All eyes will be on Texas this week as the Big 12 hosts its two-day football media event at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ training facility in Frisco, starting Tuesday. Coaches and players from all 16-member schools will be on hand to talk all things football.

Here are five subjects that are sure to come up this week:

Fallout from the Brendan Sorsby situation

It’s been nearly four months since the news broke about impermissible betting on college football by Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Since that moment in March, it’s been like a soap opera with all the twists and turns, including the filing of multiple lawsuits, first against the NCAA and then against Texas Tech. Throughout, school officials and mega-booster Cody Campbell stood pat in their support for Sorsby.

The situation finally came to a head last month when the Big 12 filed a lawsuit in federal court, prompting Sorsby to announce he was withdrawing his lawsuit against the NCAA, effectively ending his bid to play this season.

It was an all-around ugly situation for the parties involved and certainly strained the relationships between Texas Tech and the remaining 15 league members, which makes this week’s media event must-see television.

Can commissioner Brett Yormark bring everyone back together in the fold, or is this one of those situations where time heals all wounds?

Expansion of the College Football Playoff

The Big 12 has already thrown its weight behind the idea of expanding the College Football Playoff from its current 12-team format to 24 teams. The league’s coaches have also been behind the proposal, citing accessibility and the potential to bring more teams into the mix.

Yet, we’re no closer to a 24-team model than we were six months ago or, for that matter, a year ago.

New UCF women’s coach Gabe Lazo, who grew up in Little Havana, leans on life-changing lessons

Some of the hang-ups center on scheduling, with concerns that expansion would push the semifinals and the National Championship game into February. This season’s title game is set for Jan. 25, 2027, two weeks into the spring academic calendar.

Pushing the start date of the season up to Week Zero would help, as would eliminating conference championship games, something leagues like the SEC aren’t too keen on doing.

Impact of the 5-for-5 model on college rosters

The approval of the NCAA’s age-based eligibility model or “5-for-5,” as it’s known, was welcome news for many in college athletics.

The measure eliminates the redshirt seasons and waivers that have allowed super-seniors older than 24, simplifying the rules surrounding rosters. It’s also expected to slow down the transfer process, with players choosing to stay longer rather than immediately entering the portal.

But there are plenty of cons, including the elimination of the medical hardship waiver, which granted an athlete an additional year of eligibility if they suffered a season-ending injury. And with no redshirt years, coaches are more likely to play true freshmen who may not be ready to see immediate action.

Upcoming media rights negotiations

The Big 12 is currently in the middle of a six-year, $2.28 billion media rights deal with ESPN and Fox Sports that runs through 2030-31. Yet, Yormark and the league have been focused on creating more value for the conference as a whole.

The additions of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in 2023 and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah in 2024 provided the league with more assets to leverage in the next round of negotiations.

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The Big 12’s new private equity deal was believed to provide an additional revenue influx to the league and its members. Plus, the conference has reached new sponsorship deals for its championships and media days events.

In all, it’s meant to help shrink the financial gap between the Big Ten and SEC and the Big 12.

Yormark has even hinted at splitting the media rights package, hoping to get a better overall deal for the league’s basketball assets that, when combined with football, would give the conference a larger boost in 2030-31.

Who is the frontrunner in the Big 12?

On the field, Texas Tech figured to be the frontrunner to repeat as conference champion for the first time since Oklahoma in 2019-20. However, the loss of Sorsby may have extended those odds heading into fall camp.

If the Red Raiders were to slip, BYU would be the next team up in many people’s eyes.

The Cougars, who finished as runner-ups to TTU last season, return 11 starters, including quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin.

Houston also figures to be in the mix. The Cougars return 11 starters, led by quarterback Conner Weigman, and all-conference standouts in wideout Amare Thomas and cornerback Will James.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

SADSBURY TOWNSHIP — It was blistering hot on Wednesday but, there was Little League softball to be played. Mid-East took down Conneaut 13-2 at Sadsbury Recreation Complex in the 8-10 year old championship double elimination game. With the win, Mid-East will face Conneaut again today, in a winner takes all match.

Conneaut started out the evening by getting on the board first in the bottom of the first.

With a runner on second and third, Dilyme Eyley grounded a ball to first, where she was out. But, Mya Sheik ran home from third for the 1-0 Conneaut lead.

Conneaut was still in scoring position after the 1-0 strike but Mid-East pitcher Lila Wilcox got the third strikeout to close the first inning.

Mid-East responded almost immediately in the top of the second.

Raelynn Pratt was walked, before stealing second during Laken Meader's at-bat. Meader then grounded the ball up the middle, allowing Pratt to score.

Later in the inning, Mid-East was in a bases loaded situation. Maisie Prenatt came up to bat and she grounded out to first but Claire Lauer ran home from third to give Mid-East the 2-1 lead.

Once Mid-East took the lead, the team never looked back.

"As a team, we've been trying to teach confidence," head coach Kyle Pratt said. "And this group didn't play rec ball together so, it's a new group. They're finally hitting their groove and they finally believed in themselves to make contact with the ball."

Mid-East continued to hold the lead into the top of the third. They struck again in another bases loaded scenario.

Adah Geibel was up at the plate with Karolynn Frum, Avery Osborne and MacKenzie Free all on base. Geibel was walked, for Mid-East's fourth-straight walk, advancing Frum home for the 3-1 lead.

Mid-East could not capitalize with the bases still loaded and struck out on the next two at-bats.

Mid-East grabbed its fourth run during the top of the fourth, when after two walks, Prenatt grounded a ball that allowed Wilcox to run in from third, before Prenatt was out on a fielder's choice.

Things can change fast in Little League softball and not wanting to leave things to chance, Mid-East came out rolling at the top of the fifth.

A walk from Hadley Mitchell, Frum and Maylin Ritchey loaded the bases for Mid-East once again.

Up to bat was Osborne who singled up the middle, getting to first and bringing home Mitchell.

On the next at-bat, Free singled a fly ball to center, getting to first and sending Frum to the plate to make it 6-1.

After a strikeout on the next at-bat, Mid-East struck again.

Maddy Moon doubled up the center, bringing in both Ritchey and Osborne.

The very next play, Mid-East got in two again.

Raelynn Pratt singled up the middle and Free and Moon got home for the 10-1 lead.

Meader singled on the next pitch, getting to first, to set up runners on first and third after Pratt advanced to third.

After a strikeout, Mid-East added its 11th when Pratt stole home.

Mid-East was not done yet, bringing in Meader and Wilcox on a Prenatt fly ball to second.

Mid-East was stopped on the next at-bat after driving in nine in the fifth for the 13-1 lead.

Wanting to get momentum on its side for today's match, Conneaut pushed hard to score in the bottom of the fifth.

Conneaut had two outs with Brittney Wielobob on third after walking and stealing second and third.

On the next pitch, Wielobob stole home to make it 13-2.

Conneaut was still in scoring position with Emma Reynolds at third but Mid-East got the final strikeout to stop Conneaut.

These teams will not get much time to breathe as they are back in action again today against each other for a shot at the championship.

"We have to go in with confidence," Kyle Pratt said. "They've got a good pitcher, we've got a good pitcher. If they both hit their spots, it's going to be a tough one."

The game will be at 6 p.m. at Richmond Township Recreation Center.

------------

Mid-East (13)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Free 2-1-1-1, Geibel 2-0-0-1, Moon 3-1-1-2, Pratt 2-2-1-2, Meader 3-1-2-1, Lauer 2-1-0-0, Wilcox 0-2-0-0, Leech 0-0-0-0, Prenatt 3-0-1-3, Mitchell 2-1-0-0, Frum 0-2-0-0, Ritchey 1-1-0-0, Osborne 1-1-1-1.

Conneaut (2)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Shiek 1-1-0-0, Lenhardt 0-0-0-0, Phelps 2-0-0-0, Eyley 2-0-0-1, Krider 1-0-0-0, Bre. Wielobob 2-0-0-0, Stewart 1-0-0-0, Brit. Wielobob 0-1-0-0, Reynolds 1-0-0-0, Oates 2-0-0-0, Braden 1-0-0-0, Hershleman 2-0-0-0.

Mid-East 021 19 — 13 7 0

Conneaut 100 01 — 2 0 1

BATTING

2B: M — Moon.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) M — Geibel 3.1-0-2-2-6-7, Wilcox 1.2-0-0-0-1-4; No Conneaut pitching stats reported.

The Magic signed second-round pick Izaiyah Nelson to a two-way contract, the team announced Wednesday night.

Although Orlando didn’t disclose terms of the deal, Nelson’s two-way contract is for two years with the franchise that selected him No. 51 overall in last month’s NBA draft, a league source told the Orlando Sentinel.

It’s not uncommon for late second-round draft picks to sign two-way deals with teams, but the decision to do so also means the Magic still have one standard contract roster spot open following Wednesday’s free agent signings.

In addition to signing Nelson, the Magic re-signed center Colin Castleton to a two-way deal, the team said. Orlando had previously extended Castleton a two-way qualifying offer, which made him a restricted free agent, so his return was expected.

After signing Nelson and bringing back Castleton, the Magic have filled all three of their two-way spots. The team previously signed Alex Morales to a two-year, two-way contract in mid-Feb., rewarding the guard after he had spent the first four years of his career with Osceola, Orlando’s G League affiliate.

Two-way players go between the NBA and the G League, but they’re limited to being active for just 50 NBA games and can’t play in the playoffs.

After signing Nikola Vucevic, Jonathan Isaac and Jevon Carter earlier Wednesday to one-year veteran minimum deals, the Magic sit roughly $2.5 million under the second apron, a salary threshold set at $221,686,000 by the collective bargaining agreement.

The Magic began last season with only 14 players signed to a standard contract (out of 15 available spots) and didn’t fill it until late-March when they converted Jamal Cain from a two-way contract to a standard deal. Orlando recently exercised the team option for the second year of Cain’s contract for him to return to the team for the upcoming season.

Orlando entered this year’s second round only with the No. 46 pick, but later completed a three-team trade with Washington and Milwaukee that netted the Magic both Nelson at No. 51 from the Wizards and cash considerations from the Bucks.

The 6-foot-9 forward, who turns 23 on Oct. 1, became the first player in American Athletic Conference history to be named the league’s player of the year, defensive player of the year and newcomer of the year when he transferred to USF after three years at Arkansas State.

Castleton spent last season on a two-way contract with Orlando but played more for Osceola. In four NBA games with Orlando, he averaged 1.3 points and 2 rebounds during 5.3 minutes per night. He also played in 18 regular season G League contests with Osceola, averaging 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 2.1 assists and 1.17 blocks during 28.4 minutes per night.

The 6-foot-11 center, who finished his college career at the University of Florida, has appeared in 46 career NBA regular season games with the Lakers, Grizzlies, Raptors, Sixers and Magic.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Jul. 1—GRAND FORKS — Judd Caulfield spent last season on an American Hockey League contract.

That won't be the case this year.

Caulfield, a former Grand Forks Central and UND forward, parlayed an impressive season with the San Diego Gulls into a two-year NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

Caulfield will make $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28 if he's in the NHL. If he's with Anaheim's top minor-league club, San Diego, he will make $175,000 in 2026-27 and $250,000 in 2027-28,

according to PuckPedia.

Caulfield scored 17 goals and tallied 38 points in 71 games for the Gulls in 2025-26. He set career highs in goals, assists and points.

"I'm definitely feeling a lot more comfortable in the league, being my third full season," Caulfield told the Herald in February. "It's a bit of an adjustment at first — a different pace and playing older players again. There are shutdown 'D' that have been in the league for six to eight years. Playing against those types of players, it's definitely tough. I'm re-finding my game, using my physicality. I've been more physical this year. I've been able to protect pucks and hold onto pucks more this year, not getting knocked off as easily."

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound winger tallied 26 points as a rookie and 25 his second full professional season.

Caulfield played two seasons of prep hockey for Central, helping the Knights win a state championship as a sophomore in 2017.

Then, he joined the U.S. National Team Development Program for two seasons.

Caulfield played at UND from 2019-23, helping the Fighting Hawks win the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference champions his first three seasons. He finished his UND career with 133 games, 29 goals and 62 points.

After his senior season, Caulfield's NHL rights were traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Ducks, and he signed a two-year deal with Anaheim.

After that contract ran out, he signed an AHL contract with San Diego for 2025-26. The Gulls qualified for the playoffs, but lost to the Colorado Eagles in the first round.

Caulfield said he's enjoyed San Diego.

"It's nice, because you can get away from the rink a little bit, walk along the beach and enjoy nice weather out here," he said. "It's always nice to get away and get a mental reset. It's so easy to do out here."