Report: NIL antitrust case vs. NCAA may be settled in near future
The plaintiffs in the case, House vs. NCAA, have accused the NCAA and its power conferences of breaking federal law by limiting how athletes can benefit from selling their name, image or likeness.
If the case were to go to trial - set for January 2025 -- and the plaintiffs win, the NCAA and its schools could have to shell out more than $4 billion in damages.
NCAA president Charlie Baker, NCAA lawyers, the plaintiffs' attorneys have been meeting with the power conference commissioners and their general counsels in the Dallas area, with talks ramping up of late, per the report.
Per the report, more information regarding a possible settlement is expected to be released soon, though no deal is close to completion. The settlement - which could cost the NCAA billions in back pay for former athletes -- could be the foundation for the NCAA sharing revenue with athletes in the future.
Although it has not been settled, the top-end revenue share amount per school would be around $20 million every year.
Another issue the NCAA faces is college athletes aiming to be viewed as employees and allowing them to unionize, with the National Labor Relations Board reviewing a pair of cases.
While NCAA leaders are against athletes becoming employees, Baker has looked into methods to provide more revenue to athletes at some schools. In December, he proposed a subdivision of the richest programs to pay $30,000 per year to half their athletes or more.
The NCAA wants Congress to enact a clause specifying that college athletes aren't employees, but there hasn't been much progress on that front. A multi-billion settlement toward revenue sharing with athletes may lead Congress to help govern college sports.
Reports: Colorado RB Dylan Edwards transferring to Kansas State
Edwards posted a photo of himself wearing a Kansas State uniform on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The Derby, Kan., native had committed in high school to Kansas State and Notre Dame before signing with Colorado.
He was the Buffaloes' leading rusher with 76 carries for 321 yards and one touchdown, and fourth-leading receiver with 36 catches for 299 yards and four TDs.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder made a big debut, rushing for one touchdown and catching three more in the Buffaloes' 45-42 upset of then-No. 17 TCU in the season opener. He was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
He started the first four games and two others in playing in all 12 games for the Buffaloes (4-8).
Ex-Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez chooses Miami
Martinez was one of the top running backs available in the transfer portal.
"It's on! 305 it's that time," Martinez said on social media with a reference to Miami's area code.
Martinez earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for a 6.1 average per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games with a high of 146 against Stanford.
In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez has 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.
Last season was Oregon State's final one in the Pac-12. Coach Jonathan Smith departed for the same job at Michigan State.
QB Jaden Rashada transferring to Georgia
He announced his transfer Thursday on Instagram with a photo of himself in a Georgia uniform and the message, "Compete with the BEST."
Rashada, from Pittsburg, Calif., will have four years of eligibility remaining. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2023 class.
He initially was set to enroll at Florida in 2023 but when his $13 million name, image and likeness deal with the school's collective went awry, he landed at Arizona State. His father, Harlen, played for the Sun Devils from 1992-94.
The younger Rashada announced plans to transfer last week.
As a freshman, he appeared in three games, passing for 485 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He missed spring practice at Arizona State because of thumb surgery.
At Georgia, Rashada will join a quarterback room that includes incumbent starter Carson Beck, who led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 finish in 2023, and Gunner Stockton, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 7 QB in the 2022 class.
Report: Trophy Trust to return 2005 Heisman to Reggie Bush
Bush won the 2005 Heisman Trophy in his final season at Southern California, where he amassed 3,169 rushing yards, gained 1,301 receiving yards and returned kickoffs and punts for a combined 2,081 yards. He totaled 42 touchdowns and also threw a 52-yard touchdown pass.
According to ESPN, the physical trophy is being returned to Bush by the trust and a replica will be returned to USC.
"Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm honored to return to the Heisman family," Bush said in a statement to ESPN. "I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization."
In 2005, Bush was named first-team All-American and the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.
But he was stripped of his Heisman and his stats in 2010 after a four-year investigation by the NCAA showed that Bush and his family took improper financial benefits, including cash and paid-for housing.
When name, image and likeness legislation was enacted in 2021, Bush asked the NCAA to reinstate his status. The Heisman Trust said at the time it would consider giving back his trophy if the NCAA agreed to reinstate him, but the organization declined.
In part due to a 2021 Supreme Court decision that questions the legality of the amateurism model, the Heisman Trust said it was forced to reconsider "reinstating" the 2005 award and welcoming Bush back to the annual award ceremony. Fellow Heisman winners, most recently former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown, said they would skip future ceremonies unless Bush got his trophy back.
"We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments," said Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, in a statement to ESPN. "We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back."
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun signs extension through 2029
"Thank you to General Richard Clark, (athletic director) Nathan Pine, and AFAAC for the Academy's sturdy commitment and support to help our football program build leaders of character for our country," Calhoun said in a statement on Tuesday. "Amanda and I are incredibly grateful for the tremendous people -- coaches, players, administration, faculty, the Foundation, staff, cadet wing, and their families -- that we are blessed to be alongside each day. Bolt Brotherhood!"
Calhoun is 130-82 as a head coach with 13 bowl game appearances at Air Force, where his record over the past four full seasons is 40-12.
Air Force has claimed the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy five times under Calhoun, who has eight seasons with nine or more wins.
"Coach Calhoun has had an outstanding career at Air Force over the last 17 years," Pine said. "He understands and embraces the mission of the Academy and leads our program accordingly. I am proud of the success we have enjoyed together over the last five seasons and look forward to continuing to build on that in the new College Football Playoff model. We are pleased to have Coach Calhoun continue leading our football program for the next six years and beyond."
Former Miami RB Henry Parrish Jr. returns to Ole Miss
Parrish entered the transfer portal last Tuesday, the first day of the spring transfer window, and announced his decision to join the Rebels on social media Monday.
Parrish gained 625 yards on the ground and scored six touchdowns for the Hurricanes in 2023. Across four seasons with Ole Miss (2020-21) and Miami (2022-23), Parrish amassed 2,057 rushing yards, 56 receptions for 384 yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing).
He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Coach Lane Kiffin adds Parrish to the mix of potential running backs to replace starter Quinshon Judkins, who went to Ohio State via the transfer portal. The Rebels' second-leading rusher last season, Ulysses Bentley IV, returns after posting 540 yards rushing and five rushing and receiving touchdowns, and the team also added transfers Jacory Croskey-Merritt from New Mexico and Logan Diggs from LSU.
FBS approves two-minute warning, helmet radios
According to new rules announced by the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel, in FBS games, teams will be given the option to use coach-to-player communications through a device in the helmet of one player.
Similar to the NFL, that player will be identified by a green sticker on the helmet, and communications will be cut off either when the ball is snapped or with 15 seconds left on the play clock, whichever comes first.
Additionally, the NCAA will implement a system like the NFL employing automatic timeouts with two minutes left in the second and fourth quarters. These will not be additional television timeouts.
Teams in all divisions will also have the option of reviewing in-game video on up to 18 active digital tablets in the coaching booth, on the sideline and in the locker room.
These proposals were approved Thursday after being introduced March 1, and will take effect for the 2024 season.
Arizona State receives probation for NCAA violations
In addition, four unnamed former university employees received show-cause penalties from 3-10 years in duration. The Sun Devils also had to vacate games in which ineligible players competed, saw scholarships reduced and received recruiting restrictions.
Arizona State, which self-imposed a postseason ban in 2023, remains eligible for bowl games following the 2024 regular season, its first in the Big 12.
Jason Leonard, the executive director of athletics compliance at Oklahoma and chief hearing officer for the NCAA committee on infractions panel, noted Arizona State's cooperation.
"The school's acceptance of responsibility and decision to self-impose meaningful core penalties is a model for all schools to follow and is consistent with the expectations of the NCAA's infractions program," Leonard said in a statement.
The trouble came to pass three years ago when Arizona State reportedly committed violations associated with the recruiting restrictions instituted during the COVID-19 "dead period."
The NCAA stated that Edwards, fired after three games in 2022, committed a "responsibility violation" and that ASU allowed "recruiting inducements, impermissible tryouts" and was found to have committed tampering.
"The COVID dead period rules were created not only for the sake of competitive equity but for the safety and well-being of prospective and enrolled student-athletes and their families," Arizona State president Michael Crow said. "ASU is disappointed and embarrassed by the actions of certain former football staff members who took advantage of a global pandemic to hide their behavior."
There were no further details provided as to the former employees' punishment.
One of those former employees is the school's defensive coordinator at the time, Antonio Pierce, who is now the head coach of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
Two of the four former employees are contesting their cases, the NCAA said, and a decision remains pending until those appeals are heard.
FedEx, Memphis enter $25M NIL partnership
The shipping giant, which launched its operations in Memphis in 1973, has annual revenues of $88 billion.
As part of the initiative, Memphis athletes receiving NIL funding will participate in FedEx initiatives via social media and in person around the city. The company supports events that include the FedEx/St. Jude Championships, the Southern Heritage Classic and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, all in Memphis.
"We evaluated the evolving NIL landscape, exploring how we can best deliver positive impact to student-athletes and connect them to meaningful opportunities for both themselves and the community and made the decision to reallocate marketing funds to an NIL platform," said Brian Philips, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at FedEx, in a news release. "This gives us an opportunity to invest in bright, young athletes in our great hometown of Memphis, strengthening our connection to the next generation of leaders."
The program was announced Friday via a social media video that featured both FedEx employees and Memphis athletes.
The first FedEx in-person NIL initiative will be a tailgate event at Memphis' spring football game, featuring the women's soccer team.
Athletic director Laird Veatch told 929 ESPN radio in Memphis on Friday that the contribution includes a clause stipulating a 50 percent match and that the university will launch a campaign to raise $2.5 million per year.
Veatch acknowledged the boost the FedEx partnership will give to his department.
"It does elevate us to a highly competitive NIL space, and it's something that's sustainable at the same time," Veatch said. "If you ask many athletic directors around the country, I don't know that they'd be in a position to say that."
This is not the first partnership between the company and school. The campus has a degree program for FedEx employees and also boasts the FedEx Institute of Technology. Company CEO Fred Smith agreed to donate $50 million from his personal foundation for renovations for the Tigers' football stadium.
Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada entering transfer portal
Rashada posted a message on Instagram thanking his teammates, coaches, strength staff and other support staff at Arizona State.
"With that being said I'll be entering my name in the transfer portal seeking the best fit for my career!" Rashada wrote.
Rashada is a former four-star quarterback prospect in the Class of 2023 best known for flipping his commitment from Miami to Florida -- then requesting release from his national letter of intent when an NIL deal with Florida's collective worth a reported $13 million fell through.
Rashada wound up at Arizona State and got into three games as a freshman, passing for 485 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has been out most of the spring after needing thumb surgery.
Georgia is expected to pursue Rashada, On3 and 247Sports reported.
NFL draft hopeful AJ Simon of Albany dead at 25
Simon played four seasons of football at the FCS level -- two at Bloomsburg (2018, 2021) and two at Albany. The native of Pennsylvania had 12.5 sacks for Albany in 2023 and was named to the All-CAA first team.
A cause of death was not released.
"The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ' Simon this morning," the team said in a statement. "AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years. He will be profoundly missed."
Albany coach Greg Gattuso posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he spent two "joyous" years getting to know Simon as a coach and friend.
"My prayers are dedicated to the Simon family," Gattuso wrote. "I love you AJ and will always have a special place in my heart for #8."
Simon had taken a pre-draft visit to the New England Patriots, NBC Sports reported.
Virginia law allows schools to pay NIL deals to athletes
The legislation, which takes effect on July 1, is the first of its kind in the nation. It makes it illegal for the NCAA to punish any school in Virginia for compensating athletes with NIL deals.
The law potentially could give schools like Virginia and Virginia Tech -- whose officials helped to draft the legislation -- a leg up in recruiting, as current NCAA rules prohibit schools from signing NIL deals with their own players. Currently, students receive their NIL pay through third parties.
Critics consider this another step toward the professionalization of college sports, although the law does not allow Virginia schools to pay athletes for their performance in a sport. It does permit the use of university and athletic department funds to pay athletes for appearing in marketing campaigns.
Virginia athletic director Carla Williams said the new law could be a catalyst for change elsewhere.
"If this law gets us closer to a federal or a national solution for college athletics then it will be more than worthwhile," Williams said, per ESPN. "Until then, we have an obligation to ensure we maintain an elite athletics program at UVA."
Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock called it "a step in the right direction for the commonwealth of Virginia and the country in my opinion."
Williams and Babcock declined to share their potential NIL budgets with ESPN. Both also said they were looking into Title IX considerations as far as an equitable distribution of NIL opportunities for male and female student-athletes.
Transfer roundup: Colorado CB Cormani McClain enters portal
Tuesday was the first day of the spring transfer window. The portal will remain open for players to enter until April 30.
McClain appeared in nine games for the Buffaloes in 2023, Deion Sanders' first season as Colorado's coach. McClain started four games and finished the season with 13 tackles and two pass breakups.
He was the No. 1 cornerback in the Class of 2023, per the 247Sports composite rankings.
--Miami lost leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. and backup quarterback Jacurri Brown to the portal.
Parrish gained 625 yards on the ground and scored six touchdowns for the Hurricanes in 2023. Across four seasons with Ole Miss (2020-21) and Miami (2022-23), Parrish amassed 2,057 rushing yards, 56 receptions for 384 yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing).
Brown has seen action in nine games over the past two seasons at Miami. He was likely to rank behind Emory Williams and incoming transfers Cam Ward and Reese Poffenbarger on the QB depth chart.
--Oregon State running back Damien Martinez is officially in the portal, with On3 reporting that he will visit Miami, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arizona.
It was reported last week that Martinez intended to enter the portal. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games on the ground, with a high of 146 against Stanford.
In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez had 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.
--True freshman offensive lineman Jason Zandamela is looking to transfer from Southern California, 247Sports reported.
Zandamela was the No. 4 interior offensive line prospect in the Class of 2024, per the 247Sports composite. He is a native of Mozambique who played rugby before moving to the United States.
--Kadyn Proctor is back in the portal with a "do not contact" label, multiple reports said, indicating the offensive lineman plans to return to Alabama.
Once a five-star offensive tackle prospect in the Class of 2023, Proctor -- a native of Des Moines, Iowa -- originally committed to Iowa before flipping to Alabama. After spending his freshman season with the Crimson Tide, he entered the portal following coach Nick Saban's decision to retire.
Proctor committed to Iowa during the previous transfer window but announced on March 19 that he would not be staying with the Hawkeyes' program and would re-enter the portal in the spring.
--Former four-star quarterback recruit Tad Hudson plans to transfer out of North Carolina, On3 reported.
Hudson did not see the field as a true freshman in Chapel Hill while backing up Drake Maye, a likely first-round pick in this month's NFL draft.
Michigan agrees to 3-year probation for recruiting violations
Michigan will face recruiting restrictions and pay a fine in relation to violations from five current or former football employees.
The penalties include a one-year show-cause order for all five individuals.
"Today's joint resolution pertains to the University of Michigan Athletic Department and several former and current employees," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "We are pleased to reach a resolution on this matter so that our student-athletes and our football program can move forward. We have no additional information and cannot comment further on other aspects of the NCAA's inquiries."
The NCAA said that former coach Jim Harbaugh -- who guided the team to the College Football Playoff title in January -- isn't part in the agreement.
"The agreed-upon violations involve impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities (including providing technical and tactical skills instruction to student-athletes)," the NCAA said in a statement.
"The negotiated resolution also involved the school's agreement that the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation. The school also agreed that it failed to deter and detect the impermissible recruiting contacts and did not ensure that the football program adhered to rules for noncoaching staff members."
Harbaugh is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
"I filed a lengthy response to the (Notice of Allegations) on behalf of Coach Harbaugh, which unfortunately hasn't been made public and will probably never see the light of day," Tom Mars, Harbaugh's attorney, told ESPN. "That concluded Coach Harbaugh's participation in the case."
Harbaugh served a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2023 season after the NCAA felt he made false statements during the investigation. Then-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore served a one-game suspension. Moore is now the Wolverines' head coach.
Tuesday's developments are unrelated to the Michigan sign-stealing investigation. That case is ongoing. Harbaugh also served a three-game suspension in that case.
Steve Sloan, longtime coach and Alabama QB, dies at 79
He had been in memory care in Orlando, Fla., for the last three months, according to an obituary written by former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson.
Sloan won two national championships with the Crimson Tide in 1964 and 1965. He passed for 574 yards as the backup to Joe Namath in 1964 before throwing for 1,453 yards and 10 touchdowns as the starter in 1965.
Drafted in the 11th round by the Atlanta Falcons in 1966, Sloan appeared in eight games (one start) from 1966-67 and passed for 134 yards with four interceptions.
Sloan went on to become the head football coach at Vanderbilt (1973-74), Texas Tech (1975-77), Ole Miss (1978-82) and Duke (1983-86).
Sloan compiled an overall record of 68-86-3 in 14 seasons, leading the Commodores to the Peach Bowl in 1974 and the Red Raiders to the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl and 1977 Tangerine Bowl. He was the Coach of the Year in the SEC in 1974 and the Southwest Conference in 1976.
Report: Steelers great Hines Ward to coach Arizona State WRs
Ward, 48, caught 1,000 passes, made four Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the Steelers from 1998-2011.
He began his coaching career as an offensive intern with the Steelers in 2017 before serving as an offensive assistant with the New York Jets (2019-20), wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic (2021) and head coach of the then-XFL's San Antonio Brahmas in 2023.
The Sun Devils finished 3-9 in their first season with head coach Kenny Dillingham in 2023. The program moves from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 this season.
Ward played in 217 games with Pittsburgh and is the franchise's all-time leader in catches, receiving yards (12,083) and touchdown receptions (85). He was the MVP of Super Bowl XL and earned a second ring in Super Bowl XLIII.
The Steelers selected Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Georgia.
UNLV coach Barry Odom gets contract upgrade after big 2023
Odom also had retention bonuses added to his contract after the Rebels went 9-5. UNLV shared the Mountain West regular-season crown before losing 44-20 to Boise State in the conference title game.
The Rebels also played in a bowl game for the first time since the 2013 season, losing 49-36 to Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Odom, 47, was named Mountain West Coach of the Year after leading UNLV to just its second winning season since 2000.
"We are obviously thrilled about what Barry Odom and his staff did in year one leading Rebel football," UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a news release. "The program is on an upward trajectory and we could not be more excited about him leading the way.
"Barry continues to be a man of his word, focusing on growing all phases of the program the right way. He is committed to his players, coaches and staff and with the newly expanded CFP he is laying a foundation that gives Rebel Football a chance to compete at the highest level."
Odom received a five-year, $9.75 million deal when hired by UNLV in December 2022. He reportedly made $1.75 million last season.
Odom's retention bonuses reportedly line up this way: $200,000 in March 2026 and 2028 and $100,000 in February 2029.
"I'm excited about the foundation we have built in the past 16 months and I certainly look forward to our strong future," Odom said in the news release. "I'm thankful for our staff and our student-athletes -- they are on a mission to win a championship."
Odom previously served as coach of Missouri from 2016-19 and compiled a 25-25 record.
SMU suspends CB Teddy Knox for role in multi-car crash
Knox and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice were alleged to be driving the cars that sparked a collision that left four people with minor injuries. Both men face one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.
The SMU football program issued a statement that read: "SMU has been notified by Dallas Police of an arrest warrant for Theodore 'Teddy' Knox, a student-athlete on the Mustang football team. Knox has been suspended from the team. SMU takes these allegations seriously. Federal student privacy laws prevent the University from discussing details involving student disciplinary proceedings."
Police allege that Rice's Lamborghini and Knox's Corvette were speeding when they sparked the multi-car collision on the North Central Expressway (U.S. 75).
Knox is a 21-year-old rising junior. He played on offense and defense in 2022, when he had four catches for 3 yards and made four tackles. Last season he finished with four tackles while seeing most of his action as a special teams player.
Rice, who turns 24 on April 22, grew up in the North Texas suburb of North Richland Hills and attended college in Dallas at SMU.
The SMU football team is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024 season after going 11-3 last year, 8-0 in the American Athletic Conference.
Reports: USC DT Bear Alexander to re-enter transfer portal
A coveted interior defender, Alexander is ranked the No. 1 defensive tackle in the transfer portal this offseason by 247 Sports. He had 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 2023.
Alexander was at USC's spring practice on Tuesday before news of his imminent departure leaked.
Wisconsin hired USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, leading to speculation Alexander could join the Badgers when the transfer portal officially is open on April 15.
But the Texas native is thought to be considering joining the overhauled Texas A&M defense.
The former five-star Georgia recruit's next stop will be his eighth program in seven years dating to his high school days. He played for the Bulldogs as a freshman before leaving for USC.
