Seth Emerson
@sethemerson.bsky.social
Senior writer for The Athletic, covering college football with a focus on the SEC. Longtime Georgia beat writer, still based in Athens.
Tennessee LB Arion Carter accepted $427 from an agent for a plane ticket during the pre-draft process. Carter withdrew from the draft because of toe surgery and said he repaid the ticket. NCAA suspended him for two games anyway. www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...
Tennessee football player suspended 2 games by NCAA over $400 flight, school says
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said the team stands behind Arion Carter, who repaid an agent for the flight after withdrawing from NFL Draft.
nytimes.com
Ole Miss has filed suit against two players who transferred to LSU, detailing what it says is a breach of contract: www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...
Ole Miss files suit against two players who transferred to LSU (Gift Article)
Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper followed Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU.
nytimes.com
Stanford football players move toward creating collective bargaining unit. There’s still a long way to go, as @ralphdrussoath.bsky.social points out, but college leaders are also more open to it than they used to be: www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...
Stanford football players move toward creating collective bargaining unit, with long way to go (Gift Article)
State labor laws vary widely, so a model in which athletes bargain with their schools would likely not set a national standard.
nytimes.com
Georgia is the preseason pick to win the SEC in the media poll.
This part from my talk with Sankey stood out, touching what were once third rails:
Seth Emerson@sethemerson.bsky.social · 2w agoGreg Sankey, in an interview with The Athletic, makes clear he doesn't support an SEC breakaway - and advised against it when presidents asked almost a year ago. But Sankey acknowledged others favor some form of breakaway, and options are being explored. www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
Greg Sankey, in an interview with The Athletic, makes clear he doesn't support an SEC breakaway - and advised against it when presidents asked almost a year ago. But Sankey acknowledged others favor some form of breakaway, and options are being explored. www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
SEC commissioner doesn't favor breakaway but says options being explored
nytimes.com
Lane Kiffin said today that "a lot of people won" through his move from LSU to Ole Miss. We heard him out, then ranked the winners and losers (plus one in the middle). nytimes.com/athletic/7466356/2026/07/23/lane-kiffin-lsu-ole-miss-winners-losers/
Lane Kiffin says 'a lot of people won' from LSU move. We ranked the winners and losers
nytimes.com
Lane Kiffin has been off social media since May 11 at the urging of his son Knox. Greg Sankey said he told Kiffin: "Give Knox a hug for me."
Pete Golding talked about Lane Kiffin. And somehow it wasn’t the most interesting part of his appearance at SEC media days. That came when he laid into tampering rules: www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding lays into tampering rules, has ‘no ill will’ toward Lane Kiffin (Gift Article)
New Ole Miss coach Pete Golding had a lot to say when asked about tampering allegations and his relationship with former boss Lane Kiffin.
nytimes.com
The night Lionel Messi got a Texas A&M jersey from Marcel Reed. “Somebody asked me, ‘What did you guys talk about?’ I’m like, the guy doesn’t speak a lick of English." www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
The night Lionel Messi got a jersey from Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed
The exchange in early June at Kyle Field featured a brief handshake, a swapped jersey and ball, and a short, stilted conversation.
nytimes.com
So the SEC breakaway talk is real. But there are ranges of "breaking away." The choices, from the nuclear option to the mild and in between: www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
What are the SEC's breakaway choices? From going nuclear to the mild option
nytimes.com
Kirby Smart and Georgia, with the youngest roster in FBS, are a test of the transfer portal era: “We still believe in a high school model.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
Georgia’s Kirby Smart on why Bulldogs favor high school recruiting over the portal (Gift Article)
Despite the success of other programs embracing the transfer portal, Georgia's Kirby Smart is using his money to retain his own recruits.
nytimes.com
Tampa Bay ordered up a fireworks show for media attending an SEC media days party. Your move, Big Ten.
“Ryan that’s an interesting point. Let me follow up with you on …. Ryan? Ryan?”
The Athletic@theathletic.com · 2w agoRyan Clark was on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Monday when he was informed of the company's decision to cut ties during the show, sources tell @andrewmarchand.bsky.social. Clark did not finish the program.
New Kentucky coach Will Stein may have just had his Curt Cignetti moment: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
New Kentucky coach Will Stein may have just had his Curt Cignetti moment (Gift Article)
“I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said at SEC media days when asked why he thinks he can win in Lexington.
nytimes.com
A year later, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz looks ahead of his time. He just wishes everyone had paid more attention to what he actually said. www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
Missouri hasn’t made the College Football Playoff. Its coach wants 24 teams — and no committee (Gift Article)
"As nice as I can be about it, committees are a bad idea," Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC football media days.
nytimes.com
SEC breakaway talk “is real,” per commissioner Greg Sankey: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
Commissioner Greg Sankey insists SEC breakaway threat is real as rules frustrations linger (Gift Article)
Greg Sankey opened SEC football media days by talking about the Protect College Sports Act, NCAA frustrations, Playoff expansion and more.
nytimes.com
In advance of next week's SEC media days I put together a preseason All-SEC team (and second team). And my takeaways: - The conference is loaded at the skill positions, and edge rusher. - The trenches, not as much. - Then again, who knows anymore. www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
Preseason All-SEC teams: Trinidad Chambliss, Colin Simmons among 2026’s high-impact returners
With Chambliss, Marcel Reed, Arch Manning, Gunner Stockton and more, the SEC has stiff competition at quarterback this year.
nytimes.com
Gotta give it up for Argentina. They studied “Atlanta” stadium well. They knew they never wanted to have a lead there they could blow. That’s just smart planning.
It look like there will be another move in the Ole Miss-LSU saga: www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...
Ole Miss considers suing 2 LSU transfers over unpaid buyouts in latest twist to offseason of drama
nytimes.com
Okay back to baseball season, where the play of the season just happened:
stim possible@jessespector.com · 4w agohere’s your benny hill
I was surprised too until I found out the English announcer was Darrin Fletcher, who was Harris’ teammate on the White Sox …. Now being told the announcer is Darren Fletcher, whatever.
John Hollinger@johnhollinger.bsky.social · 4w agoDid not expect Lenny Harris's name to come up in the midst of a tense World Cup knockout game
Egypt wearing Falcons colors in Atlanta and holding a big lead in the fourth quarter makes me a bit nervous.
The American public watching Christian Pulisic after being told for 12 years that he’s our best soccer player:
What Would You Say You Do Here? Office Space Meme
ALT: What Would You Say You Do Here? Office Space Meme
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has there ever been a man so effective at demolishing the vibe. historic scarer of the hoes
I apologize, we must be enemies for the next two hours.
Poirot Hercule Poirot
ALT: Poirot Hercule Poirot
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