$10 Million Deal Helps Michigan Steal Bryce Underwood, Authorities Investigating Potential Point-Shaving Scandal, and More | Newsletter #291
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for athletes, administrators, agencies and other sport professionals.
Today’s newsletter includes plenty of college football news, multiple legal updates, and more
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters, and following us on Twitter!
This Monday Newsletter Includes:
1. Michigan successfully flipping the nation’s #1 recruit from LSU
2. A potential betting scandal involving a Division 1 basketball player
3. What’s coming up in the world of NIL
4. Legal Updates: latest news surrounding the ACC-FSU case & the Jaden Rashada lawsuit
5. News for administrators and student athletes
Major News
Michigan’s $10 Million Contract Offer Lures Bryce Underwood Away From LSU
Quarterback prospect and No.1 overall recruit, Bryce Underwood, officially announced his commitment to Michigan on Thursday.
Although he was committed to LSU since January, rumors began swirling in October that Michigan was making a real push to convince the Michigan-born prospect to stay close to home.
Michigan was able to lure Underwood away from LSU with the help of an NIL package reportedly worth around $10 million for four years. Shortly before Underwood rumors emerged, Barstool Sports owner (and Michigan super fan) Dave Portnoy announced he’d be willing to pay $2-3 million annually to help Michigan land top quarterbacks.
In addition to Underwood, Michigan was able to flip four-star CB recruit, Elijah Dotson, from his commitment to Pittsburgh. Dotson and Underwood are high school teammates at Belleville High School in Belleville, MI.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Former Temple Basketball Player, Hysier Miller, Being Investigated For Point Shaving
Former Temple basketball player, Hysier Miller, is being investigated by federal authorities for allegedly betting on his own games and manipulating the outcome of Owls games he played in.
Sportsbook’s alerted U.S. Integrity, a Las Vegas firm that monitors the betting market, in March about unusual line movement and suspicious wagering patterns on Temple’s game against UAB on March 7th. The morning before the game, the Temple-UAB spread jumped 6 points from UAB -2 to -8 by early afternoon - forcing multiple sportsbooks to halt betting on the contest. Unless there are injury updates or other updates about certain players, a six-point line movement on a college basketball game is rare.
In addition, bookmakers noticed that the same customers who bet against Temple in the UAB game had been wagering on other games involving the Owls, often making wagers on the result and the total points scored in the first half.
During Temple’s March 7th contest against UAB, Hysier Miller had eight points on 3-of-9 shooting and committed three turnovers. He was also Temple’s leading scorer last season.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Other Notable Stories to Follow
Tom Brady’s influence in Bryce Underwood’s Michigan commitment - LINK
SMU announces contract extension for head football coach - LINK
Inside the success of Big Ten noon kickoffs - LINK
An inside look at the success of Indiana Football - LINK
Amid NFL rumors, Deion Sanders seems happy where he is at Colorado - LINK
What’s Coming Up Next For NIL
December 18, 2024 | Jaden Rashada Motion to Dismiss Hearing
April 7, 2025 | Final Approval Hearing for the House v. NCAA Settlement
Legal Updates
States Urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to Dismiss the ACC’s Lawsuit Against Florida State
In a brief obtained by The Athletic on Thursday, the attorney general of a dozen states said that the ACC’s case against FSU should be thrown out because Florida State never agreed to be sued outside of Florida.
The case started in December when Florida State and the ACC sued each other about the ownership of TV rights and revenue for future Seminoles home games if/when FSU leaves the ACC; and this week’s argument centers around the idea of “Sovereign Immunity” - the idea that state entities (such as public universities) are shielded from being sued in other states.
The ACC contends that Florida State waived that right by joining and remaining in the conference which is based in North Carolina. On the other hand, Florida and 11 other states say that FSU never gave a “clear and unequivocal” waiver to allow it to be sued outside of Florida. North Carolina courts have made several favorable rulings for the ACC recently.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Hearing Date Set For Jaden Rashada’s NIL Lawsuit
A hearing in Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit has been scheduled for early December. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, in Pensacola, Florida, Judge Casey Rodgers will hear oral arguments regarding the requests that were made to dismiss the case.
The lawsuit revolves around Jaden Rashada’s four-year, $13.85 million contract with the Gator Collective that was later voided in 2023. Jaden claims he was repeatedly lied to by head coach Billy Napier and booster Hugh Hancock during his recruitment to the school.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Optimum Sports Consulting is here to help.
For athletes looking for NIL insight and advisement, administrators and collectives looking for resources and facilitating a best-in class process, or agents looking to navigate the changing landscape, we’re here to help!
Message us now for a free consultation.
FOR ATHLETES
Notes for the Week
Michigan Collective Releases Line of Bryce Underwood t-shirts and autographed trading cards - LINK
Jaxson Dart discusses his private jet NIL deal - LINK
FOR ADMINS
Notes for the Week
Senator Tommy Tuberville suggests that Congress should consider penalizing athletes that break NIL contracts - LINK
Wake Forest’s plan to obtain revenue after the House settlement - LINK
Thanks for Reading!
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters, and following us on Twitter!