Inside the fight: NIL arms race fueling new push for College Football Playoff expansion

Do we really need a 24-team CFP? No.

But, we all saw this coming with NIL, and some wanted to look the other way

Read: www.foxnews.com/outkick-spor...

A badass main event between Punk and Roman

CM Punk finally getting that real #wrestlemania  Main Event moment

My goodness, that was gold. That was cold

College Football Spring Games Are Slowly Returning — But Coaches Like Lane Kiffin Still Aren’t Biting

Given the Spring portal is history, schools have a chance to appease fans

Start with exhibition’s against opposing teams, or practices #kiffin #deionsanders #cfb www.outkick.com/sports/colle...

Dan Hurley’s Alter Ego Fuels UConn’s March To The National Championship Game, And He's Not Done Yet Boos didn’t matter. Critics didn’t matter. Dan Hurley and UConn beat Illinois and are back in the national championship game with plenty of swagger.

Dan Hurley walked off the court inside Lucas Oil Stadium like Vince McMahon would walk to a WWE ring.

His alter ego fuels UConn to another national title game.

“Do I deserve the boos? Absolutely." #uconn #finalfour #ncaa #illinois #hurley www.outkick.com/sports/dan-h...

President Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting 'Illegal' NIL Payments, Seeks To Limit Number Of Transfers President Donald Trump signs an executive order aimed at reshaping college sports, addressing NIL collectives, transfer rules.

BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting 'Illegal' NIL Payments, Seeks To Limit Number Of Transfers

What happens next? It’s going to be complicated, with Congress being called upon to act. #trump #college #ncaa #transferportal #nil www.outkick.com/sports/trump...

"Get In The Real World:" Dan Hurley Might Act A Little Crazy, But He's A 'Good Egg' On This Easter Weekend UConn coach Dan Hurley pushes back on critics, embraces his sideline persona and urges players to avoid social media noise amid mental health discussions.

Dan Hurley’s passion towards mental health advocacy for players is key component to winning at UConn

“Like get off Twitter, get off Instagram, stop reading the comments. That's probably why it doesn't bother me when people have things to say." #uconn #finalfour www.outkick.com/sports/dan-h...

NCAA Drops Hammer On ‘Ghost Transfers’: Coaches Risk Suspensions, Millions In Buyout Money Coaches face suspensions, budget cuts, and potential buyout losses as the NCAA enforces strict new rules targeting ‘blind transfers’ in college athletics.

BREAKING: NCAA will try to drop the hammer on schools who take ‘Ghost Transfers’ outside January transfer period.

Coach: suspended for 50% of the season. School: docked 20% of budget.

Losing millions in buyout money could scare coaches #ncaa #portal #football www.outkick.com/sports/ncaa-...

Big Ten Dominance Is No Accident: Now Tennessee's Own History Stands Between Michigan And Final Four A financial awakening has fueled the Big Ten’s March Madness takeover—but Tennessee is ready to fight for its own historic breakthrough against Michigan in Elite Eight showdown

Big Ten’s NCAA tournament dominance of SEC is no accident. They’ve flipped the script.

But now, Tennessee’s own fight for history stands between Michigan and the Final Four. #ncaa #michigan #vols www.outkick.com/sports/big-t...

Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes Realize College Sports Are ‘Broken’—But They Love It Too Much To Leave They know college basketball is broken with NIL and the portal—but Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino and Rick Barnes aren’t ready to quit. Their passion still outweighs the chaos.

Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, Kelvin Sampson and Rick Barnes might realize college sports are a mess, and they might be ‘stubborn’ in hanging around.

But, for the old-guard, they love it too much.

These stewards are trying to leave it in a better place. www.outkick.com/sports/izzo-...

Nate Oats Is A Glorified P.E. Teacher Making Enough Money, So North Carolina Would Be Wasting Its Time While college hoops spirals into chaos, Nate Oats isn’t budging. The Alabama coach addresses job rumors, money, and why he’s not leaving Tuscaloosa.

Nate Oats is a glorified P.E. teacher making enough money and enjoys Alabama.

He’s not leaving for another job, at least for now. #alabama #ncaa #basketball www.outkick.com/sports/nate-...

LSU Is Bringing Back Will Wade, Four Years After Firing Him For NCAA Violations And FBI Wiretaps With boosters pushing, buyouts dropping, and politics involved, LSU’s reunion with Will Wade is messy, chaotic—and exactly what you’d expect.

LSU bringing back Will Wade, four years after firing him for NCAA violations and being caught on an FBI wiretap

The Tigers finally pulled off a move 2 years in the making.

Welcome to the madness #lsu #basketball www.outkick.com/sports/lsu-w...

Is Texas The New Cinderella? Longhorns Shocking Gonzaga Has Us Confused On How To Describe NCAA Tourney Upset Call it an upset or not—Texas took down Gonzaga in March Madness, advancing to the Sweet 16 as Sean Miller’s Longhorns build serious momentum.

Is Texas the new Cinderella?

Longhorns shocking No. 3 Gonzaga has us all confused on how to describe NCAA Tournament upset.

3 wins in 5 days, Sean Miller has us talking about the Horns again. #ncaatournament #texas #gonzaga www.outkick.com/sports/texas...

Hubert Davis' Future At North Carolina Is Being Discussed, As Boosters Have Checked Out. Decision Looming North Carolina is at a crossroads after its NCAA Tournament loss to VCU, with boosters questioning Hubert Davis’ future and officials weighing a potential coaching search.

Hubert Davis’ future at North Carolina in serious trouble, as officials discuss status of basketball program.

When boosters check out, problems arise, and they have serious doubts about direction of the program.

Decision looming #unc #ncaa #tarheels www.outkick.com/sports/unc-h...

March Madness? More Like Legal Madness: NCAA Takes Aim At DraftKings In Trademark Infringement Lawsuit As the NCAA Tournament heats up, the NCAA is suing DraftKings for using “March Madness" and other trademarks, pushing for a quick court ruling before the Final Four.

The NCAA takes DraftKings to federal court over March Madness trademark infringement

DraftKings finds itself in a legal full-court press with the NCAA over terms like ‘Final Four’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and others.

Oh, and they want an emergency restraining order #ncaa www.outkick.com/sports/ncaa-...

Glass Slipper Shattered: Tennessee Overpowers Miami (OH) In March Madness, But RedHawks Won't Be Forgotten Miami (OH)’s dream season is over. Tennessee dominated in the NCAA Tournament, ending one of college basketball’s best Cinderella stories behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie.

Cinderella wasn’t invited to the second round party, thanks to a dominant performance by Tennessee.

What Miami (OH) did this season won’t be forgotten. Now it’s about retention

For Vols, how soon can Nate Ament stop being a decoy? #ncaa #miami #tennessee www.outkick.com/sports/tenne...

Good lord, yea I’m passing that along. If you wanna click that X at bottom, have at it. I’m sorry

VCU Proves Payroll Isn’t Everything, Stuns North Carolina In Historic 19-Point NCAA Tournament Comeback Win VCU erased a 19-point second-half deficit to stun North Carolina in a historic March Madness comeback, sending the Tar Heels home early.

VCU and DJ Khaled? The combo that helped fuel a shocking upset of UNC

19-point comeback win proves money doesn’t buy it all

“Credit to @djkhaled. He says it in the beginning of one of his songs, ‘God Did’. You either wanna be a part of this or you don’t” #ncaa www.outkick.com/sports/vcu-s...

'Let's Stay Together': Miami (OH) Coach Travis Steele Says Tampering Wasn’t Going To Disrupt RedHawks’ Season Travis Steele kept his Miami (OH) players focused amid tampering and even his wife taking calls from ADs during the RedHawks’ 32-win season and NCAA Tournament push.

Miami (OH) started garnering headlines around January on their way to NCAA tourney

How did Travis Steele deal potential tampering or job offers?

“I made a pact with them then — let’s just deal with it in the offseason. Let’s stay true to the journey” #ncaatourney www.outkick.com/sports/travi...

Ole Miss Has Channeled Its Inner 'Ted Lasso' At SEC Tourney, Just Two Wins Away From Historic NCAA Bid After losing 12 of their final 13 games, Ole Miss has shocked the SEC in Nashville. Chris Beard’s Rebels are proving why March Madness is also about 'hope'.

Ole Miss has channeled their inner ‘Ted Lasso’ at SEC Tourney, just two wins away from earning historic NCAA bid.

The Rebels chose to be goldfish when they arrived in Nashville, and they certainly ’Believe’ #sec #olemiss #ncaa www.outkick.com/sports/ole-m...

SEC Tournament: Nashville Hotels And Bars Are The Biggest Winners Of The Week, Thanks To Kentucky Fans Kentucky basketball fans packed Bridgestone Arena for the SEC Tournament, delivering a major economic boost to Nashville’s Broadway bars, hotels and downtown businesses.

SEC Tournament: The Nashville hotels and bars are biggest winners of the week in the Music City, thanks to fans buying in.

"We depend on Kentucky fans invading this town”-Nashville bar owner

Other conferences are seeing loyalty pay off #basketball #nashville www.outkick.com/sports/sec-t...

SEC's Greg Sankey Says It All: College Sports Isn’t Sustainable, Fans Are Tired Of Discussing NIL And Lawsuits SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says college sports “can’t go on as we are" amid NIL chaos, NCAA lawsuits and growing fan frustration.

SEC’s Greg Sankey says College Sports isn’t sustainable, fans are tired of discussing NIL and lawsuits.

“What they want is kinda what the President spoke of, focused on the fields, the courts and the tracks”

Could the SEC breakaway? TBD right now #football www.outkick.com/sports/greg-...

Mark Pope, $22M Roster And SEC Tournament Opener: Kentucky Is A Prime Example Of NIL Crapshoot Kentucky basketball enters the SEC Tournament with a reported $22M NIL roster, but disappointing results have donors questioning the return on investment under Mark Pope.

Mark Pope, $22 million roster, and the SEC Tournament opener.

Kentucky basketball is a prime example of the current NIL crapshoot in college athletics. www.outkick.com/sports/kentu...

Miami (OH) AD David Sayler Rips Bruce Pearl, Suggests TV ‘Disclaimer’ Over Auburn Bias In NCAA Tournament With Miami (OH) sitting at 30-0, AD David Sayler punches back at Bruce Pearl’s tournament criticism, saying he needs a 'disclaimer' and sounds off on NCAA expansion talk.

Miami (OH) AD David Sayler suggests Bruce Pearl should have a ‘disclaimer’ on television over arguments pertaining to NCAA Tournament bids.

Sayler says that he leans on ‘Yoda’ to fight the evil empire of P-4 conferences wanting tourney expansion #ncaa #basketball www.outkick.com/sports/miami...

NCAA Argues Ole Miss Gaining ‘Unfair' Advantage With QB Trinidad Chambliss In Appeal To Keep Him Off The Field The NCAA has appealed a Mississippi judge’s ruling allowing Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss to play, arguing the decision gives the Rebels an unfair advantage.

NCAA argues Ole Miss is gaining an ‘Unfair’ advantage on other schools with Trinidad Chambliss

The NCAA filed for an ‘interlocutory review’ in its appeal to Mississippi Supreme Court.

They also cite a 2015 high school case #football #olemiss www.outkick.com/sports/ncaa-...

Bruce Pearl Admits 'Nepotism' Played A Role In Son Getting Auburn Job, As Tigers Sit On NCAA Bubble Bruce Pearl admits he helped his son Steven land the Auburn job, addressing ‘nepo baby’ criticism as the Tigers fight for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Bruce Pearl happily admits ‘Nepotism’ played a role in his son, Steven, getting the Auburn job, as Tigers sit on NCAA bubble.

“Am I rooting for my son to make the NCAA Tournament? Of course I am. Did I help my son get the job, nepotism? Of course I did” www.outkick.com/sports/bruce...

Colleges Are Crying Poor, But Kentucky Paying Outgoing AD Mitch Barnhart $950K A Year To Consult Is Laughable Outgoing Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart will earn $950K per year in new role through 2030, plus perks, amid ongoing NIL and revenue debates in college athletics.

Colleges crying poor, but Kentucky paying outgoing AD Mitch Barnhart $950K per year in new role is laughable.

What happened to being fiscally responsible in this era?

Country club membership, health insurance and a hefty salary. A retirement parachute #kentucky www.outkick.com/sports/kentu...

Most Unique Eligibility Argument Yet: Navy Baseball Player Sues NCAA, Says Denial Effects Military "Readiness" Navy baseball player Brock Murtha files lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing a denied eligibility waiver hurts his preparation as a future Marine officer.

Most unique eligibility argument yet?

Navy baseball player Brock Murtha suing NCAA for additional year, says waiver denial and inability to play is effecting his military “readiness”

This one is certainly interesting #baseball #ncaa #navy www.outkick.com/sports/navy-...

'He Lit Up Every Room': Colorado Has Another 'Why' This Season After Tragic Passing Of QB Dominiq Ponder After the tragic passing of teammate Dominiq Ponder on Sunday, Colorado players hit the field for the opening of spring practice with heavy hearts, and a new 'Why'

Colorado players have another ‘Why’ this season after the tragic passing of QB Dominic Ponder

“He lit up every room he walked into, and brought the best in the people around him”

Now, they’ll honor their teammate who walked with humility. Colorado Buffaloes Football www.outkick.com/sports/color...

It Just Means More Money: State Of Mississippi Aims To Pass Bill Exempting Athletes From Taxes On NIL Earnings The Mississippi House passed a bill to exempt college athletes from paying state income taxes on NIL earnings, aiming to boost recruiting for Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

It Just Means More, Money:

State of Mississippi closer to passing bill that exempts athletes from paying state income taxes on NIL earnings.

Arkansas recently did the same. I’m sure teachers and workers across the state are thrilled. #nil #football www.outkick.com/sports/missi...

March Musings: Chad Baker-Mazara Out At USC As NIL Gamble Backfires; Pearl Isn’t Sold On Miami (OH) NCAA Bid Chad Baker-Mazara the latest NIL risk example, after USC dismisses transfer. Meanwhile, Bruce Pearl questions whether undefeated Miami (OH) deserves an at-large bid to the NCAA Tourney

March Musings: Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC is another example of NIL gamble backfiring in this current era.

Bruce Pearl isn’t sold on Miami (OH) making the NCAA Tournament without winning the MAC tourney.

Overreactions or reality? Let the Redhawks in #miami www.outkick.com/sports/usc-d...