AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The NCAA waited nearly a year to issue a warning that there are still rules to follow now that college athletes can earn money off their fame, sparking speculation that a crackdown could be coming for schools and boosters that break them.
By trying to limit how much schools can help college athletes cashing in on their fame, the NCAA seems to have inadvertently opened the door for boosters to get a foothold in a burgeoning market.
Now, as the NCAA and its highest-profile Division I member schools try to rein in booster-fueled organizations known as collectives, part of the solution could be taking down the firewalls between athletic departments and athletes when it comes to name, image and likeness compensation.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban denies that anybody from his program had contact with receiver Tyler Harrell before the former Louisville player entered the transfer portal, which would have violated NCAA rules.
Football and men's basketball players on scholarship in one of the major conferences can expect to soon earn a minimum of $50,000 each year he plays because of the influx of cash from so-called booster collectives brokering name, image and likeness deals.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The latest lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill by college sports leaders come as the NCAA tries to rein in booster organizations funding questionable sponsorship deals for athletes for use of their names, images and likenesses.
An agent for a prominent college athlete finally said out loud what schools likely hear in private: Pay the player more, or he will transfer to a school that will.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 are scheduled to meet with lawmakers in Washington on Thursday to lobby for federal legislation to regulate name, image and likeness compensation to athletes.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — College football coaches are pushing for changes to NCAA rules to help stabilize rosters depleted by transfers.
The proposals would lift the yearly cap on how many players a school can sign and create designated windows in which a player must enter the transfer portal and retain immediate eligibility.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison is exploring his options.
The rising junior and 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver is in the NCAA transfer portal. Addison put in his paperwork by the May 1 deadline and his entry became visible Tuesday.
ATLANTA (AP) — Herschel Walker is expected to skip a second debate against his Republican rivals for a crucial U.S.
Scott Frost will be barred from coaching for five consecutive days this season as part of Nebraska's negotiated settlement with the NCAA for allowing an unauthorized staff member to do hands-on special teams coaching two years ago.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The death last month of a 24-year-old California police officer was caused by “fentanyl toxicity,” coroner's officials said.
De'Jon Packer, a rookie with the San Jose Police Department, was found unresponsive March 13 during a welfare check at his Milpitas home.
There are stars to be found in the final rounds of the NFL draft. They're just not easy to spot.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins both were taken in the fourth round and went on to become Pro Bowl passers.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — On a draft night the Atlanta Falcons focused on their defense, adding two edge rushers, the new name in the quarterback room stole the show.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — It took 42 selections Friday before a second quarterback was taken in the NFL draft. And it was a proven commodity in college, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder.
A full 54 spots after Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh went 20th to the Steelers on Thursday night, Ridder was taken by Atlanta.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back for one more season at UCLA, even though many encouraged him to declare for the NFL draft.
The fifth-year quarterback would have been a midround pick in this year's class.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State hired Boston College athletic director Patrick Kraft to be its next AD on Friday.
Kraft, 43, will take over for the retiring Sandy Barbour on July 1 after the Penn State Board of Trustees approved an agreement that had been in the works for several days.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In an NFL draft focused early on stoppers, it was the goers — wide receivers — who stole the spotlight Thursday night.
Not simply prospects, either.
Yes, the first five selections came on the defensive side of the ball, including edge rushers Travon Walker of national champion Georgia to Jacksonville and Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan to Detroit at Nos.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert is stepping down after 12 tumultuous years leading an association that has become increasingly marginalized while college sports has undergone massive changes and been besieged by political and legal attacks.
Some Big 12 Conference players to watch next season:
BAYLOR: Redshirt sophomore Lorando Johnson, a former four-star recruit known as “Snaxx,” is expected to take over the hybrid linebacker-defensive back spot in the Bears defense.
There are three new head coaches in the Big 12 and there will be a few new starting quarterbacks when the season kicks off in September. Only Oklahoma has both.
A look at Southeastern Conference players who appear poised to have breakout seasons:
SEC EAST
Florida: Running back Montrell Johnson followed new Florida coach Billy Napier from Louisiana-Lafayette and was a bright spot during spring practice.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart didn't know exactly where he wanted to go upon deciding to leave USC, just that the Southeastern Conference was a preferred destination.
Arizona has two quarterbacks who split time last year, added a transfer from another Pac-12 school and has a freshman who has been turning heads.
The Wildcats have a frontrunner to be the starter but the first game is still more than four months away, so no reason to make any declarations just yet.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Marcus Freeman couldn’t have wished for a better ending to his first spring as Notre Dame’s head coach.
True freshman quarterback Steve Angeli’s 10-yard dash and dive to get the ball past the pylon on the final play for the touchdown gave the Gold a 13-10 comeback victory over the Blue before 33,754 fans at Notre Dame Stadium last weekend.
A look at Atlantic Coast Conference players this spring who are poised to have standout seasons this fall:
ATLANTIC DIVISION
BOSTON COLLEGE: TE George Takacs is a transfer from Notre Dame who started five games last season, serving largely as a blocker.
The Atlantic Coast Conference changed significantly last season with Pitt winning the league title, Wake Forest taking the Atlantic Division and conference powerhouse Clemson largely out of the mix by mid-October.
A look at football players in the Big Ten this spring who are poised to have standout seasons this fall:
Coordinator changes and heavy player personnel losses made it a spring of uncertainty for the top Big Ten defenses.
Start with Wisconsin, which has been in the national top five in total defense three straight years and lower than that just twice since 2014.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) —
At home, two-term Republican Sen. John Boozman is known as an unassuming figure who talks almost in a whisper and is more comfortable chatting about policy or the University of Arkansas Razorbacks' football record than giving fiery speeches.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield has overcome adversity many times and expects to do it again.
After all, perhaps more than any other quality, the former University of Oklahoma quarterback has made his mark with resilience.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — For a coach charged with the monumental task of raising a prestigious college football program from its lowest depths in three decades, Lincoln Riley looked quite content after Southern California's spring game.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford considers himself a good communicator, but he's found connecting with his younger teammates to be a bit tougher this spring.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables respects what the Sooners have accomplished in recent years, but he believes they can be even better.
Lincoln Riley compiled a 55-10 record in five seasons before leaving to become head coach at Southern California. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won Heisman trophies before becoming No.