Louisville football star refuses to play in Sun Bowl amid ugly NIL controversy
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Louisville punter Brady Hodges raised eyebrows when he was conspicuously absent from the Sun Bowl Tuesday. The Cardinals clung on to fend off a late comeback battle from the Washington Huskies and clinch a 35-34 win in the bowl game on New Year's Eve. However, senior Hodges didn't suit up and take to the field for the thriller, which saw Louisville finish a 9-4 campaign.
![[Louisville clung on to clinch a 35-34 victory over the Washington Huskies on Tuesday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/15/93647463-0-image-a-3_1735746813962.jpg)
Hodges later took to social media to reveal that his absence stemmed from yet another NIL controversy. He explained that he hadn't been paid what he had been promised by the school's NIL collective, 502 Circle. 'I have not been with the team since December 10th,' Hodges wrote. '@502_Circle told me September 6th, they would be paying and are still yet to hold up their end of the deal. I graduated on December 13th and had every intention on being with the team had they held up their end of the deal.'.
![[Hodges took to X to reveal that his absence form the game stemmed from NIL controversy]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/15/93647499-0-image-a-2_1735746807132.jpg)
Brady Hodges raised eyebrows when he was conspicuously absent from the Sun Bowl. Louisville clung on to clinch a 35-34 victory over the Washington Huskies on Tuesday. Hodges took to X to reveal that his absence form the game stemmed from NIL controversy. It's currently unclear how much Hodges was owed by the collective but the saga could spell further trouble for Louisville.
Hodges' claim could send a signal to possible recruits and players in the transfer portal, warning them against signing with the Cardinals if the school can't hold up its end of NIL bargains. Hodges, who is in his fourth year at Louisville and his second as the Cardinals' starter, averaged 39.4 yards per punt this past season.
