| Wednesday, June 24, 2026 |
| Three weeks, countless ideas, one original musical Summer Scholars ready to face the music | |
 | Almost 60 students are preparing for the culmination of three weeks' worth of work, set to premiere this weekend in Starkville. Students participating in the MSU Summer Scholars camp are almost ready to debut their original three-act musical comedy Friday and Saturday. The musical, titled "Face the Music(fest)," has been created from the ground up by the students over the last three weeks. The play follows a group of college students whose budget has been cut and who are seeking revenge against the college, specifically by trying to sabotage its annual music festival. With the help of camp counselors, the students also design and build sets, create choreography and even play the music live. These experiences help prepare the students for various careers in the entertainment industry. "It's really exciting to see more students finding the camp and seeing the value and impact it has on students' lives," said camp director Stephen Cunetto. "It's been amazing to watch the students grow and progress over the last two weeks in terms of production. The amount of growth we've seen individually has been fantastic." |
| Scientists help verify origin of cotton's domestication | |
| Cotton is the world's leading source of natural textile fiber, but much of its genetic history remains a mystery. Mississippi State scientists are part of an international team investigating when and where cotton was first domesticated. Their findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, weave together a clearer picture of cotton's genomic past while offering insight to help improve the crop's future. Researchers sequenced nearly 400 wild and domestic cotton plants across Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico. They traced modern cotton's roots to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula more than five millennia ago, uncovering genetic diversity that could help today's breeders develop more resilient cotton. Professor Dan Peterson, head of MSU's Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion and a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientist, said the team confirmed a longstanding hypothesis that the Northwestern Yucatán Peninsula was the center of domestication of Gossypium hirsutum, known as upland cotton. |
| How Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Brings the Farm to Campus Tables | |
| Across the country, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality is working with colleges and universities to connect campus dining directly to nearby farms, student‑run agricultural programs, and on‑campus growing spaces. Through local sourcing partnerships and farm‑to‑table initiatives, students gain greater access to fresh, nutritious ingredients -- sometimes harvested just steps from where they eat. As more students prioritize healthier, more intentional eating habits, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality's approach helps make fresh, wholesome food part of everyday campus life. From leafy greens grown on university farmland to herbs picked hours before service, these partnerships shorten the distance from farm to plate while supporting hands‑on student learning and sustainability goals. At Mississippi State University, a student‑run farm celebrated its first harvest during the Fall 2025 semester, supplying fresh produce directly to campus dining. The Dining Services team at MSU received approximately 50–100 pounds of leafy greens, including bok choy, mustard greens, collards, and green onions, which were incorporated into menus at the residential dining hall. The collaboration builds on broader efforts to source food locally and highlights MSU‑grown products already featured in campus dining locations, including milk, ice cream, and eggs produced through the university's Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. |
| Carley Bell receives Mississippi State's Outstanding Teacher Intern Award | |
 | Carley Bell of New Albany is among 15 Mississippi State College of Education graduates recently honored for exceptional work as teacher interns in Magnolia State school districts. Bell, a spring 2026 secondary education graduate, taught in the Webster County School District. The recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Intern Award were nominated for exceeding expectations while completing internships at public schools across Mississippi. The honorees demonstrated exemplary professionalism, performance and a high level of commitment to the teaching profession. "Throughout their final semester, these interns consistently went above and beyond all expectations, demonstrating both exceptional instructional skill and a deep commitment to student success," said Donna Shea, director of MSU's Office of Clinical/Field-Based Instruction, Licensure, and Outreach. "We have no doubt that they will step into their own classrooms and become a profound, positive force in the world of education. We are incredibly proud to have them represent the College of Education." |
| Fisackerly and Highfield join Cal-Maine Foods board | |
| Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg company in the United States, appointed Haley R. Fisackerly and Michael J. Highfield, Ph.D., as independent members of its board of directors, effective June 23, 2026. The appointments of Fisackerly and Highfield further strengthen the board's collective expertise as the company expands its business, pursues new opportunities and executes its long-term strategic objectives. "Haley and Mike are accomplished leaders whose experience, judgment and strategic perspectives will be tremendous assets to our board and our shareholders," said Dolph Baker, board chair of Cal-Maine Foods. Fisackerly brings more than three decades of leadership experience in utility operations, regulatory affairs, customer service, public policy and economic development. He serves as president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi LLC. Highfield brings more than two decades of experience in finance, banking, capital markets, governance and executive leadership. He previously served as professor of finance and head of the department of finance and economics at Mississippi State University and was recently named the next president and chief academic officer of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University (LSU). |
| Keytronic announces $8.89 million expansion in Corinth | |
| The Mississippi Development Authority announced Tuesday that Keytronic is expanding in Corinth. Keytronic designs and builds complex electronic and electromechanical products. MDA said its Corinth location is a full-service facility with extensive production capabilities, including electronics assembly, final assembly, product fulfillment, warehousing and distribution. The planned $8.89 million expansion will create 376 jobs. Originally opened in 1961, the Corinth location, which has operated under Keytronic's name since 2014, currently employs approximately 420 workers. Governor Tate Reeves said in a statement that for more than a decade, Keytronic has helped create opportunities for families in Alcorn County, and this expansion proves the company sees even more potential ahead. MDA noted that the agency is assisting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program, while Alcorn County, the Tennessee Valley Authority and AccelerateMS are also providing assistance. |
| Recent torrential rains affecting South Mississippi peanut, cotton crops | |
 | The recent heavy rainfall hasn't just damaged homes, businesses and roads, it's also had a major impact on the South Mississippi peanut and cotton crop. The persistent rainfall meant a lot of peanut and cotton planting was delayed for several weeks this Spring. That could lead to a late peanut harvest this fall. And the most recent flooding has damaged much of the cotton crop. All this won't affect the overall supply of peanuts or cotton, but it could mean a year of financial struggle for some farmers. "It's going to be a real costly year for the farmers, even though most of them have crop insurance, but it'll only cover about 60 or so percent," Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Executive Director Malcolm Broome said. "You still got taxes and insurance and rent, most of it is rented land from other growers, all of that goes on whether you make a crop or not." |
| Political speeches happening at Neshoba County Fair. Here's the schedule | |
| Mississippi's most prominent political stage will once again be filled with elected officials and candidates looking to make their case to voters during the 137th annual Neshoba County Fair. The podium, situated beneath a wooden pavilion in Founder's Square, gained national attention when Ronald Reagan delivered a speech there during the 1980 presidential campaign. In the decades since, the venue has become a proving ground for candidates seeking office at every level of government, often serving as a launching pad -- or stumbling block -- for political ambitions. With the 2026 election cycle featuring congressional midterms, this year's fair offers challengers a chance to connect with voters while incumbents remain in Washington as Congress conducts business. The event also provides an early look into the 2027 statewide election cycle, giving fairgoers an opportunity to hear from current officeholders who may be considering bids for higher office. Political speaking is scheduled for the mornings of Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25. |
| Mississippi Dept. of Public Safety reverses course on AI traffic cameras | |
| Last Thursday, Major Scott Henley with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) presented a request for approval of a sole source contract to the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) Board. Henley explained to the ITS Board that the AI camera technology under the prospective contract would be used to identify traffic violations in high crash corridor areas where officers cannot routinely work due to construction zones or other impediments to patrolling. Henley spoke explicitly about how the technology would be used to issue citations: "It will catch driving behaviors. The AI will actually capture it and send it downstream to an officer sitting downstream. The officer will determine if it is a valid violation for a stop and at that point the officer will actually stop the car and issue a citation in real-time." On Monday, in a video posted to social media platforms, DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell said the agency would not execute the contract for which it had sought ITS approval. He also said the agency would not have used the technology for the issuance of traffic citations. The video came after widespread public backlash to Magnolia Tribune's breaking report on the contract's approval. |
| Republicans roll out text of farm bill without Democratic priorities | |
 | Senate Republicans unveiled the text of a sweeping five-year farm bill Tuesday afternoon that omits Democrats' stated top priority. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said in a statement that this legislation would "increase investments for rural communities and foster a more resilient agriculture sector." "I'm proud to put forward this discussion draft that reflects the input and priorities of Republicans, Democrats, and most importantly, rural America," Boozman wrote. "This bill is built for the people who feed America, and I look forward to continuing conversations with my colleagues about how we can best serve them and the communities they call home." The Senate bill is very similar to the lower chamber's version of this legislation, and it would expand resources for rural farmers and boost investment in federal farm loan programs. The Senate bill largely avoids controversial sticking points related to pesticides and animal confinement standards. |
| Trump Pledged a 'Golden Age' for Farmers. They Can't Access Help. | |
| Gabe Alverson, a farmer in Polk County, Minnesota, used to be able to easily contact his local Department of Agriculture service center when he needed help. Now he can't. For farmers across the country, the Trump administration's federal workforce cuts have resulted in unreturned voicemails and signs on locked office doors warning visitors of staffing shortages. The resources they used to rely on for conservation programs -- reauthorized in the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act -- have become frustratingly difficult to access. "Before all the cuts, you'd get a call back the same day," Alverson said. Now, despite working on time-sensitive contracts, delays are routine, he said. "I left the message, and it took them two weeks to call me back because they just don't have any help." President Donald Trump made big promises to American farmers upon starting his second term, blaming Democrats for high input and equipment costs and saying a "golden age" was about to begin. Instead, farmers are struggling with difficult conditions and with high costs associated with the Iran war. The conservation program is yet another source of frustration. |
| USDA defends screwworm response amid congressional fingerpointing | |
| At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing earlier this month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was resolute -- her agency was well-prepared for the New World screwworm, and had kept it at bay for months before the first case was confirmed in a South Texas calf in early June. As senators asked whether the U.S. Department of Agriculture needed further resources to combat the parasitic fly and if 2025 department cuts had had any impact on the government's capacity to prepare, Rollins maintained that the federal government, from the White House down, was bought in. But as the flesh-eating parasite moves into Texas — leaving the state’s massive livestock industry and the health of thousands of cattle herds hanging in the balance — stakeholders on both sides of the aisle agree that the country is not producing enough sterile flies to combat the problem. Experts project that 500 to 700 million sterile flies are needed weekly to eradicate the pest, and at the moment, the U.S. government is producing about 100 million every seven days out of a facility in Panama. |
| Trump to Meet With G.O.P. Senators Amid New Divisions | |
 | President Trump is set on Wednesday to meet with Republican senators on Capitol Hill, after weeks of tumult and tension in the relationship between the president and prominent members of his own party in the Senate. Mr. Trump was invited by Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, to address a weekly lunch gathering he runs that typically draws the more conservative faction of G.O.P. senators. It was a break from norms, since a president would typically be invited by the party's elected leader to address the entire conference at its regular luncheon on Tuesdays, or a special gathering hosted by the leadership. But Mr. Trump has been in a simmering feud with Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader, over a range of political and policy issues. The president's visit also comes amid growing dissent within his party over his handling of the war with Iran. On Tuesday, the Senate adopted a resolution directing Mr. Trump to end the conflict or seek congressional authorization to continue it, a mostly symbolic but nevertheless remarkable reprimand of the president, made possible by G.O.P. defections. |
| Trump abruptly cancels signing of bipartisan bill on affordable housing | |
 | President Donald Trump abruptly canceled an event to sign a bipartisan affordable-housing bill Wednesday, announcing the ceremony was off as he fumed about the Senate not passing his election integrity bill. An hour and a half before he was due to sign the bill at the Capitol at noon, the president declared on social media that a news conference and signing ceremony was "hereby cancelled until such a time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency." Senate Republican leaders repeatedly have told Trump that the votes are not there to pass a law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, among other provisions. The House passed the bill earlier this year. Trump was due to meet privately with Republican senators in a lunch after the signing ceremony. In response to questions about whether Trump would sign the housing bill privately, the White House responded with Trump's Truth Social post. |
| Democratic socialists are coming for 2028 | |
 | Democratic socialists just caused a political earthquake. Now they're coming for 2028. Fresh off sweeping victories across New York City that showcased the growing power of the anti-establishment progressive left inside the Democratic Party, Democratic Socialists of America leaders, eager to capitalize on their momentum, are already plotting their next act: making sure one of their own is on the presidential primary debate stage, whether the party wants them or not. The organization plans to hold national discussions, including with leaders like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is 84 and not expected to run in 2028, with a formal vote expected at the group's 2027 convention next year -- though leaders say they could move faster if the primary timeline demands it. The elephant in the room for the group, of course, is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The relationship between DSA and Ocasio-Cortez has at times been complicated. Looking ahead to 2028, the socialist wing of the Democratic Party wants to force a reckoning within the party it believes has spent years running from its own base while asking voters to settle for less. |
| Chinese Supercomputer Overtakes U.S. as World's Fastest | |
 | The world's fastest supercomputer isn't made in America. It is now from China, according to a widely cited ranking. China's LineShine system won the No. 1 spot on the latest Top500 supercomputer ranking released this week. The Chinese supercomputer was able to calculate 22% faster than the No. 2 contender, El Capitan at California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The U.S., China and Japan have long battled for the crown as the fastest machine. A Chinese machine won for the first time in 2010. In 2023, China stopped participating in the rankings, which are published twice a year. Experts speculated a Chinese machine had jumped into the lead but didn't have the data to show it. This time, LineShine, built by the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen and unveiled in April, decided to participate. LineShine relies on domestically developed central processing units, instead of graphics processing units, or GPUs, which power most of the leading supercomputers today. The machine also uses other homegrown technologies behind its memory, networking and cooling systems. |
| Sun care starts indoors, UMMC experts say | |
| The season for fun in the sun is in full swing -- but skin care specialists want you to be safe before you unfold your beach chair to soak in the rays. Basic sun care to prevent sunburn and long-term skin conditions and skin cancer begins with wearing sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and avoiding prolonged exposure during peak daylight hours. "Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, but about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime," said Dr. Jeremy Jackson, professor and chair of dermatology at UMMC. "We can easily minimize the effects of UV rays on our skin by applying sunscreen indoors about 15 minutes before sun exposure for best absorption." Reapply broad-spectrum sunscreen – those with an SPF of at least 30 – every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating heavily, Jackson said, adding it's best to limit or perhaps avoid the sun altogether between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when it's at its highest points of the day. "Most people who get sunburned despite wearing sunscreen apply too little sunscreen or do not reapply often enough," he said. |
| UMMC adding Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Oxford | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center is bringing physical therapy education to north Mississippi, adding a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Oxford to meet growing demand for licensed physical therapists across the state. "Expanding opportunities for our physical therapy students makes our program stronger on both campuses," said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs. "We're addressing the high demand for skilled physical therapists in Mississippi as part of training the next generation of health care professionals in our state." The School of Health Related Professions will begin offering the physical therapy program in Oxford in May 2028. Students who meet admission criteria will be eligible to apply in summer 2027 for one of 35 slots, adding to the 50 available at the Medical Center in Jackson. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program, along with radiologic sciences and occupational therapy, is among the largest at SHRP. UMMC awarded 49 Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees to graduates at spring 2026 commencement exercises and has maintained a nearly 95% graduation rate over the past two years. |
| Delta State to expand College of Business and Aviation into two programs, business to focus on AI | |
| The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approves Delta State's proposal to separate the College of Business and Aviation into two individual programs. The IHL -- a board of trustees that oversees public universities in Mississippi with the goal of preparing students to become citizens and providing an avenue for students to succeed at the college level -- approved Delta State's plan to create two distinct academic schools within the university. The College of Business and Aviation will now be split into two to allow greater focus on the individual programs. "The continued growth and success of both aviation and business programs created an opportunity to strengthen leadership and focus within each area," said Dr. Daniel J. Ennis, president of Delta State University. "Establishing separate colleges will allow each discipline to benefit from dedicated academic oversight, intentional planning and strategic leadership while continuing to support the university's mission of preparing students for success." Discussions within the university have taken place over the past two years to expand the College of Aviation in response to the growing demand for pilots nationwide and advances in aviation technology. |
| Hundreds sign petition to oust leaders at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind | |
| Parents, former educators and graduates are calling for leadership changes at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. They say the schools' leadership isn't well-versed in Deaf and blind culture, students don't have access to American Sign Language and Braille resources and the schools lack experienced educators and staff. As of Tuesday, a petition demanding for the resignation of Superintendent LaMarlon Wilson and various administrators at the schools has gotten 400 signatures since it was created a week ago by Victorica Monroe, a 2008 graduate. Wilson said in an emailed statement that a "small group of stakeholders" are raising concerns. Administrators are properly experienced, he said, and the schools have increased interpreter positions, expanded professional learning opportunities related to deaf education and made significant efforts toward expanding American Sign Language access. Alumni say the state's only public schools for children who are deaf or blind are a far cry from the places they knew when they attended. |
| Gov. Jeff Landry quietly makes new LSU Board appointments | |
| Gov. Jeff Landry increased his control of the LSU Board of Supervisors by quietly appointing two donors to the university oversight board. Chad Moody and Jennifer Settoon were named to the board earlier this month though neither appointment was publicly announced, which is typical when Landry makes higher education board appointments. Moody was a safety on the roster of LSU's 2007 national championship football team. He is the founder and CEO of the Lafayette-based nursing care company Crossroads Area Management. He previously held a seat on the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges Board of Supervisors. Moody and companies he is connected have made campaign donations to Landry, according to state ethics administration records. Moody replaces Patrick Morrow of Opelousas, who Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed to the LSU and is a major Democratic donor. Jennifer Settoon and her husband, Russ, of Ascension Parish own several businesses, including Settoon Towing and Settoon Capital, through which they have made significant donations to Landry and other Republicans. Settoon replaces Laurie Lipsey Aronson of Baton Rouge, also a major Democratic donor who Edwards appointed. |
| Iowa's Civics Center Has to Teach Thousands. It Currently Has One Professor. | |
 | An 11th-hour change to Iowa legislation last month required almost all University of Iowa undergraduates to complete courses in American history and in American government. And the provision, which became law, said only the Center for Intellectual Freedom -- the civics center Republican lawmakers previously created at the university -- could offer these mandated courses, starting in fall 2028. Now, the advisory council overseeing this civics center faces a logistical issue. The university had more than 22,000 undergrads this past spring, per the Iowa Board of Regents. And the civics center officially has just one faculty member: its interim director. Nuts-and-bolts problems of hiring faculty and leaders for these civics centers have proliferated as they've spread from one public university campus to another, in red state after red state. They don't arise from the traditional shared governance process, or a proposal from a faculty body to add programs. Legislatures and, in some cases, university governing boards have created these often conservative-leaning entities. But, in Iowa and Utah -- where Republican lawmakers tasked faculty appointed to Utah State University's civics center with teaching all general education courses there -- these new centers must now teach graduation requirements, raising the stakes of hiring decisions. |
| Inspector General Details ED Cuts From Early Days of Trump's Second Term | |
| During the first two months of the second Trump administration, the Education Department slashed $1.3 billion in contracts and terminated $504 million in grants, according to a new report from the agency's inspector general. The 91-page report, released Tuesday, provides a more complete accounting of how the billions in federal spending cuts made by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency played out at the Education Department from Jan. 20 to March 31, 2025. "I fought for this report because Americans deserve to know what Donald Trump is doing to gut education in this country," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement to Inside Higher Ed. Getting clear answers about how many contracts or grants were terminated---and the money saved---was difficult, especially as the public dashboard tracking the DOGE cuts changed often and was frequently inaccurate. Several researchers and reporters have since sought to calculate how much DOGE saved or to document the scale of the cuts, but this report offers a more official tally, including more details about the nearly 1,600 staffers who either took a buyout or were laid off. |
| Neshoba County Fair continues to evolve, but the core family principle abides | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The 137th Neshoba County Fair is the latest example of a Mississippi institution that has stood the test of time, technology, and trends to remain a unique experience anywhere in the world. The Fair is being held a month earlier this year to coincide with changing school schedules, for what is a campground fair without children? Given the institution's history, moving the event by a month seems inconsequential. World wars, economic cataclysms, global pandemics, and social and political upheavals have, on occasion, interrupted the Fair over its 137-year history. Still, none of those events signaled an end to the festivities. Families, friends, and descendants of the Fair's organizers have continued to be drawn back to the roughly 150-acre fairgrounds in the Coldwater community southwest of Philadelphia. Despite astounding advances in technology, the Fair has remained quaintly attached to the agenda of the nine men who, in 1891, formally incorporated the "Neshoba County Stock and Agricultural Fair Association" after the success of the one-day "Coldwater Fair" events in 1889 and 1890. What did those pioneers do to amuse themselves and their families? |
SPORTS
| MSU Returning To Amegy Bank College Baseball Series | |
| For the second consecutive season, Mississippi State will compete in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field. The Diamond Dawgs are one of six teams selected to play at the home of the Texas Rangers from March 5-7, 2027. Other participants include Dallas Baptist, Ole Miss, Penn State, UCLA and Wake Forest. Specific matchups and game times will be announced at a later date and will be streamed via FloCollege. "We're excited for the opportunity to compete in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series again next year," said MSU head coach Brian O'Connor. "We had an awesome experience in Arlington last year and got to test ourselves against quality competition early on in the season. It gave us a good barometer of where our team was at heading into conference play." Home Plate Reserved tickets go on sale Thursday, June 25 at 9 a.m. at CollegeBaseballSeries.com. This premium offer includes access to all three days of the tournament, reserved seating behind home plate, reserved parking, early ballpark entry, concession discounts, commemorative merchandise, unlimited soft drink refills and access to exclusive hospitality areas. |
| Baseball: Sullivan Earns Second Straight Academic All-American Of The Year Award | |
| Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan has essentially been named "the smartest player in Division I college baseball" for the second year in a row. College Sports Communicators (CSC) tabbed the graduate designated hitter as its Division I Academic All-American of the Year his prowess on the field and in the classroom. Sullivan also received the honor in 2025 in addition to earning first team Academic All-America honors for the second straight season. Sullivan posted a 4.0 grade point average as a graduate student majoring in organizational leadership. The Orlando, Florida native also earned a perfect GPA last year as a graduate student in workforce education leadership. He is the 20th Diamond Dawg to be named to the CSC Academic All-America Team to give the program 26 total honors dating back to 1971. |
| Baseball and broadcasting: Brantley's illustrious career earns spot in College Baseball Hall of Fame | |
 | Jeff Brantley still remembers the game like it was yesterday. Long before his name was set to be enshrined in the pantheon of college baseball, Brantley and his teammates sat in the first base dugout at Dudy Noble Field, faces in their hands and tears in their eyes. It was May 27, 1984, the Bulldogs' season had just come to an end, and Brantley said he was to blame. State was playing New Orleans in a Regional Final for a trip to the College World Series. Brantley started, and was in his sixth inning with a 2-0 deficit, bases loaded. Stuart Weidie, a Mississippi native, stood in the box. In an 0-2 count, Brantley served Weidie a fastball "shoelace high off the ground." Weidie capitalized, sending the ball over the right center wall. It was a grand slam, and a decisive blow in State's 6-3 loss to the Privateers. When he and the rest of MSU's roster got back to campus in the fall, Brantley said the loss had instilled something they hadn't had before: killer instinct. "A lot of us just decided, this is it, we're not taking 'No' for an answer anymore," Brantley said. "We tried to murder teams... on days when we were tired, we're playing in the middle of the week, we're playing in the middle of nowhere sometimes, but when the bell rang and we stepped onto that field it was time to crush somebody." And murder teams they did. |
| NCAA panel approves new eligibility model giving Division I athletes 5 years to play 5 seasons | |
 | Eager to lessen the chaos of the transfer portal era and court fights with players trying to extend their careers, the NCAA approved a new eligibility model for Division I athletes on Tuesday that will allow five seasons of competition over a five-year period that begins with their full-time enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. The Division I Cabinet unanimously approved the change from the longstanding tenet of college sports that gave athletes five years to complete four seasons of competition with their eligibility clock starting at the time of enrollment, regardless of age. The move will all but eliminate waivers or redshirt years for extended eligibility except for religious missions, maternity leave or active-duty military service. No longer will extensions be considered for athletes who are injured. "While previous NCAA rules have served college sports well for a long time, we heard also loud and clear from NCAA members and student-athletes that eligibility rules should be easier to understand," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. The NCAA believes the age-based model will make rules easier to administer and help make roster management more predictable for coaches. |
| Josh Hubbard can play 5 seasons at Mississippi State after new NCAA eligibility rule | |
 | An NCAA rule change means that star Josh Hubbard has two years left, instead of one, to play for Mississippi State basketball. The NCAA approved a new eligibility model on June 23 that gives athletes five years of eligibility instead of four. It is expected to be finalized on June 24. It uproots the NCAA's current eligibility system that has become increasingly convoluted with redshirts, waivers and lawsuits. The new rule, which the NCAA calls the "age-based eligibility model," would start an athlete's five-year eligibility clock upon initial full-time enrollment or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier. Redshirts and waivers would be eliminated. There are caveats on who will get five years of eligibility, but for Mississippi State that means Hubbard can play two more seasons if he wants to. |
| Senator Roger Wicker on voting 'no' in the balloting for the Protect College Sports Act | |
| The Protect College Sports Act is the subject of national conversation. The bill is a bi-partisan effort co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington). The purpose of the measure is to provide some guardrails to college athletics. Some around the country have lauded the measure as a tremendous step towards restoring order in college sports. Others have criticized the bill. Included in that share of critics have been leaders and members within the Big-10 and Southeastern Conference. The PSCA passed the muster of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with a 19-9 vote. One of the dissenting votes came from Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker. "The committee recently voted on the latest NIL bill," Wicker shared with Genespage.com through his communications director Jonathan Moore. "Although I could not support it in its current form, the debate is far from over. Our Founders made sure that every piece of legislation goes through a thorough deliberation process before becoming law. In that spirit, I am working with my colleagues toward a reasonable solution that provides a clear national framework for name, image, and likeness earnings and that protects student-athletes, their families, and the nature of college athletics." It appears that Wicker voted on behalf of his constituency and in line with the current feelings regarding the bill of the instate institutions and the Southeastern Conference. |
| Trump advisor, ex-NFL player Cody Campbell warns Protect College Sports Act is final chance to restore order | |
 | The FIFA World Cup has transformed North America into the center of the soccer world. For nearly two weeks and counting, fans from around the globe have poured into the United States, Canada and Mexico, filling stadiums, fan festivals and watch parties across the 16 host cities. Former Texas Tech and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Cody Campbell joined Fox News Channel's "The Will Cain Show" on Tuesday. During the wide-ranging conversation, Campbell expressed optimism about the way international visitors have embraced some of the best the United States has to offer during the World Cup. "It's great to have everybody here. And I've loved the comments on social media from people from around the world just saying how nice and how surprised they were with how great the United States is." Campbell, who advises President Donald Trump on college sports issues, was asked about the Protect College Sports Act and its path to the Senate floor as the legislation continues to move forward. "The Protect College Sports Act is the first viable college sports bill that has made it out of committee in either house. At this point, it's our far and last and only chance to restore some measure of order and stop the chaos in [the] college sports landscape." |
| The NFL Rejects the Quarterback at the Heart of College Football's Gambling Storm | |
| After his gambling scandal plunged college sports into turmoil, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby believed he would find a soft landing in the NFL. He abandoned his litigation against the NCAA after the organization banned him for placing thousands of bets, including some on his own team, and thought he could simply turn pro. The NFL, however, wasn't ready to welcome the scandal-plagued passer with open arms. In a letter to Sorsby on Tuesday, a lawyer for the league wrote that Sorsby's application for the supplemental draft had been denied. The league occasionally conducts that draft for players who have seen their college eligibility impacted, but said that it wouldn't hold one this year. The NFL's decision is a firm rebuke of a player who admitted to violating one of the most sensitive rules in all of sports---and then spent months trying to escape punishment. "Even after receiving notice of the NCAA's decision rescinding your college eligibility in May, you sought to avoid the consequences of that determination through litigation rather than accepting responsibility for your actions," wrote Larry Ferazani, general counsel of the NFL Management Council. "As Commissioner Goodell has emphasized, participation in the NFL is a privilege that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability." |
| NFL Rejects Sorsby's Supplemental Draft Bid, Lawsuit Could Follow | |
| The NFL on Tuesday informed former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby -- who battled the NCAA in court over eligibility despite betting on his own team and his own teammates -- that his petition for a supplemental draft to play in the 2026 NFL season was denied. Absent a successful legal challenge, Sorsby will only be eligible for the NFL through the 2027 NFL Draft. Through a letter authored by NFL Management Council general counsel Larry Ferazani, the NFL explained that Sorsby failed to provide "any supporting information or documentation" to justify the league holding a draft for one player, Sorsby. Sorsby, 22, could have made himself eligible for the 2026 draft held in April. He satisfied the NFL's basic eligibility requirement of being more than three years removed from high school graduation. Sorsby instead pursued litigation against the NCAA, which held he was ineligible for integrity-of-the-game violations through gambling. Eligibility alone doesn't permit entry into the NFL. |
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