• Miami baseball has a 12-11 series lead over Louisville.
• The Louisville Cardinals are 37-10 all-time in postseason home game, advancing to five straight super regional series between 2013 and 2017 and again in 2019. They won in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
• The Miami Hurricanes have made the College World Series 25 times with four national championships. Most recently, they made back-to-back trips in 2015 and 2016.

Louisville baseball and Miami are set for Game 1 of their NCAA Tournament super regional series today at Jim Patterson Stadium.

As we head into a new athletics year under the NIL era, a new bill has been signed into law in the state of Texas that could benefit Texas A&M and other universities in the state moving forward.

As announced on Thursday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott signed a new NIL law that will allow athletes over 17 in the state to receive NIL contracts directly from a university. This bill also aligns with the House settlement that is yet to be approved. For Texas A&M and other in-state universities, it will allow them to avoid any potential lawsuits or compliance issues and compete for recruits in some ways others may not be able to just yet.

The implementation of the bill was first reported by KBTX senior sports writer Travis L. Brown via X:

Let’s cut straight to the facts: there is no denying the influence of NIL on all collegiate athletics and it continues to grow by the minute. The transfer portal has reached historic numbers since the decision was made to introduce financial gain for players for their name, image and likeness (NIL).

That was just the beginning of something way bigger than anyone ever thought could happen in the sport. Some college athletes, like UCLA quarterback Nico Lamaleava, are making millions of dollars before they even reach the National Football League, which has always been the goal of most athletes, historically speaking.

Now, what is stopping players from just managing their finances in college and then retiring? Is that going to cause a shortage of athletes in the NFL? Or, will the professional football league continue to blossom? That is still to be determined.

For now, the House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit remains in full swing, with seemingly no end in sight just yet. The proposed, and now imposed, bill in the state of Texas protects universities in the state in more ways than one, while also providing a slight edge in recruiting as well.

The world of NIL and the transfer portal is something that will change rapidly and often. As new bills are signed or rejected, there seems to be some major miscommunications between the House and the NCAA that could be detrimental for all parties if not solved.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas governor signs NIL bill integral to universities in the state

© Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The East Carolina baseball team experienced an up and down season in 2025. After a bit of a slow start, the Pirates went on a run to make the NCAA Tournament.

They were able to take down SEC foe Florida twice in postseason play but were unable to get past No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina in the regional finals. The year came to an end at 35-27.

The Pirates began the season by dropping six of their first eight contests. They then rebounded to get to 20-10 before losing six straight matchups to put postseason hopes in danger.

The regular season ended with a 29-25 overall record. That likely meant being on the outside looking in come NCAA Tournament time. A four-game run in the AAC Championship, however, provided new life.

The Pirates won the conference tournament championship. It allowed ECU to slide into the Conway Regional as a three-seed. The squad flexed its muscles against Florida but eventually fell 1-0 in an elimination game to Coastal Carolina.

Now, the task for head coach Cliff Godwin is keeping the core of his roster together. He’s already finding that difficult.

P4 programs are trying to poach East Carolina baseball players.

Our system is so BROKEN! We have coaches at P4 schools texting our players directly who are not in portal! And we have proof!

— Cliff Godwin (@cgodwin23) June 5, 2025

It took just days after season’s end for larger schools to begin reaching out to ECU players directly, according to Godwin. He’s keeping the receipts.

East Carolina, like most mid-majors, is in a difficult position. The Pirates have been one of the most successful programs in all of college baseball over the last quarter-century. Since 1999, they’ve posted 16 40-win seasons, including a 51-13 campaign in 2004.

In the past, the team was able to build on success year after year. Now, they find themselves in somewhat of an annual rebuild.

The transfer portal has been a major hit to G5 schools across all sports. NIL has only magnified the disadvantage. Larger programs can easily poach the best players with lucrative cash offers.

East Carolina’s baseball team was impacted last year after star infielder Alek Makarewicz bolted for NC State. Godwin then dealt with tampering issues during his team’s postseason appearance.

“We threw two pitchers on Monday that both knew they were leaving,” he said after a season-ending loss to Evansville. “I didn’t know they were leaving. I would’ve thrown position players. The guy that started and the guy that gave up the three-run homer went to the portal (two days after the season ended). They knew they were leaving.”

The Pirates lost some talent in the portal last year. Cliff Godwin hinted at more attrition earlier this year while questioning his players’ NIL motivations.

Those feelings seem to have changed following the Pirates’ late run. The head coach has made it his goal to keep the roster together.

“We’ll make some changes in some areas, for sure, and we’ll get better. We are going to keep this core group together, and man, they got a lot of experience together…

“I’m going to have to have some stay conversations. I’m sure there are people DMing them right now trying to buy them away… We’re going to do everything we can to keep them.”

-Cliff Godwin

Godwin confirmed those suspicions on Thursday. If the tampering continues, he might just expose his rivals!

One of the key moments in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the WCWS final came in the fifth inning. Texas was called for obstruction after a controversial review, and it led to Texas Tech’s first run of the ballgame.

While the obstruction call was just one of the crazy moments in the game – a 2-1 Texas win – the ruling still came up at the end of Greg Sankey’s interview on SEC Network ahead of first pitch. He joked his “walk-up song” would be about changing the rule.

Sankey spoke with the panel prior to first pitch of Game 2 between Texas and Texas Tech, and Alyssa Lang said a producer told her to ask who he’d pick to win. Knowing he’d pick the Longhorns, representing the SEC, she instead pivoted to ask him what his walk-up song would be. Seeing the opportunity, Sankey threw a curveball, joking about the obstruction rule and the need for an extra base at first base.

“I think the walk-up song would be entitled, ‘We need to change the obstruction rule,’ and put it to a musical tune,” Sankey said. “How’s that? Didn’t see that coming, did you? … We ought to be able to play softball, we don’t want collisions.

“We need the base added, too, at first base. So if we can do that in baseball where we don’t have as many close plays as you do in softball, naturally, why are we waiting for these things? Let’s get some stuff done. That’s my walk-up music.”

Jessica Mendoza: ‘They need to change the rule’

The play in question occurred in the top of the fifth inning when Leighann Goode went to tag Logan Halleman out on a stolen base attempt. Goode placed the tag well before Halleman got to the base, but Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco challenged the call and argued Goode obstructed.

Umpires reviewed it and overturned the call. They ruled Goode obstructed Halleman’s path to the base, which is spelled out in Rule 9.5.1 of the rulebook. But the call led to some pushback from the ESPN broadcast, and Jessica Mendoza also called for a rule change.

“It’s not, and they need to change the rule because the problem with the rule is if the runner is starting their slide – my thing is, if the runner is hosed, if she’s going to be out, then there is no obstruction,” Mendoza said on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt. “Is she obstructing if the runner is not even there yet? So the way that the rule reads is yes, the shortstop Leighann Goode was in the base path. Was she blocking the leading edge? But the point is it’s got to be when the runner is actually going into it. That’s the point. Is she obstructing the runner? But the runner was going to be out no matter what, and that’s why the rule has to change because that is not obstruction.

“That is not what the rule is for, and it’s hard here at the World Series. I am with you. We talked about it in the break during the game. I am so glad that that is not the leading topic of this amazing game.”

The Rise of NIL and Its Impact on College Football

In the realm of college football, the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has catalyzed a seismic shift in the sport’s landscape. This evolution in athlete compensation allows players to earn from endorsements and sponsorships, effectively altering recruitment strategies and the balance of power among universities. Among the standout stories is that of Nico Iamaleava, a young athlete whose journey underlines the profound impact of NIL on the game.

Nico Iamaleava: A New Icon at USC

Nico Iamaleava, a highly touted quarterback recruit, has become a central figure in the discussion about NIL’s influence on college sports. His commitment to the University of Southern California (USC) not only highlights his promising talent but also underscores the university’s strategic use of NIL opportunities to attract elite athletes. USC has leveraged these new regulations to enhance its recruiting appeal, assembling a formidable class that promises to elevate its competitive edge.

Strategic Recruitment and Enhanced Competitiveness

The strategic recruitment of athletes like Iamaleava is reshaping how teams build their rosters. USC, by aligning itself with the lucrative possibilities of NIL, has positioned itself as a desirable destination for top-tier talent. This approach not only benefits the athletes financially but also enriches the team’s capabilities and its potential for success on the national stage.

The Broader Implications of NIL in College Sports

The ripple effects of NIL extend beyond individual success stories like Iamaleava’s. This paradigm shift is redefining athlete empowerment, allowing players to capitalize on their skills and marketability. As more athletes and schools navigate this new landscape, the dynamics of power, recruitment, and competition in college sports continue to evolve. Schools that adapt effectively to this new era, embracing the complexities and opportunities it presents, are likely to emerge as leaders in the transformed landscape of college athletics.

Reflecting on the Future

As the NIL era matures, its long-term implications on college sports will become clearer. Athletes like Nico Iamaleava are not only redefining their personal futures but are also setting precedents for the next generation of players. The strategic adaptations by institutions like USC signal a new chapter in college sports, where the intertwining of athletic prowess and commercial appeal dictates a new order of dominance and success.

The journey of athletes like Iamaleava, enriched by NIL, offers a compelling glimpse into the future of college sports—a future where talent, marketability, and strategic institutional support converge to redefine the essence and excitement of collegiate competition.