Hard Knocks to Follow Bill Belichick and UNC, Big 12 Nearing Investment Deal/Capital Partnership & More | Newsletter #308
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This Monday Newsletter includes:
1. UNC Football to be featured on Hard Knocks
2. Big 12 and capital partner close to a potential deal
3. What’s coming up in the world of NIL
4. Legal Updates: potential conflict of interest in Goldstein v. NCAA
5. News for administrators, student athletes and agencies
Major News
Bill Belichick and UNC to be Featured on Offseason Hard Knocks
Bill Belichick and UNC will be featured on Offseason Hard Knocks after NFL Films could not find an NFL team to do it.
Over half of the league has been featured on Hard Knocks since its inception in 2001, but teams are reportedly hesitant to do the offseason iteration following the Giants stint on the show last offseason. One of the teams that has not been featured, is the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick.
Bill Belichick will now get his Hard Knocks debut as Hard Knocks will follow UNC’s football program - instead of an NFL team - for their offseason/front office version.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Decision Over Major Investment Deal, Big 12 partnership is Looming
Big 12 presidents and athletic directors met Thursday to review three final bids as the conference closes in on identifying a capital partner.
According to sources, RedBird Capital is viewed as one of the leaders. Redbird Capital has an investment portfolio that includes Italian soccer club AC Milan, French soccer team Toulouse and 10% of Fenway Sports Group.
Last June, the Big 12 was considering a private equity investment of $800 million-$1 billion in exchange for a 15-20% stake in the league, but the deal was never reached.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Other Notable Stories to Follow
Charles Barkley says current College Basketball, NIL landscape “isn’t a sustainable model” - LINK
NCAA FY24 sets revenue record - LINK
2025 CFP format still in limbo - LINK
Another congressional NIL hearing set for this week - LINK
Michael Lombardi and UNC football’s NIL plans - LINK
What’s Coming Up Next For NIL
March 4, 2025 | NIL Congressional Hearing
April 7, 2025 | House Settlement Hearing
June 15, 2025 | House Settlement Opt-in Date
Legal Updates
Attorney Asks Judge to Vacate Order Due to Judge’s Potential NCAA Bias
The attorney for Georgia Bulldogs baseball player and graduate student Dylan Goldstein, motioned U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self III to vacate his order on Friday that was in favor of the NCAA and to recuse himself from the case.
Judge Self denied Goldstein’s motion for a preliminary injunction to allow him to play baseball for UGA beyond his NCAA eligibility, because he said that Goldstein failed to establish a viable antitrust claim. However, Self has a college sports background that caused Mr. Goldstein’s attorney to raise questions about his objectivity.
Self was formerly a college football referee and his X account identifies him as an “NCAA Football Official.” In addition, it is possible that at some point in Self’s career he was compensated (directly or indirectly) by the NCAA - such as when he refereed the 2017 FCS National Championship.
The U.S. Code recommends that judges disqualify themselves when their “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Although it is unlikely, Judge Self has the discretion under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to vacate Friday’s ruling and recuse himself.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
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FOR ATHLETES AND AGENCIES
Notes for the Week
Florida Bill Sets 5% Cap on College Athlete Agent NIL Fees - LINK
JuJu Watkins inks NIL deal with United Airlines - LINK
FOR ADMINS
Notes for the Week
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!