USC's tough recruiting week, plus reader reactions to possible conference name sponsors

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Right now, we’re checking in on the summer season recruiting path and waiting for the “School GameDay” crew for 2024 — with one host’s future nonetheless in query. However first, how frightened are we about conferences presumably promoting their naming rights? Let’s check out the ballot outcomes from Monday.

Enterprise Conferences

Go away our inaccurately numbered names alone

In Monday’s e-newsletter, we mentioned the sponsorships that might crash into convention names. I requested you the way connected you’re feeling to convention names as they’re now and the way a lot a change from the Massive 12 to, say, the Allstate 12 Convention would trouble you, on a scale from 1 (convention names don’t actually matter) to five (sponsorships in convention names would jeopardize custom). Listed below are the outcomes from our nameless voters:

The massive majority of voters signified they’d be fairly bothered by conferences’ company overlords turning into that apparent.

“I’ve at all times scoffed at individuals who mentioned that the playoff or NIL or no matter would spoil soccer, however the Allstate Convention would possibly actually be the factor that makes me begin to lose curiosity,” one voter mentioned.

Some respondents recommended their attachment to the title is dependent upon the convention: “For smaller conferences, it makes whole sense, they should maximize income to maintain up,” mentioned one other. “The Massive Ten and SEC won’t ever change their title due to the model.”

Others recommended accepting sponsorships as long as they add to names, slightly than taking away: “Maintaining the title + the model could be wonderful (ex: Allstate Massive 12 Convention).”

I most likely would have voted a 3. Convention names have custom, however they’ve misplaced their connection to the conferences themselves in realignment. I’m additionally not so certain how a lot a sponsored title would stick. Do you are likely to name bowl video games by their whole names, in any case? Even when it’s the Allstate 12 Convention, associates and I might most likely stick to “the Massive 12” in informal conversations.

Now for a pair responses that made me giggle. In any case, that is nonetheless school soccer. They might take away our convention names however they’ll by no means take away our humorousness.

“Pop Tarts Convention for the ‘Pac-2.’ They arrive in a package deal of two, so it makes good sense.”
“Prepare for the American Airways Athletic Convention, the Mountain Dew West and Convention USA Right now.”

Summer time Recruiting

Robust week for USC

Summer time is a busy time on the recruiting path. Antonio Morales updates the newest from this week. Listed below are my three largest takeaways:

First-year coaches have been making waves. Mike Elko’s class at Texas A&M ranks eighth nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, and picked up a dedication from four-star DL Kiotti Armstrong final Friday. In the meantime, DeShaun Foster is constant to re-establish UCLA’s place in recruiting and landed his fourth blue-chip prospect this cycle in security Jadyn Hudson. Willie Fritz simply picked up the highest-rated participant in Houston’s class (four-star sort out Demetris Dean), and Jedd Fisch’s efforts at Washington — though shifting slowly — led to a giant win: a pledge from four-star OL Champ Taulealea.
USC’s 2025 class suffered just a few losses on back-to-back days this week. 5-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson and defensive lineman Justus Terry — the No. 2 participant at his place in his class — each pulled their commitments to the Trojans. Terry was beforehand the highest-rated participant in USC’s class, which now consists of 11 commits and ranks sixteenth total (fifth within the Massive Ten).
Auburn is a possible risk to drag one other recruit from Lincoln Riley’s class. The Tigers hosted five-star QB Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who has been dedicated to the Trojans since final summer season. Auburn additionally picked up a dedication from top-100 security Eric Winters final week, who was closely pursued by Georgia and Miami, amongst others. Hugh Freeze has the No. 6 class within the nation for now.

General, Ohio State continues its nation-leading success within the 2025 cycle whereas TCU jumped to the highest of the Massive 12 with one other key pick-up on protection. Learn the remainder of Antonio’s recruiting report right here.

“GameDay” Gamesmanship

McAfee hasn’t signed to return

Pat McAfee has not but signed his contract with ESPN’s “School GameDay,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported earlier this week. There was a stint final October when McAfee indicated he would possibly depart the pregame present, following a survey by The Athletic by which practically half of the three,100 responses mentioned they didn’t take care of McAfee on Saturday mornings. Nonetheless, the speak present host recognized for his hard-to-ignore persona later mentioned he would return to this system.

With the school soccer season simply over two months away, McAfee and ESPN are working towards a deal, however nothing has been agreed on but.

Keep in mind, the 2024 “GameDay” desk will embrace a brand new addition in Nick Saban, who joined the crew shortly after he retired from Alabama.

Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; images: Andy Lewis, Getty Pictures; Courtesy of the Slackman household

From Zero Stars to SEC

Ivy League wrestler turns into NFL prospect

Joey Slackman arrived on the school soccer scene as a no-star soccer recruit within the Class of 2019. 5 years later, he’s headed to the Florida Gators as a confirmed defensive lineman who’d turn into a scorching commodity within the switch portal.

Bruce Feldman particulars the must-read story of Slackman, a former heavyweight wrestler who in 2023 turned the primary Penn participant to win Ivy League defender of the 12 months since 2015. There have been murmurings of Slackman’s NFL potential amid his breakout season final 12 months, however a late damage altered his skill to take part within the full draft course of.

As an alternative, Slackman entered the switch portal. And when he awoke from surgical procedure to restore his torn proper biceps, every thing had modified. Learn the total story right here.

Fast Snaps

What are the affordable (and unreasonable) expectations for Alabama? Texas? Notre Dame? Take heed to the dialogue on the Till Saturday podcast.

What may the 2024 School Soccer Playoff discipline seem like? Right here’s an early prediction. Sneak peek: Might Miami get the No. 11 seed?

Kobe Bryant’s nephew is an elite highschool athlete — however his future is in soccer, not basketball. Manny Navarro’s story on Jett Washington is price your time in the present day.

How ought to school soccer’s rivalry week look? Scott Dochterman maps out one of the best rivalries within the sport, from those already on the schedule this season to those we have to contemplate reinstating.USC and Ole Miss canceled their home-and-home collection scheduled for 2025 and 2026. There isn’t a lot drama right here — USC’s transfer to the Massive Ten and the uncertainty across the SEC schedule made this one onerous to line up. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, famously fired by USC in 2013, mentioned the cancellation occurred “some time in the past.”