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What is UVA Basketball getting to play in the Greenbrier Tip-Off?

Photo: © zimmytws/stock.adobe.com I assumed that UVA Basketball would get a decent payday out of its appearance in the 2025 Greenbrier Tip-Off, which was announced this week. Turns out, not. Not even close. I know because, of course, I FOIA’d the University of Virginia to get a copy of the contract. The FOIA folks over […]

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Photo: © zimmytws/stock.adobe.com

I assumed that UVA Basketball would get a decent payday out of its appearance in the 2025 Greenbrier Tip-Off, which was announced this week.

Turns out, not.

Not even close.

I know because, of course, I FOIA’d the University of Virginia to get a copy of the contract.

The FOIA folks over there are onto me now. They’re charging me $9.20 for “Collection and/or Ingestion” and “Review.”

Guess they’re trying to get me to limit the number of FOIA requests I’m making by making me pay $9.20 for somebody to push a couple of buttons.

Cost of doing business to me.

I’ll get more than $9.20 of value out of this one.


ICYMI


The contract, between the University of Virginia and Intersport LLC, executed on March 14, gives UVA Athletics

  • a signing bonus of $10,000 in “resort credits”
  • a $133,375 travel stipend “for use on reasonable and traditional travel measures within the discretion of the Institution”
  • 20 hotel rooms for three nights – to include “room and tax only and exclude any incidental charges”
  • “the cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for up to thirty people at the Greenbrier Resort during Institution’s stay at the resort for Event.”

That’s it, as to what UVA gets for playing games at The Greenbrier on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23.

Left out of the press announcement is that there’s a third game, to be played at JPJ, on Nov. 17, “against an opponent determined by Intersport.”

And then there’s this line:

“Institution agrees to pay to Intersport thirty (30) days prior to the first game of the Tournament a fee of Ninety Thousand US Dollars ($90,000.00) (the ‘Tournament Fee’) for the game played at the Home Facility.”

I’d be curious to know if this is just a pass-through from Intersport to the school that will be the opponent for Nov. 17, or if UVA will also have to give another payout to the opponent.

Guess I’ll find out later, when we get word on who the opponent is, and I drop another $9.20 on a FOIA request.



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John Wall on What Might Have Kept Him at Kentucky

John Wall was the first No. 1 NBA Draft pick in Kentucky Basketball history; fifteen years later, he says there’s a scenario in which he would have returned to Lexington for another season. During an interview with Matt Jones on “Sunday Mornings with Matt & Myron” on ESPN Radio, Wall said that he had so […]

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John Wall was the first No. 1 NBA Draft pick in Kentucky Basketball history; fifteen years later, he says there’s a scenario in which he would have returned to Lexington for another season.

During an interview with Matt Jones on “Sunday Mornings with Matt & Myron” on ESPN Radio, Wall said that he had so much fun during his one year at Kentucky that he would have come back for another if his draft stock wasn’t so high.

“I’d say great, man,” Wall said of his time in Lexington. “A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since the day I stepped foot on campus, it was amazing. I already knew what the fanbase was like, and I knew how much they love basketball and horses out there, but it was surreal.

“I really enjoyed every moment of it, had fun, and it’d be one of those things, if I hadn’t had an opportunity to go number one [in the NBA Draft], I would have loved to come back for another year because I wanted to win a championship, but what we did and brought back the culture of fun basketball with Cal and all that going on at Kentucky, it was just so amazing.”

What specific draft projection could have kept Wall in Lexington for a sophomore season?

“I think like [pick number] 10 or higher, I probably would have come back.”

Wall was one of five Kentucky players drafted in the first round that year — a record for any school — along with DeMarcus Cousins (No. 5), Patrick Patterson (No. 14), Eric Bledsoe (No. 18), and Daniel Orton (No. 29). There’s no telling if the others would have followed Wall’s lead and returned to Lexington for one more run but it’s a fun hypothetical on a Monday in June.

Wall glad he didn’t play college basketball during the NIL era

One thing that could have factored into those decisions: NIL. If players had been able to profit off their name, image, and likeness when Wall was in college, there’s no doubt he would have been one of the top NIL earners in program history and maybe even all of college basketball. He was the biggest rockstar on the team that brought the fun back to Kentucky Basketball. Interestingly, Wall said he was happy NIL wasn’t around during his time as a Wildcat.

“Me and my homeboys talk about it all the time and joke, like, I don’t know if it’s true, but I just saw that [Duke star] Cooper Flagg made like $28 million, they say. I was like, good lord. But I don’t really — for me, I’m glad I didn’t come up in that era, you know what I mean?”

Nope. You would have made millions on millions. Explain more, please.

“Just for me, I think it’s dope, I think it’s great, I think what they’re doing is fun. I think they gotta do like some boundaries with some of it, you know what I mean, so it’s not like everybody jumping in the [transfer] portal every year and trying to just search for money, but I’m glad the athletes are getting paid. But I’m glad I got an era where I just got to play basketball, enjoy, have fun, and then make my decision if I want to go to the league or not.”

When Matt reminded Wall of how many fans still wear his Kentucky jersey to games, he admitted it would have been nice to get a piece of the pie; however, he wouldn’t trade his experience at Kentucky for anything.

“That would be dope, and it’s always like a lot of respect and love that I have for Kentucky, how much love they got for me, for all the things I’ve done there, and getting an opportunity to play there. Even though it was only one year, I enjoyed that. But yeah, that would be crazy to see how much I would have gotten from NIL for sure.”

We might see Wall back in Lexington soon. During the interview, he revealed that Mark Pope invited him to work out with the team this summer, and he’s trying to fit it into his schedule. Even if he can’t make that work, he vowed to return to his old Kentucky home sooner rather than later.

“Kentucky’s always home for me,” Wall said. There’s always love. That’s the school I went to, the jersey I put on. They gave me the opportunity to reach one of my goals and dreams in life to play college basketball, and play on one of the biggest levels for one of the best schools in the country, and a good opportunity to go to the league. So yeah, I’m definitely coming back.”

Listen to Wall’s interview around the 30-minute mark of Hour 3 of “Matt & Myron” below.



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2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament: ESPN announces game times, TV  for regional winner-take-all games

Several Regionals wrapped up coming out of Sunday’s results in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament with spots already taken in the Super Regionals. However, based on the other results nationwide, a few more are in an in-or-out scenarios in Game 7s for Monday. Coming out of the weekend, six games will be winner-take-all matchups at […]

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Several Regionals wrapped up coming out of Sunday’s results in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament with spots already taken in the Super Regionals. However, based on the other results nationwide, a few more are in an in-or-out scenarios in Game 7s for Monday.

Coming out of the weekend, six games will be winner-take-all matchups at respective regionals around the country. Now, those games have had their time slots and television designations announced by those airing or streaming it at ESPN.

NCAA Baseball Tournament Schedule for Game 7s on Monday

Oklahoma vs. No. 5 North Carolina – 3 p.m. EST/2 p.m. CT on ESPNU/ESPN+
Murray State vs. No. 10 Ole Miss6 p.m. EST/5 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Wake Forest vs. No. 14 Tennessee – 6 p.m EST/5 p.m. CT on ESPN2/ESPN+
USC vs. No. 8 Oregon State – 6 EST/5 p.m. CT on ESPNU/ESPN+
Little Rock vs. No. 6 LSU 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CT on ESPN2/ESPN+
Miami vs. No. 16 Southern Miss – 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CT on ESPN+

Six spots remain available in the Super Regionals going into the week tomorrow. A dozen teams will be in contention for them depending on how these games turn out to close the first weekend of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

Regional Recap from Sunday’s results

Oklahoma 9, North Carolina 5
The Sooners trailed 3-2 after the fifth inning but took control in the sixth. They scored five runs that inning, including a two-run shot from Drew Dickerson, to take a 7-3 advantage. UNC refused to go away and answered with two runs in the top of the seventh. OU led 8-5 in the eighth inning when the Tar Heels loaded the bases with no outs, but the Sooners defense tightened up and somehow got out without giving up a score. They would hang on to win from there and force a winner-take-all for the regional title on Monday.

Ole Miss 19, Murray State 8
After suffering a loss to the Racers on Friday, the Rebels bounced back Sunday with a dominant win in the regional final. They trailed 3-2 after the first two innings, but that didn’t last long thanks to an eight-run third inning. Ole Miss added another five in the fourth to take full control and coast to the victory. That sets up a rematch on Monday with the winner moving on to Super Regionals.

Wake Forest 7, Tennessee 6
Tennessee and Wake Forest went at it through six innings as they were tied all the way through the ninth at six. However, with no outs at the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, the Volunteers threw four balls at Jack Winnay for a walkoff walk to send the Knoxville Regional to a final game on Monday.

Little Rock 10, LSU 4
LSU simply couldn’t find enough offense after an early rally. The Tigers plated three runs in the first inning against Arkansas-Little Rock. They’d manage to scratch out only one more the rest of the way. And with Arkansas-Little Rock scoring two in the second inning, four in the third and four in the eighth that made for an uphill climb. The Tigers simply couldn’t get there, and now they’ll have to play a winner-take-all game on Monday.

Southern Miss 17, Miami 6
The Golden Eagles fought back with their backs against the wall and facing elimination for the dominant win to force a winner-take-all matchup on Monday. They scored nine runs in the opening inning and never trailed on their way to the victory. Miami never managed to get closer than within five runs after that as Southern Miss cruised behind two home runs and five RBI from Joey Urban.

Oregon State 14, USC 1

Oregon State prevailed in a baseball version of the old “Pac-12 after dark” against former conference rival USC. The Beavers bats were hot from the start as they finished with 17 hits in the lopsided win. OSU went up 6-1 after the first three innings and added another five runs in the sixth and seventh combined to pull even further ahead. Wyatt Queen got the start at pitcher and, despite giving up eight hits, allowed just one run in 4.1 innings of work. Kellen Oakes and Zach Kmatz closed things out for Oregon State, which will play USC again in a rematch Monday to advance to Supers.



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Rice, Hardy on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Story Links IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2026 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including former Fighting Illini Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. This year’s ballot features 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision […]

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IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2026 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including former Fighting Illini Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. This year’s ballot features 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Eighteen former Illini are currently enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, with linebacker Dana Howard (2018) and defensive tackle Moe Gardner (2022) as the most recent inductees. Howard and Gardner joined 16 previously selected Fighting Illini in the hall of fame, including college football legends Red Grange (inducted 1951) and Dick Butkus (inducted 1983).

2026 Illinois College Football Hall of Fame Candidates

LB Kevin Hardy, Illinois: 1995 Butkus Award winner and consensus First Team All-American with 105 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three interceptions … Two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection who helped Illini to two bowl berths … Team captain started 45 games (second all-time among Illini LBs) and ranks fifth all-time at Illinois in sacks (18) and eighth TFL (38) … Chosen by Jacksonville as the No. 2 pick in the 1996 NFL draft.

LB Simeon Rice, Illinois: Two-time First Team All-American and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection … Holds conference and school record for career sacks (44.5) and Illini record for career tackles for loss (69) … Set school record for single-season sacks (16) … Chosen by Arizona as the No. 3 pick in the 1996 NFL draft.

Illini in the College Football Hall of Fame (18)

Alex Agase, G (inducted 1963)

Bob Blackman, coach (inducted 1987)

Al Brosky, DB (inducted 1998)

Dick Butkus, LB (inducted 1983)

Chuck Carney, WR (inducted 1966)

J.C. Caroline, RB (inducted 1980)

Pete Elliot, coach (inducted 1993)

Moe Gardner, DT (inducted 2022)

Jim Grabowski, RB (inducted 1995)

Harold “Red” Grange, RB (inducted 1951)

Edward K. Hall, coach (inducted 1951)

Dana Howard, LB (inducted 2018)

Bart Macomber, RB (inducted 1972)

Bernie Shively, G (inducted 1982)

David Williams, WR (inducted 2005)

George W. Woodruff, coach (inducted 1963)

Claude “Buddy” Young, RB (inducted 1968)

Robert Zuppke, coach (inducted 1951) 



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Florida State men’s basketball offseason thread #3: Roster updates, portal entries, transfer additions

Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board. Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul. “There will be a lot of […]

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Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board.

Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul.

“There will be a lot of guys that hit the portal, and that shouldn’t scare anyone. That’s by design, both for these players and myself,” Loucks told reporters during his second interview since becoming Florida State men’s basketball coach.

This article will be updated throughout the off-season, tracking player movements and who will be part of Loucks’ first team in Tallahassee.


FSU basketball offseason roster changes: Departures

Transfer portal

Eligibility

Transfer portal additions

Returning players

  • Guard/forward AJ Swinton
  • Forward Alier Maluk

High school recruits:



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Alabama Baseball 2025-26 Offseason Roster Tracker

The 2025 Alabama baseball season ended on May 31, with a close 6-5 loss in game three of the NCAA Tournament Hattiesburg Regional. The Crimson Tide won 40 regular season games for the first time since 2002 but went 0-2 in a regional for the second straight year. Head coach Rob Vaughn and his staff […]

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The 2025 Alabama baseball season ended on May 31, with a close 6-5 loss in game three of the NCAA Tournament Hattiesburg Regional. The Crimson Tide won 40 regular season games for the first time since 2002 but went 0-2 in a regional for the second straight year.

Head coach Rob Vaughn and his staff will now be responsible for managing the offseason, with wholesale changes to the sport’s scholarship model set to make an impact. Gone is the longstanding 11.7-scholarship limit, replaced by a head-count allowance of 34 with a corresponding cap at that same number on the spring roster (down from 40).

Apart from bringing in new faces via the 2025 signing class, and making the adjustments that come with that, there is also the matter of departures. Among others, veterans like captain Kade Snell and first baseman Will Hodo have used up their college eligibility.

The specter of the MLB Draft is an additional presence in offseason matters. Star pitcher Riley Quick, for example, will be a coveted prospect in that event and selected as such, meaning his college baseball days are over if he signs.

There are other players the program could lose to the pro ranks if those individuals hear their names called as well, like starting outfielders Bryce Fowler and Richie Bonomolo Jr. Star shortstop Justin Lebron is not draft-eligible yet. Weekend starter Zane Adams is. Both were sophomores in 2025.

Whatever takes place, the roster will look different next spring, as happens with the cycle of the offseason. The transfer portal (along with professional pathways for some players) cements that fact even further.

BamaCentral will keep track of personnel moves during the offseason, including incoming and outgoing transfers, providing updates on all of the above items and more. This story will be updated with news as it happens, with markers for dates as new events and changes occur.

Additionally, at the bottom of this page, there will be comprehensive lists of transfers both in and out of the program.



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Jordan Lynch Named to 2026 Ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

Story Links National Football Foundation website Jordan Lynch Complete Final NIU Bio DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University legend Jordan Lynch, who made history – and led NIU to historic heights – as a record-setting dual threat quarterback, has […]

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DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University legend Jordan Lynch, who made history – and led NIU to historic heights – as a record-setting dual threat quarterback, has been named to the ballot for the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame released on Monday by the National Football Foundation (NFF).
 
Lynch made the ballot as a first-time nominee after his name was forwarded by the District Screening Committee. Making the ballot is an important step in the process toward consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. All-time, just one Huskie – trailblazing quarterback George Bork (1960-63) – has earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player. Bork was inducted in 1999.
 
Lynch, who was inducted into the NIU Athletics and Mid-American Conference Halls of Fame in 2024, guided NIU to a 24-4 record that included the MAC Championship and historic Orange Bowl appearance in 2012, and an undefeated regular season in 2013 that included Boneyard Wins over Iowa and Purdue.
 
His career was capped by a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist where his third-place finish ranks as the highest ever by a player from the MAC. Lynch collected first team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Lindy’s and Phil Steele in 2013 as an all-purpose player after making the AP and Phil Steele second teams as a junior. He set five NCAA and 25 school records. The Chicago native never lost a road game (12-0) or a game at Huskie Stadium (11-0) as a starter. 
 

He won the MAC’s Vern Smith Leadership (MVP) Award and was named the league’s offensive player of the year in both 2012 and 2013. In addition to his Heisman finish, Lynch was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Manning Quarterback Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Senior CLASS Award and AT&T All-America Player of the Year awards as a senior.
 
The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot, which includes 79 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks, is emailed to all dues-paying NFF chapter members, including those of the Chicago Metro Chapter, NFF academic members and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) members for a vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court, which determines the final class members.
 
To be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, players must have been named a First Team All-American by a major national selector organization as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior and within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football. The candidate’s post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed. For more information on the voting procedures click here.
 

The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort, and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
 
— NIU —
 
Twitter: @NIUAthletics
Facebook: NIU Huskies
Instagram: niuhuskies
YouTube: NIU Athletics Official



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