Tuesday, November 3, 2026

From Tailgates to Scholarships: Winthrop Elevates Cornhole to Collegiate Status

  • The scholarships are partial but still qualify for NIL benefits.
  • Cornhole started as a tailgate activity and has grown into much more.
Cornhole
Syndication: Hornell Evening Tribune

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Could recruiting rankings be coming to cornhole? 

The first domino may have fallen there as Winthrop became the first school to offer two students scholarships to play cornhole for the Eagles. Gavin Hamann and Jaxson Remmick from the Denver area became the first commitments to the start-up program. 

“This is history being made,” Winthrop cornhole coach and former pro player Dusty Thompson told The Herald. “I’ve only pursued these people. These are the best of the best.”

Cornhole started as a tailgate activity but has grown into a sport that has professional leagues and national TV broadcasts. Hamann and Remmick are two-time American Cornhole League high school national champions, so Thompson considers them five-star recruits, just like in football or basketball. 

Cornhole isn’t an NCAA-sanctioned sport, so it’s treated more like an esports team on campus. Given the flexibility, the two recruits are also able to dabble in the pro ranks as Remmick and Hamann recently joined the Colorado Timber, which is one of 16 pro teams that competes in the American Cornhole League. 

The scholarships are currently just partial, but cornhole bag sponsorships and sales incentives fall under the umbrella of name, image, and likeness benefits. Entry fees for the American Cornhole Championships, including its college competitions, are also part of NIL. 

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

College Basketball Returns to the Court After Chaotic Offseason

The Tigers were at the center of NCAA eligibility drama.

Geno Auriemma Laments Explosion of Sports Gambling

Auriemma has won 12 national championships with the Huskies.

Florida State’s Norvell Fired With $50M Left on Contract

It’s the third-highest buyout in college football history.

Miami Tops Last AP Poll Before Initial CFP Rankings

The ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 each have one undefeated team.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/2/26 – Valkyries’ Billion-Dollar Title, FSU’s $50M Firing, Ernie on Inside’s Future

0:00

Featured Today

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.

Robert Griffin III Says He’s Spoken With Baylor About Coaching Job

The former Heisman winner says college coaching is about being a CEO.
October 30, 2026

Florida-Georgia Rivalry Takes $18M Detour Through Atlanta

Tickets, which were split equally between fan bases, are sold out.
October 30, 2026

Big 12 Commish: Multiple CFP Bids ‘Deserved’ As Rankings Loom

The Big 12 is the only Power conference without a multi-bid season.
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.
Online allegations that a Somali immigrant-run nonprofit registered 40 day care providers on the same day are unfounded, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said during a news conference Jan. 5, 2025.
October 30, 2026

Ohio Supreme Court Allows Players Fifth Year of Eligibility

The NCAA denounced the decision and vowed to continue fighting in court.
October 30, 2026

Brett Yormark to Step Down As Big 12 Commissioner

Yormark stabilized the conference through realignment and secured major deals.
Oct 24, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Ahmad Miller (22) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium.
October 30, 2026

Syracuse AD: 24-Team CFP Is Like ‘Dangling a Carrot’

The Orange have never made it to the CFP.
American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti watches during the first round American Conference Tournament game between Memphis and Tulane in Birmingham, Ala, on March 11, 2026.
October 29, 2026

Why Private Equity Is Still Hesitant to Invest in College Sports

There’s “plenty of money for the taking,” says Tim Pernetti.