Never said it was the most popular because of anything. My point was that nothing is destroying the sport, not players making money or players being able to transfer. In spite of that the game it’s at its most popular state. I know I didn’t quote it but I was responding to the point that people were saying they are destroying the sport. I mean to destroy the sport wouldn’t it need to be losing popularity? Wouldn’t it need to be losing money? Wouldn’t it need to be losing participants? Wouldn’t it need fans to stop consuming the merchandise and media? None of that is happening.
Proponents of the current system like to highlight the sport's popularity as evidence of its success, implying a correlation between the two. Maybe that wasn't your intent, but it's often the underlying motive when people bring up the sport's popularity in these discussions. The real driving force behind this surge is gambling, plain and simple.
NIL has zero impact on the audience. Casual fans have no clue what the hell is going on and gamblers are only concerned with their own financial gains. Opinions are likely divided among loyal fans, and my guess is that only a minimal number of fans opposed to NIL have actually stopped watching the games.
The transfer portal does add some buzz to the sport during the offseason, no doubt. Player movement generates clicks and increases podcast audiences, but does it actually translate to more people actually watching the games? Hard to say. The gains made by some teams through player movement may be offset by losses experienced by others. So, is there a net increase in viewership overall? Maybe but it's not moving the needle like gambling.
The bolded is a very relevant question, posed rhetorical way (I believe), and it shouldn't be. Most businesses and/or entities, even those at the top, are just a few poor decisions or policy changes away from disaster, and college football is no exception. I'm sure the people in charge point to the ratings to justify their decision making, and mistakenly believe that things can only improve from here.
Maybe they'll continue boosting viewership through gambling, capitalizing on the perpetual influx of 18-year-olds who are dying to piss away their money on a parlay. I would prioritize building a loyal fanbase alongside catering to the degenerate gamblers. I really don't know how to acheive this, but a guy like Saban may have some insights. I understand it's very fashionable to dismiss Saban's recent comments, and perhaps those in charge will do just that. His comprehension of the sport is unparalleled. Not only in terms of football knowledge but also in running a program, dealing with boosters, administration, staff, and players. He understands the intricacies better than anyone, and only a fool would ignore his advice, criticisms, or warnings.
