Author: Gabby Har

Fans won’t see any West Virginia football players hitting the renegade dance on TikTok this year. New coach Rich Rodriguez said he’s limiting what players can do on the popular social media app.

It’s impossible to keep the young men off the app entirely, Rodriguez confessed to reporters this week, but the coach won’t let players post any dancing videos.

“I’m just banning them from dancing on it,” he added. “It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok, ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”

Rodriguez, who coached the Mountaineers from 2001 through 2007, is taking over again for the 2025 season. The West Virginia native went 27-10 the past three seasons at Jacksonville State.

“I hope our focus can be on winning football games,” he said. “How about let’s win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok?”

Summer camp for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team is still months away.

But the quarterback competition for the program has already started. Through spring practices, sophomore signal-caller Julian Sayin is emerging as an early favorite to earn the starting job.

But quarterback explained to On3’s Spencer Holbrook on Wednesday that he isn’t getting caught up in who the public sees as potentially leading the quarterback competition.

“I don’t listen to the outside noise,” Sayin told Holbrook. “I’m just focused on getting better every day, getting ready for Friday’s practice, just improving on practice three.

“I think, kind of like I said before, I’m really just focused on the fundamentals and improving every day and just getting better.

Taking what Coach Day, Coach Mick, and Coach Fessler are bringing to us in the quarterback room.”

Sayin initially signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide as part of the 2024 recruiting class.

But he transferred to Ohio State after Nick Saban retired. Sayin appeared in four games for the Buckeyes last season. The quarterback completed five of 12 attempts for 84 yards with a touchdown.

Early in the quarterback competition but man the way the ball just jumps off the hand of Julian Sayin is just different.

Five-star freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair is Sayin’s top competition to start for the Buckeyes. Signal-caller Lincoln Kienholz is also returning for the Ohio State quarterback room.

On3 projects Sayin’s NIL value to be $1.1 million entering the 2025 season. That value should only increase if Sayin wins the starting job.

Three-star wide receiver Rico Blassingame is taking his talents to the Big Ten. The impressive pass catcher from Tolleson (Ariz.) Union announced his commitment to Minnesota Thursday, a few weeks after making it to campus for an unofficial visit.

It’s a notable victory for the Golden Gophers.

The University of Minnesota football team has secured a significant commitment with the addition of Rico Blassingame, a highly-rated wide receiver from Arizona. Blassingame, ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in the state, announced his decision to join the Gophers on social media, marking a major win for head coach P.J. Fleck and the program’s recruiting efforts.

Blassingame, who stands at 6’2″ and boasts elite speed and playmaking ability, was heavily recruited by multiple programs but ultimately chose Minnesota for its promising future and the opportunity to play in the Big Ten. Known for his dynamic ability to stretch the field and make explosive plays, Blassingame is expected to make an immediate impact on the Gophers’ offense.

“I’m excited to announce that I will be committing to the University of Minnesota,” Blassingame wrote in his post. “Thank you to all the coaches who believed in me, and I’m ready to make my mark at Minnesota.”

The commitment solidifies the Gophers’ position as one of the top teams in the conference when it comes to recruiting high-profile offensive talents. Blassingame’s decision comes on the heels of Minnesota’s recent success in securing top-tier recruits from across the country, further adding to their growing pipeline of elite athletes.

With Blassingame’s commitment, the Gophers are poised to strengthen their receiving corps, providing quarterback Tanner Morgan (or his successor) with a dynamic weapon in the passing game. Fans are already excited to see what the future holds for this emerging star in maroon and gold.

Indiana basketball has officially begun a new era under head coach Darian DeVries. But with a coaching change comes significant roster churning, and the Hoosiers will have a lot of work to do this offseason to rebuild the roster in DeVries’ vision.

While DeVries is only just beginning to meet with IU players from the 2024-25 season, nothing is guaranteed to remain the same due to the coaching change, including the personnel. Players such as sophomore point guard Gabe Cupps and junior forward Malik Reneau have already entered the transfer portal, while several more could explore other opportunities in the coming the days.

But there’s still a chance that DeVries decides he wants to keep players from the previous coaching regime, and there are multiple who could thrive under DeVries’ fast-paced, high-scoring offensive system. Who might those players be?

From Myles Rice’s dynamic speed and playmaking, to Luke Goode and Mackenzie Mgbako’s shooting touch, to Bryson Tucker’s untapped potential, here are four Hoosiers who could stick around in Bloomington and succeed with DeVries’ guidance.

It’s no secret that Luke Goode loves being at Indiana and will do everything possible to be granted an additional fifth year of eligibility.

Goode has exhausted his four years of college eligibility, but after playing in just 10 games during the 2022-23 season he will appeal to the NCAA for a medical redshirt year. The glaring roadblock standing between Goode and gaining a fifth year is that he returned to play in the postseason during the 2022-23 season, thus making it hard to argue that he suffered a “season-ending” injury.

If Goode does win his appeal and get back another year of eligibility, Indiana will likely be at the top of his lists of schools to finish his career at. Of course, DeVries will also have to want Goode to return to Indiana, but his 3-point shooting and natural leadership skills would be hard for any coach to turn down.

The Fort Wayne, Ind. native posted a strong shooting season at IU after transferring from Illinois, where he spent the first three years of his career. Goode led the Hoosiers in 3-point percentage (39.2%) and 3-point attempts (158), and his shot-making and floor-spacing was a major key to IU’s late-season resurgence.

But it’s Goode’s intangibles that make him arguably the most important Hoosier to retain under the new coaching staff. In less than a year at IU, Goode emerged as an emotional and vocal leader, commanding the respect of his teammates and bringing the Hoosiers together on the court. He also quickly became a fan-favorite and would overwhelmingly be welcomed back by Hoosier Nation next season.

In DeVries’ four-out offense, Goode would be a natural fit as a wing player who poses a dangerous shooting threat, especially in spot-up opportunities. With Tucker DeVries, one of the nation’s best shooters, expected to follow DeVries to Indiana, a wing pairing of Goode and DeVries would give Indiana immediate veteran experience and a lethal shooting duo.

A lot hinges on Goode winning his medical redshirt appeal, which could take some time to settle, but if granted a fifth year, Indiana would benefit greatly from bringing back Goode.

Myles Rice went from Pac-12 Freshman of the Year to Indiana bench player in just one year. Despite Rice’s best efforts to adapt to Mike Woodson’s system and play through the struggles, he never seemed fully comfortable playing in Woodson’s offense. The Hoosiers relied heavily on Rice to be a lead playmaker and ball-handler at the start of the season, only to pivot away from Rice and toward Trey Galloway later in the season.

Rice’s move from Washington State to Indiana meant he had to evolve his style of play from an up-tempo, downhill scorer into a slower-paced, methodical, pick-and-roll heavy point guard. That transition didn’t go over smoothly as Rice experienced drop-offs in nearly every statistical category from his freshman to sophomore year — minutes, points, rebounds, assists, shot attempts, and more.

However, with DeVries bringing a high-tempo offense to Bloomington, which prioritizes scoring in 12 seconds or less and taking advantage of “broken floor” opportunities, it could be an ideal situation for Rice to return to.

Whether Rice enters the transfer portal or decides to stay at Indiana, he will be playing for a third head coach in as many seasons, regardless. It will ultimately be up to Rice to decide if he trusts DeVries enough to get him back to his freshman form.

Rice’s ceiling as a productive shot-creator and a blur in transition is still clearly evident — the Washington State version of Rice didn’t suddenly disappear — but it will take the right coach to reinstill Rice’s confidence and allow him to play as his most comfortable self.

In DeVries’ system, perhaps Rice is allowed to play a freer, more natural combo guard role instead of pigeon-holed as a pass-first point guard. That would likely have to be the pitch to Rice if he’s going to stay at Indiana, but it could be very worthwhile in the long run

Mackenzie Mgbako was a popular breakout pick for the Hoosiers entering his sophomore season, but the 2024-25 campaign was more of the same from Mgbako rather than obvious steps forward in his development. While the 6-foot-8 wing showed more aggression in attacking the rim, scoring at all three levels and crashing the glass, his defensive struggles and game-to-game inconsistencies still remained weaknesses.

Mgbako was once thought of as a potential one-and-done recruit as a former McDonald’s All-American, yet two years later he still looks more like an unfinished product than a bonafide NBA prospect. Some of that can be attributed to Woodson’s offensive scheme and disadvantageous lineup combinations with Mgbako on the court, but Mgbako’s own individual warts are a work-in-progress.

But it still feels as though Mgbako is capable of breaking out with the right head coach and in the right offense. Mgbako will never be a defensive stalwart, but his shot-making ability as a big wing is coveted at the high-major level.

Should Mgbako decide to stay at Indiana and play for DeVries, it could make for a more comfortable pairing given Mgbako’s shooting-centric play style and DeVries’ propensity for taking 3-pointers. Mgbako also possesses the most raw offensive talent of any player that DeVries has coached, which could be a project that DeVries embraces rather than shies away from.

Mgbako, a New Jersey native, could ultimately decide that a change of scenery is what’s best for him, potentially moving closer back home. However, don’t discount DeVries’ offense as a major pull for any shooter hoping for a fresh start.

Bryson Tucker‘s freshman season didn’t pan out how he or Indiana would’ve hoped. The Hoosiers gave Tucker a long leash in the first half of the season, but eventually went away from Tucker in the second half of the year as IU made a last-ditch push toward the NCAA Tournament and shortened the rotation. In essence, Tucker went from consistent bench minutes to a string of DNPs to close out his freshman year.

The former McDonald’s All-American clearly has a ton of potential waiting to be unlocked, though. At 6-foot-6, Tucker is the prototypical big guard that made him an NBA prospect coming out of high school. His mature feel for the game showed in spurts as a freshman, but there were also plenty of weaknesses.

Tucker thrived in the mid-range with a soft jumper, and also as a crafty finisher around the rim, but his 3-point shot never came around (3-of-20) and IU couldn’t afford to have a non-perimeter shooting threat on the floor with its season on the line. Tucker’s defensive struggles also made it hard to keep him on the court for extended stretches, which is another area that will have to improve if he’s going to play bigger minutes as a sophomore and beyond.

Tucker has an old-school game that was more of a fit for Woodson’s system than a modern college system. That doesn’t mean Tucker can’t be developed into a respectable 3-point shooter while also leveraging his mature inside-the-arc skills, but the tools are still very raw and in need of refining.

Perhaps DeVries sees enough in Tucker to take a chance on his upside and bring him back as a sophomore. Though Tucker’s shooting concerns will remain a significant question mark, especially with DeVries’ four-out style, there’s a ton of moldable skills that could be unlocked in the right system.

Georgia wide receiver Nitro Tuggle faces charges of reckless driving and speeding following his arrest on Thursday morning.

Athens-Clarke County Police booked the rising sophomore on the two misdemeanor charges just before 2 a.m. ET and released him on a $20 cash bond an hour later, according to online records.

Tuggle caught three passes for 34 yards in two games for the Bulldogs as a 2024 freshman.

He initially announced plans to enter the transfer portal in December before electing to stay at Georgia.

The school has not yet released a statement on Tuggle’s arrest. It’s the latest incident for a program that has seen more than two dozen arrests or citations for speeding, reckless driving or racing since a fatal crash in January 2023 that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.

The Tennessee Volunteers are in the mix for one of the top playmakers in the 2026 class and, as the race for his services continues, he has given his verdict on one of the most important aspects of their program.

Tristen Keys (Hattiesburg, Miss.) is the top wide receiver and third overall player in the 2026 class, according to On3’s industry rankings.

Among Tennessee’s rivals for his commitment are the Ole Miss Rebels, USC Trojans, Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers and Miami Hurricanes.

However, the Volunteers’ position in the fight to land Keys may be helped by their situation at quarterback, of which the wideout was complimentary over the weekend.

Speaking at Overtime OT7 event in Dallas, Keys, per On3, said: “I haven’t quite found that No. 1 right now. I’d say Tennessee is going at it real hard. I’d say Tennessee is going harder than anyone else.

“Tennessee is doing a very great job. I just left there on a three-day visit. LSU is doing a great job and so is Bama. They’ve been doing a great job in recruiting me as well as Texas A&M.

Those four have been going harder than everyone else.” On Tennessee specifically, Keys highlighted their strength at quarterback, with Nico Iamaleava entering his third season with the Volunteers, who also have a commitment from Faizon Brandon, the second-ranked signal-caller in the 2026 class in On3’s industry rankings.

“I love the coaching staff,” Keys said. “They get along well. They create relationships with the kids. That’s important.

You want that position coach you can go to and not just talk ball. You can talk relations, talk life, talk on the financial side. They’re doing a great job with their players.

They got some great players over there. I got chance to hang out with them and that was my favorite part.

“They do a good job at the quarterback position. They got Faizon up there. They got Nico . They do a great job recruiting quarterbacks and you want somebody that can spin the ball when you’re a wide receiver.”

Tennessee looks poised to have strong options at quarterback for many years to come, and their long-term plan at the position could be enough to ensure their full-court press to seal Keys’ commitment is successful.

I promise that a majority of those who looked at the headline of this article immediate thought “you can’t buy a college football program” or “that would never happen.”

Well I promise you that it will happen. I might be retired at the time but it’ll happen in my lifetime.

However, I hope it never does.

Yesterday when I heard that the Boston Celtics are going to be sold for $6.1 billion to a private equity firm, I couldn’t help but wonder how much Nebraska football is worth. Or maybe, what is the Nebraska athletic department worth if it was put on an open market and sold to the highest bidder?

Well after a little research, apparently the Wall Street Journal already went into this a couple months ago.

That article did not have Nebraska in the top 10 but put a value on Ohio State at $1.957 billion.

However, a CNBC article ranked Nebraska 8th in the country and put the value at $943 million. This was a 2024 valuation and:

My reaction? If I was the good ole Nebraska U, there is no way I’m selling Nebraska football for $943 million.

How much would you sell Nebraska football for?

Duke Blue Devils star freshman Cooper Flagg made his March Madness debut on Friday, and it was a success.

After concerns about the ankle injury he suffered during the ACC Tournament, the first-year forward returned to Duke’s lineup and immediately put together an impressive performance to help the No. 1 seed Blue Devils score an easy 93-49 victory over the No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

But before that game, while discussing Duke’s incredible depth and talent beyond Flagg, former NBA guard and college basketball analyst Kenny Smith casually referred to the Blue Devils star as a “possible NBA lottery pick (h/t Awful Announcing).”

That got the attention of a lot of folks on social media.

“Way to go out on a limb, there, Jet,” said a fan on X.

Another one said: “Really going out on a limb here.”

From a commenter: “He also claims water is wet.”

“Kenny Smith just admitting he doesn’t like Duke clearly,” a social media user posted.

Via a different commenter: “It’s pretty hilarious how the NBAonTNT crew says something stupid at least once a week”

“Literally nobody knows less about college than the TNT guys,” one added.

Against the Mountaineers, the 18-year-old Flagg, who is widely expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA draft, scored 14 points with seven boards and four assists while shooting 6-for-12 from the floor in 22 minutes of action.

Duke was led by Tyrese Proctor, who dropped 19 points on the strength of six made 3-pointers while Caleb Foster came off the bench and contributed 12 points.

Up next for Flagg and the Blue Devils is a date in the second round of the Big Dance against fellow first-round survivor and No. 9 seed Baylor Bears on Sunday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Matt Peet has officially stepped down as the head coach of Wigan Warriors following a turbulent period marked by intense criticism from fans. Despite leading the team through several seasons, Peet’s tenure at the club ended abruptly after a series of disappointing performances, culminating in his decision to resign.

Peet, who took over the reins at Wigan Warriors in 2021, faced growing frustration from supporters as the team struggled to meet expectations. A string of lackluster results, including heavy defeats, left fans questioning his tactics and leadership. As the pressure mounted, the vocal discontent from the fanbase grew louder, with some even resorting to public insults directed at Peet.

The tipping point came after a particularly devastating loss, which saw tensions flare between Peet and the fans. Following a heated exchange, the club confirmed that Peet had agreed to step down from his position. In a statement, Peet expressed regret over the circumstances but emphasized that his decision was in the best interest of both the club and his personal well-being.

“I have always given my best to Wigan, but the situation has become untenable,” Peet said. “I want to thank the players, staff, and loyal fans who have supported me. This decision was not easy, but I believe it is the right one.”

While Peet’s departure marks the end of his coaching career at Wigan, his future remains uncertain. The Warriors are now on the lookout for a new head coach to restore stability and rebuild the team. Fans hope the next chapter will bring success and unity to a club that has faced more challenges than it anticipated under Peet’s leadership.