INSIDE THE HUDDLE: AAC's Rising Contenders & College Sports' Economic Revolutionew Post

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Trends and talk from the collegiate sports world.

Here are the latest developments with the House case, a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA and major athletic conferences that seeks to establish revenue sharing between colleges and student-athletes. This could potentially transform the economics of college sports by allowing direct payments to players beyond traditional scholarships and education-related benefits. U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken just delivered the most significant courtroom moment in college sports this year without actually making a final ruling on the House settlement. When she remarked, "I think it is a good settlement — don't quote me," she revealed her hand while making it clear that critical changes are needed before she gives her approval. Yahoo's Ross Dellenger captured the essence perfectly: fix the roster limit situation, or the settlement dies. Wilken's proposed solution to "grandfather in" current athletes shows her practical understanding of these decisions' human impact on thousands of young athletes who would otherwise face roster cuts. However, the most fascinating tension point emerged around the 10-year injunctive class, which would prevent future legal challenges. Wilken called this a "difficult concept" because it essentially binds people who aren't even part of the current proceedings. When NCAA's counsel Rakesh Kilaru declared that without this 10-year protection, "there will not be stability, and there will not be a deal," he revealed how desperately the power brokers want to avoid future litigation. Wilken's final words to Kilaru—challenging him to fix these issues or provide better explanations—perfectly demonstrate the high-stakes chess match between a cautious judge and a college sports establishment desperate for certainty in deeply uncertain times. LINK

U.S. Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) just delivered a knockout defense of his Restore College Sports Act on the Baldface Podcast with John Canzano that perfectly captures why college athletics desperately needs reform. When Canzano challenged him with the "socialism" label, Baumgartner didn't flinch, instead painting a powerful picture of fairness that most Americans would recognize: we already distribute resources equitably in high school sports despite revenue differences, so why not apply similar principles to taxpayer-funded universities? He brilliantly contrasted this vision with today's absurd reality where programs waste millions on five-year locker room renovations with "padded seats, reclining chairs, Xboxes, and slides" rather than creating more athletic opportunities. Baumgartner tapped into something deeply nostalgic yet practical when he referenced how we "love college football in the 1980s" - before the arms race of excessive spending took over. His argument cuts through the noise: college sports should serve student-athletes and the public good, not bloated facilities and endless administrative expansion. LINK

How Scott Stricklin Showed What True Leadership Looks Like: When Florida Gators basketball coach Todd Golden faced serious misconduct allegations before the season, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin decided against today's cancel-culture climate. Instead of rushing to suspend Golden to protect the university's reputation, Stricklin stood firmly by principles of due process and presumed innocence. This move put his career at risk. His unwavering support wasn't just validated when the Gators emerged as championship contenders. Still, it demonstrated a powerful leadership lesson about trusting your people and standing by your principles when facing intense public pressure. LINK 2ND LINK

ESPN's Max Olson just dropped a truth bomb about the spring transfer portal that every college football fan needs to understand. The game has completely changed: graduate transfers who wait too long leave serious money on the table as Power 4 programs have already allocated most of their NIL budgets during the December-January window. We're witnessing the evolution of a sophisticated market where timing is everything. The anonymous SEC Director of Personnel's comment reveals the massive uncertainty still hanging over the NCAA's clearinghouse - either it holds up and controls spending, or one lawsuit brings the entire system crashing down to the Wild West again. Most fascinating is the emerging trend of players using the portal as a negotiation tactic rather than a true exit strategy. As that Big Ten staffer brilliantly explained, we're seeing the birth of college football free agency, where athletes "test the market" only to return to their original schools with better deals. That 8% of scholarship portal entries since August ultimately stayed put isn't just a statistic - it's proof that this calculated bluffing strategy works. College football has transformed from a game of X's and O's into a high-stakes poker match where players, coaches, and programs constantly call each other's bluffs. LINK

Tariffs are likely to impact college sports: In a thought-provoking analysis, Extra Points publisher Matt Brown examines the potential ripple effects of Trump administration tariffs on college athletics. Brown highlights how increased costs for athletic apparel and equipment manufactured overseas—from Nike shoes to Wilson baseball gloves and weight room equipment—could strain athletic department budgets nationwide. With many schools already operating under tight financial constraints, these tariff-induced price hikes may force difficult decisions, potentially impacting equipment purchases, contract negotiations with suppliers, and ultimately donor relationships. The article raises important questions about the intersection of trade policy and collegiate sports economics at a time when athletic departments face mounting financial pressures. LINK

Zach Arnett has resigned as UNLV's defensive coordinator for personal reasons. Paul Guenther will assume the duties on an interim basis. The Rebels are in the middle of spring practice. LINK

Brock Huard revealed he is stepping aside from his role as the No. 2 Fox Sports CFB announcer to be an assistant coach on his son’s high school football team. LINK

Colorado signs Coach Prime to a 5-year extension. LINK

Tulane needs a starting QB. As Tulane's spring scrimmage unfolded last Saturday, one thing became painfully clear: the quarterback situation in New Orleans is nothing short of a disaster. Having covered college football for over a decade, I've seen my fair share of quarterback controversies, but what's happening with the Green Wave is particularly troubling. With presumptive starter TJ Finley suspended following an arrest, neither Donovan Leary nor Kadin Semonza managed to separate themselves during a scrimmage that featured missed throws, dropped passes, and squandered opportunities. This quarterback carousel represents a genuine crisis point for a program coming off recent success and harboring conference championship aspirations. The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh away—and right now, Tulane's offense is paying the price for this instability under center. LINK

DEEP DIVE

AAC Football 2025: The Contenders, The Rebuilders, and The Dark Horses

The American Athletic Conference enters 2025 as one of college football's most intriguing battlegrounds. In this landscape, program trajectories can shift dramatically in a single off-season. From South Florida's meteoric rise under Alex Golesh to Tulsa's complete defensive reconstruction with coaching wunderkind Tre Lamb, the conference features established powers and hungry programs positioned for breakthrough campaigns. This week, we spotlight three programs at fascinating crossroads: a Bulls team charging toward championship contention after years of mediocrity, a Golden Hurricane squad embracing total transformation under an energetic new leader, and a Mean Green team that may have finally found the defensive formula to complement their explosive offense. Each represents a different stage in the program-building process. Yet, all three share a common goal—to climb the AAC hierarchy and establish themselves as consistent winners in an increasingly competitive conference landscape.

USF Bulls: Charging Into Contention

The South Florida Bulls have transformed from perennial doormat to legitimate AAC threat under Coach Alex Golesh, posting a breakthrough 7-6 record in 2024, capped by an epic five-overtime Hawaii Bowl victory. With dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown returning to lead an offense that averaged 32.2 points per game last season, the Bulls have strategically addressed their defensive vulnerabilities through the transfer portal, adding key pieces like Wisconsin transfer Jonas Duclona and Texas A&M transfer Josh Celiscar. The 2025 schedule presents challenges and opportunities, including early tests against Boise State, Florida, and Miami that could propel USF into the conference championship conversation—if they can improve their defense that surrendered 29.8 points per game last season. Read our complete deep-dive analysis on USF's rise under Golesh and its championship aspirations for 2025. LINK

Tulsa Golden Hurricane: The Lamb Revolution Begins

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane is embarking on a complete program rebuild under 35-year-old coaching phenom Tre Lamb, who arrives with a proven track record of rapid turnarounds after the team's disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2024. Lamb inherits a defense that ranked 131st out of 133 FBS teams last season, surrendering a staggering 496.8 yards per game, but has quickly assembled an impressive coaching brain trust and leveraged the transfer portal to inject immediate talent, including SEC-level athletes like Micah Tease (WR) from Texas A&M and defensive game-changer Byron Turner Jr. from Florida State. With all six home games at H.A. Chapman Stadium scheduled for Saturday kickoffs for the first time since 2004, Lamb's rebuilding project will be measured not just in wins but in defensive improvement, competitive conference play, and reestablishing a foundation that was severely compromised by both on-field performance and off-field NIL controversies under former coach Kevin Wilson. Explore our comprehensive breakdown of Tulsa's new era under Coach Lamb. LINK

North Texas Mean Green: Defense Finally Gets Its Due

The North Texas Mean Green might finally break free from football purgatory in 2025, thanks to the program-altering hire of defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, a 30-year-old defensive mastermind whose 2024 Sam Houston unit ranked 20th nationally in total defense. Head coach Eric Morris has already established an offensive juggernaut that averaged 33.5 points and nearly 489 yards per game last season. Still, defensive failures (34.2 points allowed per game, 119th in FBS) have repeatedly undermined the team's success, resulting in a frustrating 6-7 record that ended with another defensive collapse in the First Responder Bowl. Cassity's innovative 3-3-5 system, which created havoc against spread offenses at his previous stops, could transform North Texas from an entertaining but inconsistent program into a legitimate AAC contender—especially if either Miami transfer Reese Poffenbarger or freshman dual-threat Chris Jimerson Jr. can efficiently run Morris's Air Raid offense following Chandler Morris's departure. Our extended analysis delves deeper into North Texas's defensive revolution and 2025 prospects. LINK

THAT’S A WRAP

The Final Whistle: This Week's Must-Read Content

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, our team remains committed to bringing you breaking news and in-depth analysis beyond the headlines.

This week's deep dives into USF's championship aspirations, Tulsa's complete program rebuild under Tre Lamb, and North Texas's defensive revolution offer valuable context as these AAC programs position themselves for 2025.

Meanwhile, our curated Best Links section delivers the latest on the House settlement's critical developments with Judge Wilken, Congressman Baumgartner's passionate defense of the Restore College Sports Act, Scott Stricklin's principled leadership amid controversy, the evolving dynamics of the spring transfer portal, and how Trump's tariff policies might reshape athletic department budgets nationwide. From Tulane's quarterback crisis to Colorado extending Coach Prime, we've captured the stories that matter most across the collegiate landscape.

Whether you're following the conference-altering potential of revenue sharing with student-athletes or tracking the tactical transformations happening at programs like USF, Tulsa, and North Texas, our comprehensive coverage ensures you won't miss a beat in college sports' most consequential conversations.