Derrick McFall, a three-star running back in the 2024 class, picked up an offer from UCLA today.

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One drawback, though, is USC is the school he’s particularly waiting on:

A look at the biggest de-commitments and flips here:

UCLA has put together a tentative schedule for the first few weeks of practice. A full schedule is still being finalized:

Wed., Aug. 2

Thu., Aug. 3

Fri., Aug. 4

Sat., Aug. 5

Sun., Aug. 6 – off

Mon., Aug. 7

Tues., Aug. 8

Wed., Aug. 9

Thur. Aug. 10

Fri., Aug. 11 – off

Sat., Aug. 12

Sun., Aug. 13

The Athletic put out a story today that gave a glimpse into how UCLA and USC would navigate the travel logistics once it begins competing in the Big Ten next summer.

In it, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said the school has asked for student-athlete feedback — concerns, what they’re looking forward to “and the why behind both.” In all, 300 athletes were surveyed either individually or as a group.

Jarmond said he’s been in contact with professional teams, including the Rams and Chargers, and people like Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens for input on traveling so frequently across the country. The report said Stevens referred Jarmond to a sleep expert.

Football, with games just once a week, will be the easier piece of the puzzle. The Olympic sports, however, will involve a bit more creativity in travel arrangements.

An excerpt from the report:

“For example, maybe the league can pair UCLA men’s soccer with USC women’s volleyball, and the two teams could charter together to play Northwestern and Illinois on the same weekend. Alternatively, they could fly commercial together and share buses. One other example of the minutiae of these travel considerations: In this scenario, the order of the L.A. teams’ games should be Illinois, followed by Northwestern. That way, those teams would end up much closer to O’Hare International Airport and could fly home directly after the games.”

“This is not more travel,” Jarmond told The Athletic. “In most instances, it will be the same number of trips that we take right now. And then a few (teams) will have a fewer number of trips. That’s one thing that I think people miss. Now the distances are farther, and that’s what our focus is going to be — how best to minimize the impact of the distance.”

The report said athletes asked for more resources devoted to nutrition and their mental health. By next August, cards for meal plans will be replaced by both breakfast and lunch served to each athlete. Per diems on the road will be replaced by more team meals.

The staffing for both mental health and academic support will be increased, with academic advisors traveling with the teams. The athletic department is also encouraging the athletes to take more summer classes to lighten the in-season workload.

College football staffs are turning their attention to 2025 recruits.

Here’s some of the prospects UCLA had the attention of as soon as the calendar turned to August:

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Kliavkoff presents the media package. Rumors are that its smaller than the Big 12. Look for schools to find another conference PDQ.

Just got off the phone with three-star 2024 CB and Northwestern commit Jamir Benjamin, who said he’s visiting UCLA on July 28.

Benjamin picked up an offer last Friday, with the Northwestern program going through a coaching change after Pat Fitzgerald was fired after hazing allegations surfaced this offseason.

Benjamin told me his relationship with UCLA safeties coach Brian Norwood goes back to when he tried recruiting his older brother Anthony Romphf. He’s since been in contact with others on staff, including defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

I’ll have more in a story ASAP.

I'm guessing it's Derrick McFall

Florida State, Clemson Washington and Oregon. If so, that's the end of the Pac 9

Aday Mara and Spain will play Serbia for the gold medal starting at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT.

Through six games, Mara is averaging 14.3 points on 61.1% shooting to go with 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.2 assists. He’s also 20 of 25 from the free-throw line.

The game will be live-streamed on YouTube:

If we honor our current obligations, we will play at LSU, at Michigan, at Hawaii, at Rutgers, at Indians.

As far as traveling to away games, it’s pretty hard to beat that group of experiences. Now it could be November in Ann Arbor or Indiana and quite cold.

I would imagine that the first few years of being in the Big 10, The Rose Bowl is sold out with traveling midwesterners.

I'm guessing Arizona but my heart tells me Utah

Roger Saleapaga, a four-star TE in the 2024 class, picked up an offer from UCLA. He’s from Orem, Utah.

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getting stronger. Perhaps they didn't like what they heard from the Pac 12 commissioner?? Regardless, they are meeting with Big 12 officials...could Utah and Arizona be far behind?

He is now in recovery after collapsing from cardiac arrest at practice yesterday.
No more information available yet but I will pray for a full recovery.

Stay tuned. Now that the Colorado to the Big 12 in 2024 is all but a certainty look for news about the Wildcats in 24 hours. I'm not sleeping tonight...I'm hitting refresh, refresh, refresh.

The proposed legislation:


Griffin’s full quote: "For the past two years NIL has enabled college athletes, like me, to become small business owners, taxpayers, support the families that raised us, contribute to charities, and re-invest in the communities that we represent. My lived experience with NIL is why I wholeheartedly support Senator Murphy, Congresswoman Trahan, and the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act. This legislation codifies our NIL rights, preserves the economic progress that we have already made, and aligns the United States Congress with college athletes on the right side of history.”

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In the first of a number of stories I’ll have coming out of Pac-12 Media Day and looking toward fall camp’s Aug. 2 start date, it’s only natural to start with the quarterback battle and, in particular, Dante Moore.

Head coach Chip Kelly said plenty about the competition throughout the day Friday in three separate media session, but the first one is as much as he’s opened up about the situation in regard to how Moore and his five-star ranking will be handled as Kelly prioritizes the team over any one individual.

The Bruins will have just one true road contest and a pair of neutral court events next season:

10/31: CS Dominguez Hills (exhibition)
11/6: Saint Francis
11/10: Lafayette
11/15: LIU
11/20-11/22: at Maui Invitational
11/30: UC Riverside
12/9: at Villanova
12/16: CBS Sports Classic (TBD)
12/19: CS Northridge
12/22: Maryland

We learned a bit about the health of the team with camp around the corner. Linebacker Ale Kaho was probably the most eye-opening to hear Chip Kelly say is expected to be ready and participating.

Without looking at other lists, who are the best UCLA football players of this century?

I personally think MJD was the best player we have had overall. He was fast, competitive, and could catch, run, and return. Jet ski is right on his tail and arguably better as a college career. Charbonnet is the next best back off the top of my head.

I think Rosen was our best QB. Much like his pro career, his college career featured him on his back or running for his life.

On the defensive side of the ball, Myles Jack stands out to me. Kendricks is right there but Jack seems like he was a more impactful player.

Kenny Clark stood out on defense too, even as he played interior defensive line.

We have had a lot of good WRs and TEs but none since Marcedes Lewis stand out as exceptional over any other.

DBs? LBs? Akeem Ayers was really good.