NIL

Video game developer EA’s college basketball franchise to make long-awaited return

After a hiatus that lasted nearly two decades, EA Sports has announced the return of the college basketball video game franchise. The game is set to be released some time in 2028, and it has been confirmed that both men’s and women’s teams will be included for the first time. The series was discontinued following […]

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The last game sold over 150,000 copies across all platforms, which represented a concerning decline in sales from the previous year. The game was not nearly as successful as the college football game that came out that year, though developers discontinued both game franchises within a four-year period.

A primary reason that the college football and basketball franchises were initially discontinued was due to various roadblocks regarding the name, image and likeness of the players. The older games used real players but did not include their names.

With the implementation of the NIL policy in 2021, many things in the college sports world changed drastically. With players now having the opportunity to be compensated in a plethora of ways, this policy opened up the opportunity to bring back the beloved college sports video games.

Hope Hassmann, an incoming junior guard for the Idaho Vandals, is excited for the release of the game due to the value it will bring to the college basketball landscape.

“All kids grow up playing video games, especially the sport they want to play,” Hassman said. “I think it’s just a great opportunity for everybody to get their name out there, especially smaller schools who can get their name on the map.”

Hassmann grew up playing the college basketball games with her older brother, but says she has a special appreciation for the games now that she is an active college player. One of her favorite aspects of the return of the games is that players are paid to participate.

“Seeing how much time and dedication we put towards our sport, it’s so cool to see that it pays off and we’re now getting money and brand deals. I think it’s incredible. I think it just shows the growth of college sports and especially women’s basketball,” Hassmann said. “It’s cool that we get the ability to be paid. It’s such a cool opportunity to be a part of that in this new era of college sports.”

EA brought back the college football games starting in 2024, and the sales have increased exponentially. EA earned $500 million in revenue in the first two weeks, with 2.2 million people opting to pay extra for the deluxe pre-order bundle. Though the college basketball series will not officially make its return until 2028, it is likely that the game will succeed more than the older games, along with introducing more people to the sport.

“I think there’s a lot of things like that that can come out of having a college basketball game,” said Arthur Moreira, head coach of the Idaho women’s team. “I think you can draw a lot of attention not only to women’s basketball, but to college basketball in general. I think it’s the right time to continue to develop the game.”

In the past handful of years, women’s basketball has rapidly improved in mainstream popularity. The women’s march madness tournaments as well as the WNBA have both seen a steep increase in ratings.

“I feel like it’s great that people are now wanting to watch. To be in the era of women’s college basketball and seeing the growth of it, I just think it’s a really cool opportunity to grow the game,” Hassmann said. “In the two years that I’ve been in college, I think there has been a dramatic change. All our hard work is paying off in a way that people are excited to watch and there’s so much talk around women’s basketball.”

Former Vandal and current New Mexico State forward, Julius Mims, predicts that the new game will be “a big hit,” similar to the new college football games. Mims recalls playing NBA 2K games with friends growing up, specifically in the mid 2010s. He thinks the biggest challenge that developers of the game will face is dictating ratings for the players on each team due to the number of Division-1 players compared to the NBA.

Moreira spent a lot of time playing the college basketball franchise during his college years. Each year when the new game was released, he and his friends would spend two to three days editing every single roster and adding the players’ names.

Moreira said he spent most of his playing time focusing on the recruiting aspect rather than playing the game, joking that he got his start in college recruiting on NCAA Basketball 10. Once he began his coaching career, his strengths remained the same, establishing himself as an elite recruiter.

Though he does not have much time for video games these days, Moreira looks forward to playing as the Vandals during the offseason.

Moreira emphasized the impact that video games have on today’s youth. He says that the game will be a good gateway to college sports. He became a Newcastle United FC fan in 1997 because he liked using them in a soccer video game.

“The games give kids a chance to get familiar with it. Maybe they’ll find some school that has the color scheme that they like,” Moreira said. “All of that brings new fans in. Our youth is so invested into gaming and in the virtual world that I feel like sometimes it is the best way to get their attention.”

Moreira has friends in Brazil who became interested in college football after playing the new college football games, and he thinks the basketball games will have a similar effect.

“It’s all part of growing the game,” Moreira said. “There’s a lot of sports that I actually started watching because the game was fun.”

Link

NIL

Report: ESPN sees ‘potential’ for Bill Belichick TV ratings to mirror Deion Sanders impact

In 2023, Deion Sanders brought Prime Time to Colorado. The Buffaloes were a ratings hit, making a near-weekly appearance in the Top 10 most-watched college football games. More Hall of Fame star power is coming to college football in 2025, this time in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is gearing up for his first season at […]

Published

19 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In 2023, Deion Sanders brought Prime Time to Colorado. The Buffaloes were a ratings hit, making a near-weekly appearance in the Top 10 most-watched college football games.

More Hall of Fame star power is coming to college football in 2025, this time in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is gearing up for his first season at North Carolina, bringing plenty of attention to the program along with him. That was apparent at ACC Media Days this week as crowds of reporters listened to what the six-time Super Bowl champion coach had to say.

ESPN is also in position to capitalize with eight – maybe 10 – UNC games on its networks, Front Office Sports reported. As for whether the company is expecting a Coach Prime-like surge, it certainly sees “potential.”

“We have to wait and see. The potential is there,” said Kurt Dargis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions, in an interview with FOS. “There’s definitely interest in him outside the typical college football fan.

“Deion was such a phenomenon. I still can’t believe some of the numbers we got that first year he was there. It’s too early to say.”

ESPN capitalizing early on Bill Belichick at UNC

ESPN’s main channel is set to air North Carolina’s opener against TCU, which will take place in primetime on Monday, Sept. 1 with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff. The network will also broadcast College Football Countdown from Chapel Hill, hosted by Matt Barrie. Analysts Tedy Bruschi, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban will also be in attendance, as will college football insider Pete Thamel.

North Carolina’s Week 2 matchup against Charlotte will be exclusively on ESPN+, and Week 3 against Richmond will be on ACC Network – owned by ESPN. Two other Tar Heels games have already been picked up by ESPN. North Carolina’s Oct. 17 game at Cal will be on ESPN with a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff, and ESPN will air the Oct. 31 matchup at Syracuse.

Of course, TCU was also the season opener for Sanders’ first season at Colorado in 2022. The Buffaloes wound up winning that game 45-42, thrusting the program into the national spotlight as Coach Prime and Co. took down a team fresh off a national championship berth.

Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes previously joked this year’s opener was “bad scheduling” given that recent history. However, at Big 12 Media Days, he told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg he thinks the program is better prepared to deal with such an anticipated matchup.

Link

NIL

Why Hanna Cavinder Is More Than Just an Athlete

Hanna Cavinder turned her college basketball fame into a strong brand and business. With her twin sister Haley, she built a huge social media following and scored major NIL deals. Their TikTok has over 4.5 million followers and 150 million likes. Analysts say their influence rivals top male college stars. The Cavinder twins are now […]

Published

31 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Hanna Cavinder’s huge online following led to brand deals (Nike, Under Armour), startup investments, and media gigs. Her smart branding shows how college athletes can use their platform for long-term success.

Social Media

Before NIL rules, Hanna and Haley Cavinder became TikTok stars. By March 2021, they had 2.7 million followers, posting dances and basketball clips from Fresno State. Their reach showed that follower count, not stats, could drive earnings. Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said their impact was nearly as big as Trevor Lawrence’s the NFL’s top draft pick that year.

Today, the Cavinders have a massive online following. Their shared TikTok (@cavindertwins) has over 4.5 million followers and 150 million likes. Their Instagram accounts shared and individual total nearly 2 million followers, per SBJ. These numbers rival celebrity influencers, not typical college athletes. Hanna’s team treats these channels as key brand assets. The twins post lifestyle, fitness, and travel content to grow their audience. This steady activity taught Hanna the value of her brand even before NIL rules began.

By July 2021, when NIL rules took effect, Hanna had already shown her market power. Experts said her TikTok presence alone could earn hundreds of thousands a year. Within two years, the Cavinders reported nearly $2 million from NIL and sponsorship deals. They prove daily that social media can turn into real income for athletes.

Branding and Business Ventures

Hanna’s brand play isn’t just about TikTok. She and Haley treat NIL deals like real business. They’ve signed long-term partnerships and taken equity in companies. In July 2024, they landed a three-year exclusive apparel and footwear deal with Under Armour the first for NCAA women’s basketball players. UA even taps them to test and help design new products, using their real fan connection.

The Cavinder twins promote their ventures in a real, relatable way. Their agent says they offer brands a mix of sport, fashion, and wellness influence. Hanna often repeats her dad’s advice: ‘It’s not a four-year plan, it’s a 40-year plan.’ She says NIL taught them to invest, diversify, and think long-term. They work with a trusted attorney and aim to build a lasting business far beyond the norm for college athletes.

Under Armour even ran a playful campaign with the twins, sharing ‘7 easy steps’ to build an NIL empire. The list included ‘be elite,’ ‘sign with Under Armour,’ and ‘star in a Dick’s campaign.’ It was tongue-in-cheek, but Hanna has done it all and more.

NIL Pioneer and Role Model

Hanna Cavinder has become a key voice for college athlete opportunity. She and Haley were among the first to sign an NIL deal partnering with Boost Mobile on July 1, 2021, in a Times Square ad. The deal, reportedly worth five figures each, made headlines and opened doors.

They’ve also pushed for policy change. Both spoke at a U.S. Senate NIL roundtable, backing fair, earned rights for student-athletes.

Their success changed how people view NIL. They started at Fresno State not a sports powerhouse yet out-earned many big-school stars. As one writer said, ‘The twins are proof that NIL benefits go beyond the biggest names in the biggest sports.

In 2024, they were profiled by Sports Business Journal and included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Sports a nod to their pioneering role in the NIL era and their business success off the court.

Building a Lasting Legacy

For student-athletes interested in entrepreneurship and branding, Hanna Cavinder’s journey offers several key takeaways:

1. Invest Early, Think Long-Term

Approach NIL as a long-term opportunity. Hanna treats every deal like an investment, focusing on equity, royalties, and sustainability.

2. Diversify Your Platform

Grow your brand across multiple platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) and use them to authentically support your ventures.

3. Be a Trailblazer

Don’t be afraid to try new things: sign major partnerships, appear in national campaigns, launch your own product lines.

4. Stay Authentic

Hanna’s relatable, humorous, and athletic brand connects with fans. Authenticity builds trust and trust builds influence.

5. Balance Sports and Business

Build a team to help you manage both athletics and business. Hanna has done this well, continuing her NCAA basketball career while growing a business empire.

Conclusion

Hanna Cavinder has become one of the most influential college athletes of the NIL era. Through strategic branding, smart investments, and relentless social media engagement, she has proven that athletic talent is only the beginning. Her story is not just about viral fame or flashy deals it’s about building a business, inspiring future athletes, and showing the world that college athletes can be CEOs in sneakers.

Link

NIL

Dave Aranda draws parallel to ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ when discussing transfer portal

The question was about the negative side-effects of the transfer portal and NIL. The answer was… not about that. At least not at first. Three seconds in, when Baylor head coach Dave Aranda uttered the phrase “they’re throwing midgets,” you realize you’re in for a wild ride. Aranda has a cerebral personality, a deadpan delivery, […]

Published

34 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The question was about the negative side-effects of the transfer portal and NIL. The answer was… not about that. At least not at first.

Three seconds in, when Baylor head coach Dave Aranda uttered the phrase “they’re throwing midgets,” you realize you’re in for a wild ride. Aranda has a cerebral personality, a deadpan delivery, and a diverse set of interests. That means anything is viable to come out of his mouth at any time, and when it does he’ll deliver it with a straight face. Recall last year when he likened calling plays to being a fighter pilot trying to avoid being shot out of the sky.

Aranda was making a point on how too often in college football coaches will make players feel like a part of the proverbial family only to treat them like commodities it’s go time. To make that point, Aranda recalled the scene in The Wolf of Wall Street when Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and company are discussing hiring a little person to throw at a spinning wheel of money. But before they can do that, Hill points out, they must first make the performer feel like one of them.

Here’s how it sounded coming out of Aranda’s mouth.

Is that the best analogy to make that point? Probably not. But also yes, because you’re now going to be thinking about it all day.

Link

NIL

UW football plans to use NIL to enhance community engagement

Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch made it clear at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas this week that his program has everything he needs to make the Huskies a contender on an annual basis. Fisch noted UW athletic director Pat Chun and Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer Erin O’Connell as two vital […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch made it clear at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas this week that his program has everything he needs to make the Huskies a contender on an annual basis.

Fisch noted UW athletic director Pat Chun and Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer Erin O’Connell as two vital people with the university who have helped usher the football program from the old Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten, viewed as a driving force in the new world of college athletics.

This past offseason, Fisch utilized the resources provided by the duo to increase the size of his football staff, including hiring a dedicated special teams coordinator in Chris Petrilli and hiring several other coaches for new positions.

“We are competing at the highest level,” Fisch said. “Whether that be through staff size, staff compensation, staff retention, player development, player rosters, and player compensation.”

Fisch also affirmed the previous stance UW has taken with respect to Name, Image, and Likeness, with community engagement at the forefront.

Under its partnership with Montlake Futures, the football team has heavily partnered with local non-profit organizations, including Girl Scouts of America, American Heart Association, and others, with the aim of having a more authentic, organic relationship for the players as they enter a new compensation world that previously hadn’t existed.

Link

NIL

Virginia Tech is reviewing claim that coach tried to lure NC Central player into transfer portal

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech is looking into an allegation by North Carolina Central’s coach that a Hokies assistant improperly tried to lure running back J’Mari Taylor into the transfer portal last season. Virginia Tech released a statement on Saturday saying it was made aware of the allegation a day earlier. ESPN reported that […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Virginia Tech is reviewing claim that coach tried to lure NC Central player into transfer portal

Virginia Tech released a statement on Saturday saying it was made aware of the allegation a day earlier.

ESPN reported that the allegation surfaced when N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver was asked Friday what was the most ridiculous moment he has faced in coaching. Oliver responded that he discovered a Virginia Tech assistant coach on the sideline for one of the Eagles’ games in 2024 and said that assistant was trying to contact his running back. Taylor, a star RB, eventually transferred to Virginia.

WRAL News reported that Oliver told reporters: “Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back. That was pretty bold. I couldn’t believe it.”

Oliver said he was told the Virginia Tech assistant was “just down here visiting.” Added Oliver: “But I knew what it was.”

In its statement provided to The Associated Press, Virginia Tech said: “We were made aware Friday afternoon of a public comment suggesting a potential NCAA rules concern involving a member of our coaching staff. This is the first time the issue has been brought to our attention, and no concern has previously been shared with us through any formal channel.

“Virginia Tech takes all NCAA rules seriously and is committed to conducting our program with integrity. We are reviewing the matter internally and will address any findings appropriately.”

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football