Trump Draws a Line: Army-Navy won’t share the stage with CFP

How about those couple of days?! That was fun. And the rest of the weekend should be even better.

Before that, let’s talk about executive orders. What could be more exciting?! We also have notes on Washington State and Oregon State’s continued cash infusion from the old-world Pac-12 and a unique NIL deal.

I’ve got some fun NCAA tournament-related stories cooked up for next week. Can’t wait to talk to everyone then. Have a great weekend sitting in front of the TV!

Sports, baby!

— Kyle

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THE BIG 3

As CFP expands, Trump steps in to protect Army-Navy tradition

The President of the United States stepped into the college sports landscape again Friday – and it won’t be the last time. But this one could have real implications for the postseason calendar.

Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting one of college football’s most enduring traditions: the Army-Navy game. The directive calls on the commerce secretary and the FCC chair to coordinate with the College Football Playoff, the NCAA and broadcast partners to ensure the rivalry has a standalone national window each December.

Trump does not want postseason games competing with Army-Navy, especially the playoff. For decades, the game has been played on the second Saturday of December, serving as a patriotic, tradition-rich showcase unlike anything else in the sport. It’s widely considered one of college football’s most meaningful events. 

A changing postseason calendar is creeping in, though. With playoff expansion all but inevitable, there’s increasing pressure to move the postseason into early December. That creates a potential collision with Army-Navy, a scenario this order is designed to prevent.

“Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War,” Trump’s executive order said. “Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that no college football game, specifically college football's CFP or other postseason games, be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army-Navy Game.”

This year’s game is set for Dec. 12 at MetLife Stadium, with the playoff beginning the following weekend. But as the CFP evolves, this order draws a clear line: no matter how big the postseason gets, Army-Navy isn’t moving or sharing the stage.

Pac-12 After Dark pays in cash

Washington State and Oregon State aren’t sniffing the bracket this year. But that hasn’t stopped the Cougars and Beavers from celebrating alongside Duke and the other perennial NCAA tournament teams. 

Why? Because money in March isn’t just about showing up, it’s about conference math, and the Pac-12’s bizarre afterlife has turned Washington State and Oregon State into unlikely beneficiaries. March Madness doesn’t just crown a champion — it prints cash. Every game a conference team plays earns a “unit,” and each unit is worth roughly $2 million distributed over six years. 

Now layer in the chaos of conference realignment. When the Pac-12 collapsed, its separation agreements ensured that Washington State and Oregon State, who were left for dead, would still collect a massive share of those unit payouts. So while UCLA and Arizona chase wins this March, the Cougars and Beavers are quietly riding shotgun on that success. It doesn’t matter that Wazzu and Oregon State have combined for three tournament appearances since 2008. They will still split more than $15 million. 

And they’ve still got three more years of payments. Plus, the rebuilt Pac-12 starts play next season with Gonzaga, Utah State, San Diego State and Boise State hearing their name called on Selection Sunday quite frequently. The March Madness money spigot isn’t turning off anytime soon for Washington State and Oregon State.  

Five-star guard lands rare equity deal with pasta startup 🍝 

Five-star guard Deron Rippey Jr. hasn’t played a minute of college basketball yet for the Duke Blue Devils. However, that hasn’t stopped him from thinking like a pro when it comes to his business portfolio. 

On Thursday, Rippey signed a better deal that his national letter of intent – he inked a contract with frozen pasta startup Ripi, which includes a five-figure payment and a less than one percent equity stake that vests over time based on his involvement. 

Equity deals are rare, especially for someone who’s still in high school. But Rippey – and Ripi (probounced the same) – are betting on each other. It’s all upside for Rippey and Ripi. Each side benefits from the others’ success. 

Apparel brands have tried to ride the coattails of elite high school and college athletes. But that kind of deal from a food brand, and a startup no less, is not common. It could be great foresight – or completely irrelevant in a couple of years. 

The deal includes collaboration on social content, limited-edition drops and fan experiences. Ripi was founded in 2025 and did a national rollout at Whole Foods earlier this year. (Target is next.) If Rippey develops into what many evaluators project – a one-and-done guard with NBA lottery upside – this becomes a classic ground-floor investment story. 

This kind of alignment could become more relevant as NIL evolves. We’re starting to get a glimpse of college athletes thinking like entrepreneurs and investors. 

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

The $7–9 million question that derailed Mark Pope

Unless you’re offline, living under a rock and paying zero attention to college sports, you probably saw the viral Mark Pope press conference interview in which the Kentucky coach was asked specifically about offering players $7 million to $9 million. Pope gave a bizarre, rambling answer that veered into a state-of-the-sports-media discussion. This isn’t the first time his press conferences have gone off the rails. The Kentucky coach always has the most pressure in the country. It’s more magnified now because Pope hasn’t been great despite spending huge sums of money on the roster.

NIL BLITZ

♦️ A Texas A&M athlete was the subject of a CSC inquiry into unreported NIL deals.

♦️ Jay Bilas says he isn’t concerned about NIL negatively impacting March Madness and says the sport has “never been better.”

♦️ Western Michigan athletics received a $2.5 million anonymous gift.

♦️ Arch Manning has signed an NIL deal with Google Gemini. No word on whether Texas’ play calls will be decided by AI this season.

♦️ JPMorganChase announced the creation of the Athlete Council, which will focus on helping athletes navigate financial decisions.

♦️ D Magazine has a great inside look at SMU athletics and how the Mustangs have navigated NIL.

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Has NIL made the NCAA tournament more or less unpredictable?

• More predictable - 49%

• Less predictable - 42%

• Same - 9%