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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

David Roth

Justin Agu #13 of the Louisville Cardinals catches the ball against the Toledo Rockets during the first half of the 2025 Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on December 23, 2025.

Podcasts

Imagining The End Of College Sports, With Spencer Hall

<div>David Covucci is the editor-in-chief of <a href="https://foiaball.beehiiv.com/p/foiaball-football-for-the-people">FOIAball</a>, a new publication utilizing public records to report on college football.</div>


Dave Covucci

UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs onto the field with teammates before the game against Nebraska at the Rose Bowl on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.

Death To The NCAA

How UCLA Used A Friendly Charity To Get Tax-Free NIL Money

Israel Daramola

College Football

You Can Have Money Or Sympathy, But Not Both

Tom Ley

Head coach Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars, head coach Joey McGuire of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, head coach Matt Campbell of the Iowa State Cyclones, head coach Chris Klieman of the Kansas State Wildcats, head coach Scott Satterfield of the Cincinnatti Bearcats, head coach Scott Frost of the UCF Knights, head coach Dave Aranda of the Baylor Bears and head coach Kenny Dillingham of the Arizona State Sun Devils speak with the media during the Big 12 Media Days at The Ford Center at The Star on July 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.

The Business Of Post-Settlement College Sports Is Already A Mess

Nico Iamaleava Leaves Tennessee To Seek More Money In The Transfer Portal

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka (3) scrambles with the ball past Kansas defensive end Dylan Wudke (95) during the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the UNLV Rebels on Friday September 13, 2024 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Matthew Sluka Debacle Exposes The NIL System For What It Is

Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles reacts to a play during the first half of a game against the Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium. You can tell from the reaction that the Noles would go on to lose.

How Not To Make It In College Football, With Israel Daramola

Florida Gators commit Jaden Rashada looks on during the second half of a game between the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida.

College Football Keeps Begging For And Receiving Ugly NIL Lawsuits

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Alysha Clark (L) #7 and Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces react after receiving their 2023 WNBA championship rings before the team's home opener against the Phoenix Mercury on May 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Mercury 89-80.

WNBA

The Aces Are Also A Superteam At Being Investigated

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Scott Van Pelt watches Maryland basketball

Scott Van Pelt, And Every Other Shithead, Is Missing The Point About Paying College Athletes

Nick Saban is seen prior to WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) on February 7, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Nick Saban’s Plan For Saving College Football: Uhhhhh, Hmmmmm, Buhhhh, Duurrrr


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Tik Tok screenshots of "Livvy Rizzed Baby Gronk"

This Is So Stupid

Livvy Rizzing Up Baby Gronk, Explained

Ray Ratto

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - APRIL 30: A general view of a golf ball on the green of the first hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club on April 30, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas.

Golf

I Demand These Two Awful, Heroic Golfers Be Given A Hefty NIL Deal

Draftee Diamond Miller talks to the media before the 2023 WNBA Draft on April 10, 2023 at Spring Studios in New York City, New York.

Turning Pro In Women’s Basketball Is Not A Zero-Sum Game

Samer Kalaf

Head Coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange looks on during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers at JMA Wireless Dome on January 30, 2023.

College Basketball

Jim Boeheim Blames Everyone But Himself

Lauren Theisen

Mark Few testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled NCAA Athlete NIL Rights

New NCAA NIL Rules: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 26: ead coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Alabama’s NIL Hub Is The Future Of Silly College Football Spending

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

Charlie Baker Is The NCAA’s Attempt To Put The Horses Back In The Barn

Laura Wagner

Dabo Swinney Reaches New Level Of Self-Parody

Screenshot of Olivia Dunne's instagram page.

New York Times Finds Worst Reason To Fret Over NIL Deals

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mark Emmert, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) hold a brief press availability on Capitol Hill December 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) met with NCAA President Mark Emmert to discuss the issue of compensation for collegiate athletes. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

What Did These Morons Think Was Going To Happen?

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers is interviewed after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones in the Cheez-It Bowl Game at Camping World Stadium on December 29, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

What Is Dabo Swinney So Scared Of?

Dave McKenna

at El Camino College on March 14, 2017 in Torrance, California.

High School Sports

D.C. Considers Granting High School Athletes NIL Rights

Kalyn Kahler

NORMAN, OK - APRIL 24: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners pulls on his helmet before the team's spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

NIL Is Transforming The NFL Agent Business, Too

NCAA president Mark Emmert listens during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on “NCAA Athlete NIL (name, image, and likeness) Rights” on Capitol Hill on June 9, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress hopes to pass legislation on NIL compensation at the federal level before it takes effect in several states across the country on July 1.

NIL