CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga’s Peja Goold was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Pitcher of the Week for the fourth consecutive week and sixth time this season.
 
She went 2-0 in the Mocs’ series against Samford, striking out 17 total over three games. In her first game, she struck out eight in a come-from-behind walk-off win. During the second game, the Stockton, Calif., native struck out nine and had a no-hitter going into the sixth. Goold finished allowing two hits and one run in the 5-1 victory.
 
Goold is third in the NCAA for shutouts with eight and ninth with 207 strikeouts this season. She leads the Southern Conference in complete games, ERA, hits allowed per seven innings, innings pitched, shutouts, strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, victories and WHIP.
 
Chattanooga moved into first place over the weekend, sweeping Samford who was tied for the conference lead heading into the three-game series. UNCG fell in two of three games on the road at Mercer leaving Chattanooga out front by a game-and-a-half over the Spartans. The Mocs entered the D1Softball Mid-Major Top 25 Wednesday with a 36-12 overall record.
 
The Mocs close out the home slate tonight against non-conference foe Tennessee Tech at 5:00 p.m. at Frost Stadium and finish the regular season on the road at SoCon rival ETSU. The pair will play one game Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. and a double header Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA SOFTBALL
For the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga Softball, please follow @GoMocsSB on Twitter & Instagram and ChattanoogaSB on Facebook.
 
SOFTBALL
Feb. 11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
Feb. 18 | Player: Abbie Buckner (Sewanee); Pitcher: Reagen Huskey (Sewanee)
Feb. 25 | Player: Brianna Asmondy (Trevecca): Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
March 4 | Player: Hayden Dye (Carson-Newman); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
March 11 | Player: Presley Williamson (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
March 18 | Player: Morgan Jennings (Union University); Pitcher: Ashlan Sensing (Trevecca Nazarene)
March 25 | Player: Abbee Klinefelter (Tennessee Tech); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
April 1 | Player: Alyssa Suits (King University); Pitcher: Taylor Long (Chattanooga)

April 8 | Player: Kailey Snell (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 15 | Player: Kailey Snell (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 22 | Player: Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 29 | Player: Morgan Jennings (Union); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
 
 

Are you surprised to hear that Texas will end up spending between $30 to $40 million on its college football roster this season? If you are, welcome to the current era of college athletics. 

As we prepare for the upcoming House Settlement to be approved (maybe), there is going to be a massive shift in how college athletes will be paid. While the majority of the money will come from the university, with contracts signed by the players and schools, there will still be money flowing from these NIL collectives across the country. 

On Wednesday, the influence of collectives was put on full display, as Kirk Bohls from the Houston Chronicle reported that Texas will spend upward of $40 million on its football roster for the 2025 season. 

While the number might be shocking, it does come with a caveat that fans of the sport are missing out. Right now, we are seeing NIL collectives pour a lot of their money into deals that they will have off the overall books by the time the House Settlement is put into place, with a revenue-cap coming for college football teams. 

Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Saga Wasn’t About Race Or Talent: He Has To Rid Of The Spectacle Around Him

So, when you see a number like $40 million being thrown around, you have to understand that a good chunk of this is being spent by teams who are front-loading deals at the moment. This means that players could receive a majority of their current contract by July 1, which would keep them off the books in regard to the cap that will be put into place once a settlement is agreed to. 

You Think A College Football Team Won’t Have Backdoor Payments? 

Schools will have around $20.5 million to split up between multiple sports across campus, with a majority going to football in the range of $17.5 million for this upcoming season. So, when you add in the amount of money these NIL collectives are spending, it makes sense that Texas would spend anywhere between $35 to $40 million. 

Yes, I know that number is insane. But given that we had schools last year spending upward of $25 million for their football team, this hike in the overall roster budget shouldn’t come as a surprise. Also, let’s not act as if these athletic programs are going to keep everything above board. 

While the days of players being paid in duffle bags, or in the dark parking lot of a hotel are over, these boosters will find ways to make sure players are getting paid, even if it’s more than the agreed-upon revenue-share cap. 

The fact is that if you want to compete for national championships, you had better be willing to put together a roster that will cost you around $30 million per season. 

Welcome to the new era of athletics, or should I say ‘professional’ college football. 

STARKVILLE – After being presented with one of 12 Golden Tickets for the AUSL College Draft on Tuesday night, Mississippi State’s Sierra Sacco was named one of the Top 25 Finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award on Wednesday.
 
Sacco has transformed herself into one of the nation’s premier hitters in her final season, ranking among the top 15 nationally in batting average (.471), hits (72), runs (60) and on-base percentage (.565). She leads the SEC in doubles (16) and has more extra-base hits this season alone than in all prior years of her career combined. The former slapper has launched 10 homers this season, and her 45 RBIs lead a Bulldog offense that has already broken the program record for RBIs in a season.
 
Besides her bat, Sacco has stolen 15 bags, which leads the team. She’s been perfect defensively in centerfield and has not made an error since the 2023 season. Along the way, she’s collected four outfield assists. The Marreo, Louisiana, native has started every game her teams have played in her career, batting leadoff and playing centerfield in 219 consecutive contests. Her 98 career stolen bases are ninth among active players nationally, and her 263 hits are fifth.
 
Sacco marks the eighth time Mississippi State has seen a player reach the Top 25 stage in USA Softball’s Player of the Year voting. Most recently, Mia Davidson was a Top 25 Finalist in 2022 and a Top 10 Finalist in 2019. Chelsea Bramlett was in the running three times from 2008-10, finishing as high as the Top 10 in 2010. Iyhia McMichael was the program’s first finalist, reaching the Top 10 in 2003 before making the final stage as a Top 3 Finalist in 2004.
 
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by previous award winners, coaching representatives from nine Division I conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions as well as members of national and local media who consistently cover Division I softball across the country. 
 
The Top 10 Finalists will be announced on May 14 with the Top 3 being recognized on May 19. The Player of the Year will be selected from the Top 3 Finalists and is awarded during the Women’s College World Series.
 
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching “HailStateSB.”
 
 

ATHENS, Ohio – – After being no-hit in a 2-0 loss to being the day, the Ball State softball team smashed four hits and scored two runs in the first inning of the nightcap to help secure a 5-2 victory Tuesday afternoon at league-leading Ohio.
 
In the opening game, a two-out error in the bottom of the sixth proved costly for the Cardinals (30-15; 15-8 MAC) as the Bobcats (34-15; 17-6 MAC) followed with the only hit of the contest; a two-run home run to right-center field.
 
It was the lone miscue on a virtually flawless game for junior Ella Whitney who allowed just the one hit over her 7.0 innings of work while striking out five. While she did issue a walk and hit a pair of Ohio batters, no Bobcat had managed to move past first base until the home run.
 
However, Ohio pitcher Skipp Miller was just as dominate, allowing just one walk and two hit in a no-hit performance her own. Both of Ball State’s hit batters came to open the top of the fourth, but BSU could not manufacture a run as the Bobcats were able to stop any rally attempt by catching redshirt catcher McKayla Timmons trying to steal third with one out.
 
The nightcap was a different story, luckily, as the Cardinals opened the game with four hits and a pair of runs in the top of the first. Sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak started the contest with a single up the middle, while Timmons dropped a single into shallow right field to give BSU a pair of runners.
 
Two batters later, Whitney was hit by a pitch to load the bases, before a clutch two-out single up the middle from junior center fielder Ashlee Lovett drove in the first two runs.
 
The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third, when Ohio plated one on a one-out single and another on a bases loaded sac fly two batters later.
 
Those were the lone blemishes on another strong outing by freshman pitcher Breanna Severino who limited the MAC leading Bobcats to four hits and two runs in picking up the complete game victory. Severino improved to 8-5 with the win in which she forced 14 fly outs and seven groundouts.
 
Severino’s effort set the stage for another rally from the top of the Ball State lineup in the top of the seventh which started with a double to left center from Pietrzak. Timmons followed with a single, and after stealing second, saw a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from senior left fielder Kara Gunter drive in Pietrzak for what proved to be the game-winning run.
 
The Cardinals were not done scoring, however, as senior first baseman Kaitlyn Gibson followed with an RBI single to drive in Timmons, while an error on the play allowed Gunter to cross the plate.
 
Ohio would get its first two batters on board in the bottom of the frame, with a walk and a single, but a fly to Gunter in left and back-to-back force plays ended the game.
 
NOTES
– Ball State batters were hit by four pitches on Tuesday, raising its NCAA-leading total to 83 … Pietrzak was hit once in each game, raising her season total to 12, while Timmons was hit in the opener and Whitney in the nightcap … Timmons was hit for the 15th time this season and is tied with redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland for the team lead … The 15 HBPs are also tied for the Ball State single season record with Lisa Rozanski (2008) and Hanne Studemann (2015).
 
– With the win in the nightcap, Ball State reached the 30-win mark for the 17th time in program history and for the first time since the 2021 squad went 37-18 … Of the 17 seasons with 30-or-more wins, 12 have come in the past 18 years.
 
– With her first inning single in the second game, Timmons became just the 11th player in program history to reach 200 career hits and is currently tied for 10th on the all-time list at 201.
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals closes the 2025 regular season this weekend by hosting second-place Central Michigan for a three-game series at the Ball State Softball Stadium. The teams are scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday at Noon.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State sophomore Jasmyn Burns is one of 25 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, the organization announced on Wednesday. She is one of seven players from the Big Ten Conference on the list.

The Top 25 Finalists will be narrowed down to 10 athletes on May 14, followed by the Top 3 Finalists set to be released on May 19. The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the Women’s College World Series, which is scheduled to take place May 29-June 6 in Oklahoma City.

Burns, a native of Menifee, Calif., is batting a team-best .476 this season and ranks fourth nationally with 22 home runs. Her 69 RBI are sixth-most in the country. Burns has already set Ohio State’s single-season record for both home runs and RBI. Her current batting average is second-highest in single-season program history.

Burns is part of an Ohio State offense that currently ranks first nationally in home runs (130), runs scored (456), runs scored per game (8.76), slugging percentage (.723) and walks (251). She has a team-high 22 multi-hit games and 17 multi-RBI games. Earlier this season, she had a 15-game hitting streak, which is the second-longest in program history. She’s also one of just four true sophomores on the finalists list.

The 21st-ranked Buckeyes (41-10-1, 14-5 Big Ten) head to Urbana, Ill. this weekend to conclude the regular season with a three-game series at Illinois. First pitch of the series opener against the Illini is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday.

If you need more evidence that NIL and the pending House settlement has turned college football into the Wild West, take a look at what Texas is reportedly spending on its 2025 football roster.

According to a report Wednesday by Kirk Bohls of the Houston Chronicle, the Longhorns have allotted “between $35 million and $40 million” on player payments — both to current players and incoming transfers — for the upcoming season. That number includes the projected $20.5 million that most power-conference schools are expected to set aside for direct revenue-sharing payments to athletes.

With college football spending inflating with each passing year, it’s difficult to put that number in context. However, one comparison to make would be reigning national champion Ohio State, which reportedly spent upwards of $20 million putting together its 2024 roster. (Ole Miss, which finished 10-3 and outside of the College Football Playoff race, reportedly spent around $10 million.)

That $40 million figure isn’t expected to be sustainable, however. Once revenue-sharing becomes a regular part of college athletics, Texas is expected to “phase out” its Texas One Fund NIL collective, Bohls reports.

One other interesting note from Bohls’ report is that Texas’ most well-known player didn’t receive a dime from Texas One. Quarterback Arch Manning did make millions last year, but did it all through privately negotiated NIL deals.

Texas finished 13-3 in 2024, reaching the SEC championship game (losing to Georgia) and the semifinals of the College Football Playoff (losing to Ohio State). Looks like the Longhorns are aiming even higher in 2025.