Sports
Wetzel: Why college basketball coaches can watch more football in 2025
The University of Illinois football team plays host to top-ranked Ohio State on Saturday, assuring a sellout crowd and a frenzied campus atmosphere. The weather in Champagne is expected to be perfect — mostly sunny and in the 70s.
“Chamber of Commerce stuff,” said Brad Underwood, the school’s basketball coach.
In past years, Underwood would have set up a massive recruiting weekend, trying to convince every possible high school prospect to see U of I at its best. The early signing period, after all, is just five weeks away.
This year? No official visits, just a couple of local players who will drive over on their own.
“I’m just choosing not to do it,” Underwood said. “I’m not wasting the time or the dollars.”
Welcome to the fall, where college basketball recruiting season is in semi-hibernation.
The recruiting calendar has shifted for myriad reasons. The tendency of coaches to favor experienced players from the transfer portal has lowered the heat on landing high school stars. Meanwhile, top players are holding out for more certainty and what they hope are higher monetary offers in the spring.
But the trend is compounded this year by uncertainty over a proposed NCAA change that would provide all athletes five years of eligibility over a five-year span, dubbed the “5-in-5 Rule.” The goal is to end redshirts, arbitrary waiver decisions and lawsuits over eligibility.
The problem is, it’s unclear if the rule will pass, let alone when it will be implemented. The NCAA process is notoriously slow, and though a source with knowledge of the situation tells ESPN that it won’t happen this academic year, there has been no official statement. In an age of rapid and dramatic change, coaches remain wary.
If the 5-in-5 rule does happen, then suddenly almost every current college senior would have an extra year of eligibility, causing a logjam for incoming freshmen.
Since coaches have no idea how many players can return, they also don’t know how many new players they might need.
And if they need new players, will they add from a portal list of experienced 22-year-olds rather than turn to unproven high schoolers? That doesn’t factor in how much revenue share money and NIL opportunities need to be allocated to keep your roster.
Essentially, the entire sport is flying somewhat blind on how to build a roster for the 2026-27 season. Illinois might need significant work. Or it might need almost no one (it has two high school players committed).
“No one knows what is coming or what to do,” said Underwood, who has led Illinois to five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
That also extends in the other direction. Current players are more cautious because they can’t project what they’re walking into, from playing time to available money.
It’s one reason, even with the Nov. 15 early signing period approaching, only 16 of ESPN’s top 50 recruits (and just three of the top 15) are committed to a school.
“In the past, a high school recruit would say, ‘This is how I would fit in on the roster,’ but that is gone now. You don’t know the roster for next year,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national director of recruiting. “With the portal kids coming or leaving, you don’t know what the roster is going to be.”
Everything has been pushed to the spring, where Underwood expects “total chaos.”
His frustration isn’t with the proposed rule — he says he supports 5-in-5 as long as it ends the waivers and legal cases. And Underwood, despite being a coach of 38 years, isn’t grumbling about the good old days. He likes most of this new era.
“I’m tired of all the complaining by coaches,” Underwood said. “I think … [college] basketball is the best it’s ever been. There is so much top-end talent in the game. I think the game is ready to explode.”
He would just like some clarity on how to plan for next year.
“We just need to know what it is going to be,” he said.
If a fifth year eventually comes, many high school prospects could be pushed to the mid-major level. That, too, can be a strategy. If you are, say, a top-100 recruit, why sign with a major team to play a limited role, when you can go to a mid-major and prove yourself?
“That’s an opportunity for kids,” Underwood said. “Go build your brand as a double-digit scorer.”
Basically, no one is sure what path to take.
“It’s really fascinating how it’s changed, how coaches go about it, the money, the transfer portal,” Biancardi said. “Everything is different.”
Not all bad, just different. Underwood says it used to be “hair on fire” this time of year. This September, though, he went out just one day to recruit. April and May will be crazy, but he has more time to connect with “the guys I’m going to try to win with this winter.”
And on what otherwise would have been a busy fall recruiting weekend, he might get to settle in and watch the football game.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.
At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants’ chairman of the board.
ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch warms up before the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
“Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,” the memo stated. “The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”
It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein’s island.
As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Francis Mauigoa of Miami celebrates after being selected as the tenth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.
Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.
Arvell Reese of Ohio State celebrates after being selected as the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The selection isn’t completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It’s clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Los Angeles Rams pulled a stunner and drafted Alababam QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford’s retirement without skipping a beat.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38-years-old, has flirted with retirement after each of the past two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sports
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner considering factors before debuting new alternate uniforms: report
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The choice for the New York Yankees to wear their new alternate uniform is ultimately up to owner Hal Steinbrenner, who has shown a knack for change in recent years.
And according to The Athletic, Steinbrenner and others in the front office will decide when the time is right based on some factors.
The outlet noted that economic impact, how often they’ll be worn, and how fans feel about the jerseys will all be key considerations in deciding if, and perhaps when, the jerseys will be worn.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees makes a pitching change during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida, on March 17, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images)
Hours after The Athletic reported that players had gone to higher-ups about the idea, it was revealed that an alternate jersey had in fact been approved prior.
The Yankees’ navy blue batting practice tops, similar to their road spring training uniforms, were the ones that were approved to be worn in games.
The Yankees have taken part in wearing different jerseys in the past, including Players’ Weekend from 2017 through 2019, a nod to the 1912 team while playing in Boston on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park’s opening, and jerseys commemorating the Black Yankees in 1996. The Yankees also wore replicas of their 1921 road uniforms for the first Field of Dreams game in 2021.
Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees wait for the start of a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 24, 2026. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
YANKEES ANNOUNCER SAYS TEAM SHOULD WIN A WORLD SERIES BEFORE BREAKING LONGSTANDING JERSEY TRADITION
However, none of those jerseys were ever officially put into the rotation, leaving them with just a home and road uniform from day one.
The Yankees also remain the only team to have no last names on the back of their jerseys, home or away, and they are also one of two teams, including the Athletics, without a City Connect jersey.
The Yankees added an advertisement patch on their jerseys in 2023, and beginning last year, “well-groomed” facial hair below the lip was reintroduced after a 50-year ban by Steinbrenner’s father, George.
Yankees players reportedly said they want the home pinstripes untouched and would wear the alternates on the road.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees bats against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a spring training game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 23, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Yankees sell navy blue “shirseys” that mimic the tone of their spring training uniforms, but the pinstripes have been even more prevalent in home spring games in Florida.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Vietnam-India seminar boosts textile, leather ties
22 India-backed terrorists killed in Khyber intelligence-based operation, says ISPR
Former Giants co-owner Steve Tisch seen in team’s draft room
-
Fashion1 week agoFrance’s LVMH Q1 revenue falls 6%, shows resilience amid Iran war
-
Entertainment1 week agoIs Claude down? Here’s why users are seeing errors
-
Sports1 week agoPSL 11: Peshawar Zalmi win toss, opt to field first against Quetta Gladiators
-
Tech1 week agoThe Deepfake Nudes Crisis in Schools Is Much Worse Than You Thought
-
Business1 week agoStandard Life buys rival in £2b deal to create savings giant
-
Tech1 week agoCYBERUK ’26: UK lagging on legal protections for cyber pros | Computer Weekly
-
Fashion1 week agoRaymond unveils luxury Chairman’s Collection Store in Mumbai
-
Sports4 days agoNCAA men’s gymnastics championship: All-time winners list