College Football
Atlanta Buzz
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The college football season kicks off this month. We are going to take a look at Georgia Tech and see what we should expect in 2025.
The Yellow Jackets finished the 2024 season 7-6. They lost the season finale to #7 Georgia in eight overtimes, 44-42.
Surprisingly, they created rings to celebrate the season. They did defeat two top 10 teams, #10 Florida State and #4 Miami but that’s not a reason to get rings.
Expectations are higher going into this season. The media has picked them to finish fourth in the ACC. The last time they were picked in the ACC preseason poll to finish higher than fourth was in 2015.
“Before I got here we were 3-9 (in 2021). And then 5-7 (in 2022). It’s a steady progression,” senior safety Clayton Powell-Lee said. “So just knowing that I was a part of that foundation and knowing where this team is going to, where this program is going to skyrocket to? You better buy in now because we gonna be gone in a minute.”
They have some talented players returning on both sides of the ball. On offense they have quarterback Haynes King, running back Jamal Haynes, wide receiver Malik Rutherford and guards Keylan Rutledge and Joe Fusile returning.
“I think the biggest difference is the buy-in. Everyone is bought in, especially starting off in the spring with the guys coming in and NIL (name, image and likeness) taking a big turn — you’re never gonna have the same team over the years. It’s just inevitable,” Haynes said.
“Then us building a bond over the spring and the summer, you definitely see the change in the program. Then on top of that, we have a great locker room. And as long as you have a great locker room, you have great people surrounding your team, you’ll have a great team.”
On defense they have Powell-Lee, corner back Ahmari Harvey, linebacker Kyle Efford and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg returning.
They have also added talent in recruiting and the transfer portal. Some of the players they added through the transfer portal are WR Evan Haynes (North Carolina), DL Akelo Stone (Ole Miss), CB Jon Mitchell (Penn State), S Jyron Gilmore (Georgia State), S Savion Riley (Colorado), Edge A.J. Hoffler (Clemson), LB Melvin Jordan IV (Oregon State), OT Andrew Rosinski (North Carolina) and WR Debron Gatling (South Carolina). Their 2025 transfer portal recruiting class is ranked 32nd nationally.
“Look, we got good football players, right? We got good football players that work their butts off,” Tech coach Brent Key. “So, they should have confidence, right?”
The schedule does not look tough. They only have two opponents that are ranked in the preseason top 25, #6 Clemson and #4 UGA.
They will start the season on Friday, August 29th at Colorado. The Buffaloes lost several talented players to the NFL Draft like Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders.
They play FCS Gardner-Webb in Week 2.
On paper Tech should be favored against teams like Temple, Wake Forest, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt and Boston College.
I’m not a fan of the rivalry game with Georgia being played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic this season.
I believe they will win eight games if they stay relatively healthy.
Schedule
8/29 @ Colorado
9/6 Gardner-Webb
9/13 #6 Clemson
9/20 Temple
9/27 @ Wake Forest
10/11 Virginia Tech
10/18 @ Duke
10/25 Syracuse
11/1 @ NC State
11/15 @ Boston College
11/22 Pitt
11/28 #4 Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mr. Glass?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Florida starting quarterback DJ Lagway has suffered a new lower-body injury that’s forced him into a walking boot heading into the Gators fall training camp.
Lagaway’s injury marks the latest offseason ailment, and one of the many; Lagway has a hurt throwing shoulder and a lower body injury, which dated back to his high school time and was never disclosed.
Accordingly, Lagway had limited participation in the Gators’ spring training camp in March and April. He did not throw passes, instead simulating his footwork, handing the ball off to running backs.
Per Billy Napier, Lagway aided the coaching staff with communicating with quarterbacks and occasionally called plays during team drills.
At SEC Media Days in Atlanta on July 16, Lagway asserted his shoulder and lower-body injuries were behind him and that he anticipated being available for fall camp.
DJ Lagway enters his first season as Florida’s unquestioned starting quarterback in 2025 after 12 appearances and seven starts as a freshman, with 59.9 completion percent of his 192 passing attempts for 1,915 yards.
He counted 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He finished the year with a 95.6 deep passing grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked No. 3 among 150 qualifying FBS passers.
UF won every game Lagway started and finished in 2024; the only loss on his first-team record came against No. 2 Georgia, when he exited just before halftime with a hamstring injury, while Florida held a 10-3 lead.
Lagway was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, ESPN, and various other outlets for his performance in 2024. He earned a spot on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list; a trophy delivered annually since 1937 to the College Player of the Year.
I don’t think it’s this bad, but I do think there’s cause for concern. We know heading into this SEC schedule, especially since it’s the hardest in the nation, there’s likely more injuries to come. Especially if he isn’t 100% healthy by August 30th.
Backup QB development right now might be the most important thing happening at practice for the Florida Gators.
Lagway missed one week when it looked like it was a much more serious injury.
Then the guy has a tender shoulder and hernia surgery this spring thus they take it slow with him and we have people panicking that he’s made of glass.
So far he’s missed one game in his career because of injury, for some that’s a reason to jump off a cliff.
For me, Lagway is QB1 and expectations are high.
It’s About Protection
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia lost four starters from an offensive line that allowed the most sacks (25) during the Kirby Smart era, leading the Bulldogs’ coach to tell his group to “grow up and play” this offseason.
Three under-the-radar players have stepped up to meet the challenge, led by a towering 6-foot-7 offensive tackle.
Junior Monroe Freeling is in line to be a starter at Georgia.
Based on his physical growth since last season, Georgia feels like he is in position to not only hold his own at left tackle, but to have a year that could land him an early NFL Draft pick.
Freeling is ranked No. 33 overall and No. 6 among offensive tackles in his 2023 recruiting class. He had an up-and-down first season with Georgia.
The former four-star recruit started the final five games at left tackle, surrendering 12 pressures, including four pressures and three sacks in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame.
Despite missing spring practice due to offseason shoulder surgery, NFL scouts are optimistic about Freeling’s potential to elevate his game during his junior year.
The coaching staff holds the same confidence and optimism to right tackle Earnest Greene and center Drew Bobo.
Earnest Greene hasn’t started yet at his new right tackle position but he’s in line to start this year, and a lot of folks feel really good about him.
Drew Bobo is another candidate to feel good about as the starting center. Internally, Georgia feels like Drew is a significantly better player than most people realize.
The strength of the offensive line is in the interior. Georgia is starting inexperienced tackles on both sides.
On the inside, Bobo played 183 snaps at center last season and allowed just three pressures and zero sacks.
Left guard Micah Morris allowed four pressures and zero sacks across 432 total snaps last season, while right guard Daniel Calhoun surrendered zero pressures in 26 snaps. This might be the most talented returning interior O-Lines in the NCAA.
This is a big year for Stacked Searels’ group: they’re tasked with protecting a first-time starting quarterback. Looking into this season, this group can provide adequate play up front, but that does not feel like a confident statement to make. I guess we’ll wait and see?
Smart downplayed Georgia’s rushing numbers from last year and explained that those numbers were a product of the teams the Bulldogs played.
Even with a padded stat sheet, Smart made it clear that the Georgia Bulldogs must run the ball better in 2025. Can they make it happen?
The SEC is a line of scrimmage conference and Georgia’s offensive line should be among the best. The Dawgs OLine will determine how they fair in the College Football Playoff.
Pirate To Gator
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Florida has landed a commitment from four-star tight end Heze Kent.
Kent is a 6-foot-6, 310-pound tight end from Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Georgia.
He chose the Gators over Florida State Miami and Texas, and ranks as the No. 11 athlete in the country, the No. 18 recruit in Georgia and the No. 167 overall recruit in the 2026 class.
What Kent looked for most in a school throughout his recruitment is a place where he can feel comfortable, but he also wanted a place where he’s seen as a true, pass-catching tight end at the next level.
Because of his size at 310 pounds, not all schools that recruited him looked for him to line up at tight end.
Kent’s top four schools in Florida, Florida State, Miami and Texas all saw him as a tight end, which brought each school into his final cut.
What helped separate Florida, however, was Kent’s relationship with offensive coordinator and tight ends’ coach, Russ Callaway.
“That’s like a father or a brother to me,” Kent said. “My coach had told me how he was as a person, like the same person he is on the field is the same person he is off.”
Kent was able to have some familiarity with Callaway before Florida began recruiting him heavily. Callaway played football at Valdosta State with Kent’s high school coach, so that gave Kent a unique perspective on what to expect from Callaway.
The relationship grew on its own, however, and that combined with how Florida sees him in the offense gave Kent a lot to like about the Gators.
Kent kept his recruitment relatively private and even keeled, especially down the stretch. Florida State made a push close to his decision, especially after his official visit with the Seminoles.
“Everything has been good over there,” Kent said ahead of his decision. “I talk to Coach [Chris] Thomsen and Coach [Mike] Norvell.”
What helped give Florida the nod, however, was the fact that the staff not only treated him as a priority, but as a priority tight end throughout much of his recruitment
“They say no other tight end that they’re recruiting has the same skillset as me,” Kent said.
Here is what National High School Scouting Analyst Hudson Standish had to say in late June on Kent’s game.
“One of the more unique evaluations in the 2026 cycle. Jumbo athlete hovering around 6-foot-6, 310 pounds who primarily plays tight end at the prep level but likely projects to offensive tackle or defensive tackle on Saturdays. Shows significant developmental blocking upside when asked to stay attached, possesses nimble movement skills and redirection ability that directly translate from his work as a forward on the basketball court. Uncommon movement skills from a player of his size in the open field and will make acrobatic ladder-climbing snags in the red zone. Dominates South Georgia 5A competition in a variety of ways and has even found success as a ball carrier. Could start his career as a specialty tight end in 12/13 personnel groupings before transitioning to a long-term positional home. Sheer size and athleticism point to obvious long-term NFL upside, especially if he embraces a role along the offensive or defensive line at the next level.”
The Gators landed a unique unicorn with size and athleticism. Kent adds to an impressive group Coach Napier is bringing in for 2026.
The New QBs
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As we hit the unofficial end of the offseason with the SEC Kickoff Media Days coming to Atlanta this week, one of the biggest questions around the league will be the first year starting quarterbacks.
The SEC is flooded with first year starting quarterbacks this year with nine of the sixteen teams breaking in a year one starter running the offense.
Some of those have more questions around them, but the biggest questions in my opinion come from Knoxville, Tuscaloosa, and Auburn.
In Tuscaloosa, Ty Simpson is expected to be named starter for the Crimson Tide to fill the shoes of Jalen Milroe.
There’s been a lot of moving parts in T-Town on the offensive side to try and make the transition to the new signal caller with Kalen DeBoer changing up the play caller and bringing in Ryan Grubb as the new offensive coordinator and essentially demoting Nick Sheridan to “co-offensive coordinator and QBs Coach”.
After spending two years with Coach DeBoer as the OC leading Washington to two magical seasons in 2022 & 2023, Grubb spent the 2024 season as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
Simpson is a name that Bama fans have heard for three years and has been in the program since 2022 but has seen limited action behind Milroe.
Simpson in 16 career games over the first three years of his career only has 50 pass attempts with only real meaningful snaps coming in the 2023 matchup against South Florida where he helped lead Bama to a victory in game 2 of the year when Milroe got benched for one game by Nick Saban.
Simpson is expected to make his first career start in Tallahassee on August 30th when the Tide open the year against Florida State.
Knoxville has been an interesting situation this offseason for the quarterback room. At the end of spring ball, Nico Iamaleava shockingly decided to enter the transfer portal and ended up at UCLA.
That caused Tennessee to scramble (no pun intended) and find a QB1 in the portal, so they landed on Joey Aguilar who was a two-year starter at Appalachian State before spending the spring at UCLA before transferring to Tennessee.
Aguilar racked up over 3,000 yards passing in 2024 for the Mountaineers and was named honorable mention All-Sun Belt both years in Boone.
Aguilar is pretty set in Knoxville to start the year at QB1 for Josh Heupel, but in my eyes won’t finish the year like that.
Aguilar absolutely is talented, there’s no doubt about that, but seeing him at App State, he’s not an SEC Quarterback.
That could open the door to Savannah product Jake Merklinger. Merklinger redshirted last season in Knoxville and will have four years of eligibility remaining for the Calvary Day alum.
My two cents says that Aguilar will start the year, but by the week five off week, Merklinger could be set up to start the Arkansas match-up the following week.
Finally, Auburn has been an interesting scenario at quarterback. After the departure of Peyton Thorne (who is now on the roster for the Cincinnati Bengals), Hugh Freeze hit the transfer portal to bring in Jackson Arnold.
Arnold spent two seasons at Oklahoma with a rocky 2024 season. Arnold was benched in the mid-September matchup with Tennessee for Michael Hawkins because of struggles for Arnold.
The former Sooner threw for over 1,400 yards with 12 scores but struggled at times. The plus side for Arnold is that while he’s technically a first-year starter (for Auburn) he does bring SEC experience having played in seventeen career games with five starts.
This is the most intriguing to watch for me and the one that could turn up golden for the Aubs or could turn the lights out on Hugh Freeze.
There are so many un-answered questions swirling around quarterbacks in the SEC which has created buzz and excitement around the best football league in the country.
Again, I think that Gunner Stockton for Georgia and Austin Simmons for Ole Miss will be the two that will be consistently solid throughout the year, but watching the rest unfold will be incredible to see as the season goes on.
Break Out
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) remains the gold standard of college football, consistently producing NFL talent and competitive programs.
As the 2025 season approaches, several under-the-radar players are poised to explode onto the national scene.
While many fans focus on household names and established stars, it’s often the breakout players who define a season. Here are five SEC athletes primed to make a major impact in 2025.
Cam Coleman – Wide Receiver, Auburn: The former five-star recruit couldn’t quite reach the same heights as fellow C/O 2024 receivers Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams due to Auburn’s offensive struggles.
However, Coleman absolutely has the athleticism and skill necessary to be a star in this sport.
After a slow start, he put up eye-popping numbers in the Tiger’s last three games, hauling in 22 catches for 306 yards and six touchdowns.
Upgrades from the portal will help his production improve, with Auburn bringing in quarterback Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma, as well as highly touted offensive linemen Xavier Chaplin and Mason Murphy.
The 6 ‘3 receiver will also be complemented nicely by Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr., who should keep some double-coverage off Coleman.
KJ Bolden – Safety Georgia: Georgia is essentially swapping one All-American safety for another this offseason.
Bolden will be taking over for probable first-round pick Malachai Starks in the Bulldogs secondary after an impressive freshman campaign.
Playing a rotational role for a stingy Georgia defense, the hard-hitting safety turned heads when he was on the field, compiling 59 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception in 15 games.
Able to play at any spot on the field, Bolden has the chance in 2025 to cement himself as Georgia’s next great defensive-back.
Austin Simmons – QB Ole Miss: In other years, I’d have Simmons as a top-5 quarterback in the SEC entering the season.
The buzz out of Oxford is that the southpaw is exactly the guy we saw save the day against Georgia.
Simmons’ touchdown drive might’ve fueled a ton of offseason hype but go back to the fact that he reclassified from 2025 to 2023, and heading into his redshirt freshman season, he beat out coveted former LSU transfer Walker Howard for the backup job.
Simmons did that while still juggling baseball duties. He moved on from baseball in hopes of becoming Lane Kiffin’s next great quarterback.
He’s got a largely new group of pass-catchers — Cayden Lee will be worthy of preseason All-SEC love — and he’ll have to do more heavy lifting than the 2024 Rebels offense had to do with an elite defense.
Jadan Baugh – RB, Florida: Florida’s offense enters a pivotal year, and one of its most exciting weapons might be sophomore Jaden Baugh.
Baugh is now the lead candidate to start at running back. A lightning-quick runner with elite agility, he brings a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
At 6’ and 230 pounds, Baugh combines speed with power and vision.
Head coach Billy Napier has hinted at a heavier ground attack in 2025, making Baugh a potential breakout star in Gainesville.
Rueben Owens – RB Texas A&M: As brutal as it was to watch Owens go down with a broken foot in fall camp after a promising true freshman campaign — he forced 23 missed tackles on 101 carries in 2023 — it was encouraging to see him return at all in 2024.
Owens got to shake out the cobwebs and get live reps in the Collin Klein offense as the lead back in the bowl game.
Owens likely won’t get lead-back work once All-SEC running back Le’Veon Moss makes a full return, but it remains to be seen what he’ll look like coming off his nasty season-ending knee injury.
Even if Moss looks like the best version of himself, you could still see multiple stars emerge in the backfield, especially one that’ll operate behind 5 returning starters on the offensive line.
That’s a massive benefit for A&M. Offensive line continuity is everything in this era.
Complement that with a talented, elusive tailback like Owens in a run-heavy scheme and you’ll see plenty of big-time moments from No. 4.
The SEC never lacks star power, but each season also brings a new wave of impact players ready to seize the spotlight.
Here are a few other players to keep an eye on: Jaydn Ott (RB, Oklahoma), Jack Endries (TE, Texas), Cayden Lee (WR, Ole Miss), Aaron Anderson (WR, LSU) and Gunner Stockton(QB, Georgia).
The QB1’s
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Five quarterbacks embody the SEC with their blend of elite production, high-end talent, and promising upside.
Entering the 2025 season, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier holds the top spot as both the most productive and experienced returning QB, while Texas’s Arch Manning’s first full year as a starter brings blue-chip intrigue.
Meanwhile, Florida’s DJ Lagway and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers provide nothing but high ceilings with dual-threat play.
Taylen Green rounds out the group with a strong body of work and he’s a dangerous fit within Arkansas’s offense.
#1 Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): Nussmeier slides in as the SEC’s most accomplished returning signal-caller.
After replacing Jayden Daniels, he threw for over 4,000 yards and 28+ touchdowns. Nussmeier is ranked first because of his command, willingness to take chances, and growth within Brian Kelly’s system.
In addition, LSU has an experienced supporting cast, which Nussmeier will utilize to lead a potent offense. He may stake a claim as a Heisman contender.
Productivity & experience: SEC-leading attempts, completions, and yardage in 2024.
Elite arm talent & playmaking: Ranked top-10 in big-time throws nationally.
Offensive continuity: Solidified command entering his fourth year in Kelly’s offense
#2 Arch Manning (Texas): Manning enters his first full season as the Texas starting QB after limited action in 2024.
He completed 73 of 112 attempts for 939 yards, 9 TDs, and only 2 INTs.
Despite a modest role, his pedigree, downfield accuracy, and athleticism show promise, even among the SEC’s elite. I predict a breakout year with Arch Manning running Steve Sarkisian’s quarterback-focused system.
Ceiling: Manning is projected to grow into one of the SEC’s top QBs due to raw talent .
Foundation & Support: Coaching, strong offensive line additions, and returning weapons on both sides of the ball.
Readiness: Manning has already shown composure and success stepping in mid-season.
#3 DJ Lagway (Florida): After stepping up as a freshman in 2024, Lagway delivered 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns across seven games.
Known for a strong arm and mobility, he sparked a second-half turnaround for the Gators. Florida’s coaches have embraced his skillset entering year two.
Freshman breakout: Multiple 300-yard games early in career.
Potential: His physical gifts and arm strength make him a modern SEC prototype.
Momentum: Off‑season confidence from coaches, teammates, and fans .
#4 LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina): Sellers became a star as a dual-threat in 2024, finishing with 2,534 passing yards and 18 TDs, plus 674 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs.
His leadership, athleticism, and steady improvement in crucial moments have consistently ranked him among the SEC’s top 2–4 QBs by multiple outlets.
Dual-threat capabilities: A real ground and air threat.
Rising trajectory: Showed consistent growth and poise.
Leadership: Enters 2025 as THE offensive centerpiece.
#5 Taylen Green (Arkansas): Wrapping out the top five is Green, the true dual-threat who threw for over 3,100 yards in 2024 while contributing significantly on the ground.
In a Petrino system built around his skillset, he has the experience and supporting cast to sharpen his consistency and cut turnovers.
Proven production: Second-year SEC starter with big passing and rushing numbers.
System fit: Well-suited to Arkansas’ offense.
Upside: If he minimizes mistakes, he could quietly ascend.
Quarterbacks to keep your eyes on: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), John Mateer (Oklahoma), Austin Simmons (Ole Miss) and Gunner Stockton (Georgia).
The SEC is breaking in several new quarterbacks with several Heisman conversations in the preseason. QB1 is the most important position, and playoff dreams depend on which quarterback shines the most.
The New Dawgs
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are absolutely rolling right now when it comes to recruiting.
June was a huge month, packed with big commitments, and Georgia now sits with the number two ranked 2026 class in the country. And they are not done yet.
In just the last month, Georgia landed 16 new commitments for the 2026 cycle, pushing their total to 26. They also picked up a couple of early pledges for the 2027 class. Out of those 26 players, seven are ranked in the top 100 nationally, and a few others are knocking on the door.
Leading the way is five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, who gives Georgia a strong foundation. But more help could be on the way very soon.
Tight end Kaiden Prothro and running back Derrek Cooper are both top tier prospects who will announce their college decisions on July twelfth. Georgia is right in the mix for both.
Prothro is especially important after the Bulldogs missed out on another top tight end, Mark Bowman. Cooper, meanwhile, has Georgia going head-to-head with Miami, Ohio State, and Texas.
The biggest name still out there for Georgia might be linebacker Tyler Atkinson. He is the top player in the state and the number one linebacker in the country. He has visited Georgia more than any other school and has been a major target for years. Oregon, Clemson, and Texas are still pushing hard, but Georgia looks like it is in a strong position.
One interesting trend in this class is how many family ties are coming into play. The Bulldogs landed Zachariah and Zion Branch, who came over from Southern California.
PJ Dean committed recently and is the younger brother of former Georgia lineman Jared Wilson.
They also added Justice Fitzpatrick, whose brother Minkah is a star in the NFL. Georgia clearly values those family connections and is using them to build chemistry and depth.
Coach Smart has always said he wants players who truly love football. It is not just about rankings or offers or money.
He made that clear again this spring when he said Georgia is focused on guys with fire, passion, and energy. That mindset is helping the Bulldogs stay strong even as college football continues to change around them.
Since Smart took over in 2016, Georgia has never finished lower than fourth in the national recruiting rankings. That consistency continues.
The Bulldogs went into Texas and grabbed defensive back Chace Calicut, then beat out in state rivals Florida and Miami for defensive lineman James Johnson. Georgia is pulling talent from everywhere.
And things are still heating up. July will bring some major decisions, and Georgia is in position to land even more top players. If they do, they could easily take over the top spot in the 2026 rankings from Southern California.
Kirby Smart understands better than anyone that great players build great programs. Even with all the new twists in the sport, Georgia is sticking to what works. Recruit hard. Build relationships. Target kids who live and breathe football. That approach has Georgia sitting near the top once again.
The message is clear. Georgia is not just keeping up in the new era of recruiting. It is setting the pace.
Tech’s NIL Buzz
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Tech Athletic Director J Batt is being proactive about the changes going on across the NCAA landscape.
There is an expected $2.8 billion settlement of House v. NCAA this summer. It is expected to afford schools $20.5 million to give to its athletes.
This figure is for athlete compensation across all varsity sports, not just those that generate revenue.
The number represents approximately 22% of average athletic department revenue across power conference athletic departments. The cost could rise to nearly $33 million per school in the next decade.
Batt is part of the settlement implementation committee and he gave an interview about the potential implications.
“From a macro perspective, we’re gonna get a system that’s fair, that’s transparent. We’re gonna get a system that is much more, I would think, kind of balanced across the board,” Batt said. “I think that if we zoom all the way out, that’s what everyone wants to look for, something that is sustainable over time that certainly drives more revenue for student-athletes.
“That, at the end of the day, is a goal we’ve all been working toward and feel like this would put it into place, but also creates some of that structure, some of that transparency, some of that systematic approach to the NIL and revenue sharing going forward.”
The House v. NCAA settlement was officially ratified recently, clearing the way for universities to directly pay athletes starting in 2025.
The settlement is expected to formally take effect on July 1, 2025, after it was approved by Judge Claudia Wilken of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
This is truly the biggest shift ever in college athletics. College is officially pay-for-play for the first time ever. The NCAA cleared several rules banning the practice in the lead-up to the settlement, and the new reality is now here.
Each school is expected to handle the settlement money differently.
“I would tell you that we’re really transparent with our coaches. We’ve got great buy-in across the board. We’ve been planning on how does this happen, what does it look like, for well over a year at this point in time,” Batt continued. “We’ve been working toward not only how we might fund it, how we might deploy it, what internal resources you need. We just did up a whole different vertical with our de facto general manager and enhanced legal team (and) finance to take care of rev share payments. All those sorts of things. It’s a huge shift for everybody in college athletics.”
The expectation is that more than 70% of these funds will be spent on football at power-conference schools. For a school like UConn, they may spend 50% of their budget on men’s basketball.
It still remains unclear how Title IX will factor into the model, though at least some funds will likely be directed toward women’s sports.
Players are being compensated directly but they still will not be classified as employees. They will probably be looked at as independent contractors.
Storm Brewing?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Hurricanes won 10 games for only the second time in 20 years.
Their explosive offense led the nation in scoring (43.9 points) and produced the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Still, 2024 still felt like a disappointment.
Miami’s defense was sabotage in action finishing 69th in scoring (25.3 points) and allowing 61 plays of 20-plus yards (94th nationally).
Their defensive performance was why Miami missed the College Football Playoff with a 42-38 loss at Syracuse in the final weekend of the regular season to knock them out of the conference championship.
Often praised for his recruiting, coach Mario Cristobal elevated Miami, a team who signed top 10 recruiting classes in 2023 and 2024. The Hurricanes don’t play defense, which falls on coaching.
Cristobal hired Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who led a top 10 scoring defense (16.9 points) that finished 12th in yards per play allowed (4.76) in 2024. Miami gave up 30+ points in six of its 13 games last season. Meanwhile, Iowa was the only team that scored 30 points on Minnesota last year.
Miami made a concerted effort to retool its secondary by bringing in six transfers, headlined by Xavier Lucas from Wisconsin and, most recently, Houston/Auburn transfer Keionte Scott.
Miami has holes to fill on offense, too. In addition to Cam Ward, the Hurricanes lost their top four wideouts (Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton and Sam Brown) and tight end Elijah Arroyo.
Most notably, there was the high-profile addition of Carson Beck, Georgia’s top quarterback. Praise be the transfer portal!
Miami is very fortunate to have replaced Ward immediately and keep their momentum on offense.
In addition, Miami landed several receiver transfers: CJ Daniels (LSU/Liberty), Keelan Marion (BYU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati).
Beck didn’t throw in the spring while recovering from an elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.
He’ll have to develop chemistry with a new set of receivers and acclimate to a new offense quickly — and get more help from the revamped defense than Ward did — for Miami to win the ACC for the first time and earn a Playoff spot.
The Canes NIL presence has always been well known. LifeWallet CEO John Ruiz made the Hurricanes an immediate player in the name, image, and likeness space by doling out millions to bring talent to South Florida.
While his involvement with the program has since faded given some recent financial issues, the school’s attitude towards utilizing NIL to build its roster hasn’t budged.
Miami’s NIL estimated spin for 2025 it’s between $20-$25 million.
Miami’s investment paid off on the recruiting trail where they were able to convince top prospects to spurn notable programs in order to sign with The U.
The Canes are just below Texas and Georgia for the most estimated NIL spend in the country.
Will it translate into wins on Saturday, an ACC championship and a college football playoff slot?
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