NCAA's stubborn strategy proved devastating blow to college sports
It was all unnecessary. In an article Friday for sportico.com, Daniel Libit reports that since the Ed Bannon case in 2009, the NCAA has spent over half a billion dollars on legal fees.
In the 1950s Walter Byers coined the term "student-athlete" and that stubborn fiction became the foundation of the college sports governing body's hypocritical strategy for exploiting athletes while making billions from the NCAA Tournament and college football on television.
Libit examined the NCAA's 2024 fiscal year tax returns, released Friday. For the fiscal year the organization had $1.29 billion in revenue, mostly from television rights. Now it owes $2.76 billion in back damages to athletes after the House Settlement, with total liabilities over $3 billion.
NEW: Through FY24, the @NCAA has reported spending over a half of billion dollars on legal fees since Ed O'Bannon filed his antitrust suit in July 2009. More on NCAA's latest tax return– including @CharlieBakerMA's 2023 comp–for @Sportico 👇https://t.co/IJE6I8pFvs
— Daniel Libit (@DanielLibit) June 27, 2025
A more honest model could have funded Olympic Sports in perpetuity. Instead, they'll be sacrificed to greed, and legal bills.
Oregon a top tier school in EA Sports College Football 2026
NEW: EA Sports College Football 26 Top 25 teams in the game🎮
— On3 (@On3sports) June 27, 2025
Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/3CMjGoM08E pic.twitter.com/BTmj0jJ1ug
The Ducks placed five players in EA Sports Top 100 while Alabama has seven.
Only one Duck makes first 2026 NBA mock draft from ESPN
ESPN tabbed 6-6 Guard Darryn Petersen of Kansas as the early favorite to go No. 1 in 2026, while they project only one player from next year's Oregon roster to be selected.
Power forward Kwame Evans goes 57th overall in the second round. Center Nate Bittle and guard Jackson Shelstad get passed over, according to writers Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.
Draft projections can change. Last season the 6-9 Evans played 16 minutes a game for the Ducks, averaging 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game.
Only five players from the Big Ten make the first round:
14. Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, Michigan, super senior
15. Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa, senior
22. Aday Mara, C, Michigan, junior
26. Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington, freshman
30. Braden Smith, PG, Purdue, senior
Last year we knew Kel'el Ware had the potential to break out but this time around the Ducks actually retained their young big. Kwame "KJ" Evans has no ceiling this year for the Oregon Ducks. I would throw out and easy Chris Bosh comp ... here are some of the highs that we can… pic.twitter.com/iI6DOEf7n8
— Maxwell Clark - West Coast Hoops (@ClarkieCaps) July 24, 2024
Oregon No. 2 in power ranking of Big Ten offensive lines
Big Ten Offensive Line Rankings Entering 2025, per @jrs_rankings
— The Big Ten Huddle 🎙️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) June 27, 2025
LISTEN: https://t.co/bTAgxLaWKO pic.twitter.com/oaFH2e6Rzt
Oregon will be strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball this season. The defensive front features Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander and Teitum Tuioti, with a deep rotation behind them, Elijah Rushing, Blake Purchase, Tionne Gray and Aydin Breeland.