Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada will enter the transfer portal, he announced Thursday.

• Rashada posted a message on Instagram thanking his teammates, coaches, strength staff and other support staff at Arizona State.

  "With that being said I'll be entering my name in the transfer portal seeking the best fit for my career!" Rashada wrote.

  Rashada is a former four-star quarterback prospect in the Class of 2023 best known for flipping his commitment from Miami to Florida -- then requesting release from his national letter of intent when an NIL deal with Florida's collective worth a reported $13 million fell through.

  Rashada wound up at Arizona State and got into three games as a freshman, passing for 485 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has been out most of the spring after needing thumb surgery.

  Georgia is expected to pursue Rashada, On3 and 247Sports reported.

  --Field Level Media

AJ Simon, a defensive lineman from the University at Albany who was hoping to be drafted into the NFL next week, died at age 25, the school confirmed Wednesday.

• Simon played four seasons of football at the FCS level -- two at Bloomsburg (2018, 2021) and two at Albany. The native of Pennsylvania had 12.5 sacks for Albany in 2023 and was named to the All-CAA first team.

  A cause of death was not released.

  "The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ' Simon this morning," the team said in a statement. "AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years. He will be profoundly missed."

  Albany coach Greg Gattuso posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he spent two "joyous" years getting to know Simon as a coach and friend.

  "My prayers are dedicated to the Simon family," Gattuso wrote. "I love you AJ and will always have a special place in my heart for #8."

  Simon had taken a pre-draft visit to the New England Patriots, NBC Sports reported.

  --Field Level Media

A new law signed Thursday will enable schools in Virginia to pay name, image and likeness deals directly to student-athletes.

• The legislation, which takes effect on July 1, is the first of its kind in the nation. It makes it illegal for the NCAA to punish any school in Virginia for compensating athletes with NIL deals.

  The law potentially could give schools like Virginia and Virginia Tech -- whose officials helped to draft the legislation -- a leg up in recruiting, as current NCAA rules prohibit schools from signing NIL deals with their own players. Currently, students receive their NIL pay through third parties.

  Critics consider this another step toward the professionalization of college sports, although the law does not allow Virginia schools to pay athletes for their performance in a sport. It does permit the use of university and athletic department funds to pay athletes for appearing in marketing campaigns.

  Virginia athletic director Carla Williams said the new law could be a catalyst for change elsewhere.

  "If this law gets us closer to a federal or a national solution for college athletics then it will be more than worthwhile," Williams said, per ESPN. "Until then, we have an obligation to ensure we maintain an elite athletics program at UVA."

  Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock called it "a step in the right direction for the commonwealth of Virginia and the country in my opinion."

  Williams and Babcock declined to share their potential NIL budgets with ESPN. Both also said they were looking into Title IX considerations as far as an equitable distribution of NIL opportunities for male and female student-athletes.

  --Field Level Media

Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain, a former five-star high school recruit, entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

• Tuesday was the first day of the spring transfer window. The portal will remain open for players to enter until April 30.

  McClain appeared in nine games for the Buffaloes in 2023, Deion Sanders' first season as Colorado's coach. McClain started four games and finished the season with 13 tackles and two pass breakups.

  He was the No. 1 cornerback in the Class of 2023, per the 247Sports composite rankings.

  --Miami lost leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. and backup quarterback Jacurri Brown to the portal.

  Parrish gained 625 yards on the ground and scored six touchdowns for the Hurricanes in 2023. Across four seasons with Ole Miss (2020-21) and Miami (2022-23), Parrish amassed 2,057 rushing yards, 56 receptions for 384 yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing).

  Brown has seen action in nine games over the past two seasons at Miami. He was likely to rank behind Emory Williams and incoming transfers Cam Ward and Reese Poffenbarger on the QB depth chart.

  --Oregon State running back Damien Martinez is officially in the portal, with On3 reporting that he will visit Miami, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arizona.

  It was reported last week that Martinez intended to enter the portal. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games on the ground, with a high of 146 against Stanford.

  In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez had 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.

  --True freshman offensive lineman Jason Zandamela is looking to transfer from Southern California, 247Sports reported.

  Zandamela was the No. 4 interior offensive line prospect in the Class of 2024, per the 247Sports composite. He is a native of Mozambique who played rugby before moving to the United States.

  --Kadyn Proctor is back in the portal with a "do not contact" label, multiple reports said, indicating the offensive lineman plans to return to Alabama.

  Once a five-star offensive tackle prospect in the Class of 2023, Proctor -- a native of Des Moines, Iowa -- originally committed to Iowa before flipping to Alabama. After spending his freshman season with the Crimson Tide, he entered the portal following coach Nick Saban's decision to retire.

  Proctor committed to Iowa during the previous transfer window but announced on March 19 that he would not be staying with the Hawkeyes' program and would re-enter the portal in the spring.

  --Former four-star quarterback recruit Tad Hudson plans to transfer out of North Carolina, On3 reported.

  Hudson did not see the field as a true freshman in Chapel Hill while backing up Drake Maye, a likely first-round pick in this month's NFL draft.

  --Field Level Media

Michigan will serve three years of probation after reaching an agreement with the NCAA over recruiting violations and coaching activities by noncoaching staff members, the NCAA announced Tuesday.

• Michigan will face recruiting restrictions and pay a fine in relation to violations from five current or former football employees.

  The penalties include a one-year show-cause order for all five individuals.

  "Today's joint resolution pertains to the University of Michigan Athletic Department and several former and current employees," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "We are pleased to reach a resolution on this matter so that our student-athletes and our football program can move forward. We have no additional information and cannot comment further on other aspects of the NCAA's inquiries."

  The NCAA said that former coach Jim Harbaugh -- who guided the team to the College Football Playoff title in January -- isn't part in the agreement.

  "The agreed-upon violations involve impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities (including providing technical and tactical skills instruction to student-athletes)," the NCAA said in a statement.

  "The negotiated resolution also involved the school's agreement that the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation. The school also agreed that it failed to deter and detect the impermissible recruiting contacts and did not ensure that the football program adhered to rules for noncoaching staff members."

  Harbaugh is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

  "I filed a lengthy response to the (Notice of Allegations) on behalf of Coach Harbaugh, which unfortunately hasn't been made public and will probably never see the light of day," Tom Mars, Harbaugh's attorney, told ESPN. "That concluded Coach Harbaugh's participation in the case."

  Harbaugh served a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2023 season after the NCAA felt he made false statements during the investigation. Then-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore served a one-game suspension. Moore is now the Wolverines' head coach.

  Tuesday's developments are unrelated to the Michigan sign-stealing investigation. That case is ongoing. Harbaugh also served a three-game suspension in that case.

  --Field Level Media

Steve Sloan, a quarterback for Bear Bryant at Alabama who later coached at four schools, died Sunday at the age of 79.

• He had been in memory care in Orlando, Fla., for the last three months, according to an obituary written by former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson.

  Sloan won two national championships with the Crimson Tide in 1964 and 1965. He passed for 574 yards as the backup to Joe Namath in 1964 before throwing for 1,453 yards and 10 touchdowns as the starter in 1965.

  Drafted in the 11th round by the Atlanta Falcons in 1966, Sloan appeared in eight games (one start) from 1966-67 and passed for 134 yards with four interceptions.

  Sloan went on to become the head football coach at Vanderbilt (1973-74), Texas Tech (1975-77), Ole Miss (1978-82) and Duke (1983-86).

  Sloan compiled an overall record of 68-86-3 in 14 seasons, leading the Commodores to the Peach Bowl in 1974 and the Red Raiders to the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl and 1977 Tangerine Bowl. He was the Coach of the Year in the SEC in 1974 and the Southwest Conference in 1976.

  --Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward is joining Arizona State's staff as wide receivers coach, ESPN reported Saturday.

• Ward, 48, caught 1,000 passes, made four Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the Steelers from 1998-2011.

  He began his coaching career as an offensive intern with the Steelers in 2017 before serving as an offensive assistant with the New York Jets (2019-20), wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic (2021) and head coach of the then-XFL's San Antonio Brahmas in 2023.

  The Sun Devils finished 3-9 in their first season with head coach Kenny Dillingham in 2023. The program moves from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 this season.

  Ward played in 217 games with Pittsburgh and is the franchise's all-time leader in catches, receiving yards (12,083) and touchdown receptions (85). He was the MVP of Super Bowl XL and earned a second ring in Super Bowl XLIII.

  The Steelers selected Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Georgia.

  --Field Level Media

UNLV coach Barry Odom received a one-year extension through the 2028 season on Friday after the school posted its best win total in 39 years last season.

• Odom also had retention bonuses added to his contract after the Rebels went 9-5. UNLV shared the Mountain West regular-season crown before losing 44-20 to Boise State in the conference title game.

  The Rebels also played in a bowl game for the first time since the 2013 season, losing 49-36 to Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

  Odom, 47, was named Mountain West Coach of the Year after leading UNLV to just its second winning season since 2000.

  "We are obviously thrilled about what Barry Odom and his staff did in year one leading Rebel football," UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a news release. "The program is on an upward trajectory and we could not be more excited about him leading the way.

  "Barry continues to be a man of his word, focusing on growing all phases of the program the right way. He is committed to his players, coaches and staff and with the newly expanded CFP he is laying a foundation that gives Rebel Football a chance to compete at the highest level."

  Odom received a five-year, $9.75 million deal when hired by UNLV in December 2022. He reportedly made $1.75 million last season.

  Odom's retention bonuses reportedly line up this way: $200,000 in March 2026 and 2028 and $100,000 in February 2029.

  "I'm excited about the foundation we have built in the past 16 months and I certainly look forward to our strong future," Odom said in the news release. "I'm thankful for our staff and our student-athletes -- they are on a mission to win a championship."

  Odom previously served as coach of Missouri from 2016-19 and compiled a 25-25 record.

  --Field Level Media

The SMU football team suspended cornerback Teddy Knox on Thursday, a day after he was charged by Dallas police with multiple criminal violations related to a chain-reaction car crash on March 30.

• Knox and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice were alleged to be driving the cars that sparked a collision that left four people with minor injuries. Both men face one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.

  According to multiple media reports, Rice surrendered to Glenn Heights, Texas, police on Thursday night, then was booked into the regional jail in DeSoto, Texas. He subsequently was released on bond.

  The SMU football program issued a statement that read: "SMU has been notified by Dallas Police of an arrest warrant for Theodore 'Teddy' Knox, a student-athlete on the Mustang football team. Knox has been suspended from the team. SMU takes these allegations seriously. Federal student privacy laws prevent the University from discussing details involving student disciplinary proceedings."

  Police allege that Rice's Lamborghini and Knox's Corvette were speeding when they sparked the multi-car collision on the North Central Expressway (U.S. 75).

  Knox is a 21-year-old rising junior. He played on offense and defense in 2022, when he had four catches for 3 yards and made four tackles. Last season he finished with four tackles while seeing most of his action as a special teams player.

  Rice, who turns 24 on April 22, grew up in the North Texas suburb of North Richland Hills and attended college in Dallas at SMU.

  The SMU football team is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024 season after going 11-3 last year, 8-0 in the American Athletic Conference.

  --Field Level Media

Defensive tackle Bear Alexander plans to enter the transfer portal after one season with Southern California, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

• A coveted interior defender, Alexander is ranked the No. 1 defensive tackle in the transfer portal this offseason by 247 Sports. He had 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 2023.

  Alexander was at USC's spring practice on Tuesday before news of his imminent departure leaked.

  Wisconsin hired USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, leading to speculation Alexander could join the Badgers when the transfer portal officially is open on April 15.

  But the Texas native is thought to be considering joining the overhauled Texas A&M defense.

  The former five-star Georgia recruit's next stop will be his eighth program in seven years dating to his high school days. He played for the Bulldogs as a freshman before leaving for USC.

  --Field Level Media

Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez intends to enter the transfer portal next week, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

• Martinez is with the program for spring drills but plans to place his name in the portal sometime after it opens on April 16, according to reports. The portal window closes April 30.

  Martinez earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for a 6.1 average per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games with a high of 146 against Stanford.

  In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez has 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.

  Martinez didn't play in Oregon State's 40-8 loss to Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl. He was briefly suspended for suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) in November, but no charges were brought forward. He was reinstated prior to the bowl game but didn't participate.

  After the regular season, Jonathan Smith departed as Oregon State coach to take a similar position at Michigan State. Trent Bray is now the Beavers' coach.

  Oregon State went 8-5 last season, including 5-4 in its final campaign of Pac-12 play.

  --Field Level Media

Former Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last season, was arrested in Austin, Texas on Sunday and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to multiple reports.

• The Outland Trophy winner and unanimous first-team All-American was booked into Travis County Jail at 2:12 p.m. CT on Sunday. He later posted $3,000 bond and was released.

  Driving while intoxicated is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, according to multiple reports.

  KXAN-TV in Austin displayed video of Sweat's release from jail and the player walked out with a towel covering his head and a mask obscuring part of his face. Sweat was asked if he had a comment and an attorney walking with him said, "we're not talking about the incident."

  Sweat's arrest comes less than three weeks before the start of the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 366-pound Sweat is expected to be among the first defensive tackles to be selected and he might be chosen in the first round.

  Sweat had 45 tackles (eight for a loss) and two sacks last season. He also caught a touchdown pass.

  Sweat had 128 stops (17.5 for a loss) and 5.0 sacks in 62 games over five seasons with the Longhorns.

  The draft is April 25-27 in Detroit.

  --Field Level Media

A grand jury in Union Parish, La., rejected an attempted second-degree murder charge against LSU running back Trey Holly.

• Instead, he was charged with one felony count of illegal use of a weapon or dangerous instrumentality, The Advocate reported Friday.

  Holly turned himself into authorities in Farmerville, La., in February, one of three arrests made in connection with a shooting that injured two people.

  He also initially was charged with aggravated criminal damage to property.

  LSU suspended him indefinitely from all team activities and has not updated his status.

  Holly's attorney, Mike Small, said in a news release Friday that Holly will plead not guilty to the weapons charge.

  "We look forward to trial before a fair and impartial jury in Union Parish after which I am confident that a verdict of not guilty will be returned," Small said.

  Holly, 19, wrote Feb. 17 in an Instagram post that he had committed no crimes and was home at the time of the incident. He said he turned himself in "because I was notified of an arrest warrant and I wanted to fully cooperate."

  "I have been falsely identified, accused, and arrested," he wrote. "I am 100% innocent and the people that know me know this is not my character at all. I was not involved in the incident at all."

  Holly was a four-star recruit in the Tigers' 2023 recruiting class out of Union Parish High School, where he broke the state's all-time rushing record with 10,523 yards and scored 160 touchdowns.

  The 5-foot-7, 192-pound Holly played in three games for LSU in 2023 and rushed 11 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. He was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after running for 91 yards -- including a 67-yard touchdown -- in his Oct. 21 debut against Army.

  --Field Level Media

Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield on Tuesday agreed to a five-year, $12.25 million contract extension that spans through the 2028 season.

• Per the university, Silverfield will receive $2.2 million for the 2024 season, $2.25 million the following year, $2.5 million in 2026, $2.6 million in 2027 and $2.7 million in 2028.

  Silverfield, who earned $1.9 million in 2013, has posted a 31-19 record with the Tigers since replacing Mike Norvell as the team's coach in December 2019. Norvell left for Florida State prior to the team's game in the Cotton Bowl.

  "We are extremely excited to make this commitment to Coach Silverfield to keep him leading our football program into the future," said Laird Veatch, Memphis vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics.

  "Coach Silverfield guided the team to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023 and we believe he's laid the foundation to help Memphis ascend even higher in the expanded College Football Playoff era."

  Silverfield, 43, guided the Tigers to a 10-3 record last season, highlighted by a 36-26 win over Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl.

  "It's an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach at the University of Memphis," Silverfield said in a press release. "I am excited and appreciative of the commitment to continue moving forward with the progress of our football program."

  --Field Level Media

The NCAA wants states to ban player prop bets in college sports to protect both athletes and the "integrity of the game," president Charlie Baker said Wednesday.

• "Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed," Baker said. "The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets."

  Last week, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters he had been threatened by gamblers last season.

  "They got my telephone number and were sending me crazy messages about where I live and my kids and all that stuff," Bickerstaff said. "So it is a dangerous game and a fine line that we're walking for sure."

  Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said recently that gamblers reach out to him directly on social media about prop bets, which involve the performance of individual players and not the team.

  "To half the world, I'm just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever," he said. "I'm a prop."

  And Baker said that isn't right.

  "This week we will be contacting officials across the country in states that still allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and many others and remove college prop bets from all betting markets," Baker said. "The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game."

  Wagering on college sports is a multi-billion industry. The American Gaming Association issued its projection last week that said Americans will legally bet $2.72 billion on the 2024 men's and women's NCAA tournaments, equivalent to just 2.2 percent of the total amount of money legally wagered on sports in the U.S. in 2023.

  --Field Level Media

Pat Chun is moving across state, as he departed Washington State on Tuesday to become the athletic director at Washington.

• Chun will start his duties at Washington, located in Seattle, on Wednesday and will be introduced at a press conference on Thursday.

  "It is truly an honor for my family and I to join the University of Washington family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the University," Chun said in a news release. "I am grateful to President (Ann Mari) Cauce for the opportunity and will work closely with our campus partners, our coaches and our staff to help our student-athletes have an incredible experience at UW.

  "Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!"

  Chun has been the athletic director at Washington State for six-plus years. That school is located in remote Pullman, approximately 285 miles from Seattle.

  The Huskies and Cougars have long been fierce Apple Cup rivals. So while the move is certainly sure to produce tension between the fan bases, Washington is about to depart for the Big Ten and

  Washington State is one of two Pac-12 programs that will not be aligned with a major conference in 2024.

  Chun is about to start a three-year stint on the College Football Playoff selection committee.

  Before becoming the Washington State AD, Chun served in the same role at Florida Atlantic for five seasons. He also spent 15 years working in various positions within the Ohio State athletic department.

  "Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience -- from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes," Cauce said in the news releases. "He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I'm so happy he'll be joining us to lead UW Athletics into the future."

  Chun replaces Troy Dannen, who left after five-plus months to become the new AD at Nebraska.

  Chun's move to Washington comes one day after Cougars basketball coach Kyle Smith departed the Palouse to take the Stanford job. The Cougars made the NCAA Tournament this year for the first time since 2008.

  Also, the Huskies hired a new basketball coach Monday with Utah State's Danny Sprinkle being unveiled to replace the fired Mike Hopkins.

  Washington also has a new football coach in Jedd Fisch. He replaces Kalen DeBoer, who parlayed the Huskies' CFP title game appearance into becoming the new coach at Alabama.

  --Field Level Media

Georgia running back Trevor Etienne faces four misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence, after his arrest Sunday morning.

• According to online records, Etienne posted bonds totaling $1,883 and was released from the Athens-Clarke County Jail at 5:27 a.m., about an hour after he was booked.

  He also was charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain lane/improper driving on the road and affixing materials that reduce visibility of windows/windshield.

  The DUI charge was labeled as "less safe," which means he can be convicted even if his blood-alcohol content measures below 0.08 percent.

  "We are aware of the charges and are currently in the process of gathering additional information," a university statement read. "This is a pending legal matter and we will not have further comment at this time."

  Etienne, 19, transferred from Florida after the 2023 season. In 24 games over two seasons with the Gators, he ran for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 30 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown.

  He is the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne and was projected to start for the Bulldogs when they open the season against Clemson on Aug. 31.

  Under Georgia policy, student-athletes convicted of DUI must serve a suspension of at least one game.

  This is the latest driving-related issue for Georgia and the first known incident in 2024. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday that at least 15 members of the Bulldogs program were arrested or cited for DUI or speeding last year.

  On Jan. 15, 2023, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting department staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed in a crash, with their deaths attributed to both alcohol and speeding.

  --Field Level Media

Southern California landed commitments from two prized 2025 defensive line prospects on Sunday.

• Five-star Justus Terry, who committed to his home-state Georgia on Jan. 16, 2023, flipped his allegiance to USC. Also selecting the Trojans on Sunday was four-star recruit Isaiah Gibson.

  Terry is ranked as the nation's No. 2 defensive lineman by the 247Sports composite. Gibson is slotted as the No. 8 edge rusher.

  Coach Lincoln Riley's 2025 class now has three commits, with Julian Lewis -- the No. 4-ranked quarterback -- the other. All three are from Georgia.

  Terry, from Manchester, Ga., visited Los Angeles this weekend. He told 247Sports that his decision to decommit from Georgia was a "no-brainer," citing both coaching and USC's business school among his reasons.

  "Coming from a small town, I wanted to expand my life as much as possible, and I felt like USC is the right place to do that," he said.

  --Field Level Media

Recently hired Michigan defensive line coach Greg Scruggs resigned Thursday following an arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

• Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore confirmed the resignation but declined further comment, telling ESPN it is "a university matter."

  Ann Arbor police arrested Scruggs on Saturday after finding his car stopped in an intersection with its hazard lights on. His blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit for Michigan, officials said.

  Scruggs, who coached the defensive line at Wisconsin last season, was hired to join Moore's staff on March 6. He replaced Mike Elston, who followed former coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers.

  Scruggs, 33, was a defensive end who played in 18 games in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks (2012, 2014) and Chicago Bears (2015-16).

  He began his coaching career at the University of Cincinnati (2018-21) and was the New York Jets' assistant D-line coach in 2022.

  The defending national champion Wolverines began spring practice on Monday.

  --Field Level Media

Troy Dannen's stay at Washington was brief.

• Dannen, who took over as the athletic director in Seattle on Oct. 9, was hired Wednesday to the same role at Nebraska.

  He replaces Trev Alberts, a Nebraska alum hired last week as athletic director at Texas A&M.

  Dannen ran the athletic department at Tulane for eight years before taking the job with the Huskies.

  Dannen is from traditional Big Ten country -- he grew up on a farm outside Marshallton, Iowa -- and is returning to his roots. A graduate of Northern Iowa, he was the athletic director at his alma mater for seven years before going to Tulane.

  "Joining the Nebraska family is truly an honor. My family and I are humbled by the opportunity to be part of such a proud athletics program, institution, community and state," he said in a Nebraska news release. "Growing up in Iowa, I watched a lot of Nebraska football on Saturdays with my family. I've spent a lot of time in the state and I've found that we share a similar approach to life, work and sports: Work hard, stay humble, compete and expect to win.

  "There is a storied tradition at Nebraska, but more work to be done. I truly believe our best years are ahead of us."

  Interim president Chris Kabourek said Dannen was a natural fit.

  "Troy sees the vision and momentum we have here at Nebraska, from our bold investments in facilities to our record success in the classroom to our bold plan to elevate our national reputation and competitiveness, and he is excited to be a part of it," Kabourek said. "I am thrilled that we've found someone who is 100 percent aligned with our high expectations and will be all-in on Nebraska."

  At Washington, Dannen hired Jedd Fisch to replace Kalen DeBoer as football coach and gained experience with the Big Ten as the Huskies prepare to transition to their new conference in the fall. He also fired basketball coach Mike Hopkins. Washington's next athletic director will be the program's third since August 2023.

  --Field Level Media

The College Football Playoff is officially staying with ESPN and its family of networks.

• ESPN announced a six-year, $7.8 billion deal to retain the media rights to the CFP through the 2031 season, concluding with the national title game in January 2032.

  The deal was first reported in February, but it needed ratification after the playoff finalized its new format. The CFP will expand from four teams to 12 starting next season.

  The CFP is extending its current deal with ESPN for two years (2024 and 2025) and giving ESPN the four new first-round games on top of the quarterfinals, semifinals and national championship game.

  Beginning in 2026, ESPN's new deal kicks in, and it encompasses all rounds of the playoff, which may expand to 14 teams by that time.

  Further, the national championship game will be broadcast on ABC beginning in January 2027 (for the 2026 season), in addition to ESPN's usual mega-cast of the game.

  "ESPN has worked very closely with the College Football Playoff over the past decade to build one of the most prominent events in American sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.

  "We look forward to enhancing our valued relationship over the next two years, and then continuing it for six more as we embark on this new, expanded playoff era. This agreement further solidifies ESPN as the home of college football, as well as the destination for the vast majority of major college championships for the next eight years."

  According to The Athletic last month, ESPN will have the right to "sublicense" CFP games over the course of the contract to other media organizations or streamers.

  --Field Level Media

Clemson is suing the Atlantic Coast Conference, becoming the second school to take the conference to court over grant of media rights.

• Clemson filed its suit Tuesday in Pickens County, S.C. Florida State sued the conference in December.

  The contention by Clemson is that the ACC claims it owns the media rights of member schools to home games through 2036 -- even if a school departs the conference. Clemson also says in the suit that schools must pay $140 million to leave the conference on top of the grant of media rights.

  Those factors hinder "Clemson's ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members, and to obtain full value for its future media rights."

  Clemson was one of seven schools that reportedly have been investigating a departure from the conference amid a changing college landscape.

  Following a new agreement with the College Football Playoff and ESPN, the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference schools are set to receive more than $21 million, most ACC schools will get upward of $13 million, and Notre Dame and Big 12 members will be paid more than $12 million from television revenues.

  The Big Ten is expanding by four members -- USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington -- in the upcoming academic year. The ACC is adding three schools -- SMU as well as Stanford and Cal, which left the Pac-12 as members' departures decimated the conference.

  Oklahoma and Texas are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC -- the move that triggered a seismic shift in college conferences.

  --Field Level Media

Kalen DeBoer is set to more than double his salary in his first year at Alabama after the school's board of trustees approved the new head football coach's eight-year, $87 million contract on Monday.

• Details of the deal were confirmed, with DeBoer set to average $10.875 million annually, including a $10 million salary in 2024. Last year as head coach at Washington, he earned $4.2 million, according to USA Today.

  The average annual value of his new contract makes DeBoer the fourth-highest-paid coach in the country, ESPN reported. His salary will peak at $11.75 million in 2031.

  According to ESPN, the top-paid coaches in terms of average annual value are Clemson's Dabo Swinney ($11.5 million), Georgia's Kirby Smart and Southern California's Lincoln Riley ($11 million-plus apiece), DeBoer, Texas' Steve Sarkisian ($10.64 million) and Florida State's Mike Norvell ($10.52 million).

  The overall deal is 90 percent guaranteed should DeBoer be fired without cause. Should he take another job, he would have a buyout of $5 million this year, $4 million in 2025, $3 million in 2026 and nothing thereafter.

  DeBoer, 49, was hired in January, shortly after Nick Saban retired following 17 years in charge of the Crimson Tide. Saban led Alabama to six national championships.

  In two seasons at Washington, DeBoer registered a 25-3 record, and he led the Huskies to the national championship game last season. Including his stints at Division II Sioux Falls and Fresno State, he has a 104-12 overall record.

  --Field Level Media

Jerome Bettis Jr. is following in the footsteps of his Super Bowl champion father, committing Sunday to Notre Dame.

• The younger Bettis is a 6-foot-2 wide receiver who plays at Woodward Academy in the Atlanta area. He is listed by the 247Sports composite as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025.

  He announced his commitment on social media on Sunday with a video.

  "Growing up as a Bettis, I've heard about all the ways Notre Dame can change your life academically and athletically," he said. "...I'm blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish."

  His father played three seasons at Notre Dame (1990-92) and was the No. 10 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1993 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Rams, then 10 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the Super Bowl in his final campaign.

  He ranks eighth all-time in NFL rushing yards with 13,662 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

  --Field Level Media

Greg Scruggs, who was named Michigan's defensive line coach just 10 days ago, was arrested on a drunk-driving charge early Saturday and suspended from the program.

• "Greg made an unfortunate mistake and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said in a statement. "He made no excuses and has taken accountability for his actions. The football program and athletic department have suspended Greg indefinitely while we review details of the incident."

  The Wolverines announced his hiring on March 6. He was the defensive line coach at Wisconsin in 2023 and the assistant line coach with the New York Jets in 2022.

  Scruggs, 33, knows Moore from their days at Louisville, when Scruggs was a player and Moore a grad assistant. In late 2011, Scruggs was arrested in Kentucky on a drunk-driving charge and dismissed from the team before Louisville met North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl.

  Scruggs appeared in 18 games between 2012-16 for the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears, recording 11 tackles and three sacks.

  --Field Level Media