ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will receive a $7.14 million lump sum as part of his separation agreement with the university. The Associated Press obtained documents revealing the details. The school announced on July 20 that it would buy out the remaining three years of Manuel's contract. Manuel agreed to step down following investigations into former football coach Sherrone Moore’s relationship with his executive assistant and a probe into the athletic department. He will also receive perks like tickets to Michigan games and golf privileges. The agreement was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — John Anderson, the former University of Minnesota baseball coach and Big Ten career victories leader, died Sunday. He was 71. Anderson’s family announced his death through the university, where he first arrived as a pitcher in 1974 for a failed tryout and spent 43 years as head coach until retiring after the 2024 season. After an injury cut short his playing career, Anderson became a student manager and was honored as the most valuable player of the 1977 College World Series team by his peers, a squad that featured future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. He became the head coach at age 26 entering the 1982 season and amassed 1,390 wins to lead the Big Ten and rank 20th in NCAA Division I.
UNDATED (AP) — A highly anticipated NCAA basketball matchup between Duke and Michigan has been canceled because of broadcast rights issues. Duke will now play Texas Tech on December 21 at Madison Square Garden, according to media reports. The original game was set to stream on Amazon Prime as part of Duke's three-game deal. The matchup was initially planned for Madison Square Garden, then moved to Miami, before being canceled. Both Michigan and Duke were top seeds in the 2026 NCAA tournament, with Michigan winning the championship. Duke's Cameron Boozer and three Michigan starters were high NBA draft picks.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is standing firm on its new age-based eligibility rule despite legal challenges. The rule allows athletes five seasons of competition over a five-year period starting with full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday. Lawsuits have been filed, arguing the rule unfairly limits athletes' college careers. The board insists the rule is well-informed and widely supported. It eliminates waivers for extended eligibility, except for specific cases like military service. The SEC supports the rule although some leaders have concerns about its timing and effectiveness.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, signed a four-year, $57.27 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The Raiders hold a fifth-year option. Mendoza was the last of the Raiders’ 10 draft picks to sign. He ran the third-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp, but is expected to take on a larger role in training camp, which begins Wednesday. Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a free-agent contract worth $20 million guaranteed, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Niko Medved has received a one-year contract extension with a slight raise after a promising first season at his alma mater. The university board of regents approved the contract amendment this week at its regular monthly meeting to give Medved a $100,000 pay bump on top of the $100,000 annual increase in his initial six-year deal. Medved is now signed through the 2031-32 season. He will make $3.2 million in 2026-27. That ranks 17th out of 18 head coaches in the Big Ten. The Gophers went 15-18 overall and 8-12 in Big Ten play in Medved’s first year.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — College football coaching great Tom Osborne became the first living person to be named to the Nebraska state hall of fame. Osborne coached Nebraska to three national championships in the 1990s and ended his career with one of the highest winning percentages in college football history. The state legislature in April passed a law paving the way for the 89-year-old Osborne’s entry. The law set aside the stipulation that a person must be deceased at least 35 years before he or she can be considered for induction. The hall of fame commission voted 7-0 in favor of inducting Osborne.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players have proposed expanding eligibility for the amateur draft rather than decreasing it, maintaining 20 rounds of selections and moving it back to June. It's another signal the sport is heading to a labor confrontation this offseason. The union proposed allowing college sophomores to be eligible for the draft along with those finishing their junior years. That's a group eligible under the current rules along with high school seniors. Players proposed moving the draft back to June, when it was held through 2020. They asked that draft slot values continue to be increased at the same percentage as industry revenue through 2027.
