The NCAA announced three men’s basketball players at Fresno State and San Jose State collaborated to manipulate performance for the purpose of sports betting, as the organization said they bet on their own games and provided information for others to do so.

The players, San Jose State’s Mykell Robinson and Steven Vasquez, as well as Fresno State’s Jalen Weaver, were released from their teams, are no longer enrolled at their schools and permanently banned from the NCAA for violating ethical conduct rules, the NCAA Committee on Infractions announced.

The investigation began in January after a sports integrity monitoring service notified Fresno State a Nevada sportsbook operator flagged suspicious prop bets placed on Robinson for the Jan. 7 game against Colorado State. Fresno State and the NCAA enforcement staff then found on Robinson’s phone he conspired with Vasquez, his former roommate at Fresno State for the 2023-24 season, to place bets on his under-line totals for the Jan. 7 contest.

Robinson finished the game with three points, two rebounds, one three-pointer and no assists ‘to ensure the under-line bets won,’ according to the investigation, which resulted in a $15,950 total payout from a combined $2,200 of betting by Robinson, Vasquez and a third party. During that season, Robinson placed 13 daily fantasy sports over-line and under-line prop bets, including on his own performance.

The NCAA said Robinson also placed bets on Weaver, a former teammate at Fresno State, in December 2024 after the two exchanged information on their respective betting lines. Weaver placed a prop bet for himself, Robinson and another unnamed student-athlete.

Vasquez and Robinson informed the enforcement staff they didn’t want to participate in the investigation, the NCAA said, while Weaver participated in the investigation, admitted to the betting and agreed to the punishment. The cases were resolved in coordination with Fresno State and San Jose State.

Robinson was removed from the roster after playing his final game on Jan. 11, while Weaver told ESPN he was dismissed from the team and planned to enter the transfer portal.

Fresno State said in a statement ot USA TODAY Sports while the consequences are significant, it will not face any sanctions.

‘Fresno State holds itself to the highest standards of integrity, character and sportsmanship, and has an unwavering commitment to compliance with all NCAA and conference rules. The University proactively shared reported information concerning sports wagering activity with the NCAA and worked collaboratively with the NCAA staff throughout the investigation,’ the statement read. ‘The university continues to have confidence in the Fresno State Athletics’ culture and is grateful to conclude this matter.’

NCAA athletes that bet on their own games lose their eligbility permanently and sports betting in any form is prohibited, although there has been movement to allow athletes and athletics staff members to bet on professional sports events

At least eight men working for the Detroit Tigers, the team’s business operations or broadcast partner have been accused of misconduct toward women over the past two years, according to a news report released Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The allegations, which ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation, involve four vice presidents, two other high-ranking employees and former Tigers players and broadcasters Cameron Maybin and Craig Monroe, The Athletic reported as part of a months-long investigation into the franchise.

All but one of the men were accused by women who work for Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, the company that operates the Tigers, the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Six of the men have already resigned, were fired or did not have their contracts renewed, according to the report, with three leaving the franchise in a six-month span during the past year.

The Athletic details a ‘boys’ club’ that developed within the Tigers’ franchise where female employees were frequently the target of inappropriate comments about their appearance and didn’t feel safe, particularly once the team merged into Ilitch Sports and Entertainment in 2022 and human resources departments were combined for several teams and organizations owned by the Illitch family.

‘We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion,’ Olympia Entertainment, an affiliate of Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement issued to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. ‘We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure. We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace.’

‘Building on that commitment, we work hard every day to improve our workplace culture,’ the statement continued. ‘We encourage open dialogue and feedback, celebrate the contributions of our colleagues, and continue to invest in programs that support growth, well-being, and inclusion. Our colleagues have multiple channels to share input, supported by a strong HR team that responds quickly to concerns. We also provide ongoing, company-wide training and education to prevent and address inappropriate behavior.

‘These efforts foster a culture where colleagues feel confident raising concerns, knowing that action will be taken when issues arise. We are grateful to the employees who have spoken up here, and to the more than 3,000 full- and part-time colleagues who contribute every day to ensuring a safe work environment.’

The most serious allegations involve Michael Lienert, a former vice president of premium sales and private events with Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. He is accused of making female employees uncomfortable by staring at them and allegedly engaged in two relationships with female coworkers that he did not disclose to the organization. Lienert, according to The Athletic, got into a heated exchange with one of the women in early 2023 and allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs. 

Lienert, now the vice president of partnership sales with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, was immediately suspended while the Tigers initiated an investigation. Lienert resigned shortly thereafter, according to the team. He denied the allegations through his attorney, The Athletic reported.

Assistant general manager Sam Menzin resigned after 13 years with the team last April and the Tigers did not disclose why he left. But The Athletic previously reported Menzin departed after an internal investigation found he sent inappropriate and unsolicited photos to multiple women who worked for the team. Josh Bullock, the former vice president of business operations at the Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla., and former director of video content production Rob Gehring are also named in the report related to inappropriate comments or conduct towards women in the organization.

Two men accused of misconduct towards women in the report still work for the Tigers. Peter Soto, the vice president of game presentation and fan experience, was placed on suspension after The Athletic asked the team for comment before the publication of its report. The Tigers, meanwhile, defended Illitch Sports and Entertainment vice president of communications and broadcasting Peter Fidelman after he was alleged to have frequently spoken inappropriately at women in the organization.

“It is inaccurate and unfair to group Mr. Fidelman within a story about accusations of sexual harassment or related misconduct,’ Olympia Entertainment said in a statement. ‘A concern unrelated to either was raised, and consistent with our process, it was investigated thoroughly, and no wrongdoing was found.” 

Maybin, while working as a pre- and post-game analyst for Bally Sports Detroit in 2023, is accused of making inappropriate remarks about a female co-worker’s appearance and sending inappropriate and unwanted late-night text messages to multiple women. Monroe, a former team broadcaster, was listed as a suspect in a police report from July 2024 in Frisco, Texas related to sexual assault of a child. He denied the charges at the time and the case is inactive. 

Both Maybin and Monroe were subsequently removed from Tigers’ broadcasts on the network, which is now called Fanduel Sports Network. 

The Tigers have also faced at least three lawsuits in Michigan that included allegations of age discrimination since 2022, according to The Athletic. Two of the cases were dismissed after the parties reached a settlement.

The Tigers currently lead the American League Central and remain on track to make the MLB playoffs for the second season in a row.

This story has been updated to include new information. It will continue to be updated.

The Dallas Cowboys traded one of their key defenders, edge defender Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers on eve of the 2025 NFL season.

Now, the Cowboys are set to be without another one of their top defensive players, cornerback DaRon Bland, because of an injury.

Bland suffered a right foot injury at Dallas’ practice on Monday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The injury is expected to keep Bland out of action for ‘a couple of weeks.’

Bland, 26, is in his fourth season with the Cowboys. The Fresno State product was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but quickly became a key playmaker in Dallas’ secondary. He logged a league-high nine interceptions in 2023 and was named an All-Pro first-teamer because of his success.

Last season, Bland played just seven games after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot in August. The Cowboys did not specify at the time which foot Bland had hurt, so it isn’t clear whether his latest injury is related to the one he suffered in 2024.

The Cowboys will continue to use Trevon Diggs and Kaiir Elam as their top outside cornerbacks, but the nickel role will be up for grabs with Bland out. Veteran C.J. Goodwin or recent waiver wire claims Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges are the top candidates to take on that role for the Cowboys.

Bland recorded three tackles in the Cowboys’ 24-20 Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a four-year, $92 million extension with Dallas on eve of the 2025 NFL season.

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov has turned down a record-setting contract extension offer, according to an NHL insider.

The offer was believed to be for eight years at $128 million, Frank Seravalli reported, and would have made him the leader in cap hit ($16 million), passing the $14 million that Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl will receive starting this season.

The total amount would also pass the 13-year, $124 million contract that Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin signed in 2008.

Kaprizov, 28, who currently has a $9 million cap hit, can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season. His average of 1.21 points per game ranks first in franchise history and he has had three seasons of 40 goals or more.

NHL’s highest-paid players

The NHL has had a new highest-paid player for three seasons in a row, with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million) passing Edmonton’s Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) in 2023-24 and Toronto’s Auston Matthews averaging $13.25 million last season. Draisaitl passed Matthews this season.

That should continue with the salary cap going up and the caliber of players in next summer’s UFA class.

That group, in addition to Kaprizov, includes McDavid and Vegas’ Jack Eichel.

Arch Manning grimaced while throwing an incomplete pass against San Jose State. The internet launched into rampant speculation.
Steve Sarkisian says he refrains from inquiring about what reporters look like while on the toilet.
Relax, everyone, we’ve only just made it through Week Number Two.

First came the hype. Then came the fizzle. Next, some sizzle.

Now, the grimace. And, plop, here we are.

Arch Manning mania sank to new depths this week, like a giant – ahem, sorry, why don’t I just let Texas coach Steve Sarkisian take it from here.

Asked whether Manning might be playing through injury, Sarkisian responded with a musing about what media members must look while taking care of business on the toilet.

This wasn’t one of those fake AI news conference moments. I triple checked. This happened.

For perhaps the first time in history, a college football coach dedicated microphone time to toilet talk and bathroom facial expressions.

One can only hope any future Mannings become chess prodigies or operate a Porta-John company, because I’m not sure the college football spin cycle can handle a fourth generation of Manning quarterbacks.

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We’ve already sunk to the bottom of the bowl, and we’re just two games into Manning’s redshirt sophomore season.

Before the season began, ESPN personality Paul Finebaum predicted Manning would be college football’s greatest player since Tim Tebow. He got one thing right, anyway. The fascination with Manning has reached Tebow-like proportions.

Tebow once famously fielded a preseason question about whether he’d ever had sex. And he answered the question, too, confirming he’s a virgin. It’s a wonder Tebow’s coach, Urban Meyer, didn’t speculate about what the provocateur reporter who asked about Tebow’s virginity must look like while on the toilet.

(Tebow’s not a virgin anymore, by the way. He’s married and a new dad.)

Manning stunk it up for most of Texas’ opener at Ohio State, but there was nothing foul about his performance in Part Deuce against San Jose State. He played fine, and Texas kept its season afloat by trouncing the Spartans.

So, how did the conversation head to the can?

Well, Manning grimaced while throwing a bad pass at the feet of his receiver in the game against San Jose State. He’s since told reporters he feels fine and that the grimace probably was just a subconscious expression, but, the internet, doing what it does best, launched into rampant speculation. Is Manning injured? Why did he grimace? *Cat video*

So, a reporter attempted to ask Sarkisian at his weekly news conference whether his quarterback is playing through pain.

“According to who?” Sarkisian demanded to know.

According to the geniuses on the internet, duh.

What gives, coach? Is Manning OK?

Why can’t he let one rip without grimacing?

“He doesn’t have any” throwing pain, Sarkisian continued.

OK, fair enough. But, that’s when stuff got a little bizarre. Sarkisian pivoted into a strained attempt at humor that sounded sort of pinched.

“I’ve never filmed any of you guys when you’re using the bathroom,” Sarkisian said, “so I don’t know what faces you make when you’re doing that.”

He could probably guess.

What can I say, discussions involving Manning are not for those with a leaky gut.

A couple of days ago, I laid out the case that Manning is neither a stink bomb, nor a transcendent talent. Perhaps, he’s just an average to a notch above average quarterback.

One reader became so enraged by this opinion that he threatened to contact my family and friends and inform them that I’m an utter disgrace. I might save him the trouble. I’m thinking his email would make for a tremendous headline item in our family’s Christmas newsletter, which makes for good bathroom reading.

If we take Sarkisian and Manning at their word, and he’s not in pain, then maybe he’s making faces because his mechanics get out of whack on some passes.

Sarkisian acknowledged some mechanical issues from Manning against Ohio State.

Manning didn’t have his feet positioned properly on certain throws. That forced him into more of a sidearm delivery, “which isn’t his style of throwing,” Sarkisian said.

‘If he can get his feet aligned and get his shoulders aligned, that can help with some of his accuracy,” Sarkisian said before the San Jose State game.

Probably would reduce some grimacing, too.

Anyway, I’m ready to flush this topic. Manning mania already has become quite silly.

And we’ve only just made it through Week Number Two.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Ohio State University President Ted Carter expects conversation about the Big Ten’s revenue-sharing model.
Carter highlighted Ohio State’s significant brand value, citing high TV viewership for its football games.
Future financial self-sufficiency could be challenged by rising costs related to athlete compensation for name, image, and likeness (NIL).

WASHINGTON — Ohio State University President Ted Carter left open the possibility of changes to Big Ten Conference schools’ revenue-sharing arrangements and his own institution’s approach to how its athletics department is funded.

During a Tuesday, Sept. 9 interview with USA TODAY that also covered an array of Ohio State-specific and national higher-education topics, Carter addressed questions about two longstanding features of the school’s sports financial picture: Roughly equal sharing of Big Ten revenue among the conference’s longest-standing members and zero dollars in university or student-fee money being used to support the athletics department.

Ohio State is one of the biggest brand names in college sports. Its department supports 35 NCAA teams, making it one of the most broad-based programs at a Bowl Subdivision public school. And it has averaged more than $262 million in operating revenues and expenses over the three most recent fiscal years for which USA TODAY has been able to obtain data in conjunction with the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database at Syracuse University – 2022 through 2024.

Carter said during the interview that Ohio State had around $325 million in athletics revenue for the 2024-25 fiscal year and that the department operated at a surplus.

In the context of Clemson’s and Florida State’s recent disputes with the Atlantic Coast Conference that has resulted in the ACC adopting an unbalanced revenue-sharing model, Carter was asked whether he foresaw that happening in the Big Ten, given the television draws of Ohio State and Michigan.

“I don’t want to get into the type of conversations that are happening inside the Big Ten,” said Carter, who began at Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2024, after four years as president of the University of Nebraska System. “I would just tell you that we’re a proud member of the Big Ten, and that’s where we’re going to stay. We have … our own bylaws for how we do the distributions. When new members join the conference, they don’t always come in at the same share, as you know. So … that’s the way our media rights deals are set up. That’s how we’re set up for now.”

Carter was then asked what he thinks about where this goes four to five years from now, as conferences’ current, respective, television contracts begin winding down.

“We don’t have any answers,” he replied. “I will say that there’s only a couple of schools that really represent the biggest brands in the Big Ten, and you can see that by the TV viewership. I mean, look what we just went through with the Texas game (Ohio State’s football season opener). … You know, 16.(6) million people watching that game over the whole game. And it peaked at 18.6 million. It’s the most watched opening game in history, third-largest game ever watched in a regular season (on Fox). So, that’s what happens when you put the Ohio State brand out there.”

Asked whether that should translate into something different in terms of revenue share, Carter said:

“It doesn’t matter what Ted Carter thinks. I think that’s going to be a conversation that will be had over time.”

Carter said Ohio State is “committed to maintaining” its current number of sports and has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at increasing revenue. Those range from the creation of a members-only club at Ohio Stadium that is scheduled be open on non-game days, to new luxury suite and seating areas in the stadium, to greater effort to book other events at university facilities.

All of this aimed at allowing Ohio State to continue being among a small group of Division I public schools nationally whose athletics department annually reports netting $0 in revenue from school or government sources or student fees. Ohio State’s athletics department also annually reports transfers of money, beyond operating expenses, to the university’s general fund.

Asked whether the athletics department will be able to continue working in that fashion, Carter said: “I think that will depend on the types of rules that have to be set up for NIL and shared revenue (with athletes from the school for the use of their name, image and likeness). I mean, that’s one of the reasons we want to see those things get a little bit more under control. If those costs continue to go up, then there’s risk to those types of things (the department remaining financially self-sufficient. And so that’s something obviously we’re paying attention to.”

The goal, he said, is for the department to remain self-sufficient.

‘At some point there’s only so many things you can do to generate additional revenue,” he said. “… So, again you’ve got to be able to think a little bit differently. I mean, we’re the top-selling brand for apparel. We’re a proud member of using Nike. That’s a relationship that really matters to us. And, so, again, you’ve got to look at everything that can help generate revenue. And we’re still looking at other ways to help offset these costs.”