Justin Williams

“Those two, it was just insane. Like, holy sh—, these guys are crazy.” An oral history of Jason and Travis Kelce—the college years—and how a brotherly bond at the University of Cincinnati laid the foundation for all that came next. Via @TheAthletic ⤵️ theathletic.com/5206148/2024/0…

Many of the changes in college sports have been decided behind closed doors, in court rooms and conference rooms, with the bottom line leading the way. But what do the people who love college sports want? Let us know in @TheAthletic’s 2025 fan survey. nytimes.com/athletic/65132…

A year after Greg Newman's career ended his mind began to betray him. The ensuing two decades were a tragic slide. Unhoused before his death, Greg's "imaginary world was more real to him than this.” On a family’s search for the answer they long suspected. nytimes.com/athletic/64964…

Memphis’ Big 12 pitch, including $200 million in sponsorships, isn’t gaining traction: Sources nytimes.com/athletic/65056…

✍️ Sources: Memphis has tried to SMU its way into the Big 12, proposing to take no money, plus provide upwards of $200 million in sponsorships with Memphis partners like FedEx and Lowe's. But it hasn't garnered enough interest. More: nytimes.com/athletic/65056…

As college sports continue to look and act more like the pros, here's a question: How much would Ohio State football sell for? What about Texas? Texas Tech? We used real pro franchise transactions as a guideline for every P4 CFB team. What we came up with: nytimes.com/athletic/65005…

Source: Former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff has committed to Tulane, @TheAthletic has learned. Not official yet, but the timing means he will be a walk-on. Retzlaff was recruited by Tulane coach Jon Sumrall back at Troy. ESPN first reported.

The American Athletic Conference is now just "The American Conference." It's not using "AAC" either, which was never official. I talked with commissioner Tim Pernetti about the changes and the league's future: nytimes.com/athletic/65056…

Crazy sliding doors here: -Zac Taylor recruits Ridder to UC in 2017 -UC HC Luke Fickell recruits Joe Burrow as transfer in 2018 -Burrow picks LSU: Heisman, title, Bengals #1 pick under HC Taylor -Ridder wins job at UC in 2018, 4yr starter, CFP 2021, UC legend It all worked out.

Welcome back home, @desmondridder

President Trump mulls executive order to 'preserve college sports': What a draft calls for dlvr.it/TLzrmb

ICYMI, what an executive order could do if/when President Trump weighs in on the state of college sports. nytimes.com/athletic/65007…

The House settlement was 3 years in the making, kicked in July 1, and already there's an important dispute: Can NIL Go invalidate collectives' deals just because they're collectives? ADs wholeheartedly believe so. Lawyers/collectives: Not so much. nytimes.com/athletic/64957…

✍️ The Mountain West and its future Pac-12 schools were cordial at media days, but behind closed doors, the fight is only heating up. As the rest of the country asks, why didn't they just merge? "Gloria’s a pitbull, and I respect that." nytimes.com/athletic/65018…

The greatest seasons and eras of the Big 12 were fueled by quarterbacks. In 2025, a rebuilt league is set to do it again. "You’re gonna get the shots to the heart." On the conference of quarterbacks: nytimes.com/athletic/65003…

For the last six weeks, @AntonioCMorales and I tried the impossible: to rank every projected FBS starting QB, from No. 1 to No. 136. With intel from 40+ coaches and staffers across the country, we introduce the result: @TheAthletic’s College QB Tiers: nyti.ms/3IMdwWY

Bam! Bam! Bam! Some thoughts on the great Dave Lapham joining the Bengals Ring of Honor. facebook.com/share/p/14EWSy…

“He was not a likeable sort.” Or at least that’s what people often think of Paul Finebaum, before they know him. On a professional hater’s soft, warm center. nytimes.com/athletic/64880…

The highest paid Cornerback in NFL history 🔥

Here’s the new deal for Sauce Gardner: 4-year, $120.4M deal, $30.1M per year, per sources. He is the highest paid corner in the history of the NFL .

ICYMI this weekend, read this from @BruceFeldmanCFB on @Andrew_Cherico. Incredible piece.