NCAA

Reggie Bush says the return of his Heisman Trophy is only the start of the good news for USC football fans ... telling TMZ Sports this week he believes the reinstatement of the Trojans' 2004 national championship is coming up next.

In fact, the former SC tailback guaranteed it when we got him talking on the topic out at LAX.

"Absolutely," he said. "Absolutely!"

The L.A. Lakers want UCONN head coach Danny Hurley, and despite a fat new contract and an opportunity to go back-to-back-to-back, the coveted coach needs to listen to Lake Show execs, according to Dan Dakich, former Indiana University player and coach.

Dakich, host of Outkick's "Don't @ Me," joined Babcock on "TMZ Sports" (airs nightly on FS1) on Thursday -- only hours after news of the Purple and Gold's interest in Hurley rocked the basketball world -- and we asked the longtime player, coach, and media personality about the bigtime development.

"Well, you got to listen. You got to listen. I mean, you're talking the highest-paid NBA coach is [making] 17 and a half million. I don't give a damn. You got to listen," Dan said.

Former USC long snapper Jake Olson shared the devastating news of his beloved service dog's death on Thursday ... releasing a heartbreaking message on the loss.

Olson became an inspiration to millions during his time with the Trojans -- despite losing his eyesight to cancer in 2009, he joined the team as a reserve walk-on in 2015 ... eventually making two game appearances in his career.

Olson and his dog, Quebec, were inseparable ... and the two formed a truly one-of-a-kind relationship.

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.

Some scumbag pretending to be NBA prospect James McCain has been scamming fans out of their hard-earned money on Snapchat ... and now, the REAL James McCain's team is working to get the account removed from the app.

TMZ Sports has learned -- someone completely unaffiliated with 20-year-old McCain has been reaching out to people on the platform recently ... and after weeks of talking and building up trust, the user will eventually offer gifted items from SKIMS and other companies at a discounted price.

We're told some users have fallen for it -- after all, Kim Kardashian's brand recently partnered with the NCAA for March Madness ... and McCain was all over the campaign.

SKIMS also has a relationship with the NBA ... McCain's next employer.

Fans of the "College Football" video game franchise just got a little nugget to hold them over until the reboot is officially released later this year ... with EA Sports revealing the "Deluxe Edition" cover -- featuring some of the sport's biggest CURRENT stars.

"College Football 25" popped up on the PlayStation Store on Friday ... allowing gamers to add the project to their wishlist before it drops this summer. The main art for the special version of the game shows Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards and two-way Colorado player Travis Hunter front and center.

Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Georgia's Carson Beck and Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins also appear behind them.

The Indianapolis Star columnist who had a cringe-worthy exchange with Caitlin Clark at her Fever introductory news conference last month has reportedly been suspended over the bizarre encounter.

Longtime journalist Bob Kravitz -- who used to work for the Star -- said the outlet hit Gregg Doyel with a two-week ban in the days following his strange April 17 interaction with the WNBA player.

Kravitz did not specify when exactly the punishment began for the reporter ... although he noted Doyel's last Star piece -- a Colts-related article -- was published on April 29. Kravitz added that Doyel is expected to return from the ban on May 13.

Diana Taurasi is standing by her comments on Caitlin Clark and the learning curve she'll inevitably face as a pro, despite a wave of backlash, with the former MVP describing fans of the rookie hooper as "really sensitive!"

In case you missed the OG comments ... the WNBA legend was recently on TV following 22-year-old Clark's selection as the number one overall pick, where Taurasi cautioned Caitlin would face her fair share of struggles.

"Reality is coming," Taurasi said earlier this month. "There's levels to this thing. That's just life. We all went through it."

"You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds, but you're gonna come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time -- not saying that's not gonna translate."

Taurasi added, "There's gonna be a transition period where you're gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie."

Clark fans didn't appreciate the take -- unloading on the Phoenix Mercury star -- though Taurasi isn't taking a single syllable back, despite the hate.

"The new fans are really sensitive these days," Taurasi told reporters, adding, "You can’t say anything."

"It’s kind of like when you go to kindergarten to first grade, there’s a learning adjustment. When you go from high school to college, there’s a learning adjustment."

"I don’t think I said anything that’s factually incorrect. Like anything, greatness is going to translate. And she’s proven that at every level. I don’t see why that’s going to be any different in the WNBA."

Of course, it'd probably behoove Clark to listen to 41-year-old Taurasi -- who was given the "White Mamba" nickname by Kobe Bryant -- is one of the greatest female hoopers ever ... with 3 WNBA Championships, 2 Finals MVPs, 10 All-Star nods, 10 All WNBA First team bids, and a league MVP, amongst many other accolades.

The UConn legend also knows a thing or two about coming in and being an immediate difference-maker. The number one overall pick went on to win Rookie of the Year in 2004.

Reggie Bush might not have his Heisman Trophy back today if not for a chance meeting at Rob Gronkowski's Super Bowl pool party ... where the USC star ran into his attorney Levi McCathern, who fought like hell and got the prestigious award back to its rightful owner!!

Bush, along with McCathern and Ben Crump, (and THE HEISMAN!!), met with the media on Thursday at The Coliseum in Los Angeles ... where they broke their silence on the return of the trophy.

The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner said he's especially thankful to be reunited with his trophy because he never cheated the game ... actually quite the opposite -- he put more than 100% into becoming the best player possible so he could help the Trojans compete for a national championship.

Bronny James might've already figured out his next college move -- at least, that's what some people are thinking after Duquesne head coach Dru Joyce's latest social media post ... which included a clear nod to the young hooper's NBA superstar pops.

Joyce -- a member of LeBron's Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School championship teams back in the day -- shared quite an interesting GIF on Wednesday ... showing him doing King James' signature chalk toss with a caption that teased a huge announcement.

The post could mean anything, but plenty of folks believe it means Bronny is slated to team up with his dad's longtime friend and former teammate for his sophomore season of college ball.

Now that Reggie Bush's Heisman is back where it belongs, Tim Brown thinks it's time for the NCAA to correct some of its wrongs ... saying he wants the org. to look into its past punishments and consider reversing them too.

Brown joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" on Wednesday to gloat about the Heisman Trust's decision to give its trophy back to Bush ... and then he said the NCAA should attempt to perform similar actions.

Specifically, the former Notre Dame star wide receiver said the organization should contemplate lifting bans for anyone who was thrown under the bus in the past for things that are now legal.

Reggie Bush better get his party pants ready for the next Heisman Trophy ceremony ... 'cause one of the award's former winners, Mike Garrett, tells TMZ Sports it's going to be a BLAST!!

Of course, the 2024 version of the event will be the first one Bush gets to attend since the Heisman Trust gave him back his coveted award on Wednesday ... and Garrett is promising it will be a memorable one for the ex-USC star.

He explained to us that it'll be like Bush "is being reborn" ... and he says the celebration will be a good one because of it.

Caitlin Clark was slated to make AT LEAST $15 million if she had agreed to suit up for Ice Cube's Big3 ... so says league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz, who's revealing more eye-popping details on the lucrative offer.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former Iowa basketball superstar was presented a historic $5 million deal to play just 10 games for the 3-on-3 organization last month -- while still being able to pursue a WNBA career.

Kwatinetz revealed in an article for OutKick he believes the "male agents and executives controlling the sport" never actually told Clark about the contract ... which is a big loss for her bank account.

7:37 AM PT -- It's official -- Reggie Bush was welcomed back to the Heisman family on Wednesday ... with the Trust sharing a picture of Bush posing with his trophy.

7:02 AM PT -- Reggie just took to his Instagram page to celebrate the news -- showing a picture of his Heisman Trophy with the caption, "No one can take from you what God has for you."

Reggie Bush is soon to be reunited with what's rightfully his -- the Heisman Trust is slated to reinstate the former USC superstar's prestigious award on Wednesday ... after he was stripped of the honor back in 2010.

Livvy Dunne's apparently popular both on the balance beam AND behind a cash register ... drawing a crowd on Tuesday while making a promotional appearance at a Raising Cane's.

The LSU gymnastics star hit up the eatery in Baton Rouge, La. with her gymnastics teammates Kiya Johnson, Haleigh Bryant, Savannah Schoenherr and Aleah Finnegan to celebrate their first national championship victory ... and Tigers fans came out to show love.

21-year-old Dunne was all smiles as she handed off tendies and fries to hungry LSU supporters while behind the register. She even took over the drive-thru at one point ... and introduced herself to a bunch of customers, something she says she was actually super excited to do.

Jim Harbaugh's a man of his word ... fulfilling a promise he made to ink his body if they won a national championship -- and his players filmed the whole experience.

The Michigan Wolverines football team met up Saturday to receive their national championship rings ... and, JH lived up to his end of the deal -- sitting down with an artist and getting the Michigan "M" tatted on his right arm.

After Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies in the title game 34-13 back in January, Jim revealed he'd promised his team he'd tattoo their logo with the record "15-0" as a shout-out to their accomplishment.