Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.
Dan Lanning Defends Oregon's NIL Spending
Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight is the most well-known booster in college sports. The 86-year-old has made it known that he wants to see Oregon win a national championship in football before he dies. With NIL taking college athletics by storm over the last few years, Knight and the Ducks have certainly taken advantage of the new era of college football.
Currently boasting the No. 6-ranked recruiting class in 2025, some people around college football – coaches and fans alike – have been quick to contribute that to one of the wealthiest people in the world backing Oregon's NIL program. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was one of the critics. Dan Lanning, who was with the Bulldogs from 2018-21 before taking over the Ducks in 2022, was quick to defend Oregon and Knight on the Pat McAfee Show this past Thursday.
"I think it's impressive that guys like Kirby Smart have been signing the number one class in the nation without any NIL money
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 25, 2024
Kirby is a great mentor and I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for him" ~ @CoachDanLanning#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/78uOI655LC
Along with his comment about Georgia, Lanning said that every top-10 team has plenty of NIL support.
"The reality is, find a top-10 team in college football right now that doesn't have great support," Lanning told ESPN. "Do we have a lot more than everybody else? I think that'd be an exaggeration or we'd never lose. Everyone else right now is focused on our ice cream cone, and if I'm busy looking at theirs, that means mine's melting."
Oregon is expected to be one of college football's best teams this season and with their NIL program, the Ducks don't look to be slowing down any time soon, even if Lanning's comments about it being more than just money turn out to be true.
Wisconsin Football Promotes 24-year-old Max Stienecker to General Manager
This college football season, there's a chance that there is at least one 24-year-old player on a roster somewhere in the country. But for Stienecker, he has quickly worked his way up at Wisconsin. Formerly the Badgers' director of player personnel, the youngest in college football history, the 24-year-old was promoted to general manager for Wisconsin football ahead of the 2024 season, according to The Camp Wisconsin podcast.
Steinecker has been with Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell ever since the latter was the head coach at Cincinnati from 2017-22. Steinecker graduated from Cincinnati in 2021 before making the move to Madison and has continued to play a key role on the recruiting trail for Wisconsin.
Named to 247Sports' 30 Under 30 in 2023, Steinecker began his career at Cincinnati as a student manager in 2018 before transitioning to the director of on-campus recruiting in 2021 and following Fickell to Wisconsin in 2023.'
Georgia Wide Receiver Rara Thomas Arrested on Family Violence Charges
The Bulldogs' off-field run-ins with the law continue to grow, unfortunately. While many of those have been driving-related charges, Thomas was arrested early Friday morning on multiple charges including two two misdemeanor counts of battery and one count of second-degree cruelty to children (a felony), according to Dawgs HQ. He was taken into custody and booked into jail at 3:20 a.m. on Friday.
This isn't Thomas's first time in trouble with the law since coming to Athens. After spending two seasons at Mississippi State, he transferred to Georgia before the 2023 season. Less than a month later, he was arrested for a misdemeanor count of family violence and a felony account of false imprisonment, charges that were dropped because Thomas completed anger management and community service through a pretrial diversion program.
Thomas was expected to be Georgia's starting X receiver this season after catching 23 passes for 383 yards and a touchdown before missing the final three games of the 2023 season with a broken foot.
The Bulldogs have already suspended Thomas indefinitely.
ICYMI
Netflix to Release Documentary on Connor Stalions, Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal on August 27
In a Netflix documentary set to release on Aug. 27, Connor Stalions will share "his side of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scheme that turned him into a viral villain."
Ohio State Defensive End Jack Sawyer Feels He Let His City Down in Losses to Michigan, Wakes Up Every Day Motivated for Better Senior Season
There is perhaps no Ohio State player more hungry for a pair of gold pants than Jack Sawyer, who feels he "let the city down" with the Buckeyes' last three losses to Michigan.
Denzel Burke’s Goals for His Senior Season: Be Ohio State’s Best Cornerback Ever and “Win Every Single Game”
Denzel Burke’s goals for his final season at Ohio State are to “be recognized as the best corner to ever come through here” and to “win every single game.”
What's Next
- 4 Days (Aug. 1): Ohio State’s first day of preseason camp
- 34 Days (Aug. 31): The Buckeyes' season opener vs. Akron
- 125 Days (Nov. 30): The Game
