Here we go.

Week 1​

Thursday, Sept. 3

UMass at Rutgers | 6 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Kentucky Christian at Morehead State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Bethune-Cookman at UCF | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Akron at Wake Forest | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
Merrimack at Delaware | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
West Georgia at Kennesaw State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UAlbany at Buffalo | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Illinois at Samford | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 25 Missouri | 8 p.m. | SEC Network
Colorado at Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Eastern Illinois at Minnesota | 8 p.m. | Peacock
Idaho at No. 21 Utah | 9 p.m. | ESPNU
UAB at Illinois | 9 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Friday, Sept. 4

San Jose State at Eastern Michigan | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Indiana State at Purdue | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network
North Carolina A&T at Georgia State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Franklin Pierce at Marist | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UTEP at No. 10 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | SECN+
LIU at Kansas | 8 p.m. | ESPNU
Toledo at Michigan State | 8 p.m. | FS1
No. 7 Miami (Fla.) at Stanford | 9 p.m. | ESPN
Fresno State at No. 14 USC | 9 p.m. | FOX

Saturday, Sept. 5

North Texas at No. 6 Indiana | 12 p.m. | FOX
East Carolina at No. 13 Alabama | 12 p.m. | ABC
Oregon State at No. 23 Houston | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia | 12 p.m. | TNT/HBO Max
New Hampshire at Syracuse | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
Ohio at Nebraska | 12 p.m. | FS1
Bryant at Army | 12 p.m. | CBSSN
Tarleton State at Bowling Green | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Liberty at James Madison | 12 p.m. | ESPNU

Ball State at No. 1 Ohio State | 12:30 p.m. | BTN
Miami (Ohio) at Pitt | 12:30 p.m. | CW Network
Lehigh at Georgetown | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Kent State at South Carolina | 12:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Youngstown State at Kentucky | 1 p.m. | SECN+
SE Missouri State at Iowa State | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Duquesne at Air Force | 1 p.m. | MW+
Holy Cross at Colgate | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Gardener-Webb at Wofford | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Rhode Island at Temple | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Tennessee State at No. 3 Georgia | 3 p.m. | SECN+
Drake at Montana | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
Texas State at No. 5 Texas | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Marshall at No. 18 Penn State | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
Furman at No. 20 Tennessee | 3:30 p.m. | SECN+
Auburn vs. Baylor (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Boston College at Cincinnati | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
Tulane at Duke | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
The Citadel at Charlotte | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Towson at Navy | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN
UT Rio Grande Valley at UTSA | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Fordham at North Dakota State | 3:30 p.m. | MW+
Maine at Appalachian State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Oklahoma State at Tulsa | 3:45 p.m. | ESPNU

Northern Illinois at No. 22 Iowa | 4:15 p.m. | Big Ten Network
North Alabama at Arkansas | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network
Alcorn State at Southern Miss | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Tusculum at East Tennessee State | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Wyoming at Colorado State | 6 p.m. | USA Network
Norfolk State at Old Dominion | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Elon at Davidson | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Delaware State at William & Mary | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
West Virginia State at Robert Morris | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Villanova at Bucknell | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Presbyterian at Mercer | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Tennessee Tech at Chattanooga | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Missouri State at No. 8 Texas A&M | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Abilene Christian at No. 12 Texas Tech | 7 p.m. | FS1
Austin Peay at Vanderbilt | 7 p.m. | SECN+
Nicholls at Kansas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Idaho State at Utah State | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
Arkansas State at Memphis | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston Christian at Rice | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida International at South Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Murray State at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Charleston Southern at Georgia Southern | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
SE Louisiana at South Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Sam Houston at Troy | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Chicago State at UT Martin | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Illinois State at Western Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
West Florida at Central Arkansas | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UNI at Eastern Washington | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas Wesleyan at McNeese | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Clemson at No. 11 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
Western Michigan at No. 16 Michigan | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
UL Monroe at Mississippi State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU
VMI at Virginia Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida Atlantic at Florida | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Utah Tech at No. 14 BYU | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Hampton at Maryland | 8 p.m. | Big Ten Network
South Dakota State at Northwestern | 8 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Lamar at Louisiana | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
South Dakota at Northern Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
East Texas A&M at Stephen F. Austin | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Mercyhurst at New Mexico State | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Arizona | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Portland State at San Diego State | 9:30 p.m. | USA Network
Morgan State at Arizona State | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
UNLV at Hawai'i | 10 p.m. | CW Network
Central Michigan at New Mexico | 10 p.m. | FS1
Mississippi Valley State at Sacramento State | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
UC Davis at San Diego | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
UCLA at Cal | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Western Kentucky at Nevada | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN

Sunday, Sept. 6

Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
Florida A&M vs. South Carolina State (Miami Gardens, Fla.) | 3 p.m. | ESPN
Washington State at No. 17 Washington | 4 p.m. | NBC
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau in Green Bay) | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville (Nashville, Tenn.) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC

Monday, Sept. 7

No. 19 SMU at Florida State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

more on the way these are sjst at usc abd tcu vs unc

OK, so there aren’t very many games of interest. But College Football is back!

Thursday, Aug. 27

Mercyhurst at Youngstown State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Ohio Dominican at Morehead State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Illinois at Murray State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Lafayette at Georgetown | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Gardner-Webb at Austin Peay | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Charleston Southern at Lindenwood | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Northwestern (IA) at Western Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Chattanooga at West Georgia | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UVA Wise at Presbyterian | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston Christian at SE Louisiana | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Anderson (SC) at Furman | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Mississippi Valley State at Nicholls | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Illinois at West Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Concord at Davidson | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Arkansas at UT Martin | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
South Dakota Mines at Drake | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
LIU at North Dakota | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Louisiana Christian at Northwestern State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Friday, Aug. 28

Rhode Island at Merrimack | 6 pm. | ESPN+
Colgate at Fordham | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
William & Mary at Villanova | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Idaho at Cal Poly | 10 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Aug. 29

TCU vs. North Carolina (Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Robert Morris at Wagner | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Fairmont State at Dayton | 12 p.m. | YouTube
Georgetown (KY) at Butler | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Connecticut at South Dakota | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Lawrence Tech at Valparaiso | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

San Jose State at No. 14 USC | 3 p.m. | NBC
Alabama State vs. Southern (Birmingham, Ala.) | 3 p.m. | ESPNU
UC Davis at Portland State | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
NC State at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Lehigh at Holy Cross | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State | 5:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Campbell at East Tennessee State | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Southeast Missouri State at Indiana State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Savannah State at South Carolina State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Bucknell at Richmond | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
VMI at Idaho State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
The Citadel at Wofford | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Hawai'i at Stanford | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
New Mexico State at Florida State | 7 p.m. | The CW Network
East Texas A&M at Mercer | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Monmouth at Tennessee Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Abilene Christian at Lamar | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Western Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Samford at North Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Stephen F. Austin at McNeese | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
East Texas A&M at Mercer | 7 p.m. | ESPN
St. Francis (IL) at Illinois State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Howard vs. Alabama A&M (Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
UT Permian Basin at UT Rio Grande Valley | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Jackson State at Tennessee State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State | 9 p.m. | ESPN2
Southern Utah at Montana | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Memphis at UNLV | 10 p.m. | FOX
Montana State at Utah Tech | 10 p.m. | ESPN+

THE BEST CONTEST ON THE INTERNET IS BACK!!!!!

Once again, this will be a simple contest to participate in. Each week I will list all of the underdogs in the Div 1-A games that I see a point-spread for at the beginning of the week. Each person may pick 1 and only 1 team each week; just post your pick in this thread.

You must pick your team before the kickoff of your game. It isn't mandatory to make a pick every week, but if you don't, you obviously can't earn any points that week.

If your team wins outright, you are awarded the amount of points that they were assigned in the spread; if they lose you get 0 points. So it's riskier to pick Little-Sisters-of-the-Poor +47 when they play Texas Tech, but you get a ton of points if they win, as opposed to getting only a couple of points when you pick a close game. You get no points for a team that covers but still loses.

Once I post the point spreads inside this thread, they are locked for purposes of this contest. Only the spreads listed in this thread will be used to award points.

The entire season-long contest will exist in this one thread. Each week I will post the points for that week and the season-to-date totals. Whoever has the most points after the Conference Championship Games in December will be declared the winner, and will receive ¤25,000 Sportsbook "cash".

There will be a separate contest in December for Bowl game upsets.

2005 winner: @AkronBuckeye (64 points)
2006 winner: @briegg (64 points)
2007 winner: @MolGenBuckeye (83.5 points)
2008 winner: @osugrad21 (63.5 points)
2009 winner: @NFBuck (85 points)
2010 winner: @LightningRod (69.5 points)
2011 winner: @sears3820 (74 points)
2012 winner: @OSUsushichic (51 points)
2013 winner: @FCollinsBuckeye (64 points)
2014 winner: @808 Buck (78.5 points)
2015 winner: @Wadcutter (64 points)
2016 winner: @BB73 (87.5 points)
2017 winner: @BB73 (65.5 points, only 2-time winner)
2018 winner: @UrbanBuckeye (64.5 points)
2019 winner: @LovelandBuckeye (new record of 103.5 points)
2020 winner: @buckeyemania11 (63 points, short season)
2021 winner: @gracelhink (75.5 points)
2022 winner: @Honor&Glory (91.5 points)
2023 winner: @CMic (60 points)
2024 winner: @muffler dragon (66.5 points)
2025 winner: @tugger5000 (74 Pts)

This post will get the new picks and current standings updated each week. There will also be a post with that info near the end of the thread.

PICKS FOR WEEK 2:

Pick just one underdog team from the right column to win outright - you get nothing by picking a favorite that covers the spread. Home teams are in CAPS.

Thursday, Sep 10

MIAMI FL.….....…………........55.5..….fla a&m

Friday, Sep 11 - never forget

VIRGINIA.……………….….….44.5……norfolk st
LOUISVILLE……………….…..36.5……villanova
NC ST…………………………..30.5……richmond
BOST COLL…………………….3.5……rutgers
mizzou…………………………..5.5……KANSAS

Saturday, Sep 12

oregon…………………………22.5……OKLA ST
oklahoma……………………….5.5……TTUN
E CAROLINA……………………7.5……app st
wake forest……………………..3……...PURDUE
VA TECH………………………..19.5……old dominion
penn st………………………….23.5……TEMPLE
TEXAS A&M……………………14.5……ariz st
ARMY…………………………….3.5……usf
KANSAS ST…………………….18.5……wash st
N CAROLINA………………..…35.5……e tenn st
INDIANA………………………..55.5……howard
KENT ST………………………..13.5……wofford
GEORGIA……………………….40.5……western ky
CENT MICH…………………….26.5……colgate
MIAMI OH………………………32.5……holy cross
WEST VA………………………..39.5……tenn martin
BALL ST…………………………15.5……stony brook
WASHINGTON………………….26.5……utah st
BYU………………………………..7.5……arizona
PITT………………………………..7.5……ucf
SYRACUSE……………………….3.5……cal
maryland…………………………13.5……UCONN
TEXAS ST…………………………1.5……utsa
ILLINOIS…………………………..6.5……duke
SPARTY…………………………..17.5……eastern mich
UAB………………………………..10.5……la monroe
miss st………………………..……1.5……MINNY
bama…………………………..….10.5……KY JELLY CATS
NOTRE DAME……………………44.5……rice
AKRON……………………………30.5……robert morris
J MADISON………………………45.5……wagner
COLORADO………………………34.5……weber st
UMASS….…………………………24.5……sacred heart
TOLEDO…………………………..35.5……cent conn st
unlv………………………………….3.5……N TEXAS
TROY…………………………..….22.5……alab st
WYOMING………………………..23.5……n colorado
NEW MEXICO……………………41.5……mercyhurst
VANDY…………………………….20.5……delaware
FLORIDA………………………….49.5……campbell
BOISE ST…………………………..8.5……memphis
FLA INTL…………….……………10.5……buffalo
OHIO………………………………..2.5……jax st
LIBERTY……………………..…..27.5……gardner-webb
WESTERN MICH………………..26…..…monmouth
TULANE……………………………9.5……s alabama
tulsa………………………………13.5……SAM HOUSTON
NEBRASKA………………………28.5……bowling green
tennessee………………………..12.5……GA TECH
MARSHALL…………………..….13.5……mid tenn
KENNESAW ST……………….....9.5…….georgia st
illinois st…………………………..3.5……NORTHERN ILL
COLO ST…………………………20.5……s utah
S CAROLINA…………………….42.5……towson
CINCY…………………………….36.5……western carolina
HOUSTON………………………..50.5……southern
MO ST…………………………….21………lindenwood
UCLA………………………………11.5……san diego st
WISCY…………………………….36.5…….western ill
CLEMSON………………………..20.5……ga southern
navy…………………………….…..4.5……FLA ATLANTIC
IOWA………………………………14……..iowa st
LSU………………………………..35.5……la tech
TEXAS……………………………..1.5……ohio st
texas tech………………………26.5……OREGON ST
COASTAL CAR…………………31.5……fordham
AUBURN………………………..33………so miss
OLE MISS……………………….48………charlotte
BAYLOR…………………………38.5……prairie view
TCU………………………………44.5……grambling st
UTEP……………………………..27.5……texas southern
SAN JOSE ST…………………..20.5……cal poly
n dakota st………………………2.5……AIR FORCE
UTAH……………………………12.5……arkansas
FRESNO ST…………………….18.5……sacramento st
montana st………………………4.5……NEVADA
USC TROJANS…………..……30.5……la lafayette
HAWAI’I………………………….8.5……new mexico st
/

Current standings:

Honor&Glory…………….…..22.5
CMic……………….……….…21
Bestbuck36………………….19
Herb Kirkstreit………………19
dozenmonkeyz………………19
wolves2002…………………..15
HineyBuck……………………13.5
MD Buckeye………..….….….7.5
osugrad21………….…………6.5
cincibuck……………….….….6.5
JaxBuck………………….……5.5
Mike80…………………….…..5.5
gracelhink………………….....5.5
zbuck..…………………………5.5
buckeyboy…………………….5.5
Zurp…………………………….5.5
gmen6981..……………….……5.5
Wadcutter……………………..5.5
Steve19………………….……..5.5
WoodyWorshiper……………..5.5
iambrutus………………………4.5
BuckeyeNation27………….….1.5
/

If you think an error has been made, please send me a PM or @BB73 in this thread.

Ball State (September 5th):
2027 AZ SF Demarcus Henry (basketball unofficial)
2027 KS PG Jaxson Davis (basketball official)
2027 ON F Deng Ngor (basketball official)

Kent State (September 19th):
2027 MA PG Antonio Pemberton (basketball official)

Illinois (September 26th):
2027 PA C Jaydn Jenkins (basketball official)
2028 IL F Cole Kelly (basketball unofficial)

Maryland (October 10th):
2027 GA SG MJ Curry (Basketball official)

Oregon (November 7th):
2027 IL CG Brady Pettigrew (basketball official)
2027 NC SG Geren Holmes (basketball official)

Northwestern (November 14th):

The Game (November 28th):

247
On3
Hudl
Twitter




Class: 2028
Position: WR
School: Newnan (GA) Newnan
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175 lbs
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When I hear about teams talking about how difficult their schedule is, it bothers me that Ohio State never gets enough credit for playing big-time non-conference opponents.

Just look at some of those opponents:
LSU 1987 & 1988
USC 2008 & 2009
Miami 2010 & 2011
Oklahoma 2016 & 2017
Notre Dame 2022 & 2023
Texas 2025 & 2026
Alabama 2027 & 2028

The Buckeyes fear no one!!!

enjoy

247
On3
Twitter
HudL



Class: 2029
School: Miami (FL) Columbus
Position: WR
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs

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247
On3
Twitter
HudL



Class: 2028
Position: RB
School: Jasper (AL) Jasper
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190 lbs

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Just saw a YouTube thread from yesterday that ranks the top 50 college football stadiums in order of capacity, and #1 was Beaver Stadium at 108,000+, just overtaking Michigan Stadium which had been at the top since it opened. Ohio Stadium still #3...

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247
On3
Hudl
Twitter





Class: 2028
Position: OL
School: Des Moines (IA) Christian School
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 270 lbs
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247
On3
Hudl
Twitter




Class: 2028
Position: OL
School: Drexel Hill (PA) Monsignor Bonner
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 270 lbs
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Two spots available in the BuckeyePlanet College Fantasy Football League. Draft is 8/27 @ 8pm ET. If you're interested in a spot, PM me.

Mods - I'll delete this thread when spots are filled. Thanks!

Is there a sports memorabilia/sports card store you recommend in the Columbus area with vintage Ohio State stuff for sale?

Thank you in advance.

247
On3
Twitter
Hudl



Class: 2028
Position: LB
School: Ruston (LA) Ruston
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205 lbs
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247
On3
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Hudl




Class: 2028
Position: DL
School: Sammamish (WA) Eastside Catholic
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 320 lbs

24/7
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Stats

Cal G Justin Pippen returning to Big Ten, commits to Ohio State​

Cal guard Justin Pippen is committing to Ohio State, his agents at WME Basketball told ESPN on Friday.

Pippen is a sophomore who is coming off a breakout season in Berkeley, as he averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. He entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this week.

Pippen is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and played his high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles. His older brother is Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr.

Justin Pippen is expected to play a large role at Ohio State, as he is a combo guard who will be expected to fill a role similar to the one departing Buckeyes guard Devin Royal played.

Pippen will be the rare player to play on both sides of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. Pippen played 28 games for Michigan in 2024-25 before transferring to Cal.

Pippen led Cal in assists and tied for second on the team in scoring average as the Bears reached the second round of the NIT.

10 Justin Pippen​

• Height: 6-4
• Weight: 190
• Year: Junior
• Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
• H.S./Last School: Sierra Canyon

Prior to Ohio State

• Began his collegiate career at Michigan during the 2024-25 season and then played the 2025-26 season at Cal
• Appeared in 28 games off the bench as a freshman for a Michigan squad that won the 2025 Big Ten Tournament title & reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
• Averaged 1.6 PPG in 6.7 minutes played per game as a Wolverine
• In 2025-26 at Cal, he earned honorable mention All-ACC honors
• Was the Bears second-leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game and led the team at 4.6 assists per game
• He recorded 61 steals, which ranked him fourth on the Bears’ single-season steals list
• He was also second on the team in blocked shots

High School

• Graduated from Sierra Canyon HS (Chatsworth, California) in spring 2024
• Class of 2024 rankings: ESPN, No. 73; Rivals, No. 73; 247Sports, No. 62
• Helped lead Trailblazers to three 20-plus win seasons & a 91-22 overall record in four years
• Averaged 16.5 PPG, 4.9 APG & 4.5 RPG as a senior in 2023-24

Personal

• Son of Larsa & Scottie Pippen
• Father, Scottie, is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member who played 17 seasons in the NBA & was a key part of the Chicago Bulls dynasty that won six NBA Championships
• Brother, Scotty Pippen Jr., plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He played collegiately at Vanderbilt from 2019-22 where his lead recruiter was Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler

Victory Vaka lost his Western Kentucky scholarship while grieving mother's death; now he's suing to transfer​

The former Western Kentucky defensive lineman is suing the NCAA for the right to use his final year of college eligibility at another school​

Former Western Kentucky defensive lineman Victory Vaka filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Wednesday seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to transfer to Middle Tennessee or another school, his attorney Darren Heitner tells CBS Sports.

Vaka filed the lawsuit in a chancery court in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and is seeking an injunction allowing him to join another program after his scholarship was non-renewed in May. The lawsuit argues he'd suffer irreparable injury, loss or damage without temporary injunctive relief.

Vaka, a redshirt senior who transferred in from Texas Southern, flew home to California in early April to grieve his mom's death. Vaka told CBS Sports he always planned to return to Western Kentucky for the 2026 season. Nine days before his mom's funeral in May, he received a call from an assistant strength coach. Vaka said the coach provided him a summer workout plan and told Vaka he was expected back in June.

A few weeks later, on May 27, the Hilltoppers informed Vaka they were canceling his scholarship due to his failure to report with the rest of his team.

That designation of a "failure to report" prevented Vaka from entering the transfer portal under the NCAA's aid-and-reduction-or-cancellation exception.

Vaka was set to graduate in the fall. He had one remaining year of eligibility remaining. But with no ability to transfer, Vaka was left with no way to play his final season.

Vaka's agent, Jaykwon Jefferson, said multiple FBS schools would sign Vaka today if he were able to enter the portal. Western Kentucky filed a legislative relief waiver on Vaka's behalf. But the NCAA denied it and a subsequent appeal, leading to Vaka's lawsuit.

The 6-foot-3, 335-pound DT is a journeyman in college football terms. He's played for four schools and said he hoped Western Kentucky would be his last.

Looking back at the situation, Vaka said he could have communicated better. Other than Western Kentucky flying Vaka back to campus in mid-April and his call with the strength coach, the two sides had no communication between Vaka's mom's death and the staff asking him to report in late May.

Vaka said he told the staff at the time that he thought he could return in June, but offered to come back sooner to prevent his removal from the roster.

The unique situation ​

Western Kentucky did eventually help Vaka file a legislative relief waiver, but that process puts the Hilltoppers in a situation where they basically had to file a waiver against themselves, per CCHA Law partner Paia LaPalombara, because NCAA rules only allow schools to cancel scholarships under limited exceptions

"It's very unique," LaPalombra said. "The institution is filing a waiver essentially against itself. So, they're filing a waiver in support of a student athlete that is going against something that they ultimately said that they're not going to do -- (enter him into the portal)."

Vaka wasn't a high-profile transfer -- he played 171 snaps in 2025, and WKU signed him for $2,000 a month, per Jefferson -- and his text with the GM in May indicated the Hilltoppers were worried about Vaka maintaining his weight.
.
.
.
continued

Google AI: Defensive lineman Victory Vaka is a college football journeyman who has been associated with multiple programs throughout his collegiate career, with tracking documented on the Victory Vaka Profile on 247Sports.

College Football Career & School List

• • BYU Cougars: Committed in April 2021 and enrolled in January 2022 before later entering the transfer portal.
  • College of the Canyons: Transferred to the junior college program in August 2022, spending two seasons there.
  • Northern Arizona Lumberjacks: Played one season with the program.
  • Texas Southern Tigers: Played the 2025 season as a defensive lineman for Texas Southern.
  • Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Transferred to WKU ahead of the 2026 season. However, his status became the center of a major national controversy and legal suit after WKU revoked his scholarship following a family bereavement.

Just sayin': This player was a Power 4 caliber recruit, had offers from top tier schools, and actually committed (and then decommitted) to both Texas A&M and Colorado before committing to BYU. The guy has a chronic case of the "transfers". With that being said; yeah, it does appear that he got the "shitty end of the stick" at WKU and should be given the opportunity to transfer to another school.

How do you think Ohio State would have done against LSU in the 2019-2020 college football playoff?