Sports
Not Making the Grade: Why Big Time College Sports Continue Failing Black Male Student Athletes
by Starla Muhammad
Special to the NNPA from The Final Call
This 2012 file photo shows then-Baltimore Ravens NFL football player Michael McAdoo, who was released by the team in 2013. The former University of North Carolina football player has filed a lawsuit against the school, saying it failed to provide him and other athletes a quality education by guiding them toward sham classes.
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A recent lawsuit filed by Michael McAdoo, a former football player at the University of North Carolina (UNC) accuses the institution of higher learning of failing to provide him with a quality education in exchange for his talents on the gridiron.
It is the latest fallout from an academic scandal that continues shedding new light on what critics argue is an old problem—the on-going exploitation of college athletes, particularly young Black male athletes.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, stems from academic improprieties at UNC uncovered in a report revealing that nearly 3,000 students and student-athletes enrolled in so-called “no-show” classes in the Department of African and Afro-American Studies between 1989 and 2011. These independent study courses required students to write papers and there was little to no instructor-student interaction.
A 136-page report, “Investigation of Irregular Classes in the Department of African and Afro-American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” was released last month.
Student-athletes accounted for 47 percent of enrollment in the “no-show” or “paper” classes but make up only 4 percent of the school’s undergraduate student body, said the report. Of student-athletes enrolled in the classes, 50.9 percent were football players, 12.2 percent were men’s basketball players, 6.1 percent were women’s basketball players and 30 percent were Olympic and other sport athletes, the report continued.
“A good number of these student-athletes were ‘steered’ to the AFAM paper classes by certain academic counselors in ASPSA. This steering was most prevalent among the counselors for the revenue sports of football and men’s basketball,” noted the report. ASPSA stands for Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes.
The academic scandal that rocked UNC came to no surprise to Dr. Boyce Watkins an author and former finance professor.
Dr. Boyce Watkins
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“I’ve taught at four different universities with major athletics programs and at pretty much every school you see something ridiculous like this that occurs. Maybe not so broad and sustained and systemic as this but universities make it very clear that their number one priority is to make money, not to educate athletes,” said Dr. Watkins.
“What they do is they educate White kids with money earned by Black kids on the basketball court and the football field. It’s really a transfer of wealth due to the labor of what you might call indentured servants in a way but not quite the same thing of course,” he added.
While men’s college football and basketball means big bucks for universities, advertisers, athletic companies, boosters, stadiums and venues, the travel and tourism industry, restaurants and high paid coaches, players are more often than not left in the cold due to antiquated NCAA rules and regulations.
There are nearly 1,100 Division I, II and III colleges and universities that make up the NCAA. According to financial reports on ncaa.org in 2013, the NCAA raked in $912.8 million in total gross revenue which includes television and marketing rights fees, net investment income, championships and NIT tournaments, an increase from $871.6 million the previous year.
Kenneth Wainstein, lead investigator into academic irregularities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, holds a copy of his findings during a news conference following a special joint meeting of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees in Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 22.
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But Mr. McAdoo was ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA in 2010 for allegedly receiving $110 in improper benefits in violation of rules. Part of the illegal benefits included an alleged prospective agent paying for an $89 hotel stay and $10 night club cover charge for Mr. McAdoo.
University of Georgia star running back Todd Gurley played Nov. 15 after serving a four game NCAA suspension for receiving money for signing autographs from memorabilia dealers.
In 2010 four football players from The Ohio State University were suspended by the NCAA for selling their own team memorabilia in exchange for a few thousand dollars and free tattoos.
According to the American Gaming Association, the FBI estimates over $2.5 billion is illegally wagered annually on March Madness and $80 million to $90 million legally wagered through legal gambling in Nevada. Last year the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament generated $1.15 billion in ad revenue. And the city of Atlanta, which hosted last year’s tournament, reportedly received a $70 million boost to its economy.
Players receive none of that money.
The “free” college education only applies to players who are able to stay academically eligible and if their scholarships are renewed annually. Players run the risk of being dropped from the team if they get injured and are unable to play.
Degree dilemmas and struggling to find a way
Of the Division I men’s basketball teams that were in the Sweet 16 tournament earlier this year, the graduation rate of White male student athletes was 98 percent, for Black male student athletes, it was an abysmal 55 percent according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES). The institute located at the University of Central Florida, is headed by Dr. Richard Lapchick.
The NCAA measures its Graduation Success Rates (GSR) on the percentage of players that graduate within six years of entering school.Among 70 college football teams heading to bowl games, during the 2013-14 season, the graduation rate for Black players was 65 percent versus 84 percent for White players. Nine out of 70 schools graduated less than half of their Black football players but none graduated less than half of White players.
On average, historically Black colleges and universities do not fare much better when it comes to graduating Black male student-athletes. Alabama State had a GSR of 81 percent in 2012-2013. Howard University was second at 61 percent. The average GSR of NCAA Division I HBCU football team that year was slightly over 47 percent. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team led all HBCU’s in 2012-13 with a GSR of 86 percent.
Writer and professor Jessica Johnson of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio noted in a piece published on Online Athens that while Black colleges face problems with athletes graduating—far more pressure exists at White institutions.
“While there is pressure to win in the HBCU Division I conferences, it pales in comparison to what student-athletes face in major conferences like the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference. Also, HBCUs rarely have players leaving early for the NBA draft, so that does not factor into their lower GSRs,” she said. Low GSR’s at HBCU’s need to be examined closely and concerns raised about potential hindrances to academic achievement so a stronger support system can be developed she added.
Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) in action against South Carolina, Sept. 7, 2013 in Athens, GA.
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College athletics is a business industry using unpaid labor and there are no incentives keeping the powerbrokers accountable to athletes providing the labor, explained Dr. Watkins.
“Coaches are not incentivized in their contracts to educate or graduate anybody. They get tiny bonuses for graduation almost just like honorariums. Their real bonuses come from winning championships,” said Dr. Watkins.
“If you are a coach and you’ve got a $5 million a year job on the line and your university has clearly stated in the contract that winning games is your number one priority; how much time are you really going to put into making sure these young men get educated? None.”
Dr. Lapchick said diversity in key decision making positions in colleges and universities could impact graduation outcomes.
“If you have all White men or overwhelmingly White men making the decisions in college sports you’re going to have a limited perspective on who to hire, on decisions to make and what’s important. It doesn’t augur well for college sports that the leadership positions in particular are overwhelmingly White,” he told The Final Call. Over 88 percent of presidents of Football Bowl Subdivision schools and conferences are White. Almost 85 percent of athletic directors and 100 percent of conference commissioners are White.
The continued educational gap between Black and White students in general is even bigger than it is on the collegiate athlete level, Dr. Lipchick pointed out. Therefore a Black student athlete in high school may end up being significantly farther behind than his White team mates. Unless schools are prepared and willing to help close that academic gap, Black athletes will continue to be at a serious disadvantage in completing their education, Dr. Lipchick added.
He has researched and studied issues in sports related to race and gender in collegiate and professional sports for over 50 years. Individual Black student athletes he has spoken to over the years told him they often feel college counselors put them in courses just to keep them eligible rather than helping athletes move toward completing a degree.
“There’s simply from (the counselors’) point of view no expectation. They’re valued clearly as basketball or football players or whatever their sport is but not so much as someone that might make a contribution in a political science class or economics class,” said Dr. Lapchick.
A change in direction?
Efforts to confront the NCAA and force changes are underway. Kain Colter, a former football player at Northwestern University, led efforts to have its players vote to form a union at the Illinois school after an official with the National Labor Relation Board ruled football players were employees and entitled to benefits such as workers compensation and a portion of revenue. The results of the April vote were impounded and will not be made public until the NLRB reviews the initial ruling. That is not expected to happen anytime soon.
Rep Tony Cardenas (D-Calif)
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Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) introduced “HR 3545: The Collegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act” last November. Co-sponsored by Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Betty McCollum (DFL-Min.) the act would ensure that an athlete’s inability to compete would not mean loss of athletic scholarships.
Among other benefits, the bill would require training in life skills and finance workshops, including explanation of the full rights provided in scholarships, concussion education and what student-athletes can expect to pay in health care costs. But a year later, there is still no movement on the bill, according to congress.gov.
It is also important that student athletes and their families understand what they are potentially getting into when accepting an athletic scholarship.
During a Nov. 14 interview on ESPN, University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was asked what was the biggest difference he has seen over the last few years is in what recruits are looking for in a collegiate program. Recruits are concerned about getting a shot at making it to the NFL but they are also concerned about their education and life after football, he said.
“I really think the pendulum has swung back. Kids are thinking about their degree. They’re thinking about ‘how can I best have an opportunity when football is over,’ ” said Coach Kelly.
“They know and they read the stories in the NFL and how after their careers are over that they’re struggling maybe to make a career of it. So kids are thinking about the degree and success after. And I know that’s hard to do when you’re 17 but they have mentors, they have family members, they have others that are helping them and I think the pendulum has swung back over probably the last 5 or 6 years where kids are really considering that degree now,” said Mr. Kelly.
And while Notre Dame is number one in percentage of football players that graduate with degrees, it went through its own controversy earlier this year when five players, all Black, were dismissed from the squad for academic fraud. This came one year after current starting quarterback Everett Golson was suspended during the 2013 season for cheating on a test. An investigation revealed players had submitted assignments that were written or completed by others.
Eric Muhammad played two years of football at Arizona State University in 1993-94 after transferring from Pasadena City College in California. One of the biggest challenges many Black male athletes face is college is often a completely different culture and environment than they are used to. Also, if academics and school is not stressed in the home of an athlete, when they get to college they may struggle, he said. Universities need to have training programs and tools in place to help with this academic and environmental transition, said Mr. Muhammad.
He also agrees that college athletes should be paid for playing and have a right to be compensated in a fair and equitable way.
“If I can’t have my money right now, there needs to be something put aside because if 10,000 people are in the stands wearing my jersey I need to be compensated for that. The NCAA, in my humble opinion, is a complete racket and they’re raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsement money from these companies and the athletes don’t see a portion. After I cashed my scholarship check, I had $80 left for the entire month. It’s insane,” he said.
Earlier this year a federal judge ruled to remove restrictions on money college athletes can get for use of their likeness, image and name but the NCAA can still cap the payments as long as the amount is not less than $5,000 a year for each year they compete.
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad of the Nation of Islam pointed out in his 1965 book “Message to the Black Man” that America more than any other country offers Black people opportunities to engage in sport and play, much to their detriment. The world of sports is causing tremendous amounts of evil and hundreds of millions of dollars change hands for the benefit of a few while hurting millions of poor people, wrote the Nation of Islam patriarch. His top student, Minister Louis Farrakhan, has repeatedly pointed out how historically, Black athletes have been used and exploited for their skills.
The reasons universities, the NCAA and others are allowed to continue to get away with what is happening is because the majority who are exploited are Blacks. Coaches and athletic departments control the academic futures of Black athletes but with that power should also come the responsibility to ensure they receive a proper education, Dr. Watkins pointed out.
“The only system in America that’s worse than the prison industrial complex is the NCAA,” said Dr. Watkins.
Black History
HBCU Leaders, Corporate Partners Convene in D.C. to Strengthen Support for Black Colleges’ Athletic Programs
COLUMBUS TIMES — HBCU athletic conference commissioners, university presidents, and corporate leaders gathered in Washington on Tuesday, September 15, for the Salute to HBCU Sports Leadership Reception. This invitation-only event, hosted at Gensler’s K Street office, aimed to deepen investment in historically Black colleges and universities.
Commissioners from HBCU athletic conferences joined university presidents and corporate leaders in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for the Salute to HBCU Sports Leadership Reception — an invitation-only gathering aimed at deepening investment in historically Black colleges and universities.
Hosted at Gensler’s K Street office, the evening brought together conference commissioners, campus presidents, and executives from sports, media and design organizations under the theme “Building Partnerships. Celebrating Excellence. Advancing HBCUs.” Gensler highlighted its partnership with Paxton Baker on the event in a post on Instagram, showcasing the room full of HBCU presidents and conference leaders.
Five Conferences, One Room
Commissioners from four NCAA conferences and one NAIA conference were on hand, representing institutions that compete across Division I, Division II and the NAIA:
Anthony Holloman — Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Charles McClelland — Southwestern Athletic Conference Jacqie McWilliams Parker — Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Sonja Stills — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Kiki Baker Barnes — HBCU Athletic Conference
Their presence linked leadership from across the HBCU athletics landscape with campus administrators and organizations working in event management, design and media.
Presidents and Black Press Leadership in the Room
Among the university presidents in attendance were Prairie View A&M’s Tomikia P. LeGrande and Bowie State’s Aminta H. Breaux.
LeGrande’s appearance came just days after the Thurgood Marshall College Fund named her the recipient of its Educational Leadership Award, as announced by Prairie View A&M. She was honored at TMCF’s 39th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 12 in Washington. LeGrande has served as Prairie View A&M’s ninth president since June 2023.
Breaux, who has led Bowie State since July 2017, previously chaired the CIAA’s board of directors, according to her university biography.
Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, also attended — fitting, given the NNPA’s role as one of the reception’s presenting partners. Chavis and HBCU GO’s Lawrencia Moten conducted two 30-minute interview sessions with the conference commissioners, covering topics ranging from the NIL era to conference growth and the experience of leading HBCU athletics, according to HBCU GO President Curtis Symonds, who spoke with HBCU Legends about the sessions.
Corporate and Institutional Partners
Five organizations presented the reception together:
Gensler — the architecture and design firm that hosted the event Events DC — the District’s convention and sports authority USA Track & Field — the sport’s national governing body National Newspaper Publishers Association — representing Black newspaper publishers HBCU GO — the network dedicated to HBCU sports and culture
That mix of partners pointed to a range of possible collaborations ahead, from athletic facilities and event operations to sports programming and media coverage.
Building Beyond the Scoreboard
What stood out most was the mix of people in the room — conference commissioners setting strategy for their leagues, university presidents shaping institutional priorities, and corporate partners bringing resources and expertise from multiple industries.
With college athletics undergoing rapid change, particularly for HBCUs navigating the NIL era and shifting conference dynamics, the reception offered a venue for candid conversation and relationship-building. Its underlying purpose went beyond athletics: using sports as an entry point to broader opportunities in education, workforce development and economic growth for HBCUs.
Based on reporting by Columbus Times.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”
Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”
Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.
Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.
“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”
Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.
“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.
Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.
According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.
The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!
Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.
He was later ruled out.
Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.
Black History
NBA All-Star Damian Lillard Returns Home for 15th Annual Backpack Giveaway
OAKLAND POST — “I know what it is to grow up here and be here in Oakland,” shared Lillard. “I do feel like it’s my responsibility to be present and supportive and be a resource and be an example for the kids and right now as somebody from Oakland that’s well positioned, with a big platform, I’m always trying to find ways to use that platform and serve our youth and community.”
Music, food trucks, bouncers, and rock climbing turned Ira Jinkins Park into a neighborhood block party on Saturday, Sept. 5, as nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard hosted his 15th annual back-to-school backpack giveaway in Deep East Oakland.
The Portland Trail Blazers point guard, an Oakland High School alum, returned to the recreation center where he trained as a kid and distributed backpacks stuffed with school supplies to nearly 400 children. Lillard was joined by family, friends, and former Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks in an event that has become a fixture of the neighborhood.
“I know what it is to grow up here and be here in Oakland,” shared Lillard. “I do feel like it’s my responsibility to be present and supportive and be a resource and be an example for the kids and right now as somebody from Oakland that’s well positioned, with a big platform, I’m always trying to find ways to use that platform and serve our youth and community.”
While watching children play inflatable basketball and roll a giant beach ball on the grass, Lillard took in the scene.
“Doing something positive makes me feel great,” said Lillard. “I remember attending cookouts like this as a child and it was always a lot of fun. It feels great to not only show youth a great time, but to be of service to them.”
Beyond the giveaway, Lillard is funding renovations to the Ira Jinkins Recreation Center, including major upgrades to its basketball courts, the same courts he once used daily before heading to play recreation league games across town. Last Christmas, he provided gifts to more than 400 local families.
Sports agent Aaron Goodwin, who has represented Lillard throughout his career, described the tradition as core to who Lillard is: someone who consistently looks for ways to give back, uses his platform to inspire youth, and treats events like this as more than a handout, but a chance to be a genuine resource and example for kids from his hometown.
“That’s who Damian is,” said Goodwin. “He always wants to give back. He does this every summer, and he also has an annual Christmas giveaway. He wants to inspire youth that they too can achieve.”
Lillard grew up traveling to the Ira Jinkins Center to train before playing at Rainbow Recreation Center, and he went on to star at Oakland High before his college and NBA career took off.
Lillard who has built a life legacy hosted the event within a center carrying its own historical weight.
The facility is named for Ira Jinkins, a civil rights organizer who helped lead West Coast marches honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and pushed for the creation of the MLK Regional Shoreline Park.
Its building sits within the William “Bill” Patterson Park complex, beside the East Oakland Sports Center that opened in 2011. Patterson was known for his civic impact and work with EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District, Merritt College, and the NAACP, among other organizations. A film on Patterson’s life debuted at the Oakland International Film Festival this week.
Last year, before the NBA All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area, the City of Oakland dedicated a court at the center in Lillard’s honor, and Lillard launched a $25,000-per-year scholarship with Portland State University for high school students across nine East Bay schools. He also sponsors camps and other programming throughout the nation.
Lillard sat out of the 2025-2026 NBA season due to an Achilles tendon injury incurred as a Milwaukee Buck. The year of healing will allow him to return to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“This is a great event,” said Shawn, watching his grandchild enjoying the activities. “I’ve been to every single one of them (backpack giveaways); I’ve been knowing Dame (Damian) since he was 8 years old. You don’t have many people that give back the way Damian does. There’s no better guy to do this. His whole family is awesome from the top down.”
For Lillard, the annual tradition, held in memory of his late grandfather, Albert Johnson, remains a way of reinvesting in the community that shaped him.
The NFC will be compelling this season as its storylines are seemingly endless: quarterbacks must prove themselves, teams are rebuilding, and, in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, breaking their conference championship drought.
Let’s get into the preview!
NFC East Champion: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North Champion: Detroit Lions
NFC South Champion: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West Champion: Los Angeles Rams
Wild Cards: Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears
Philly and the high expectations
As much slander as Jalen Hurts receives from social media, sports talk radio, and the newspapers, he is the most consistent quarterback in the NFC East. However, the offense did not look its best compared to its Super Bowl LIX run. First and foremost, Sean Mannion became their offensive coordinator after Kevin Patullo was dismissed. Wide receiver AJ Brown was cast aside, and draft pick Makai Lemon arrived along with Dontayvion Wicks.
The loss of Reed Blankenship will be huge, but Andrew Mukuba, Kelee Ringo, and Jihaad Campbell have got to step up. In the end, head coach Nick Sirianni will likely calm everyone down, keep everything the main thing, and Philly will win the division.
The Lions will Roar Again
The Detroit Lions won nine games last year, and it was widely considered a down year, not because they didn’t meet expectations. It was because they were measured against what they were last year. Yes, Jared Goff threw for more than 4,000 yards. Yes, Jahmyr Gibbs had a stellar season. The key for the Lions will be their offensive line. They added Blake Miller, and the glaring question will be whether the offensive line will gel and protect Goff. If there are no injuries, the Lions will be exciting to watch this season.
Bounce back season for the Bucs?
Quarterback Baker Mayfield got paid – handsomely – $165 million to stay in Tampa Bay! Defensive tackle Vita Vea also wanted to leave, yet the Bucs found a way to pay him too! However, head coach Todd Bowles somehow stayed away from the hot seat despite finishing the season with an 8-9 record. They’ve got playmakers in wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Jalin McMillan, and a returning Chris Godwin.
What will be the Bucs’ primary issue? Todd Bowles. Can he maximize the talent he has on his defense? Tampa is the NFC South’s premier team with the premier roster. They have to prove it.
The Land of Stars
This year’s Los Angeles Rams are the epitome of the axiom, “championship or bust.” They’ve got the consummate professional in Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Kyren Williams is a more than capable running back. They’ve got Myles Garrett, Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Aaron Donald coming out of retirement. They added Pro Bowl cornerbacks Jaylin Watson and Trent McDuffie to the secondary. However, Matthew Stafford’s back is something to watch as the season goes along. He is the glue to the entire operation. In 2025, Stafford dealt with an aggravated disc heading into the season.
Full Division Predictions
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
NFC North: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals
NFC Champions
This year’s NFC Champion will be the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, the Rams have the most talent. However, Jalen Hurts is unflappable under pressure, has the championship pedigree, and this offense has Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, and tight end Dallas Goedert. If the offense is functional and they get the most out of Saquon, the Eagles will fly to SoFi Stadium on Valentine’s Day 2027.
Even though two games were played, the first NFL Sunday of the 2026 campaign is upon us. Happy NFL Sunday to those who celebrate! There are teams that have made huge changes with Super Bowl aspirations. Meanwhile, other teams are retooling their rosters. Let’s take a preview into the 2026 NFL Season!
Division Winners
AFC EAST – Buffalo Bills
AFC NORTH – Baltimore Ravens
AFC SOUTH – Houston Texans
AFC WEST – Denver Broncos
Wild Cards — Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Champion – Baltimore Ravens
The Buffalo Bills are a team that longingly desires a trip to the Super Bowl. After a crushing loss to the Denver Broncos, they fired head coach Sean McDermott and elevated offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top spot. They acquired wide receiver DJ Moore in the hopes of solving their issue of lacking a number one receiver. Bradley Chubb, 30, became the latest veteran edge rusher signed who has discovered the fountain of youth. C.J. Gardner-Johnson gave the Bills a dependable safety alongside Cole Bishop.
The key for the Bills this year is Josh Allen not turning the ball over and shrinking in key moments during the playoffs. In the loss to the Broncos, Allen threw two interceptions.
Super Bowl or Bust
The Baltimore Ravens have been invigorated by management’s decision to jettison former head coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore has hired Jesse Minter, the former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator, replacing Harbaugh after eighteen years. Minter brought quarterback coach Declan Doyle from the Chicago Bears to serve as his offensive coordinator. He frequently has one-on-one time with star quarterback Lamar Jackson during training camp. Lamar has taken to Doyle’s hard coaching style and the belief that he must go through his progressions before making plays with his feet.
The major key for the Ravens’ success is Jackson’s health, and the defense must become formidable again. Adding pass rusher Trey Hendrickson could pay dividends.
Houston has the defense and what else?
Quarterback CJ Stroud has to take the next step in his development if the Houston Texans are going to be a real Super Bowl contender. What is clear, if Stroud has a great season, he will most certainly cash in north of potentially $60 million because he’s eligible for a contract extension. However, if he throws for less than 4,000 yards and Houston does not win a playoff game, Stroud’s future in H-Town will likely be in doubt.
The Texans defense plays with an aggression and mean streak that hasn’t been seen since the Legion of Boom and the 2000s Ravens defenses. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. are the best defensive ends in the NFL. They added Reed Blankenship, joining Calen Bullock in the back end of the secondary.
The Broncos are nearly complete
Lastly, the Denver Broncos would have played in Super Bowl LX had starting quarterback Bo Nix not gotten injured with a fractured ankle in the AFC Championship game. In the divisional round, Nix threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills.
Nix benefits from an offensive line that is cohesive and elite. They’re able to run the ball when necessary, deploy the screen game, and keep Nix clean. The fact that the Broncos do not have key playmakers beyond Courtland Sutton at wide receiver is a concern. Marvin Mims will have to step up in this area.
Full Division Predictions
AFC East: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns
AFC South: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders
AFC Champions
This year’s AFC Champion will be the Baltimore Ravens. The vibes in Charm City point to a win-now team. If Lamar Jackson stays healthy, Derrick Henry keeps churning out key yards, and the defense regains its intimidating edge, the Ravens will be bound for Southern California.
Black Press
U.S. Open Influencers Spark Backlash over Ring Lights, Filming as Gauff and Osaka Speak Out
SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER — The U.S. Open expanded its official content creator program this year, nearly doubling from 54 creators in 2025 to approximately 100 in 2026. This initiative aimed to bring more social media creators into one of tennis’ biggest events.
Tournament Expands Creator Access As Viral Disruptions Prompt New Reminders About Tennis Etiquette
The U.S. Open’s effort to bring more social media creators into one of tennis’ biggest events is generating plenty of attention — just not always for what is happening on the court.
The tournament nearly doubled its official content creator program this year, growing from 54 creators in 2025 to roughly 100 in 2026. But viral videos showing guests filming content, posing for photos, and using bright lights during matches have triggered criticism from longtime tennis fans and prompted organizers to reinforce rules against disruptive behavior.
The debate has also drawn responses from two of the sport’s most recognizable Black stars, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, who say creators can help tennis reach new audiences — as long as they respect the game’s traditions.
Viral Videos Put U.S. Open Influencers Under Scrutiny
One of the biggest controversies erupted during Osaka’s first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Play was briefly interrupted after a disturbance from a luxury suite, where a group of women could be seen recording themselves during play. Video of the incident quickly spread across social media.
Another viral clip showed a woman posing for photographs inside Arthur Ashe Stadium while Madison Keys competed against Alina Korneeva below. A bright light was being used as play continued.
@katticuspfinch Tennis etiquette is that you don’t even GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A POINT but now at @US Open apparently it’s ring lights and photo shoots everywhere in the MIDDLE OF A POINT. Listen, I love bringing new people to the open and I’m all for getting more people into tennis because it’s such a fun sport to watch but if you’re going to disrespect the players, you shouldn’t come to the match. And I LOVE content creators bringing tennis to everyone on social media but if you’re not going to be respectful of the game being played thats NOT OKAY. Yyou can see ring lights from all over the stadium and the umpire and players made it very clear that it’s a HUGE DISTRACTION and it’s now impacting the players ability to play the game we are all here to see. And apparently the us open and USTA are just fine with it because their staff is helping it happen. @influencersinthewild @Tennis Channel #nyccontentcreator#naomiosaka#usopen#tennistiktok#usopentennis♬ original sound – There I Ruined It
The incidents fueled complaints that content creation was beginning to interfere with a sport where spectators traditionally remain quiet during points and avoid flash photography.
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The U.S. Open responded by posting additional notices around the stadium and VIP suites, reminding spectators that flash photography, ring lights, and other distracting lighting are prohibited during matches.
Not everyone caught up in the controversy was part of the tournament’s official creator program. The women filmed in the suite during Osaka’s match, for example, were guests rather than officially credentialed U.S. Open influencers.
Creators Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens also made headlines after losing their tournament access. The pair initially said they believed their credentials had been revoked after they posted photographs of their passes online. The USTA later said they had actually been improperly placed on a food vendor’s staff credential list and that vendors are not authorized to credential media members or content creators.
Osaka And Gauff See Opportunity — With Some Rules
Despite the backlash, Osaka said social media creators could help introduce tennis to people who otherwise might not follow the sport.
“It could be a good thing for people to make the sport of tennis popular to their specific audience, but I think it has to be managed a lot better,” Osaka said. “You want people to continue to grow the sport. I just think it has to be in a way that everyone knows the rules and the etiquette.”
Gauff offered a similar assessment, saying she welcomes creators and the new audiences they can bring.
“I think it’s great to have a different demographic come to the sport,” Gauff said, adding that many of the creators she follows already understand tennis etiquette.
She also said that brands inviting guests to major tournaments have some responsibility to ensure newcomers understand what is expected.
“With anything, any venue you go to, like if you’re being invited to red carpet, you wouldn’t show up in jeans,” Gauff said. “So I think it’s just follow the etiquette of the sport.”
Gauff’s comments reflect a broader tension for the tournament: tennis organizations want the visibility influencers can provide, particularly among younger audiences, without allowing content creation to interfere with competition.
That outreach comes as Black players continue to hold an increasingly visible place in American tennis. Gauff, Osaka, Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend and Frances Tiafoe are among the sport’s most recognizable names, while participation among Black Americans has also been growing.
The USTA reported that about 3.7 million Black Americans played tennis in 2025, an increase of more than 450,000 from the previous year.
For the U.S. Open, the lesson emerging from this year’s influencer experiment may be less about whether creators belong at tennis tournaments and more about making sure everyone who enters Arthur Ashe Stadium understands the same basic rule: create the content, but don’t become part of the match.
Based on reporting by San Antonio Observer.
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