UNDATED (AP) — Conference commissioners lauded a judge’s approval of a $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit settlement as a means for bringing stability and fairness to an out-of-control college athletics industry. They also acknowledged there would be growing pains. Commissioners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC renewed their call for congressional action to codify the settlement and emphasized that cooperation at every level of college sports would be necessary to make it work.
UNDATED (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale is sticking around college basketball with a new contract extension and a new event named in his honor. ESPN announced Monday that Vitale has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season. In addition, ESPN Events is launching the Dick Vitale Invitational. The first matchup is a game between Duke and Texas on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the opening days of the college basketball season. The announcement comes on Vitale’s 86th birthday and months after he returned to the airwaves after being gone for two years amid a fourth cancer battle.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Luke Mistone hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, Graham Kelham was solid in another long relief appearance, and Murray State beat Duke 5-4 in a winner-take-all championship game at the Durham Super Regional to advance to the program’s first College World Series. Murray State (44-15) became the fourth No. 4 seed to advance to Omaha, Nebraska. Duke (40-20) was seeking its first appearance in the CWS since 1961. Murray State retook the lead in the eighth on Mistone’s leadoff shot — just his fourth homer of the year. Then Dan Tauken’s triple scored Will Vierling from first for a 5-3 lead after the ball caromed off the wall toward center field. Kelham struck out four in 2 2/3 innings for his fourth win of the season.
UNDATED (AP) — The $2.8 billion NCAA settlement is being touted as a path to stability for college sports, clearing the way for schools to pay their athletes within certain parameters. Football and basketball players are expected to be the highest-paid athletes on campus. Most projections estimate 75% of revenue sharing will go toward football. It begs the question: What happens to the non-revenue-generating sports?
