Nicole Auerbach
@NicoleAuerbach
@NBCSports lead college football and college basketball insider + @SiriusXM radio host | IG: nicole_auerbach
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Really fun conversation with @NicoleAuerbach recapping SEC Media Days, tossing out a few predictions and more. Give it a listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rus…
Attorneys have resolved a dispute over how the College Sports Commission handles NIL collectives, sources tell @YahooSports, revising its approach to treat them like other businesses - a major move that paves the way for continued collective operations bit.ly/4kVo5od
Petitti on whether the SEC and Big Ten can agree on a future playoff model: "We're obviously not in the same place on these discussions. I think the goal would be to bring people back together. ... Every time the two leagues have come together good things have happened."
Petitti: "We did submit a letter (to the NCAA regarding the Michigan infractions case)." Declined to discuss the specifics of the letter. ESPN reported that Petitti lobbied for the program to receive no more sanctions.
Petitti says that different conference schedules are “really relevant” in a CFP model that includes a lot of at-large spots. Says he doesn’t care about the # of conference games anyone else plays in the AQ-heavy model he prefers.
Tony Petitti, like Greg Sankey last week, emphasized that the Big Ten and SEC have the authority to make the CFP format decision.
Tony Petitti: “We are open to considering any format ideas that come from our colleagues or the CFP staff, but to be clear, formats that increase the discretion and role of the CFP selection committee will have a difficult time getting support from the Big Ten.”
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is making his pitch for the AQ-heavy College Football Playoff format.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti: “It’s clear that Big Ten football has never been deeper or stronger.”
Rhett Lashlee doing some indirect defending of the perceived strength of the ACC: “The SEC has had the same six schools win the championship since 1964. Not a single one has been different since 1964. “That’s top-heavy to me. That's not depth.”
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips announces player availability reports will be required in football, men's and women's basketball and baseball in conference games. In football, reports will be issued two days before games, with updates one day before and game day.
Big 12 presidents are not interested in adding Memphis to the conference, sources confirm to @NBCSports. Memphis drafted a proposal to join the Big 12 that included providing the conference about $200 million in sponsorships + not taking any revenue distribution $ for years.
This is very cool! UTSA student-athletes who are first-generation college students will wear special patches on their uniforms recognizing their accomplishment of being the first in their family to attend college. goutsa.com/news/2025/07/1…
NEW POD! @bportnoy15 joins me to recap SEC media days. On Arch Madness, Kalen DeBoer Year 2, Georgia and more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rus…
I voted in this:
🏈 KOTN Big Ten Preseason Poll results 🏈 54 voters who cover the Big Ten and national CFB 🏈 1-18 predicted order of finish, led by Penn State 🏈 1st-place votes: Penn State 35, Ohio State 18, Oregon 1 @B1Gfootball @BigTenNetwork youtube.com/@KOTNcfb
A branding update: The “American Athletic Conference” and “AAC” have been officially retired.The league will now be referred to as the “American Conference” or the American.
The College Football Playoff format can't change unless the Big Ten and SEC both agree to change it. And now the leagues are at odds. ... which may be for the best! It's time to table the expansion talk. The CFP should stay at 12 teams. COLUMN: nbcsports.com/college-footba…
SHE is the one I most want to hear from

Excited to be part of this broadcast!
Paris Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera headlines 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Classic this weekend across NBC, @peacock, and @CNBC Details: nbcsports.com/pressbox/press…