
North Carolina hires AD-in-waiting, Bubba Cunningham to take advisory role in '26
Hired in 2011, Cunningham will work directly with his replacement starting in August. RFK Racing president Steve Newmark was named executive associate athletic director effective Aug. 15. Newmark will succeed Cunningham as athletic director in the summer of 2026.
Cunningham signed a contract extension through 2029. His new title will be senior advisor to the chancellor and athletic director, which a university news release said will "allow Cunningham to focus his vast expertise on transformational University projects that will position the University and Carolina Athletics successfully for the future."
"As part of my last contract extension, I committed to working with University leadership on a succession plan that would positively position Carolina athletics and our 28 teams for the future," Cunningham said in the school-issued release. "I appreciate the opportunity to extend my contract and enhance my role in a way that will allow me to continue to support our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff as we transition and navigate the changing athletics landscape. I am excited for the future."
Since Cunningham took over as AD in 2011, the Tar Heels have won 24 national championships, participated in 11 college football bowl games, three College World Series and three men's Final Four runs.
Newmark, who is from Chapel Hill, was on the advisory committee that selected head coach Bill Belichick to lead the football program.
"Like many passionate Tar Heel fans, avidly following UNC athletics has represented a special and unique bond with my family and friends since childhood, and I recognize the role it serves for the University, alumni, community and broader fanbase," Newmark said. "I look forward to working with Bubba and the entire Tar Heel Nation to continue to elevate UNC's status as a premier brand in college sports."
Newmark has a legal background and his resume includes work with the NCAA and Southeastern Conference when he was a partner at the Charlotte-based law firm Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson. The William & Mary and Virginia School of Law grad has been president of RFK Racing since 2010.

With Texas State on board, Pac-12 ready for 2026 rebirth
The conference now has nine member teams after it was left with just two -- Washington State and Oregon State -- when the other schools abandoned the league in 2024 in a massive realignment.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12," commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. "It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today's landscape with student-athletes in mind."
Texas State joins Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as members of the rebuilt league.
The Pac-12 needed eight football-playing schools to regain its status as a conference. Gonzaga, a basketball power, does not have a football program.
The move became official after the board of regents at Texas State gave the OK to a $5 million buyout payment to the Sun Belt Conference, and the Pac-12 board of directors unanimously voted to approve the school's application. The Bobcats will play in the Sun Belt in the 2025-26 season.
"Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move -- it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country," Texas State president Kelly Damphousse said.
The Pac-12 also has started to rebuild its media partnerships. Last week, it announced a five-year agreement with CBS to air select conference football and basketball games, with more partners still expected to come on board.

Report: Sexual assault civil case dropped against BYU QB
Judge Coral Sanchez of the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake County, Utah, approved a joint motion for a dismissal of the case on Monday.
The suit filed in May by a woman identified as Jane Doe A.G. had alleged that Retzlaff bit, raped and strangled her at his Provo apartment in November 2023.
A lawyer for Retzlaff addressed the allegations Friday, calling them "ridiculous" and "bizarre" in a court filing that described the incident as consensual sex.
Retzlaff's admission of consensual sex still violates BYU's honor code, which prohibits premarital sex.
The Salt Lake Tribune and ESPN reported Sunday that Retzlaff is facing a seven-game suspension by the school. According to ESPN, he has already begun to inform teammates and coaches about his intention to transfer.
Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games in 2023, he won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars' No. 1 quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.
He finished the campaign with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior had been expected to reprise his starting role this fall.

Michigan lands Carter Meadows, No. 5 edge rusher in '26
Meadows is ranked 34th overall by 247 Sports in the Class of 2026 and was weighing offers from Ohio State, Penn State and South Carolina in addition to the Wolverines.
The 6-6, 225-pound pass rusher is one of six players with four-star rankings in the Class of 2026 to commit to Michigan since June 20. Rivals ranks Meadows as a five-star recruit and included North Carolina and Miami among his potential destinations before his commitment.
Meadows is ranked fifth among edge rushers in next year's class by 247 Sports.
He was also on the radar of college basketball programs and plays in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League on the summer AAU circuit.
The Washington, D.C., native is the highest-rated overall prospect in the class to commit to Michigan.

Reports: BYU QB Jake Retzlaff to enter transfer portal amid allegations
Per the reports, Retzlaff is facing a seven-game suspension for violating the school's honor code stemming from a sexual assault lawsuit that was filed in May. According to ESPN, he has already begun to inform teammates and coaches about his intention to leave.
Retzlaff, 22, was sued by a woman, identified as Jane Doe A.G. in Salt Lake County, Utah, alleging that he bit, raped and strangled her at his apartment in Provo in November 2023.
A lawyer for Retzlaff addressed the allegations Friday, calling them "ridiculous" and "bizarre" in a court filing that described the incident as consensual sex.
"Mr. Retzlaff specifically and categorically denies each and every and all allegations that he bit, raped or strangled (the woman), which are ridiculous and bizarre allegations, all of which are false and untrue," the filing with the Third Judicial District Court read in part.
His admission of consensual sex still violates BYU's honor code, which prohibits premarital sex.
Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games in 2023, he won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars' No. 1 quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.
He finished the campaign with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior had been expected to reprise his starting role this fall.

5-star LB Xavier Griffin set to announce college choice on Sunday
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound player, Griffin has four finalists: Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Texas. He plays at Gainesville (Ga.) High School.
The composite also lists the five-star as the No. 27 overall prospect in the nation. He has made official visits at all four schools since May 30.
According to 247Sports, Griffin has made 97 tackles and 21 sacks and added three forced fumbles over the past two seasons.
Tyler Atkinson, the nation's No. 1 prospect at linebacker, has yet to commit. From Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., he has taken official visits to Clemson, Georgia, Oregon and Texas.

Attorney for BYU QB Jake Retzlaff denies rape allegations
A woman, identified as Jane Doe A.G., sued Retzlaff in May in Salt Lake County, Utah, alleging that he bit, raped and strangled her at his apartment in Provo in November 2023.
In his legal response filed on Friday with the Third Judicial District Court, Retzlaff's lawyer said the pair engaged in consensual sex.
"Mr. Retzlaff specifically and categorically denies each and every and all allegations that he bit, raped or strangled [the woman], which are ridiculous and bizarre allegations, all of which are false and untrue," the attorney wrote in his legal filing with the Third Judicial District Court.
The response characterizes the lawsuit as an extortion attempt and claims that Retzlaff and his accuser exchanged lighthearted text messages through February 2024.
BYU released a statement after the lawsuit was filed.
"BYU became aware today that a civil lawsuit involving Jake Retzlaff had been filed this morning. The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment."
Retzlaff, a California native who began his career playing for Riverside (Calif.) City College, transferred to BYU prior to the 2023 season. After starting the final four games in 2023, he won a training-camp battle to become the Cougars' regular quarterback in 2024. He led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win over Colorado.
He finished the campaign with 2,947 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt senior had been expected to reprise his role this fall.
Friday's court filing and its claim of consensual sex could impact Retzlaff's eligibility at BYU. The school is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has an honor code that prohibits premarital sex.

Alabama lands Ezavier Crowell, No. 2 RB in 2026 class
The Jackson, Ala., native committed to the Crimson Tide on Thursday over offers from Auburn, Texas and Georgia.
Crowell led Jackson High to a Class 4A state championship last season, rushing for 1,964 yards and 31 touchdowns.
He ranks No. 33 overall and No. 3 in the state of Alabama, per the 247 Sports composite.
Crowell, who reclassified from the 2027 class in January, ran for 1,737 yards as a 2023 freshman at Jackson HS.

Auburn flips 4-star QB Peyton Falzone from Penn State
Falzone announced on social media and told recruiting websites that he is committing to Auburn, after decommitting from Virginia Tech in November 2024 and then, in April, choosing Penn State in his home state.
The Nazareth (Pa.) Academy High School rising senior had posted on June 2 on social media that he received an offer from Auburn. He has not made an official or unofficial visit to the campus.
"Auburn is a place full of tradition," Falzone said in an interview with 247Sports. "My family and I have spent a lot of time discussing the school and its blend of elite football and high-level academics. It has it all. I'm blessed to be able to play at a school with a strong tradition of faith and family running throughout the university and the community. All of that is very important to us. I can't wait to be there. War Eagle."
Falzone is ranked the No. 246 prospect in the nation, No. 18 quarterback and No. 6 player in Pennsylvania for the Class of 2026, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Falzone threw for 2,135 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, and rushed 78 times for 697 yards and eight TDs in 2024. As a sophomore in the 2023 season, Falzone passed for 2,528 yards with 19 TDs and four interceptions and rushed for 440 yards and 11 TDs.
He also has offers from Iowa, Utah, Syracuse, Rutgers, West Virginia and Wisconsin as well as Penn State, Virginia Tech and others.

Sacramento State plans to play in FBS in '26 despite NCAA denial
Since 2024, Sacramento State has expressed a desire to move into college football's highest level, with original hopes of moving into a reconfigured Pac-12 Conference that was set to return to action in 2026 with five Mountain West Conference programs.
But the Hornets program did not receive an invitation for its football program to join an existing conference. Instead, the Hornets launched a plan to leave the Big Sky Conference for the Big West Conference in all sports but football and have its football team play as an FBS independent in 2026.
While the NCAA has nixed that plan, at least for the time being, the school plans on moving forward anyway.
"We still plan to be playing FBS football in 2026," Sacramento State president Luke Wood posted on X after the NCAA denied the school's waiver request.
"Sacramento State has met every meaningful benchmark for FBS membership, and we believe our university, our students, and the entire Sacramento region deserve major college football," Wood wrote.
As part of its plan to move its football program to the FBS level, Sacramento State has proposed a 25,000-seat football stadium. Its current football venue, at just over 21,000 seats, is configured with temporary stands.
The Hornets also secured a deal to move its men's and women's basketball games into the Sacramento Kings' home arena for 2026.
On the football field last season, Sacramento State did not fit the bill of an FBS team with a 3-9 record. The Hornets did go 8-5 in 2023 and won a first-round game in the FCS playoffs.

SD State mourning death of Wisconsin transfer RB Nate White
White spent his first two seasons at Wisconsin but didn't get into a game. In January, he transferred to play for the Jackrabbits with three years of eligibility remaining.
Police in Brookings, S.D., did not confirm a cause of death and said in a press release an active investigation is underway.
"Jackrabbit football is a brotherhood and today we are all hurting with the shocking news of the loss of Nate White," South Dakota State coach Dan Jackson said in a statement. "Nate impacted our program with his hard work, determination and overall positive spirit. We grieve with his family and will honor his memory throughout the upcoming season."
A Milwaukee native, White chose to play for Wisconsin over offers from Vanderbilt, Purdue and Iowa State, among others.
He played quarterback as a high school junior at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee and had 48 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons as a prep.

Report: Pac-12 expected to formally invite Texas State as member
Per ESPN, Texas State officials have informed the Sun Belt Conference that the university is expecting an offer from the Pac-12 "in the near future." While a formal offer has yet to be extended, Texas State could join the conference for the 2026-27 school year.
According to Texas open meeting laws, Texas State would need to put in a 72-hour notice to convene the board of regents, meaning that a formal conclusion to the process may not occur until Monday at the earliest.
While Texas State has long been considered a favorite to join the Pac-12, anticipation has ramped up this week as the university's exit fee to join the conference would double from $5 million to $10 million on July 1. To avoid paying that lofty fee, Texas State's invitation would need to come this week in time for formal board approval.
If it goes through, Texas State would become the new Pac-12's eighth football school, which is the minimum for the league to be recognized as an official FBS conference. (Gonzaga will also join the Pac-12 but does not sponsor football.)
As it stands, the Pac-12 consists of holdover members Oregon State and Washington State as well as Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State.

Four-star WR Zion Robinson commits to Michigan
"Trying to pick a school that's good academically, good at football, it's hard," Robinson said on Instagram Live. "But without further ado for the next 3-4 years, I will be taking my academic and athletic talents to the University of Michigan. Go blue."
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound wideout out of Mansfield High School in Texas reportedly chose Michigan over offers from Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Penn State, Stanford, Miami and Nebraska.
In his junior year in 2024, Robinson caught 42 passes for 527 yards and eight touchdowns and ran 14 times for 76 yards as a junior in 2024.
He is ranked as the No. 132 national prospect, No. 18 wide receiver and No. 19 player in Texas for the Class of 2026 in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Robinson also excels in track and field, earning Texas 6A state high jump champion honors with a 6-8 jump as a sophomore in the spring of 2024. His father, Khadevis Robinson, is a two-time Olympic qualifier in the 800-meter (2004, 2012) and is currently the director of track and field at TCU.
Robinson's commitment comes on the heels of the same from Titan Davis, a four-star class of 2026 defensive lineman from DeSmet High School in St. Louis.

Northwestern adds former Oklahoma QB commit Gavin Frakes
Frakes, who did not see any action at Virginia last season, made a verbal pledge to his hometown Sooners out of the spring transfer portal on May 22.
The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder from Norman, Okla., entered the portal on April 21.
His only active season was at New Mexico State in 2022, when he went 55-for-110 for 736 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games (five starts).
Frakes, 23, did not play in 2023 and transferred to Virginia ahead of the 2024 season.

5-star QB Ryder Lyons commits to BYU over Oregon
The 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 5 quarterback in the 2026 class and No. 19 overall in the nation.
For Oregon, landing a 5-star prospect isn't unusual, but it is for the Cougars. Per 247Sports, he is the highest-ranked commitment for BYU since offensive lineman Ofa Mohetau pledged in 2003 and also the third-highest recruit of the rankings era.
He made official visits to both BYU and Oregon this month.
Lyons, who plays at Folsom High School in Northern California, made his announcement Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show."
"To be honest, I'm just so blessed," he told McAfee. "I'm so blessed, but I'm just appreciative. It's been incredible. It's been a long journey. I got my first scholarship in eighth grade, so we've been at this for a while."
That offer came from BYU, he told McAfee.
BYU will not have him available until the 2027 season, however. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lyons plans to take a one-year Mormon mission after graduation next spring.
In his junior season, Lyons tallied 3,011 yards, 46 touchdowns and six interceptions. He gained 585 on 118 carries and scored 14 more touchdowns.
He was the top uncommitted quarterback in the 2026 class.

Former San Jose State star Chandler Jones dies at 33
According to MyNewsLA, Jones died in a traffic accident in Los Angeles involving a Toyota Rav4. Per the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 2 a.m. local time on Sunday. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jones, who played at San Jose State from 2010-13, finished with 248 receptions and 29 touchdown grabs in 50 career games. An honorable mention All-American in 2013, he ranks second in Spartans history with 3,087 receiving yards.
After his playing career, which included a stint in the Canadian Football League, Jones spent time on the Spartans' coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He also coached in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes as their assistant defensive backs coach in 2023-24.
"My heart is broken at the news of losing this incredible person," former San Jose State coach Brent Brennan, who hired Jones to coach in 2017, wrote in a post on X. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. From his freshman year as a WR, to coaching on our staff, he made (SJSU football) better every day. The Jet was special. Love you brother."

Florida State lands commitments from Devin Carter, Xavier Tiller
Wide receiver Devin Carter flipped from Auburn to Florida State (after initially flipping from Florida State to Auburn in January), while tight end Xavier Tiller, previously a Texas A&M pledge, committed to FSU as well.
Carter, the son of former Seminoles star Dexter Carter, is a 6-foot-1 playmaker who also boasted offers from Georgia and North Carolina, among others.
A four-star prospect, Carter ranks as the No. 120 overall recruit in the country, per the 247Sports composite. The Douglas County (Ga.) product originally committed to Florida State in 2023.
His father played running back for the Seminoles from 1986-89 and was a first-round NFL draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. He later returned to his alma mater to coach the program's running backs under Bobby Bowden from 2007-09.
Tiller, considered the No. 204 overall recruit by the 247Sports composite, is likewise a four-star from Georgia (Langston Hughes High School). Standing 6-foot-5, he also holds offers from Auburn, Alabama, Louisville and Georgia.
O'Neal, previously a pledge to Oklahoma, hails from Mustang, Okla. and is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class. At 6-foot-4, he is also a four-star, ranking No. 205 among all prospects.

Blue-chip WR Vance Spafford picks Miami, decommits from Georgia
Spafford, from Mission Viejo, Calif., told 247Sports that he made the move, in part, because he is looking for a chance to play on a team that works together as one unit.
"The football team is made up of the best of the best," Spafford said in the 247 Sports interview.
At Florida, he will play with quarterback Carson Beck, a transfer from Georgia.
"When I went on my visit there earlier this season, I just noticed how amazing their offensive line was, how much time Carson Beck had to throw, so why not join a team that is going to throw the ball like that? The program will always attract the best players, and it's got a winning culture, so that's something that really was hard to turn down for me," Spafford said.
The 247sports composite lists Spafford as the No. 9 wideout in the nation and the No. 74 overall player in the 2026 class.
He made five official visits since May 30: Southern California, UCLA, Washington, Miami and Georgia. He initially committed to the Bulldogs last November.
The Hurricanes are heading into their fourth season with Mario Cristobal at head coach. His three-year record is 22-16.
Miami, which finished 10-3 (6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) last season, begins the 2025 campaign against visiting Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
Spafford is ranked as the No. 124 overall prospect, No. 12 wide receiver, and No. 17 overall recruit in California by 247Sports. At the ESPN Future 50 event last July, Spafford won the fastest man competition, running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.
Below is the 247Sports Scouting Report on Spafford from May 28, written by 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins.
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Pac-12 extends deal with CBS Sports through 2030-31
As part of the deal announced Monday, CBS will broadcast the Pac-12 football and men's basketball championship games and at least three regular-season football and men's basketball contests each season starting in 2026-27. The games will also be streamed via Paramount+.
"Our goal with this process was to find transformational partnerships for the new Pac-12, and throughout our discussions and time together it became more and more clear that a partnership with CBS Sports would be just that," Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement.
Additional Pac-12 football and men's basketball regular-season games will air on CBS Sports Network, with details announced at a later date.
"As the new Pac-12's primary media partner, CBS Sports' top-tier coverage will showcase the best of the conference's football and men's basketball games annually across our platforms, including the championship game for both sports," said Dan Weinberg, executive vice president of programming at CBS Sports. "Extending this partnership strengthens our multiplatform college football and basketball schedule and, at a pivotal moment for the new Pac-12, allows us to collaborate, grow the conference and expand its reach."
Pac-12 membership has been radically altered since a 2024 realignment saw 10 of 12 members depart, leaving only Oregon State and Washington State.
The "new" Pac-12 launches in 2026-27 with the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. Gonzaga is also coming aboard for sports other than football, and multiple reports have cited Texas State as the favorite to become the Pac-12's eighth football program.
As for the 2025 football season, the Pac-12 announced in April that all of Oregon State's and Washington State's home games will air on either CBS Sports, The CW Network and ESPN.

Son: Deion Sanders making 'progress' amid health issue
Deion Sanders Jr. posted a video of his father fishing at his Texas estate to YouTube on Saturday.
"It's a beautiful thing," Deion Sanders Jr. says in the video. "Coach Prime back active, moving around. God is great. Not back active moving around, but it's progress."
In the video, the elder Sanders, 57, is shown driving the fishing boat, which also counts former Colorado star and Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter among the passengers.
Neither Sanders nor Colorado officials have given specifics about the nature of the health issue the coach is facing. He has been away from Boulder, missing annual youth camps he normally would have attended. He is scheduled to attend a Big 12 preseason media event on July 9 in Frisco, Texas.
Sanders addressed his health in a social media post on June 11.
"I can assure you all that everything is OK and will continue to be so," he posted to X. "... I'm excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program. When we arrive back to Boulder you will be updated on everything."
It is unclear when Sanders will return to the Buffaloes.
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sanders required multiple surgeries for persistent blood clots in recent years. He had two toes amputated in 2021 to address clotting issues.