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- đ West Virginia is legally investigating March Madness snub
đ West Virginia is legally investigating March Madness snub
Plus, you can't dance on TikTok anymore for the mountaineers
Hey there,
How we doing today after Selection Sunday yâall? Look at you⌠youâre so full of hope. You actually think that youâre winning the work-league bracket pool this year, donât you? Well, not to rain on your parade, but everyone around you is also picking that fast-paced 12-seed that throws up a hundred threes a game (looking at you, Liberty). Oh, you have Saint Johnâs making a deep run because âPitinoâs been here before?â So does my mom.
Once again, Iâm not trying to be mean⌠just trying to properly set expectations for how busted your bracket is going to be by this time next week. Soak in the hope, though, for now.
Weâve got a loaded edition of NIL Wire today â including a March Madness snub lawsuit, a TikTok dance ban at West Virginia, and a small schoolâs unlikely NIL pursuit of a top-ranked recruit. Itâs all coming up now⌠Letâs go!
â Cole, Justin and Collin
The Big 3
West Virginia Taking Legal Action for March Madness Snub
Nearly everyone thought West Virginia would make the tournament field this season â in fact, 111 out of 111 bracketologists had the Mountaineers in the tournament. Now, from the outside looking in, the state is taking legal action against the NCAA selection committee for the snub.
The State of West Virginia is coming after the NCAA
â Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake)
5:17 PM ⢠Mar 17, 2025
In a public statement yesterday, the governor asked the stateâs attorney general to âlaunch an investigation⌠to determine if any back room deals, corruption, bribes, or any nefarious activity occurred during the selection process.â And yes, he is standing at a podium that refers to the NCAA as the âNational Corrupt Athletic Association.â
The implication here is clear: North Carolina made the tournament against all odds, and their AD, Bubba Cunningham, is on the selection committee. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, like many fans, seems convinced of a potentially corrupt back-room deal as a result. (More)
No TikTok Dancing on West Virginiaâs Football Team
Speaking of West Virginia, the schoolâs head football coach Rich Rodriguez just banned TikTok dancing from his team. On one hand, I respect how committed to old-school thinking he is â this is like the ultimate dad move. But on the other hand⌠Iâm a bit concerned for how this could affect a playerâs NIL earnings.
Hereâs the logic. If a player uses TikTok to promote their brand, TikTok is a valuable part of their âbusinessâ in a very technical way. With that in mind, if a playerâs market capacity is being limited in any way by their coach, that could be a violation of their NIL rights.
"Rich Rodriguez is one of those soldiers who doesn't know that the war is over and that they lost."
đ @PabloTorre on West Virginia football banning TikTok dances
â Around the Horn (@AroundtheHorn)
9:30 PM ⢠Mar 12, 2025
âItâs like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever,â said Rodriguez of the decision, âAnd youâre in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ainât quite the image of our program that I want.â The logic is sound⌠but the legality is questionable. (More)
Could Sacramento State Land a Big Fish Recruit?
Sacramento State is one of my favorite stories in college sports. The school currently competes in the FCS, but theyâve been making a push for FBS, which has included new stadium plans, hiring a legit coach, and raising over $35 million in NIL funds. Yes, thirty-five million â for reference, Oregon spent somewhere in the $23 million range last year.
Some experts have dismissed the Sac State story altogether, but one very important person didnât: Ryder Lyons, the #4 QB in the 2026 class, who visited the school last week. The five-star QB is reportedly considering Sac State alongside schools like USC, Michigan, Oregon, and Ole Miss â and it seems like the school is trying to entice Lyons with an elite left tackle:
Sac State offers the No. 1 prospect in America in 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell. on3.com/db/jackson-canâŚ
â Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_)
8:32 PM ⢠Mar 16, 2025
This is how Sacramento State potentially takes their program to the next level⌠but of course, thatâs only happening if the NIL money actually comes through. We wonât know if thatâs the case unless Lyons actually commits there. (More)
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NIL BLITZ
âŚď¸ This McNeese student manager just signed three massive NIL deals ahead of March Madness
âŚď¸ ACC basketball coach says a top 25 team will cost $6 million next year
âŚď¸ Kirby Smart doesnât want a GM because he wants to stay âheavilyâ involved with football decisions
âŚď¸ Texasâ coach Sark on Arch Manningâs priorities: âItâs not about the money necessarily.â
âŚď¸ Ad spending on womenâs sports more than doubled last year
âŚď¸ Oregon is releasing NIL-backed Nike Air Max sneakers, which will continue fund the schoolâs quest for a national title
âŚď¸ We have some more info on the cover for College Football 26
âŚď¸ Nick Saban returned to D.C. to take part in a closed-door NIL roundtable with lawmakers
âŚď¸ Schools could drop to the NCAA minimum of 16 sports under an employment model
âŚď¸ Regents are questioning how UNLVâs athletics department is being funded
âŚď¸ LSUâs Flauâjae Johnson partners with Invisalign for an NIL deal
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BATTER UP
Todayâs Poll Question:
Do you support Rich Rodriguez's TikTok dance ban? |
Last Editionâs Poll Results:
Where's Steph Curry got the most value as Assistant GM at Davidson?
Basketball Roster Building - 29%
Business Connections for NIL - 37%
Giving Tons of Money to the Program - 34%
âYouâre in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ainât quite the image of our program that I want.â