What we learned from Nico Iamaleava drama, plus J.D. Vance drops trophy
Until Saturday Newsletter 🏈 | This is The Athletic's college football newsletter. Sign up here to receive Until Saturday directly in your inbox.
Today in college football news, it's time to refresh on 'Andor,' the Star Wars product for grownups, before season 2 drops next week.
Will this past weekend's holdout saga of now-former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava end up changing everything about college sports? I dunno. Maybe! I get why it felt like a massive turning point. We'll get to that stuff.
First, I honestly find the story itself more fascinating than its potential ramifications. Mainly, never say Iamaleava (and his oft-involved father) isn't a trailblazer:
One guy did all that? While also appearing in the College Football Playoff? Which untested NIL boundary will he next probe like a 'Jurassic Park' raptor? Either way, now we wait to see how this weekend changes the world. Everything changes the world in some way, after all.
Maybe this captivating moment will end up being the decisive showdown that breaks college sports' ultimate stalemate. Coming right after spring ball, the Iamaleava family's move was so annoyingly timed, it found little support even among the most athlete-first factions of this relatively athlete-friendly era. Right now, it feels like Tennessee coach Josh Heupel's refusal to play the holdout game swung the balance of power back toward schools.
Advertisement
Most importantly — because this is once again the main question, as always — will this be what finally pushes various groups of adults to stop kicking the can away from collective bargaining?
Still, because college sports will always strive toward the status quo, it might just have been a thrilling drama that clarified what you can't do in the NIL era. It's natural to wonder whether each new NIL thing is a trendsetter, a landmark, a conclusion. Maybe so, and there are arguably reasons it should be. But this might've just been a standalone example of one player's camp having way too much dip on its chip.
What did we learn from this episode? Well, now we know that an average-performing QB (in games against teams with winning records, Iamaleava's passer rating ranked 85th in FBS, 12th among qualifying freshmen) can't pull off a poorly communicated holdout in mid-April, when he has little leverage because just about any other team that could conceivably pay $4 million is a team that already has a QB, as recent portal history demonstrates.
Kinda feel like we already knew all that, right? Especially since Tennessee knew it could potentially pass the sticks to QB Jake Merklinger, a former four-star who's spent a redshirt year in Heupel's offense?
It's possible Iamaleava's ostentatious counselors gave fellow athletes a perfect example of how not to negotiate — while rich guys in polo shirts just keep yearning to give unprecedented deals to five-star QBs.
🦅 College football joins the Current Pro Athlete As Assistant General Manager thing. All-Pro Raiders DE Maxx Crosby is now Eastern Michigan's Steph Curry.
🏈 Former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy was found dead late Saturday night, Texas police said. He was 24.
💰 Courted by Fox, 'College GameDay' host Rece Davis 'has agreed to a new seven-year deal for tens of millions of dollars' at ESPN.
Advertisement
🌀 The portal re-opens tomorrow, and a new name has entered: Cal RB Jaydn Ott, star of the #Calgorithm movement.
🌸 Spring ball:
⚡️ Kent State fired head coach Kenni Burns, finding he 'violated university policies concerning purchasing card expenses,' among other unspecified ethics allegations. He has a history of financial troubles.
🧔🏻♂️ Christina Day, wife of Ryan Day, says the Ohio State coach has actually never dyed his beard. That emoji looks like him, though.
🏀 Still feels like a college sports link to me: Grace Raynor interviewed the guy who went viral for predicting the greatness of a sixth-grade Paige Bueckers, the WNBA Draft's No. 1 pick last night.
⏰ The NFL Draft is next week. If last year's draft got a re-do, would LSU's Jayden Daniels go No. 1?
In the 1880s, Alice Sumner Camp was college football's most important assistant coach. The wife of Yale coach Walter Camp, she ran practices, hosted meetings and drew praise from players for her detailed feedback. That's not exactly a historical comp for today's news, but I've been shoehorning it into lots of conversations lately.
At Belichick's North Carolina, the 72-year-old coach's girlfriend — a 24-year-old named Jordon Hudson, who's copied on some of Belichick's UNC emails at his request — has taken an active role in shaping the program's messaging around the head coach, as revealed in emails obtained by The Athletic. For instance, before UNC announced Belichick was hiring his 38-year-old son, Steve, as defensive coordinator:
'Hudson said the school shouldn't use images of Steve and Bill Belichick together to prevent 'visual prompts' that could fuel accusations of nepotism. She also suggested that the Tar Heels avoid referring to Steve as 'Bill's son' and instead highlight his own accomplishments.'
Advertisement
Makes sense, sure, but know what might make it even harder for Steve to beat the nepo allegations? Being defended by his dad's girlfriend. Hudson also appears to have roles at various companies that manage Belichick's branding, merch, podcasting and so forth, all in addition to recent viral footage of her interacting with staffers during practice. More in the story by Matt Baker here.
That's J.D. Vance, the Ohio native and Ohio State alum, fumbling part of the College Football Playoff trophy during the Buckeyes' White House visit. Many college football watchers know the trophy was designed to be separable from its base.
📫 Love Until Saturday? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing
Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A federal judge on Friday approved a historic settlement that will allow colleges to begin directly paying student-athletes, signaling the most significant shift in the history of college sports and effectively dismantling the amateurism model that defined the NCAA for more than a century. Advertisement U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who has long presided over high-profile NCAA cases, gave final approval to the House v. NCAA settlement, nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House and others filed suit seeking to end restrictions on athlete compensation. Under the agreement, schools can distribute up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, beginning as soon as July 1. Additionally, $2.7 billion will be paid out over 10 years to thousands of former athletes. The ruling completes the transition that began with Wilken's earlier decisions, including her 2014 ruling in favor of Ed O'Bannon, and the NCAA's 2021 decision to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. The new revenue-sharing model pushes even further, professionalizing college athletics and placing much of the power in the hands of the four major conferences. While athletes in high-revenue sports like football and men's basketball stand to benefit significantly with some reportedly landing NIL deals worth more than $10 million, the settlement could reduce opportunities for walk-ons and Olympic sport athletes. In response, Wilken mandated a process to allow athletes cut during early implementation to be reinstated. Related: Kentucky Basketball Beats Cap Proposal With NIL Power Play Key dates include the June 11 launch of the NIL Go portal, a June 15 opt-in deadline for non-defendant schools, and the start of revenue sharing on July 1. Schools must also comply with new roster limits by their sport's season start or by Dec. 1 for winter and spring sports. Advertisement Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football Despite the sweeping changes, legal uncertainty remains. Varying state laws and the absence of a federal NIL framework leave room for future litigation. NCAA President Charlie Baker continues to push for national legislation and antitrust protection to stabilize the rapidly evolving landscape. Still, attorneys behind the settlement argue it delivers what athletes have long deserved, which is a share of the billions their efforts generate from TV deals, merchandise, and championships. As the 2025–26 academic year begins, the college sports model will look unlike anything seen before. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
MLB Executive Brian Seeley Named CEO of College Sports Commission
MLB Executive Brian Seeley Named CEO of College Sports Commission originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The landscape of college athletics took a historic turn Friday. With the approval of the House settlement, the news of Bryan Seeley taking over as CEO of the newly formed College Sports Commission followed. Advertisement Seeley, who was Major League Baseball's executive vice president of legal and operations, is expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the enforcement framework of college sports. Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Passan that Seeley had been a top target for weeks, and his hiring was formalized following the settlement's approval. He is expected to earn a seven-figure salary in his new role, making him one of the most influential figures in the evolving college athletics model. Seeley brings extensive legal and investigative experience to the position. He led MLB's Department of Investigations since 2014 and later oversaw compliance and security. His resume includes prosecuting federal white-collar crimes as a former assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Harvard. The Commission will replace the NCAA as the primary enforcement body for most rules. It will oversee compliance with new regulations surrounding revenue sharing, NIL deals, and roster limits. The NCAA will retain limited oversight on academics and certain other areas, but won't have nearly as much power as it previously had. According to a formal release, Seeley is tasked with building out investigative and enforcement teams, managing operations, and handling stakeholder relationships. He was selected by the commissioners of the Power Four conferences, who praised his integrity and leadership in a joint statement. Advertisement 'Bryan brings unwavering integrity and a wealth of relevant experience,' the commissioners wrote. 'We look forward to his leadership as we transition into this new era of college sports.' The CSC will work alongside partners such as LBi Software and Deloitte. Deloitte will manage the NIL clearinghouse, called NIL Go, a platform designed to verify athlete NIL deals and ensure they are legitimate business agreements rather than recruiting incentives. Related: Judge Approves Landmark NCAA Settlement, Paving Way for Revenue Sharing The enforcement is expected to be faster and more decisive than under the NCAA. Investigations will aim to conclude within 45 days. The CEO will have authority to impose penalties and make final determinations on rule violations. Advertisement With a fast-approaching timeline, direct revenue sharing with athletes will begin July 1. Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football Seeley's leadership arrives at a critical moment with college sports entering an uncharted territory. The hope is the CSC can restore order to what has been widely referred to as the 'wild, wild West' of college athletics. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Razorbacks' College World Series run is a grand slam for Arkansas businesses
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks are Omaha-bound for the College World Series, and while fans are thrilled about the team's first postseason appearance since 2022, it's not just the players who are racking up wins — local businesses are, too. As excitement for a potential national title builds, that energy is translating directly into sales at stores across the state. 'I get a text, usually from my friends, saying they need a new Razorback shirt,' longtime fan Toni Goble said. WATCH: Dave Van Horn and players talk going to Omaha, beating Tennessee 11-4 At Rock City Outfitters in Conway, online orders are spiking. Owner Ryan Ritchie said demand surges every time the Razorbacks have a successful run. 'Anytime they do well, you see that excitement build up. A lot more website visits, a lot more purchases, and everybody's in a good mood, so they tend to buy more,' Ritchie said. He added that many fans feel personally connected to the gear they buy. 'It's fun, especially to look up in the stands at some of these games and see people wearing our shirts,' he said. 'Usually when they see it, they have a story behind it, or it reminds them of a time as a child going to a sporting event.' That same postseason energy is being felt at Rally House Arkansas in Little Rock, where assistant store manager Carter Martin said foot traffic has increased significantly. 'Those are all gone — and we've been selling a lot of T-shirts,' Martin said. As fans scramble for the latest gear, businesses are embracing the momentum and hoping the team's run continues. 'It's about building that connection with other Arkansans,' Ritchie said. 'And being able to create a product they can relate to and be proud to wear.' Hogs sweep Vols to win Super Regional, Omaha next With more College World Series games ahead, business owners say the economic ripple effect of the Razorbacks' run could last as long as their postseason streak. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
