Defending RBC Heritage champion Scottie Scheffler lurks four strokes off the lead as the final round begins Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Scheffler sits at 11 under par after shooting a 3-under 68 on Saturday. Si Woo Kim overtook second-round leader Justin Thomas to lead Thomas and Andrew Novak by one entering the final round.

Maverick McNealy had the best round of the day, a 6-under 65, and will be paired with Thomas in the next-to-last group. Thomas would have been tied for the lead if not for taking a self-reported one-stroke penalty on the second hole when his ball moved slightly as he tried to move some debris around it on hole No. 2.

RBC Heritage prize money 2025: Winner payout, purse

This year’s total purse for the 2025 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links is $20 million. Here’s the prize money breakdown for first through 72nd place. There is no cut this week.

Winner: $3.6 million
2nd place: $2.16 million
3rd place: $1.36 million
4th place: $960,000
5th place: $800,000
6th place: $720,000
7th place: $670,000
8th place: $620,000
9th place: $580,000
10th place: $540,000
11th place: $500,000
12th place: $460,000
13th place: $420,000
14th place: $380,000
15th place: $360,000
16th place: $340,000
17th place: $320,000
18th place: $300,000
19th place: $280,000
20th place: $260,000
21st place: $240,000
22nd place: $223,000
23rd place: $207,500
24th place: $190,000
25th place: $175,000
26th place: $159,000
27th place: $152,500
28th place: $146,000
29th place: $140,000
30th place: $134,000
31st place: $128,500
32nd place: $122,500
33rd place: $116,500
34th place: $111,000
35th place: $106,500
36th place: $101,500
37th place: $96,500
38th place: $92,500
39th place: $88,500
40th place: $84,000
41st place: $80,000
42nd place: $76,000
43rd place: $72,000
44th place: $68,000
45th place: $64,000
46th place: $60,000
47th place: $56,000
48th place: $53,000
49th place: $50,000
50th place: $49,000
51st place: $48,000
52nd place: $47,000
53rd place: $46,000
54th place: $46,000
55th place: $45,500
56th place: $45,000
57th place: $44,500
58th place: $44,000
59th place: $43,500
60th place: $43,000
61st place: $42,500
62nd place: $42,000
63rd place: $41,500
64th place: $41,000
65th place: $40,500
66th place: $40,000
67th place: $39,500
68th place: $39,000
69th place: $38,000
70th place: $37,500
71st place: $37,000
72nd place: $36,000

How to watch RBC Heritage

Live coverage of the final round of this year’s RBC Heritage tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel and CBS.

Sunday, April 20

TV: Golf Channel, CBS
Time: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

LAS VEGAS — The first night WWE’s grand spectacle ended in stunning fashion.

WrestleMania 41 kicked off Saturday night as WWE brought the two-day event to Las Vegas. With plenty of drama and tension among the biggest stars in wrestling, it’s set up to be a weekend perfect for Sin City.

Night one of WrestleMania featured seven matches, highlighted by the main event match between Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins — a battle between bitter rivals — and it ended with a finish you have to see to believe. Four titles also were on the line, including the World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Women’s Championship, and championships changed hands.

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

The electricity could be felt through Allegiant Stadium before anyone did anything. Reigns eyed Heyman as his ‘Wiseman’ was no longer in his corner. Rollins laughed seeing it, and Punk decided to taunt Reigns further by getting out and talking to Heyman. The punches started with Reigns and Rollins, and from there it only got crazier.

Punk and Rollins went into the crowd and Rollins used a steel trash can to attack Punk, allowed since it’s no-disqualification. Punk responded with a suplex on the hard floor, and as they made their way back toward the ring, Reigns launched himself over the barricade to take out the other two.

Once everyone got in the ring, all of the stars tried their finishing moves in hopes of getting the early knockout. They were all countered and each star had a chance to control the moment. Punk landed a perfect flying elbow drop and clothesline on Rollins.

Reigns and Punk each tried finishers on each other and were battling it out until Rollins leap off the top rope broke up the momentum. All of the stars laid on the mat and Rollins was the first one to get up, and finally had his chance to shine. There was the wild sequence of Rollins turning Reigns’ spear attempt into a Pedigree and then landing the curb stomp. He went for the pin and Reigns somehow kicked out.

Then the finisher frenzy ensued. Reigns hit Rollins with a spear and Punk went in for the GTS on Reigns. Punk’s pin attempt was unsuccessful. Punk then signaled it was time to go to sleep, but Rollins wouldn’t allow it. He hit a pedigree on Punk and the pin didn’t get a win.

Rollins yelled at Reigns to help him finish Punk as he was down before clearing the announcer’s table. Reigns came over and helped, but instead delivered an uppercut to Rollins. Reigns then threw Punk on the announcer’s table, and did the same to Rollins. Reigns brought Rollins back in the ring and hit a spear for good measure, yet it still wasn’t enough to win.

Reigns and Punk each tried to make each other tap out, to no avail, and Rollins tried the same with a Sharpshooter on Punk. Reigns broke it up to try to make Rollins tap out, and Punk recovered to sneak in a pin attempt. Then came a quick succession of each star using a finisher and they all laid out in the ring.

Suddenly, Paul Heyman grabbed a chair and Punk asked for it. But so did Reigns. Heyman looked unsure what to do, and he gave it to Punk. Heyman got in the ring to help Punk, but betrayed him. He delivered a low blow as Reigns laughed, and Heyman delivered the chair to Reigns. The “OTC” unleashed a flurry of shots to Punk and told him to get Rollins next.

Then an even bigger surprise happened. Heyman did a low blow to Reigns, betraying his Tribal Chief. Not looking, Rollins put his hand out and Heyman gave him the chair.

Just like the end of The Shield, Rollins hit Reigns in the back with the chair. He went for one last stomp on him then got the pin in a stunning end. Rollins stood victorious as Heyman held his hand up.

Analysis: Wow.

It’s hard to describe what just unfolded, and that’s what made Saturday’s main event incredible. There were so many layers as to what happened, from so many callbacks to previous time of feuds. Heyman was a focal point of the match between Reigns. and Punk, but people forgot about Rollins’ involvement in the match. There was a master plan involved in the match, and the people that thought Heyman was backing them up ended up both getting screwed.

Rollins stole the show yet again, and it’s coming at the perfect time. He has been trying to rid those people he feels are bringing down WWE, and Heyman sees the vision. It was enough to turn on Reigns and Punk, people that will forever be associated with him. It’s now Rollins time to shine, and what makes it even more dangerous?

He’s now a Paul Heyman guy.

Living Colour performs ‘Cult of Personality’ for CM Punk

CM Punk is finally getting his WrestleMania moment. After a video package that showed Punk’s career through WWE as his old entrance song ‘This Fire’ played. The crowd sang all of the words as it played in the stadium.

Afterward, Living Color played Punk’s current song ‘Cult of Personality’ live. Punk and Heyman emerged as the ‘Second City Saint’ sang along.

Watch: Roman Reigns makes his entrance

Seth Rollins uses flamethrower for entrance

He really is trying to burn it down. Rollins emerged for his match with fire coming from the stage and he used a flamethrower as he made his way down the ring. He then had a wardrobe change to an all-white outfit.

WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

It didn’t take long for this match to get in a flow with the heavy hits coming right out of the bell. The veteran Flair showed off why she’s a decorated star as she had Stratton a little flustered. Flair did the signature ‘Woo’ chops that seemed to be the only way she’d get a positive reaction from the crowd.

Flair was throwing insults at Stratton during her attacks, just toying with her opponent on any opportunity she could. It resulted in some spark from Stratton, but she’d quickly go back to being thrown around or literally stepped on.

A turn in the tide nearly happened when Flair was setting up for a moonsault and Stratton caught her. Flair landed hard on her reconstructed knee and it bothered her, but Flair made sure her opponent felt the same thing by targeting her left knee against the stanchion. Flair tried the Figure Four to end the night but Stratton got out of it.

Despite Flair’s domination, Stratton continue to kick out of pin attempts. She waited for her chance to strike, and it happened when Flair missed out on a spear attempt. Flair hit the turnbuckle hard and Stratton started to deliver some key shots. She set Flair up in the middle of the ring and landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to get the pin and victory.

Analysis: It remains Tiffy Time in the women’s division. The match being mostly in Flair’s favor brought down the intensity as it felt like Stratton was just trying to consistently survive. Both stars are capable of putting up highlight spots, but none happened to make the match the top one of the night. It felt very tight.

The finish proved Stratton battled through a tough onslaught from Flair and wore down the challenger, showing the youngster could outsmart the veteran. While the path to victory wasn’t pretty, fans are surely pleased with the result.

A Flair win would have certainly been an unpopular move, and it seemed like it would happen given how often it’s been done before. But Stratton gets a signature win in her WrestleMania debut, not something many stars can say. Stratton has the potential to be on the same level as Flair someday, and the win should help give her some legitimacy. It’s tough to prove worth as a Money in the Bank winner and Stratton gets the chance to still prove she’s a champion performer.

Tiffany Stratton brings Barbie to life

BarbieLand runs on Tiffy Time. The WWE Women’s Champion entrance resembled the Barbie box set as she stood inside one and digital versions on her were displayed on the other boxes.

WrestleMania 41 attendance

Shawn Michaels announces the night one attendance is 61,467.

Rey Fenix vs. El Grande Americano

Fenix was thrusted into the role to replace the injured Rey Mysterio, and he almost pulled off a quick win with a roll-up. El Grande Americano was able to get out and get on offense with moves resembling Chad Gable. El Grande Americano tried to rip of Fenix’s mask a few times.

El Grande Americano got Fenix’s leg caught in the ropes and as the referee went to go check on him, he put the extra weight in his mask to load it up as a weapon. With it in place, he went for a headbutt that got reversed. After his ankle lock attempt wasn’t successful, El Grande Americano was in prime position to get taken out by Fenix. But the leg bothered Fenix and he couldn’t go.

El Grande Americano was able to use the loaded mask to take Fenix out. He then climbed up the top rope and did a flying headbutt for extra measure, knocking Fenix completely out as he got the pin and victory.

Analysis: For being a match that had to be changed on the fly, it was a very entertaining one. Fenix did great in his WrestleMania debut and was able to have some decent spots.

El Grande Americano continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. Even in an era where it’s hard to pull off a comedic role, he has delivered and keeps the entertainment value going. It’s unknown whether the result would have been the same if Mysterio was healthy − or if his mask would have stayed on − but the win should give El Grande Americano some steam to keep the bit going. Now it’s just a matter of how long it can last until it feels worn out.

El Grande Americano makes entrance with mariachis

It’s an entrance fit for a luchador. Making his WrestleMania ‘debut,’ El Grande Americano came out to a chorus of mariachis playing and wearing his mask.

United States Championship match: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

It’s no easy task trying to take down Fatu, and LA Knight learned early he’d have his hands full Saturday night. Even as he got some nice shots in to start the match, Fatu didn’t bat an eye as he quickly got up and maintained the intensity he always brings. He finally decided it was time stop messing around and Fatu went on his punishing offensive work.

The champion wasn’t going to Fatu push him around all night, and Knight used the turnbuckle to his advantage to throw Fatu off his rhythm. Fatu took a slight fall on the top of the turnbuckle as LA Knight met him up there to pull of a big-time German suplex.

LA Knight tried to Segway into a BFT, only for Fatu to counter it. He did multiple running corner bumps to LA Knight before he launched himself off the top rope. The pin attempt was nearly successful.Fatu tried to do it once more but LA Knight caught him in the middle of the air to execute the BFT. He went for the pin and Fatu got his hand on the rope just before the referee got to three.

LA Knight tried to go off the top rope for the finisher, but Fstu tripped him up. Fatu met up high and did a high-flying Samoan drop. With LA Knight down, he did two straight signature leaps off the top rope and got the pin to win the United States Champion.

Analysis: The ‘Samoan Werewolf’ continues his warpath through WWE. He was a heavily anticipated signing and he’s delivered ever since his first appearance last year. His skillset is unmatched and it was only a matter of time before he broke off from being a sub-character in The Bloodline to being a full-fledged star in his own right.

Fatu showed up big time in his WrestleMania debut and still brought out some magic we hadn’t seen yet. He’ll be a menace as a champion and it’ll be real fun to see who tries to challenge him. It could also see him completely breakaway from his alignment with Solo Sikoa, and a rivalry with him could be on the horizon.

Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

There was no love lost between Cargill and Naomi, and they quickly tried to land some big blows against each other. Cargill had the first major hit, but Naomi got Cargill out of the ring and started to hit her stride. She said some words to Cargill as she went on a fury that lasted a good amount of time before Cargill got back in rhythm. After dropping Naomi on the mat, Cargill took a bow to a round of applause.

Cargill tried to take Naomi up on the turnbuckle but it was countered with a clean diving DDT. Naomi then went back off the top rope to land right on Cargill for a pin. It was unsuccessful, and as Naomi tried to keep the pressure on, Cargill was lifting Naomi on any chance she could. She finally drilled her down on the mat and picked her back up to execute Jaded. It landed to send Naomi face down in the ring and Cargill did he signature pin maneuver for the victory.

Analysis: Cargill finally gets her revenge. The complete beatdown at Elimination Chamber wasn’t enough for Cargill as she made sure to get as punishing as she could with the one that back-stabbed her. The match was solid, and it’s great it wasn’t a squash match given it very easily could have been. Naomi had a good showing but it was tough envisioning her winning against a big name like Cargill.

Now it will be interesting to see where each star goes from here. Both stars still have business to deal with when it comes to Bianca Belair, and with no tag team currently going, Cargill can finally start trying to seek gold, primarily the top women’s titles. Naomi may still be presented as a heel, and she could try to keep the heat going in the mid-card area.

Jim Cantore introduces Jade Cargill

A storm so big is hitting Las Vegas, famous meteorologist Jim Cantore showed up. As part of Cargill’s entrance, Cantore appeared to talk about the great weather in Las Vegas until heavy rain and hail was starting to hit the area on a green screen.

World Tag Team Championship match: The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)

The match started with all four stars in the ring trying to get a major first blow in, and The War Raiders were the ones on offense early as Ivar launched himself into onto The New Day on the side of the ring. Despite the early advantage, The New Day gained control with a combination attack on Erik. As now one of the teams with the most heat in the WWE, they did plenty of taunting during the process.

Erik was able to get Ivar in the match to turn the tide, showing off his versatile skillset of landing big blows and getting up in the air. The New Day were trying to make sure the rhythm didn’t last, and it was going pretty well for The War Raiders. They were about to go for the winning shot but Kingston tripped up Ivar as he was about to launch himself off the ropes. Ivar hit the mat hard and in the blink of an eye, The New Day struck again with Woods taking a big jump off the turnbuckle. Woods got a quick pin to win the championship.

The ending was instant and The New Day ran away with the titles as they celebrated the victory.

Analysis: Some things never change as The New Day is back on top of the tag team division. The match itself wasn’t all too flashy and didn’t generate any big moments, and the ending was so quick no one anticipated the winning pin happening. Despite the flaws of the match, it’s the right call to get Kingston and Woods on the winning side with their first WrestleMania victory.

They’ve been on an incredible heel run and it only made sense to put gold around their waist, and they do so for a now 13th time. The New Day could help bring some juice back into the tag team division that desperately needs it.

World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso

It was a different Jey Uso out of the jump as he dropped the champion quickly and often, forcing him to regroup out of the ring. Uso had early momentum until Gunther snuck in a chop, forcing him out of the ring. From there, Gunther started to get more strikes in and control, and he landed a power bomb with relative ease to try and get an early victory.

Gunther went for a second power bomb, but Uso countered it and bounced off the ropes to hit a spear. He headed for the top rope and landed an Uso Splash, only for the pin attempt to be unsuccessful. Gunther then grabbed the title rom the mantle as he tried to leave, and when Uso tried to charge him, Gunther hit him with the championship as the referee didn’t see it. Gunther climbed up from a splash and the pin didn’t work.

With Uso on the ropes, Gunther put Uso in a sleeper hold and tried to get him away from the ropes. Uso was able get his foot on the ropes to break the hold. Gunther stood over his opponent and any time Uso tried to get up, he was met with a chop. Gunther tried a sleeper hold once more and it was quickly broken up. Uso landed his own power bomb, did two super kicks and went for another Uso Splash. It landed, and Uso went for two more before putting Gunther in a sleeper hold. Gunther tapped out and Uso claimed the World Heavyweight Championship.

As Uso celebrated, his brother Jimmy Uso came out to the ring to congratulate him and celebrate together.

Analysis: One match into WrestleMania and we have a stunner. Uso finally beats Gunther after several unsuccessful attempts, and the ‘main event’ is indeed a main event champion now. Uso has become one of the most popular wrestlers in the company and gets rewarded for all the work it took for him to get there.

The match wasn’t anything spectacular, as there was lots of dead time and stare downs dragging it out. There weren’t any big time moves or any surprises, but the crowd was fully invested to see if Uso could pull off the upset. It was pure pandemonium as Gunther tapped out. Now with the biggest win of his career, Uso will have to try to up his game as he becomes a champion many will seek out to face. And it’s likely Gunther will be coming back soon to try and reclaim the title.

Jey Uso makes epic entrance into WrestleMania 41

The night is starting off with a bang as Jey Uso was the first star introduced Saturday. Dancers came out and people waved flags that said ‘Yeet’ down the ramp. The Las Vegas Raiderettes lined up the in the crowd to welcome Uso as he made his way through the aisle. Most of the stadium did the ‘Yeet’ move.

Watch: Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque opens WrestleMania 41

The show begins with a message from WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

Who sang ‘God Bless America’?

Jelly Roll performed ‘God Bless America’ ahead of WrestleMania 41.

WrestleMania 41 start time, night one

Night one of WrestleMania 41 kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. 

WrestleMania 41 run time

WrestleMania doesn’t have a set end time, but the show typically lasts about four hours.

How to watch WrestleMania 41, night one

The entire event will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have the premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, WrestleMania 41 will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Where is WrestleMania 41?

WrestleMania 41 is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The stadium is the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

WrestleMania 41: Night one match card

Matches not in order

Rey Fenix vs. El Grande Americano
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
World Tag Team Championship match: The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
United States Championship match: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

When is WrestleMania 41 preshow?

The WrestleMania 41 preshow begins at 4 p.m. ET.

How to watch WrestleMania 41 preshow

The preshow will be available to stream for free on YouTube and WWE’s social media channels. It will also be available to stream on Peacock.

WrestleMania 41 night one predictions

Here are the predictions for night one. See the full WrestleMania 41 predictions here.

Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano Winner: Rey Mysterio.
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi Winner: Jade Cargill.
World Tag Team Championship match: The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) Winner: The New Day.
United States Championship match: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu Winner: Jacob Fatu.
World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso Winner: Gunther.
WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair Winner: Charlotte Flair.
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins Winner: Roman Reigns.

WrestleMania 41 stage

Nothing gets WWE fans more ready for WrestleMania than seeing the stage finally be revealed. This year’s set is already a favorite among fans as it pays homage to Las Vegas hotels and the city’s iconic strip.

– Read more about the WrestleMania 41 stage here.

WrestleMania 41 announcers

Veteran WWE play-by-play announcer Michael Cole will be on the mic for the broadcast. He is joined by Wade Barrett and Pat McAfee.

Why is WrestleMania two nights?

The first 35 WrestleManias all happened on one night, but that changed in 2020.

When COVID-19 resulted in WrestleMania 36 being held behind closed doors, WWE took advantage by booking as many matches as possible and stretching it over two nights. It was a success, and when fans returned for WrestleMania 37 in 2021, WWE opted to keep the two-day format and it’s stuck since.

Having WrestleMania across two nights was also a relief for fans. When it was just one night, WrestleMania would last around eight hours, and it became hard for fans to maintain the hype in the stadium, while also creating logistical challenges in the host city. With more and more matches being worthy of being on the event card, it made sense to keep it a two-day event.

The format has been such a success WWE will be doing it more, starting with SummerSlam 2025 on August 2-3.

Rey Mysterio injury update

A WWE Hall of Famer will miss WrestleMania 41.

Rey Mysterio announced he is not cleared to compete at WrestleMania 41 night one on Saturday against El Grande Americano after he appeared to suffer a legitimate injury on SmackDown. He was unable to finish the six-man tag team match against American Made on Friday night and had to be helped to the locker room by medical personnel.

The injury came less than 24 hours before Mysterio’s 15th WrestleMania match, but there is a replacement for Mysterio. Read the latest on Mysterio here. 

Bayley attacked ahead of tag team title match

The Women’s Tag Team Championship will be defended on WrestleMania 41 night two, but one of the challengers may be out. During the preshow, Bayley appeared to be attacked backstage and was holding her shoulder.

The current champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez laughed and claimed they had nothing to do with it, but they’d be fine with a forfeit. Lyra Valkyria said she has no problem taking on the champions on her own, but Raw general manager Adam Pearce said a match will still take place.

An injury replacement could be happening, and a name to look out for? Becky Lynch.

WWE purchases AAA

WWE made a major announcement ahead of night one as it has purchased the Mexican lucha libre promotion AAA. The news comes as WWE revealed it will have a Worlds Collide event that will see WWE, NXT and AAA hold a joint show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on June 7.

Jade Cargill vs. Naomi preview

The feud has built up over several months, dating back to November when Cargill was found in the backstage area on an episode of SmackDown where she appeared to be attacked and left bloody on top of a car.

Naomi claimed her innocence for months while Cargill was out of action. Naomi replaced Cargill as Bianca Belair’s tag team partner and the duo would go on to win the tag team championship.

Read the full match preview for Cargill vs. Naomi here.

The War Raiders vs. The New Day preview

A battle between two storied WWE tag teams will take place this Saturday as the War Raiders, Erik and Ivar, look to retain their championship belt against the New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods at Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas.

Where normally this matchup would be expected to be a battle between a lovable babyface pair in the New Day vs. a fearsome heel in War Raiders, things took an unexpected turn when both Kingston and Woods turned on New Day member Big E. However, since that big moment, New Day has not exactly taken over the spotlight like fans had hoped. Sure, they’ve got themselves a title match at WrestleMania, but it feels more forced that usual, which isn’t a good sign for a team that has been so beloved for so many years.

Read the full match preview for The War Raiders vs. The New Day here.

LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu preview

LA Knight is barely a month removed from winning the United States Championship back from Shinsuke Nakamura, yet he’s already got a massive battle on his plate as he prepares to face the Bloodline’s Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 41.

Fatu has established himself as one of the most dangerous, unhinged men in WWE and his No. 1 contender match against Braun Strowman only strengthened his fear factor.

Read the full match preview for LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu here.

Gunther vs. Jey Uso preview

Will Jey Uso ‘yeet’ his way to the World Heavyweight Championship?

The 2025 men’s Royal Rumble winner will try to grab his biggest achievement yet when he challenges Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41. Gunther got the best Uso in January, but Uso will use his championship opportunity to get another crack at ‘The Ring General.’

A huge fan favorite, Uso has the crowd behind him, but Gunther doesn’t believe his opponent is near the caliber he’s at. He believes Uso is a disgrace to the business and has tried to sneak any attack against him and his brother, Jey. This has forced Uso to prove he’s more than just a hype man, and a more intense version of the star has come out to prove he’s in fact ‘main event’ Jey Uso.

Read the full match preview for Gunther vs. Jey Uso here.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair preview

A young champion will put her title on the line against a decorated star at WrestleMania 41 when Tiffany Stratton collides with Charlotte Flair at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The two stars couldn’t be any more different heading into their match − Stratton just finished a full year on the main roster, and Flair has been a main event name for more than a decade. Still there is plenty of intrigue in whether the impressive Stratton can handle going against someone that has been in some of the biggest women’s matches.

Things have gotten pretty personal in this feud, and whether it was scripted or not, it should make for a highly intense fight for the top women’s title.

Read the full match preview for Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair here.

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins preview

No title is on the line in the Saturday night main event of WrestleMania 41, but it will still be a must-watch match between some of WWE’s biggest names.

A triple threat match will take place between Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins in a battle between stars with plenty of history with each other. Reigns and Rollins have a fractured relationship from The Shield. Punk and Rollins have a longstanding rivalry, and Reigns and Punk are both battling for support from Paul Heyman. It’s a big-time bout, and a case could be made for either star to win.

Read the full match preview for Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins here.

Titles changed hands. Bitter rivals faced off. Backs were stabbed.

Even with one more night to go, there is much to parse from the biggest wrestling event of the year. Here are the five top takeaways from WrestleMania on Saturday:

Paul Heyman always pays his debts

Seth Rollins refrained from delivering a stomp to Paul Heyman only to inform the wiseman that he now owed him a favor, a nod to the favor CM Punk cashed in to have Heyman in his corner ― and not that of Roman Reigns — for the triple threat match that headlined WrestleMania Night 1.

That favor was certainly returned to Rollins on Saturday.

Heyman delivered cheap shots to both Reigns and Punk ― two superstars to whom he was once loyal — to side with Rollins, who pinned Reigns for the main-event victory.

It was a shocking conclusion to WrestleMania on Saturday. A Rollins-Heyman alliance would have been the last thing anyone expected to see a month ago, but it’s now a reality. Where does a revitalized Rollins, with the wiseman in his corner, go from here?

At WrestleMania, where many expect storylines to end, this Heyman love triangle only seems to be beginning.

Queen without a throne

The surprise result of the night was Tiffany Stratton’s victory over Charlotte Flair to retain her WWE Women’s Championship. Flair, who won the 2025 Royal Rumble, seemed likely to prevail to add to her resume and unseat the young Stratton.

The question now is how the queen navigates without a throne. Flair’s biggest draw is her championship pedigree. WWE considers her a 14-time world champion, just two shy of her father and wrestling legend Ric Flair. John Cena (16 titles) could break Flair’s record at WrestleMania Night 2.

It could lead to an interesting storyline of Flair campaigning to regain the record for her family, which is the chief reason a Flair victory on Saturday felt inevitable; it would have set the stage for Flair’s charge should Cena break the record.

Instead, Flair was defeated by Stratton, who is perhaps the company’s most popular female superstar. It will be interesting to see how Flair pivots from the defeat and how that pairs with a potential future crusade to reclaim the Flair record.

Gimmick Gable gets his glory

You have to wonder if a win by El Grande Americano was the plan all along, or if an audible was called after an injured Rey Mysterio was replaced by Rey Fenix for the match. Either way, Fenix and Americano put on a fine match that ended with Americano using a steel plate inserted into his mask to knock off Fenix, who was making his WrestleMania debut.

For Gable, who is clearly the man behind the American luchador mask, has been soul-searching for months after enduring a rough streak against luchadors. The Uber-talented Gable had been underutilized, considering his elite talent in the ring and on the microphone. At the end of the day, if it takes a silly gimmick to give Gable his flowers, so be it.

The werewolf is unleashed

It was only a matter of time before Jacob Fatu found himself with gold around his waist. Fatu is incredibly athletic, given his physique, and put it on full display in Saturday’s United States Championship match against LA Knight. It was the match of the night after the main event.

Fatu deserves some spotlight. And the potential storylines to come are plentiful, given his Bloodline connections and ruthless demeanor. This is the new title reign I’m most excited to see play out.

A revolutionary entrance

I love ‘Cult of Personality’ as much as the next guy, but Seth Rollins gets the nod for entrance of the night over CM Punk.

The eccentric superstar came out in a black outfit and shooting a flamethrower — his theme music begins with ‘Burn it down’ ― before the lights went dark and, as the crowd continued singing the iconic melody to his theme, he then appeared again dressed in white and glowing on stage. It had the visuals, crowd involvement and the surprise factor.

The Oklahoma Sooners women’s gymnastics team did it again.

The Sooners surged to win the NCAA gymnastics championship Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, outlasting U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and UCLA to continue what has now become a decade of dominance within the sport. 

Led by senior Jordan Bowers, who won the individual all-around title Thursday, No. 2 Oklahoma led from start to finish en route to what is the program’s sixth national championship in nine tries dating back to 2016. (The 2020 NCAA championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

The Sooners built up such a strong lead that, by the final rotation, only No. 5 UCLA had a realistic chance of catching them. The Bruins instead had to settle for second, followed by No. 7 Missouri and No. 4 Utah. (The Red Rocks initially finished third, but a late successful scoring inquiry moved the Tigers ahead of Utah in the final standings.)

‘Just truly a fairytale ending,’ Bowers said in a televised interview on ABC. ‘… I’m so freaking proud of this team, and I’m so proud to be a Sooner.’

Oklahoma coach K.J. Kindler said on ABC that she thought her team’s performance in its first rotation, on balance beam, was pivotal in its run to the title. She said she told the Sooners before Saturday’s final that it would probably take a score of 49.6000 on that apparatus to win. They wound up with a score of 49.6125.

Oklahoma also put up the highest combined score of the afternoon on vault, which was the apparatus that doomed them a year ago. The Sooners entered last year’s NCAA championship semifinals as the No. 1 seed but fell apart on vault and failed to advance to the final.

‘This was a group that sacrificed for one another. This was a group that went out on a limb for one another,’ Kindler said on ABC. ‘You could see it in their chemistry. It changed us. And that’s why we’re here.’

Here’s everything else you might have missed from the women’s team final at the NCAA gymnastics championships:

NCAA gymnastics championships 2025 scores

Here are the final team standings at the 2025 NCAA gymnastics championships:

No. 2 Oklahoma: 198.0125 (Beam: 49.6125 | Floor: 49.5875 | Vault: 49.4375 | Bars: 49.3750)
No. 5 UCLA: 197.6125 (Floor: 49.6125 | Vault: 49.2875 | Bars: 49.4000 | Beam: 49.3125)
No. 7 Missouri: 197.2500 (Vault: 49.2000 | Bars: 49.1750 | Beam: 49.3875 | Floor: 49.4875)
No. 4 Utah: 197.2375 (Bars: 49.4500 | Beam: 49.1875 | Floor: 49.4750 | Vault: 49.1250)

Jordan Chiles wows on floor exercise

Floor exercise has long been one of Jordan Chiles’ best events, and she flirted with a perfect 10 on the floor during UCLA’s first rotation Saturday.

Chiles, who was part of the U.S. team that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, earned a score of 9.9750 to briefly boost UCLA into a share of first place. The score was seven-hundredths better than her performance in the semifinals, and one-hundredth better than the 9.9625 that teammate Brooklyn Moors earned to win this year’s NCAA title on the apparatus.

NCAA gymnastics individual champions include Jordan Bowers, Jordan Chiles

While Saturday was the team final, the individual women’s national championships were decided Thursday.

Here are the full results:

All-around

Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma): 39.7125
Grace McCallum (Utah): 39.6750
Faith Torrez (Oklahoma): 39.6375

Vault

Kailin Chio (UCLA): 9.9750
Sage Kellerman (Michigan State) and Grace McCallum (Utah): 9.9500
Amy Doyle (Michigan State): 9.9125

Uneven bars

Jordan Chiles (UCLA): 9.9750
Grace McCallum (Utah): 9.9625
Six-way tie: 9.9375

Balance beam

Helen Hu (Missouri): 9.9875
Emma Malabuyo (UCLA): 9.9750
Five-way tie: 9.9500

Floor exercise

Brooklyn Moors (UCLA): 9.9625
Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma), Grace McCallum (Utah) and Faith Torrez (Oklahoma): 9.9500
Aleah Finnegan (LSU), Skyla Schulte (Michigan State) and Lily Smith (Georgia): 9.9375

Michigan wins men’s NCAA gymnastics title

The NCAA championships in women’s gymnastics were followed by the men’s final later Saturday, where Michigan won its first NCAA title in 11 years.

Led by U.S. Olympic bronze medalists Fred Richard and Paul Juda, the Wolverines edged five-time defending NCAA champion Stanford with the last few scores of the final rotation. Richard also won the men’s individual all-around title.

Here are the full results from the men’s NCAA gymnastics final:

Michigan: 332.224
Stanford: 332.061
Oklahoma: 327.891
Nebraska: 326.222
Penn State: 317.258
Illinois: 316.293

How to watch NCAA gymnastics championships 2025

The gymnastics national championships aired live on ABC, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo.

Watch NCAA championships on Fubo

Who was the favorite in the NCAA gymnastics finals?

With No. 1 overall seed LSU eliminated in the semifinals Thursday, it’s hard to say.

If you would’ve gone off semifinal results, the favorite would’ve been No. 4 Utah. The Red Rocks paced the field Thursday with a total score of 197.7625 − fractions of a point ahead of No. 5 UCLA, which finished second. But if you would’ve preferred to go off seeding, or recent history, it would’ve been No. 2 Oklahoma. The Sooners cruised through their semifinal session and were led by the winner of this year’s individual all-around title, Jordan Bowers.

Here are how the four finalists stacked up in the semifinals:

No. 4 Utah: 197.7625 (Beam: 49.2125 | Floor: 49.5625 | Vault: 49.3375 | Bars: 49.6500)
No. 5 UCLA: 197.7375 (Floor: 49.5250 | Vault: 49.2375 | Bars: 49.4250 | Beam: 49.5500)
No. 2 Oklahoma: 197.5500 (Bars: 49.4000 | Beam: 49.3500 | Floor: 49.5250 | Vault: 49.2750)
No. 7 Missouri: 197.3000 (Floor: 49.2225 | Vault: 49.1250 | Bars: 49.4500 | Beam: 49.5000)

Why didn’t we see a perfect 10 at the NCAA gymnastics championships?

There were no perfect scores in either the semifinals or finals, and there’s a simple reason why. A score of 10.0 is a particularly difficult feat to achieve at the national championships because there are more judges, which essentially raises the bar for a gymnast to get a perfect score. At regular season meets, each event is scored by two judges. At nationals, however, there are six — with the best and worst scores being dropped, and the other four being averaged.

LAS VEGAS — Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 was a shocking, unforgettable night. Will Night 2 be able to top it?

WWE’s flagship event kicked off on Saturday and the second half will take place on Sunday, April 20 as the company puts a bow on the spectacle that captivates the wrestling world.

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 will feature seven matches, and headlining it is the main event of the entire weekend in the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena. Two faces of generations meet for WWE’s grand prize as Cena embarks on his final year of in-ring competition, and it’s already been a memorable one.

Other title matches will take place and surprises could be in store. Here’s what to know for WrestleMania 41 Night 2:

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 start time

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

How to watch WrestleMania 41 Night 2

The entire event will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Watch Wrestlemania 41 on Peacock

Where is WrestleMania 41

WrestleMania 41 is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 match card

Matches not in order

Randy Orton vs. TBD
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
Sin City street fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and TBD.
Fatal four-way match for Intercontinental Championship:Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Triple threat match for Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley
Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 predictions

Here are the predictions for Night 2. See the full WrestleMania 41 predictions here.

Randy Orton vs. TBD Rusev returns, Winner: Orton.
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul Winner: Logan Paul.
Sin City street fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre Winner: Drew McIntyre.
Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and TBD. Becky Lynch returns, Winner: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Fatal four-way match for Intercontinental Championship:Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio Winner: Penta.
Triple threat match for Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley Winner: Iyo Sky.
Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena Winner: John Cena.

It’s a girl!!!!

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, announced the birth of their daughter on Saturday.

Ohtani missed the opening two games of their road series against the Texas Rangers after being placed on MLB’s paternity list in preparation for the birth.

“Welcome to the Ohtani Family!,” Ohtani said on social media. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter. To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents. I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement.

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day.”

Ohtani announced that he and Tanaka were expecting their first child in December.

The Dodgers are in Texas taking on the Rangers this weekend before an off day on Monday. The team will then travel to Chicago to play the Cubs in a three-game series, starting on Tuesday.

Ohtani, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, is batting .288 with six home runs and eight RBI for the Dodgers this season.

The NHL playoffs got underway Saturday with two games in a TNT doubleheader.

The No. 1 overall seeded Winnipeg Jets hosted the St. Louis Blues in the early game, followed by the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Dallas Stars in the second game.

The Jets won the opener 5-3 when Kyle Connor broke a tie with 1:36 left. He was set up by Mark Scheifele and each had a goal and two assists.

The question going into the game was how Vezina Trophy favorite Connor Hellebuyck would fare after getting rocked in the past two postseasons. The Blues took a 3-2 lead in the second period on a Jordan Kyrou goal, but that was all against Hellebuyck, who stopped Kyrou on a breakaway afterward.

Alex Iafallo tied the game in their third period and the Blues were limited to two shots in the period.

In Saturday’s late game, the Avalanche cruised to a 5-1 win over the Stars. This represents an eighth consecutive loss for Dallas, which was missing injured leading goal scorer Jason Robertson and No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who has been out since February but skated with the team during the morning.

Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and had an assist to lead Colorado, which also got goals from Charlie Coyle, Atturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews.

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who last played in 2022 because of a serious knee injury, took part in the team’s morning skate but didn’t dress for Game 1.

What time is Jets vs. Blues?

Game 1 of the NHL playoff series between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 19.

How to watch Jets vs. Blues: Time, TV, streaming info for Game 1

Date: Saturday, April 19
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Canada Life Centre (Winnipeg)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Max, Sling

Jets vs. Blues USA TODAY predictions

Jason Anderson: Jets in six
Mike Brehm: Jets in five
Jace Evans: Blues in six

What time is Stars vs. Avalanche?

Game 1 of the NHL playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 19.

How to watch Avalanche vs. Stars: Time, TV, streaming info for Game 1

Date: Saturday, April 19
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Max, Sling

Stars vs. Avalanche USA TODAY predictions

Jason Anderson: Avalanche in six
Mike Brehm: Avalanche in five
Jace Evans: Avalanche in seven

About USA TODAY Sports’ 30 Days to the NFL Draft series, which started March 25: Every five days, we focused on a unique aspect of the 2025 draft, which is April 24-26. This is the final installment.

The 2025 NFL draft is almost here and hopefully you’ve got your big board in order. Sandwich board, that is. May your snacks be ready and mocks complete. Hydrate, stretch, charge your phones. We’re just about there.

Overall, this draft season has been low key. Not a lot of news or controversies. Lacking in big names. But the actual draft could be interesting. There are still a number of questions about who will go where early on, particularly when it comes to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

This draft, sleepy so far, could actually be fun. Maybe even super fun.

And yes, there are still many questions. So take some notes. Draft school is in session. It starts with 20 questions.

1. What surprise move could happen in the first few picks?

The Giants trading back a few spots to select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. He’s the best offensive lineman in this draft and that’s where the Giants need help. Also, keep an eye on Jalen Milroe from Alabama going at the end of the first round.

2. Are the Titans a lock to draft Cam Ward?

There’s no such thing as a lock in the draft. There are lock adjacent things and Tennessee is in that lock adjacent mode. All signs point to Ward going there. It’s always possible the Titans trade out of the pick. It’s highly unlikely they stay at No. 1 and pick a player other than Ward. If that happened, there would be mass draft chaos. Which I hope happens. Draft chaos would be delicious.

3. You’re a nerd so asking who is the best Star Trek captain?

What does that have to do with the draft? But glad you asked! It’s a tie between Ben Sisko and Kathryn Janeway.

4. What are the best snacks for the draft?

For this draft: cheese curds. Honor your fellow American Cheeseheads on the draft being in Green Bay, even if you’re a Bears fan.

5. Why do I keep hearing about Tyler Shough?

He’s the Louisville quarterback and take this for what it’s worth: teams are saying privately he could be the surprise pick of the draft. Which leads to the next query.

6. What is lying season?

Around this time, many team officials plant fake stories in the media, or even lie, in order to throw off other teams. It’s a total misinformation campaign. That’s lying season. I first heard the team decades ago from George Young, the late New York Giants general manager. When I ran a rumor about the Giants past him, Young replied: ‘Do you know what season it is?’ Me: ‘Christmas season?’ Young: ‘Lying season.’

7. Should you ever yell ‘get in the hole’ during the draft?

No, this isn’t golf. And people who do that during golf tournaments are goofs, anyway. Don’t be a goof. Especially don’t be a draft goof.

8. For us draft newbies, how should we watch?

Draft coverage will be on both the NFL Network and ESPN. Personal preference? A tie. I love Rich Eisen on the NFL Network and I feel the same about Louis Riddick on ESPN. Flip back and forth between the two channels like the freak you are. I am. We are.

9. Can I call in sick to work Friday since the draft runs so late?

In this economy? Also, why are you asking me? I’m not your mom.

10. Is this the Shedeur Sanders draft?

In a way, yes. Where the Colorado quarterback is selected could reconfigure a swath of the first round. We still don’t have a firm answer about where he’s going to be picked. The range is still pretty big.

11. If you had to guess, where will he go?

The Browns at No. 2 overall.

That’s a stupid guess.

That’s not a question.

12. What about his former teammate Travis Hunter?

One of the certainties of this draft is that Hunter will go high. He’s perhaps the most talented player in it. My dream scenario is the Titans take Hunter first overall and the draft becomes so full of hot takes that it folds in on itself and collapses into a draft black hole.

13. What is your favorite song?

Anything by Chic.

14. Chic? LOL the 70s called and wants its polyester back

Watch it, buddy.

15. Why is the NFL draft such a big deal?

Despite the fact the draft has become so intensely commercialized, it remains one of the more genuine and sincere moments on the NFL calendar. You get to see young men realize their dreams. There are controversies and issues and imperfections with the process. There are things that go wrong, but we get to see the future of the league flash before our eyes. There’s no action. No games. And it’s still riveting.

16. Why is there even a draft in the first place?

Finally, a smart question from you. In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be. Players would be able to go to whichever team they wanted. But the NFL has a stranglehold on players’ rights. If there was ever a fair draft process, players would be able to earn far more money than they do as rookies. Question 16 has been brought to you by your local union.

17. What do run the 40-yard dash in?

You’d need a sundial to measure my time.

18. Why does Roger Goodell hug players?

The short answer is it’s become a tradition that started over a decade ago. It’s always funny seeing Goodell hugging players he might later fine.

19. Will the draft determine the Super Bowl participants?

Maybe not directly but watch the Philadelphia Eagles in this draft. Howie Roseman, the team’s general manager, is a magician. Maybe the best GM in all of sports. He’ll use the draft to further armor an already deep roster. I do think the Eagles will repeat as Super Bowl champions.

20. What will you be doing for the draft?

Working and eating sandwiches.

Enjoy the draft everyone.

The present state of a wild landscape – with liberalized player movement fueled by name, image and likeness (NIL) cash – is daunting enough.

“There’s a lot going on in college football, and the NCAA has just washed their hands and they walk away,” Sanders said during a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports. “As long as they collect those checks, they walk away instead of saying, ‘OK, we’ve got to do something about this.’ Because if you don’t, it’s going to keep spiraling.”

Sure, there’s the $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit by athletes against the NCAA and five major conferences being considered for final approval by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, which would allow schools to pay at least $20.5 million directly to athletes in Year 1. Yet count Sanders, heading into his third season as Colorado coach, in the camp of skeptics who contend that the settlement won’t level the playing field because NIL payments through third-party agents would still provide a huge advantage for schools with the deepest donor pockets.

Suggestions?

“There should be some kind of cap,” Sanders said, referring to NIL payments. “Our game should emulate the NFL game in every aspect. Rules. Regulations. Whatever the NFL rules, the college rules should be the same. There should be a cap and every team gets this, and you should be able to spend that.”

Such a salary cap, Sanders envisions, would adjust with different conferences and levels of competition, based on revenues.

If you’ve followed Sanders over his remarkable career, his idea for a solution is hardly surprising. Going way back, the man has been an out-of-the-box thinker. Now, as he navigates the college coaching ranks – and with quick success, taking over a program that was 1-11 in 2022 and turning it into a 9-4 campaign last season that included a bowl-game berth – he is willing to use his stature and platform to promote change.

Another idea: Compensate HBCU schools for losing players.

“If we take a kid from an HBCU, we should have to compensate that school, man,” said Sanders, with the perspective of coaching at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), as he revitalized the program at Jackson State before moving to Colorado. “You’ve taken a kid and not given them nothing for it. That’s not fair, because they can’t compete with you in terms of the solicitation of the kid.

“It’s almost like how the Negro Leagues were dissolved. They started taking (Black players in the Major Leagues), and no one compensated the Negro Leagues. If you take them but compensate the schools, now we’ve still got breath. Now I can use that to get something else.”

Given the passion expressed with his range of ideas, maybe Coach Prime, as he’s called, is destined to someday become a commissioner.

“I’m too honest to be commissioner,” he deflected. “I’ll have said something I’m not supposed to say.”

Sanders, whose squad will stage its annual Black-and-Gold game on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2), wanted to join forces with Syracuse coach Fran Brown to bring their teams together for a spring game, similar to an NFL preseason contest. Maybe next year. The NCAA considered, then shot down the novel idea, deeming it as a “competitive advantage.”

Sanders doesn’t buy that reasoning when considering the flow with NIL payouts. Never mind that at least 12 major programs won’t have the once-popular spring games.

“The competitive advantage is the school that has hundreds of millions of dollars, and not us,” he said. “You look at who’s always in the playoffs, you can look at their budget and look at this budget. That’s the advantage, not who has the autonomy to do a spring game.”

Defending national champion Ohio State reportedly spent $42 million last season on player and coaches’ salaries. And Sanders grumbles that the $20 million that some schools spend on their freshmen classes exceeds the entire amount at other schools.

This, while the biggest storyline in college football in recent days has revolved around emerging quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s split from Tennessee after reportedly seeking to significantly increase the $2.4 million payout he was due.

Sanders, who recently signed a five-year, $54 million extension that makes him one of college football’s highest-paid coaches, chuckled when asked what he might have commanded in NIL deals during his career at Florida State in the late 1980s. He buffeted his All-America talent with his “Neon Deion” persona to increase his marketability.

No, even with the turmoil and consequences attached to the college football landscape, Sanders hardly wants the system to revert back to yesteryear.

And Sanders – who during the heyday of his Hall of Fame NFL career made a music video called “Must Be the Money” – surely supports the shift to paying college players.

“You like it, but you don’t love it,” he said. “You like it because you want these guys to be compensated. You want these guys to have a tremendous head start on life. You want these guys to understand finances, financial literacy. You want them to understand that this is game-changing money, just in case you don’t fulfill that dream of being a professional football player. You have something of a head start in life.

“But there’s so much that goes with that because you’ve got to prepare. Some of them squander it. Instantly. And it’s not healthy for some because now it’s not just the kid, but parents are involved as well. Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of great parents out there. But it’s a different game out there right now, with some of the parents being agents, doing representation.”

A different game, Sanders will tell you, that begs for some different rules of engagement.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell