Good morning!

It’s Thursday, April 24, and the college football universe is still spinning—mostly thanks to the transfer portal, spring scrimmages, and one quarterback’s $10 million tantrum. Welcome back to Betting The Mascots, your weekly dose of facts, sarcasm, and just enough chaos to stay entertained between kickoff weekends.

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📰 NEWS

5 Headlines That Actually Matter

1. Nico Iamaleava’s NIL Gamble Backfires Hard
Tennessee’s $10 million man is no longer their man. Nico Iamaleava, once billed as the future of Vol football, reportedly skipped meetings, tried to renegotiate his deal, and had his reps flirt with Oregon (who immediately swiped left). Coach Heupel has seen enough and is rolling with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger moving forward. The Vols are trying to clean up the mess just weeks before summer workouts.

2. Syracuse WR Trebor Pena Enters Portal, Becomes Hot Commodity
After leading the Orange with 84 catches, 941 yards, and 9 TDs in 2024, Pena is testing the waters. Miami is reportedly already circling, and let’s be honest—if you’re a Power 5 team with a weak WR room, your DMs are probably open. This is a huge loss for a Syracuse offense already clinging to life.

3. FSU’s 6’7” Experiment Lasts One Semester
Jordan Scott, a towering JUCO transfer who was supposed to be FSU’s red zone cheat code, is re-entering the portal after less than five months on campus. No snaps, no stats, just vibes. It’s not a major loss on paper, but still another roster churn for a team with ACC title aspirations.

4. Kentucky OL Anfernee Crease Heads to the Portal
Crease, a 2024 signee out of Navarro College, appeared in two games last season and was battling for backup reps this spring. He announced his transfer decision on Twitter—because of course he did. Kentucky’s line is already rebuilding, so this adds one more variable to the mix.

5. NCAA $2.8B Athlete Settlement Inches Forward
The NCAA’s proposed $2.8 billion settlement—aimed at compensating current and former athletes from the pre-NIL era—is one step closer to reality. The plan includes backpay and future revenue-sharing frameworks but drew some heat for proposed roster caps. Judge Claudia Wilken is reviewing and may call for revisions before approval. This is one of the biggest financial shifts in college sports history. No hyperbole.

⚖️ RULE CHANGES

Just the facts, for once.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee has introduced several updates for the 2025 season designed to improve pace of play and clarify game situations:

• Injury Timeout Adjustment: If medical staff enters the field after the ball is spotted for the next play, the team will now be charged a timeout. If no timeouts remain, it’s a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty. This is aimed at curbing fake injuries to stop the clock.

• Overtime Timeout Limit: Beginning with the third overtime period, each team will be allowed only one timeout for the remainder of the game. Previously, teams received a new timeout each OT period.

• Replay Terminology Update: Referees will now use “Upheld” or “Overturned” instead of the previous “Stands” or “Confirmed” language when announcing replay decisions. This change is meant to reduce confusion and standardize calls.

🌸 SPRING GAME HIGHLIGHTS

It’s just practice… but let’s judge them anyway.

Georgia’s G-Day Game Proves They’re Still Scary
In front of 35,000 fans, Georgia’s Red Team handled the Black Team 34–17. The defense looked fast, the offense looked sharp, and Kirby Smart probably hasn’t smiled once since. The Dawgs look deep, disciplined, and ready to reload—again.

Alabama’s A-Day Raises More Questions Than Answers
The Crimson Tide wrapped up spring under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, but there’s still a quarterback battle brewing and cohesion to be found. It’s Alabama, so panic isn’t allowed yet—but fans might want to keep one eye open.

Virginia Tech’s Defense Dominates in a 50–21 Beatdown
Under new DC Sam Siefkes, the Hokies’ defense put on a clinic—scoring twice on turnovers and completely overwhelming the offense. The spring game turnout was lighter than usual thanks to ticket prices and frigid weather, but the ones who showed up saw a team that might finally be turning a corner.

That’s all we got. If you liked it, forward it to a friend. If you hated it, forward it to a rival fanbase. They probably deserve it.

Let’s get reckless.

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