Steve Berkowitz
@byberkowitz.bsky.social
Sports projects reporter for USA TODAY Sports. E-mail is: sberkowitz@usatoday.com
The first @usatodaysports.usatoday.com survey of Power Four conference football GMs/front-office leaders is up and running. There are at least 13 such employees making $500,000 or more: sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
October 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The first @usatodaysports.usatoday.com survey of Power Four conference football GMs/front-office leaders is up and running. There are at least 13 such employees making $500,000 or more: sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
Collegiate Commissioners Association has sent letter to members of U.S. House of Representatives saying commissioners of 31 Division I conferences back passage of SCORE Act, bill from Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) that has passed two committees and can be brought to floor
October 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Collegiate Commissioners Association has sent letter to members of U.S. House of Representatives saying commissioners of 31 Division I conferences back passage of SCORE Act, bill from Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) that has passed two committees and can be brought to floor
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Commerce Committee, announces she has sent letter to Big Ten school CEO's concerning possible private-capital deal.
October 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Commerce Committee, announces she has sent letter to Big Ten school CEO's concerning possible private-capital deal.
The 2025 @usatodaysports.usatoday.com college football head coaches' pay survey is up and running:
October 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The 2025 @usatodaysports.usatoday.com college football head coaches' pay survey is up and running:
The SCORE Act, the college-sports bill that has been backed by several GOP leaders and advanced to the U.S. House floor, has picked up a third Democratic co-sponsor: Henry Cuellar of Texas.
August 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The SCORE Act, the college-sports bill that has been backed by several GOP leaders and advanced to the U.S. House floor, has picked up a third Democratic co-sponsor: Henry Cuellar of Texas.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, sends letter asking that leaders of House subcommittee that is set to take up college-sports bill tomorrow delay consideration and change bill in 6 ways.
July 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, sends letter asking that leaders of House subcommittee that is set to take up college-sports bill tomorrow delay consideration and change bill in 6 ways.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, blasts college-sports bill that is set for markup in House subcommittee tomorrow.
“If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "
“If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "
July 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, blasts college-sports bill that is set for markup in House subcommittee tomorrow.
“If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "
“If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "
Plaintiffs in the Johnson case concerning whether college athletes should be considered school employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act tonight filed their response to motions to dismiss the case at district-court level.
July 8, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Plaintiffs in the Johnson case concerning whether college athletes should be considered school employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act tonight filed their response to motions to dismiss the case at district-court level.
Many college coaches and AD's currently have language in their contracts that prohibits gambling and related activities. See below for example from Alabama's agreement with football coach Kalen DeBoer, which says he can be terminated for cause for ...
June 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Many college coaches and AD's currently have language in their contracts that prohibits gambling and related activities. See below for example from Alabama's agreement with football coach Kalen DeBoer, which says he can be terminated for cause for ...
New 4-year contract between University of Houston and men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson calls for him to have basic annual pay of $5.5 million next two seasons, then $6M for 2027-28 and $6.5M for 2028-29.
But in addition, there's also an usual deferred compensation setup:
But in addition, there's also an usual deferred compensation setup:
June 5, 2025 at 10:11 PM
New 4-year contract between University of Houston and men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson calls for him to have basic annual pay of $5.5 million next two seasons, then $6M for 2027-28 and $6.5M for 2028-29.
But in addition, there's also an usual deferred compensation setup:
But in addition, there's also an usual deferred compensation setup:
Objectors to proposed House-NCAA settlement make what likely will be their final cases against revised version that attempts to address Judge Wilken's concerns about roster limits: usatoday.com/story/sports...
May 14, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Objectors to proposed House-NCAA settlement make what likely will be their final cases against revised version that attempts to address Judge Wilken's concerns about roster limits: usatoday.com/story/sports...
Objectors to proposed House-NCAA settlement make what likely will be their final cases against revised version that attempts to address Judge Wilken's concerns about roster limits: usatoday.com/story/sports...
May 14, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Objectors to proposed House-NCAA settlement make what likely will be their final cases against revised version that attempts to address Judge Wilken's concerns about roster limits: usatoday.com/story/sports...
Univ of Illinois also announces new contract terms with men's basketball head coach Brad Underwood: fightingillini.com/news/2025/5/...
May 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Univ of Illinois also announces new contract terms with men's basketball head coach Brad Underwood: fightingillini.com/news/2025/5/...
Univ of Illinois announces new contract terms with football head coach Bret Bielema: fightingillini.com/news/2025/5/...
May 14, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Univ of Illinois announces new contract terms with football head coach Bret Bielema: fightingillini.com/news/2025/5/...
Judge Claudia Wilken requested that three attorneys who represented clients objecting to the settlement because of the roster limits be included in discussions about how to make revisions. See below for a comment from one of those three:
April 23, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Judge Claudia Wilken requested that three attorneys who represented clients objecting to the settlement because of the roster limits be included in discussions about how to make revisions. See below for a comment from one of those three:
Steve Berman, one of the athlete plaintiffs' lead attorneys weighs in on today's developments (see below)
April 23, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Steve Berman, one of the athlete plaintiffs' lead attorneys weighs in on today's developments (see below)
This past Friday, the court clerk's office handling matters in House-NCAA case posted the notice below. From Monday at about 2:45 PM ET, thru Tuesday at about 12:45 AM ET, over 120 letters hit the docket. Nearly all were on roster limits that are part of proposed settlement.
April 22, 2025 at 5:45 AM
This past Friday, the court clerk's office handling matters in House-NCAA case posted the notice below. From Monday at about 2:45 PM ET, thru Tuesday at about 12:45 AM ET, over 120 letters hit the docket. Nearly all were on roster limits that are part of proposed settlement.
NCAA Division I Board of Directors has taken action to approve rules changes that -- if the proposed House-NCAA settlement is approved -- will align the D-1 rule book with terms of the settlement.
April 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
NCAA Division I Board of Directors has taken action to approve rules changes that -- if the proposed House-NCAA settlement is approved -- will align the D-1 rule book with terms of the settlement.
During U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce subcommittee hearing, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) said that yesterday she introduced a bill that would prohibit college athletes from becoming employees of their schools. Quick summary below
April 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
During U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce subcommittee hearing, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) said that yesterday she introduced a bill that would prohibit college athletes from becoming employees of their schools. Quick summary below
U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce announces subcommittee hearing on college sports that's scheduled for April 8.
April 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce announces subcommittee hearing on college sports that's scheduled for April 8.
List of those who will have said they will be speaking at next Monday's hearing on final approval of the proposed House-NCAA settlement
April 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
List of those who will have said they will be speaking at next Monday's hearing on final approval of the proposed House-NCAA settlement
Here is summary of NCAA's argument for dismissal of Johnson case:
March 24, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Here is summary of NCAA's argument for dismissal of Johnson case:
AGs from Tennessee and New York announce settlement of lawsuit against the NCAA concerning athletes' ability to find out about NIL offers from schools before they decided to enroll.
tn.gov/attorneygene...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
tn.gov/attorneygene...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
March 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
AGs from Tennessee and New York announce settlement of lawsuit against the NCAA concerning athletes' ability to find out about NIL offers from schools before they decided to enroll.
tn.gov/attorneygene...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
tn.gov/attorneygene...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
The annual USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball head coaches' pay survey is up and running.
In 2020, with coaches set for full pay b/c COVID didn't fully take hold till March, there were 3 making $5 million or more.
In 2025, there are 12.
sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
In 2020, with coaches set for full pay b/c COVID didn't fully take hold till March, there were 3 making $5 million or more.
In 2025, there are 12.
sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
March 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The annual USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball head coaches' pay survey is up and running.
In 2020, with coaches set for full pay b/c COVID didn't fully take hold till March, there were 3 making $5 million or more.
In 2025, there are 12.
sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
In 2020, with coaches set for full pay b/c COVID didn't fully take hold till March, there were 3 making $5 million or more.
In 2025, there are 12.
sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
I'm new here, so I wanted start with something good: The new version of USA TODAY Sports' annual men's college basketball head coaches' pay survey is up and running: sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...
March 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I'm new here, so I wanted start with something good: The new version of USA TODAY Sports' annual men's college basketball head coaches' pay survey is up and running: sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...