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Interesting article in USA Today
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:24 am
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:24 am
Posting here instead of the SEC board because it will only ignite the same old bullshite arguments that we've seen over the past 9 months.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2026/07/13/ole-miss-football-lsu-princewill-umanmielen-devin-harper/90834691007/
OXFORD — Ole Miss football has been waiting on buyout payments from LSU football players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper for approximately six months, according to Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter.
In an interview with the Clarion Ledger that covered a variety of topics, Carter said July 10 that going to court is one of the avenues Ole Miss is considering to make sure the buyouts are paid.
"That would be an option, going and asking a court to get that money for you," Carter said. "Contracts are with the players. LSU could pay that on behalf of the players. So we're kind of exploring all of that right now."
Umanmielen, a star edge rusher for the Rebels in 2025, and Harper, a promising sophomore offensive lineman, have owed Ole Miss a buyout after transferring to LSU in the offseason and joining new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin.
That is because both players signed revenue sharing contracts to stay at Ole Miss before reversing course and entering the transfer portal. Umanmielen entered the transfer portal on Jan. 15, nine days after it was announced he'd be returning to Ole Miss.
On3 reported Umanmielen's and Harper's buyout payments total just shy of $1 million. Carter declined to share the exact dollar amount Ole Miss is expecting for each player.
"I don't really want to comment on that," Carter said. "It was significant. They were good players."
Revenue sharing contracts differ from NIL agreements run through collectives. Revenue sharing contracts are agreements between the school and a player. Revenue sharing deals outline payments and buyouts between the two parties explicitly, while NIL agreements concern supplementary income opportunities from collectives.
Carter said there has been general hesitancy among college football athletic departments to enforce buyout payments against 18-year-olds. Because the Umanmielen and Harper deals were broken shortly after they were signed, Ole Miss feels collecting is the right move.
"Those are the kind that, having signed a brand-new rev share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, those are the kind that put you in a bind, especially there in the portal cycle," Carter said. "Those two we're going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like based on the contract we deserve to collect."
It is customary for the school where players transfer to cover the buyout fee. Carter said Ole Miss has paid some buyout fees on behalf of incoming players.
There will be a field sponsorship at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this season. Ole Miss has a deal finalized and is hoping to announce it in a couple weeks, Carter said.
Plans for potential jersey patches on the Ole Miss football uniform in 2026 are less concrete.
"Jersey patches, we're still working on that one," Carter said. "We do not currently have one for this year. Not saying that we couldn't by the time the season starts, but we don't have one secured."
Aflac became the first company to land a football field sponsorship with Ole Miss. That came during the Rebels' Nov. 15 home game against Florida. It was not a permanent deal, and Aflac is not the sponsor the Rebels have signed with for 2026, Carter said.
A major project to transform the area north of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is still in what Carter calls "early stages."
Ole Miss issued an RFP (request for proposal) on Dec. 10 that seeks a development partner for a mixed-use development project that would create an entertainment district on 25 acres of land surrounding Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, according to a report from the Sports Business Journal Dec. 11.
Carter said Ole Miss has found a preferred development partner in the project and is now working through aspects of the contract.
"That's going to be a process that's probably going to take several months to work through," Carter said. "The most important thing is we get IHL (Institute of Higher Learning) approval and work through that with IHL staff and IHL board members and talk to them about why the project is important to our campus."
The project is for a mixed-use space that would include condos, retail space, dining space, suites and office space. Carter said the focus is making the space a vibrant place for people to occupy year-around, not just during Ole Miss home football games.
"The Chancellor (Glenn Boyce) and I will work on that together over the next several months as well," Carter said. "I think it could add a lot of value. That building is used seven or eight times a year. To be able to bring more value to that, kind of 365, would be really cool."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2026/07/13/ole-miss-football-lsu-princewill-umanmielen-devin-harper/90834691007/
quote:
Ole Miss could take 2 LSU football transfers to court over unpaid buyouts, AD says
OXFORD — Ole Miss football has been waiting on buyout payments from LSU football players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper for approximately six months, according to Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter.
In an interview with the Clarion Ledger that covered a variety of topics, Carter said July 10 that going to court is one of the avenues Ole Miss is considering to make sure the buyouts are paid.
"That would be an option, going and asking a court to get that money for you," Carter said. "Contracts are with the players. LSU could pay that on behalf of the players. So we're kind of exploring all of that right now."
Umanmielen, a star edge rusher for the Rebels in 2025, and Harper, a promising sophomore offensive lineman, have owed Ole Miss a buyout after transferring to LSU in the offseason and joining new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin.
That is because both players signed revenue sharing contracts to stay at Ole Miss before reversing course and entering the transfer portal. Umanmielen entered the transfer portal on Jan. 15, nine days after it was announced he'd be returning to Ole Miss.
On3 reported Umanmielen's and Harper's buyout payments total just shy of $1 million. Carter declined to share the exact dollar amount Ole Miss is expecting for each player.
"I don't really want to comment on that," Carter said. "It was significant. They were good players."
Revenue sharing contracts differ from NIL agreements run through collectives. Revenue sharing contracts are agreements between the school and a player. Revenue sharing deals outline payments and buyouts between the two parties explicitly, while NIL agreements concern supplementary income opportunities from collectives.
Carter said there has been general hesitancy among college football athletic departments to enforce buyout payments against 18-year-olds. Because the Umanmielen and Harper deals were broken shortly after they were signed, Ole Miss feels collecting is the right move.
"Those are the kind that, having signed a brand-new rev share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, those are the kind that put you in a bind, especially there in the portal cycle," Carter said. "Those two we're going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like based on the contract we deserve to collect."
It is customary for the school where players transfer to cover the buyout fee. Carter said Ole Miss has paid some buyout fees on behalf of incoming players.
quote:
Ole Miss football field logo secured, jersey patch not locked in
There will be a field sponsorship at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this season. Ole Miss has a deal finalized and is hoping to announce it in a couple weeks, Carter said.
Plans for potential jersey patches on the Ole Miss football uniform in 2026 are less concrete.
"Jersey patches, we're still working on that one," Carter said. "We do not currently have one for this year. Not saying that we couldn't by the time the season starts, but we don't have one secured."
Aflac became the first company to land a football field sponsorship with Ole Miss. That came during the Rebels' Nov. 15 home game against Florida. It was not a permanent deal, and Aflac is not the sponsor the Rebels have signed with for 2026, Carter said.
quote:
Development project by Vaught-Hemingway Stadium advancing
A major project to transform the area north of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is still in what Carter calls "early stages."
Ole Miss issued an RFP (request for proposal) on Dec. 10 that seeks a development partner for a mixed-use development project that would create an entertainment district on 25 acres of land surrounding Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, according to a report from the Sports Business Journal Dec. 11.
Carter said Ole Miss has found a preferred development partner in the project and is now working through aspects of the contract.
"That's going to be a process that's probably going to take several months to work through," Carter said. "The most important thing is we get IHL (Institute of Higher Learning) approval and work through that with IHL staff and IHL board members and talk to them about why the project is important to our campus."
The project is for a mixed-use space that would include condos, retail space, dining space, suites and office space. Carter said the focus is making the space a vibrant place for people to occupy year-around, not just during Ole Miss home football games.
"The Chancellor (Glenn Boyce) and I will work on that together over the next several months as well," Carter said. "I think it could add a lot of value. That building is used seven or eight times a year. To be able to bring more value to that, kind of 365, would be really cool."
4
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:29 am to Landmass
This could get interesting. What happens if a player just refuses to pay the buyout? Would they just be ineligible to play at the school they transferred to?
UPDATE - okay, looked into this, and the players would still be able to play at the school they transferred to. It's a civil matter and Ole Miss would need to sue the actual player.
UPDATE - okay, looked into this, and the players would still be able to play at the school they transferred to. It's a civil matter and Ole Miss would need to sue the actual player.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 8:34 am
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:30 am to Pickle_Weasel
I doubt it. I think it would only mean that the player would have to pay the money, possibly via garnishment.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:33 am to Pickle_Weasel
quote:
Would they just be ineligible to play at the school they transferred to?
A court isn't going to go that route. No idea if the NCAA could try to make that a punishment, but a court won't. I assume a court will treat it similar to when a parent is delinquent with child support payment and just order a garnishment from their LSU payments.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:36 am to OleVaught14
Looks like a similar situation with Damon Wilson II going from Georgia to Missouri. That case is ongoing.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:37 am to Pickle_Weasel
Washington almost went through it with their QB wanting to transfer to LSU, but threatening to hold him to his contract prevented it.
Interesting to see it all play out.
Interesting to see it all play out.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 9:19 am to Landmass
One thing is for certain. LSU fans will act like Ole Miss is the bad guy trying to collect the buyout 
Posted on 7/13/26 at 10:28 am to Landmass
Seen that coming LSU is running out of money.. You can't pay all the stuff they are and keep doing it. Mark it down a few LSU players will sit cause they are not getting their NIL payments this season.. If you ask me soon as they jump ship the buyouts should came out of LSU revshare.. Cause if something does not happen about the buy outs on players.. Its going cause more headaches for college football.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 10:31 am
Posted on 7/13/26 at 10:30 am to Fireman17
quote:
Mark it down a few LSU players will sit cause they are not getting their NIL payments this season
They won't let that happen, or at least not publicly.
Some booster will pony up to spare what would be an incredibly embarrassing situation for the university. If it's just some fringe bench player they'll just list him as "injured".
Posted on 7/13/26 at 11:20 am to OleVaught14
Pretty sure that if you pull the covers off of Landry's involvement, they are using public funds to go to the LSU NIL, which is also why he is inviting their top 40 donors to the governor's mansion to discuss new investment opportunities.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 11:29 am to Landmass
I don’t post about this a lot but I do have a personal connection with someone who is the president of a major university’s NIL collective (non-SEC but power 4). He said it hasn’t been proven and there’s no evidence of it currently that he knows of. But he said he and a lot of other people in his position think LSU and a few other universities are 100% using public funds to some degree. I could see Ohio State doing it too
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 11:31 am
Posted on 7/13/26 at 11:53 am to Landmass
quote:
Pretty sure that if you pull the covers off of Landry's involvement, they are using public funds to go to the LSU NIL, which is also why he is inviting their top 40 donors to the governor's mansion to discuss new investment opportunities.
There is a Long history of that in Baton Rouge, no pun intended, but yes I will accept praise and adoration for the pun.
Sumbitch literally led The Golden Band from Tiger Land.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 12:03 pm to Henry Jones Jr
quote:
He said it hasn’t been proven and there’s no evidence of it currently that he knows of. But he said he and a lot of other people in his position think LSU and a few other universities are 100% using public funds to some degree.
I have no idea if we know the same people (I doubt it) but I've heard the exact same thing from others in similar positions.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 12:07 pm to Landmass
Little change of topic but this shows how dumb Clemson was in that situation.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 12:08 pm to Shunface
quote:
Clemson was in that situation.
All they had to do was actually sign the kid to a rev share deal...
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:14 pm to Fireman17
I’m sorry but this rhetoric that LSU is “out of money” is one of the craziest cope angles I’ve seen.
LSU clearly feels it isn’t legally bound to pay the players’ buyout after reviewing their contracts. Whether or not that will hold true, I have no idea. But LSU clearly had legal counsel assess how legally binding the NIL contract is.
LSU clearly feels it isn’t legally bound to pay the players’ buyout after reviewing their contracts. Whether or not that will hold true, I have no idea. But LSU clearly had legal counsel assess how legally binding the NIL contract is.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:19 pm to Henry Jones Jr
I keep seeing this rhetoric on X, really interesting. I’m not sure how else this can be explained but LSU is academically poor but athletically rich. The school has massive donors that didn’t even attend the school in Louisiana that love the athletic program. Not to mention actually very successful alumni in energy, engineering, and construction.This might sound crazy but despite the jokes LSU athletics from budget to donor base is elite in this current landscape, despite the fantasies people who despise the school love to conjure up in their heads.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:40 pm to tigerbait2010
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:41 pm to tigerbait2010
quote:
But LSU clearly had legal counsel assess how legally binding the NIL contract is.
What makes you draw this conclusion? As if there is no other possible explanation for the money not being paid.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 2:42 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:46 pm to OleVaught14
What makes you draw the conclusion that LSU is “out of money” or embezzling state funds? You think it’s more likely LSU is committing fraud and is insolvent than reviewing how legally binding some of these new player contracts are?
To me it’s just a very obvious middle finger to a rival school I’m not saying I agree with it or it’ll even hold up but there is clear confidence LSU isn’t liable to pay the buyout.
To me it’s just a very obvious middle finger to a rival school
I’m not saying I agree with it or it’ll even hold up but there is clear confidence LSU isn’t liable to pay the buyout. This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 2:48 pm
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