National

Lia Thomas, a 22-year-old transgender woman who swims for the University of Pennsylvania, is dominating in the pool this season.

Why it matters: Thomas' record-breaking campaign comes amid a debate over transgender inclusion in sport — one that has become increasingly politicized as anti-trans legislation sweeps across the U.S.

Catch up quick: Thomas, assigned male at birth, competed on the men's team at Penn from 2017-20, though in 2018 she realized that she identified as a woman.

In May 2019, she began testosterone suppression therapy, and after the Ivy League canceled the 2020-21 season, she joined the women's team last fall as a fifth-year senior.

NCAA rules state that a trans woman can compete against women as long as she's undergone one year of testosterone suppression.

By the numbers: At one meet in early December, Thomas won the 200-yard free by seven seconds, the 500 free by 14 seconds and the 1,650 free by 38 seconds, setting two Ivy League records and posting the fastest time of the year among college women in the 200 and 500.

Of note: While Thomas' broken records have made news, her times relative to the women's field are generally comparable to what her times relative to the men's field had been.

Her best time in the 500 pre-transition (4:18.72) was 12 seconds off the men's record (4:06.32); now, her best time (4:34.06) is 10 seconds off the women's record (4:24.06), having lost 16 seconds post-transition.

Driving the news: Thomas won two races at her final home meet on Saturday. She also lost two to Yale's Iszac Henig, a transgender man who can compete against women because he hasn't begun hormone therapy.

Picture of Lia Thomas shaking hands with another swimmer in a pool

Thomas is congratulated after winning the 200-yard freestyle event. Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images

What they're saying: Thomas just wants to "continue to do the sport I love as my authentic self," she told SwimSwam last month.

"My mental health was not very good," she said of the 2018-19 season. "It was a lot of unease, basically just feeling trapped in my body."

Since transitioning, that's improved: "Being in a swimsuit 20 hours a week has helped me accept my body as it is [and] be comfortable in who I am."

The other side: Some believe Thomas holds an unfair advantage even after two-plus years of testosterone suppression.

"At stake here is the integrity of women's sports," a group of Penn swim parents wrote after that December meet. "The precedent being set ... is a direct threat to female athletes."

"I think the NCAA policy issued in 2011 was not really based much on scientific knowledge," one parent told WashPost. "So this is all about the rules. It's not really about Lia. She followed the rules."

What's next: Thomas, an Austin native, will be a favorite at next month's Ivy League championships, and she's already qualified for the NCAA championships in March.

The story of trans Penn swimmer Lia Thomas

Thomas' record-breaking campaign comes amid a debate over transgender inclusion in sport.

Picture of Lia Thomas wearing a one-piece swimsuit with a cap and holding a towel

Penn's Lia Thomas during a meet with Yale and Dartmouth on Saturday. Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Pennsylvania

NCAA

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Axios Sports

Georgia fans are buying championship gear at a historic rate. 41 years of waiting will do that to you.

Driving the news: Fanatics says it sold more Georgia championship merchandise in the first 24 hours after the Bulldogs' victory than the previous best-selling school (2021 Alabama) sold in the first 30 days.

The big picture: "Merchandise sales are just one of the many ways the Bulldogs will capitalize on this national title," notes Sportico's Eben Novy-Williams (subscription).

"High-profile victories generally produce short-term increases in sponsorship and licensing revenue, and larger impacts in the form of donations, future ticket sales and future recruiting."

Georgia already generates more football revenue than almost any other school ($134.4 million in Fiscal 2020). Naturally, it also ranks near the top in spending ($48.5 million budget).

Go deeper: Georgia's unmatched recruiting spending (USA Today)

Georgia fans buying championship apparel at record pace

Georgia already generates more football revenue than almost any other school.

A Georgia fan celebrates after the national championship

College football

Alabama and Georgia will play for a championship Monday night — five weeks after their SEC title game matchup, and four years after their national title game thriller.

State of play: The Bulldogs are slight favorites to win their first championship in 41 years, but they've lost seven straight to the Crimson Tide, who have won a casual six national titles in 14 years.

How to watch: ESPN (Main telecast), ESPN2 (Film room with Jimbo Fisher), ESPNU (Command Center), ESPNews (AT&T 5G Skycast) and more.

The intrigue: The QB matchup is fascinating. On one side is Bryce Young, a former five-star recruit and Heisman winner. On the other side is Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on who uses a flip phone.

25-1: Nick Saban boasts a 25-1 record against his former assistants, including a 4-0 record against Kirby Smart.

9.64: Georgia has allowed just 9.64 points per game this season, by far the best mark in the nation (Clemson is second at 14.85).

61%: The crowd is projected to be 61% Georgia fans, per Vivid Seats. And the top two cities for people traveling to Indy this weekend are Atlanta and Athens, per Airbnb.

Top prospects: This game features 17 of Todd McShay's top 100 prospects, including Alabama OT Evan Neal (3), Alabama WR Jameson Williams (6), Georgia LB Nakobe Dean (8), Georgia DE Travon Walker (14) and Georgia DT Jordan Davis (26).

Fun fact (for Georgia fans): Since 2008, six teams have squared off in bowl games after meeting in the regular season. The teams that won the first meeting all lost the second meeting.

Fun rewind (for Alabama fans): It's hard to forget what happened the last time these teams met on this stage. Tua to DeVonta ... Bama wins in overtime.

Breaking down Alabama vs. Georgia

The Bulldogs are slight favorites to win their first championship in 41 years.

Photo illustration of Bryce Young, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart and Jordan Davis.

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos:  John Bunch/Icon Sportswire, Kevin C. Cox, Marianna Massey, Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Call it whatever you want, but free agency has come to college football.

By the numbers: More than 3,000 football players across all NCAA divisions have entered the transfer portal since Aug. 1. That includes over 1,400 FBS players — an average of 11 per team.

The backdrop: The portal was introduced in 2018 as a way to give student-athletes more freedom of movement. Then a pair of 2021 rule changes turned the offseason into a game of musical chairs.

Immediate eligibility: In April, the NCAA began allowing transfers to play for their new school immediately instead of waiting a year.

NIL changes: The NIL era began in July, giving athletes a reason to seek out programs that would maximize their earning potential.

The big picture: The transfer portal used to be a waiver wire for (mostly) backups in search of playing time. Now, even superstars are taking advantage, using it to explore their options and find the perfect fit.

QB Caleb Williams, a freshman phenom at Oklahoma, is one of many Sooners starters to enter the portal after Lincoln Riley's exit.

QB Dillon Gabriel, a three-year starter at UCF, is headed to Oklahoma less than three weeks after committing to UCLA (commitments from the portal are not binding).

The bottom line: Four years ago, players needed their coach's permission just to contact another school. Now, future NFL stars are getting an early glimpse of free agency — minus the contracts and rules.

Go deeper: Used to the coaching carousel? Meet the QB shuffle (SI)

Free agency comes to college football

More than 3,000 football players across all NCAA divisions have entered the transfer portal since Aug. 1.

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws the ball off against the Oregon Ducks during the Valero Alamo Bowl football game at the Alamodome on December 29, 2021 in San Antonio, TX.

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams. Photo: Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is perhaps the most powerful figure in college sports, leading a conference that takes center stage Monday night in Indianapolis.

State of play: Sankey has helped solidify the SEC as the cream of the Power Five crop — a league so lucrative it could soon generate more revenue than the NCAA, itself.

In 2020, despite the Big Ten and Pac-12 initially opting to cancel their football seasons, Sankey never wavered on his plans to play. "That's when he went from being a methodical, plodding leader ... to being the man who saved college football," Paul Finebaum told NYT.

A few months later, he brokered the SEC's new 10-year, $3 billion deal with ESPN, including a clause that triggered an increase if more teams were added. Sure enough, Oklahoma and Texas are now on their way.

He's playing an integral role in CFP expansion, as one of four members of a group that's been meeting since June to come up with new formats.

He's also co-chair of the committee tasked with reimagining D-I sports. If the Power Five ever breaks away to form its own super division, Sankey will be the one driving the ship.

The backdrop: A native New Yorker with a degree from SUNY Cortland and a master's from Syracuse, Sankey headed to Texas in 1992 to join the Southland Conference, becoming commissioner in 1996 at age 31.

Six years later, then-SEC commissioner Michael Slive hired Sankey as an associate commissioner. In 2015, he replaced the retiring Slive.

"I've never heard him raise his voice," CFP executive director Bill Hancock told NYT. "He won't force anything. If he doesn't have to talk, he won't talk."

The big picture: Power Five commissioners will see their influence grow in the coming years as the NCAA cedes much of its power to leagues through a new constitution — none more than Sankey, 57, the second-longest tenured of the bunch.

Big 12: Bob Bowlsby (commissioner since 2012)

Looking ahead: Once Oklahoma and Texas join the fray, Sankey will be at the helm of arguably the third-most powerful sports entity in North America, trailing only the NFL and NBA.

The king of college sports

Sankey has helped solidify the SEC as the cream of the Power Five crop.

Alabama and Georgia will meet in next week's CFP national championship — the second such meeting in four years, and the second game between the SEC rivals in five weeks.

CFP semifinals: While three of the seven CFP title games have been classics, the semifinals have been horrible. That trend continued this year, increasing the average margin of victory in CFP semifinals to 21 points.

What they're saying: Friday's blowouts reinvigorated the playoff expansion debate.

On one hand, expansion seems wise. The CFP is everything now, soaking up the media oxygen and devaluing other bowls. It must deliver drama, and a larger field helps guarantee that.

On the other hand: "Friday's games hardly made the case that more games are needed to get down to the two best teams," writes WSJ's Laine Higgins (subscription).

The last word, via The Athletic's Chris Vannini, who favors a 12-team model that would give us eight additional games (subscription):

"Expansion won't change who wins in the end. It'll probably continue to produce lopsided semifinal results. But the College Football Playoff is supposed to be the climactic moment of the sport, and it's just not."

Semifinal blowouts reinvigorate CFP expansion debate

While three of the seven CFP title games have been classics, the semifinals have been horrible.

Georgia fans celebrating the Bulldogs' dominant win.

Georgia fans celebrating the Bulldogs' dominant win. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Ferris State (Mich.) completed a perfect season Saturday (14-0), winning its first-ever D-II football championship behind conference player of the year Jared Bernhard.

Driving the news: The triple-option QB, a fifth-year senior and graduate transfer, rushed for 349 yards and 8 TD in his final two games alone.

Why it matters: Football's not even his best sport. Six months ago at Maryland, Bernhardt won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation's top college lacrosse player.

"He's one of the top athletes in the nation. I'm not exaggerating when I say he could play [football] at Michigan right now."

The backdrop: Bernhardt's late father, Jim, played football and lacrosse at Hofstra before becoming a college football coach and later serving as the Texans' director of research (2014-17).

After Jim passed away from cancer in 2019, Jared decided to honor his legacy by using his final year of eligibility on a gridiron comeback.

By the numbers: The Florida native hadn't played football competitively since high school in 2015, but he picked up right where he left off this fall.

Football: 10 games; 1,322 pass yards and 11 TD; 1,421 rush yards, 26 TD (most in D-II). Had he not missed four games to injury, he likely would've won the Harlon Hill Trophy (D-II's Heisman).

Lacrosse: He's Maryland’s all-time leader in points (290) and goals (202), and one of the best attackmen of his generation.

The big picture: Bernhardt isn't the first elite lacrosse player to find success in another sport.

Chris Hogan, the nine-year NFL vet, played lacrosse at Penn State and made a brief comeback in the Premier Lacrosse League last season.

Pat Spencer, the 2019 Tewaaraton winner at Loyola (Md.), played basketball at Northwestern for a year, where he shined. After a brief stint abroad, he now plays for the Wizards' G League affiliate.

What's next: The PLL's Chaos drafted Bernhardt in April and still own his rights for another year. But don't be surprised if he lands a few NFL tryouts as a running back or receiver.

Two-sport superstar carries Ferris State to perfect season

The triple-option QB rushed for 349 yards and 8 TD in his final two games alone.

Photos: M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire; Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

National Signing Day provided a stunner when the nation's No. 1 recruit, cornerback Travis Hunter, de-committed from Florida State in favor of Jackson State, an FCS program and HBCU.

Why it matters: Hunter is the first five-star high school prospect to sign with an FCS team (or HBCU) since ESPN began its rankings in 2006. 

After an 11-1 season under NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders' leadership, and with Hunter set to enter the fold, it's safe to say Jackson State might garner some attention next year.

The big picture: It's impossible to know whether Hunter's historic decision will lead to more top prospects carving their own path at less heralded schools, but it certainly feels like an inflection point.

With the rise of NIL, players like Hunter may in fact earn more as a big fish in a small pond.

And regarding HBCUs, perhaps last years' hoops recruiting cycle — when various top prospects considered HBCUs but just one signed — was a prelude to this moment.

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a rich history in football. I want to be part of that history, and more, I want to be part of that future. I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more."

🥇 Top classes: Alabama finished the day with the No. 1 class, per 247Sports, followed by Ohio State and LSU. But over at ESPN, which ranks slightly differently, Texas A&M finished first, followed by Alabama and Georgia.

💔 Michigan Tate: The Spartans made Tate Myre — the 16-year-old who sacrificed his life during last month's Oxford High shooting — an honorary Spartan Dawg, which "is defined not by the plays they make ... but by the character they exemplify," said coach Mel Tucker.

Top college football recruit de-commits from Florida State, picks HBCU

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a rich history in football. I want to be part of that history."

Travis Hunter tweet, reading, "Time To Make History"

Bowl season begins a week from Friday and ends with the CFP National Championship on Jan. 10, the 44th game of the postseason. 

The big picture: There's still time to plan that trip...

Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Toledo (-10)

Tailgreeter Cure Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina (-10)

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. App State (-3)

Cricket Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State vs. Jackson State (-12)

PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl: UTEP vs. Fresno State (-11)

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: UAB vs. BYU (-7)

LendingTree Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty (-8.5)

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Utah State vs. Oregon State (-7)

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Marshall vs. Louisiana (-5)

Myrtle Beach Bowl: Old Dominion vs. Tulsa (-9.5)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Kent State vs. Wyoming (-3)

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl: San Diego State vs. UTSA (-2.5)

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Missouri vs. Army (-3.5)

Frisco Football Classic: North Texas vs. Miami, OH (-3)

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: UFC vs. Florida (-7.5)

EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl: Hawai'i vs. Memphis (-6.5)

TaxAct Camellia Bowl:  Ball State vs. Georgia State (-4.5)

Quick Lane Bowl: Nevada vs. Western Michigan (-3)

Military Bowl: ECU vs. Boston College (-3.5)

TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: Houston vs. Auburn (-3)

Servpro First Responder Bowl: Air Force vs. Louisville (-1.5)

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State (-8.5)

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: UCLA vs. NC State (-1)

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: West Virginia vs. Minnesota (-4)

Wasabi Fenway Bowl: SMU vs. Virginia (-1.5)

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Maryland vs. Virginia Tech (-1.5)

Cheez-It Bowl: Clemson vs. Iowa State (-1)

Valero Alamo Bowl: Oregon vs. Oklahoma (-4.5)

Duke's Mayo Bowl: South Carolina vs. UNC (-7)

TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Purdue vs. Tennessee (-4)

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Pitt vs. Michigan State (-1)

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State vs. Wisconsin (-7)

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M (-7)

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Washington State vs. Miami (-2.5)

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Boise State (-8)

🏆 Goodyear Cotton Bowl (CFP): Cincinnati vs. Alabama (-13.5)

🏆 Capital One Orange Bowl (CFP): Michigan vs. Georgia (-7.5)

Outback Bowl: Arkansas vs. Penn State (-2)

Vrbo Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky (-2.5)

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame (-2.5)

Rose Bowl Game: Utah vs. Ohio State (-6.5)

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Baylor (-1.5)

TaxAct Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Kansas State (-1)

🏆 CFP National Championship: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)

College football bowl season is almost here

There's still time to plan that bowl game trip.

Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati will compete in the College Football Playoff, which is exactly how it should be. Not much drama this year.

Why it matters: No. 1 Alabama is the top seed for the fifth time in the CFP's eight-year history.

No. 2 Michigan is the first team to make the CFP after being unranked in the preseason AP Poll.

No. 3 Georgia is the fifth team to make the CFP without winning a conference championship.

No. 4 Cincinnati is the first Group of 5 school to make the CFP.

The big picture: There are 130 FBS teams. Exactly 10% of them (13) have now made a CFP appearance: Alabama (7x), Clemson (6x), Ohio State (4x), Oklahoma (4x), Georgia (2x), Notre Dame (2x), Michigan, Cincinnati, LSU, Washington, Michigan State, Oregon, Florida State.

Looking ahead: The New Year's Six slate...

Orange Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Georgia (Dec. 31)

Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Cincinnati (Dec. 31)

Peach Bowl: No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Pitt (Dec. 30)

Fiesta Bowl: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State (Jan. 1)

Rose Bowl: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Utah (Jan. 1)

Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 8 Ole Miss (Jan. 1)

College football's final four

No. 1 Alabama is the top seed for the fifth time in the CFP's eight-year history.

Illustration of college football's final four.

Reproduced from Student Player; Cartogram: Axios Visuals

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a bill on Thursday that would require the NCAA to change its rules by June 2021 regarding athletes' ability to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL), while also protecting the NCAA from legal challenges to the new regulations.

The big picture: The NCAA is fearful that state-by-state action will lead to competitive unbalance and chaos and is hoping to work with Congress on passing national legislation, so they predictably endorsed Rubio's bill.

What they're saying: "We can't have 50 separate laws. It will destroy college athletics," Rubio said in a video posted to Twitter.

The backdrop: The bill comes six days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis passed a law that will allow athletes in the state to profit off their NIL starting in July 2021. California and Colorado passed similar laws that go into effect in 2023.

The other side: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said he's glad Rubio introduced legislation, but Murphy cautioned against putting too much emphasis on the interest of the NCAA and placing the fate of endorsement deals in their hands.

What's next: There is already a bill in Congress on this topic from Rep. Mark Walker (R.-N.C.), and there is another one coming in the next few weeks from Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio). It's a mess — but the tide is turning.

The latest on national legislation to pay student athletes

The NCAA is fearful that state-by-state action will lead to competitive unbalance and chaos.

National Collegiate Athletic Assocation (NCAA)

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This story first appeared in Axios Sports

Business

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Empowered by social media, college athletes are speaking out on social issues and driving the national conversation in ways their predecessors could only dream about.

Driving the news: It's not only superstars whose messages have been amplified. Just last week, a little-known Georgia Tech basketball player started a movement to make Election Day a universal off day for all 460,000 NCAA student athletes, and it's gaining momentum.

Auburn: The football team staged a peaceful, three-hour protest at the famed Toomer's Corner.

The rise of student-athlete activism

They're driving the national conversation in ways their predecessors could only dream about.

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