#10: The idea of creating a super league in college football could work in 2031, according to CBS’ Dennis Dodd, who reports that was “one conclusion reached after CBS Sports spoke with sources at the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona, the past several days soliciting opinions of stakeholders.” Dodd also observes that the idea floated by College Sports Tomorrow could be the prelude to a “showdown against a future trying to be created by the Big Ten and SEC.” West Virginia President Gordon Gee, a member of the CST group tells Dodd: "I do not believe that leaving it just to commissioners and athletic directors [is the way to go], because when you do, you do not get the view of [the university as a whole]. I think the university presidents have been the root of the problem here. We have ignored. We have not been engaged. We have not paid enough attention. And I am the poster child because…I paid a lot of these coaches millions of dollars. We just thought life was going to go on. We should have been thinking more progressively for a long period of time. My view is that to stimulate the conversation, get enough university presidents together to solve this problem." Dodd goes on to note there are “two look-ins in the new CFP contract that account for more realignment before 2031. Those look-ins probably didn't account for the emergence of a ‘super league’ but could ostensibly be used for it. There's already speculation that a ‘super league’ is a look at the next round of consolidation. Instead of realignment, conferences would ‘cut’ existing members not up to standard.” More from Dodd. (link)
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#9: Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams and Daniel Libit obtained College Sports Tomorrow’s pitch deck for its proposed Super League, which was produced by TurnkeyZRG, and note the “document contains a number of previously unreported details, including a specific plan for sharing broadcast revenue with players, a 40-game spring football ‘festival,’ and a preliminary look at how the Super League’s 70 permanent members might be arranged in seven geographically aligned leagues. Specifically, the seven permanent 10-team divisions include every Power 5 school plus Notre Dame, and are organized geographically: west, southwest, plains, midwest, northeast, south and southeast. The eighth division includes 10 schools from what the deck calls the “Under League,” which rotates every year. Novy-Williams and Libit note that “eight of the 10 are relegated each season and replaced by the eight teams that play in the Under League’s playoff. The rest of the Under League is organized in eight different divisions of seven teams, which are not detailed in the deck.” The pitch also proposes that broadcast NIL money set aside for players would be distributed as follows: 5% to all rostered freshmen, 15% to all rostered sophomores, 30% for all rostered juniors and 50% for all rostered seniors and graduate students. “The suggested ‘NIL Roster Cap’ would mandate that individual NIL payments for football players at a single school not exceed those earned via group licensing and broadcast NIL (BNIL) deals.” Exceeding the cap would result in the loss of transfer spots. However, if a school were to fall below 80% of a pre-established ‘NIL Roster Floor’ for two consecutive seasons, it would be relegated to the Under League until it could sustain a full season above the floor. Rosters would have an 85-player max, 70 of which could be on scholarship, and the 15-week season would include 14 games. Lots more. (link)
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#8: James Madison is targeting Eastern Kentucky AD Matt Roan for the same role, per Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger. Collegiate Sports Associates assisted with the Dukes’ search. (link)
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#7: Two former Kentucky women’s swimming student-athletes have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky against the university, alleging former program head coach Lars Jorgensen committed sexual violence in the form of rape, inappropriate text & social media messages & videos, plus more. The lawsuit claims UK’s “complicity and deliberate indifference” enabled Jorgensen “to foster a toxic, sexually hostile environment within the swim program and to prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults and violent rapes against young female coaches and collegiate athletes who were reliant on him.” Jorgensen’s response: “None of that is true, so I don’t really have much further comment. I’ve always tried to lead in a positive manner and do what’s best for each individual and the team overall.” Lots more. (link)
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#6: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey reported $3.553M in compensation for FY23 along with an additional $63K in other pay, according to documents examined by ProPublica. Overall, Sankey’s pay was down from the $3.723M he received in FY22. Assoc. Commissioner William King reported $713K in compensation and $70,917 in other estimated income; Deputy Commissioner Charles Hussey brought in $592K with $70,917 in other estimated income; Executive Assoc. Commissioner Mark Womack reported $475K with another $62K in other income; Coordinator of Football Officials John McDaid received $448K in compensation and $70,917 in other income; and Assoc. Commissioner Tiffany Daniels brought in $376K with $70,917 in other income. (link)
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#5: Colorado AD Rick George quote-tweets a fan account commenting on the “brutal” transfer window so far for the Buffs with the following: “Thank the AGs that filed the temporary restraining order.” (link)
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#4: Indiana’s faculty passed a vote of no confidence in President Pamela Whitten. (link) |
#3: What’s the definition of cultural relevance? An appearance on Saturday Night Live might be at the top of the list & that’s just what Iowa Women’s Basketball student-athlete Caitlin Clark & some of her Hawkeyes teammates did. Check it out. (link)
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#2: The DI Council has voted to allow immediate eligibility for transfers who are academically eligible, in good standing with their previous institution and "meet progress-toward-degree requirements at new school." Further: "Academic requirements will replace previous year-in-residence requirement for student-athletes transferring more than once as undergraduates." The move must be ratified by the DI Board of Directors on Monday. (link); The council also adopted rules allowing schools to assist student-athletes with NIL opportunities, provided those student-athletes disclose NIL activities valuing $600+ to their schools. The decision is not final until the meetings conclude Thursday and must be ratified by DI Board next week. Specifically, schools can identify NIL opportunities and facilitate deals between student-athletes and third parties and provide a reasonable grace period to student-athletes who do not report NIL information within 30 days. Student-athletes are not obligated to accept assistance from the school and those who accept school help must retain their authority over terms of agreements. The existing rules against pay-for-play and schools compensating student-athletes for use of their NIL remain in place. (link)
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#1: The College Basketball Players Association has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Notre Dame. The charge involves all Fighting Irish student-athletes, per CBS' Dennis Dodd. (link, link)
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