Follow the Money - The Big Business of College Football

[stlnd01]

Genuinely don't know why Alabama's AD of all people is publicly saying this after what we saw last year. SEC championship is now a way for the team that wins it to get in at no cost to the loser because the committee just established that no amount of ass whooping will drop a team.

If no amount of ass-whooping will drop a team - if making the CCG is all you need - then why play it all (and risk injury to key players, for instance).
In retrospect, the jig was up when it became apparent that Georgia was going to clobber Bama and Kirk Herbstreit suddenly began calling the SEC "It Just Means More" Championship a "bonus game." An exhibition game. Something that does not matter relative to teams that aren't playing one, be they Notre Dame or, frankly, A&M and Ole Miss.
If there's no downside to losing why play the game at all? At least we're starting to be honest about it now.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Not sure where else to put this, so...

The NCAA is finally putting some teeth into a rule.
Effective immediately, any program in any sport that signs a transfer, adds a transfer to a roster or allows a transfer to participate in “athletically related activities” before that player’s name is placed into the transfer portal will automatically receive the following punishment:

• a suspension for the head coach from all football and administrative duties (including recruiting, on-field coaching and team meetings) for 50% of his team’s season

• a fine of 20% of a school’s football budget (which would reach into the millions at most schools)

 

[bpob55]

Alabama AD gives big opinion on SEC championship game's future: 'The ship has sailed'


Bama AD thinks the SECCG's days might be numbered.

His team didn’t want to play in the SEC championship game, and they didn’t want the result to matter. Many other teams don’t care about winning their conference anymore(when you have 16-18 team mega conferences filled with teams you have no affiliation with, this makes sense). This feels beyond inevitable.

Conference championship games are a huge money maker, although more important relative to their TV package for the B10 than the SEC. An expanded playoff sliding into that week will offset any losses, especially if Tony Petitti gets his way of multiple guaranteed bids per league.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

His team didn’t want to play in the SEC championship game, and they didn’t want the result to matter. Many other teams don’t care about winning their conference anymore(when you have 16-18 team mega conferences filled with teams you have no affiliation with, this makes sense). This feels beyond inevitable.

Conference championship games are a huge money maker, although more important relative to their TV package for the B10 than the SEC. An expanded playoff sliding into that week will offset any losses, especially if Tony Petitti gets his way of multiple guaranteed bids per league.

Exactly. I don’t think UGA was thrilled when aTm lost to allow the bulldogs to leapfrog them into the CCG. Luckily for them they played a Bama team that didn’t even compete

 

[greyhammer90]

If no amount of ass-whooping will drop a team - if making the CCG is all you need - then why play it all (and risk injury to key players, for instance).

The advantage is a situation where the winner wasn't in the playoff picture otherwise. It's probably not a huge concern for the SEC which has designs on getting its top 10 teams in the playoffs, but there are essentially only positives to having a championship game if you want to mathematically increase your odds of having more teams get into the playoffs under the precident set by the committee. If both teams are already in, they'll stay in. If one of the teams likely isn't already in, a win guarantees they will be in at no cost to the loser.

 

[stlnd01]

The advantage is a situation where the winner wasn't in the playoff picture otherwise. It's probably not a huge concern for the SEC which has designs on getting its top 10 teams in the playoffs, but there are essentially only positives to having a championship game if you want to mathematically increase your odds of having more teams get into the playoffs under the precident set by the committee. If both teams are already in, they'll stay in. If one of the teams likely isn't already in, a win guarantees they will be in at no cost to the loser.

Right. For the ACC and Big 12, the CCG still matters. Virginia and BYU make the CFP last year if they won their respective conference title games, and TTU probably still makes it even if they'd lost. Interesting to ponder what would have happened w/Miami (and us) if Virginia represents the ACC.

But for the SEC and Big Ten it's mainly about seeding at this point. Hard to imagine a scenario where the second-place team in either of those conferences isn't getting an at-large bid. That Indiana-Ohio State game was pointless. And Bama embarassed themselves and still got handed a bid.

 

[bpob55]

 

[Bishop2b5]

Most of us are fine with college players being able to make money via product endorsement, jersey sales, and so on. Teams just lining up sponsorships and essentially buying players was never the intent. It's sure how it's quickly turned out, though. Not only buying rosters in initial recruiting, but enticing established players from other teams' rosters. Even the NFL makes that impossible in most cases so that there's fairness and stability. I absolutely hate this mercenary, unrestricted free agency, no holds barred thing college sports, football especially, has turned into. Maybe This just isn't the game I grew up loving.

 

[stlnd01]

Most of us are fine with college players being able to make money via product endorsement, jersey sales, and so on. Teams just lining up sponsorships and essentially buying players was never the intent. It's sure how it's quickly turned out, though. Not only buying rosters in initial recruiting, but enticing established players from other teams' rosters. Even the NFL makes that impossible in most cases so that there's fairness and stability. I absolutely hate this mercenary, unrestricted free agency, no holds barred thing college sports, football especially, has turned into. Maybe This just isn't the game I grew up loving.

It's still pretty damn fun on a Saturday.

But long-term I worry that the top 30 or so programs - the ones willing/able to spend what it takes to win - are just going to get so far out in front of the rest that the fans of everyone else lose interest. And that'll be what kills the golden goose. College football has always been dominated by the big powers, of course, but the mid-majors could also always tell themselves they could compete on a given Saturday, or a given season or two with the right coach. Now if it's just all about unlimited money, a lot of them won't, and those alums/fans will find something else to root for, and then half the TV eyeballs go away.

 

[Bishop2b5]

It's still pretty damn fun on a Saturday.

But long-term I worry that the top 30 or so programs - the ones willing/able to spend what it takes to win - are just going to get so far out in front of the rest that the fans of everyone else lose interest. And that'll be what kills the golden goose. College football has always been dominated by the big powers, of course, but the mid-majors could also always tell themselves they could compete on a given Saturday, or a given season or two with the right coach. Now if it's just all about unlimited money, a lot of them won't, and those alums/fans will find something else to root for, and then half the TV eyeballs go away.

I agree. Even though my school is one of those that can throw money at the situation and thrive, I'm still aware that it's ruining the game I grew up loving and will almost certainly, as you point out, completely change it for the worse.

 

[Huntr]

So, here's some bullshit, courtesy of the Big 10

 

[IRISHbluehen]

So, here's some bullshit, courtesy of the Big 10

Count me in the actions have consequences camp. If you choose to sign a contract, honor it or take it to court. Shouldn't be able to use a bigger school as a free buyout. They had to know this was coming after the Mensah, Sorsby, and Demond Williams debacles. I also could be reading this incorrectly. Also if this hurts ND, I no longer like this rule

 

[Huntr]

Family of ex-SMU player awarded $140 million in CTE lawsuit

Days before Covid-19 temporarily ground daily life to a halt, the family of John Davis sued the NCAA. Davis played on the line at SMU from 1955-59, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2001 and was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 4 CTE in 2017. The Davis family argued the NCAA knew of the risks of tackle football at the time and did not properly study the issue, nor did the organization properly inform Davis of the risk he was taking by participating in the sport. The family sought $1 million.

This past Monday, a Dallas jury awarded the Davis family $140 million.
Davis's attorneys uncovered literature from the 1930s which outlined the treatment for concussions, which they say were not followed when their client played more than 20 years later.

 

[IrishLax]

Family of ex-SMU player awarded $140 million in CTE lawsuit

Ridiculous

 

[NDBoiler]

Ridiculous

I’m not a legal scholar, but this makes no sense to me. Why were they awarded $140M when they only asked for $1M? Something’s missing here.

Also, if this is the new precedent, might as well just fold the NCAA up now. What’s to stop thousands of others from alleging the exact same thing?

 

[dublinirish]

 

[Huntr]

AFCA endorses elimination of conference title games, expanding College Football Playoff

In a statement released by the organization on Tuesday, the American Football Coaches Association strongly endorsed ending the FBS season by the second Monday in January (you could tell because it was in bold), along with making Week 0 the permanent start to the season, the elimination of conference championship games, and expanding the College Football Playoff to "the maximum number of participants."

Moving the championship game to the second Monday in January would return the game to where it was played from the 2006 season through 2023, the final year of the 4-team bracket. The 2024 championship game was played Jan. 20, 2025, and last season's champion was crowned Jan. 19. Due to how the calendar falls, next season's championship game won't be played until Jan. 25, 2027.
To accomplish this, the AFCA suggested the elimination of conference title games and reducing the season from two off weeks to one. The AFCA also endorsed preserving a dedicated window for the Army-Navy game, which would have to take place over Thanksgiving weekend under this plan.
Under the 2026-27 calendar and with a 24-team bracket, the College Football Playoff would have to break out as follows to finish by the second Monday in January.
Dec. 4-5: Opening round
Dec. 11-12: Round of 16
Dec. 18-19: Quarterfinals
Friday, Jan. 1: Semifinals
Monday, Jan. 11: Championship game

 

[NDPhilly]

Disney is going to shove 24 down our throats despite the fans hating it. They don’t care if the regular season (and accompanying ratings) suffer, they have a monopoly on the CFP.

 

[bpob55]

 

[burmafrd1944]

so, how long until there is a NIL Salary Cap?

 

[Pete]

so, how long until there is a NIL Salary Cap?

Wouldn’t there have to be a CBA for a cap to be legal?

 

[burmafrd1944]

Wouldn’t there have to be a CBA for a cap to be legal?

I guess it would depend on how it is done; since there is no College Football Player Union

 

[NDFAN420]

I guess it would depend on how it is done; since there is no College Football Player Union

Yep, two ways for an NIL cap:
1. CBA with a Union.
2. Anti-Trust Exemption from Congress specifically giving the NCAA or other regulatory body the authority to cap NIL. The NCAA and Conferences have spent millions lobbying for exactly this, but without success or any indication that there will be. So, very unlikely.

Ironically, the very thing that the NCAA fought tooth and nail and spent more millions fighting (the employee model), only to realize that it's the single most effective way to implement a universally binding salary cap. Alston ruled that they're independent actors and any cap is restraint of trade and the players are the ones with anti-trust.

(3). Current House vs. NCAA Settlement = kind of a cap, but not so much. Gives the CSC right to determine "fair market value" for NIL.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

NIL has helped ND maybe more than any other school. ND became "cool" again thanks to Freeman, but boy, they got A LOT cooler when they can match or beat any NIL deal for the players they really want. And then hold on to the players they really want.

 

[dublinirish]

Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby sues NCAA over gambling investigation

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is set to sue the NCAA in Lubbock District Court, sources tell On3.

www.on3.com

 

[NotKoon]

You knew this was coming and knew they were going to play up his “mental health struggle.” Obviously his argument is a load of crap, but I agree with the attorneys on this quote. “The NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity, while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices.”

Everyone around the sport has done everything they can to profit off of getting young men into gambling. Yet they want to throw down the hammer when a player engages in the same habits they have helped foster

 

[burmafrd1944]

You knew this was coming and knew they were going to play up his “mental health struggle.” Obviously his argument is a load of crap, but I agree with the attorneys on this quote. “The NCAA has weaponized his condition to shore up a facade of competitive integrity, while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices.”

Everyone around the sport has done everything they can to profit off of getting young men into gambling. Yet they want to throw down the hammer when a player engages in the same habits they have helped foster

Like the NFL for years screaming about gambling but always talking about point spreads and then locating a franchise in Gambling Central.

NCAA has no cred but those with a gambling problem (no its NOT a disease- if you can walk away from something it is not a disease) do not have anyone but themselves to blame when they face the consequences of THEIR CHOICE to gamble

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I gamble on sports frequently, but I'm not a college athlete. He can complain about the rules being unfair all he wants, but he knew the rules and chose to do it anyways. It's harsh but that's life. Accountability is a difficult pill to swallow sometimes.

EDIT: my opinion above has nothing to do with the fact that he plays for a team/coach I can't stand. If it were CJ Carr in his shoes, I'd still say the same thing.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Also, his attempt to rig the game by filing in Lubbock District Court (state court) and get the case in front of sympathetic local judge probably won't work the way he wants. I haven't seen the complaint yet, but if there's no TX defendant then the case will be removed to TX federal court. Federal judges are usually a whole lot more harsh and less sympathetic than state court judges. But it looks like 2 of the 3 federal judges in the Lubbock Division have ties to Texas Tech.

 

[burmafrd1944]

Also, his attempt to rig the game by filing in Lubbock District Court (state court) and get the case in front of sympathetic local judge probably won't work the way he wants. I haven't seen the complaint yet, but if there's no TX defendant then the case will be removed to TX federal court. Federal judges are usually a whole lot more harsh and less sympathetic than state court judges. But it looks like 2 of the 3 federal judges in the Lubbock Division have ties to Texas Tech.

not sure if they would be required to recuse themselves for that. should. But anymore...