworks reportedly caused major damage early Tuesday morning. COLONA, Ill. — Colona Police are investigating criminal damage to playground equipment at Sullivan Park after fireworks reportedly caused major damage early Tuesday morning. The Colona Public Works Director reported the damage Tuesday morning. The play […]


Colona police are investigating criminal damage to Sullivan Park equipment after fireworks reportedly caused major damage early Tuesday morning.
COLONA, Ill. — Colona Police are investigating criminal damage to playground equipment at Sullivan Park after fireworks reportedly caused major damage early Tuesday morning.
The Colona Public Works Director reported the damage Tuesday morning. The play equipment, located in Level Acres at Sullivan Park, appeared to be severely damaged by fireworks.
Officials believe the incident happened between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on July 29.
Police are asking residents in the area to check any doorbell or surveillance footage that may have captured suspicious activity during that timeframe.
Anyone with video footage is asked to send it to: Public@colonapolice.illinois.gov.
“We take the preservation and care of our public parks serious, as well as the safety of our residents, especially children playing at our parks,” the department stated. “Our department will be investigating this incident.”
No arrests have been reported.
NIL
USC lands another No. 1 prospect in women’s basketball as Saniyah Hall commits
Saniyah Hall, ESPN’s No. 1 women’s basketball prospect in the high school class of 2026, has committed to play at Southern California. Hall, a 6-foot-2 guard from northeast Ohio, announced her decision last week on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” USC has landed three of the last four No. 1 recruits, with Hall joining JuJu Watkins in […]
Saniyah Hall, ESPN’s No. 1 women’s basketball prospect in the high school class of 2026, has committed to play at Southern California.
Hall, a 6-foot-2 guard from northeast Ohio, announced her decision last week on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
USC has landed three of the last four No. 1 recruits, with Hall joining JuJu Watkins in 2023 and Jasmine Davidson in 2025.
Watkins is expected to miss most of the upcoming season with a torn ACL that she suffered during the women’s NCAA Tournament. She would most likely return for the 2026-27 season, which would be Hall’s freshman year.
Hall, who turns 17 on Wednesday, recently helped the United States win gold at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. She averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists and was named MVP of the tournament.
Hall will play for SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, for her senior season after transferring from Montverde Academy in central Florida.
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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
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