James Williams

Buccaneers NFL WEEK 5 Baker Mayfield has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first 3-0 start in 21 years, engineering game-winning drives in all three contests. Here's how he's become the NFL's clutch king.

Borders college welcomes record numbers to summer programme

NFL.com placed Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Rueben Bain Jr. at the top of its Defensive Rookie of the Year rankings, a strong endorsement for a player who entered the league with questions about measurables but no doubts about production. Analyst Dan Parr wrote that Bain’s draft‑season scrutiny over arm length only fueled the edge rusher’s motivation, and the Buccaneers appear thrilled to have landed him at No. 15 overall.

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Hillsborough County Commission Chair Ken Hagan delivered a clear message this week that could reshape the already turbulent path to a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. The county will not vote on the $2.3 billion ballpark deal until Tampa City Council approves the binding agreement first.

The SEC and Big Ten delivered a seismic shift by formally supporting the Senate’s college sports bill after last‑minute negotiations over NIL language and the role of third‑party “associated entities.” Their endorsement revived legislation that had been drifting toward collapse. School presidents in both leagues approved the move once concessions clarified how collectives, sponsors, and multimedia‑rights partners could operate under federal oversight. Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell called the agreement a major breakthrough that pushes the bill toward a Senate vote and a more stable future for college sports.

The University of South Florida enters this new era with a rare combination of market strength, institutional momentum, and long‑term upside. Tampa is one of the most valuable media markets in college sports, and the federal bill backed by the SEC and Big Ten creates a regulated environment that rewards schools with strong geography, digital reach, and political alignment. For USF, the path upward becomes clearer: build football success, expand brand visibility, and position the Bulls as a strategic asset in any future conference reshuffling.

The Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets, then shifted their deadline focus to top hitters including Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Daulton Varsho and Lars Nootbaar.

At USF, everyone is watching the proposed Protect College Sports Act, which would reshape realignment by putting college athletics under a more regulated federal framework. The bill would create a limited antitrust exemption, establish a stricter revenue-share cap, and tighten rules around NIL, transfers, eligibility, tampering, and associated entities that help funnel money to athletes.

The Protect College Sports Act could dramatically change the future of Florida State, Miami and the ACC if Congress passes it and President Donald Trump signs it into law. With the SEC and Big Ten now supporting the bill, the legislation has a clearer path forward. Still, its limits on conference membership, spending and realignment could make staying in the ACC a more attractive option for both Florida schools.