Category: College Football

USATSI

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff presented details for a potential media rights deal to leaders from member institutions at a meeting on Tuesday, though ultimately no agreement was reached, according to multiple reports. Another meeting is planned soon with both sides remaining hopeful a deal can be reached. 

According to ESPN, the proposed deal was streaming-centric through Apple and would incentivize tiers with an upside if certain subscription numbers are met. The agreement would start in 2024-25 and begin with a relatively low payout relative to what league members had hoped. Compensation would incrementally improve, with high-end estimates that would be competitive with the Big 12 and ACC in the future.

The formal presentation came five days after Colorado abruptly announced its intentions to head back to its former home in the Big 12 amid the uncertainty surrounding the league and its media rights future. The Pac-12 authorized Kliavkoff to begin negotiations for a new television contract in June 2022 after USC and UCLA announced plans to join the Big Ten in July 2024. Despite more than a year passing, the league has yet to present firm numbers for a television contract to its remaining member schools, until reportedly on Tuesday. 

Various people in or around the Pac-12 have claimed for months that a deal would be imminent. Arizona State president Michael Crow told The State Press that the league was in the final stages of negotiations in March. The Athletic, meanwhile, reported that a deal could…

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Things continue to trend in a positive direction for Rutgers football and Caden Brown this weekend, with the New York three-star back on-campus over the weekend.

Brown took an unofficial visit on Saturday to Rutgers football, joining a dozen committed players on-campus for a day of learning more about the program. He was the only player in the group who was not a Rutgers football commit.

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound defensive lineman from Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Brown is a class of 2024 recruit who is ranked a three-star by ever prominent recruiting service. He is a consensus a top-five player in New York.

He has a strong offer list that includes Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Washington in addition to Rutgers.

“The visit was great. We had…a chance to experience what a full workday would be like as a Rutgers football player.,” Brown told Rutgers Wire over the weekend.

“What stood out was learning some new pass-rushing techniques from coach Watson (defensive line coach Marquise Watson) and the d-line staff.”

In May, he cut down his recruitment to a final four of Maryland, Michigan State and Penn State and Rutgers.

For now, Brown continues along with his recruitment, although he did recently claim that the school is his top program.

“The relationship with Rutgers is strong. I definitely understand what is expected from me as a D1, Power Five athlete and more specifically a Rutgers football player,” Brown said.

“I’m embracing the challenge and I feel I will be ready soon.”

Rutgers is currently doing well in New York, landing four-star K.J. Duff and three-star defensive lineman Aaris Bethea, who is a teammate of Brown’s at Erasmus Hall.

 

As for a timetable for his own decision, Brown said things are progressing nicely in his recruitment and that a decision…

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247Sports

Five-star wide receiver Perry Thompson flipped his commitment to Auburn Saturday afternoon, spurning Alabama — the Tigers’ biggest rival — in the process. Thompson, who committed to the Crimson Tide more than a year ago, announced his latest decision while on a visit to Auburn’s “Big Cat Weekend” recruiting event. 

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Thompson is the highest-ranked commit in Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class. Though he wasn’t offered a scholarship under Bryan Harsin’s staff, Freeze and his group rectified that quickly in January. It took the Tigers six months to convince Thompson to jump ship from Alabama. 

Freeze joined Thompson on a live Instagram broadcast put on by Auburn players and other commits. 

A product of Foley, Alabama, Thompson ranks as the No. 14 prospect nationally and No. 4 wide receiver, according to 247Sports. He took official visits to both Auburn and Alabama in the month of June, with his latest visit to The Plains being an unofficial. 

“Really the coaches building a bond with me and making me feel like family,” Thompson told Auburn Undercover after his official visit. “Everything on campus just feels like home, it feels good. Oh yeah, we built a strong bond. Every day I come up to campus we can just connect and there’s a strong relationship there.”

Thompson had more than 1,000 yards receiving and hauled in nine touchdowns as a junior at Foley.

“Physical prospect on the offensive side of the ball that understands how to utilize his frame and play strength as a pass…

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BYU football received a commitment from long snapper Cannon Skidmore | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News

Long snapper Cannon Skidmore announced his commitment to BYU on Saturday evening.

Skidmore, from Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona, was offered by special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga on June 16.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound long snapper announced his commitment on Twitter, writing “HOME!”

Washington, San Diego State and Air Force were among the teams that offered Skidmore. He’s the ninth player to commit to BYU’s 2024 class.

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Heading into Friday’s Pac-12 Media Day, the long-term future of the conference remains uncertain amid ongoing media rights negotiations. But the conference won’t be announcing a new media rights deal at Pac-12 Media Day because, well, there is no deal to announce.

That won’t be the only thing missing in the first Pac-12 Media Day held in Las Vegas. Deion Sanders, who took over at Colorado following a successful three-year run at Jackson State, would have been one of the main attractions (along with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who is one of USC’s two player representatives at the event) but Coach Prime will not be in attendance due to a scheduled medical procedure. Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly will take Sanders’ place at the event.

This will also be the final Pac-12 Media Day for UCLA and USC, who depart for the Big Ten in 2024.

However, the league is deep with potential contenders and star power. Among the big names who will be in the spotlight for Pac-12 Media Day are Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, Utah quarterback Cam Rising, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter. Ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2022, Hunter is also expected to play some receiver for the Buffaloes after following Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado.

Below is a look at the complete schedule and list of participants for this year’s Pac-12 Media Day event. All times ET. 

Friday’s Pac-12 Media Day schedule

Utah…

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The Oklahoma Sooners are having a nice month of July. They’ve picked up three commitments thus far and could earn another pledge on Friday with No. 1 running back Taylor Tatum making his decision.

With recruiting heating up for Brent Venables and his staff, another target is looking to make his decision before the end of July. That is 2024 offensive lineman Eugene Brooks. Brooks is a four-star prospect according to Rivals and ranks as the No. 12 guard in the country.

Brooks is planning on making his decision on Tuesday, July 25. And it all comes down to Oklahoma and Texas.

Brooks started his career at Las Vegas Desert Pines, the same school that produced Oklahoma’s Jovantae Barnes. Las Vegas is an area the Sooners have recruited very well with DeMarco Murray opening the door to talented prospects in the area.

Brooks will finish his career at Sierra Canyon in California and ranks as the No. 31 prospect in the state.

While Texas is still involved, each of the three major recruiting sites are predicting a win for the Oklahoma Sooners on this front.

“I was there my sophomore year,” Brooks told 247Sports Greg Biggins. “I really like coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh and DeMarco Murray and connected really well with the whole staff there.

“I know some of the players on the team already, and they’re all excited about the direction the program is going in now. I see a lot of opportunity there, and just like with Texas, I have a great comfort level on campus.”

It’s a Red River Showdown for the talented offensive line target. At the moment, the Sooners have just one offensive lineman committed in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Isaiah Autry. Though they took a big class in the 2023 cycle, and we’ve yet to see the 2022 guys take the field, you can never have enough good linemen.

They’ve been trending in a positive direction for…

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Big Ten Media Days is set to kick off July 26. The two-day event will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the conference title game in December. Players and coaches from all 14 schools are scheduled to meet with the media and discuss the upcoming season. 

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is set to speak first at the event. He took over the position after former commissioner Kevin Warren departed for a job with the Chicago Bears earlier this year. The conference is entering the final year with its current lineup before welcoming UCLA and USC to the fold next summer.

Among the big names participating in the event are Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Michigan running back Blake Corum, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen. 

Here’s a complete list of the speaking schedule over two days, as well as the players who will be in attendance.

All times Eastern

Tuesday, July 26

Illinois (11 a.m.) —  Coach Bret Bielema | DL Jer’zhan Newton, DL Keith Randolph Jr., WR Isaiah Williams

Iowa (11:15 a.m.) — Coach Kirk Ferentz | DB Cooper DeJean, TE Luke Lachey, DL Noah Shannon

Michigan State (11:30 a.m.) — Coach Mel Tucker | OG J.D. Duplain, LB Cal Haladay, WR Tre Mosley

Northwestern (11:45 a.m.) — Coach David Braun | LB Bryce Gallagher, DB Rod Heard ll, WR Bryce Kirtz

Ohio State (12 p.m.) — Coach Ryan Day | WR Marvin Harrison Jr., TE Cade Stover, DE JT Tuimolau

Penn State (12:15 p.m.) — Coach James Franklin | S Keaton Ellis, OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu, DE Adisa Isaac

Rutgers (12:30 p.m.) — Coach Greg Schiano | LB Deion Jennings, TE Johnny Langan, DL Aaron Lewis

Wednesday, July 27

Indiana (11 a.m.) — Coach Tom Allen | LB Aaron Casey, RB/RS Jaylin Lucas, DB Noah Pierre

Maryland…

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It wasn’t immediately clear almost three years ago that Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee football staff had committed numerous NCAA violations until an inside joke among coaches alerted investigators, documents reveal.

A student worker in the UT football program joked that assistant coach Brian Niedermeyer couldn’t take a pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic because he needed to pay for nail salon visits for recruits and their families.

Knox News obtained the report of UT’s internal investigation through an open records request. It reveals the events that blew open the case, which led to Pruitt being fired for cause and now receiving a six-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA, which was announced Friday.

Seven UT football assistants and staff member also received show-cause penalties. A show-cause penalty means a university cannot hire a coach or recruiter without NCAA approval during the length of the ban. Pruitt’s show-cause includes a 100% suspension for the first year of employment should an NCAA school hire in him in any athletics position.

UT football was put on five years of probation, including 28 scholarship cuts, recruiting restrictions, vacated wins and a large fine. But it did not get a postseason ban.

On Nov. 13, 2020, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman’s office received a tip from an athletics department staff member. That person said they overheard members of the football program claim that some players were being “paid.”

UT alerted the NCAA and opened an internal investigation. Six days later, the university hired Bond, Schoeneck and King, a law firm specializing in NCAA infractions cases, to investigate further.

That much has been known since January 2021, when Plowman announced the probe and Pruitt’s firing.But the BSK firm’s report reveals where the case took a turn.

“An athletics department staff…

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