Because money talks, look for more college football craziness

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Random notes:

The only certainty about conference realignment is uncertainty. Thanks to the television gold rush, college football will never be the same.

Southern Cal and UCLA have no business being in the Big Ten. The powers that be at both schools are sacrificing their Olympic sports in the name of a football windfall. But hey, this is 2022, and the Big Ten is in the middle of negotiating what experts say will be a $1 billion television rights deal.

Texas and Oklahoma are scheduled to hop on board the SEC in 2025. Will the conference now explore additional expansion? What happens to the ACC? And the Big 12? Is the Pac-12 now in ruins? And what will Notre Dame do? Surely the Irish now have to hitch their star to a conference wagon.

Yes, Kentucky football recruiting is off to a sluggish 2023 start. It’s too early to diagnose the problem, however. And there’s plenty of time left to turn efforts around.

NFL Films’ Greg Cosell on The Install podcast about what he sees studying film of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis: “The NFL concepts were very apparent when I watched the tape. He understands conceptually what he’s going to be asked to do at the NFL level. And you’re dealing with a kid who is 6-foot-3, 235. He’s rocked-up. He’s solid. He’s got a really tight, compact delivery. He generates very easy velocity. He does not work hard at all to drive the football. It just comes out of his hand naturally.“

While saying there is a lot to like about Levis, Cosell added, “There needs to be some refinement to his game because he’s a big, physical athlete. He’s got size. He’s got mobility. He can run. And I would expect that refinement to continue under (new offensive coordinator) Rich Scangarello. Will Levis is one of those guys that will not be under the radar for very long.”

Though Sam Houston State transfer Ramon Jefferson received the most attention last week, Dee Beckwith is an interesting running back transfer on the UK roster, as well. A four-star prospect, Beckwith failed to find his niche in two seasons at Tennessee. He is reported to be an outstanding athlete, however, one that Scangarello could find different ways to deploy.

Kentucky football has nine transfers on its 2022 roster.

Remember Kahlil Whitney, who played 18 games for Kentucky in 2019-20 before leaving the team? The 21-year-old has been playing for the Newfoundland Growlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League but is scheduled to participate in the NBA Summer League.

After Cincinnati’s spring fire sale, we knew the Reds would struggle. Not sure we thought they would be this bad — 27-52 before Tuesday night’s game against the NL East-leading New York Mets.

Love what I’m reading about how new rules, including a pitch clock, have helped speed up games in minor league baseball. Looking forward to those rules being adopted in the majors in 2023.

Good thoughts to former Florida center Patric Young, who was involved in a rollover vehicle crash last week in Nebraska.

With the Breeders’ Cup coming to Keeneland in November, Olympiad might have assumed favorite status for the Classic thanks to his eye-popping 111 Beyer Speed Figure in winning last Saturday’s Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. He’s 5-for-5 this year.

Can John Wall revive his professional career with his newest team, the Los Angeles Clippers? Hard to believe the former Cat has not played more than 41 games in an NBA season since 2016-17.

The Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority went into effect last Friday. Texas refused to play ball. So far, the fallout has been significant. From Thoroughbred Daily News: “Predictably, that led to a massive decline in handle Saturday at Lone Star Park on the first day that its races couldn’t be sent out of state. Lone Star ran a 10-race card on Saturday, June 25, and handled $1,771,138 or $177,113 per race. There was an eight-race card on Saturday and total handle for the day was $215,107, for an average of $26,888 per race.”

Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez pleads guilty to DUI charge, receives penalties

Four-star South Warren football defensive back commits to Tennessee over Kentucky

Bam Adebayo working out with Kenny Payne at Louisville irks some U of L fans

Kentucky freshman guard will need no coaxing to play defense: ‘I love it’