Bevo’s Daily Roundup: NCAA is reportedly cutting payouts to schools by $375 million

USA Today reports that the NCAA is set to reduce its direct distribution to Division I conferences and schools this year by roughly $375 million to $225 million, the NCAA says.

From USA Today: “According to its 2020 Division I Revenue Distribution Plan document, the NCAA had been scheduled to distribute just under $600 million directly to conferences and schools from April 15 through June 10. That would have represented a 1.7% increase over the amount budgeted for 2019, but the actual distribution for 2019 ended up being $611 million, according to the association’s recently released audited financial statement. (When the association runs an annual operating surplus, it often makes a supplementary distribution to Division I conferences and schools.) The association said of the $225 million distribution, $50 million will come from NCAA reserves. The NCAA also has a $270 million event cancellation insurance policy, and the proceeds when received will be used to pay off a line of credit that will cover the remaining distribution within 12 months.” The NCAA’s board also noted in a news release that it wanted to stress “the importance of using the distributions to aid college athletes,” claiming the move would allow schools to make their own plans.

The $225 million will go out in June, the report says.

WHAT THE WISE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS

Austin American-Statesman: The Dotted Line: Running backs LJ Johnson, Camar Wheaton ranked among Nos. 15-11 on Fab 55

Dallas Morning News: Bob Bowlsby says Big 12 will compensate schools for money lost from spring sport cancellations

Sports Illustrated: Shaka Smart comments on assistant taking head coaching job

247Sports: Eyes of Texas: Expect Shaka Smart to return

247Sports: Early Odds: Lines set for eight Texas games in 2020

247Sports: Would no spring practice give Tom Herman a free pass in 2020?

247Sports: The Roundup: Texas sends a new round of offers this week

USA Today: Texas has the top returning offensive linemen in the Big 12

USA Today: Could the Big 12 delay the start of the football season?

NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN LONGHORN LAND AND THE BIG 12

• Quarterback Sam Ehlinger is playing a role in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. From the Austin American-Statesman: “Ehlinger took to social media on Friday to announce a fundraiser for COVID-19 relief. Through a GoFundMe page, the Longhorn quarterback said he wants to raise $1 million. The donations will be distributed to both national and local organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Central Texas Food Bank. Within an hour of Ehlinger’s announcements on Twitter and Instagram, he had raised around $5,000.” We’re open to keeping this guy around for another four years.

• Two future Texas women’s basketball players made the Class 6A all-state team. From the Austin American-Statesman: “Future Texas basketball players Shay Holle and Elyssa Coleman are two of the 20 honorees on the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ Class 6A all-state team. Both players have also earned all-state recognition from the Texas Girls Coaches Association. Holle and Coleman were two of UT’s five signees during the 2019-20 recruiting cycle. Texas also signed California guard Ashley Chevalier, Harvard graduate transfer Katie Benzan and in-state forward Precious Johnson. According to MaxPreps, the 6-3 Coleman averaged 19.4 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game during her senior year at Humble Atascocita. In a rout of South Houston on Dec. 17, Coleman scored 50 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. District 22-6A’s MVP also had 10 steals and six blocks in a game against Kingwood in January. Holle was a six-foot guard on Westlake High’s roster this season. She notched 18.2 points and eight rebounds per game while also averaging two steals. Holle was named District 25-6A’s MVP this winter.”

• Texas ex quarterback Chris Simms is going against the grain with his take on the top quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. From 247Sports: “Earlier this week, Simms ranked his Top 5 quarterbacks entering the draft and turned heads after slotting Tagovailoa in the No. 4 spot behind Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love. Pressed about his ranking by several users on social media, Simms defended his take. ‘He’s fast, but he’s not real fast,’ Simms told ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio on Wednesday. ‘His size is an issue to me. Yes, his injury history is an issue to me. But size, ability to throw in the pocket with people around him, make big throws down field with linemen in his face. You’re not going to see that.’ Simms said he ‘wouldn’t feel comfortable as a GM’ taking Tagovailoa in the No. 5 spot, which seems to be the most common projection to the Miami Dolphins during mock draft season. Cleared to return to the field last season after offseason surgery and subsequent MRI scans to judge progress, Tagovailoa posted video this week showing several throws and improved lateral movement. In fact, Tagovailoa is rolling out without restrictions and doesn’t appear to be limited whatsoever by his hip. ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick said Thursday he believes Tagovailoa is the “best thrower” in this class and raved about his ability to throw the deep ball. Simms disagrees. ‘It’s a good arm, but it’s not a great arm,’ Simms said. ‘Again, I think you have to be careful when you watch Alabama. It’s a very good offense schematically, and it has some of the best talent that you’re going to find.’”

• Longhorns sports fans are so damn bored right now that they’re recreating Justin Tucker’s game-winning field goal against the Texas A&M Aggies in 2011. Check it out below: