All articles tagged with #college athletics
President Donald Trump, 79, appeared to briefly doze off as Speaker Mike Johnson spoke at a White House roundtable on college athletics, a moment that underscored a strenuous week for the president.
Tyson Foods expands its partnership with the University of Arkansas by adding jersey patches on all 19 Razorback varsity teams and serving as the Official Protein under a multi-year deal starting with the 2026-2027 season.
Arkansas announced a five-year sponsorship with Tyson Foods, placing Tyson logos on jersey patches for all 19 Razorbacks sports beginning in 2026-27 and on campus playing surfaces, with terms undisclosed and the athletics director calling it the most lucrative corporate sponsorship in college athletics.
Arkansas announced an exclusive, multi-faceted sponsorship with Tyson Foods that will place Tyson’s logo on all 19 Razorbacks varsity teams’ uniforms starting in the 2026-27 season, with logos on fields and broadcast backdrops and brand-ambassador programs. Terms haven’t been disclosed, but the deal is billed as the most comprehensive sponsorship in college sports history and involves Razorbacks donor John Tyson, signaling a major shift toward outside investment in college athletics.
President Donald Trump is inviting a star-studded group of college and professional sports figures to the White House next Friday to brainstorm ways to fix college athletics amid NIL-driven lawsuits and eligibility battles. Reported invitees include Nick Saban, Tiger Woods, Tim Tebow, Greg Sankey, Tony Petitti, Gloria Nevarez, Donde Plowman, Tony Dungy, Urban Meyer and Mack Brown, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Patriots president Jonathan Kraft also on the list; the roster could change and there have been no invitations for current student-athletes so far. The push aims to gather ideas, but translating them into legislation remains a major hurdle.
The College Football Playoff Management Committee extended the current playoff format through the 2026-27 season, preserving the existing structure and operations while continuing to evaluate longer-term changes for the CFP.
NCAA President Baker issued a statement on indictments related to sports betting in college athletics and urged the remaining states to ban risky bets to protect student-athletes and preserve the integrity of college sports.
South Carolina opened 2026 with a dominant Gamecock Opener, collecting 16 wins and multiple program records. Tyson Williams set a new SC 300m program best at 32.22 seconds, while teammate Jathiyah Muhammad topped the women’s pole vault at 4.35m. The men dominated on the track (nine wins) and in the field (three), and the women secured seven wins, including a 1-2-3 finish in both the 200m and 300m with top NCAA times, plus Tristen Harris winning the 60m. The meet closed with two 4x400 relays (men 3:05.91; women 3:40.04). Next up is Clemson’s Orange & Purple Invitational on Jan. 23-24.
UCF Athletics announces full funding of the revenue share and NIL opportunities for student-athletes, supported by donations and partnerships, with a call for local businesses to join in expanding NIL collaborations and supporting the university's athletic programs.
The Big Ten is in a holding pattern over a proposed private capital deal involving a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, which aims to secure over $2 billion from a UC pension fund in exchange for a stake, but faces opposition from some schools and concerns about short-term financial strategies and long-term stability. The deal, still under negotiation, has not been voted on and is met with mixed reactions regarding its impact on college sports' financial health and future.
The Big Ten Conference is facing a financial crisis due to excessive spending on facilities and salaries, leading it to consider a $2 billion private capital deal with the UC Pension System to fund athlete payments and reduce debt, amid broader concerns about the sustainability of college sports finances.
Paul Zeise criticizes Penn State's decision to fire coach James Franklin after a series of recent losses, arguing it exemplifies the reckless greed and short-sightedness prevalent in modern college sports, and contends Franklin had the program close to achieving its 'next level'.
KU Athletics received a historic $300 million donation from alumnus David Booth, the largest in the university's history, which will fund the Gateway District's Phase II and support KU's athletic programs, infrastructure, and future leadership in college sports.
A legal settlement is transforming college athletics by allowing Division I schools to pay student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness, starting with $20.5 million in the first year and increasing annually. This shift also involves distributing $2.8 billion in back pay to athletes affected by previous NCAA rules, with stricter oversight on third-party NIL deals. LSU is actively preparing for these changes across various aspects of its athletic programs.
Memphis has offered a $200 million proposal to join the Big 12 conference, including sponsorship commitments and a revenue-sharing plan, but faces challenges as the league's support is not yet secured, amid ongoing expansion discussions.