In reaction to recent remarks made by Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Oregon’s name, image, and likeness program was defended by Ducks coach Dan Lanning, who called it a “exaggeration” that his program receives far more revenue than that of other top-10 schools. “In actuality, it’s difficult to find a top-10 college football team right now without strong fan support,” Lanning stated to ESPN on Thursday. Do we possess significantly more than others? That would be overstated, in my opinion, otherwise we would never lose. Everyone else is currently concentrating on our ice cream cone, so if I’m distracted by theirs, my own is melting.”

Smart, who Lanning coached under at Georgia before taking over at Oregon, made a lighthearted comment last week at SEC Media Days, stating he “could get some of that NIL money (Nike founder and Oregon alum Phil Knight) is giving Dan Lanning.” According to Lanning, the Ducks’ NIL program will always give them an opportunity to get some of the top athletes in the nation, but they’re hardly alone. It helped them sign important transfers like linebacker Evan Stewart and quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.

“I’m sure there’s a correlation, right?” Lanning stated that 13 players from Michigan, the reigning national champion, were chosen in this year’s NFL draft. Are we in a different scenario than other teams around the country? Indeed. Does our team’s circumstance differ from that of the top teams in the country? Most likely not. That’s alright, too. We’d like to be a part of that group. Oregon will go through a transitional moment as it gets ready for its Big Ten debut, but Lanning wants to see his players be who they are.

“We don’t want to come in and be a team that follows the trends; we want to be a team that sets the trends,” Lanning stated to ESPN. “That just entails examining how you might better yourself. It will be an educational opportunity.”

Carmelo Anthony’s son, Blue-Chip, leads FSU basketball to the top six.

Leonard Hamilton’s attention has turned to recruiting for the 2025–26 season now that Florida State’s squad for that season has been decided. Many recruiters are beginning to disclose lists of their top 6 or 8 teams and to narrow down the institutions they are considering.

Kiyan Anthony, the son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, is one such prospect. Anthony revealed his list of the top six universities on Wednesday afternoon: Auburn, Florida State, Ohio State, Rutgers, Syracuse, and USC. Kiyan is a 4-star recruit and presently sits at the 31st spot in 247’s composite rankings for prospects.

Although Kiyan Anthony visited Florida State in October, he has no intention of returning to the Seminoles. Coach Hamilton and his father have a great relationship, which is why they have continued to pursue this prospect. In the next months, he plans to visit every school in his top 6, including Syracuse, where his father won a national championship in 2003.

Kiyan and Florida State are connected further because he attends Long Island Lutheran. The largest 2025 commit to FSU, Alier Maluk, has announced that he will reclassify to the 2024 class and play for them this season. Even though Syracuse appears to be the front-runner to sign Anthony, Maluk, who played with Anthony at Long Island Lutheran last season, will probably be pleading with him to come to Tallahassee.