Chadron State’s Elliott Field will host the 13th&nbsp;annual Nebraska-Wyoming Six-Man Football All-Star Game on Friday, May 31.&nbsp; Kickoff is set for 7 o’clock.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After losing three straight games, Nebraska dominated last year’s contest by a 52-16 margin. The series is tied at 6-6.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two members of Hay Springs’ team that reached the six-man championship game are among the 19 Nebraska players on the roster.&nbsp; They are lineman Jordyn Anderson and running back Gage Mintken.&nbsp; Recent Sioux County High graduate William Skavdahl, who is listed as an end, also on the roster.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are the other Nebraska all-stars:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur County—Dane Pilakowski and Justin Wenzel, Cody-Kilgore—Drew Farrell and Jacob Knox, Garden County—Wyland Lobner, Hampton—Evan Pankoke, Parkview Christian—Brayden Bayliss, Anthony Page and Jaxton Supencheck, Potter-Dix—Jaxen Buettenback and Brayden Kasten, Southwest High (Bartley)—Nathan Rippe, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller—Ryan Arbuthnot and Colt Schroeder, Wallace—Riley Strawder, and Wilcox-Hildreth—Grayson Sheen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600089830261.jpeg" alt="High School Football File Photo" />
 <figcaption>High School Football File Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By: Con MarshallChadron State’s Elliott Field will host the 13th&nbsp;annual Nebraska-Wyoming Six-Man Football All-Star Game on Friday, May 31.&nbsp; Kickoff is set for 7 o’clock.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After losing three straight games, Nebraska dominated last year’s contest by a 52-16 margin. The series is tied at 6-6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Two members of Hay Springs’ team that reached the six-man championship game are among the 19 Nebraska players on the roster.&nbsp; They are lineman Jordyn Anderson and running back Gage Mintken.&nbsp; Recent Sioux County High graduate William Skavdahl, who is listed as an end, also on the roster.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are the other Nebraska all-stars:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arthur County—Dane Pilakowski and Justin Wenzel, Cody-Kilgore—Drew Farrell and Jacob Knox, Garden County—Wyland Lobner, Hampton—Evan Pankoke, Parkview Christian—Brayden Bayliss, Anthony Page and Jaxton Supencheck, Potter-Dix—Jaxen Buettenback and Brayden Kasten, Southwest High (Bartley)—Nathan Rippe, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller—Ryan Arbuthnot and Colt Schroeder, Wallace—Riley Strawder, and Wilcox-Hildreth—Grayson Sheen.

🏈 CSC hosting annual six-man Nebraska-vs-Wyoming battle Friday night

The NCAA baseball tournament doesn't carry the same national intrigue, luster and lore of March Madness, but it's another 64-team field that will begin creating lasting memories when Regional action begins Friday.

Personally, the Road to Omaha is something I always enjoy watching.&nbsp; Clicking around all over the traditional ESPN channels and now everywhere on ESPN+ from the opening rounds through Super Regionals, and every few years culminating with a road trip to the College World Series in Omaha.

There are several teams that could take the trophy this summer, so I offer you a few tournament thoughts &amp; predictions for who I expect to play in Omaha! Regional Winners - Bolded

KNOXVILLE REGIONAL #1 Tennessee, #2 Southern Miss, #3 Indiana, #4 Northern Kentucky Knoxville pulls me in different directions in a battle of head versus heart.&nbsp; My wife is a Southern Miss alum, so naturally I've developed a fandom for the Hattiesburg squad over the years and they're so fun to watch at home.&nbsp; Tennessee is arguably the best team in the nation and have some recent Rockies draft picks, plus a bunch more that are tasting the Majors as exciting young prospects, and that's made the Vols a program that's been a constant competitor.&nbsp; Head over heart wins this pick - I'm going with the Vols. Sorry Shaunda, I hope you'll forgive me!

GREENVILLE REGIONAL #1 East Carolina, #2 Wake Forest, #3 VCU, #4 Evansville

NORMAN REGIONAL #1 Oklahoma, #2 Duke, #3 UConn, #4 Oral Roberts

TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL #1 Florida State, #2 Alabama, #3 UCF, #4 Stetson

FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL #1 Arkansas, #2 Louisiana Tech, #3 Kansas State, #4 Southeast Missouri State

CHARLOTTESVILLE REGIONAL #1 Virginia, #2 Mississippi State, #3 St. John's, #4 Penn

TUCSON REGIONAL #1 Arizona, #2 Dallas Baptist, #3 West Virginia, #4 Grand Canyon

The nation's leading team in strikeouts-to-walks, the Cats will pitch their way into the Supers.

CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL #1 North Carolina, #2 LSU, #3 Wofford, #4 LIU

LEXINGTON REGIONAL #1 Kentucky, #2 Indiana State, #3 Illinois, #4 Western Michigan

CORVALLIS REGIONAL #1 Oregon State, #2 UC Irvine, #3 Nicholls State, #4 Tulane

RALEIGH REGIONAL #1 NC State, #2 South Carolina, #3 James Madison, #4 Bryant

ATHENS REGIONAL #1 Georgia, #2 UNC-Wilmington, #3 Georgia Tech, #4 Army

Charlie Condon leads the country in home runs with 35 for Georgia.&nbsp; SEC baseball is always so deep and dangerous, I like the Dawgs at home to advance.

CLEMSON REGIONAL #1 Clemson, #2 Vanderbilt, #3 Coastal Carolina, #4 High Point

STILLWATER REGIONAL #1 Oklahoma State, #2 Nebraska, #3 Florida, #4 Niagara

Brett Sears has been among the best pitchers in the country for Nebraska.&nbsp; He's 8-0 with a 2.00 ERA, his opponents hit under .200 and he's struck out 97 hitters compared to just 18 walks.&nbsp; Okie State has two dominant front-line starters that don't get themselves into trouble.&nbsp; Stillwater is a hitter's park however, so which staff keeps the ball in the yard, especially with a frisky three-seed Florida team waiting to launch away?!

SANTA BARBARA REGIONAL #1 UC-Santa Barbara, #2 San Diego, #3 Oregon, #4 Fresno State

COLLEGE STATION REGIONAL #1 Texas A&amp;M, #2 Louisiana, #3 Texas, #4 Grambling

SUPER REGIONALS Tennessee over Wake Forest Florida State over Duke Arkansas over Mississippi State Arizona over North Carolina Oregon State over Kentucky Georgia over South Carolina Oklahoma State over Clemson Louisiana over UC-Santa Barbara CWS FIELD Tennessee Florida State Arkansas Arizona Oregon State Georgia Oklahoma State Louisiana CWS CHAMPION Tennessee

By: Dave Collins Sports DirectorThe NCAA baseball tournament doesn't carry the same national intrigue, luster and lore of March Madness, but it's another 64-team field that will begin creating lasting memories when Regional action begins Friday.Personally, the Road to Omaha is something I always enjoy watching.&nbsp; Clicking around all over the traditional ESPN channels and now everywhere on ESPN+ from the opening rounds through Super Regionals, and every few years culminating with a road trip to the College World Series in Omaha.There are several teams that could take the trophy this summer, so I offer you a few tournament thoughts &amp; predictions for who I expect to play in Omaha! Regional Winners - BoldedKNOXVILLE REGIONAL #1 Tennessee, #2 Southern Miss, #3 Indiana, #4 Northern Kentucky Knoxville pulls me in different directions in a battle of head versus heart.&nbsp; My wife is a Southern Miss alum, so naturally I've developed a fandom for the Hattiesburg squad over the years and they're so fun to watch at home.&nbsp; Tennessee is arguably the best team in the nation and have some recent Rockies draft picks, plus a bunch more that are tasting the Majors as exciting young prospects, and that's made the Vols a program that's been a constant competitor.&nbsp; Head over heart wins this pick - I'm going with the Vols. Sorry Shaunda, I hope you'll forgive me!GREENVILLE REGIONAL #1 East Carolina, #2 Wake Forest, #3 VCU, #4 EvansvilleNORMAN REGIONAL #1 Oklahoma, #2 Duke, #3 UConn, #4 Oral RobertsTALLAHASSEE REGIONAL #1 Florida State, #2 Alabama, #3 UCF, #4 StetsonFAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL #1 Arkansas, #2 Louisiana Tech, #3 Kansas State, #4 Southeast Missouri StateCHARLOTTESVILLE REGIONAL #1 Virginia, #2 Mississippi State, #3 St. John's, #4 PennTUCSON REGIONAL #1 Arizona, #2 Dallas Baptist, #3 West Virginia, #4 Grand CanyonThe nation's leading team in strikeouts-to-walks, the Cats will pitch their way into the Supers.CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL #1 North Carolina, #2 LSU, #3 Wofford, #4 LIULEXINGTON REGIONAL #1 Kentucky, #2 Indiana State, #3 Illinois, #4 Western MichiganCORVALLIS REGIONAL #1 Oregon State, #2 UC Irvine, #3 Nicholls State, #4 TulaneRALEIGH REGIONAL #1 NC State, #2 South Carolina, #3 James Madison, #4 BryantATHENS REGIONAL #1 Georgia, #2 UNC-Wilmington, #3 Georgia Tech, #4 ArmyCharlie Condon leads the country in home runs with 35 for Georgia.&nbsp; SEC baseball is always so deep and dangerous, I like the Dawgs at home to advance.CLEMSON REGIONAL #1 Clemson, #2 Vanderbilt, #3 Coastal Carolina, #4 High PointSTILLWATER REGIONAL #1 Oklahoma State, #2 Nebraska, #3 Florida, #4 NiagaraBrett Sears has been among the best pitchers in the country for Nebraska.&nbsp; He's 8-0 with a 2.00 ERA, his opponents hit under .200 and he's struck out 97 hitters compared to just 18 walks.&nbsp; Okie State has two dominant front-line starters that don't get themselves into trouble.&nbsp; Stillwater is a hitter's park however, so which staff keeps the ball in the yard, especially with a frisky three-seed Florida team waiting to launch away?!SANTA BARBARA REGIONAL #1 UC-Santa Barbara, #2 San Diego, #3 Oregon, #4 Fresno StateCOLLEGE STATION REGIONAL #1 Texas A&amp;M, #2 Louisiana, #3 Texas, #4 GramblingSUPER REGIONALS Tennessee over Wake Forest Florida State over Duke Arkansas over Mississippi State Arizona over North Carolina Oregon State over Kentucky Georgia over South Carolina Oklahoma State over Clemson Louisiana over UC-Santa Barbara CWS FIELD Tennessee Florida State Arkansas Arizona Oregon State Georgia Oklahoma State Louisiana CWS CHAMPION Tennessee

⚾ Predicting who hoists the CWS trophy in Omaha!

Lincoln, Neb. - Director of Athletics Troy Dannen announced Wednesday that Nebraska has signed four-time national champion Head Volleyball Coach John Cook to a new five-year contract.

The recently completed deal runs through Jan. 31, 2029, with Cook receiving an annual salary of $825,000 beginning on June 1. The new salary represents a $75,000 annual increase. Additionally, Cook will receive a retention bonus of $70,000 on July 1, 2024.

“We are fortunate to have John Cook leading our volleyball program,” Dannen said. “He is the most accomplished coach in the nation, and one of the top coaches in the history of American volleyball. John's expectations are for nothing less than excellence in each and every endeavor, and his record reflects that.

“His influence within the department, and the leadership he brings across our 24-sport program benefits Cornhusker athletics well beyond just the sport of volleyball. John's vision has been to establish Nebraska as a national leader in advancing and promoting the sport of volleyball, and this extension certainly represents the successful outcome of that vision.”

In addition to the annual salary, Cook is eligible to receive bonuses if his program meets certain levels of athletic achievement, and the contract also includes a deferred compensation agreement.

"I am very grateful to Troy and our administration for their support and confidence in our Husker volleyball program," Cook said. "When Troy and I talked about my contract, I proposed that instead of an annual escalating salary that some coaches do, it would mean a great deal to me if the Nebraska Athletic Department would consider supporting me in purchasing a horse out in central Nebraska that I've had my eye on. The horse, called No. 415, was born and bred at the famous Pitzer Ranch in Ericson and is a once-in-a-lifetime performance horse. He was purchased as a weanling by Mark Wray and then trained by the Wray family. Troy loved the idea and while they couldn't specifically write that into the contract, the retention bonus will be used for No. 415. I am honored that Troy was supportive of my idea and it means a lot to me. We are all looking forward to what should be an exciting 2024 season."

Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has guided the Huskers to four NCAA Championships, 11 NCAA Semifinals appearances, nine Big 12 titles and four Big Ten titles. His teams have compiled a 689-100 record, owning the nation’s top winning percentage during his tenure. Cook is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year (2000, 2005, 2023) and three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2016, 2017, 2023). In 2017, Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame.

In 2023, Cook coached a team with no seniors to the NCAA Final and a 33-2 final record. The Huskers won the Big Ten Championship, and Cook was named AVCA National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year. Cook did more for the growth of the sport of volleyball in 2023 than possibly any other year in his career. He embraced the challenge of having his Husker team play a volleyball match outdoors in a football stadium, which was an overwhelming success story as 92,003 packed Memorial Stadium for Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Aug. 30. The event gained worldwide attention as the crowd set a record for the largest ever to attend a women's sporting event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717000448141.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Story by UNL AthleticsLincoln, Neb. - Director of Athletics Troy Dannen announced Wednesday that Nebraska has signed four-time national champion Head Volleyball Coach John Cook to a new five-year contract.The recently completed deal runs through Jan. 31, 2029, with Cook receiving an annual salary of $825,000 beginning on June 1. The new salary represents a $75,000 annual increase. Additionally, Cook will receive a retention bonus of $70,000 on July 1, 2024.“We are fortunate to have John Cook leading our volleyball program,” Dannen said. “He is the most accomplished coach in the nation, and one of the top coaches in the history of American volleyball. John's expectations are for nothing less than excellence in each and every endeavor, and his record reflects that.“His influence within the department, and the leadership he brings across our 24-sport program benefits Cornhusker athletics well beyond just the sport of volleyball. John's vision has been to establish Nebraska as a national leader in advancing and promoting the sport of volleyball, and this extension certainly represents the successful outcome of that vision.”In addition to the annual salary, Cook is eligible to receive bonuses if his program meets certain levels of athletic achievement, and the contract also includes a deferred compensation agreement."I am very grateful to Troy and our administration for their support and confidence in our Husker volleyball program," Cook said. "When Troy and I talked about my contract, I proposed that instead of an annual escalating salary that some coaches do, it would mean a great deal to me if the Nebraska Athletic Department would consider supporting me in purchasing a horse out in central Nebraska that I've had my eye on. The horse, called No. 415, was born and bred at the famous Pitzer Ranch in Ericson and is a once-in-a-lifetime performance horse. He was purchased as a weanling by Mark Wray and then trained by the Wray family. Troy loved the idea and while they couldn't specifically write that into the contract, the retention bonus will be used for No. 415. I am honored that Troy was supportive of my idea and it means a lot to me. We are all looking forward to what should be an exciting 2024 season."Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has guided the Huskers to four NCAA Championships, 11 NCAA Semifinals appearances, nine Big 12 titles and four Big Ten titles. His teams have compiled a 689-100 record, owning the nation’s top winning percentage during his tenure. Cook is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year (2000, 2005, 2023) and three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2016, 2017, 2023). In 2017, Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame.In 2023, Cook coached a team with no seniors to the NCAA Final and a 33-2 final record. The Huskers won the Big Ten Championship, and Cook was named AVCA National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year. Cook did more for the growth of the sport of volleyball in 2023 than possibly any other year in his career. He embraced the challenge of having his Husker team play a volleyball match outdoors in a football stadium, which was an overwhelming success story as 92,003 packed Memorial Stadium for Volleyball Day in Nebraska on Aug. 30. The event gained worldwide attention as the crowd set a record for the largest ever to attend a women's sporting event.

Nebraska Announces New Contract for John Cook

The Chadron Seniors (0-5) are still looking for that elusive first win of the American Legion Baseball season, but they're getting closer after a 10-6 defeat to Gering Tuesday night.

Caden Buskirk launched a a home run and Logan Slama tripled but it was not enough to overcome Gering, which scored three times in the seventh inning to open up a 7-5 game into a 10-5 lead before Chadron's threat in the final half was halted.

Broc Berry threw six innings for Post 12 on the mound and allowed seven Chadron hits. Just six of Gering's runs were earned, and Berry struck out seven.

Chadron's junior squad beat Gering 8-0 and improve to 4-2 in the early summer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both Chadron teams are in action tonight (Wednesday) at Bridgeport.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716574746517.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Dave Collins Sports DirectorThe Chadron Seniors (0-5) are still looking for that elusive first win of the American Legion Baseball season, but they're getting closer after a 10-6 defeat to Gering Tuesday night.Caden Buskirk launched a a home run and Logan Slama tripled but it was not enough to overcome Gering, which scored three times in the seventh inning to open up a 7-5 game into a 10-5 lead before Chadron's threat in the final half was halted.Broc Berry threw six innings for Post 12 on the mound and allowed seven Chadron hits. Just six of Gering's runs were earned, and Berry struck out seven.Chadron's junior squad beat Gering 8-0 and improve to 4-2 in the early summer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both Chadron teams are in action tonight (Wednesday) at Bridgeport.

⚾ Chadron splits Legion Baseball DH with Gering Tuesday

Nebraska (39-20) has been selected as the No. 2 seed for the NCAA Regional in Stillwater, Okla., and will play third-seeded Florida (28-27) on Friday, May 31 at 2 p.m. (CT) on ESPN+.

Oklahoma State (40-17) is the tournament’s No. 11 overall seed and will play No. 4 seed Niagara (38-15).

Friday will be the second meeting between Nebraska and Florida. The Gators were the No. 9 seed in last week’s SEC Baseball Tournament, falling to eighth-seeded Vanderbilt in the opening round.

Monday’s selection marks Nebraska’s 18th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, and the 15th appearance in the last 24 seasons (excluding the canceled season in 2020). This is Nebraska’s second NCAA Tournament appearance under Head Coach Will Bolt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716908580760.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy: Husker AthleticsNebraska (39-20) has been selected as the No. 2 seed for the NCAA Regional in Stillwater, Okla., and will play third-seeded Florida (28-27) on Friday, May 31 at 2 p.m. (CT) on ESPN+.Oklahoma State (40-17) is the tournament’s No. 11 overall seed and will play No. 4 seed Niagara (38-15).Friday will be the second meeting between Nebraska and Florida. The Gators were the No. 9 seed in last week’s SEC Baseball Tournament, falling to eighth-seeded Vanderbilt in the opening round.Monday’s selection marks Nebraska’s 18th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, and the 15th appearance in the last 24 seasons (excluding the canceled season in 2020). This is Nebraska’s second NCAA Tournament appearance under Head Coach Will Bolt.

⚾ Two-seed Huskers to face Florida in NCAA Regionals

(AP) The Washington Commanders said Monday they were made aware of a lawsuit filed in civil court last week against kicker Brandon McManus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they are also being sued.

A Commanders spokesperson said the team is looking into the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and the NFL office, adding, “We take allegations of this nature very seriously.”

ESPN reported two women are suing McManus for sexually assaulting them during a charter flight to London last year when he was playing for the Jaguars, who said they are aware of the complaint and the significance of the claims being made.

“As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class,” the Jaguars said in a statement.

Citing court documents that have not yet been posted on Duval County’s public records database, ESPN reports the women, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, are accusing McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during the flight and the Jaguars of failing to supervise him and create a safe environment for staff serving the team. They are seeking more than $1 million and asking for a jury trial, according to ESPN.

McManus’ lawyer called them “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations."

“We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt,” Brett R. Gallaway of McLaughlin &amp; Stern said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

McManus, who turns 33 in July, signed with Washington in March. The Philadelphia native has been in the league for a decade, the first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, after playing at Temple.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716908464565.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP) The Washington Commanders said Monday they were made aware of a lawsuit filed in civil court last week against kicker Brandon McManus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they are also being sued.A Commanders spokesperson said the team is looking into the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and the NFL office, adding, “We take allegations of this nature very seriously.”ESPN reported two women are suing McManus for sexually assaulting them during a charter flight to London last year when he was playing for the Jaguars, who said they are aware of the complaint and the significance of the claims being made.“As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class,” the Jaguars said in a statement.Citing court documents that have not yet been posted on Duval County’s public records database, ESPN reports the women, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, are accusing McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during the flight and the Jaguars of failing to supervise him and create a safe environment for staff serving the team. They are seeking more than $1 million and asking for a jury trial, according to ESPN.McManus’ lawyer called them “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations."“We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt,” Brett R. Gallaway of McLaughlin &amp; Stern said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.McManus, who turns 33 in July, signed with Washington in March. The Philadelphia native has been in the league for a decade, the first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, after playing at Temple.

Former Bronco accused of sexual assault in civil lawsuit

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon homered to cap a six-run fourth inning and the Colorado Rockies ended Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak with an 8-6 victory over the Guardians on Monday.

Blackmon drove in four runs and made a sliding catch in foul territory for Colorado, which is 11-6 since an 8-28 start.

The fourth-inning rally ended Cleveland’s longest winning streak since it won an AL record 22 straight from Aug. 24 to Sept. 14, 2017.

José Ramírez continued his strong start to the season with two doubles and drove and increased his major league RBI lead to 54 with two driven in. He had a chance for more but struck out with a runner on in the ninth after Andrés Giménez drove in Tyler Freeman.

Freeman two doubles among his three hits.

“We’ve got our two best hitters up to be the tying runs, even in our first loss,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It was a really fun nine-day stretch and we hope to start another one tomorrow.”

The Rockies own the second worst record in the NL but are 6-1 against Texas, Philadelphia and Cleveland over the last two weeks. They used a big fourth against starter Xzavion Curry (0-1) to turn a three-run deficit into a 7-4 lead and end the Guardians’ streak.

A bases-loaded error brought in the first run, Elehuris Montero knocked in two more with a single and Blackmon’s second homer of the season just cleared the scoreboard in right to cap the six-run inning.

“I thought I hit it kind of low, but this is the first time we’ve played in summertime weather, so that might have helped a little,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon added an RBI double in the sixth off Scott Barlow to extend the lead.

Colorado lefty Austin Gomber was scheduled to start but was pushed back because of general arm soreness, manager Bud Black said.

Cleveland took advantage of replacement starter Anthony Molina’s control issues to go ahead 3-0 in the second. Molina left after Tyler Freeman’s RBI single and Josh Rogers (1-0), who had his contract selected before the game, came on and allowed two runs in five innings.

It was Rogers’ first major league game since June 2, 2022, with Washington.

“That’s the player of the game,” Blackmon said. “He came in and threw strikes, was super effective. That’s what we needed.”

Jalen Beeks allowed a run in the ninth before earning his fifth save.

Guardians: OF Steven Kwan (left hamstring strain) will start and play six-eight innings with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday night. … RHP Gavin Williams (right elbow discomfort) will start for Columbus on Wednesday night.

Rockies: RHP Justin Lawrence (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, and recalled RHP Peter Lambert from Triple-A Albuquerque. … OF Jordan Beck is scheduled to have surgery on his broken left hand on Wednesday.

The Guardians will send RHP Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.44) to the mound against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-4, 5.07) on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716908396534.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon homered to cap a six-run fourth inning and the Colorado Rockies ended Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak with an 8-6 victory over the Guardians on Monday.Blackmon drove in four runs and made a sliding catch in foul territory for Colorado, which is 11-6 since an 8-28 start.The fourth-inning rally ended Cleveland’s longest winning streak since it won an AL record 22 straight from Aug. 24 to Sept. 14, 2017.José Ramírez continued his strong start to the season with two doubles and drove and increased his major league RBI lead to 54 with two driven in. He had a chance for more but struck out with a runner on in the ninth after Andrés Giménez drove in Tyler Freeman.Freeman two doubles among his three hits.“We’ve got our two best hitters up to be the tying runs, even in our first loss,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It was a really fun nine-day stretch and we hope to start another one tomorrow.”The Rockies own the second worst record in the NL but are 6-1 against Texas, Philadelphia and Cleveland over the last two weeks. They used a big fourth against starter Xzavion Curry (0-1) to turn a three-run deficit into a 7-4 lead and end the Guardians’ streak.A bases-loaded error brought in the first run, Elehuris Montero knocked in two more with a single and Blackmon’s second homer of the season just cleared the scoreboard in right to cap the six-run inning.“I thought I hit it kind of low, but this is the first time we’ve played in summertime weather, so that might have helped a little,” Blackmon said.Blackmon added an RBI double in the sixth off Scott Barlow to extend the lead.Colorado lefty Austin Gomber was scheduled to start but was pushed back because of general arm soreness, manager Bud Black said.Cleveland took advantage of replacement starter Anthony Molina’s control issues to go ahead 3-0 in the second. Molina left after Tyler Freeman’s RBI single and Josh Rogers (1-0), who had his contract selected before the game, came on and allowed two runs in five innings.It was Rogers’ first major league game since June 2, 2022, with Washington.“That’s the player of the game,” Blackmon said. “He came in and threw strikes, was super effective. That’s what we needed.”Jalen Beeks allowed a run in the ninth before earning his fifth save.TRAINER’S ROOMGuardians: OF Steven Kwan (left hamstring strain) will start and play six-eight innings with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday night. … RHP Gavin Williams (right elbow discomfort) will start for Columbus on Wednesday night.Rockies: RHP Justin Lawrence (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, and recalled RHP Peter Lambert from Triple-A Albuquerque. … OF Jordan Beck is scheduled to have surgery on his broken left hand on Wednesday.UP NEXTThe Guardians will send RHP Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.44) to the mound against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-4, 5.07) on Tuesday.

Rockies playing good baseball, beat AL's second-best team to open series

DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning, and the Colorado Rockies sent Ranger Suárez to his first loss of the season in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Colorado, last in the NL West at 18-34, took two of three games and ended a streak of 15 straight winning or tied series for the major league-best Phillies (38-16), Philadelphia’s longest streak since 1983-84.

“We can play good baseball if we play baseball the right way,” Rockies starter Cal Quantrill said. “I think that these last two or three weeks, we’ve done a better job of that. We’ll try and build on that and continue to be a thorn in the rest of the league’s side.”

Suárez (9-1) allowed season highs of five runs and four walks in six innings, while giving up four earned runs and three hits with eight strikeouts. His ERA rose from 1.36 to 1.75.

“It felt like the guys were doing a really good job of being short, staying off the stuff down below the zone,” McMahon said of Suárez. “It’s tough. He makes it look so good, like it’s going to stay in the zone and then it just dashes out of the way. He got us a couple of times, but I feel like we did it well enough in the first two innings and it worked out for us.”

Quantrill (4-3) gave up two runs and three hits in six innings.

“I want them to feel like we’re winning a baseball game when I start,” Quantrill said. “I think we’re improving. It’s starting to feel that way. Gone on good streaks a few times in my career, but here, I think part of it is creating that belief that, hey, I don’t care who’s on the other side. We can win this game.”

Tyler Kinley pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season, finishing a five-hitter.

McMahon’s team-leading 10th home run of the season put the Rockies ahead, and Colorado boosted the lead to 5-0 in the second. Hunter Goodman hit an RBI double, Brendan Rodgers hit into a run-scoring forceout as third baseman Alec Bohm threw wildly past first for an error in trying for an inning-ending double play as a second run scored.

“The first two innings, I didn’t have command of my changeup or my curveball,” Suárez said through an interpreter. “My fastball wasn’t going for strikes, either. I think that was the game right there. When I finally was able to adjust, which I did, we were already five down.”

Bohm had an RBI single in the fourth and Johan Rojas hit a run-scoring single in the fifth.

J.T. Realmuto singled in the eighth and extended his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest for a Phillies catcher since Tim McCarver hit in 15 straight in 1977.

Rockies: Placed OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand) on the 10-day IL and recalled OF Sean Bouchard from Triple-A Albuquerque. Beck was hurt while making a diving catch Saturday night.

Phillies: RHP Taijuan Walker (3-0, 5.06 ERA) will face San Francisco and LHP Blake Snell (0-3, 11.40) on Monday.

Rockies: LHP Austin Gomber (1-2, 2.76 ERA) will take the mound at home Monday against Cleveland and RHP Xzavion Curry (0-0, 1.93).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716767343802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning, and the Colorado Rockies sent Ranger Suárez to his first loss of the season in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.Colorado, last in the NL West at 18-34, took two of three games and ended a streak of 15 straight winning or tied series for the major league-best Phillies (38-16), Philadelphia’s longest streak since 1983-84.“We can play good baseball if we play baseball the right way,” Rockies starter Cal Quantrill said. “I think that these last two or three weeks, we’ve done a better job of that. We’ll try and build on that and continue to be a thorn in the rest of the league’s side.”Suárez (9-1) allowed season highs of five runs and four walks in six innings, while giving up four earned runs and three hits with eight strikeouts. His ERA rose from 1.36 to 1.75.“It felt like the guys were doing a really good job of being short, staying off the stuff down below the zone,” McMahon said of Suárez. “It’s tough. He makes it look so good, like it’s going to stay in the zone and then it just dashes out of the way. He got us a couple of times, but I feel like we did it well enough in the first two innings and it worked out for us.”Quantrill (4-3) gave up two runs and three hits in six innings.“I want them to feel like we’re winning a baseball game when I start,” Quantrill said. “I think we’re improving. It’s starting to feel that way. Gone on good streaks a few times in my career, but here, I think part of it is creating that belief that, hey, I don’t care who’s on the other side. We can win this game.”Tyler Kinley pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season, finishing a five-hitter.McMahon’s team-leading 10th home run of the season put the Rockies ahead, and Colorado boosted the lead to 5-0 in the second. Hunter Goodman hit an RBI double, Brendan Rodgers hit into a run-scoring forceout as third baseman Alec Bohm threw wildly past first for an error in trying for an inning-ending double play as a second run scored.Suárez retired his final 13 batters.“The first two innings, I didn’t have command of my changeup or my curveball,” Suárez said through an interpreter. “My fastball wasn’t going for strikes, either. I think that was the game right there. When I finally was able to adjust, which I did, we were already five down.”Bohm had an RBI single in the fourth and Johan Rojas hit a run-scoring single in the fifth.J.T. Realmuto singled in the eighth and extended his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest for a Phillies catcher since Tim McCarver hit in 15 straight in 1977.TRAINER’S ROOMRockies: Placed OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand) on the 10-day IL and recalled OF Sean Bouchard from Triple-A Albuquerque. Beck was hurt while making a diving catch Saturday night.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Taijuan Walker (3-0, 5.06 ERA) will face San Francisco and LHP Blake Snell (0-3, 11.40) on Monday.Rockies: LHP Austin Gomber (1-2, 2.76 ERA) will take the mound at home Monday against Cleveland and RHP Xzavion Curry (0-0, 1.93).

Rockies top one of baseball's best pitchers Sunday

Gabe Swansen’s game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning delivered Nebraska its fifth conference championship in program history with a 2-1 win over Penn State in front of 13,300 fans on Sunday morning at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

Nebraska (39-20) totaled two runs on six hits with an error, while Penn State (29-24) tallied a run on four hits with one error.

Swansen finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double, his fourth multi-hit game of the Big Ten Tournament. Josh Caron homered for the third consecutive game, while Joshua Overbeek and Case Sanderson recorded the other two Husker hits.

Jackson Brockett tossed eight strong innings for the Big Red, allowing just four hits and an earned run. The southpaw punched out five batters and walked just one, improving to 3-2 for the Huskers. Brett Sears entered in the ninth inning and set down the Nittany Lions in order to secure the first save of his career.

Penn State jumped ahead in the opening frame after a walk and two singles loaded the bases. An errant throw on a pickoff attempt at second base plated the first run of the game and put the Nittany Lions in front 1-0.

After three scoreless innings from the Husker offense, an error on Overbeek’s grounder and a single from Sanderson put runners on second and third. However, a shallow pop-up and double play on a popped up bunt attempt ended the threat in the fourth inning.

On the mound, Brockett retired the next 12 batters in order across the next four innings before a two-out single from Overbeek gave Nebraska its second base runner of the game. The Huskers were once again stifled offensively after a groundout ended the top of the sixth.

Brockett’s streak came to an end at 14 consecutive batters retired on a one-out double from Penn State’s Adam Cecere. The southpaw responded with two straight outs to strand a runner in scoring position and keep the deficit at one after six innings played.

Caron continued his scorching hot tournament with a 403-foot home run into the right-center bleachers to begin the seventh inning and even the game at one.&nbsp;

The blast marked his sixth long ball of the tournament, which passed Purdue’s Dan Black (5) in 2008 for the most home runs in a single Big Ten Tournament. His 28 total bases also set a new tournament record, surpassing Ohio State’s Steve Caravati who finished the 2005 tournament with 26.

Both teams went quietly in the eighth but a two-out single from Columbus up the middle gave the Huskers life. Brumbaugh entered the game as a pinch runner and swiped second base to give NU a runner in scoring position with two outs.

Swansen then delivered the go-ahead RBI double for the Big Red into the left-center gap to score Brumbaugh and give the Huskers their first lead of the afternoon. It was the junior’s team-leading seventh extra-base hit of the tournament and 10th RBI this week for the Johnston, Iowa, native.

Sears entered in the bottom of the ninth inning for his first relief appearance of the season after throwing 99 pitches on Wednesday. The right-hander retired the side in order, ending the game on a flyout to clinch Nebraska's first-ever Big Ten Tournament title.

The Huskers secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Baseball Championship Selection Show is set for tomorrow, Monday, May 27, at 10 a.m. (MT) on ESPN2.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716767220541.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy: Husker AthleticsGabe Swansen’s game-winning RBI double in the ninth inning delivered Nebraska its fifth conference championship in program history with a 2-1 win over Penn State in front of 13,300 fans on Sunday morning at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.Nebraska (39-20) totaled two runs on six hits with an error, while Penn State (29-24) tallied a run on four hits with one error.Swansen finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double, his fourth multi-hit game of the Big Ten Tournament. Josh Caron homered for the third consecutive game, while Joshua Overbeek and Case Sanderson recorded the other two Husker hits.Jackson Brockett tossed eight strong innings for the Big Red, allowing just four hits and an earned run. The southpaw punched out five batters and walked just one, improving to 3-2 for the Huskers. Brett Sears entered in the ninth inning and set down the Nittany Lions in order to secure the first save of his career.Penn State jumped ahead in the opening frame after a walk and two singles loaded the bases. An errant throw on a pickoff attempt at second base plated the first run of the game and put the Nittany Lions in front 1-0.After three scoreless innings from the Husker offense, an error on Overbeek’s grounder and a single from Sanderson put runners on second and third. However, a shallow pop-up and double play on a popped up bunt attempt ended the threat in the fourth inning.On the mound, Brockett retired the next 12 batters in order across the next four innings before a two-out single from Overbeek gave Nebraska its second base runner of the game. The Huskers were once again stifled offensively after a groundout ended the top of the sixth.Brockett’s streak came to an end at 14 consecutive batters retired on a one-out double from Penn State’s Adam Cecere. The southpaw responded with two straight outs to strand a runner in scoring position and keep the deficit at one after six innings played.Caron continued his scorching hot tournament with a 403-foot home run into the right-center bleachers to begin the seventh inning and even the game at one.&nbsp;The blast marked his sixth long ball of the tournament, which passed Purdue’s Dan Black (5) in 2008 for the most home runs in a single Big Ten Tournament. His 28 total bases also set a new tournament record, surpassing Ohio State’s Steve Caravati who finished the 2005 tournament with 26.Both teams went quietly in the eighth but a two-out single from Columbus up the middle gave the Huskers life. Brumbaugh entered the game as a pinch runner and swiped second base to give NU a runner in scoring position with two outs.Swansen then delivered the go-ahead RBI double for the Big Red into the left-center gap to score Brumbaugh and give the Huskers their first lead of the afternoon. It was the junior’s team-leading seventh extra-base hit of the tournament and 10th RBI this week for the Johnston, Iowa, native.Sears entered in the bottom of the ninth inning for his first relief appearance of the season after throwing 99 pitches on Wednesday. The right-hander retired the side in order, ending the game on a flyout to clinch Nebraska's first-ever Big Ten Tournament title.The Huskers secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Baseball Championship Selection Show is set for tomorrow, Monday, May 27, at 10 a.m. (MT) on ESPN2.&nbsp;

Huskers are Big 10 Baseball Champs!

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794381412130283523">Josh Caron hit two home runs and drove in all the runs</a>&nbsp;and Will Walsh pitched a complete game as Nebraska stayed alive in the Big Ten Tournament with a 4-2 win over Indiana on Saturday.

The third-seeded Cornhuskers (37-20) and the third-seeded Hoosiers (32-23-1) meet again Saturday night for a berth in the championship game on Sunday.

Caron hit a three-run homer in the third inning and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794404655532761233">added an insurance run with his 14th of the season in the eighth.</a>

<a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794407838061641837">Walsh (5-4) gave up six hits and walked one while striking out five</a>.

Josh Pyne and Nick Mitchell had back-to-back doubles in the first inning for the Hoosiers and Mitchell scored on a sacrifice fly after tripling with one out in the third.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794381412130283523">Josh Caron hit two home runs and drove in all the runs</a>&nbsp;and Will Walsh pitched a complete game as Nebraska stayed alive in the Big Ten Tournament with a 4-2 win over Indiana on Saturday.The third-seeded Cornhuskers (37-20) and the third-seeded Hoosiers (32-23-1) meet again Saturday night for a berth in the championship game on Sunday.Caron hit a three-run homer in the third inning and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794404655532761233">added an insurance run with his 14th of the season in the eighth.</a><a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerBaseball/status/1794407838061641837">Walsh (5-4) gave up six hits and walked one while striking out five</a>.Josh Pyne and Nick Mitchell had back-to-back doubles in the first inning for the Hoosiers and Mitchell scored on a sacrifice fly after tripling with one out in the third.

Huskers handle Hoosiers Saturday to advance in Big 10 Tournament

Chadron is looking for a split on opening day of action at the annual Gering Memorial Day Weekend American Legion Baseball Tournament at Oregon Trail Park.&nbsp; 

Friday morning, Chadron's Post #12 seniors dropped an 11-1 decision to Torrington, and will face Buckley next to cap Friday's pair of games.&nbsp; Torrington used two big innings to earn the win, scoring five runs in each of the third and fifth.

Chadron was held to just two hits and scored its lone run on an error in the second inning.&nbsp; Kobe Bissonette tripled. Defensively, five Chadron errors helped the Tigers continue their offensive success.

Chadron faces Buckley shortly after the first game and the tournament continues over the holiday weekend with several regional teams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716574746517.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Dave Collins Sports DirectorChadron is looking for a split on opening day of action at the annual Gering Memorial Day Weekend American Legion Baseball Tournament at Oregon Trail Park.&nbsp; Friday morning, Chadron's Post #12 seniors dropped an 11-1 decision to Torrington, and will face Buckley next to cap Friday's pair of games.&nbsp; Torrington used two big innings to earn the win, scoring five runs in each of the third and fifth.Chadron was held to just two hits and scored its lone run on an error in the second inning.&nbsp; Kobe Bissonette tripled. Defensively, five Chadron errors helped the Tigers continue their offensive success.Chadron faces Buckley shortly after the first game and the tournament continues over the holiday weekend with several regional teams.

Chadron opens Legion Baseball Memorial Day Weekend Tournament with loss

Omaha, Ne -&nbsp;Nebraska gets it's rematch today against Ohio State who defeated the Huskers 15-2 in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Tuesday night. Today's game is an elimination game at&nbsp; 2 p.m CDT at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. You can listen to the game on <a href="https://kcowradio.com/">AM 1400 or FM 92.5 KCOW</a> today, with pregame at 12:30pm Mountain Time, first pitch at 1pm MDT/2pm CDT.&nbsp;

Should Nebraska win, they'll play Indiana Saturday morning in a 9am CDT game, 8am MDT with pregame at 7:30am on KCOW.&nbsp;

Omaha, Ne -&nbsp;Nebraska gets it's rematch today against Ohio State who defeated the Huskers 15-2 in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Tuesday night. Today's game is an elimination game at&nbsp; 2 p.m CDT at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. You can listen to the game on <a href="https://kcowradio.com/">AM 1400 or FM 92.5 KCOW</a> today, with pregame at 12:30pm Mountain Time, first pitch at 1pm MDT/2pm CDT.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716563615138.jpeg" alt="Big Ten Baseball Bracket for Friday, May 24 2024" />
 <figcaption>Big Ten Baseball Bracket for Friday, May 24 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>Should Nebraska win, they'll play Indiana Saturday morning in a 9am CDT game, 8am MDT with pregame at 7:30am on KCOW.&nbsp;

Husker Baseball gets rematch in B1G Tournament against Ohio State this afternoon

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos closed out their first week of OTAs Thursday with coach Sean Payton praising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bo-nix-minicamp-f097800533bc5d9445d02615f010c6d4">all three quarterbacks</a>&nbsp;competing for the starting job and cautioning that nothing should be read into the order in which they take snaps.

“We try to split up all the reps,″ Payton said. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs.”

Jarrett Stidham is technically the incumbent, having started the final two games last season, but he'll have to beat out two first-round picks in rookie Bo Nix, the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in last month's draft, and Zach Wilson, the second-overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, who traded him to Denver last month.

Asked about Nix's progress so far, Payton said: "Good, he’s farther along than most would be. We’re talking about a player who’s played 61 games (in college). He’s extremely smart. He’s picked it up very quickly.″

Nix worked with the starters Thursday after Stidham got first-team reps Tuesday and Wilson worked with the No. 1 unit Wednesday.

Stidham has started four games in four NFL seasons with the Patriots, Raiders and Broncos, backing up Tom Brady, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson.

“Having two new guys in the room, this is the first time I've been the vet in the room,” Stidham said. Otherwise, he said, he's competing for a job just like he has every year he's been in the NFL.

Zach Wilson went 12-21 as the starter in New York and was deemed expendable with Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last season's opener. Wilson said he's eager to play in Payton's system, which he feels will bring out the best in him.

“They're all in a race to learn this system,” Payton said. “Man, they're doing well.”

Each was superior in his own way Thursday when Stidham showed a grasp of the offense befitting someone with a year's head start, Nix deftly handled the pressure of the pass rushers and Wilson showed off his arm strength.

“You know, it's kind of the orphan group,” Payton said. “They're all orphan dogs. They come from somewhere. But they're doing good.”

Wilson, a proud owner of two Siberian huskies, chuckled at the metaphor.

“We've gone through it, right? You can see why," Wilson said, adding that for him, "it's been three years of tough challenges. But in the end that's what makes you stronger and you just need somebody to believe in you and believe in yourself.”

The Broncos have rolled through 13 starting quarterbacks since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peyton-manning-mizel-honor-denver-broncos-82b7c68dcfe44e7eb0cd9d0ace02fc9c">Peyton Manning</a>&nbsp;retired after Denver won Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

At a banquet honoring his community involvement Wednesday night, Manning called Payton's system “extremely quarterback friendly,” one he said he would like to have played in during his Hall of Fame career.

“It sounds like they got great competition over there," Manning said. “That’s always good, makes everybody better.”

Manning goes back a long way with both Stidham and Nix, who as youths participated in his family's passing academy. Although he doesn't know Wilson well, Manning reached out to him when he was traded to the Broncos.

“It's exciting,” said Wilson, who grew up in Utah, where the Broncos are popular. "I've grown up watching him and the way he plays the game, the way he attacks it every single day. And he's a legend out here. So, hopefully I can spend a little time picking his brain.”

Asked about Nix, Manning said that while there are exceptions such as Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, who bided their time on the sideline before getting their crack at starting, the quickest way for a rookie to get up to speed in the NFL is to take his lumps right away.

That's what Manning did in Indianapolis in 1998 when he threw 28 interceptions — a rookie record that still stands — and suffered through a 3-13 season that was followed a year later by a 13-3 campaign.

“There’s no way that would have happened had I not played and kind of gone through those struggles,” Manning said. He added that his brother Eli told him he learned more from the seven games he started as rookie than from the nine he watched.

Payton was asked about his thoughts on starting a rookie QB right away and said one of the many factors that go into that equation is how quickly the newcomer can pick up the offense.

"I think some of it is a byproduct of what you have in the building. If you have a starter in the building then that’s the path you go, and sometimes you don’t have that luxury, then that’s the path you go,″ Payton said. “A lot of it is dependent on the quarterback, his mental makeup.″

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518438191.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos closed out their first week of OTAs Thursday with coach Sean Payton praising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bo-nix-minicamp-f097800533bc5d9445d02615f010c6d4">all three quarterbacks</a>&nbsp;competing for the starting job and cautioning that nothing should be read into the order in which they take snaps.“We try to split up all the reps,″ Payton said. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs.”Jarrett Stidham is technically the incumbent, having started the final two games last season, but he'll have to beat out two first-round picks in rookie Bo Nix, the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in last month's draft, and Zach Wilson, the second-overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, who traded him to Denver last month.Asked about Nix's progress so far, Payton said: "Good, he’s farther along than most would be. We’re talking about a player who’s played 61 games (in college). He’s extremely smart. He’s picked it up very quickly.″Nix worked with the starters Thursday after Stidham got first-team reps Tuesday and Wilson worked with the No. 1 unit Wednesday.Stidham has started four games in four NFL seasons with the Patriots, Raiders and Broncos, backing up Tom Brady, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson.“Having two new guys in the room, this is the first time I've been the vet in the room,” Stidham said. Otherwise, he said, he's competing for a job just like he has every year he's been in the NFL.Zach Wilson went 12-21 as the starter in New York and was deemed expendable with Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last season's opener. Wilson said he's eager to play in Payton's system, which he feels will bring out the best in him.“They're all in a race to learn this system,” Payton said. “Man, they're doing well.”Each was superior in his own way Thursday when Stidham showed a grasp of the offense befitting someone with a year's head start, Nix deftly handled the pressure of the pass rushers and Wilson showed off his arm strength.“You know, it's kind of the orphan group,” Payton said. “They're all orphan dogs. They come from somewhere. But they're doing good.”Wilson, a proud owner of two Siberian huskies, chuckled at the metaphor.“We've gone through it, right? You can see why," Wilson said, adding that for him, "it's been three years of tough challenges. But in the end that's what makes you stronger and you just need somebody to believe in you and believe in yourself.”The Broncos have rolled through 13 starting quarterbacks since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peyton-manning-mizel-honor-denver-broncos-82b7c68dcfe44e7eb0cd9d0ace02fc9c">Peyton Manning</a>&nbsp;retired after Denver won Super Bowl 50 in 2016.At a banquet honoring his community involvement Wednesday night, Manning called Payton's system “extremely quarterback friendly,” one he said he would like to have played in during his Hall of Fame career.“It sounds like they got great competition over there," Manning said. “That’s always good, makes everybody better.”Manning goes back a long way with both Stidham and Nix, who as youths participated in his family's passing academy. Although he doesn't know Wilson well, Manning reached out to him when he was traded to the Broncos.“It's exciting,” said Wilson, who grew up in Utah, where the Broncos are popular. "I've grown up watching him and the way he plays the game, the way he attacks it every single day. And he's a legend out here. So, hopefully I can spend a little time picking his brain.”Asked about Nix, Manning said that while there are exceptions such as Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, who bided their time on the sideline before getting their crack at starting, the quickest way for a rookie to get up to speed in the NFL is to take his lumps right away.That's what Manning did in Indianapolis in 1998 when he threw 28 interceptions — a rookie record that still stands — and suffered through a 3-13 season that was followed a year later by a 13-3 campaign.“There’s no way that would have happened had I not played and kind of gone through those struggles,” Manning said. He added that his brother Eli told him he learned more from the seven games he started as rookie than from the nine he watched.Payton was asked about his thoughts on starting a rookie QB right away and said one of the many factors that go into that equation is how quickly the newcomer can pick up the offense."I think some of it is a byproduct of what you have in the building. If you have a starter in the building then that’s the path you go, and sometimes you don’t have that luxury, then that’s the path you go,″ Payton said. “A lot of it is dependent on the quarterback, his mental makeup.″

Payton praises all 3 quarterbacks seeking Broncos starting job

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Soderstrom drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a five-run 11th inning and the Oakland Athletics stunned the Colorado Rockies 10-9 on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Oakland trailed 9-5 before Max Schuemann doubled home a run to start the winning rally. Abraham Toro followed with an RBI single, and JJ Bleday tied the score with a two-run homer.

Colorado loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Kyle McCann before Peter Lambert (2-3) walked Soderstrom to force in the winning run.

“These guys in there, they don’t quit,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “Today’s an example of that. The unity that they’ve stuck together, the teamwork that they’ve created, the culture in there came out today as an example of the win.”

J.D. Davis and Daz Cameron also homered late for the A's, who overcame a pair of four-run deficits and sent the Rockies to their fifth loss in six games following a seven-game winning streak.

“This one stings a little bit," Lambert said. “We were kind of in control the whole game and had a couple of tough innings late. But we'll move past it.”

Colorado starter Ryan Feltner pitched six scoreless innings and the Rockies took a 4-0 lead into the seventh but couldn't close it out.

Schuemann got the A’s on the board with an RBI single in the seventh. Davis hit a two-run homer in the eighth, and Cameron homered off Rockies closer Jalen Beeks leading off the ninth to tie it.

Oakland called up the 27-year-old Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Thursday. It was his first major league home run since June 2, 2022, with the Detroit Tigers.

“If you ever heard of the ‘snap, crackle, pop’ saying, that’s exactly what it felt like,” Cameron said. “Popping a ball off the wood, fat part of the bat and sending it out was a good feeling.”

Colorado regained the lead on Jordan Beck’s sacrifice fly in the 10th, but Zack Gelof tied it for the A's with an RBI single in the bottom half.

Brandon Bielak (1-0) got the final out of the 11th to earn his first win with the Athletics.

Oakland won its fourth game when trailing after eight innings, tying the Miami Marlins for most in the majors.

“We kept battling,” Cameron said. “We kept gnawing down and dogging the team out there to beat them during every next pitch and every next play for us to come out and win.”

A’s starter Joey Estes allowed four runs and seven hits, striking out six in seven innings.

The Athletics placed OF Esteury Ruiz on the 10-day injured list with a strained left wrist. Oakland selected Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas and designated INF Jordan Díaz for assignment. ... RHP Joe Boyle (lower back strain) was scheduled to make a rehab start for Las Vegas on Thursday night.

Rockies: LHP Ty Blach (1-2, 5.14 ERA) opens a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night opposite LHP Cristopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.31).

Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling (1-8, 5.19 ERA) takes the mound Friday night in the first of a three-game home series against the Astros. Houston counters with RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 3.97).

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518322876.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Soderstrom drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a five-run 11th inning and the Oakland Athletics stunned the Colorado Rockies 10-9 on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series.Oakland trailed 9-5 before Max Schuemann doubled home a run to start the winning rally. Abraham Toro followed with an RBI single, and JJ Bleday tied the score with a two-run homer.Colorado loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Kyle McCann before Peter Lambert (2-3) walked Soderstrom to force in the winning run.“These guys in there, they don’t quit,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “Today’s an example of that. The unity that they’ve stuck together, the teamwork that they’ve created, the culture in there came out today as an example of the win.”J.D. Davis and Daz Cameron also homered late for the A's, who overcame a pair of four-run deficits and sent the Rockies to their fifth loss in six games following a seven-game winning streak.“This one stings a little bit," Lambert said. “We were kind of in control the whole game and had a couple of tough innings late. But we'll move past it.”Colorado starter Ryan Feltner pitched six scoreless innings and the Rockies took a 4-0 lead into the seventh but couldn't close it out.Schuemann got the A’s on the board with an RBI single in the seventh. Davis hit a two-run homer in the eighth, and Cameron homered off Rockies closer Jalen Beeks leading off the ninth to tie it.Oakland called up the 27-year-old Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Thursday. It was his first major league home run since June 2, 2022, with the Detroit Tigers.“If you ever heard of the ‘snap, crackle, pop’ saying, that’s exactly what it felt like,” Cameron said. “Popping a ball off the wood, fat part of the bat and sending it out was a good feeling.”Colorado regained the lead on Jordan Beck’s sacrifice fly in the 10th, but Zack Gelof tied it for the A's with an RBI single in the bottom half.Brandon Bielak (1-0) got the final out of the 11th to earn his first win with the Athletics.Oakland won its fourth game when trailing after eight innings, tying the Miami Marlins for most in the majors.“We kept battling,” Cameron said. “We kept gnawing down and dogging the team out there to beat them during every next pitch and every next play for us to come out and win.”A’s starter Joey Estes allowed four runs and seven hits, striking out six in seven innings.TRAINER’S ROOMThe Athletics placed OF Esteury Ruiz on the 10-day injured list with a strained left wrist. Oakland selected Cameron from Triple-A Las Vegas and designated INF Jordan Díaz for assignment. ... RHP Joe Boyle (lower back strain) was scheduled to make a rehab start for Las Vegas on Thursday night.UP NEXTRockies: LHP Ty Blach (1-2, 5.14 ERA) opens a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night opposite LHP Cristopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.31).Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling (1-8, 5.19 ERA) takes the mound Friday night in the first of a three-game home series against the Astros. Houston counters with RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 3.97).

Crazy 11th inning ends in Oakland comeback over Colorado

(AP) The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences announced Thursday night that they have agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims</a>, a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.

NCAA President Charlie Baker along with the commissioners of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference released a joint statement saying they had agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-keys-c155b06303fce4def9bca9f7efb2d03c">settlement terms.</a>&nbsp;They called the move "an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come.”

The deal still must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case and challenges could arise, but if the agreement stands it will mark the beginning of a new era in college sports where athletes are compensated more like professionals and schools can compete for talent using direct payments.

“There’s no question about it. It’s a huge quantum leap,” said Tom McMillen, the former Maryland basketball player and congressman who has led an association of collegiate athletic directors the past eight years.

Terms were not disclosed, though some details have emerged in the past few weeks. They signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishment for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-sports-sports-0aee610b0152c02dcd5d3eddb4d29f76">lifted restrictions on endorsement deals</a>&nbsp;backed by so-called name, image and likeness money.

Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons where a star quarterback or top prospect on a college basketball team are not only cashing in big-money NIL deals but have a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.

“This landmark settlement will bring college sports into the 21st century, with college athletes finally able to receive a fair share of the billions of dollars of revenue that they generate for their schools,” said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. “Our clients are the bedrock of the NCAA’s multibillion-dollar business and finally can be compensated in an equitable and just manner for their extraordinary athletic talents.”

There are a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-891f8252255048d8e5961c9b863175c3">details still to be determined,</a>&nbsp;but the agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.

“Even though it was only because of the overwhelming legal pressure, the NCAA, conferences and schools are agreeing that college athletes should be paid,” said Ramogi Huma, a former UCLA football player and longtime advocate for college athletes. “And there’s no going back from there. That’s truly groundbreaking.”

Some of the money will come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that are comprised of 69 schools (including Notre Dame),&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-752156fdb0ea01445f52b1b109d14922">dozens of other NCAA member schools</a>&nbsp;will see smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.

Schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences will end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million each over 10 years, the majority of which will be paid to athletes going forward.

The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 current schools sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the other 10 schools leave.

In the new compensation model, each school will be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rise so could the cap.

Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments and schools would be given the freedom to decide how that money is divvied up among sports programs. Scholarship limits by sport will be replaced by roster restrictions.

Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown along with whether schools will be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.

The class-action federal lawsuit at the center of the settlement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">House v. the NCAA,</a>&nbsp;was set to go to trial in January. The complaint, brought by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, said the NCAA, along with the five wealthiest conferences, improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money.

The suit also argued that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.

Amid political and public pressure, and facing the prospect of another court loss that some in college sports claimed could reach $20 billion in damages, NCAA and conference officials conceded on what has long been a core principal of the enterprise: That schools don't directly pay the athletes to play beyond a scholarship.

That principle has been dented numerous times over the last decade. Notably, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-supreme-court-alston-college-athlete-benefits-5be12caeaf014da7d71baf0bb60646fe">against the NCAA in 2021</a>&nbsp;in a case related to education-related benefits.

The narrow focus of the Alston case didn't collapse the collegiate sports system, but the strong rebuke of the NCAA's model of amateurism flung the door open to more lawsuits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former Yale athlete, put it bluntly: “The bottom line is that the NCAA and its member colleges are suppressing the pay of student athletes who collectively generate billions of dollars in revenues for colleges every year."

The settlement is expected to cover two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-legal-problems-fe7bce9289ac1a017c3ad3bcc9f1ee8e">other antitrust cases</a>&nbsp;facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard vs. the NCAA and Carter vs. the NCAA are also currently in front of judges in the Northern District of California.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518230646.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP) The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences announced Thursday night that they have agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims</a>, a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.NCAA President Charlie Baker along with the commissioners of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference released a joint statement saying they had agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-keys-c155b06303fce4def9bca9f7efb2d03c">settlement terms.</a>&nbsp;They called the move "an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come.”The deal still must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case and challenges could arise, but if the agreement stands it will mark the beginning of a new era in college sports where athletes are compensated more like professionals and schools can compete for talent using direct payments.“There’s no question about it. It’s a huge quantum leap,” said Tom McMillen, the former Maryland basketball player and congressman who has led an association of collegiate athletic directors the past eight years.Terms were not disclosed, though some details have emerged in the past few weeks. They signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishment for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-sports-sports-0aee610b0152c02dcd5d3eddb4d29f76">lifted restrictions on endorsement deals</a>&nbsp;backed by so-called name, image and likeness money.Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons where a star quarterback or top prospect on a college basketball team are not only cashing in big-money NIL deals but have a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.“This landmark settlement will bring college sports into the 21st century, with college athletes finally able to receive a fair share of the billions of dollars of revenue that they generate for their schools,” said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. “Our clients are the bedrock of the NCAA’s multibillion-dollar business and finally can be compensated in an equitable and just manner for their extraordinary athletic talents.”There are a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-891f8252255048d8e5961c9b863175c3">details still to be determined,</a>&nbsp;but the agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.“Even though it was only because of the overwhelming legal pressure, the NCAA, conferences and schools are agreeing that college athletes should be paid,” said Ramogi Huma, a former UCLA football player and longtime advocate for college athletes. “And there’s no going back from there. That’s truly groundbreaking.”Some of the money will come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that are comprised of 69 schools (including Notre Dame),&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-752156fdb0ea01445f52b1b109d14922">dozens of other NCAA member schools</a>&nbsp;will see smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.Schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences will end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million each over 10 years, the majority of which will be paid to athletes going forward.The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 current schools sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the other 10 schools leave.PAYING ATHLETESIn the new compensation model, each school will be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rise so could the cap.Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments and schools would be given the freedom to decide how that money is divvied up among sports programs. Scholarship limits by sport will be replaced by roster restrictions.Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown along with whether schools will be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.THE CASEThe class-action federal lawsuit at the center of the settlement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">House v. the NCAA,</a>&nbsp;was set to go to trial in January. The complaint, brought by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, said the NCAA, along with the five wealthiest conferences, improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money.The suit also argued that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.Amid political and public pressure, and facing the prospect of another court loss that some in college sports claimed could reach $20 billion in damages, NCAA and conference officials conceded on what has long been a core principal of the enterprise: That schools don't directly pay the athletes to play beyond a scholarship.That principle has been dented numerous times over the last decade. Notably, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-supreme-court-alston-college-athlete-benefits-5be12caeaf014da7d71baf0bb60646fe">against the NCAA in 2021</a>&nbsp;in a case related to education-related benefits.The narrow focus of the Alston case didn't collapse the collegiate sports system, but the strong rebuke of the NCAA's model of amateurism flung the door open to more lawsuits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former Yale athlete, put it bluntly: “The bottom line is that the NCAA and its member colleges are suppressing the pay of student athletes who collectively generate billions of dollars in revenues for colleges every year."THE OTHER CASESThe settlement is expected to cover two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-legal-problems-fe7bce9289ac1a017c3ad3bcc9f1ee8e">other antitrust cases</a>&nbsp;facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard vs. the NCAA and Carter vs. the NCAA are also currently in front of judges in the Northern District of California.A fourth case, Fontenot vs, NCAA, creates a potential complication as it remains in a Colorado court after a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-3e26c017980afe0ee1c6a28f77abcf5a">denied a request</a>&nbsp;to combine it with Carter. Whether Fontenot becomes part of the settlement is unknown and it matters because the NCAA and its conferences don't want to be on the hook for more damages should they lose in court.“We’re going to continue to litigate our case in Colorado and look forward to hearing about the terms of a settlement proposal once they’re actually released and put in front of a court,” said George Zelcs, a plaintiffs' attorney in Fontenot.COLLEGE ATHLETICS OVERHAULThe solution agreed to in the settlement is landmark, but not surprising. College sports has been trending in this direction for years, with athletes receiving more and more monetary benefits and rights they say were long overdue.In December, Baker, the former Massachusetts governor who has been on the job for 14 months,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-baker-nil-c26542c528df277385fea7167026dbe6">proposed creating a new tier of Division I athletics</a>&nbsp;where the schools with the most resources would be required to pay at least half their athletes $30,000 per year. That suggestion, along with many other possibilities, remain under discussion.The settlement does not make every issue facing college sports go away. There is still a question of whether athletes should be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1095US1095&amp;oq=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigAdIBCjEzMTU2ajFqMTWoAgiwAgE&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">deemed employees</a>&nbsp;of their schools, something Baker and other college sports leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-nil-charlie-baker-hearing-senate-83ed8f9e1fb267db1ce5e24d6b79617a">are fighting against.</a>Some type of federal legislation or antitrust exemption is likely still needed to codify the terms of the settlement, protect the NCAA from future litigation and pre-empt state laws that attempt to neuter the organization's authority. As it is,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-legal-problems-fe7bce9289ac1a017c3ad3bcc9f1ee8e">the NCAA is still facing lawsuits</a>&nbsp;that challenge its ability to govern itself, including setting rules limiting multiple-time transfers.“This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students,” the joint statement said. "All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”Federal lawmakers have indicated they would like to get something done, but while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-congress-nil-f8b4d71460b9950694bfc66e2e6479e2">several bills have been introduced</a>&nbsp;none have gone anywhere.Despite the unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Major college athletics is about to become more like professional sports than ever before.