College Sports
Trump golfs with Greg Sankey, Notre Dame AD. What did they discuss?
Kirby Smart on college football’s future Kirby Smart urges leaders to prioritize the game’s future over personal or conference agendas in playoff talks. President Donald Trump played golf with two prominent college sports figures last weekend. Who won the round, and what did they discuss? SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he’ll contain the particulars to […]


Kirby Smart on college football’s future
Kirby Smart urges leaders to prioritize the game’s future over personal or conference agendas in playoff talks.
President Donald Trump played golf with two prominent college sports figures last weekend.
Who won the round, and what did they discuss?
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he’ll contain the particulars to those who played in the golf group. Sankey joined Trump and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua for the round of golf. They played at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.
“It was helpful for me and for Pete, as well, to hear his thoughts and his perspectives and to share some of ours,” Sankey said Monday during a call with reporters. “I think those are best left for the moment on the golf course.”
The golf outing came amid what Sankey described as an “inflection point” moment for college sports, on the heels of a federal judge on Friday approving the House legal settlement.
The settlement allows NCAA member schools to directly compensate athletes beginning July 1 in the form of revenue-sharing for the use of the name, image and likeness of players. Previously, athletes could earn money via NIL deals with third-party individuals and groups. This settlement allows schools to bring payments to athletes in-house.
The settlement allows schools to distribute a capped financial allotment to athletes across sports. The cap is estimated to start around $20.5 million per school.
Additionally, the settlement outlines that any Division I athlete who earns an NIL deal or deals worth $600 or more must report those deals to a regulatory system called “NIL Go.” This centralized clearinghouse, run by Deloitte, will be tasked with determining whether those deals have a “valid business purpose” and whether the money involved in those deals falls within “a reasonable range of compensation,” whatever those terms are considered to mean.
“This (settlement) brings us to a point of having the opportunity for stability and fairness in the new system,” Sankey said Monday, “replacing what has been a chaotic number of months in a fully unregulated environment – replacing that environment with transparent and enforceable rules that promote consistent opportunities for all and are part of a judicially approved settlement.”
Sankey and other college sports leaders have lobbied for years for federal legislation to regulate the NIL marketplace and supersede the patchwork of state NIL laws. No such federal legislation has emerged.
While Sankey declined to get into the specifics of his golf course talks with Trump, he said he appreciates the president’s “interest in college sports.”
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
College Sports
PWHL Seattle signs Anna Wilgren to one-year contract
The PWHL’s newest American franchise made another big signing on Thursday, as PWHL Seattle inked defender Anna Wilgren to a one-year contract that will keep her with the club through the 2025-26 season. Wilgren’s playing rights were acquired by Seattle after she was selected with the 10th pick of the 2025 “We’re excited to have […]

The PWHL’s newest American franchise made another big signing on Thursday, as PWHL Seattle inked defender Anna Wilgren to a one-year contract that will keep her with the club through the 2025-26 season.
Wilgren’s playing rights were acquired by Seattle after she was selected with the 10th pick of the 2025
“We’re excited to have Anna representing Seattle this season,” said PWHL Seattle General Manager Meghan Turner in a news release. “Anna made an immediate impact in her first year with strong defensive play and the ability to contribute to all zones. She’s tough to play against and will be a great fit in our organization.”
The 25-year-old Wilgren, taken by the Montreal Victoire in the fifth round of the 2024 PWHL Draft, scored three goals and six assists for nine points in 30 regular-season games in 2024-25, as well as recording three assists during the Victoire’s playoff series against the Ottawa Charge.
“I am so excited to be a part of bringing women’s hockey to the West Coast,” said Wilgren. “The energy that Seattle fans brought to last year’s PWHL Takeover Tour was incredible. I can’t wait to play in front of such a passionate women’s sports fanbase every night with such a talented group of athletes.”
Wilgren, a native of Hudson, Wis., spent four seasons playing college hockey at Minnesota State, scoring 12 goals and recording 30 assists for 42 points in 91 career games. In her fifth season, she transferred to Wisconsin, logging in two goals and 22 assists for 24 points in 40 games, helping the Badgers reach the 2024 NCAA Championship.
Wilgren joins a blue line that includes Cayla Barnes and Mariah Keopple, as well as Emily Brown, Megan Carter and Aneta Tejralova.
College Sports
‘Essence of the JCC’ soon to retire
“She’s been the power behind everything that happens here,” Lois Rittenhouse said with a smile for Barbara Sugarman, who was working in the lobby of the Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston. “She is one awesome lady,” said Cissie Ashley. “She’s been part of this place in such an intense way. The dedication she […]

“She’s been the power behind everything that happens here,” Lois Rittenhouse said with a smile for Barbara Sugarman, who was working in the lobby of the Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston.
“She is one awesome lady,” said Cissie Ashley.
“She’s been part of this place in such an intense way. The dedication she has to Sara’s Table has been remarkable,” Rabbi Larry Kaplan said, referring to the JCC’s food pantry for the needy.
On a recent, ordinary weekday morning, the JCC was bustling with people coming and going from exercise class or Pickleball games, arriving to do volunteer work or to buy one of the kosher meals long-time employee Barbara Sugarman had ready for pick-up.
Because Sugarman, who recently turned 82, plans to retire next month after 67 years working for the JCC, a reporter visited and asked people how they feel about the woman who for decades has been synonymous with the Jewish Community Center.
“You should title your piece ‘Spot Reserved in Heaven,’ ” Pickleball player Jeff Lubin advised the reporter.
“She’s an enabler, in a good way,” Lubin continued. “I started teaching a class here (in biblical studies) and Barb helped me get it off the ground. With the bridge club, the men’s club, she asks, ‘What do you need?’ and she makes it happen.”
Back in the 1950s, Sugarman was a 15-year-old student at Kingston High School who wanted a summer job.
“All of my friends were working at the camp,” she said, noting the JCC maintained a camp at Twin Lakes at the time. “I called for a job and they said the staff was full but if I wanted to volunteer I could.”
Sugarman began working as a volunteer but by the time seven weeks of summer camp were over, the camp administration decided to pay her after all. Her salary for the whole summer was $35, paid in one lump sum.
With camp over for the season, Sugarman volunteered to work at the center through the rest of her high school career and while she was studying education at Temple University. Basically, she never left — not during the time she worked for the Bell Telephone Co., and not when she and her husband, the late Howard Sugarman, were raising their three children.
For 19 years she served as the Jewish Center Youth Regional Director and for more than 20 subsequent years she has served as director of adult and cultural programs, arranging holiday and educational programs, collecting food for the hungry and helping people every way she could think of.
“She’s a wealth of knowledge. She answers any question you have,” said co-worker Lisa Cope. “In the short time I’ve been here, about a year and a half, she’s like my best friend.”
“If you ever needed any kind of connection, she knew it,” said Gerri Kaplan, leader of the Midrasha School.
“I like people,” Sugarman said, offering a hint to the key to her success. “I’m a people person. I tell people to call me, even on a weekend, even at night. I like to be available.”
For Sugarman, it was difficult in recent weeks to tell person after person that an upcoming local history class at the JCC, to be taught by local historian Tony Brooks, had reached its limit and their names would be put on a waiting list.
More recently she was relieved to have the class moved to a larger space, so the 47 people on the waiting list could be notified that they were welcome to attend after all.
Making them happy made her happy.
“I can’t imagine this place without her,” said JCC president Jane Messinger. “She is the essence of the JCC and what we’re all about. She’s irreplaceable.”
“We’re going to remain friends,” Messinger said, giving Sugarman a fond hug. “Hopefully she’ll come back for a visit.”
“I’m going to miss the people here,” said Sugarman, whose next chapter involves moving to South Carolina to live with her son Jeff and daughter-in-law Heather, who are building a home there.
Other family members include daughter Wendy and her husband Scott Lowden, daughter Randi and her husband Aaron Chapin and grandchildren Katie Sugarman, Jacob Sugarman and Sydney Chapin.
Family and friends will celebrate Sugarman’s long career this weekend at a brunch, and she expects her last day at work will be in the middle of August.
College Sports
Isaac Howard Gives Utmost Praise to MSU
Former Michigan State star Isaac Howard was recently traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Edmonton Oilers, signing a three-year, entry-level contract that will ultimately take his talents to the NHL next season. Despite the departure, Howard gives MSU a lot of credit. In his own words, Howard could “not be more grateful” for […]

Former Michigan State star Isaac Howard was recently traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Edmonton Oilers, signing a three-year, entry-level contract that will ultimately take his talents to the NHL next season. Despite the departure, Howard gives MSU a lot of credit.
In his own words, Howard could “not be more grateful” for the role that the Spartans played in his journey to the next level. He is the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, given to the No. 1 player in college hockey, and was the main factor in why MSU won a second-straight Big Ten title.
As Howard prepares to embark on his NHL journey, he spoke to reporters in a virtual media availability this week to discuss multiple topics, including the role that the Spartan program played in his development and ultimate journey to the NHL.
“I mean, I couldn’t be more grateful for this place (MSU),” Howard said. “I had two of my best years here. I think this school and coaching staff, everyone just has such high class, and I think they’ve helped me a lot as a person outside of the arena, and I think that’s helped me on the ice.
“I focus a lot on play away from the puck and defensive stuff with (head coach Adam) Nightingale and all the other coaches, and I think they’re world-class. They preach development first, and I think if you can buy in, you’re going to get the most out of this place, and I think it’s worked for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
The words from Howard are not only a major feather in the Spartan program’s cap for how well they have developed top talent, but it is also an incredible recruiting pitch. To hear the best player in college hockey admire MSU like he did and credit his teammates and coaching staff is crucial.
NHL training camp begins in late September, and Howard will certainly be on the ice with the team that has gone to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals but has lost both times to the Florida Panthers.
Make sure to follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our lively community group, Go Green Go White, as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Ensure you also follow us on X @MSUSpartansOnSI.
College Sports
Buford DB Tyriq Green Commits to Georgia
The Dawgs just added another game-changer to the family. Buford’s own Tyriq “Ty Boogie” Green, a dynamic 4-star athlete from the Class of 2026, has officially committed to the University of Georgia, choosing the Dawgs over top programs like Miami and Auburn. Once seen as a tough pull, Buford is quickly becoming a UGA pipeline, […]

The Dawgs just added another game-changer to the family.
Buford’s own Tyriq “Ty Boogie” Green, a dynamic 4-star athlete from the Class of 2026, has officially committed to the University of Georgia, choosing the Dawgs over top programs like Miami and Auburn.
Once seen as a tough pull, Buford is quickly becoming a UGA pipeline, and Ty Boogie is the latest elite talent to keep that momentum going. With elite production on both sides of the ball, Green brings versatility, leadership, and a true “do-it-all” presence to Athens.
“I feel like it’s family,” Green said of UGA. “They practice hard, they stay ready, and they believe in me.”
Guided by strong relationships with Coach Travaris Robinson and Kirby Smart, Green joins a stacked DB class — and proves Georgia continues to recruit and retain the very best from its backyard.
Congratulations, Ty Boogie! The G just got better.
College Sports
Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, former blue-chip recruit and top returning player, arrested on suspicion of DUI
Getty Images Tahaad Pettiford, one of Auburn’s top returning players next season, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI. The sophomore point guard and former five-star was stopped in Lee County, Alabama, per the sheriff’s office database. Bond was set at $1,000. “We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad […]


Tahaad Pettiford, one of Auburn’s top returning players next season, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI. The sophomore point guard and former five-star was stopped in Lee County, Alabama, per the sheriff’s office database. Bond was set at $1,000.
“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”
Pettiford averaged 11.6 points per game last season as a first-year star, helping the Tigers reach the Final Four. Prior to Pettiford withdrawing his name from the 2025 NBA Draft in May, Pearl raved about his ability and influence on the 2025-26 team if he chose to return.
“Je’s going to have to play an expanded role, which I know is something that is exciting to him — and probably exciting to our fan base, too, because we’ll get to see more of him,” Pearl said, via Auburn Undercover. “He’ll be a starter. There will be more on him.”
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Pettiford “had a robust NIL package awaiting back at Auburn” on a deal believed to be worth more than $2 million. He returned to the Plains this summer after failing to get a first-round grade following his performance at the NBA Combine.
With heavy personnel losses coming off the fantastic season, Auburn has added several transfers to bolster the roster around Pettiford, including forward Keyshawn Hall (UCF), big man KeShawn Murphy (Mississippi State), guard Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) and wing Elyjah Freeman (Lincoln Memorial). JUCO pickups Abdul Bashir and center Emeka Opurum will help, too.
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College Sports
NHL Draft Analyst Pits 22-Year-Old Panthers Winger’s Salary vs. Gavin McKenna’s NIL Deal With Penn State
The Florida Panthers just won their second straight Stanley Cup, but here’s what nobody saw coming: one of their young players is making barely more than a college kid who hasn’t even been drafted yet. Mackie Samoskevich signed for $775,000 while 17-year-old Gavin McKenna just landed a $700,000 NIL deal at Penn State. That’s a […]

The Florida Panthers just won their second straight Stanley Cup, but here’s what nobody saw coming: one of their young players is making barely more than a college kid who hasn’t even been drafted yet. Mackie Samoskevich signed for $775,000 while 17-year-old Gavin McKenna just landed a $700,000 NIL deal at Penn State. That’s a $75,000 difference between a Stanley Cup champion and a teenager.
Why Is Mackie Samoskevich Making Only $75,000 More Than Gavin McKenna?
The Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive time in 2024-25, beating the Edmonton Oilers again. The Panthers kept their core together, including the star trio of Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand. GM Bill Zito delivered on his promise of retaining all three and pulled off what seemed impossible.
Along with keeping the big names, the team re-signed right-winger Samoskevich to a contract worth $775,000 with a cap hit of the same amount. His deal runs through 2026, after which the 22-year-old will become a restricted free agent.
Meanwhile, college NIL deals keep reaching jaw-dropping numbers. McKenna’s NIL deal with Penn State has left many in the hockey community speechless. The NIL deal is worth $700,000 and played a significant role in McKenna’s decision to choose the school. His commitment to join the Nittany Lions came months after the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players from competing at colleges in the United States in November 2024.
Penn State’s NIL offer doubled Michigan State’s $300,000 proposal. The choice was clear for McKenna. However, the 17-year-old said his decision to commit to Penn State went beyond just the money. He explained that while the Western Hockey League is great, he wanted to be part of a more challenging and competitive environment to become NHL-ready.
“Both options were great, but I just think going to college, being in such a great conference, it’ll really challenge me and prepare me,” said McKenna.
McKenna’s decision ultimately came down to more than just the financial package. But when you look at the numbers side by side, the contract comparison becomes even more eye-opening.
What Makes This Contract Comparison So Striking?
McKenna’s time with the WHL was short but packed with highlights. After his standout performance, in which he recorded 129 points in 56 regular-season games, he was named the CHL Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Given his talent level, the Penn State NIL deal makes sense.
But as The Athletic’s Jesse Marshall points out, Samoskevich of the Panthers only earns $75,000 more than McKenna. Given the Panthers’ championship status, you’d expect the 22-year-old to command a much higher salary.
The reality is that Samoskevich isn’t eligible for an offer sheet yet, which significantly hurts his bargaining position. Without enough experience, the Connecticut native can’t benefit from offer sheet leverage. The lack of offer sheet eligibility gave the Panthers complete control over contract negotiations, keeping other teams out of the picture entirely.
The winger, who has 31 points in 72 regular-season games in 2024, was offered the league minimum salary of $775,000. From the Panthers’ perspective, their hands were tied. Zito likely stretched the budget to its limits after working to retain Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand. Zito’s decision to re-sign Samoskevich shows the team’s confidence in the 22-year-old’s future, even if the contract doesn’t reflect typical market value for a Stanley Cup winner.
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