NIL
Why this former BYU player doesn’t like what’s happening to high school athletes – Deseret News
What’s happening to high school and junior college recruiting in the wake of the transfer portal and NIL in college sports is a travesty. So says a former Dixie Junior College star who played with Heisman winner Ty Detmer at BYU and sent a son, Jaren Hall, to the NFL via BYU. Kalin Hall is […]
What’s happening to high school and junior college recruiting in the wake of the transfer portal and NIL in college sports is a travesty.
So says a former Dixie Junior College star who played with Heisman winner Ty Detmer at BYU and sent a son, Jaren Hall, to the NFL via BYU.
Kalin Hall is taking his love for coaching young men from Maple Mountain High to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where Badgers head coach Zac Erekson will deploy him as director of football operations and running backs coach.
Special Collector’s Issue: “1984: The Year BYU was Second to None”
Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football’s 1984 National Championship season.
Hall has been an energetic, beloved high school coach at Maple Mountain High and had a community rally behind him this past year when he was released, rehired, and then declined to return.
Hall hates what modern major college sports has done to kids.
“Shame on the NCAA for doing what they did. Shame on athletic directors around the country for collectively making the financial decisions they’ve made,” said Hall, decrying the reduction of roster spots, dismissing walk-on programs, and robbing high school players of opportunities to play and prove themselves.
Hall was referring to changes to scholarship caps in college sports, which are laid out in the landmark House settlement. Although the settlement has not yet been approved, many schools have already adjusted their programs to fit its conditions, including by making cuts.
“It’s not only the transfer portal that’s hurt, but the 105 because within that, those additional 20 kids, those who would have been preferred walk-ons, do not have a chance to mature because schools are no longer handcuffed,” said Hall.
Of course, what started all of this were the lawsuits by athletes to get paid when schools used them to produce truckloads of money through ticket sales and TV contracts.
It’s today’s college sports and it’s been force-fed to everyone.
Hall said today’s climate has put college coaches in a hopeless position. They have to win now. Should they put their job on the line and risk it all for a kid you can develop over time by signing a high school player, or do they make a more informed choice and take a transfer from the portal?
“I feel so bad for the high school kids,” Hall said.
Earlier this spring he spoke to University of Utah running back coach Mark Atuaia about a prospect. He told Hall the kid was someone they’d normally have taken a shot on at the P4 level and brought him in as a preferred walk-on. Then, in a year or two, he’d have become a player. “But we can’t do that anymore. We don’t have the time,” the coach told Hall.
Now Hall will see the same challenges for kids at Snow, a national juco football powerhouse.
He’s excited to teach and help young men, just like he did at Maple Mountain. His real job, however, is working with former BYU tight end Gabe Reid at PureEnviro Management as vice president. The company manages issues with government departments in Utah, nationally, and does work in the South Pacific.
Erekson has tried to get Hall to work with him at Snow for years.
“Zac is like my little brother,” said Hall. “I’ve known Zac since he was 7 years old and we’ve been close family friends for years.”
Hall said his boss, Reid, told him he should go to Ephraim and give his time — it isn’t a financial decision at all — but one of love.
“He said to go and share some of my ancient wisdom.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time working with kids at BYU, Utah and Utah State, a lot of local kids, but this will be a little different. As a former JC kid myself, playing more than 30 years ago at Dixie, I understand the dynamics.
“But millennials are different today and young people are different. I was there at Snow for spring ball and it was fun. I’m the older guy out there, there is only one other guy that is older than me, the defensive coordinator, working with Zac.”
Hall said Snow expects to play high-quality football again this coming season.
What about his son Jaren, who was drafted out of BYU by the Vikings before going to Seattle?
Well, he just turned down an offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars, said the father.
“He’s just waiting for the right opportunity. Very few guys turn down opportunities, but he turned one down last week. He didn’t want to go to Jacksonville. He just didn’t think it was right for him. He was inspired religiously that it wasn’t the right move. So he’s a better man than I am, because I would have been in Florida.”
Hall praised Jaren for his maturity and faith in looking for an inspired move in his next landing.
“He’s a better dude that I am. As a dad, I had to back up and tell him that he was my idol and I’m sorry for trying to influence him to take the Jacksonville job when he was prompted spiritually to wait for something else in his life.”
Continue Reading
NIL
5-star QB Ryder Lyons sends clear message about NIL after unexpected BYU commitment
Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons’ surprising commitment to BYU marks a unique win for the Cougars amid lofty NIL spending sprees in college football. Lyons (6-foot-2.5, 220 pounds) plays for Folsom (California) High School, where he ranks as the No. 4 quarterback, the top player in his state and the No. 13 overall recruit in the […]
Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons’ surprising commitment to BYU marks a unique win for the Cougars amid lofty NIL spending sprees in college football.
Lyons (6-foot-2.5, 220 pounds) plays for Folsom (California) High School, where he ranks as the No. 4 quarterback, the top player in his state and the No. 13 overall recruit in the class of 2026, per 247Sports.
One of the top players in the country, Lyons holds a $785,000 On3 NIL valuation and has amassed over 30 scholarship offers. Some of which from major programs with plenty of backing from an NIL perspective.
Teams like USC and Oregon were previously favored to land the elite passer before he ultimately chose BYU. The Ducks even had Lyons on campus for the weekend of June 13, but that trip to the defending Big Ten champions apparently didn’t sway him from the Cougars.
It’s difficult to quantify BYU’s efforts in the NIL space, as the university is private, but the recruiting trail has always been a challenging aspect for the program. The Cougars finished 59th in the 2025 cycle after signing the nation’s No. 62 class of 2024.
Enter Lyons, whose decision to pledge to BYU makes him the highest-rated recruit for the program since 2003 and the third highest-rated recruit in school history.
And it wasn’t NIL money that drove his decision, Lyons’ revealed Tuesday during an appearance on “The Pat McAffee Show.”
“It’s hard,” he said of his recruitment and NIL offers. “It’s hard for sure. I do have someone who handles it for me. I have an agent. I have a whole team. But it definitely makes it just confusing. I mean, you’re thrown a lot of money from a lot of different places.”
“But I think you got to obviously stay humble,” Lyons said. “Money is not the biggest part. I mean, the biggest part is making it to the NFL, because that’s where the serious money is. That’s where the long term money is.”
Lyons went on to credit his mother for pushing him to think beyond his collegiate career with sights set on the NFL.
It’s clear that the Lyons’ family feels comfortable with allowing head coach Kalani Sitake and offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick to develop him into a professional.
NIL
How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put
How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put – myMotherLode.com Link 0
NIL
Mormon Church Won’t Pay 5-Star QB Ryder Lyons To Play At BYU
BYU Athletics Audio By Carbonatix Ryder Lyons is likely going to get paid a lot of NIL money to play college football at BYU. Not one single dollar will come from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or through tithing. All of the agreed upon payments will be made through the university’s affiliated […]
Audio By Carbonatix
Ryder Lyons is likely going to get paid a lot of NIL money to play college football at BYU. Not one single dollar will come from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or through tithing.
All of the agreed upon payments will be made through the university’s affiliated NIL collective, which is funded entirely by the people on a voluntary basis.
Lyons, a five-star quarterback in the college football recruiting Class of 2026, ranks as the fourth-best player at his position behind Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon, Houston commit Keisean Henderson and Georgia commit Jared Curtis. He holds more than 30 offers from schools all over the country and boasts more than 230,000 followers on TikTok. His highlight tape is legit.
The entirety of Lyons’ recruitment has been documented on social media— either by him or his sister Kapri. She often posts behind-the-scenes videos from their visits to different college campuses. They most recently stopped over in Provo to check out Brigham Young University.
Ryder (tried to) cut up in the locker room while he was there.
It seems as though BYU made Ryder Lyons an offer he could not refuse because he committed to the Cougars on Tuesday morning. Oregon was likely the runner-up. It is a huge get for Kalani Sitake!
BREAKING NEWS: “I will be going to Brigham Young University..
GO COUGS” ~ @ryderly0ns #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/RsRhMyVm0Q
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
I cannot say for certain because NIL numbers are rarely made public, but I would imagine BYU presented Lyons with a lucrative financial package. The Cougars paid out a lot of money to assemble one of the best rosters in college basketball through the transfer portal. They will also pay No. 1 overall recruit A.J. Dybantsa more than $4 million for just one season.
All of that happened after one of the university’s big money boosters vowed to spend whatever money necessary to land top talent. Paul Liljenquist serves as the CEO of Focus Services, a $500 million company based out of Utah. He made it abundantly clear that “you’re not going to outbid BYU.”
Ryder Lyons said in February that NIL can show “how much [a program] is invested in you” so money absolutely played a huge role in his commitment. As did his faith. The five-star quarterback will not play college football until 2027. He is going to take a year to serve his Mormon mission before he enrolls. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is important to him. Provo directly aligns with his values.
With that being said, the Church does not have anything to do with the financial side of Lyons’ recruitment. BYU Advancement Vice President Keith Vorkink made sure to debunk that popular narrative.
Just to be clear, because there are all sorts of strange narratives out there, I would just reiterate that there is absolutely no church or university financial support of any student-athlete agreements. Tithing will never be used to support our athletics department in any way, including revenue sharing with student-athletes.
— Keith Vorkink, via Deseret News
Ryder Lyons chose BYU because of faith. Ryder Lyons also chose BYU because of money. Those two things do not overlap. There is a separation of Church and football.
NIL
College Basketball Insider assesses if West Virginia could be dark horse in Big 12
West Virginia will have their fourth head coach in as many seasons with them entering this next season under Ross Hodge. That leaves Jon Rothstein uncertain of where the Mountaineers will finish this year in the Big 12. Rothstein was asked if West Virginia could be a possible dark horse team in the conference next […]
West Virginia will have their fourth head coach in as many seasons with them entering this next season under Ross Hodge. That leaves Jon Rothstein uncertain of where the Mountaineers will finish this year in the Big 12.
Rothstein was asked if West Virginia could be a possible dark horse team in the conference next year on the latest episode of his show for CBS Sports. He pushed off his answer until next month until he can better assess his projected standings for the Big 12.
“Check back in July when we do the Big 12 preview,” Rothstein said.
That’s less to do with how good or bad that the Mountaineers could be. It’s just, among the sixteen-team conference, Rothstein already has the top half, with eight or nine programs, already projected well in ’25-’26.
“I look at it like this. If you are going to be an NCAA Tournament team in the Big 12, you’ve got to be in that top seven or eight,” said Rothstein. “I’ve given you my top-five today – Houston, BYU, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Arizona. Cincinnati, Kansas, Baylor all in there as well. That is my top eight. And Kansas State, also with PJ Haggerty, will have a First Team All-American in tow.”
Hodge will be the third-straight new head coach in Morgantown after the resignation of Bob Huggins, the firing of their interim in Josh Eilert, and Darian DeVries leaving this offseason for Indiana. The Mountaineers have gone 47-51 (.480) in those three years leading into Hodge’s hiring towards the end of March. He brings with him a two-year resumé as a head coach from North Texas where the Mean Green went 46-24 (.657), finishing second this past season in the American, with two of the best defenses in that time in all of the NCAA.
With that latest coaching change, though, comes the roster turnover with it. West Virginia had 14 transactions in the NCAA Transfer Portal with eight additions, led by Treysen Eaglestaff (North Dakota), and six departures, namely Tucker DeVries (Indiana) and Amani Hansberry (Virginia Tech). They also lost Javon Small, an All Big-12 First Team selection for them last season who was out of eligibility and is in projections to be a second-round pick this week in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Big 12 will again be competitive with several programs looking like contenders, in the conference and nationally, for next season. It remains to be seen, though, if West Virginia can be among those when they take the court for the first time, in what’ll hopefully be a longer tenure, under Hodge.
NIL
How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put | State-national
Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college. It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft […]
Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college.
It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft starts Wednesday night with its lowest total of those prospects in at least 10 years.
kAm“}@H J@F 42? A=2J E96 =@?8 82>6 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6[” (256 E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD[ C676CC:?8 E@ 9@H 4@==686 A=2J6CD 42? =@@< 2E E96:C 7FEFC6D] “{@@<[ x 42? 86E A2:5 E96 D2>6 x H@F=5 86E A2:5 
E96 v {628F6[ E96 D2>6 x H@F=5 86E A2:5 @? 2 EH@\H2J W4@?EC24EX[ D@>6 8FJD 2C6 86EE:?8 7:CDE\C@F?5 >@?6J]Qk^Am
kAmp?5 >@C6 >@?6J 
@? E96 H2J]k^Am
kAmxEVD 366? 7@FC J62CD D:?46 4@==686 2E9=6E6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=2HD\DA@CED\e73`_362c`fe24e2h`a`bg46f7_2fec6QmH6C6 A6C>:EE65 E@ AC@7:E @77 E96 FD6 @7 E96:C ?2>6[ :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD W}x{Xk^2m[ @A6?:?8 E96 5@@C 7@C 2E9=6E6 4@>A6?D2E:@? E92E H2D @?46 7@C3:556? 3J }rpp CF=6D] }6IE H66<[ @? yF=J `[ >2C
kAmu@C (256[ E92E =65 E@ D:8?:?8 %6I2D %649VD s2CC:@? (:==:2>D 27E6C acfDA@CED’ 7:7E9\C2?<65 EC2?D76C H:E95C6H 7C@> E96 5C27E]k^Am
kAm“q2D:42==J ?@H :7 J@F’C6 2? 62C=J 6?ECJ 2?5 J@F’C6 ?@E 2 E@A\a_[ E@A\aa A:4< — H96C6 E96 >@?6J D=@ED — J@F 42? AC6EEJ >F49 >2<6 E92E 4@==686[” E96 ?6H (@=7A24< 4@249 D2:5]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2== A2CE @7 2 D6:D>:4 492?86 E92E 92D C:AA=65 E9C@F89 4@==686 2E9=6E:4D D:?46 E96 A2?56>:4[ :ED :>A24E E@F49:?8 E96 }qp] !=2J6CD H:==:?8 E@ “E6DE E96 H2E6CD” E96 5C27E 367@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ D49@@= ?@H 92G6 2 =F4C2E:G6 @AE:@? E@ 4@?D:56C 282:?DE F?46CE2:? AC@ AC@DA64ED]k^Am
kAmp?5 :E D9@HD E96 ?F>36CD]k^Am
kAm“(:E9 2== E96 >@?6J E92E’D 36:?8 E9C@H? 2C@F?5 }x{[ J@F’C6 92G:?8 2 =@E =6DD A=2J6CD AFE E96:C ?2>6D :?[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^56EC@:E\A:DE@?D\5h64ggf52ecggeg4h`e4__4`6g45gfg4Qms6EC@:E !:DE@?D AC6D:56?E @7 32D<6E32== @A6C2E:@?D %C2;2? {2?85@?k^2m D2:5] “*@F’C6 92G:?8 AC6EEJ 8@@5 A=2J6CD AF==:?8 E96:C ?2>6D @FE]”k^Am
k9ams64=:?:?8 ?F>36C @7 62C=J 6?EC2?EDk^9am
kAm%9:D J62CVD 5C@A D:8?:7:42?E H96? 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 J62CD 367@C6 2?J@?6 925 962C5 @7 r~’xs\`h] %96C6 H2D 2 DA:<6 @7 4@==686 A=2J6CD ;F>A:?8 :?E@ E96 5C27E E96 A2?56>:4VD 27E6C>2E9[ H96? E96J H6C6 8C2?E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@G:5\7:7E9\J62C\32D<6E32==\A=2J6CD\d_64e7dbe26`f4_7ffechc55_`4f6_ccQm2 7C66 6=:8:3:=:EJ J62Ck^2m E@ E6>A@C2C:=J >2<6 6G6? 2 7@FCE9\J62C D6?:@C 2? “62C=J” 6?EC2?E]k^Am
kAmqFE E9@D6 ?F>36CD 925 72==6? 2D E9@D6 7:G6\J62C A=2J6CD 4J4=65 @FE @7 4@==686 32D<6E32==[ 2?5 E96JVC6 ?@H 36=@H AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D] %92E 564=:?6 4@:?4:56D H:E9 }x{’D yF=J a_a` 2CC:G2=[ 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\=:76DEJ=6\DA@CED\7@@E32==\4@==686\7@@E32==\eh4hd`hec44aah6h_`gea44`f_g2b3h`Qm2E9=6E6D 5@:?8 A2:5 2AA62C2?46D @C D@4:2=\>65:2 6?5@CD6>6?EDk^2m E@ 3@@DE6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?:=\4@==64E:G6D\325e52ac6_bfca452h7536ee53e246hdQm7@C>:?8 4@==64E:G6D @776C:?8 }x{ A24<286D 2>@F?E:?8 E@ 56 724E@ D2=2C:6Dk^2m]k^Am
kAmpD 2 C6DF=Eik^Am
kAm— t:89EJ\EH@ A=2J6CD 2AA62C65 @? E96 }qpVD =:DE @7 62C=J 6?EC2?ED AC:>2C:=J 7C@> p>6C:42? 4@==686D H:E9 2 D>2EE6C:?8 @7 @E96C E62>D[ 5@H? chT 7C@> a_ac W`eaX 2?5 ?62C=J cfT 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 7@FC\J62C 2G6C286 7C@> a_`e\`h W`db]dXjk^Am
kAm— %9:CEJ\EH@ C6>2:?65 27E6C H:E95C2H2= 5625=:?6D[ 5@H? 7C@> ea =2DE J62C 2?5 fa]_ 7C@> a_`e\`hjk^Am
kAm— p55:?8 :?E6C?2E:@?2= AC@DA64ED[ `_h A=2J6CD 564=2C65 7@C E96 5C27E[ 5@H? 7C@> a_` =2DE J62C 2?5 a_d]_ 7C@> a_`e\`hjk^Am
kAm— p?5 @?=J ce C6>2:?65[ 5@H? 7C@> ff a_ac 2?5 gb]g 7C@> a_`e\`h]k^Am
k9am|@C6 4@==686 A=2J6CD H6:89:?8 @AE:@?Dk^9am
kAmsF<6 4@249 y@? $496J6C F?56CDE2?5D 5C27E 5J?2>:4D[ 3@E9 7@C ?@\5@F3E 9625=:?6CD 2?5 AC@DA64ED 724:?8 =6DD 4=2C:EJ] w6 D66D 4@==686 2E9=6E6 4@>A6?D2E:@? 2D 2 “=68:E:>2E6 82>6492?86C]Qk^Am
kAm“w@A67F==J :E 2==@HD A=2J6CD E@ 564:56 H92E’D ECF=J 36DE 7@C E96:C 82>6[” $496J6C E@=5 E96 p!] “xE 2==@HD E96> E@ 2?2=JK6i ‘p> x 24EF2==J C625J 7@C E9:D @C ?@En’ (96C6 >@?6J 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 E96 564:5:?8 724E@C] q642FD6 :7 >@?6J’D E96 564:5:?8 724E@C[ E92E’D H9J J@F D66 <:5D ?@E DE:4<] %96 }qp’D 4FEE9C@2E] xE ;FDE :D]”k^Am
kAm%96 q=F6 s6G:=D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 E9C66 A=2J6CD D6=64E65 E96 7:CDE\C@F?5 (65?6D52J[ :?4=F5:?8 AC6DF>AE:G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2A\A=2J6C\@7\J62C\4@@A6C\7=288\e_5c4e635c64c72c74a3_f5fb365fb7_Qm}@] ` A:4< r@@A6C u=288k^2m 2=@?8D:56 E@A\`_ AC@DA64ED z@? z?F6AA6= 2?5 z92>2? |2=F249] %96J 2=D@ 925 A=2J6CD D@CE:?8 E9C@F89 5C27E 564:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmuC6D9>2? xD2:29 tG2?D — 2 D=6?56C H:?8 H:E9 6IA=@D:G6 D4@C:?8 A@E6?E:2= — H:E95C6H :?DE625 @7 492D:?8 7:CDE\C@F?5 DE2EFD E9C@F89 E96 5C27E AC@46DD] x?4@>:?8 EC2?D76C r65C:4 r@H2C5 7C@> (2D9:?8E@? $E2E6 C2A:5=J C@D6 5C27E 3@2C5D 27E6C E96 4@>3:?6 2?5 C6>2:?65 E96 5C27E]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D ?@ DF3DE:EFE:?8 E96 >@?6J J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 :7 J@F’C6 2 E@A\`d[ E@A\a_ A:4<[” D2:5 $496J6C[ 6?E6C:?8 *62C c k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\7:?2=\7@FC\5F<6\;@?\D496J6C\34f3`__b26`b`34agb`h45f_e2547c22Qm2D DF446DD@C E@ C6E:C65 w2== @7 u2>6C |:<6 zCKJK6HD<:k^2m] “qFE :7 J@F’C6 ?@E D@=:5:7:65 2D 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4<[ H9J C:D< :E H96? J@F 42? 92G6 2 D@=:5 J62C 2?5 2 492?46 E@ 8@ FA @C 36 E96 D2>6 A@D:E:@? E96 7@==@H:?8 D62D@?n”k^Am
k9amr@==686 4@>A6?D2E:@? C6\D92A:?8 E96 5C27E A@@=k^9am
kAm{2?85@?[ 9:>D6=7 2 7@C>6C sF<6 7:CDE\C@F?56C[ D66D E92E 6G@=FE:@?[ E@@]k^Am
kAmw:D !:DE@?D 925 E96:C 7:CDE A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46 D:?46 a_`h[ 3FE =24< 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 D6=64E:@? 2?5 @H? 2 D:?8=6 A:4< %9FCD52J’D D64@?5 C@F?5] u6H6C 42?5:52E6D 4@F=5 >2<6 E96 2=C625J :>A6C764E D4:6?46 @7 5C27E:?8 6G6? EC:4<:6C E9:D ?6H C62=:EJ]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }qp’D a_ac\ad C@@<:6 D42=6[ 2 A=2J6C 8@:?8 >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 H@F=5 >2<6 C@F89=J Sb]d >:==:@? 7:CDE\J62C D2=2CJ] %92E 7:8FC6 H@F=5 5C@A E@ 23@FE Sa]g >:==:@? 2E A:4< }@] a_[ Sa]b >:==:@? 2E }@] ad 2?5 Sa]` >:==:@? H:E9 E96 b_E9 2?5 7:?2= 7:CDE\C@F?5 5C27E66]k^Am
kAmp >:?:>F> 7:CDE\J62C }qp D2=2CJn #@F89=J S`]a >:==:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 }x{ A24<286D 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ 86E FA E@ Sb E@ Sc E@ Sd E@ Se >:==:@? 5@==2CD[” {2?85@? D2:5] “%96D6 8FJD 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ AFE E96:C ?2>6 E@ 36 E96 adE9 A:4<[ @C 6G6? E96 `gE9 A:4<] %96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 324< E@ D49@@= 9@A6D @7 36:?8 2 =@EE6CJ A:4< ?6IE J62C] (:E9 E92E A@@= @7 A=2J6CD 564C62D:?8[ :E <:?5 @7 564C62D6D E96 @55D @7 E96 =6G6= @7 A=2J6C H6 86E 2E }@] bf[ ;FDE E96 AFC6 >2E96>2E:4D]”k^Am
k9amrFCC6?E }qp A=2J6CD @776C :?D:89Ek^9am
kAmx?5:2?2 !246CD 3:8 >2? %9@>2D qCJ2?E 2?5 ~<=29@>2 r:EJ %9F?56C 4@F?E6CA2CE xD2:29 w2CE6?DE6:?[ H9@ 3@E9 A=2J65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\7:?2=D\E9F?56C\492>A:@?D\g_fe2b7c5e764h3_4a33335fh7`f67bgQmE96 D6G6?\82>6 }qp u:?2=D E92E 6?565 $F?52Jk^2m[ :==FDEC2E6 {2?85@?’D A@:?E]k^Am
kAm%96J H6C6 324<\E@\324< D64@?5\C@F?56CD a_`f WqCJ2?E 2E ca[ w2CE6?DE6:? 2E cbX[ AFD965 5@H? 2 5C27E 3@2C5 762EFC:?8 62C=J\6?ECJ 4@==686 A=2J6CD bb @7 E96 c` A:4
kAmqCJ2?E A=2J65 EH@ 4@==686 D62D@?D 2E x?5:2?2 367@C6 DE:?ED H:E9 7:G6 }qp E62>D[ :?4=F5:?8 s6?G6C’D a_ab 492>A:@?D9:A DBF25] (@F=5 E96 23:=:EJ E@ >2<6 4@==686 >@?6J 92G6 492?865 9:D ;@FC?6Jnk^Am
kAm“%@ 36 9@?6DE[ x D66 :E 7C@> 3@E9 D:56D[Q qCJ2?E D2:5] Qx7 J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 86E 5C27E65[ J@F F?56CDE2?5 E92E 2 <:5 ?665D >@?6J E@ =:G6 4@==686 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8] $@[ x F?56CDE2?5 H96C6 E96J’C6 4@>:?8 7C@> @? E92E 6?5]k^Am
kAm“qFE 7@C >6[ x E@@< E96 492?46] x 36E @? >JD6=7[ 2?5 x 36=:6G65 >JD6=7[ 2?5 x H@C<65 E@ E96 G6CJ 6?5] p?5 E96 E9:?8 23@FE >6 E92E :7 x H6?E 5@H?[ x H2D 8@:?8 5@H? DH:?8:?8] x 92?8 >J 92E @? E92E] u@C D@>6[ :E >:89E ?@E 36 E96 D2>6 42D6]Qk^Am
kAm%96 p>6C:42?\3@C? w2CE6?DE6:? >@G65 E@ v6C>2?J 2E “ 2?5 A=2J65 {:E9F2?:2 367@C6 36:?8 5C27E65] pD 96 AFE :Ei “x E9:?< 6G6CJ@?6’D ;@FC?6J 5:776C6?E]”k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< J@F D9@F=5 92G6 E96 C:89E A6@A=6 2C@F?5 J@F E@ <:?5 @7 8F:56 J@F[” D2:5 w2CE6?DE6:?[ 2 ?6H=J >:?E65 }qp 492>A:@?] “x >62?[ x H2D =F4 2 8@@5 D:EF2E:@? E96 }qp[ J@F 5@ E92E] qFE :E’D 2 92C5 564:D:@?]”k^Am
k9amr@==686 ?@H 42? 36 >@C6 @7 2? 2==FC6k^9am
kAmpE }]r] $E2E6[ (256VD A:E49 E@ (:==:2>D :?4=F565 2 =625:?8 C@=6 2?5 2 D9@E 2E 3@@DE:?8 9:D 5C27E DE@4<]k^Am
kAm%96 e\7@@E\e ;F?:@C 2G6C2865 `d]` A@:?ED H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\2C<2?D2D\E6I2D\E649\D4@C6\cg6f67`a2cdd336b4d4ee4263ag4_42dQm>F=E:A=6 3:8 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E A6C7@C>2?46Dk^2m 2D E96 #65 #2:56CD C624965 E96 t=:E6 t:89E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\E6I2D\E649\7=@C:52\D4@C6\b2d527faa___5ff“ghf3daeabd5d2h7Qm?62C=J 362E:?8 6G6?EF2= 492>A:@? u=@C:52k^2m]k^Am
kAm“w6 H2D >@DE =:<6=J 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 5C27E A:4<[ 2?5 9:D A24<286 96C6 36EE6C E92? AC@323=J 96 H@F=5’G6 8@EE6? 2D 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 A:4<[” (256 D2:5[ 255:?8i “(6 46CE2:?=J E2=<65 23@FE E92E] (6 H6?E @G6C E92E] (6 H6?E @G6C E96 >2E9 @7 6G6CJE9:?8] (6 H6?E @G6C E96 A=2? @? 9@H E@ 244@>A=:D9 E92E]Qk^Am
kAm%92EVD ?@E E@ D2J :EVD 62DJ 2E E96 4@==686 =6G6= E9:D ?6H =2?5D42A6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^DA@CED\4@==686\32D<6E32==\>6?D\ffh“hg4g6d4b_5beh5_e4343`4aeag5Qm#@DE6C >2?286>6?Ek^2m EC:4
kAm“xE’D E96 H2J =:76 H@C E96 5C27E AC@46DD] (6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 D42C65 @7 E92E]”k^Am
kAm}@C D9@F=5 96[ ?@E H:E9 E96 2==FC6 @7 42>AFD =:76 E96D6 52JD]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! q2D<6E32== (C:E6C %:> #6J?@=5D 2?5 p! $A@CED (C:E6C {2CCJ {286 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! }qpi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?32Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^?32k^2mk^Am
NIL
A Revamped ‘College Hoops’ Could Be 2K’s ‘College Football 26’
It’s no secret that 2K needs to overhaul both the MyCareer and MyPlayer modes that NBA 2K offers, and a College Hoops game is the best way to do that. 2K has dominated basketball video games for years now. As a result, since it has no competitors, it struggles to innovate. This is clear to […]
It’s no secret that 2K needs to overhaul both the MyCareer and MyPlayer modes that NBA 2K offers, and a College Hoops game is the best way to do that. 2K has dominated basketball video games for years now. As a result, since it has no competitors, it struggles to innovate. This is clear to see in MyCareer and MyPlayer. (And, for what it’s worth, the same could be said of EA’s Superstar mode in Madden.)
Career modes often struggle in the modern era of sports games because the money is made in online modes. College Hoops 2K8 is beloved by many for its offline Legacy mode, in which gamers play as coaches as they take over programs, recruit stars, and build dynastic teams. But what about a mode where you get to be the star recruit? In an age where variety is at an all-time low in sports games, having a college version of NBA 2K’s MyCareer, focused on a created athlete, would revitalize that side of basketball games for many who tend to skip buying new releases each year because not enough new features have been added. (Again, an EA parallel here is how refreshing College Football’s Road to Glory mode is compared to Madden’s Superstar mode.)
MyPlayer, 2K’s sort of mode within a mode, a hub in MyCareer where you customize your avatar outside of the mode’s narrative, is what would need to most revamping if it were repurposed for College Hoops. For so many 2K fans, it’s hard to even describe what you really get out of this thing anymore. OG fans can’t stand how much junk 2K has put in between you and just playing the game. And for younger fans, whether they like the experience of MyPlayer or not, the sheer cost of investing in their players is staggering.
No such hub exists in College Football. If 2K is as smart as EA, College Hoops would take a similar approach to storytelling and character-building as College Football, creating a streamlined mode like Road to Glory that improves upon something like Superstar by offering more fun, fewer transactions, and lots of free customizations. If such a mode were added alongside Legacy, players could immerse their avatars in an on-campus journey rather than just styling their characters off the court in NBA 2K.
How would you navigate NIL deals and playing for different coaches in college? What would you do if you got passed up by your dream school after they recruited you? Would you stay in school if you lost in the Final 4? There are so many fresh plot lines out there for a new College Hoops game. Running around a college campus sounds far more fun and immersive than some invented city at this point. And being able to continue that journey in NBA 2K, the way created College Football athletes can be ported over to Madden, would make the whole process that much more fulfilling.
Motorsports2 seconds ago
All-Pro Auto Reconditioning becomes primary sponsor of NASCAR points leader William Byron
Motorsports1 minute ago
How iRacing helped make the NASCAR Chicago Street Race a reality – NBC4 Washington
Motorsports2 minutes ago
All-Pro Auto Reconditioning to Serve as Primary Sponsor of Byron Through 2030
Youtube3 minutes ago
“The biggest game most of us have played in our life.” Pacers Talk NBA Finals Game 7 | June 21, 2025
Rec Sports5 minutes ago
How youth sports shape lifelong skills
Technology8 minutes ago
Walking may reduce back pain risk if you follow this ‘simple’ rule
NIL10 minutes ago
5-star QB Ryder Lyons sends clear message about NIL after unexpected BYU commitment
NIL11 minutes ago
How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put
Sports16 minutes ago
Kent State Lands Nine Track and Field Student-Athletes on CSC Academic All-District® Team
College Sports20 minutes ago
Everything to know about Arts Fest 2025 | Lifestyle
Motorsports23 minutes ago
NASCAR Wants to Race at Franklin Field in Philadelphia
Sports25 minutes ago
Where Do the Members of the U.S. 2025 World Championships Pool Swimming Team Actually Train?
Sports30 minutes ago
Lottery.com Inc. Appoints Tim Scoffham as CEO of Sports.com Media Group and Lottery.com International
Rec Sports32 minutes ago
2024-25 Sports Lookback: Lady Jays make historic postseason run
Sports37 minutes ago
Nine Track & Field Student-Athletes Named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
This is poetry in motion.
-
Professional Sports3 weeks ago'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
-
High School Sports3 weeks agoParents Speak Out As Trans Pitcher Throws Shutout In MN State Quarterfinals
-
Health3 weeks agoOregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
-
Professional Sports3 weeks agoUFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR Weekend Preview: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
-
NIL3 weeks agoPatrick Mahomes in OKC for WCWS, praises NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech
-
NIL3 weeks agoGreg Sankey fires jab at obstruction rule after controversial WCWS call in Texas vs. Texas Tech
-
College Sports3 weeks agoFull 2025 Women’s College World Series Finals Schedule
-
NIL3 weeks agoNew Texas NIL bill signed into law by Gov. Abbott, opening revenue sharing with athletes
-
NIL3 weeks agoReport