The CFP Handed ESPN the Real Decision
The Big Ten wants 24 teams, the SEC wants 16 -- and both conferences just agreed ESPN gets first crack at negotiating whichever number they eventually land on.
college
37 articles
Georgia Won by 60. Then Sent You a Bill.
Georgia beat Tennessee State 63-3, then put its own highlight reel behind a $20-a-month NIL paywall. ESPN's free version already has 500,000 views.
LSU's Ex-NFL Players Just Beat the SEC in Court
A Louisiana judge just enjoined the SEC and NCAA from punishing LSU for rostering ex-NFL players, and the SEC responded by suing LSU right back.
The NCAA Just Lost Its Second Eligibility Fight in a Month
A Louisiana judge just let NFL roster cuts sue their way back to college football. It's the second court to gut NCAA eligibility rules this month.
TCU's Excuse for a Brain Bleed Was 'Reps'
Jacob Fields put TCU teammate Dozie Ezukanma in the hospital with a brain bleed, then texted him why: he did not like how he had been playing in practice.
Bill Belichick Is Now UNC's Only Backup Plan
Steve Belichick's leave has no end date. Michael Lombardi's investigation has no end date. Bill Belichick calling the defense himself doesn't fix that.
Todd Golden's Deal Has a Price Tag for Staying, Not Winning
Florida pays Todd Golden $8.25M a year, but the longevity bonus and jet clause in his contract extension reveal what the money is really buying.
The SEC Is Punishing Mark Mitchell for a Rule He Couldn't Follow
Mark Mitchell won his eligibility in court and committed to Kentucky a day later. The SEC says he should've filed for eligibility he legally didn't have yet.
Danny White Just Said the Quiet Part About the NCAA
Arion Carter missed a game over a $427 flight reimbursement. The same NCAA offseason found room for NFL veterans to walk back onto college rosters.
Four Words Are All Texas Owes Ty'Anthony Smith
Texas dismissed linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith two weeks before kickoff with four words of explanation. Here's what conduct detrimental is covering for.
The NCAA's Five-for-Five Rule Is Now Its Biggest Problem
A Colorado judge used the NCAA's own eligibility rule to grant a fifth season to a class it tried to exclude. The appeal won't fix the roster mess.
Jayden Daniels Wants to Own a Number He Left Behind
Jayden Daniels lawyered up over a number LSU never retired. The real fight is over what NIL money can't buy him back: a jersey he already left behind.
Texas Tech Won Too Much and Now It's Lonely
Texas Tech spent $28 million, won the Big 12, and made the Playoff. Now Texas A&M, USC, NC State and Mississippi State won't return its calls.
Heupel Is Right: This NCAA Ruling Is Bullshit
The NCAA suspended Tennessee's Arion Carter two games over a $427 flight he already repaid. Josh Heupel called it bullshit at a press conference. He's right.
UNC's Defense Has No Boss Three Weeks From Ireland
UNC's defensive coordinator is on indefinite medical leave three weeks before Ireland, and Bill Belichick says the staff will coach the defense collectively.
Boston College Let a Rookie Coach End Two Careers
Boston College fired two broadcasters with 22 years on the job over Luke Murray's "losing mentality" complaint. The AD's statement doesn't actually deny it.
Lombardi Had to Hire a Lawyer to Ask UNC a Question
Michael Lombardi hired attorney Tom Mars just to ask UNC what he's being investigated for. Belichick still won't say either. The silence is the point.
Auburn Just Made One Game a $6 Million Product
Auburn is paying up to 24 players roughly $6 million just to show up in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game vs. Baylor, and it isn't the scandal it sounds like.
UNC Gagged the Whole Program. Belichick Still Slipped.
UNC placed GM Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave and gagged the entire program from discussing it. Belichick still found a way to say something.
Illinois Put a Bank Logo on the Softball Jerseys Too
Illinois just signed a five-year, $30 million jersey patch deal with Busey Bank, and it covers nine sports, softball and golf included, not just football.
Michigan Pays Warde Manuel $7.1M to Walk Away Quietly
Michigan spent $12 million investigating its athletic department, then paid Warde Manuel $7.1M-plus to resign quietly with a two-year non-compete.
The NCAA Punished an Addict. A Judge Said No.
The NCAA stripped Brendan Sorsby's eligibility after he sought treatment for a gambling addiction. A Lubbock judge overruled them. This is who the NCAA is.
Jordon Hudson's FOIA Game Is Working
Everyone's calling Jordon Hudson's FOIA crusade against UNC a circus. But she's using the exact accountability tool designed for this. Uncomfortable? Good.
The NIL System Broke a Teenager. Nobody Cares.
Tennessee paid $2 million in NIL money for Chaz Coleman, who was medically disqualified before playing a single snap. The system that did this will do it again.
Alabama, Florida and Clemson Don't Know Who Starts at QB
Alabama, Florida, and Clemson enter fall camp without a named starting quarterback. This is not a football problem. It is a $150 million institutional failure.
Dusty May Left Because Coaching Stopped Feeling Like Coaching
Dusty May won a national title at Michigan and left for the NBA two months later. His words about why are the most honest diagnosis of college basketball yet.
Dusty May Just Told College What It Can't Fix
Dusty May won a national championship with Michigan in April and was the Dallas Mavericks' head coach two months later. He won't be the last to make this jump.
NIL Clearinghouse Blocked $90M. That's the Point.
The NIL Clearinghouse rejected $90 million in athlete deals and its CEO called it a success. That's not a malfunction. That's what it was built to do.
Dante Moore Passed on $52M. That Should Scare the NFL.
Dante Moore passed on roughly $52 million guaranteed to return to Oregon. The NIL era made this a rational choice — and that should terrify every NFL front office.
Mensah's Rolex Is the Photo the NCAA Didn't Want You to See
Darian Mensah posed with a Rolex and the NCAA acted scandalized. They built this machine. They just hate who it's running for now. The photo is the story.
Same $10M. Mensah Left. Smith Stayed.
Darian Mensah took $10M and left Duke for Miami. Jeremiah Smith turned down $10M and stayed at Ohio State. Same week, opposite answers. The NCAA is cooked.
The NIL Contract Duke Couldn't Enforce
Duke paid millions for Mensah's NIL deal and still lost him. The lawsuit that couldn't stick reveals a legal crisis college football isn't built to solve.
Henri Veesaar Turned Down $5M to Stay in School. The Draft Sent Him to Pick 52.
Henri Veesaar turned down $5M in NIL money to chase a first-round pick. He landed at No. 52. The math — and what it means for college basketball.
Congress Just Killed the Transfer Portal
The Protect College Sports Act passed committee 19-9. One free transfer. NCAA antitrust immunity. Congress found the one lever athletes had and pulled it out.
The Brendan Sorsby Saga Is Over. Nobody Got What They Wanted.
Brendan Sorsby bet $90K on his own team, the Big 12 sued Texas Tech, the AG threatened $200M in antitrust liability — and the QB left for the NFL draft.
The Power Conferences Broke College Sports. Now They're Blocking the Fix.
The Protect College Sports Act passed committee 19-9 and the SEC and Big Ten are already working to kill it. Ty Baskin on why that tells you everything.
The SEC Is Making Athletes Watch an Anti-Gambling Video. Their Broadcast Partner Runs Betting Ads Every 4 Minutes.
The SEC mandated gambling education for athletes ahead of 2026-27. Meanwhile, $12 billion was wagered on SEC games and ESPN runs betting ads every 4 minutes during broadcasts.