Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne is clearly fed up with the current state of college athletics. But amid unrequited calls on Congress to save the NCAA, SEC administrators like Byrne are entertaining other ways for the Power Four conference to police themselves when it comes to player compensation rules.

And, at least according to Byrne, that could include the SEC and other Power leagues potentially barring schools that are found to blatantly flout player compensation rules established by last summer’s House v. NCAA settlement from future competition in said league.

“We’re going to see, I think, a potential crossroads, on whether schools should be allowed to participate in conferences if they are choosing to not follow the rules,” Byrne told AL.com on Thursday.

The House settlement paved the way for Division I schools to directly compensate athletes through revenue-sharing, and provided a cap of $20.5 million for the first two years of its installation. But several prominent programs have vastly exceeded that cap, and quite boldly, by utilizing other revenue streams through their school’s NIL collectives, and there have been several legal challenges to the College Sports Commission’s NIL Go clearinghouse process that is meant to regulate those NIL deals.

Alabama AD Greg Byrne: ‘There should be consequences’ for schools that break rules

But, if individual schools or athletic programs are found to be purposely defying CSC regulations or House rules in order to gain a competitive advantage due to a significantly larger payment pool, Byrne believes “there should be consequences for those actions.”

“Schools who are just choosing to not report, or if they end up choosing to not follow the guidelines of the House settlement, that is going to be very interesting to watch and see where we go with that,” Byrne told AL.com. “Because if those aren’t followed, then the unregulated, challenging market that everybody has been dealing with will continue, and the agents will do their very best to push it further.”

While Congress remains at a standstill on potential legislation, the NCAA has made an effort to hold teams accountable for breaking transfer rules. The NCAA DI Cabinet passed emergency legislation Wednesday that levies strict penalties against coaches and schools that acquire “blind-transfers,” or athletes that leave from one school to another outside of their sport’s designated transfer portal window. Among the potential penalties include a six-game suspension for the guilty school’s head coach and a 20% fine of a team’s sports budget that year.

Alabama AD Greg Byrne calls for an end to SEC Championship Game: ‘The ship has sailed’

Byrne wasn’t done making sweeping declarations Thursday. The Alabama AD also called for the end of the SEC Championship game ahead of the league’s move to a nine-game conference schedule beginning this upcoming season.

“I think the ship has sailed,” Byrne told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview published Thursday. “It’s run its course.”

With the advent of the ever-expanding College Football Playoff, which is entering its third year with 12 teams but could expand further in the near future, the reality of playing conference championship games has become much trickier. Teams are trying to prepare for the postseason and there’s often little tangible benefit to playing an extra title game for teams that have already reasonably secured a playoff berth.

“It’s a great event,” Byrne said of the SEC championship game. “I don’t like the idea of it going away, but I think it’s reality, with an expanded playoff.”

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.

Providence sophomore forward Oswin Erhunmwunse plans to enter the Transfer Portal, On3’s Pete Nakos reports. Erhunmwunse was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024.

In two seasons at Providence, the Nigeria native averaged 6.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 0.5 assists in 65 games. Erhunmwunse scored in double figures in nine of his 33 games this season. The 6’10” forward was Providence‘s seventh-leading scorer, and led the team in rebounding and blocks this year.

The sophomore forward hits the Portal as Providence basketball heads into a new era. After three seasons at the helm, head coach Kim English and the program parted ways after the Friars posted a 15-18 (7-13) record this season and failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Across three seasons, English led the program to a 48-52 (23-37) record with no NCAA Tournament appearances.

Providence is heading into new era under head coach Bryan Hodgson

To replace English, Providence quickly agreed to terms on a five-year deal with USF head coach Bryan Hodgson. In his lone season at the program, Hodgson led the Bulls to a 25-9 (15-3) record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. He previously served as head coach at Arkansas State (2023-25).

“Providence got themselves a proven winner,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said in a statement. “Bryan is a rising star in the business. He plays a modern, high-octane, hard-playing, tough style of basketball. He’s relentless on the recruiting trail, plays a style that elite level players love to play in, and knows how to connect with his players.

“In just three years as a head coach, Bryan delivered conference championships at Arkansas State and South Florida. His brand of basketball wins! Bryan will bring a winning brand of basketball to Providence that the community will love to watch.”

The Olean, NY native rose to prominence as a member of Oats’ staff at Alabama. Hodgson spent four seasons with the Crimson Tide (2019-23), helping lead the program to a 92-42 record and two Sweet Sixteen appearances. He has been tabbed as one of the fastest rising coaches in the sport, and that has resulted in the job at Providence.

Providence is desperately seeking a turnaround under Hodgson, as it has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2023. Oswin Erhunmwunse, however, will not be sticking around for the rebuild.

Although general managers are on the rise in college basketball, Tom Izzo still oversees all aspects of his Michigan State program. He noted key differences between the collegiate and professional games when it comes to dealing with money.

With that, though, Izzo wants to see an important change in college sports. He called for more transparency as the NIL era continues to evolve with revenue-sharing now in place.

SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter

Although there’s a revenue-sharing cap in college sports, which is due to increase this summer, Izzo said it’s different from the salary caps in the NBA and NFL. Because player salaries are known at the professional level, there’s a different dynamic when dealing with money. That’s why Izzo wants to see similar transparency in the college game.

“I hear all these guys got GMs and all that, I think it’s great,” Izzo told Dan Patrick. “But at the end of the day, the head coach is making the decisions. In the NBA and NFL, it’s different because there’s salary caps, everybody knows there’s transparency.

“If I looked at everything we’re doing – the NIL, the tampering … the transfer portal – if I had one thing I’d like to change, it would be just transparency so we all know what everybody’s making and doing, and then, we’re not getting lied to by everybody. Transparency would really help the profession right now.”

Through the early part of the rev-share era, the College Sports Commission has taken steps toward more transparency. The CSC releases regular NIL deal reports from the NIL Go clearinghouse detailing the amount of third-party deals cleared and denied, as well as how much they’re worth, and the number of deals in arbitration. The most recent NIL deal flow report came out March 10.

However, when it specifically comes to rev-share dollars directly from schools, universities are keeping those close to the vest. In fact, a trio of journalists in Louisiana is planning to sue LSU over such records.

Tom Izzo: ‘Adapt’ doesn’t mean ‘there’s no rules’

During the interview, Tom Izzo also responded to a quote from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day earlier this week. He cited the need to “adapt or die” in college athletics, drawing comparisons to the documentary The Dinosaurs on Netflix.

Dan Patrick also pointed out the number of coaches who retired, including Jay Wright and Tony Bennett, amid the NIL era. Izzo called himself “too stubborn” to step away, but acknowledged he has to grapple with concerns about the coaching profession by staying on the sidelines. That said, he agreed with Day’s statement.

“I feel good, to be honest with you,” Izzo said. “I still have the energy, I still love my players. I don’t love my profession. But that’s three out of four are on my side, so I’ve got to deal with the profession. Like Ryan said, adapt somewhat.

“But adapt doesn’t mean, all of a sudden, there’s no rules. There’s no accountability. What we’re going through now, anytime there’s a problem, just get a lawyer and fix it. I guess lawyers must be that good or judges.”

Heading into the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, TV ratings continue to rise, CBS Sports and TNT Sports said. The Sweet 16 and Elite 8 also delivered for the networks.

Through the first two weekends of March Madness, viewership is up 9% and on track to be the most-watched tournament since 1993. Of course, part of that increase can be attributed to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel measurement, which debuted last fall. But CBS and TNT Sports are still getting big TV ratings wins as part of a strong year for college basketball.

SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter

Now, the stage is set for the Final Four this weekend in Indianapolis. Here are the most-watched Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, per college basketball TV ratings data obtained by On3. TruTV figures are via Programming Insider and Awful Announcing’s Manny Soloway.

Elite 8: UConn vs. Duke

Date/Time: March 29, 5:05 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 13.427 million

An average of 13.4 million viewers tuned to CBS as UConn rallied from 19 points down to defeat Duke and punch its ticket to the Final Four. That includes a peak of 18.9 million viewers, CBS and TNT previously announced, as Alex Karaban found Braylon Mullins for the game-winning shot with 0.4 second left. It then became the most-watched game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament so far.

Elite 8: Purdue vs. Arizona

Date/Time: March 28, 8:49 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 10.143 million

Through the first half of Saturday’s primetime Sweet 16 game, Purdue had an upset on its mind as the Boilermakers took a halftime lead against Arizona. But the Wildcats flipped the script out of the break, outscoring Purdue 48-26 in the second half. As a result, Arizona is off to its first Final Four in 25 years.

Sweet 16: St. John’s vs. Duke

Date/Time: March 27, 7:10 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 9.371 million

Caleb Foster’s return came at the perfect time for Duke in the Sweet 16 matchup against St. John’s. Foster and Patrick Ngongba made key plays down the stretch to help the Blue Devils take down the Red Storm and advance to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Texas vs. Purdue

Date/Time: March 26, 7:10 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 8.352 million

One of a number of close games in the Sweet 16, Texas tied Purdue with 11.7 seconds left as the Longhorns looked to continue a run that began in the First Four. But Trey Kaufman-Renn got the game-winning putback as time expired to propel the Boilermakers into the Elite 8 with the 79-77 win.

Elite 8: Iowa vs. Illinois

Date/Time: March 28, 6:09 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 8.237 million

For the first time in 20 years, Illinois is heading to the Final Four. The Fighting Illini bounced back from a 12-2 hole to start Saturday’s game against Iowa and took total control en route to the victory. Across both TBS and truTV, an average of more than 8.2 million people tuned in for the matchup.

Elite 8: Tennessee vs. Michigan

Date/Time: March 29, 2:15 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 7.493 million

Early in Sunday’s opener, it looked like Tennessee was going to make things interesting against Michigan. But a 21-0 Wolverines run put UM in total control en route to a blowout victory over the Volunteers in Chicago to secure a spot in the Final Four.

Sweet 16: Michigan State vs. UConn

Date/Time: March 27, 9:45 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 7.337 million

A battle between two storied programs got interesting down the stretch as Michigan State rallied to keep things close against UConn. But Tarris Reed and Alex Karaban came through and helped the Huskies keep their season alive with the victory.

Sweet 16: Arkansas vs. Arizona

Date/Time: March 26, 9:45 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 5.525 million

In the Sweet 16, Arizona took complete control early against Arkansas and did not look back en route to the resounding 109-88 victory. Brayden Burries and Koa Peat led the charge for the Wildcats as part of a complete performance.

Sweet 16: Alabama vs. Michigan

Date/Time: March 27, 7:35 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 4.833 million

After Alabama took a lead into halftime against Michigan, the Wolverines got on track with a dominant showing after the break. A Crimson Tide scoring drought opened the door for UM to capitalize and punch its ticket to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Iowa vs. Nebraska

Date/Time: March 26, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 3.536 million

A storied rivalry took a big stage as Iowa and Nebraska squared off in the Sweet 16. Nebraska led for more than 32 minutes in the matchup, but the Hawkeyes used a late surge to get the victory and continue an impressive run under first-year coach Ben McCollum.

Sweet 16: Illinois vs. Houston

Date/Time: March 26, 10:05 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Viewers: 2.518 million

As Houston played in front of a de facto home crowd in the Sweet 16, the Cougars struggled mightily against Illinois in the early going. UH made a late charge, but it wasn’t enough. The Fighting Illini defeated 2-seeded Houston to advance to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Tennessee vs. Iowa State

Date/Time: March 27, 10:10 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Viewers: 2.757 million

Billed as a physical matchup, Tennessee and Iowa State lived up to the billing in the Sweet 16. The Vols then got into the driver’s seat with a 20-8 run to start the second half and cashed in on 10 missed free throws from the Cyclones to get the 76-62 win.

With the Final Four on the horizon, college basketball will look to finish with more strong TV ratings. Games get underway Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Tennessee transfer Alyssa Latham has committed to Virginia Tech, sources told On3.

Latham, a 6-2 forward from Glenwood (IL) averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this season for the Lady Vols. Latham entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer on March 25 and also visited Ole Miss before making her decision.

Latham was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2023-24 following her rookie campaign at Syracuse. She averaged 8.6 points per game and seven rebounds to rank fourth and first on the team, respectively.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal tracker. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter (X) account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

With March coming to a close on Tuesday, Zyron Forstall became the latest 5-star recruit in the 2027 class to commit, choosing Texas A&M.

The IMG Academy standout was the second five-star to commit in the month after a slow month of February with only one. In total, nine of the nation’s 20 five-stars in the Rivals Industry Ranking are currently committed. And that number will expand to 32 later in the cycle to match the number of picks in the first round of the NFL Draft.

We’re sure to see even more fireworks in April, and heading into the month, Rivals breaks down the nine committed five-stars:

The Rivals Industry Ranking is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all three primary recruiting media services. The Rivals Industry Ranking is the industry’s most advanced, complete, and unbiased measurement. It equally weights the primary recruiting media services as follows: Rivals (33%), 247Sports (33%), and ESPN (33%). 

DL Jalen Brewster – Texas Tech

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 1
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 1
247Sports: No. 6
ESPN: No. 1
School: Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, TX)
Scouting Summary: Uber-athletic defensive line prospect with true game-wrecking ability. Measured in at around 6-foot-3, 300 pounds prior to his junior season. Tests as an elite athlete in the combine setting, easily cracking 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Carries that athleticism over to the field where he has flashes of dominance on Friday nights. Lines up all over the defensive line for Cedar Hill (Texas) while facing top competition. Dangerous pass rusher from any spot. Combines explosive get-off with the movement skills of a much smaller player, carrying elite testing numbers directly onto the field. Consistently collapses pockets and disrupts plays before they develop. Has legitimate game-wrecking moments on film. The quickness to dart into the backfield and the speed to hunt down ball carriers is eye-popping. May not possess premier length. Father was a third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. Tracking as the top defensive line prospect early on in the 2027 cycle with the upside to be an early NFL Draft pick.

EDGE David Jacobs – Ohio State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 3
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 12
247Sports: No. 1
ESPN: No. 4
School: Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA)
Scout’s Take: “Jacobs looks to have one of the highest floors of the group and has done enough to earn a fifth star for Rivals. Jacobs is one of the more physically-developed edge rusher prospects in the cycle, checking in at around 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. He had a great junior season at Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity, racking up 24 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. The Buckeye pledge has a quick first step and quality bend. He also had back-to-back good showings at the Under Armour All-America Game and the Polynesian Bowl in January. While Jacobs lacks prototypical length for top prospects at the position (sub 32-inch arms), the level of polish and high floor make him one of the safer bets of the 2027 edge rusher group at this point.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings

RB Kemon Spell – Georgia

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 6
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 11
247Sports: No. 7
ESPN: No. 8
School: McKeesport (McKeesport, PA)
Scouting Summary: All-encompassing running back that can win with power and elusiveness on inside and outside runs. 5-foot-9, 200-plus pounds with tremendous twitch and leg drive. Plays with low pad level and an excellent center of gravity in order to deliver blows and take them himself. Has breakaway speed in order to hit the homerun. Ran sub-11 in the 100m during his sophomore track season. Shows the ability to catch the ball away from his frame as a pass catcher. Has all the physical and athletic tools to make an immediate impact at the next level and beyond. Younger prospect for the cycle.

WR Easton Royal – Texas

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 9
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 5
247Sports: No. 30
ESPN: No. 12
School: Brother Martin (New Orleans, LA)
Scouting Summary: The most dynamic pass-catcher early in the 2027 cycle and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Measured at around 5-foot-11, 185 pounds prior to his junior season. One of the fastest top prospects in the cycle, running a scintillating 10.3-second mark in the 100 meters as a sophomore. Brings that elite speed to the gridiron—lethal on vertical routes, easily pulling away from defensive backs downfield. Tough to tackle in the open field and will take it the distance if he finds space at the second level. Shows natural shiftiness as a route-runner, giving him the ability to separate at every level. Among the more productive top wide receivers in the 2027 cycle as a junior. Can continue improving his ability to attack catches with his arms extended, but has shown an expanded catch radius with several highlight-reel grabs. One of the youngest top prospects in the class with a late July birthday prior to his freshman season of college football. Athleticism, budding polish, and big-play ability make him one of the top overall playmakers in the cycle with the potential to develop into a first-round NFL Draft pick.

OT Cooper Hackett – Oklahoma

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 15
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 6
247Sports: No. 41
ESPN: No. 27
School: Fort Gibson (Fort Gibson, OK)
Scouting Summary: Hyper-athletic offensive tackle prospect with rare natural movement skills and a frame that points to immense long-term upside as one of the highest-ceiling linemen early in the 2027 cycle. Measured around 6-foot-7, 260 pounds with elite length (arms over 34 inches) and big hands prior to his junior season. Has the frame to add significant mass once in a college strength program. Lines up at right tackle for his high school, where his athletic traits immediately stand out. Moves with rare fluidity for his size and plays with surprising power through his lower half, generating torque and leverage at the point of attack. Shows balance and body control that project well to the next level. Displays loose flexibility and consistently lowers his pads to handle shorter defenders. Plays with a physical edge and looks to finish blocks through the whistle. Further showcases his athleticism as a disruptive defensive end. Doubles as a talented basketball player on the high school and AAU circuit who can run the court and play above the rim. Will need to add considerable mass and adjust to stronger competition at the next level, which could delay early playing time. Possesses an outstanding developmental profile with the big frame, movement skills, and multi-sport coordination that give him the upside to develop into an early-round NFL Draft pick.

EDGE Zyron Forstall – Texas A&M

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 16
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 146
247Sports: No. 13
ESPN: No. 11
School:IMG Academy (Fla.)
Scouting Summary: Electric pass rusher who is already showing signs of dominance as a high school underclassman. Measured in at 6-foot-3.5, 235 pounds prior to his junior season. Registers as a strong athlete in the combine setting. An apex predator off the edge. Flashes excellent first-step quickness, knifing into the backfield with regularity. Considerable power at the point of attack. Sinks his hips and drives through offensive linemen. Lives behind the line of scrimmage, where he’s an emphatic, physical finisher. Has shown early signs of a pass rush skill set with an explosive spin move. Also lines up as an off-ball linebacker at times. Motor runs white hot. Stalks down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. Totaled nearly 30 tackles for loss and double-digit sacks as a sophomore. Has game-wrecking qualities, forcing fumbles at a high rate.

WR Jamier Brown – Ohio State

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 17
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 48
247Sports: No. 20
ESPN: No. 9
School: Wayne (Wayne, OH)
The Skinny: The five-star pass-catcher has already been committed to Ohio State for over a year. He made his pledge on Nov. 23, 2024 and has shown no signs of backing off since, even with the departure of Brian Hartline. The Buckeyes inked five-star WR Chris Henry Jr. after a long-standing commitment and they’ll now hope to do the same with Brown. He’s the top-ranked prospect in Ohio.

ATH Honor Fa’alave-Johnson – USC

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 18
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 36
247Sports: No. 22
ESPN: No. 19
School: Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA)
Scout’s Take: “Fa’alave-Johnson is one of the more unique athletes to come out of the West in some time and could legitimately play four positions at the college level. He was recruited primarily as a running back and safety but we’ve seen him play receiver and corner and he’s very capable at those two positions as well. He’s a true home run threat at running back with explosive speed and 22.76 MPH on the GPS as a junior. He has some power to him as well, excellent contact balance and can run through would be tacklers. At safety, he’s smart, rangy, has excellent ball skills and plays with a mean streak. He has an edge in his game and is one of those players you love on your team but hate to play against. He brings special teams value as a return man as well and has all the talent to compete for playing time immediately at the college level.” — Greg Biggins, Rivals National Analyst

SAF Kamarui Dorsey – Texas A&M

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 19
Rivals300 Ranking: No. 24
247Sports: No. 39
ESPN: No. 20
School: Hampton (Hampton, GA)
Scouting Summary: Physically imposing, versatile safety prospect that plays with violence in the run game who has massive range as a middle of the field rover. Verified 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with great length. Two-way player who doubles as a receiver for his high school program. Shows excellent movement skills on tape on both sides of the ball and in the camp circuit. Has great long-speed in order to cover sideline to sideline as a center fielder or when coming downhill to run the alley. Excellent trigger when working downhill and has no problem detonating ball carriers, very comfortable around the box. Has the ability to play man coverage in the slot or outside. Needs to continue developing hip flexibility and fluidity in order to be more reliable as a coverage player in the underneath and intermediate levels of the field. Has the ability to walk in and compete as a heavy nickel early on at the next level that will eventually develop into a true three-dimensional defensive back that has the ability to play man, zone, and stop the run.

Missouri shooting guard Sebastian Mack plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. He spent one year with the Tigers.

In 18 games last year, Mack put up seven points per game, 1.3 rebounds per game, 0.6 assists per game, shot 40.7% from the floor and 27.3% from three-point range. Mack spent two years at UCLA before transferring to Missouri for the 2025-26 season.

As a member of the Class of 2023, Mack was a four-star recruit out of Chicago (Ill.) Coronado (Nev.), according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 2 overall prospect in Nevada, the No. 15 shooting guard in the class and the No. 61 overall prospect in the class.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves. Check it out!

Mack was not the only Missouri player who plans to enter the portal as of late. Fellow guard Anthony Robinson II is also in.

In 33 games this season, Robinson put up 8.9 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, three assists per game, shot 41% from the floor and 31.4% from three-point range. They were above his career averages through his collegiate tenure.

As a member of the Class of 2023, Robinson was a three-star recruit out of Tallahassee (Fla.) Florida State University School, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 14 overall prospect in the state, the No. 22 point guard in the class and the No. 144 overall prospect in the class.

Ohio State 125 pounder Brendan McCrone entered the NCAA transfer portal as a grad transfer, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed. He’ll have one more year of eligibility.

McCrone is a two-time NCAA qualifier in his career, but was not in the starting lineup in 2025-26. The Buckeyes saw shifts in weight with Nic Bouzakis going 125 and Ben Davino manning the 133 pound spot, with the latter making the NCAA finals.

McCrone went 6-1 in his limited action this past season while Bouzakis went 17-4, but fell in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament. McCrone is 45-25 in his career, making the NCAA Tournament at 125 pounds in 2024 and ’25.

The lone loss for McCrone this season was to 2026 All-American Vince Robinson of NC State, 12-3. Robinson won the NCAA title in 2025.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Brendan McCrone latest Big Ten lightweight to enter portal

McCrone wasn’t the only Big Ten lightweight to get into the portal Wednesday. Wisconsin’s Zan Fugitt, a 2025 All-American entered the portal with two years left. Fellow 125 pounder Nicolar Rivera, also of Wisconsin, entered the portal as well.

Fugitt finished in fourth at 133 pounds in 2025 during his redshirt freshman season, going 22-9 that year. He followed it up with a 21-8 campaign this past season, but went 1-2 at the NCAA Tournament.

In two varsity seasons with the Badgers, Fugitt went 43-17 and is expected to stay at 133 pounds next season. He’ll be a hot commodity as a previous All-American at a lightweight.

The move with Fugitt is the latest change to the Wisconsin program. The Badgers also saw some movement on the coaching staff.

Wisconsin associate head coach Jon Reader announced he would step down from the coaching staff to pursue opportunities outside the sport. Reader joined the program under head coach Chris Bono in 2018.