NIL

West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez appreciates new revenue share ruling, doesn’t care about CFP format

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez hasn’t spoken in front of the media in three months, and the rapid space of college athletics has seen massive changes in the time away from the podium. At the start of June, revenue sharing was announced, and more guardrails were applied, with a new College Sports Commissioner picked, […]

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4 weeks ago

July 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

At the start of June, revenue sharing was announced, and more guardrails were applied, with a new College Sports Commissioner picked, in charge of regulating NIL.

With over a decade of experience, Rodriguez witnessed the change of college athletics over the years and was vocal about how there needed to be a change. Now, there have been changes made, and Rodriguez gave his opinion at Big 12 Media Days.

“A lot better guardrails than a month ago,” Rodriguez said. “I mean, it was a cluster for the last three or four years. All coaches are complaining about it, but it was just a mess, and nobody knew how to really solve it right away. And I still think we got it a lot better now with the cap and the rev share. But there’s still a lot of work to do.”

The new ruling isn’t perfect, like Rodriguez said. Paying players directly is a step forward. The College Sports Commission could be too, but there’s no telling how much jurisdiction it’ll have over passing and denying NIL deals without lawsuits. Rodriguez still doesn’t have his one transfer portal window, either, arguably his biggest issue.

There’s still work to do. Rodriguez wants athletic directors and Congress to lead the charge on shaping the future of collegiate athletics.

“Hopefully, smarter minds than myself will get that together,” Rodriguez said. “I said this earlier today, I think they need to get the college athletic directors more input and more say in how college athletics is going to be run because these are the guys and the ladies that know what’s best for the schools and what’s best for the country in college athletics.”

West Virginia’s representative is athletic director Wren Baker. Baker and WVU athletics moved quickly on the new ruling, creating a revenue-sharing company, Gold & Blue Enterprise, to generate money. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yomark said WVU was the first school to integrate Venmo and PayPal to distribute revenue-sharing money. Baker is fully committed and determined that WVU athletics has everything necessary to compete at the highest level.

Rodriguez appreciates the work Baker’s done, and is glad he’s WVU’s athletic director.

“I’ve worked for a lot of really good ADs,” Rodriguez said. “One or two, I wasn’t sure about, but most of the ones I’ve worked with have been great. Wren has as good a grasp as anyone. I’m very fortunate. We’re in good shape with Wren Baker.”

The new court ruling isn’t the only news that’s emerged since Rodriguez’s last press conference after the Gold-Blue Game. There’ve been talks about moving to a 5-plus-11 and 16-team College Football Playoff model in the future, meaning the Power Four conference champions get a bid, the highest rated conference champion, and then 11 at-large bids. Some SEC coaches wanted a 4-4-2-2 system, where the SEC and Big Ten would get four bids each, and the Big 12 and ACC would get two each. The consensus, though, is the 5-plus-11.

Rodriguez cares a lot less about the College Football Playoff than NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal.

“I don’t give a sh*t,” Rodriguez said. “I mean, my give a sh*t meter is a lot less than a lot of stuff. If you win the league, you’re going to be in. Just win the league, like 5-11, all that stuff, whatever. I’m worried about just winning. Let’s win the league. I ain’t worried about, well, this team’s going to vote here, what’s this team going to vote there? If you’re good enough, people will know you’re in the top 12, whatever, it’s good. We win all of our games. I guarantee we’re in the playoffs.”

Rodriguez still has his issues with college athletics, but he’s not alone. There are a lot of coaches in just the Big 12 that have problems. Rodriguez made it clear where he stands and what he wants: more guardrails and one transfer portal. Those changes are looking like they’re coming in the future.

Despite his issues, Rodriguez still loves his main job, coaching WVU to win football games.

“I think we’re in a better place now than we were a month ago,” Rodriguez. “There’s still some work to be done. We could complain as coaches, but hell, it’s still a pretty good gig. You know what I mean? These are good jobs. There are a lot tougher jobs than being a college football coach. So like I said, I’m fortunate and blessed to have what I have.”

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Cowgirl Soccer Trio Tabbed Preseason All-Big 12

IRVING, Texas – Three Oklahoma State Cowgirls were named to the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team in a vote of the conference’s head coaches. OSU midfielders Xcaret Pineda and Laudan Wilson and defender Jazmin Brown made the list of the league’s top 27 players, while the Cowgirls were picked by the coaches to finish […]

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44 minutes ago

August 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

IRVING, Texas – Three Oklahoma State Cowgirls were named to the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team in a vote of the conference’s head coaches.

OSU midfielders Xcaret Pineda and Laudan Wilson and defender Jazmin Brown made the list of the league’s top 27 players, while the Cowgirls were picked by the coaches to finish seventh in the 16-team league.

TCU is the Big 12 favorite, receiving 13 first-place votes, while Texas Tech came in second with a pair of first-place nods. BYU, West Virginia, Kansas and Colorado were also picked ahead of the Cowgirls.

OSU is coming off a 2024 season in which it finished 14-5-3 overall and made its 14^th appearance in the NCAA Championship. A year ago, the Cowgirls were picked to finish eighth in the preseason Big 12 poll but posted a 6-3-2 mark and fifth-place finish.

The Cowgirls return seven players who started at least 10 games last season, led by Pineda and Wilson, who were both All-Big 12 First Team performers.

A senior, Pineda has played in 61 career games and recorded 14 goals and 11 assists. She tallied six goals each of the last two seasons and also posted four assists as a junior en route to All-Midwest Region First Team honors.

Wilson is coming off a sophomore season in which she was OSU’s leading scorer with 19 points as she scored a career-high five goals and ranked second in the Big 12 with nine assists. She has eight goals and 15 assists in 39 career games.

Brown played her first three collegiate seasons at Kansas State, where she appeared in 55 games with 53 starts, before transferring to Stillwater for her final year.

As a junior last season, Brown started 18 games and earned All-Big 12 Second Team accolades while leading the Wildcats’ field players in minutes played with 1,450.

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Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed inks NIL deal with Rhoback, Aggie fans receive special offer

Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed became the latest college football player to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Rhoback. The apparel company announced the news Tuesday while also releasing a new licensed A&M line for the 2025 season. According to Rhoback, Reed will receive a percentage of the revenue generated from […]

Published

1 hour ago

August 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed became the latest college football player to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Rhoback. The apparel company announced the news Tuesday while also releasing a new licensed A&M line for the 2025 season.

According to Rhoback, Reed will receive a percentage of the revenue generated from its items purchased through his 20% discount link for new customers. That discount link can be found here: Marcel Reed 20% off Rhoback discount link.

“From day one, Marcel stood out — not just for his talent on the field, but for the way he carries himself off it,” Rhoback athlete relations lead Shalen Moore said in a statement. “He represents everything we look for at Rhoback: authenticity, energy, and a connection to his communities and fanbase. We’re beyond excited to have him on board as a pillar and to support his journey every step of the way. With his help, we’re rolling out brand new custom designed Texas A&M collegiate gear, and we can’t wait to see how his community connects with it.”

For the first time in his college career, Reed is the cemented starter going into the season. He flashed promise as a redshirt freshman last fall, replacing the game-one starter for the Aggies, Conner Weigman, in the middle of the season before cementing himself as the top option.

Among freshmen in a single season in A&M history, Reed finished second in passing yards (1,864) and completions (147), third in passing touchdowns (15), tied for 10th in rushing touchdowns (seven) and 14th in rushing yards (547) despite appearing in only 11 games with eight starts.

“I’m fired up to officially join the Rhoback team,” Reed said in a statement, which Rhoback provided. “Ever since the first time I put Rhoback gear on, it’s all I’ve been wearing. What I love most about Rhoback, outside of their apparel, is they are for the athlete. They prioritize fun, authenticity, and most importantly, performance. I’m especially loving the brand-new Texas A&M pieces and cannot wait for our fanbase to wear their Gameday Collection this season. Some really fun things coming this season and we’re pumped to unveil them. In the meantime, I’ll see you all on Saturdays!”

Rhoback previously announced NIL deals with several other college football players, including Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Penn State running back Nick Singleton and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.

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Marshall’s Jo’shon Barbie, Tony Mathis Named To Doak Walker Watch List

2025 Marshall Football Tickets HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football had two players named to the prestigious Doak Walker Award Watch List on Tuesday. Redshirt junior Jo’shon Barbie and redshirt senior Tony Mathis were named to the list, which annually honors the top running back in college football. Barbie exploded onto the scene as a top-tier […]

Published

1 hour ago

August 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

2025 Marshall Football Tickets

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football had two players named to the prestigious Doak Walker Award Watch List on Tuesday.

Redshirt junior Jo’shon Barbie and redshirt senior Tony Mathis were named to the list, which annually honors the top running back in college football.

Barbie exploded onto the scene as a top-tier running back and McNeese State at the end of 2023 and carried that momentum into the 2024 season.

The 5-9, 190-pound product of Harvey, La., has rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns in just 17 career games as the primary back for the Cowboys.

In 2024, Barbie finished with 831 yards and eight touchdowns while being a consistent producer in the rushing attack.

Mathis comes to Marshall from Houston where he spent the last two seasons. Prior to his injury-riddled time with the Cougars, Mathis was one of the best running backs in the Big 12 while in a running back rotation at West Virginia.

In 2022, Mathis started 10 games at running back, finishing No. 7 in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 56.2 and No. 11 in rushing yards at 562 while splitting time with two other backs.

The 6-1, 195-pound rusher had three 100-yard rushing games and two multi-TD games to his credit. He earned Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week following a performance against Baylor in which he rushed for 163 yards on 22 carries with 2 TDs.

Both Barbie and Mathis join a Marshall offense that will be led by offensive coordinator Rod Smith, whose offenses at Jacksonville State have finished in the top-3 in rushing yards in each of the last two seasons. Smith’s Illinois rushing attack in 2019 also led the B1G.

Marshall Football opens its 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Georgia. The team’s first home game is a Sept. 6 matchup with Missouri State. To purchase tickets, click HERE.

For all the latest information about Marshall Football, follow @HerdFB on Twitter and @Herd_FB on Instagram.

To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.

—HerdZone.com—

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IU basketball among six finalists for class of 2026 five-star guard Jordan Smith – Inside the Hall

Class of 2026 guard Jordan Smith is down to six schools and Indiana is among his finalists. The six finalists for Smith include Arkansas, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Kentucky and Syracuse. Smith is a five-star prospect and the No. 3 player nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He plays at Paul VI Catholic in Chantilly, […]

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1 hour ago

August 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

IU basketball among six finalists for class of 2026 five-star guard Jordan Smith

Class of 2026 guard Jordan Smith is down to six schools and Indiana is among his finalists.

The six finalists for Smith include Arkansas, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Kentucky and Syracuse. Smith is a five-star prospect and the No. 3 player nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He plays at Paul VI Catholic in Chantilly, Virginia and played for Team Takeover on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit. Indiana assistant coach Kenny Johnson has strong ties to the Team Takeover program, which features many players from the DMV area.

Smith landed a scholarship from the IU basketball staff in early May. Here’s a scouting report on Smith from Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports:

“There may not be a player in high school basketball who impacts winning in more ways or with the same consistency as Jordan Smith. The Paul VI and Team Takeover guard has terrific physical tools and even better competitive intangibles that allow him to change the game on both ends of the floor. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1 block per game during the recent EYBL season.

“Physically, he’s long and powerful with a 6-foot-8.5-inch wingspan and chiseled physique. He’s also a good athlete who excels defensively, has switchability on that end of the floor because of his physical strength and toughness, and is also an elite perimeter rebounder.

“Offensively, he gets downhill like few other guards in the class and has consistently developed his ball skills over the years so that he now has legitimate on/off ball versatility. He can initiate offense and make decisions (3.4 assists vs. 1.5 turnovers), put pressure on the rim with his force and physicality when he turns the corner, or take smaller guards into the post. He’s an improved shooter, with a notably high release, but still more consistent with his mid-range pull-up than his three with some occasional sidespin (25% 3pt & 68% FT).

“Smith’s transition to subsequent levels will also be lightened by the fact that he doesn’t need to be an offensive focal point to impact the game. He can do it with his defense, rebounding, energy, competitiveness, or unselfishness. His intangibles are truly elite and so while he may not have totally ideal size or ball skills, he’s extremely hard to bet against.”

NEWS: 5?? Jordan Smith Jr. is down to six schools, he tells @Rivals:

Duke, Arkansas, Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Syracuse

Smitty is the top-ranked guard in the 2026 class. https://t.co/Elv1UvU5bt pic.twitter.com/auybPMh9Zb

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) August 5, 2025

See More: Recruiting, Jordan Smith

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Youth, hunger and speed

BOZEMAN — When asked about the personality the Montana State defensive backs bring to the program, Montana State head coach Brent Vigen smiled while giving his answer. “I think energy is a polite word, right? I think that group has to have some swagger just generally, and we’ve got some guys that do,” he said. […]

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BOZEMAN — When asked about the personality the Montana State defensive backs bring to the program, Montana State head coach Brent Vigen smiled while giving his answer.

“I think energy is a polite word, right? I think that group has to have some swagger just generally, and we’ve got some guys that do,” he said.

The DBs group lost its entire starting lineup that ended last season to both graduation and the NCAA transfer portal. But the group that has taken over this year are intentional in their reps and are prepared to move into bigger roles.

“It brings us so close, and it motivates us so much because we’re like, ‘OK, now we’re the guys that have to step up and support this great organization,'” Bobcats cornerback Takhari Carr said. “Because we understand that we can do everything. We can tackle, we can play man coverage, play zone, go get the ball and things like that. I think we’ll show you a little bit more this fall.”

Montana State defensive back Tayden Gray explained how they have a chip on their shoulder this season.

“We really don’t have anything to prove to be honest,” he said. “Everybody is saying that the DB room might be the worst or the least experienced, but we’ve got players that want to play and want to learn, so we’re going to be alright.”

Looking at the depth chart that was released at the beginning of fall camp, there is no senior experience at defensive back.

Taki Uluilakepa and Gray expanded on how motivated this group is despite its youth, and how they are meshing more every day.

“We know what we have and how much talent we have, and it’s just getting the reps, so that stuff is all coming into play right now,” Uluilakepa said.

“Being young, just our bodies feeling better,” Gray explained. “More time to think and learn over the playbook and just get right with the defense.”

Caden Dowler has had a significant role on the defense, but unfortunately has suffered two season-ending injuries in back-to-back years. His teammate explained how critical he is to the room and the team as a whole.

“Having Caden around, he’s much more than just a great football player,” Uluilakepa said. “He’s a great leader, great player to have around in the locker room. But even on the field, he’s communicating. He’s making sure everyone is in their right spots.”

Caden Dowler.jpg — Montana State’s Caden Dowler, center, celebrates an interception during a game against Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.

The defensive coaching staff shifted around this offseason, as Bryan Shepard moved to safeties and Trenton Greene was then hired as the cornerbacks coach.

“I feel like coach Shep, since he was working with the corners last year, he knew a good amount about the secondary and all the stuff we’ve been installing,” Uluilakepa said. “He’s not new to the system whatsoever. He’s just been a great addition to our group and our room.”

One thing this group has flashed during spring ball and through fall camp is elite speed. Carr expanded on how they will use it to their advantage this season.

“Football is a lot about speed, but if you’ve got some guys that know where they’re supposed to be, the speed don’t matter that much,” Carr said. “But, I feel like the speed will help in running more man coverage, feeling more comfortable when we are running man coverage and things like that.”

NIL

Women’s Soccer to Play Three Nationally-Televised Games in 2025

RALEIGH, N.C. – ESPN has unveiled its broadcast schedule for the 2025 college women’s soccer season, with NC State set to appear three times on the nationally-televised ACC Network. Each of the Wolfpack’s ACCN matchups will come against opponents who reached the 2024 College Cup. NC State’s first national appearance will take place on Thursday, […]

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

RALEIGH, N.C. – ESPN has unveiled its broadcast schedule for the 2025 college women’s soccer season, with NC State set to appear three times on the nationally-televised ACC Network. Each of the Wolfpack’s ACCN matchups will come against opponents who reached the 2024 College Cup.

NC State’s first national appearance will take place on Thursday, October 2 at 7 p.m., when the Pack hosts Wake Forest at Dail Soccer Field.

The Wolfpack will return to the network later in the month for two more contests, starting with another home match against Duke on Sunday, October 26 at 7 p.m. The regular season will conclude with a nationally-televised showdown on the road at North Carolina on Thursday, October 30 at 8 p.m.

All games airing on ESPN platforms will be available to stream via the ESPN app and ACC Network Extra (ACCNX). All home matches not selected for linear broadcast, as well as ACC road contests, will be streamed live on ACCNX.

For the most up-to-date schedule and streaming information, visit the women’s soccer schedule page on GoPack.com.

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