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Steve Berkowitz

@byberkowitz.bsky.social

Sports projects reporter for USA TODAY Sports. E-mail is: sberkowitz@usatoday.com

258 Followers  |  27 Following  |  301 Posts  |  Joined: 13.03.2025  |  2.0802

Latest posts by byberkowitz.bsky.social on Bluesky

Firings so far this season by Arkansas, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Virginia Tech have those schools committed to buyouts totaling $37.1 million, subject to mitigation and offset, but not including amounts that also will be owed to assistant coaches

28.09.2025 17:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Why was Sam Pittman fired at Arkansas? Record, buyout info for Razorbacks coach Arkansas has fired Sam Pittman following a demoralizing loss to Notre Dame that dropped the Razorbacks' record to 2-3 on the season. What to know:

Arkansas fires football head coach Sam Pittman. Per contract, he will be due a buyout of about $9.3 million, subject to a duty to mitigate, with the school entitled to offset from future income:
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

28.09.2025 17:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

From earlier: Virginia Tech fires football coach Brent Pry. Per his contract -- which had been set to run thru 12/1/27 -- he is owed buyout of just over $6.8 million. He has no specified duty to mitigate, but school would get offset from his future income.

14.09.2025 19:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
UCLA fires football coach Deshaun Foster after 0-3 start to 2025 season Deshaun Foster ends his tumultuous tenure as UCLA coach at 5-10, including three consecutive losses to start the season.

From earlier: UCLA fires football coach Deshaun Foster after 0-3 start to season. Per his contract -- which had been set to run thru 1/31/2029 -- he is owed buyout of nearly $6.1 million, subject to his duty to mitigate, with offset usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@usatoday

14.09.2025 19:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This bonus will increase to $25,000 if Utes are listed in top 25 of College Football Playoff rankings any time prior to final rankings, or to $150,000 if Utes are in final CFP or AP top 25.

02.09.2025 18:14 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham picks up $15,000 bonus, as Utes are No. 25 in this week's AP media rankings.

He gets this amount if team is in AP or US LBM Coaches Poll (in yrs when Whittingham isn't a voter, which is case this year) any time prior to end of regular season.

02.09.2025 18:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables takes $1 million pay cut for 2025 season Ahead of a pivotal season after a bumpy SEC debut, Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables has a new contract that lowers his salary by $1 million.

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables taking $1 million pay cut for 2025 season, newly obtained contract shows usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@usatoday

29.08.2025 22:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Rutgers -- paying $1.1 million guarantee to Ohio -- converts 4th down and 7 from Ohio 28 with just under 2 minutes to play while leading 34-31, then runs out clock to hang on for win by that margin.

Scarlet Knights were 5 for 5 on 4th down tonight.

29.08.2025 01:11 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The week's top payouts:
-Michigan: $1.8 million to New Mexico
-Georgia: $1.7 million to Marshall
-Wisconsin: $1.6 million to Miami (Ohio)
-Penn State: $1.6 million to Nevada

28.08.2025 21:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This does not include multi-million-dollar payouts coming to Va Tech and South Carolina for game in Atlanta, or Cincinnati's multi-million-dollar payout for playing "home" game against Nebraska in Kansas City, Mo.

28.08.2025 21:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We're set for kickoff of Week 1 of college football season. The long weekend includes at least 16 games in which the home school will be paying its opponent an appearance guarantee of at least $1 million.

28.08.2025 21:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2

Per Hawaii's notes for tonight's game: UH’s last wins over a Power Conference team were against the then-Pac-12’s Arizona and Oregon State in back-to-back weeks to open the 2019 season.

24.08.2025 03:12 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

College football head coach bonus payouts already are underway! Hawaii coach Timmy Chang gets $7,500 bonus as Rainbow Warriors defeat Stanford on FG as time expires.

Chang gets this amount for a win at home over Power Five/Four team.

24.08.2025 03:09 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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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.

20.08.2025 20:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

14.07.2025 22:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Commerce Committee has been focal point on Senate side for long-running negotiations among senators concerning a college-sports bill.

14.07.2025 22:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, blasts college-sports bill that is set for markup in House subcommittee tomorrow.

β€œIf you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "

14.07.2025 22:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Plaintiff lawyers in NCAA House settlement set to receive more than $750 million in legal fees Plaintiff laywers in the settlement involving the NCAA and the Power Five conferences are set to receive more $750 million in legal fees and costs.

Plaintiff lawyers in NCAA House settlement set to receive more than $750 million in legal fees usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@USATODAY

11.07.2025 17:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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College sports bill introduced by bipartisan group of House members A bipartisan group from the U.S. House of Representatives announced they introduced a bill that would establish national rules for college sports.

Bipartisan group of lawmakers in U.S. House of Representatives intriduces new college-sports bill. This rises from discussion draft by Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and it's already set for subcommittee markup on Tuesday, July 15: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

10.07.2025 19:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

08.07.2025 04:21 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
College sports NIL revenue sharing figure being questioned by settlement plaintiffs Colleges can pay athletes up to $20.5 million for the use of their NIL, but plaintiffs in the settlement are asking questions about the amount.

As House-NCAA settlement takes effect today, a lead lawyer for plaintiffs says his side is exercising its right to audit school financial figures that are basis for revenue-sharing cap. Steve Berman: "We have questions about the information we’ve gotten." www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

01.07.2025 11:18 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Nebraska AD Troy Dannen will get $180,000 bonus for Cornhuskers finishing No. 21 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for finish from No. 25 through No. 21).

27.06.2025 20:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts will get $50,000 bonus for Aggies finishing No. 15 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for finish from No. 15 through No. 11).

27.06.2025 20:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Georgia AD Josh Brooks will get $50,000 bonus for Bulldogs finishing No. 14 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for finish from No. 20 through No. 11).

27.06.2025 20:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Florida AD Scott Stricklin will get $75,000 bonus for Gators finishing No. 7 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for finish from No. 10 through No. 6).

27.06.2025 20:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

UCLA AD Martin Jarmond will get $72,610 bonus for Bruins finishing No. 5 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for top-5 finish).

27.06.2025 20:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham will get $40,000 bonus for Tar Heels finishing No. 4 in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings (he gets this amount for top-10 finish).

27.06.2025 19:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Former NCAA president Mark Emmert received a little more than $1.4 million in base salary and more than $600,000 in other benefits during final months with association in 2023. Emmert also got nearly $4.3M in severance in 2023, an amount disclosed on tax records NCAA filed last year.

27.06.2025 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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NCAA President Charlie Baker salary and Mark Emmert severance detailed in 2023 tax form NCAA payments to current president Charlie Baker and former president Mark Emmert for the 2023 calendar year were detailed in the organization's 990.

NCAA's new fdeeral tax records provide first look at Charlie Baker's compensation as association president.
He started on March 1, 2023. For that calendar year, he was credited with just over $3.4 million in total pay:
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

27.06.2025 17:21 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2

Baker's pay for calendar 2023 includes:
-Just over $2.6 million base, after starting March 1.
-$400,000 bonus pay
-Nearly $360,000 "other reportable compensation"

27.06.2025 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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