NIL & Student Athlete Sports News

Chael Sonnen had quite the reaction to Bo Bassett’s decommitment from Iowa over the weekend. The star wrestler reopened his recruitment nearly five months later and the new finalists are Penn State, Oklahoma State and Nebraska.

Sonnen, a former MMA star and All-American wrestler at Oregon, revealed he wanted to get in on the NIL business with Bassett. He offered a lump sum of cash in exchange to do business with the budding superstar.

Bassett’s social media following is more popular than most college wrestlers at this point and he’s a rising senior at Bishop McCort High School in Pennsylvania. Safe to say, Sonnen was stunned and baffled by this move.

“Now I got to tell you, from the beginning, in full disclosure, I tried to do business with Bo, and I didn’t get my way,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I tried to reach Bo, and I finally even went publicly and told him, here’s the deal. I will give you $1 million in exchange you’re going to sign over your NIL rights to me, whatever I can do with that is on me, but you’re guaranteed a million dollars. 

“I didn’t get responded to, and I must tell you, it didn’t make me very happy in all fairness, he did it. But now that I’ve disclosed that to you, I follow him very closely.”

Bassett’s decommitment Sunday sent shockwaves throughout the college wrestling world. The No. 2 pound-for-pound prospect in 2026 committed to Iowa back in February following a lengthy recruiting process.

“I don’t wish Bo badly,” Sonnen said. “But it is very fair for me to tell you whatever shirt he pops on and he’s proud to be a student athlete. What the hell am I supposed to do with that? What would I possibly do with that? I don’t know where to get a refund on my Iowa shirt with his face on it that I bought fully to be a supporter. I got it sitting right over here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that. All of a sudden he’s got six shooters. All of a sudden he’s at State College. What am I supposed to do with that? 

“Your word’s either good or it’s not. People have the right to change them, and there’s no such thing as decommit. Let’s just agree on that. You’re lying. You’re lying. Gotta be a man about it. Now there is such a thing as changing your mind, and young people get grace to change their mind, but when you took a shot, you fired a shot at the ethics of the most ethical program in wrestling’s history. Excuse me. You do not stand on the moral high ground, not on this one.”

Chael Sonnen has fiery reaction to Bo Bassett decommitment

Bassett’s younger brother Melvin Miller, the No. 1 prospect in 2027, removed Iowa from consideration following the decision from Bo. They are seemingly a package deal along with youngest brother Keegan (Class of 2028).

Bo Bassett visited Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State and Rutgers throughout his process this past year. Currently, his high school teammates Sam Herring (Penn State) and No. 1 overall prospect Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) are committed.

“What a beautiful word that we’ve created, decommit, what a beautiful word for lie,” Sonnen said. “What a beautiful word for backstab, what a beautiful word for dishonest, what a beautiful word for waste of everybody’s time. And I must tell you, I’ve never fully understood it … You’re going to commit to somebody else. What the hell does that mean at this point? And I just want you to keep that in mind, because this beautiful word of decommit wasn’t created by Bo. This actually came out about three years ago, and I remember the first time I saw it. He did not create the word. He just implemented it. And they said, I decommit. Oh, you do? You do? Huh, you have a better offer than the Iowa Hawkeyes? Really? Because that would lead me to believe that we’re down to two us. It would just lead me to believe that possibly the Cowboys got to the table, and most definitely, State College got to the table. That’s what it would lead me to believe, and within a week, we’re gonna find out if I’m right …

“He took a shot at the Hawks, and it was nasty. It was a very nasty thing. And much like the commit, he used words that made it sound as though he had the moral high ground. He talked about something, I’m gonna go somewhere that aligns more with my values and faith. He slipped the word faith in there like nobody can ever argue against faith, just it’s one of these things that’s very uncommon. But then read it, okay, we’re dealing with a kid. We’re dealing with a kid. He gets grace. I do understand that, but he took a shot at men. If you want to fight with the men, you’re gonna get treated like a man.”

If lawmakers in South Carolina have it their way, name, image, likeness (NIL) won’t be coming to the Palmetto State for high school athletics anytime soon. The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) made a move last week to double down amid pressure from state legislators.

According to a report by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, the SCHSL reworded its rules to state the student-athletes “may not earn compensation” for their respective sport. In the previous set of bylaws, it was worded that student-athletes “may earn compensation” as long as it wasn’t tied to anything to their performance athletically, doesn’t require school or league logos or is an incentive to enroll at a particular high school.

Trouble brewing in South Carolina regarding high school #NIL? The SC High School League recently altered its bylaws to still allow some form of NIL amid state legislators’ efforts to ban high school NIL via an addition to the upcoming state budget. pic.twitter.com/nEgTcDVVYK

— Daniel S. Greene, Esq. (@DanGreene15) June 24, 2025

Trouble brewing in South Carolina regarding high school #NIL? The SC High School League recently altered its bylaws to still allow some form of NIL amid state legislators’ efforts to ban high school NIL via an addition to the upcoming state budget. pic.twitter.com/nEgTcDVVYK

What the newly amended bylaws looked to accomplish is complying with a newly passed South Carolina budget clause that prohibits public school districts from affiliation with any athletic association that “permits, allows or authorizes” NIL compensation.

“I hope everybody involved with high school athletics realizes they are extracurricular activities, and they are no place for the ugliness or business activities ruining college athletics,” South Carolina state senator Sean Bennett, R-Summerville said in the report.

In the amended SCHSL rules, the violations and penalties are as followed:

First Violation: The student shall receive a formal warning and return any award(s) or money received in violation of this rule. The SCHSL shall direct the student in violation to immediately remove any endorsement, advertisement, sponsorship, or other promotional activity that is in violation of the Amateur Status Rule.
Second Violation: The student shall be ineligible to participate in SCHSL interscholastic athletics at any level of competition for a period of one (1) year from the date of SCHSL’s determination of the second violation.
Third Violation: The penalty and any additional period of ineligibility will be determined based on a consideration of the nature of the violation(s) and the extent to which the violation(s) may have been knowing, deliberate, or in reckless disregard of the provisions of this rule.

Previous wording could have been interpreted in such a way that NIL compensation was permitted, as long as it wasn’t tied to anything with high school athletics. SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton said that the league’s stance hasn’t changed whatsoever on NIL, but the changed wording reaffirms the want for high school athletes to maintain amateur status.

“From the very beginning … the league does not support NIL for athletic purposes. That’s the only authority we have the right to reject,” Singleton said via the South Carolina Daily Gazette report. “You can change the wording, but you can’t change the intent.”

Currently close 40 states allow NIL for high school athletes, with South Carolina being one of the last few holdouts in the country. Legal experts have chimed in that such an extreme change of wording could setup a legal battle for the SCHSL.

“What we’ve learned is that the courts are never going to accept there’s an impediment to a young person’s ability … to earn income by way of their name, image and likeness,” Student-Athlete Insights’ Bill Carter said in the Gazette report.

Among the states that have prohibited NIL are Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Before the NIL era officially started, “Paige Buckets” took college basketball by storm. Paige Bueckers put together a standout freshman season at UConn as she won National Player of the Year and became a unanimous first team All-American.

July 1, 2021 – ahead of Bueckers’ sophomore year – the NIL era began. That meant players were able to profit off their name, image and likeness for the first time. It proved to be quite an opportunity for Bueckers, whose highlights were making their way around social media quickly.

But she was like athletes across the country and had to quickly learn what it meant to navigate the space. In fact, despite her strong following, Bueckers said she build her brand from scratch.

“When I tell you I had no idea what this was going to look like, I had literally no idea,” Bueckers told Deja Kelly on NILOSOPHY. “It was a complete blank canvas. That’s why you just want to set the values up first. Whatever came from that, then, let’s do it. In commercials, partnered with Fortnite. The stuff I was able to do – like shoots, the creative side of it, the relationships I got to build, some really cool moments. … The stuff I’ve been able to do with my teammates and for my teammates, that’s been the coolest stuff to me, just to share that with them.

“Having a stylist, hair and makeup done. I’m just sitting there in a chair and everybody’s, like, tending to me. I’m like, this is nuts. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. All of it’s just been a whirlwind. I’m just extremely grateful for all of it.”

Paige Bueckers: ‘I set my values straight with my team’

On the court, Paige Bueckers overcame injury and eventually got her long-awaited national championship this past season at UConn. All told, she ended her career as a three-time first team All-American and a two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the nation’s top point guard. That helped her become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Bueckers also flourished in the NIL space. She ended her college career with a $1.5 million On3 NIL Valuation, which ranked No. 2 in the women’s basketball NIL rankings. She also made it a point to enter into deals that included her teammates, which was one of her big values as she entered the space. It was part of a special journey through the NIL world, and she came a long way from the day the new era began.

“Truly, I had no idea, especially the first day,” Bueckers said. “I knew name, image and likeness. That’s probably the only thing I knew. But even just talking with agents. What was an agent to me? Now, I know, and now I have much more knowledge around the topic. Once I started to learn about it – talk to more people, get their perspective on things, talk with an agent – it became, for me, how can I give back and use this platform on social media to do something good with it? You don’t even think about making money in college because it was never a thing.

“I set my values straight with my team. I just want to work with people who have the right intentions, have the right values of giving back and not making everything about me. Like, including my teammates on deals, trying to give my teammates stuff, as well. Just as much as you can, it’s going to be about you. You’re building your brand, you’re building your wealth, you’re building just who you are and getting that out there more. So as much as you can, trying to counteract that with the things that you can do within a partnership.”

Ahead of the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier filmed a commercial as part of an NIL deal with Raising Cane’s. The ad also features two of Manning’s family members.

Archie and Cooper Manning – Arch’s grandfather and father – are also in the ad, which dropped Friday night on social media. It’s the latest NIL venture for the Texas quarterback, who has a $6.8 million On3 NIL Valuation. He’s roommates in Thibodaux with Nussmeier, who has a $3.8 million On3 NIL Valuation, and they filmed the commercial earlier this week.

In the commercial, Archie drives Arch, Nussmeier and Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves to the restaurant for lunch. Cooper is working the drive-thru, and the ad also pokes fun at the fact Nussmeier’s father, Doug, is now the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator.

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“At least your dad didn’t move to Louisiana and start calling plays,” Nussmeier said from the back seat of the car.

Arch Manning and Nussmeier are two of the Manning Passing Academy attendees to ink NIL deals with Raising Cane’s. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers – who has a $3.7 million On3 NIL Valuation – also announced via social media he’s a Cane’s Ambassador, posing for a picture with Graves.

Raising Cane’s now has deals in place with some of the highest-profile quarterbacks in college football. At $6.8 million, Manning has the top On3 NIL Valuation in the college football NIL rankings. He also ranks No. 1 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation. Nussmeier ranks No. 5 in the On3 NIL 100 at $3.8 million, and Sellers is right behind him at No. 6 at $3.7 million.

Inside Arch Manning’s approach to NIL

The Raising Cane’s ad marks the second time Arch Manning worked with his dad and grandfather as part of an NIL deal. They also teamed up for an Uber commercial as the former Five Star Plus+ recruit built out his NIL portfolio.

Arch Manning’s portfolio also includes deals with Red Bull and Vuori, as well as an extended merchandise partnership with Panini America. He also appeared in the EA Sports College Football 25 video game and has appeared in commercials promoting this year’s installment.

As for his approach to navigating the NIL world, Manning said he’s hoping to finish everything by the time the 2025 campaign starts. Once the season starts, his focus will be on football as he gears up for Year 1 as Texas’ starter.

“I’m trying to get all that stuff out of the way before the season,” Manning said. “Obviously, you want to take advantage of what you can and make the right decisions on partnering with companies, but I’m focused on ball.”

When he first stepped foot on campus at Texas, Arch Manning was primed for NIL success. The son of Cooper Manning, grandson of Archie and nephew of Peyton and Eli, he was already a top name in the sport as the nation’s No. 1 recruit.

But as he sat behind Quinn Ewers for two years, Manning – who has a $6.8 million On3 NIL Valuation – didn’t venture too far into the NIL space. His only major NIL deal was with Panini America.

But that all changed this offseason, and the former Five Star Plus+ prospect said he’s hoping to finish everything by the time the 2025 campaign starts. Once the season starts, his focus will be on football as he gears up for Year 1 as Texas’ starter.

“I’m trying to get all that stuff out of the way before the season,” Manning said at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La. “Obviously, you want to take advantage of what you can and make the right decisions on partnering with companies, but I’m focused on ball.”

Manning’s portfolio now includes deals with Red Bull, Uber and Vuori, as well as an extended merchandise partnership with Panini. He also appeared in the EA Sports College Football 25 video game and has appeared in commercials promoting this year’s installment. On3’s Pete Nakos revealed a new commercial is in the works, as well.

At $6.8 million, Manning has the top On3 NIL Valuation in the college football NIL rankings. He also ranks No. 1 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

Arch Manning going ‘with his gut’ in NIL space

The plan was for Manning to wait to sign more NIL deals until he became a full-time starter. But he doesn’t necessarily seek the spotlight. Steve Sarkisian recently confirmed both he and Manning declined to appear on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.

As he navigates the space, Manning leaned on his uncles, who rose to stardom both on and off the field during their respective careers. He also doesn’t want to spread himself too thin in the NIL world while he continues to develop under Sarkisian’s watchful eye. But he’s been watching what others do.

“I think I kind of go with my gut and see what other people have done, who’s done it the right or wrong way,” Manning said. “I’ve got a lot of support with my family and go with my gut at the end of the day and try not to do too much.”

A new report from USA Today revealed the salary for NCAA president Charlie Baker. He received a little more than $3.4 million in total compensation over the final 10 months of 2023 following his hiring on March 1, 2023, according to NCAA tax records obtained by USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz.

The documents, which were provided to Berkowitz earlier Friday, also revealed former NCAA president Mark Emmert received a severance packed of roughly $4.3 million during the 2023 calendar year. That was in addition to more than $1.4 million in base salary and $600,000 in other benefits over his final few months with the organization, according to Berkowitz.

Baker’s annual NCAA salary includes roughly $2.6 million in base pay, $400,000 in bonus pay and nearly $360,000 in other reportable compensation, per Berkowitz. That’s an annual compensation of more than $3.15 million. It is an increase from Emmert’s annual base compensation of nearly $2.85 million in the 2022 fiscal year, his final full year as NCAA president.

Charlie Baker pens letter to NCAA membership after House v. NCAA settlement approval

NCAA president Charlie Baker has been in the news lately, given his role as a lead defendant in the recently resolved House v. NCAA settlement, which California district judge Claudia Wilken formally approved June 6. Following that late Friday night approval, Baker issued a statement to NCAA membership, explaining what’s next for college athletics.

Baker called final approval a “new beginning” for college sports now that revenue-sharing is on the way, as well as roster limits. Schools will soon be able to directly share up to $20.5 million with athletes in the first year of the settlement agreement, and that figure will go up 4% each year for 10 years.

While April’s final approval hearing was a date many circled, Baker said Friday will be the moment the “new beginning” for the NCAA. He also noted the trouble enforcing NIL rules and the way the landscape transformed as a result.

“Many looked to April’s hearing about the House settlement as a culmination of sorts, but the court’s final approval of the settlement in fact marks a new beginning for Division I student-athletes and for the NCAA,” Baker wrote. “For several years, Division I members crafted well-intentioned rules and systems to govern financial benefits from schools and name, image and likeness opportunities, but the NCAA could not easily enforce these for several reasons.

“The result was a sense of chaos: instability for schools, confusion for student-athletes and too often litigation. Sometimes member schools even supported that litigation, some of which spurred hastily imposed court orders upending the rules.”

Baker also noted the NCAA’s continued role in regulating other areas, as well as managing the back damages part of the settlement.

“Beyond the rules that will be managed by the defendant conferences, Division I will continue to regulate in key areas (e.g., eligibility, playing seasons, sports betting and minimal recruiting rules) while prioritizing educational success through setting and monitoring academic standards,” Baker wrote. “The NCAA will finance the back damages portion of the settlement. To do that, we are both reducing costs and generating more revenue, all while investing in the student-athlete experience.

“Together the NCAA, the defendant conferences and the Division I membership have identified the existing NCAA rules that must change to reflect the settlement. These include replacing scholarship limits with roster limits — a change that will enable schools to vastly increase the scholarship opportunities student-athletes receive and potentially double the number of athletics scholarships made available to women.”

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.

For the second straight year, adidas is making a major investment in the high school NIL space. The brand announced six top recruits will be part of its Adizero Class of 2025 – with an emphasis on speed.

Five highly rated wide receivers are part of the group of NIL deals, headlined by five-star LSU commit and top wide receiver prospect Tristen Keys. No. 1-ranked linebacker Tyler Atkinson is also on board, giving adidas two of the 10 highest-rated 2026 recruits on its growing athlete roster.

Ohio State wide receiver commits Chris Henry Jr. and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt are both part of the initiative, as is Texas A&M commit Madden Williams. Five-star receiver Calvin Russell, who ranks as the No. 4-ranked wide receiver in the country, rounds out the group.

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The members of adidas’ Adizero class will participate in campaigns throughout the year and represent the brand throughout their respective 2025 seasons. Keys and Henry also recently starred in an ad promoting the Adizero Electric II Exotic Speed cleats.

Adidas capitalizing on 2026 WR star power

Chris Henry Jr., Tyler Atkinson, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Madden Williams initially signed with adidas last year as part of the company’s Adizero 7 roster. They are all back for Year 2 as part of the campaign.

He has a $565,000 On3 NIL Valuation, which puts him at No. 16 in the high school football NIL rankings. Henry is the son of late Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry and recently shut down his recruitment, reaffirming his commitment to Ryan Day and Ohio State.

Tristen Keys – who has a $536,000 On3 NIL Valuation – signed an NIL deal with adidas earlier this month as he gets ready for his senior season at Hattiesburg (Miss.), where he’s a the No. 5 overall player from the 2026 cycle. As a junior, he hauled in 58 receptions for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns. His ability to make contested catches stood out, as well as his athleticism. Keys also impressed in the high jump and triple jump while also playing basketball.

Adidas now adds even more up-and-coming talent to its athlete roster. The brand signed top NFL Draft prospects such as Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter as they get ready to start their professional careers. NFL stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Amon-Ra St. Brown also highlight the company’s investment in football.

With his NFL Draft stock on the rise, Cade Klubnik continues to thrive in the NIL space with a $3.4 million On3 NIL Valuation. The Clemson quarterback will now have his own action figure.

Klubnik is joining forces with Collegiate Legends, the company told On3. He is the latest college football star to receive a custom action figure through an NIL deal, joining a group that includes South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe. This will be Collegiate Legends’ last NIL activation this year.

In addition, Klubnik will be donating a portion of the proceeds to charity and make a special appearance to gift the toys to children in the community. He will also donate toys to Clemson Athletics for fan engagement and athlete programming.

“Cade is more than just a top-tier quarterback. He’s a leader, a role model, and exactly the kind of athlete who motivates the next generation,” said Holly Tanory, President of Collegiate Legends, in a statement to On3. “He’s the perfect choice to represent our first ACC partnership and to kick off what promises to be an unforgettable college football season.”

Klubnik is coming off a breakout season at Clemson in 2024, leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff. He threw for 3,649 yards and 36 touchdowns – an impressive bounce-back from an up-and-down 2023 season.

Cade Klubnik set for success on, off field in 2025

The Heisman Trophy buzz is already starting ahead of Cade Klubnik’s senior season, and he’s gaining traction as a projected first-round pick in the NFL Draft. He’s also one of the top names at quarterback in what’s shaping up to be a loaded draft class at the position.

At $3.4 million, Klubnik’s On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 7 in the college football NIL rankings. He also checks in at No. 8 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

After passing on an NFL Draft with question marks at quarterback, Klubnik will now look to get Clemson back to the College Football Playoff and maintain its spot atop the ACC. Speaking with On3’s Pete Nakos, he’s focusing on his development to eventually get to the next level.

“At the end of the day, quarterback is a developmental game, and your relationship with your offensive coordinator is probably the most important relationship in football,” Klubnik said. “So being able to just have more time and more games under my belt with him has been huge. I took a step between two years ago and last year, and I’m trying to take another step this year. That’s kind of my mentality. I played some of my best ball last year, but still not good enough in terms of where I want to be.”

Rahsul Faison just keeps waiting. When the Utah State transfer committed to South Carolina in January, the Gamecocks knew from the jump they needed to secure an NCAA eligibility waiver for Faison to get on the field this fall.

But nearly six months since he committed to South Carolina and submitted a waiver, Faison is still waiting for an answer from the NCAA.

“It’s frustrating, but I’ve just been focused on football more than the waiver,” he told On3 earlier this week on a FaceTime call. “Obviously, I’m hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I’ve just been grinding. Staying locked in. That’s all I really can do.”

Faison has patiently waited. He brought on NIL attorney Darren Heitner to help with the waiver for eligibility in early May. Faison’s camp has held off on filing a lawsuit to this point. The Utah State transfer graduated from high school in 2019 and enrolled at Marshall, but never played a snap for the Thundering Herd and later left the program. He enrolled in online classes at Lackawanna College in 2020, but did not play football.

And when he enrolled at Snow College in 2021, he didn’t get on the field until 2022 and transferred to Utah State for the 2023 season. His push for an extra year of eligibility comes following Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s courtroom win against the NCAA. Pavia initially filed a lawsuit last November against the NCAA, arguing that because the governing body counts junior college seasons towards NCAA eligibility and athletes cannot redshirt after they have played four years, NCAA rules violate antitrust law.

Pavia’s motion for a preliminary injunction was granted in the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee in December. The NCAA released guidance in March to its membership, issuing a blanket waiver to former junior college players. Faison has exhausted his five-year eligibility clock, despite only playing three seasons after high school. Heitner told On3 that Faison is “seeking a modification to the start of his five-year period of eligibility.”

Faison has been in the building nearly every day since arriving in Columbia this winter, training like he will be available for the 2025 season.

“I’m in the building every day, working out, grinding and sitting in meetings,” he said. “Treating it like I’m going to play this season.”

Faison rushed for 1,109 yards on 5.6 yards per attempt with eight touchdowns at Utah State in 2024. He also caught 22 passes for 99 yards. Faison emerged in the portal as an ideal candidate for South Carolina to take over for Rocket Sanders.

But with no indication on how the NCAA will rule, South Carolina has taken precautionary steps, recently picking up Colorado transfer running back Isaiah Augustave. South Carolina has four other scholarship running backs: Bradley Dunn, Jawarn Howell, Matthew Fuller and Oscar Adaway III.

“It makes me nervous, just because I’ve worked so hard to get to where I’m at today,” Faison said of the unknown. “If I get the waiver, it’s a life-changing opportunity. I’m not even talking financially, I’m just talking about me being able to play this season, which could change everything. It’s definitely stressful, especially coming from my background, I have a lot of my family members depending on me.”

Faison has taken contingency measures. The running back told On3 that he is also prepared to leave South Carolina and join a 90-man roster NFL training camp roster if necessary by entering his name in the NFL supplemental draft or becoming a UDFA by default. 

The supplemental draft, when it is held, is for players who were not eligible when the traditional April draft was held. It runs for seven rounds, and any team making a selection forfeits its pick from the corresponding round in the next year’s draft. The last player selected in the supplemental draft was Jalen Thompson by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round in 2019.

Sources have told On3 that Faison clocked a 4.4-second 40-yard dash this spring. He is currently viewed as a mid-round pick for the 2026 NFL draft, sources told On3. The running back held multiple collegiate all-star game invites before deciding to test the portal. If he cannot enter the supplemental draft, he will hold a private workout for NFL organizations. 

“I’m just training if I have to be on an NFL roster in a month, then I’m going to be ready,” Faison said. “If I’m playing college football, I’ll be ready. Just trying to stay in shape.”

South Carolina and Faison’s camp have repeatedly been told the NCAA is still gathering as much information as necessary to make a decision. The NCAA declined On3’s request for comment on the situation.

In an ideal world, Faison would get the green light from the NCAA and play for South Carolina this fall while boosting his NFL draft stock. He’s only actually played at the FBS level for two seasons. He told On3 that “everyone has been supportive and they 100% have my back” at South Carolina.

But Rahsul Faison is prepared to move on with his career and join an NFL training camp roster if necessary.

“It’s getting frustrating,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said in May. “The fact that [the NCAA has] had everything that they needed from us since January and we don’t have an answer is frankly disappointing. … We’ve given them everything they needed back in January. They asked for more. We gave them what they needed. They asked for more. We gave them what they needed. We’ve been in contact with other schools that he was to get stuff from them that [the NCAA] needed.”

NIL has affected everything in college sports since it began nearly four years ago in 2021. The pros have since felt those effects as well, specifically in their drafts, with how good some players have it in collegiate athletics now.

Jay Bilas explained the impact of name, image, and likeness on the NBA Draft going into tonight’s second round coverage while on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Thursday. He felt it had steadily decreased the value that teams can find in the second round with prospects who have remaining eligibility that could be selected in those spots, deciding to withdraw their names and return to college rather than be picked in the association.

“One thing you’re seeing with NIL now? Players are not only going to college. They’re staying in college longer,” Bilas said. “The second round is probably not – I haven’t like, you know, done this with a microscope. But the second round this year is probably not as good as the second round, like, two or three years ago because a lot of second-round picks are guys that would’ve come out two or three years ago, are staying in school because they’re going to make way more money staying in school.”

“If they’re not going to be first-round picks, they’re staying in (college),” Bilas said.

As many as 106 players, whether from college or international, entered their names to be early-entry candidates as part of this draft. Then, by the withdrawal deadline for college players on May 28th, 50 pulled their names out of this class.

Among the most notable on that list were Houston’s Milos Uzan, Duke’s Isaiah Evans, Florida’s Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, and Reuben Chinyelu, Kentucky’s Otega Oweh and Jaland Lowe, Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, Alabama’s Labaron Philon, Arkansas’ Karter Knox, and NC State’s Darrion Williams. Those are several players who will make the difference for potential national title contenders. The rest of the names still then include ones who will absolutely affect their respective programs as well in ’25-’26.

Several of those names could have been or would have been selected tonight in the second round, or maybe even last night in the first round for some. However, name, image, and likeness has made it a much different decision-making process considering what those players could make over a year back in college than their first as rookies in the NBA.

First round picks make several million dollars on guaranteed deals as rookies, but second-round picks aren’t on the same wage scale, meaning less guaranteed money for contracts closer to the minimum or ones for a two-way signing. That’s the same value or less than some of them would make back in college, based on the compensation at their respective programs.

There are still good players to be found by franchises in the second round, with that on display tonight as 29 more selections will be made. Still, as compared to previous drafts in years past, there may be less talent available this year and in ones moving forward, as a result of NIL.

Florida State released a statement to CBS Sports defending language in drafts of the school’s revenue-sharing contracts. The school addressed reporting from CBS Sports detailing controversial language, which concerned agents and rival GMs.

FSU pointed out that individual situations will be “unique” as the revenue-sharing era gets underway in college athletics. Under the newly approved House v. NCAA settlement — which will be implemented July 1 – schools will be able to directly share up to $20.5 million with athletes, and 75% is widely expected to go toward football.

“As we enter into a new age of collegiate athletics, Florida State has put together an agreement that provides deliverables and expectations for all parties,” Florida State’s statement to CBS Sports read. “Each individual situation will be unique and the hypotheticals are impossible to predict. However, we are committed to continuing to provide an elite experience for our student-athletes in all aspects of their collegiate career. Florida State is looking forward to the mutually beneficial partnerships with our student-athletes in this new era.”

In drafts viewed by CBS Sports, a clause said Florida State could unilaterally extend a player at the end of a contract without going through negotiations with them. Additionally, there’s a maximum $2,500 fine for the first offense is a player loses any team equipment, such as cleats, and the maximum fine for use of a controlled substance for the first time is $1,000.

The drafts also include a clause regarding breach of contract. It includes “illness or injury which is serious enough to affect the value of rights granted to the school,” CBS Sports reported. Florida State could either renegotiate or cancel a player’s deal at its discretion after any sort of injury, according to the way the clause is written. The language concerned rival general managers’ agents who spoke with CBS Sports.

“Some of the concepts are pretty standard,” an agent, who represents at least one player at Florida State, told CBS Sports. “But FSU is going about this far more aggressively than any school I’ve seen. I’m disappointed by the adversarial nature of these contracts.”

Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House v. NCAA settlement earlier this month, officially ushering in the revenue-sharing era in college sports. The cap is set at $20.5 million for the first year of the settlement, and that figure is expected to increase annually as part of the 10-year agreement.

While Florida State has not confirmed how it will distribute the rev-share funds, the Board of Regents paved the way for the university to do so. Many schools across the country are planning to share 75% of the funds with football, 15% with men’s basketball, 5% with women’s basketball and 5% with the remainder of the sports.

The Wisconsin Badgers recently launched a tampering lawsuit against the Miami Hurricanes. This is a first-of-its-kind legal action in college sports, which has the possibility of becoming the next major legal case to shake up college athletics.

The lawsuit is over the transfer of Xavier Lucas. A defensive back who stood out as a freshman in 2024 for Wisconsin, Lucas had been recruited by both schools out of high school and would eventually go to the Badgers. In December, he’d look to transfer and that’s when things got interesting.

Reporter Dan Wetzel recently appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast. There, he broke down the lawsuit.

“First off, I love it,” Dan Wetzel said. “We have one school suing the other. Wisconsin sues Miami in Dane County Circuit Court. They didn’t go federal on this. Dane County Circuit Court, which is the county of Madison. They’re going for the home game against the Hurricanes. Jury trial. Stack the odds. I think they play ‘Jump Around’ before the closing arguments in Dane County Circuit Court. So, I’m guessing there will be a venue complaint return from Miami that we do not have standing in Dane County.”

In December, it was reported that Lucas would be entering the Transfer Portal. However, a week or so later, Lucas publicly shared that the school wouldn’t officially enter his name, as typically happens when a player transfers. By January, he still wasn’t officially in the portal as a dispute erupted regarding whether he could speak to other schools. At the time, Miami was already regarded as a possible landing spot. Eventually, Lucas would find a workaround by withdrawing from Wisconsin and enrolling at Miami.

Wisconsin filed its lawsuit against Miami in June. In it, the school claimed that Miami was tampering with Lucas.

“I don’t know how serious this thing is. I read it, I actually think Wisconsin’s issue is probably with the player, not with Miami,” Wetzel said. “But, at issue here is Rule 13.1.1.3. — any athletic staff member or other representative of an institution’s athletics shall not communicate or make contact with the student-athlete of another NCAA Division I institution or any individual associated, blah, blah, blah. Based on the facts presented by Wisconsin, Miami certainly broke that rule. Now, that’s an NCAA rule. Is this really tortuous interference? I don’t know. What is an NIL contract worth? What is tampering? That’s really the issue.”

Tampering has become a massive topic of concern for coaches in recent years. NIL and the Transfer Portal have created massive roster movement, and that incentivizes teams to speak to players to get them to enter the portal, knowing the offer they’ll receive once they enter.

“This is where coaches are up in arms about tampering,” Wetzel said. “And I understand why they are up in arms about tampering. They would hate it, but without making the players employees, it’s very hard to do this. I really feel like even in the NFL, which we’ve not seen teams sue each other yet, they have strict tampering rules but it’s almost unenforceable. It’s, well, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay just happened to show up at the exact same vacation resort, and then Matthew said he wanted to go play for the Rams. Totally coincidental. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t. How do you do this?”

Notably, the attorney for Lucas has denied that he met with Miami representatives before intending to transfer. That attorney, Darren Heitner, has also threatened an antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin.

“Now, Miami is accused of having a sit-down meeting with a coach and a booster. That is against 13.1.1.3. in my judicial opinion,” Wetzel said. “But does that really merit a lawsuit and what is the monetary damages? What are we trying to get out of it? You can’t make a kid go to school somewhere. So, I think there’s a lot of issues here with the tampering.”

The lawsuit has been widely described as “unprecedented.” How it ends up working out remains to be seen, but depending on its result, how players move from schools could once again be shaken up.

As the implementation of revenue share in college athletics creeps ever closer, programs are beginning to reveal which sports will be part of the system. On Monday, North Carolina announced its position.

The Tar Heels will provide revenue share for four sports: football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball. That is in line with what many other schools are doing, though it can vary greatly from school to school.

North Carolina didn’t specify its exact revenue share cut for each program, but it did note that “the majority of those funds will be paid to student-athletes in our two revenue-generating sports, football and men’s basketball.” Some programs have revealed percentage cuts, others have not.

In addition, North Carolina will be increasing its scholarship allotment from 338 to 532, a massive jump. That shows the commitment level the Tar Heels have to athletics.

“This is a significant evolution that will change our department’s financial model while providing greater financial opportunities for Tar Heel student-athletes,” athletics director Bubba Cunningham said. “At Carolina, we have been preparing for these changes for more than a year. We are fully committed to adapting to this new era and continuing to create outstanding championship experiences for our student-athletes across our 28-sport, broad-based program.”

The new changes from the House settlement, which include revenue share, will require a lot from the program. The Tar Heels expect a jump in the budget of about $30 million, up from about $150 million in 2024-25.

To that end, the program has hired a Chief Revenue Officer to help find new monetization opportunities. Among them, UNC lists naming rights, field sponsorships and jersey patches.

So what are other programs doing with revenue share? Well, a few have already announced plans.

Speaking at a Board of Regents meeting in mid-June, Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione said that six sports will be a part of the program’s revenue share: football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball and women’s gymnastics.

Meanwhile, according to Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row, Ohio State athletics director Ross Bjork said that the Buckeyes will use revenue share for four sports. Those sports will be football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, with hopes to expand to other sports down the road.

On Monday, CBS Sports and the Pac-12 announced an extension of their partnership through the 2030-31 season. The extension will help usher in a new era of the Pac-12.

“Our goal with this process was to find transformational partnerships for the new Pac-12, and throughout our discussions and time together it became more and more clear that a partnership with CBS Sports would be just that,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said. “I am thankful to the team at CBS Sports for seeing our vision and investing in our shared future as we build, launch and realize a new Pac-12 together.”

On July 1, 2026, the Pac-12 will welcome the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State and Gonzaga. With its pre-existing members, Washington State and Oregon State, the conference will officially have eight members next year.

This move came after the conference disintegrated last year, with its members joining either the ACC, Big 12 or Big Ten. Pac-12 games will air on Paramount+, along with CBS.
 
“As the new Pac-12’s primary media partner, CBS Sports’ top-tier coverage will showcase the best of the conference’s football and men’s basketball games annually across our platforms, including the championship game for both sports,” said Dan Weinberg, executive vice president, programming, CBS Sports. “Extending this partnership strengthens our multiplatform college football and basketball schedule and, at a pivotal moment for the new Pac-12, allows us to collaborate, grow the conference and expand its reach.”

The conference’s current and incoming members were both responsible in the decision to sign an extension with CBS. For some of the key details in the conference’s latest deal, look below.

• Annual football championship game on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+.
• Annual men’s basketball tournament championship game on CBS and Paramount+.
• A minimum of three regular season football games on CBS and Paramount+ each season.
• A minimum of three regular season men’s basketball games on CBS and Paramount+ each season.
• Football and men’s basketball games throughout the regular season on CBS Sports Network, with details to be announced at a later date.

Per the Pac-12’s release, the conference will announce other media rights deals after it finalizes the agreements. For a league that looked all but gone only a year ago, the conference suddenly seems to have a bright future ahead.

Jake Brown used his love for Crocs combined with a run to the College World Series for LSU to land a sweet NIL deal. The Tigers star revealed to Hurrdat Sports that the shoe company reached out to him following his pitch in an earlier interview.

Brown explained that the entire team received some Crocs as a result of the deal. That left them showing up in style to Game 1 of the CWS final against Coastal Carolina.

“They reached out and they said, ‘Hey, we’re looking forward to sending you a little bit of stuff. Just send us your address,'” he said. “So I did that and then they messaged back right away saying, ‘We actually want to hook up all the guys. We can overnight ship them to the hotel.’ I was like, ‘Absolutely. Yes. Please do that.’ So I’m glad it was able to work out.”

Our NIL pitch with Jake Brown and Crocs worked! 🤣@Crocs overnight shipped pairs for the whole team. pic.twitter.com/l27J29Hzgy

— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) June 22, 2025

Our NIL pitch with Jake Brown and Crocs worked! 🤣@Crocs overnight shipped pairs for the whole team. pic.twitter.com/l27J29Hzgy

LSU would go on to win 1-0 behind an incredible performance from pitcher Kade Anderson. He pitched a full game shutout and allowed only three hits while striking out 10 batters across nine innings.

The Tigers now move on to play Coastal Carolina again on Sunday with a chance to claim the national championship with a win. Perhaps the Crocs can give them even more confidence, as Anderson revealed his teammates were pretty excited about it when they found out.

“I didn’t think they thought it was going to happen,” he said. “I sent it in the group chat, ‘Everyone send me your Croc size.’ Then in about five minutes, the group chat just, boom, boom, boom. It was blowing up.”

How the Jake Brown, Crocs story began

It all ties back to the standout from the Tigers baseball team being an avid wearer of the popular shoes, Crocs. He’s been using some of his extra NIL cash to decorate his current pairs and revealed that he’d be interested in a collaboration if the brand was willing to work with him.

“I have some Crocs slides that I’ve decorated with Star Wars Jibbitz,” Brown said. “So, I have a Star Wars pair of Crocs, and I have Pizza Planet-Toy Story crocs that I bought with some per diem money thanks to Champ Artigues, our baseball ops guy. Thank you so much, Champ, and great purchase. I love my Crocs.

“And if they’re watching this, just shoot me a message on Instagram, or however else you can contact me, I’d love it.”

Brown pitched his very own LSU, or Louisiana-themed, pair of Crocs as well. He already had some ideas for the Jibbitz, which are the decorative accessories that can be attached to the holes designed into the Crocs.

“I don’t know, like some gators. Some alligators, something. A pelican, maybe a tiger, anything that we could do,” Brown said. “That would be super sweet.”

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. While not mentioned in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A,” the complaint centers around defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami this winter.

Lucas never actually entered the transfer portal. A standout freshman cornerback in 2024 for the Badgers, Lucas posted 18 tackles and an interception in seven games. Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January, circumventing the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Wisconsin is seeking financial damages and a judgment that Miami’s actions “wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.” Lucas’ attorney, Darren Heitner, said in the winter that Wisconsin violated NCAA rules by refusing to place Lucas in the transfer portal.

In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges that a Miami staff member and alumnus met Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida in December 2024 after the defensive back signed a two-year, revenue-sharing deal with Wisconsin. That included a “compensation commitment” from Miami that was “more lucrative” than Wisconsin’s deal.

“Miami representatives communicated with Student-Athlete A and his family members, including an in-person December 2024 visit from a Miami coach and a prominent Miami alumnus to the Florida home of a relative of Student-Athlete A,” Wisconsin’s complaint states. “The information related to the in-home visit was communicated to UW-Madison by a relative of Student-Athlete A on December 18, 2024.”

Heitner denied the allegations, telling On3 on Saturday that Lucas never met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024. Heitner previously threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin if Lucas was not able to play at Miami.

“Wisconsin’s allegations that my client, Xavier Lucas, met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024 are false,” Lucas’ attorney Darren Heitner told On3.

Heitner is an adjunct professor of NIL at the University of Miami School of Law.

In the lawsuit, Wisconsin alleges that Miami communicated with Lucas, “knowingly inducing” him to do so despite being under contract with the Badgers. Wisconsin wrote in the filing that it hopes the lawsuit “will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.”

The University of Miami has yet to respond to a request for comment. The Big Ten is supporting Wisconsin, telling On3 in a statement that “The University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”

It’s an unprecedented moment in college football, with one university accusing another of tampering and it will put the NCAA transfer portal rules to the test.

“These are the type of tampering allegations that are typically fought behind closed doors at the professional sports level based on the leagues’ collective bargaining agreement,” sports lawyer and professor Dan Lust told On3 on Friday. “Here, in the absence of any type of similar mechanism at the collegiate level, this dispute is going to be fought in open court for the world to see the complex interplay of forces in and around the transfer portal. This is truly an unprecedented case and one that commands the attention of the college sports world.”

In an unprecedented moment in college football, the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. Filed Friday in a Wisconsin state circuit court, the Badgers allege that Miami poached freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas, who had signed a revenue-sharing contract with Wisconsin.

It is uncharted waters in college football. In the 23-page suit, Wisconsin is seeking financial damages and a judgment that Miami’s actions “wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.” Beyond that, however, Wisconsin is enforcing its contract with Lucas. The defensive back’s attorney, Darren Heitner, told On3 on Friday that Lucas was never compensated through the deal by Wisconsin.

Lucas is not named in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A.” But Lucas publicly left Wisconsin for Miami this winter without ever entering the transfer portal. Heitner previously alleged Wisconsin of violating NCAA rules by not putting Lucas into the transfer portal after multiple requests. In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges that a Miami staff member and alumnus met Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida.

“Accordingly, at the conclusion of the 2024 season, UW-Madison and VC Connect offered, negotiated, and executed separate NIL contracts with Student-Athlete A, under which he would receive one of the most lucrative NIL financial commitments of any UW-Madison football player,” the complaint states. “Within days of contract execution, however, Miami knowingly induced Student-Athlete A to abandon his contractual commitments to Plaintiffs. As a result of Miami’s actions, Student-Athlete A abruptly left UW-Madison’s football program and enrolled at Miami, causing Plaintiffs to suffer substantial pecuniary and reputational harm.

“Miami’s actions are in direct contravention of not only the NCAA’s established anti-tampering rules—rules designed to maintain the integrity of the transfer process and ensure fair competition among member institutions—but also established contract and tort law.”

In another unprecedented situation, the Big Ten has publicly voiced its backing of Wisconsin for filing the suit, telling On3 in a statement that, “The University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.” Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment from On3.

The suit will also put the NCAA transfer rules to the test. In recent years, the college football transfer portal has come under fire from coaches due to the ease with which athletes can hit free agency. Athletes have turned the portal into a payday, too, leveraging schools against each other for the highest contract offer.

But with the House v. NCAA settlement set to officially begin on July 1, revenue-sharing contracts have been drawn up by most of the Power Four in the last six months. Tampering has become prominent in the portal, but there has been minimal enforcement from the NCAA, which has been handicapped by lawsuits.

How a judge decides to rule on this lawsuit could define how the transfer portal is enforced and how revenue-sharing contracts will hold up in the courtroom. It could also prove to be a precedent-setting move if NIL contracts can keep athletes from transferring.

College athletes are currently not classified as employees and do not have collective bargaining power.

“These are the type of tampering allegations that are typically fought behind closed doors at the professional sports level based on the leagues’ collective bargaining agreement,” sports lawyer and professor Dan Lust told On3. “Here, in the absence of any type of similar mechanism at the collegiate level, this dispute is going to be fought in open court for the world to see the complex interplay of forces in and around the transfer portal. This is truly an unprecedented case and one that commands the attention of the college sports world.”

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective have filed a tampering lawsuit against the University of Miami, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported. It has to do with the Hurricanes allegedly poaching defensive back Xavier Lucas from the Badgers.

Dellenger called it a “landmark moment” for the sport: “The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint in state circuit court on Friday against the University of Miami over tortious interference, according to documents obtained by Yahoo Sports,” he reported.

“In a first-of-its-kind and, perhaps, a precedent-setting move, Wisconsin is seeking unspecified damages, transparency and accountability from Miami for interfering with a binding revenue-share contract between Wisconsin and Xavier Lucas, a former defensive back who left the program in January to compete at Miami. It was a groundbreaking decision in which Lucas transferred without entering the portal (it had already closed) and after signing the contract with the Badgers.”

Back in January, Wisconsin released a statement on the matter, where they accused Miami of tampering, citing “credible information” and threatened to pursue legal action as a result of the situation. As you can see, they’ve taken that step.

“The lawsuit details what transpired in the winter among the three parties: Wisconsin, Miami and Lucas,” Dellenger added. “UW claims that Miami communicated with Lucas despite knowing he had entered a contract with the school, something it terms as ‘intentional’ interference that ‘was not justified or privileged’ and caused Lucas to ‘breach’ his contract.”

Additionally, the suit alleged that “Miami interfered with UW-Madison’s relationship with Student-Athlete A (Lucas) by making impermissible contact with him and engaging in tampering,” per Dellenger.

It’s been reported that Wisconsin and Lucas agreed to a two-year revenue-share agreement that was set to begin July 1, Dellenger noted. That’s why Wisconsin refused to enter Lucas’ name into the portal when he requested a transfer, but he found a way around it, withdrawing from classes and enrolling academically at Miami in January

Whatever comes next is bound to set a precedent for college sports moving forward. Tampering has become a hot-button word since the advent of the transfer portal and NIL, but this is certainly a first-of-its-kind lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten Conference has been supportive of Wisconsin from the beginning, and their behind the Badgers and their suit against Miami: “We stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,” their statement read, via Dellenger

“In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community.”

Alas, Lucas played high school football at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 331 overall player from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Xavier Lucas totaled 18 tackles as a freshman at Wisconsin this past season. The defensive back also added two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. We’ll see what he has in store for the future, but he’s certainly become an interesting case at the moment in the sport of college football as a whole.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.

With this colossal change in the college sports landscape affecting everyone from the top down, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was asked by 105.5 WNSP Friday morning about what this case will do to non-revenue sports. Specifically, Byrne was asked if Alabama would have to discontinue some of those programs at the university.

“We’re gonna try everything we can to have that not be the case,” Byrne said, per Mike Rodak. “We have one team that makes a healthy profit in football. We have one that turns a profit in men’s basketball. However, we have 19 that don’t. Football has been the sport that has historically supported the department, and the investments we’ve made in the young men in our football program I’m very proud of, both from a revenue-sharing standpoint but also what we do holistically with the young men.”

“As far as how many sports we have, it’s a hard model. There’s no doubt about it. But at the same time, too, I believe in the model and I think it’s something worth investing in and we continue to plan to do so here at the University of Alabama.”

Byrne gets into the weeds to discuss Alabama’s plan

Earlier this week, Byrne explained Alabama‘s plan for dividing revenue sharing in the near future. Along with football and men’s basketball, the university supports varsity teams in women’s basketball, baseball, women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country, swimming and diving and track and field.

That’s not all, though. Alabama also supports club sports in crew, cricket, cycling, disc golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, rugby, soccer, team handball, tennis, Ultimate, wheelchair basketball, water polo, water skiing and wrestling.

“The House settlement gives us a number, $20.5 million, we’re gonna get in the weeds here a little bit. Every SEC school program has committed to $2.5 million in new scholarships. That gets taken off the 20.5. So that means we have $18 million to work with in rev share, and we as an institution decide how we will distribute that to our teams,” Byrne said.

“We have taken the approach that it’s based off of revenue generation. We think that’s a solid approach and that its one that makes sense for our program. As you’ve heard me say many times, football is the engine that pulls the train. At the same time too, our two sports that turn a profit are football and men’s basketball.

Byrne believes the Crimson Tide are in a good spot

“So they will have the highest percentage of that rev share and then we’re splitting up the remaining dollars with our sports who are ticketed,” Byrne continued. “We have four sports who are ticketed – softball, baseball, gymnastics and women’s basketball. Those are the six sports that will have some type of rev share.”

“I’ve heard all over the yard how schools are doing it, and how many sports. I know one we compete against all the time is only doing three sports. I know that some schools are doing a little bit for everything. I’m not sure how much of a difference that will make at the end of the day when you just carve off a small sliver for a sport, but we have a plan. I’ve told our coaches it’s fluid. We’re doing the best we can to make decisions we are with the information that we have right now.

“I do think we’ve put ourselves in a good position, not only for the individual sports but for the department as a whole to make sure we’re staying healthy long term.”

On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, Missouri spent $31.7 million on NIL, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Eli Hoff reported. That figure includes a hefty sum last month, per financial documents and invoices from the Mizzou-focused NIL collective, Every True Tiger.

In 2024, Missouri spent nearly two-thirds of those dollars on football and 25% on men’s basketball, according to the Post-Dispatch, while the rest was split among the rest of the athletics programs. All told, the Tigers spent $12.4 million in 2024, and that number increased to $25 million so far this year.

Of that $25 million, nearly $10.3 million came this month, just before the House v. NCAA settlement takes effect. The idea of “front-loading” NIL deals became a topic of conversation as the agreement awaited final approval, ushering in the revenue-sharing era and creating a clearinghouse to vet deals.

Under the House settlement, schools will be able to share up to $20.5 million directly with athletes. Additionally, the NIL Go clearinghouse is in place, vetting deals worth more than $600. Run by Deloitte, it is meant to help determine fair market value, per settlement terms.

Deals struck prior to June 6 – the date Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement – and paid out before July 1 will be vetted by the clearinghouse. According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, more than 130 deals were submitted as of Wednesday night.

Every True Tiger was named one of On3’s Top 15 NIL collectives in the country last year, and the state’s law plays a big part in the relationship with the school. Missouri’s law allows an NIL collective to receive institutional funds for distribution to athletes, meaning every True Tiger shifted from operating as a donor-driven collective to a marketing agency. According to the Post-Dispatch, funds listed on the invoices are dubbed “talent fees.”

“Because of the leniency with the state law, the school and NIL collective have been aggressive,” a fellow SEC NIL collective leader told On3’s Pete Nakos of Mizzou and Every True Tiger.

Missouri football received the bulk of the NIL funds last year, securing slightly less than $8 million in 2024, according to the Post-Dispatch. The Tigers put together an impressive season, finishing 10-3 overall and winning the Music City Bowl against Iowa. It marked the second straight 10-win season for Eli Drinkwitz and Mizzou after going 11-2 in 2023, capped by a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State.

In an era of player movement, NIL dollars have flown once the transfer portal opens. That led to accusations of tampering, and John Calipari spoke candidly about the landscape.

Calipari specifically pointed out players’ ability to transfer each year. While he said he understands one or two transfers, he sees players leaving schools more than that – which has an impact both on the court and in the classroom.

If players were only able to transfer one or two times, Calipari argued, the NIL market could settle down as a result. While he noted legal concerns with implementing such rules, the Arkansas coach thinks those cases would be winnable.

“They should be able to go once, maybe twice, without penalty because the coach lied,” Calipari said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. “Told them you’re shooting every ball, I’m gonna play you this way, and he didn’t tell them the truth. Then, they should be able to leave. But four times, that means the first sign of trouble, I’m out. … If you’re a parent, wouldn’t you tell your son, you’re fighting this out? No, you’re staying, you’re going to do it.

“Now, I understand once or twice without penalty. But after that, don’t tell me, ‘Well, we’d get sued.’ A kid transferring four times – one, it’s not good for him. Two, he has no chance academically to do anything. And I think we’re still academic institutions. Take it to court. You can win that.”

Calipari also pointed out recent comments made by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. He told Bussin’ with the Boys he could’ve had an NIL offer of more than $4 million if he opted to enter the portal for his final year of eligibility, which came after a judge’s order paved the way.

Because Pavia never entered the portal, John Calipari noted the tampering that took place. That, he said, is more of an issue than the influx of NIL money.

“But if we get that in order, I think the NIL stuff would be fine because right now, you’ve got the quarterback from Vanderbilt … that’s tampering,” Calipari said. “Put your name in the portal, $4.5 million. We have to get away from that more than the NIL.”

The NIL landscape is preparing for a big shift, though. Earlier this month, the landmark House v. NCAA settlement received final approval, meaning the NIL Go clearinghouse is going into effect. Deals worth more than $600 will be vetted by the service, managed by Deloitte, and the goal is to help determine fair market value.