College Football

Posted on by That Old Guy

Like oodles (meaning many) I have been watching the new College Professional Football Playoffs. And what I see saddens me. College football and the age of the college football student athlete are gone. I think that the current Playoff system, the NIL (Name – Image – Likeness) rules. and the transfer portal each by themselves are not bad but when combined have created a new PROFESSIONAL College football league in competition with the NFL.

Look, a kid (and we must remember these are kids) should be able to go to the school they want if accepted by the school. And if someone is selling their name on jerseys and bobbleheads they should get a cut. But when all is combined it is too much.

Some group of “experts” picks which teams go to the playoffs. These experts determine the standings. Not wins and losses. Now I understand that the “rules” make allowances for conference champions. BUT all conferences are not equal. SEC, Big 10, Big 12, etc. rule. AAC? Patriot? etc. don’t. Those champs are not in.

The transfer portal allows kids to move from school to school. Education is not important. Just go where the football program is better. Better shot at the NFL? And go to the school which pays the most.

The NIL rules pay students for playing. It is not enough kids get free rides, free medical, free food, and free housing now they get money too! Not even under the table! Legal! God help the poor slob who didn’t make the football team. Or basketball. Or track. Or volleyball. etc. There’s always student loans. Hell (sorry, Hades) these players are getting money for attending dinners or appearing at charity events.

The result? There are about 30 to 40 teams that will be able to compete for the playoffs. These teams are the big and very RICH programs like Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Ohio State. Others include Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, Oklahoma which have a shot at the playoffs. These teams will get the rich bowl games like the Cotton, Sugar, Rose Bowl. Big bucks! These teams have the donor dollars to buy players in the portal or entice 5 star high school athletes. These teams will have the eyes of the NFL scouts which entices players. Troy, Middle Tennessee, UMASS, Ball State – forget it. They can’t compete against the portal, NIL, and panel of experts. And you ain’t going to the Sugar Bowl. You don’t have the money from collectives to buy the best players. College football in that top tier of 40 teams is pay for play.

So what will we see? I suspect we will see schools shutting down their programs or moving to Division 1 AA, Division II, FCS etc. There will be fewer bowl games. There will be less TV coverage for those not in the top 40. Less money for that lower tier. And a whole bunch of top notch players sitting on benches of those top teams to keep those players from playing against those top teams.

I hope I am wrong. But then again, I’m an old guy and I don’t get it.