NIL
Washington Huskies charge forward with new NIL rules in place
SEATTLE — The college sports world has very much changed and has done so in a very quick timeframe.
If you told someone in, say, 2020, that the Pac-12 would be a shell of its former self and the Big Ten would stretch from coast to coast, even the most hardened college football fans would have a hard time believing it.
But here we are.
A lot of the changes have been ushered in by name, image and likeness, which has finally gotten athletes paid for their work on the field, but still needed some fine-tuning.
Certainly, it was overdue for some compensation to come the players’ way, but as many coaches told me the last couple years it was like the “wild wild west” out there, with few regulations to keep the playing field level.
Now, in the wake of the House vs. NCAA settlement, schools can revenue share and pay athletes directly with a $20.5 million salary cap to be spread among all of an institution’s sports.
It’s not perfect but it’s a start in a world where just last year you may have seen the football powers of the south spending tens of millions while some schools could only muster a fraction of that.
“It’s a huge culture shift, I mean we’re going from no rules for our coaches to rules again. That’s gonna be interesting to see how the environment adapts to that,” said UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun.
Chun says UW is still figuring out how exactly to allocate those funds through all its sports and does point out that this doesn’t preclude athletes from landing their own third- party NIL days, but those will be much more closely monitored for fairness.
To most, the implementation of the revenue share salary cap and regulations are a welcome sight. The changes in college sports felt inevitable, but also went from 0 to 60 in half a second, so to speak.
In other words, the committee charged with putting the regulation together which includes Chun, believes this can help restore order to college athletics.
“There’s a little bit of soul searching that we all have to do in college sports. And if we want to do what’s best for young people for this environment, I am one who is firmly in the camp that the last environment we were in was unsustainable. It was unhealthy for college sports and the most unhealthy for the young people who participate in it,” Chun said, adding, “This participant agreement, this membership agreement, it’s just another step in trying to do what’s best for college sports.”
The work isn’t done.
Yes, the NIL framework was necessary and top priority, but there’s more to come. Chun expressed a great desire to fix the college football calendar, pointing out what so many already know about the transfer portal — that it shouldn’t open during the season.
Chun brought up Penn State losing a backup quarterback while the Nittany Lions were in contention for a national title playing in the College Football Playoff. Closer to home, Washington State fans got a gut punch when the Cougs lost star quarterback John Mateer before WSU could suit up against Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl. It’s important to note, Chun believes those athletes have a right to pursue a better opportunity, but that players shouldn’t be switching schools during the season. He’s hoping for some work on a new calendar by July, but recognizes the difficulty in that coming to fruition. The hope is for something that resembles the NFL calendar as far as the steps that offseason transactions take that make sense and avoid the most chaos.
A lot of work, a lot of information, but ultimately a better and more stable college athletics landscape.
But, lastly, how does it impact the Washington Huskies?
Let’s not forget, the Dawgs have a head coach in Jedd Fisch who lived the salary cap world for an extended time in the NFL.
“To Jedd’s credit, for those who cover football, it’s no surprise, I mean, he has been exposed to a salary cap environment for a lot of his career. He has spent a lot of time on how he wants to model his roster.”
The Huskies open the season Aug. 30, hosting Colorado State at Husky Stadium.
Indiana’s rise from perennial Big Ten bottom feeders into national title contenders has been one of college football’s most compelling stories in 2025.
Under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers finished the regular season undefeated at 13-0, captured the program’s first Big Ten title since 1967, and earned the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza capped the breakthrough season by winning the school’s first-ever Heisman Trophy, throwing for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdown passes and a 71.5% completion rate that helped propel Indiana into national contention.
That success now intersects with a separate transfer-cycle storyline: North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker, the FBS passing leader (4,129 yards, 31 touchdowns, 70.2% completion rate), is likely to enter the transfer portal when the window opens in January.
On a December 19 episode of “College Football Insiders,” CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer connected the dots.
“He can be somebody you can build your program around for multiple years,” Hummer said. “I’ve heard the same about Indiana. I think they do have a significant interest in Drew Mestemaker, and I think he would be a really good fit for their system.”
Mestemaker is a former walk-on who emerged as the nation’s passing leader this season as a redshirt freshman, posting multiple 300-yard performances and a 608-yard outing in North Texas’ 54–20 win over Charlotte, a game that set single-game passing yardage records for both the school and the American Athletic Conference.
His breakout year earned him the Burlsworth Trophy, American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, and first-team All-American recognition.
There are clear reasons the fit is being discussed publicly.
Indiana has demonstrated a clear willingness to use transfers to accelerate competitiveness, most notably with Kurtis Rourke’s arrival as a graduate transfer in 2024, followed by Mendoza’s move from Cal.
Both quarterbacks produced elite statistical seasons that propelled the Hoosiers to winning campaigns.
If Mendoza ultimately declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, which is widely expected, Indiana would need either an internal successor or a portal option who can step in at Power-5 level speed.
Mestemaker’s profile checks several boxes: production, track record under a pro-style system, and remaining eligibility.
Read More at College Football HQ
- SEC program listed as highest-valued college football team with $1.4 billion valuation
- Major college football head coach denies receiving offer for Michigan job
- $5 million quarterback market predicted amid transfer portal frenzy
- ESPN silent after celebrity guest picker misses College GameDay
NIL
Adam Breneman Highlights Why College Football Will Fail Under Greg Sankey’s Leadership Amid Transfer Portal, NIL Issues
Former Penn State tight end Adam Breneman, on the Will Ventures podcast, revealed his true feelings on the current landscape of college football and the implications of the decisions made by some leaders in the game.
Breneman, on his podcast appearance, highlighted how no one’s actually in charge of college football, whilst also strongly advocating for a college football commissioner.
“No one’s actually in charge of college football. We need a college football commissioner”, Breneman stated on the podcast.
Despite college football not having a designated commissioner, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is one of the most powerful college football figures and is often touted to be in charge of college football as a whole.
Breneman further revealed that Sankey is also in charge of other sports like golf, diving, lacrosse, and men’s & women’s basketball, stating that college football needs a commissioner who will make decisions for the betterment of college football, implying that it’s tough to do that while you have other things on your plate.
“Greg Sankey is also in charge of golf and swimming and diving and men’s basketball and women’s basketball and lacrosse has to make the best decisions for those sports as well. No one’s actually in charge of college football”, Breneman highlighted.
“We need a college football commissioner who actually is in charge of college football and can make decisions for college football because what’s best for college football is not what’s best for men’s basketball”, he further elaborated.
The former ASU tight end coach’s comments come on the backdrop of college football going through a turbulent period as far as player transfers, NIL issues, and the overall backlash the playoff committee is facing as far as the selection of the 2025 playoff teams is concerned.
Greg Sankey Pushes for Expansion to a 16-Team College Football Playoff
Sankey recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show this December, emphasizing the need to adopt a 16-team playoff format, potentially moving away from the current 12-team format, while also keeping in mind other conferences and their playoff qualification, which was a point of contention amongst analysts and fans alike.
Meanwhile, the college football portal, which is set to officially open in January 2026, has already seen a record number of entries, with the likes of star QBs like DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola entering, potentially fueled by NIL incentives.
Read More:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
USC defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, a 6-5, 290-pound veteran who started 12 games in 2025, announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal on December 17.
Thompkins finished the 2025 season with 31 combined tackles (18 solo), three sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble; across three seasons at USC, he compiled 56 total tackles (32 solo), 4.5 sacks, and five pass breakups.
Those figures made him one of the more productive interior linemen on a unit that struggled at times but improved to finish ranked and bowl-eligible.
USC closed the 2025 regular season 9–3 (7–2 Big Ten) and will face TCU in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 30, a season that left the program ranked inside the top 25 (No. 16) but short of College Football Playoff contention.
The Trojans’ record and bowl bid reflect progress under head coach Lincoln Riley while also exposing lingering gaps across the roster.
Those gaps have since been amplified, as Thompkins’ departure brings USC’s total number of players set to test the transfer market to 15.
The list of known departures is sizable and spread across position groups.
According to 247Sports, the 15 players who have announced portal entries include: WR DJ Jordan, RB Bryan Jackson, CB Braylon Conley, DE Gus Cordova, OL Makai Saina, S Steve Miller, LB Matai Tagoa‘i, DL Carlon Jones, S Anthony Beavers Jr., OL Micah Banuelos, LB Garrison Madden, RB Harry Dalton, WR Prince Strachan, TE Walker Lyons, and Thompkins.
That grouping hits starters across the trenches, secondary, and skill positions — areas that will require immediate replacements via the portal, incoming freshmen, and retained depth.
After a successful five-year run at Oklahoma from 2017 to 2021, Riley took over as USC’s head coach in November 2021 and has delivered steady results built on quarterback development, high-powered offenses, and aggressive recruiting, highlighted by USC securing the No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class.
The current exodus provides the latest test for Riley as USC works to build toward a stronger Big Ten finish in 2026.
Read More at College Football HQ
- College Football Playoff team has ‘significant interest’ in 4,000-yard QB
- College football quarterback enters transfer portal after 4,000-yard season
- No. 1 ranked transfer portal player predicted to join College Football Playoff team
- SEC program listed as highest-valued college football team with $1.4 billion valuation
Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire spoke to the media ahead of the Orange Bowl against the Oregon Ducks, and McGuire was quite complimentary of Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks program. Much has been made about Texas Tech’s increased spending in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era of college football, and similarities between the Red Raiders and the Ducks have come up ahead of their College Football Playoff matchup.
Powered in part by Nike co-founder and philanthropist Phil Knight, Oregon’s rise in the college football world has been a unique one. On the other hand, Texas Tech’s NIL collective is led by billionaire booster Cody Campbell, whose investment into the Red Raiders program has helped the team climb up the ranks.
What Joey McGuire Said About Oregon and Texas Tech
McGuire was asked to compare Oregon’s rise to Texas Tech’s, and the Red Raiders coach gave a thoughtful answer:
“First, they’ve done a good job of hiring coaches, and Dan (Lanning) was a slam dunk. Second, you know, they made it cool to be an Oregon Duck,” McGuire said. “I mean, they’ve got every uniform known to man, and players love that. So I think we’re really fortunate with Adidas, our partnership with Adidas and Patrick Mahomes, that we’re doing the same thing. We’ve got some some great looks.”
“And then, they have a great booster in Phil Knight that really said, ‘Hey, we’re going to go win at the highest level, and there’s no excuses whenever it comes to finance.’ You know, you turn around, and I think that we’ve shown that we’re doing that, and I think we’re really comparable,” McGuire continued.
“We’ve got guys that have really stepped up and done a great job. I kind of call them the big five whenever you talk about Cody and John and Mike, Dusty, and Gary. I mean, those guys have, along with everybody else in Red Raider Nation, but those guys really led the charge. And so whenever you’re talking, we’re kind of comparable on and off the field in this team. They’ve just done it for a little bit longer and that’s what we’re trying to do,” McGuire continued.
Oregon Ducks’ Sustained Success
As mentioned by McGuire, Oregon has been on the cutting edge of college football uniforms as well as facilities, thanks in part to the program’s relationship with Knight and Nike. In the NIL era, fans often mistake how often Nike is involved in recruiting other than the brand power that Oregon has. Still, Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and wide receiver Dakorien Moore have NIL deals with Nike.
MORE: Oregon Ducks vs. Texas Tech Playoff Betting Odds Make A Clear Statement
MORE: Oregon Loses Two More Players to Transfer Portal Amid College Football Playoff Run
MORE: Dan Lanning’s Frustration Could Ignite Oregon vs. Texas Tech
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE!
Under the leadership of Oregon coach Dan Lanning, Oregon has had success on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, bringing in top prospects like Moore and Moore. Other contributors on the Ducks’ current roster came through the portal, including safety Dillon Thieneman, defensive lineman Bear Alexander, and offensive linemen Alex Harkey, Emmanuel Pregnon, and Isaiah World.
While financial stability and resources are paramount in the current era of college football, Lanning has also created a culture at Oregon that is seemingly built to last. After the Ducks’ dominant win over James Madison in the first round of the CFP, Lanning and his team were quick to acknowledge that they can play better.
Oregon and Texas Tech will kickoff from Miami, Florida, in the Orange Bowl at 9 a.m. PT on New Year’s Day.
The last of the Power Four college football head coaching openings remains available at Michigan.
The Wolverines decided to part ways with head coach Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10 due to inappropriate relations with a staffer. Michigan had its sights set on Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham and Washington head coach Jedd Fisch.
Though nothing was made official, Fisch was the first to bow out of the race. Alabama’s College Football Playoff victory over Oklahoma eliminated DeBoer from the conversation, and Dillingham inked an extension with Arizona State on Saturday.
With all of those candidates off the board, one who has emerged in the next round is current Wolverines interim Biff Poggi. The interim said he had been interviewed for the job on multiple occasions this offseason.
Biff Poggi says he’s had multiple interviews for Michigan’s HC position. He also has some blunt words about the program’s shortcomings under Sherrone Moore, calling Michigan a “malfunctioning organization.”
“Everything that happens in this building has to be reevaluated.”
— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) December 22, 2025
Poggi began his college football coaching career as an assistant with stops at Brown, Temple and the Citadel in the late 1980s. He coached at his high school alma mater, The Gilman School, as an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1988 to 1995. He spent the next 20 seasons as Gilman’s head coach before returning to the college ranks.
The now 65-year-old spent two prior stints with the Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh. He worked as an analyst with the 2016 team and served as Michigan’s associate head coach in 2021 and 2022.
Poggi was hired away from Michigan to succeed Will Healy as Charlotte’s next head coach in the 2023 offseason. The 49ers were 3-9 in Poggi’s first year at the helm, tying for eleventh place in the American Athletic Conference.
After a 3-7 start to the 2024 season, Charlotte decided to part ways with Poggi. The 49ers hired Tim Albin as his replacement for 2025.
This will not be the first time Poggi has served as the Wolverines’ interim head coach. He was the interim for Michigan’s games against Central Michigan and Nebraska.
The Wolverines accepted an invitation to the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. No. 18 Michigan (9-3, 7-2) will face No. 13 Texas (9-3, 6-2) on Dec. 31 (3 p.m. EST, ABC).
Get 50% off a BRO annual subscription!! Join the No. 1 independent source on UCLA sports and recruiting with one of our best offers!! Get unmatched insider Bruin coverage of UCLA football as it begins the Bob Chesney era for the equivalent of 16 cents a day, $1.10 a week, $5 a month and billed at just $60 for the entire year!! There is no promo code required for this offer, just HIT THIS LINK now, and you’ll be good to go!! Offer ends Monday, January 5th at 9 p.m!!
Bob Chesney was hired at UCLA at the beginning of December, with the official announcement released Dec. 6th.
He spent two whirlwind days — Dec. 8th-10th — in Westwood for his introductory press conference and a few other media moments.
He then spent most of his time back in Harrisonburg, Virginia, preparing his James Madison team to face Oregon in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
On Saturday, the Dukes lost, valiantly, to Oregon, 51–34. That ended the JMU season and Chesney’s coaching tenure there.
And the Bob Chesney era at UCLA begins.
Of course, the coach was doing UCLA-related things for the past three weeks, but now he’ll be fully focused and engaged as UCLA’s new coach.
What to do, what to do?
Volleyball Adds Transfer Kameron Stover to Roster for 2026
College Football Playoff team has ‘significant interest’ in 4,000-yard QB
Utah Volleyball Adds Three Transfers to the 2026 Roster
Orange Bowl Committee and AutoNation Unveil New $600,000 STEAM Center in Miami Gardens
Lambda Legal 2025 Recap: 8 Key Moments
Johan Dulfer Announced as Next Hartford Volleyball Head Coach
PARTICIPATING TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE ECNL INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT, POWERED BY COACHES’ VOICE AND IN ASSOCIATION WITH EVERTON INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
BYU, Notre Dame agree to football series in 2026 and 2027 – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website
Wildcats of the Week: December 15-21
Adam Breneman Highlights Why College Football Will Fail Under Greg Sankey’s Leadership Amid Transfer Portal, NIL Issues
Four repeat honorees highlight 2025 #SummitVB Academic All-League Team
Wisconsin volleyball starter Una Vajagic enters transfer portal
Kaulig CEO knows new NASCAR playoff format and predicts reactions – Motorsport – Sports
SLU Names Angie Simpson Head Beach Volleyball Coach
UniFirst Corporation: Seeking New Paths?
First Tee Winter Registration is open
Fargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
CPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
F1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
Sycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
Utah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
Two Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
SoundGear Named Entitlement Sponsor of Spears CARS Tour Southwest Opener
Jo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
Bowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
Redemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
Texas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
Robert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
How this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
Black Bear Revises Recording Policies After Rulebook Language Surfaces via Lever
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoSoundGear Named Entitlement Sponsor of Spears CARS Tour Southwest Opener
-
Rec Sports3 weeks agoBlack Bear Revises Recording Policies After Rulebook Language Surfaces via Lever
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoDonny Schatz finds new home for 2026, inks full-time deal with CJB Motorsports – InForum
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoHow Donald Trump became FIFA’s ‘soccer president’ long before World Cup draw
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoDavid Blitzer, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoJR Motorsports Confirms Death Of NASCAR Veteran Michael Annett At Age 39
-
Sports2 weeks ago
Elliot and Thuotte Highlight Men’s Indoor Track and Field Season Opener
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRick Ware Racing switching to Chevrolet for 2026
-
Sports2 weeks ago
West Fargo volleyball coach Kelsey Titus resigns after four seasons – InForum
-
Sports1 week ago#11 Volleyball Practices, Then Meets Media Prior to #2 Kentucky Match