SCOOP: The largest public pension fund in the U.S., CalPERS, is one of the groups in contention to invest in the Big Ten, @FOS has learned. It's part of the private capital proposal Big Ten members are considering (first reported by ESPN last week). frontofficesports.com/big-ten-cons...

NEW: Before beating Penn State, UCLA had a coaching staff in disarray, a QB who couldn't win, an athletic dept saddled with debt, a lackluster NIL strategy, and an AD who lost fan support. UCLA still has many issues. But now, the team has one victory. frontofficesports.com/the-improbab...

NEW: Collectives have given up on waiting for NIL Go. At least two NIL collectives have begun to pay players before the submitted deals have been approved in NIL GO, sources tell @FOS. Another is preparing to do so. frontofficesports.com/fed-up-nil-c...

NEW: For the first time in 20+ years, the NCAA plans to host a women's Final Four in an active NFL stadium--the 2028 event will be at Lucas Oil in Indy. The stadium won't be full, tho. NCAA is planning to offer 31K tickets, though Lucas Oil seats 70K. frontofficesports.com/women-final-...

NEW: Senate Dems have introduced the SAFE Act, a counter to the SCORE Act. It's a mix of old ideas and new, like amending the Sports Broadcasting Act to pool NCAA media rights. Sources gave FOS conflicting views about whether GOP Senators will sign on. frontofficesports.com/senate-democ...

BREAKING: Shane Tamura, who traveled to New York in July and shot and killed four people in the building that housed the NFL headquarters, had “low-stage Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE),” the New York City Medical Examiner’s office found. frontofficesports.com/new-york-cit...

SCOOP: Investment firm Sequence Equity was the group behind a pitch made to FCS commissioners about a privatized FCS playoff this week, FOS has learned. Sequence Equity would take minority stake in entity owned by FCS leagues. Proposal is being taken to the NCAA, source says.

NEW: Vandy use to be the laughingstock of the SEC. But now, they're 4-0 and ranked 18th. At the helm is QB Diego Pavia, who filed a watershed lawsuit against the NCAA last year to grant him extra eligibility. Now, two of his teammates are suing as well. frontofficesports.com/vanderbilt-w...

NEW: The NCAA denies it deemed Wofford players ineligible for using meal plans while living off campus, telling @FOS these violations are usually resolved through self-reporting w no penalty for players. Lawyer who made the claims stands by them however. frontofficesports.com/ncaa-denies-...

NEW: Negotiations are continuing on both sides of the aisle to secure the requisite 218 votes necessary to pass the SCORE ACT, sources tell @FOS. One source says House Reps are now aiming to schedule the vote for October. Meanwhile, lobbying continues. frontofficesports.com/despite-vote...

NEW: After Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee, his representative told FOS they had not steered him wrong. Now, Iamaleava is making far less NIL money on an 0-3 UCLA team that just fired its head coach. Today, Iamaleava's representative declined to comment. frontofficesports.com/ucla-tenness...

A brain dump on the latest with college sports on Capitol Hill: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/score-act-...

I link out to this story from @achristovich.bsky.social for context on a major player in all this: frontofficesports.com/the-texas-oi...

House Republicans have opted to delay next week's vote on the SCORE Act bc they do not have enough votes to pass it. Reasons include a failed deal w Congressional Black Caucus Democrats, Cody Campbell's influence on Republicans, other stragglers. More: frontofficesports.com/house-republ...

NEW: Ahead of potential House vote on SCORE Act next week, Rep Scalise + lobbyists are in "overdrive" trying to secure enough YES votes, sources tell FOS. Unclear if it would pass currently. One source said lobbying targeting Congressional Black Caucus. frontofficesports.com/college-spor...

OneTeam Partners, the org facilitating NIL deals for college football players to appear in EA Sports College Football, is distancing itself from EA's newest contract terms. $1500, no royalties, and no opt-out is "not enough," OneTeam tells FOS. frontofficesports.com/group-that-f...

NEW: The CSC admitted today it published wildly inaccurate data related to NIL Go yesterday. As of Aug. 31, NIL Go approved 6,030 deals valued at $35M. NOT 8,359 deals for $80M, as was reported yesterday. Also: $35.99M worth of deals are in purgatory. frontofficesports.com/nil-go-corre...

NEW: The College Sports Commission said that 8,500+ NIL deals have been approved through NIL Go for a total of $80M. But NIL collectives released data of their own saying $11M of deals are currently in limbo, neither approved or denied. frontofficesports.com/nil-go-colle...

NEW: Source tells @FOS that during a call with Dave Portnoy today, Big 12 officials discussed: - hosting Portnoy on Big 12 campuses for Big Noon - putting Big 12 guests on Barstool shows - showcasing Big 12 hoops, women's sports on Barstool frontofficesports.com/big-12-embra...

NEW: On Saturday, Lee Corso made his 431st and FINAL headgear pick on College GameDay. In front of a screaming crowd inside Ohio Stadium, broadcast on multiple networks, he donned the head of Brutus Buckeye. "One of the easiest picks I’ve ever made." frontofficesports.com/lee-corso-fi...

NEW: Lee Corso has been appearing on ESPN College GameDay since 1987, the show's first season. Today, Corso will make his final headgear pick. It's the end of an era for millions of fans accustomed to the morning ritual that's dominated CFB for decades. frontofficesports.com/lee-corso-fi...

NEW: Don't expect college football games to be free from politics. Billionaire booster/Trump ally Cody Campbell will run ads during CFB this weekend to tout ideas from his Saving College Sports campaign. He tells FOS there "definitely" will be more. frontofficesports.com/cody-campbel...

NEW: The biggest rivalry in college football is between Fox and ESPN--and the super conferences they back. The next chapter in that rivalry begins Sat, when GameDay and Big Noon go up against each other before the SEC-Big Ten battle of Texas-Ohio State. frontofficesports.com/the-next-cha...

NEWS: The Pac-12 has inked a multiyear extension with the CW for football and basketball, adding to its future package that also includes CBS. It's the latest step in the league's unprecedented rebuild. frontofficesports.com/pac-12-strik...

NEW: YouTube TV boasts more than 8 million subscriptions. That means millions could find themselves without access to Week 1 college football matchups if YouTube TV and Fox can't reach an agreement by Wed. Among the games they'll miss: Texas-Ohio State. frontofficesports.com/youtube-tv-f...

NEW: Players are waiting weeks or longer for deals to be approved through NIL Go, sources tell @FOS. Athletes are losing opportunities to do certain deals with tight turnarounds as a result—potentially setting up more litigation opportunities. frontofficesports.com/as-college-f...

NEW: The NCAA is considering adopting a rule requiring incoming D-I athletes to disclose NIL deals they earned during high school to NIL GO. The rule also requires JUCO athletes to disclose all deals executed during JUCO. Experts expect legal challenges. frontofficesports.com/nil-high-sch...

The NCAA has no control over its eligibility rules. It's at the mercy of federal courts across the country, who are considering the legality of its rules player by player. And now, the NCAA appears to be losing in one specific category: JUCO. My story: frontofficesports.com/federal-cour...

NEW: The flurry of lawsuits surrounding the Northwestern football hazing scandal have been settled. Former coach Pat Fitzgerald announced a settlement w Northwestern over a wrongful termination lawsuit. He said he's "satisfied" w settlement terms. frontofficesports.com/northwestern...

NEW: Cody Campbell isn't just a billionaire booster with ideas about college sports. He's got a direct line to the White House and President Trump--and has become a lobbying force to be reckoned with. “I have known [President Trump] for a long time." frontofficesports.com/the-texas-oi...

NEW: On Friday, Michigan announced it would appeal the severe financial penalties incurred as a result of the sign-stealing scandal. At this point, the penalties are worth $34-36M. Wolverines now embark upon a monthslong process w a new NCAA committee. frontofficesports.com/michigan-emb...

NEW: Thousands of dollars spent on tickets. A network called the KGB. Evidence disposed of in a pond. The NCAA's investigation confirmed a yearslong sign-stealing operation at Michigan. NCAA has handed down a slew of penalties--including $20M in fines. frontofficesports.com/ncaa-hits-mi...

NEW: Due to 30+ lawsuits, the NCAA's eligibility rules remain in limbo heading into 2025. The NCAA has scored several wins--but they may not be enough to set a rock-solid precedent protecting eligibility rules in the future. frontofficesports.com/ncaas-recent...

NEW: Trump has taken more of an interest in college sports policy than any president in recent memory. NIL? Trans athlete participation? He's got an executive order for that. White House tells FOS he's "committed to promoting a legacy of athletic excellence." frontofficesports.com/trump-colleg...

The blockbuster ESPN-NFL deal could bring one of the league’s most popular products to college--RedZone. But the logistics, esp licensing, could be challenging given ESPN doesn't own any rights to the Big Ten. On how it could work w/ @mmccarthyrev.bsky.social: frontofficesports.com/college-foot...

NEW: NIL collectives can continue to play a pivotal role in recruiting, thanks to the Cillege Sports Commission's new guidance. But is the fate of collectives resolved? “The next hurdle and/or litigation is going to be when submitted deals are rejected." frontofficesports.com/nil-college-...

NEW: The walk from the hotel to Big Ten media days this year featured a somewhat new attraction: a casino. For years, college sports shunned Vegas. But now, the entire industry is descending on Sin City--from conferences to the NCAA and CFP. frontofficesports.com/college-spor...

The shooter who targeted the NFL thought he had CTE, but didn't play in the NFL. National CTE expert Robert Cantu tells @FOS: “You don’t have to have played beyond HS to have CTE. But your risk substantially goes up if you have played beyond HS.” More: frontofficesports.com/nfl-shooting...

NEW: The Midtown Manhattan shooter was targeting the NFL HQ when he opened fire at 345 Park Ave Monday, Eric Adams said. An NFL employee was shot, but is stable, per Goodell. Shooter wrote a note saying he had CTE and blamed the NFL. "Study my brain." frontofficesports.com/nfl-shooting...

NEW: The Big Ten is still interested in private equity, commissioner Tony Petitti tells @FOS. The league’s continued exploration is significant now, at a time when other power conferences have backed off from delving into the concept. frontofficesports.com/as-other-pow...

NEW: The SCORE Act, which fulfills all the NCAA's major requests, passed two markups today. It could now be the first bill of its kind to reach the House floor for a vote. But even if it passes the House, it's expected to face major issues in the Senate. frontofficesports.com/pro-ncaa-bil...

NEW: The basic framework for an agreement has been reached over NIL collective deal scrutiny, @FOS can confirm. The CSC will treat collectives like any other business when evaluating whether deals are for a valid business purpose. Yahoo Sports was 1st. frontofficesports.com/house-v-ncaa...

NEW: The White House is actively working on an NIL-related executive order, a source familiar tells @FOS, confirming CBS report. It's unclear what the EO would entail, though it likely wouldn't conflict with ongoing Congressional legislative efforts. frontofficesports.com/president-tr...

NEW: The Pac-12 and Mountain West, who have been embroiled in a messy breakup since last fall, will continue their divorce proceedings in court. The leagues were unable to reach a resolution during a two-month mediation over a lawsuit abt poaching fees. frontofficesports.com/mountain-wes...

Linked to this helpful story from @achristovich.bsky.social on the SCORE Act and Tuesday's hearing: frontofficesports.com/pro-ncaa-bil...

NEW: Now that the House settlement has passed, schools nationwide are renewing private equity conversations. Since the settlement’s approval, a number of athletic departments restarted convos about private capital deals w/ Collegiate Athletic Solutions. frontofficesports.com/athletic-dep...

NEW: After weeks of waiting, some athletes still haven't heard from NIL GO, and are now losing deals. Yesterday, a spox said the CSC regrets the delays. Now, CSC says some deals awaiting response will be rejected...bc of restrictions they just clarified. frontofficesports.com/kind-of-a-jo...

NEW: Seven groups of athletes appealed the House v. NCAA settlement in the 30-day period given to challenge the approval. As a result, damage payments are on hold. But rev-share, and other forward-looking terms of the agreement, will continue...for now. frontofficesports.com/the-house-se...

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NEW: NCAA tournament expansion wouldn’t yield extra media rights dollars, at least on the women’s side. ESPN's contract with the NCAA stipulates that there's no requirement for increased rights fees if women's March Madness expands, sources tell @FOS. frontofficesports.com/espn-contrac...