NEW YORK (AP) — NiJaree Canady, a standout pitcher at Texas Tech who was selected by the Texas Volts No. 2 overall in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft, has signed a name, image and likeness partnership with the league. The AUSL announced the deal on Thursday. Canady and two other current college players — Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens and Texas catcher Reese Atwood — have agreed to collaborate with the AUSL on social media content and brand campaigns ahead of the 2026 season. Canady’s deal gives her equity in the league, which was founded in 2024.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — While frustration mounts across big-time college sports, the leader of the agency formed to police NIL payments has a simple reminder: These are the rules you wrote. In an interview with The Associated Press, Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the College Sports Commission, said the CSC came into existence to enforce rules the schools themselves wrote. He says they’re welcome to change those rules but complaints about his agency mostly come from schools that aren’t following the very rules they wrote.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — One of the most productive point guards in women’s college basketball history has been hired as an assistant coach at Iowa State. Emily Ryan was a graduate assistant last season after wrapping up her record-setting playing career. She finished her career with a school-record 993 assists, ranking seventh all-time in Division I. She was just the third NCAA women’s player to record at least 1,500 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a career.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Virginia men and Texas A&M women have been crowned national champions in college tennis. This victory comes amid a challenging time for the sport, with several programs being cut due to rising costs and financial pressures. Coaches emphasize the need for visibility and innovation to sustain programs. Former Tennessee associate coach James McKie highlights the excitement of televised matches, though coverage has decreased. TCU’s David Roditi and others suggest initiatives like community events to boost support. They urge programs to adapt and find ways to generate revenue to ensure their survival.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — The Big Ten is pushing to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, but the question is who will televise it. Fox supports the idea, but concerns remain about how much networks will pay for games involving less popular teams. The current ESPN deal is worth $7.8 billion over six seasons. The Southeastern Conference prefers a 16-team playoff, while the Big Ten has support from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences for 24 teams. A larger playoff could eliminate conference title games, affecting revenue. The NFL’s dominance in viewership is a factor in negotiations.

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