AUGUST 27, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH
No publication covers NCAA Division III better. #whyD3

🏑  Two Days ‘Til Fall Sports

🗞️ In Today’s Edition. Democratic Senator Warns of ‘Power 2' Owning College Sports. NCAA, Venmo Partner to Combat Harassment of College Athletes. Women’s Volleyball Season Preview. Pumpkin Spice Latte Is Back.

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TOP STORY

1. Democratic Senator Warns of ‘Power 2' Owning College Sports If NCAA-Backed SCORE Act Becomes Law

by Eddie Pells, Associated Press

“A Democratic U.S. lawmaker sent a letter to leaders at the more than 350 Division I schools across the country Monday, warning of a two-tier college sports system with haves and have-nots if a proposed bill to regulate the industry passes without changes.

In the letter, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the ranking member of a committee that oversees college sports, says the SCORE Act would “incentivize a Power 2 conference system that will create inequities for other conferences and leave behind small to mid-sized schools.”

» Driving The News. “The House is expected to vote on the SCORE Act next month. It would provide the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, override state laws designed to regulate name, image, likeness payments and prevent athletes from becoming employees of their universities.”

» What They’re Saying. “Ultimately, the broad antitrust exemption in the SCORE Act would widen existing inequities among schools and conferences, creating long-term instability for schools of all sizes,” Cantwell said.

» Worth Noting. “The SCORE Act would need the backing of at least seven Democrats in the Senate to pass as a standalone bill, though there’s a chance it could be attached to a larger piece of must-pass legislation, which would diminish their chances of making substantive amendments.”

» Continue Reading

2. NCAA, Venmo Partner to Combat Harassment of College Athletes

by David Purdum, ESPN

“The NCAA and online payment service Venmo announced a partnership Tuesday aiming to combat abuse and harassment of college athletes, some of whom have reported receiving unwanted requests for money from losing bettors and solicitation for inside information.

The NCAA-Venmo partnership features a dedicated hotline for athletes to report abuse and harassment, education on account security, and increased monitoring. Venmo's security team will monitor social media trends and events during games, such as last-second missed field goals, that have triggered surges in unwanted interactions.”

» Driving The News. “David Szuchman, senior vice president of Venmo's parent company, PayPal, told ESPN that the unwanted requests for money sent to athletes are infrequent on the platform but still "unacceptable." He believes college athletes belong in a unique subset of Venmo customers who deserve a higher level of monitoring and protection.”

» What They’re Saying. "This is a really unique and interesting population," Clint Hangebrauck, NCAA managing director of enterprise risk, said of student-athletes. "How do we let them operate in a way where they can feel like any other college kid but also have those enhanced measures around them to make sure they have a safe experience on their platforms?"

» Read More

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3. Women’s Volleyball Preview

Get ready for the 2025 season with the D3Playbook season preview.

» 2025 Preseason AVCA Top 10 Ranking. 1-Juniata; 2-Wisconsin-Whitewater; 3-Hope; 4-Johns Hopkins; 5-Emory; 6-Wisconsin-Oshkosh; 7-La Verne; 8-MIT; 9-Washington and Lee; 10-Trinity (Texas) | Complete Poll

» Preseason Conference Favorites. Marymount (AEC); Penn State Behrend (AMCC); Coe (A-R-C); East Texas Baptist (ASC); Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW); Christopher Newport (C2C); Johns Hopkins (CC); Lasell (GNAC); Juniata (Landmark); UMass Dartmouth (LEC); Westfield State (MASCAC); Hope (MIAA); Messiah (MACC); Stevens (MACF); MIT (NEWMAC); Denison (NCAC); Stockton (NJAC); Otterbein (OAC); Washington and Lee (ODAC); Allegheny/Saint Vincent (PAC); Colorado College (SCAC); Greenville (SLIAC); La Verne (SCIAC); Gallaudet (UEC); Oshkosh (WIAC)

» Returning All-Americans. OH-Simone Adam, Sr., Johns Hopkins; S-Aubrie Krzus, Jr., UW-Whitewater; S-Lauren Lee, Sr., Hope; OH-Mya Ray, Sr., La Verne; S-Sam Buckley, Sr., Washington U.; OH-Grace Mitchener, Jr., Washington and Lee; OH-Graycee Mosley, Sr., East Texas Baptist; S-Wesley Slavin, Jr., Ithaca; L-Vivi Vasquez, Jr., Washington and Lee; MB-Alyssa Dozier, Sr., Christopher Newport; MH-Gwen Eustace, Sr., Salisbury; R-Molly Harrison, Jr., Middlebury; OH-Kate LaRocco, Sr., Emory; OP-Bailey Leeke, Sr., UW-Eau Claire; OH-Brady Moseley, Jr., Colby; MB-Amanda Ngo, Sr., CWRU.

excludes 2024 seniors and grads

4. Battle of the Bands - The Final Four

It’s the bi-annual D3Playbook “Best Fight Song” competition and we’re down to the semifinals.

» How to Vote. Click on each school’s link to listen to the song. Then go to the D3Playbook twitter site and cast your vote for the winning song in each contest. The National Semifinal matchups are scheduled for today with the championship match set for August 28.

» Semifinals. Adrian vs. North Central (Ill.); Gettysburg vs. Central 

5. Comings and Goings 

• ROGER WILLIAMS - Michelle Spreda and Mark Ward named associate head basketball coaches

• ST. OLAF - Mike Bostrom named creative and digital media strategist

6. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte Is Back

The unofficial start of fall arrived Tuesday, as Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte returned.

Why it matters: Seasonal drinks like the PSL are critical traffic drivers for Starbucks, as well as a cultural touchpoint.

The Seattle-based coffee giant said last year 10% of sales come from returning favorites.

Starbucks said Monday that the PSL is its "most popular seasonal beverage of all time."

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