Here is the latest Big Ten Conference sports news from The Associated Press

Published 3:30 am Saturday, August 3, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tradition-rich college football programs Nebraska, Ohio State and Alabama are capitalizing on the passion of their fans to generate funds for their NIL collectives. Nebraska is charging $25 for an open practice Saturday. Ohio State is charging $50 to attend one of four open practices. Alabama will let fans in for free to their open practice but charge for an autograph session afterward. Thilo Kunkel researches NIL’s impact on college sports as a faculty member at Temple. He said charging admission to watch practice is a creative and smart way to raise NIL funds at brand-name programs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State opened camp on Thursday with the usual towering expectations but also a heavy sense of urgency built up over the three consecutive seasons blown up by losses to Michigan. The Buckeyes finished 11-2 in each of those campaigns but failed each time in their primary mission of beating Michigan and advancing to the Big Ten championship game. Coach Ryan Day insisted the urgency isn’t any greater than in other preseasons during his six-year tenure. He said this year’s team will be built with an eye toward making sure its best football is being played in the last few critical games.

UNDATED (AP) — Former Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker is suing the university and school leaders, saying they wrongfully fired him and violated his constitutional rights in response to sexual harassment allegations. His federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Michigan says they undertook an “improper, sham investigation” last year after rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy accused him of sexually harassing and exploiting her. He also says they violated his employment agreement with the school, and he’s asking for damages. The Associated Press emailed a Michigan State spokesperson and members of the school’s legal department Thursday seeking comment.

UNDATED (AP) — College sports leaders believe they have found a way through a massive antitrust settlement to finally separate “true NIL” for athletes from what they say is booster-funded pay-for-play. If the settlement is approved by a judge, mandatory disclosure rules, an outside clearinghouse to assess deals and an enforcement process that includes neutral arbitrators will be used to scrutinize transactions between college athletes and third parties for fair-market value. The plan is targeting so-called NIL collectives. For some, it looks like an overstep by the NCAA. Others see ample precedent in professional leagues to support regulating NIL.

PARIS (AP) — Three-quarters of the nearly 600 American athletes lining up for action at the Paris Olympics got their training in college sports in the United States. It’s an eye-opening figure that places the future of the Olympics themselves into the equation as the NCAA and its biggest schools set priorities when they start paying college athletes. NCAA President Charlie Baker told The Associated Press he thinks colleges are going to have to make tough choices in the near future. He was in Paris for the opening ceremony that took place at around the same time litigators filed details of a multibillion-dollar settlement that calls for players to share in revenue and is bound to alter the course of the NCAA.

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SEATTLE (AP) — New Washington coach Jedd Fisch is still uncertain how this is all going to come together for the Huskies. Fisch will begin his first camp in charge at Washington this week after an offseason of massive change on Montlake. Coming off a national championship game appearance, the Huskies coaching staff is completely overhauled after Kalen DeBoer left to take the head job at Alabama and Fisch was hired as his replacement. There are nearly 50 new scholarship players on the roster after a series of transfers in and out of the program. The Huskies have one month to see how it all comes together before opening on Aug. 31 against Weber State.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s first season with Air Raid disciple Phil Longo as offensive coordinator didn’t work out quite according to plan. The Badgers went 7-6 and posted their lowest scoring average in nearly two decades. The Badgers are optimistic about matching the success that Longo had in his previous stops now that they’ve had a year to adapt to his fast-paced system. Longo joined Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell’s staff last season after coaching NFL quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye at North Carolina.