Good morning, and welcome back to CFB Roundup from CFB Home – the first daily newsletter that’s all college football, all the time with no bias, no slant, and no fluff.

Current Subscriber Count: 430 (Goal: 500 by Week 0 on 8/24/24)

Georgia WR Rara Thomas Arrested on Multiple Charges, Suspended Indefinitely

Georgia WR Rara Thomas was arrested on multiple family violence charges early on Friday morning. He is facing two misdemeanor counts of battery and a felony count of cruelty to children.

Thomas is also now suspended from Georgia’s team indefinitely.

In the last 18 months, 24 members of the Georgia program have been charged with DUI, reckless driving, or speeding, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, so Thomas is another in a long line of Georgia Bulldogs to be facing legal trouble.

Thomas finished 2023, his first season with Georgia after spending two seasons at Mississippi State, with 383 receiving yards, 23 catches, and a TD.

House Settlement Paying Billions in NIL Back Damages

The settlement from the House v. NCAA case was filed on Friday for Judge Claudia Wilken who needs to determine if the settlement is acceptable to the court.

According to court papers obtained by On3, the defendants have agreed to pay $2.576 billion to the damaged classes, a slight decrease to the previously reported $2.776 billion. It’s unclear where the remaining $200 million previously agreed to by the NCAA has gone.

According to the submitted documents, more of the money will be going to football and men’s basketball than any other group in the class action groups.

Of the 3,000 football and men’s basketball athletes who were aggrieved, an average annual payment of $17,000 for 10 years is expected, with $800,000 annually expected to being given to top talent like Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Zion Williamson, and others.

House Settlement Challenges Existence of NIL Collectives

The House v. NCAA settlement is scheduled to pay billions in back pay to athletes, which has long been expected.

What may have more of an impact in the immediate is the NCAA and Power 4 conferences, essentially, trying to stop pay-for-play in the NIL world. The phrases “true NIL” and “fair market value” have been used for a couple months now at this point, but now that the settlement has been filed, it’s more clear what the NCAA and Power 4 meant by this.

The settlement states that compensation must be “at rates and terms commensurate with compensation paid to similarly situated individuals,” and “is for a valid business purpose related to the promotion or endorsement of goods or services provided to the general public for profit.”

All third-party NIL deals of $600 or more must also be approved by a clearinghouse that will vet contracts, and deals not approved could deem the athletes ineligible or result in a school being fined. Multiple agreements totaling over $600 will also need to submit for approval.

Naturally, collectives hate these incredibly restrictive measures. As for the President of the Collective Association, Russell White, he said “the fact the NCAA is unable to stay out of their way on these things is incredible to watch.”

2026 4-Star CB Jamarrion Gordon Flips from Alabama to UCF

4-Star CB in the 2026 class, Jamarrion Gordon, flipped his commitment yesterday from Alabama to UCF.

Gordon was Kalen DeBoer’s first commitment for the 2026 class back on May 18th, but has since changed his mind and decided that UCF is the better place for his personal and professional development.

Gordon is ranked highest by Rivals, the one recruiting service to rate him a 4-star, ranking him 10th at his position and 150th nationally. On On3’s industry composite rankings, he ranks 19th at his position and 254th nationally.

Gordon is UCF’s 2nd commit in the 2026 class currently.

Lincoln Riley on Challenges Preparing Run Defense in Big Ten

During Big Ten Media Days, USC Coach Lincoln Riley opened up on some of his experience working on revamping the run defense at USC ahead of the Trojans’ joining the Big Ten this season.

In 2023, USC was a bottom 30 defense for rushing yards allowed per game. Joining the Big Ten, a physical conference which has many teams who prioritize running the ball, Riley and new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn have their work cut out for them to get the Trojans in playing shape.

Riley sees part of the solution as continuing to recruit high caliber athletes, getting facilities right, and both coaching and playing better in the margins. Lynn has been a part of successful defensive turnarounds before, and Riley pointed out Oklahoma’s defense steadily got better after the first year and a half, so USC knows it can be done.

Ryan Day: We Should’ve Beat Michigan Last Year

For the 3rd straight season, Ohio State lost to Michigan. For Michigan, it was a pivotal win en route to a perfect season which culminated in a national championship.

But Ohio State’s coach Ryan Day sees that game as one the Buckeyes should’ve triumphed in.

“What do we need to do? It starts with having the right people in the right seats and making sure the personnel is right, making sure the scheme is right, the coaching is right and you go from there. There are a lot of conversations that are had to figure out, why didn’t we get that done?”

This is the longest losing streak for Ohio State against Michigan since 1995-97. As for Day, he is 2-4 in the postseason, 3-3 against Michigan, and 51-1 in all other games.

4-Star S Rylon Dillard-Allen Commits to Washington

Former Arizona State commit (and then de-commit), 4-star S Rylon Dillard-Allen, has committed to Washington over Alabama, Texas A&M, UCLA, and others.

The positional versatility Washington is planning to let him experience, giving him options at cornerback, nickel, and safety all intrigued the standout safety.

ESPN recruiting is highest on Dillard-Allen, rating him a 4-star and ranking him 19th at his position. On3’s industry composite rankings place him 364th nationally and 33rd at his position.

Dillard-Allen is Washington’s 8th 4-star in the 2025 class and 24th commitment overall for a 2025 class which ranks 19th nationally and 6th in the Big Ten.

DeShaun Foster’s Vision for UCLA

First-time coach DeShaun Foster shared at Big Ten Media Days what his vision is for UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten.

For Foster, it comes down to showing what UCLA has to offer without trying too hard. Just simply showing the energy that the program has and can have, and if someone wants to be a part of that – great.

Foster’s three pillars for the Bruins are discipline, respect, and enthusiasm, and he cares that his team shows that everywhere, whether they win, loss, or draw.

Discipline, respect, and enthusiasm in the classroom, dorm room, team meeting rooms, etc. to go along with discipline, respect, and enthusiasm on the football field.

3-Star LB Logan Anderson Commits to Clemson

High 3-star LB Logan Anderson committed yesterday to Clemson over Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and others.

Anderson sees Clemson’s program as the best in college football and the Clemson coaching staff as “tremendous.”

Rivals rates Anderson the highest, giving him a 4-star rating while the other services all have Anderson right below the cusp of being a 4-star. According to On3’s composite ranking, Anderson ranks 409th nationally and 40th at his position.

Anderson is Clemson’s 15th commitment in the 2025 class, a class which ranks 6th overall and 1st in the ACC.

3-Star Edge Corey Amos Re-commits to Ole Miss

High 3-star Corey Amos originally committed to Ole Miss on February 3rd, but he temporarily back off that commitment before re-committing yesterday.

Of the four major recruiting services, Rivals rates him a 4-star and 26th at his position, while the others rate him in the mid to high 3-star range. On3’s industry composite ranks him 520th overall and 46th at his position.

Ole Miss currently has 13 commitments in the 2025 class, a class which ranks 27th nationally and 12th in the SEC.

Other Commitments/Decommitments

3-Star IOL Lionel Prudhomme Commits to Arkansas

3-Star Edge Richard Scott Commits to FIU

3-Star TE Ben Rothaar Commits to Rutgers (Flips from Kent State)

3-Star WR Zay Martin Commits to Southeastern Louisiana

Unranked QB Jay Beamon Commits to Tulane

Unranked DL Aydan Clinton Commits to FIU

Unranked Edge Deangelo Thomson Jr. Commits to FAU

Unranked ATH Mark Rayson III Commits to UTSA