2024 NCAA College Football Thread

[GAC]

Yea, right now they have complete free agency, everyone is basically on a one year deal. Heck there was a guy from Alabama who went to Iowa, collected a nice paycheck, and then transferred right back to Alabama a few months later.

These schools should be able to sign a player to a "contract" and that player should have to abide by that contract. Lets use the kid who started this all Sanders. Lets assume he starts this season and has a productive season. He goes back to Tennessee and says, "I lived up to my first NIL deal, I want more or I am transferring." Or probably more than likely heads to Tennessee and says, this offer is on the table from school XYZ, do you want to match it. I don't think that type of system can be sustainable. And unfortunately I think that is coming sooner rather than later if nothing is done.

For me, it could spell doom for my further participation in the sport. They want my loyalty to a team whose players are not required to show any. Show me da' money is their alma mater.

IMO, they went from one extreme to the other.

Thought this was an interesting story (and humorous) ....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ansfer-portal/

Player movement has reached a fever pitch in the transfer portal era, but few coaches are ever willing to go on the record about it. Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin is one of those few, calling out Alabama for "stealing" star kicker Graham Nicholson via the transfer portal after last season. In a viral interview on the RedHawks' team site, Martin took issue with a claim that the program "lost" Nicholson ahead of the 2024 season.

"We didn't lose him, he's at Alabama," Martin said. "We know exactly where he's at. You media people, it's all pretend. No, Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us, that's a fact. That's college football. We live in this la la world like 'Hey, let's not talk about it.' We know what's going on. Alabama stole our kicker."

[Boston Red]

Today was our last Thursday without real football for MONTHS!!!!

[Kingspoint]

For me, it could spell doom for my further participation in the sport. They want my loyalty to a team whose players are not required to show any. Show me da' money is their alma mater.

IMO, they went from one extreme to the other.

Thought this was an interesting story (and humorous) ....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ansfer-portal/

You're saying Universities shouldn't be in the business of professional sports. But, they should be as much as any other Owner. Universities are in the business of every other profession they teach. They have some of the best hospitals in the world, some of the best research centers in the world, without a doubt the best husbandry minds in the world, so why shouldn't they get even more involved in Sports teams if it can make money? That's the key. Some of these Universities are paid for by taxpayers, yet they operate like Corporations. That's the issue that's not kosher...too much power being given to academicians on how to spend tax-dollars without input from the public or accountability to the public. There's a lot of money that's spent wastefully and unethically.

Ever met a professor who hasn't written his own book for the course that he teaches that his students must buy, and then the next term the "new version" has to be purchased?

[Kingspoint]

Today was our last Thursday without real football for MONTHS!!!!

I wouldn't go that far. I know you've watched those Thursday Night games. It's hard to call that real football.

Always take the under on Thursday Nights.

[GAC]

You're saying Universities shouldn't be in the business of professional sports. But, they should be as much as any other Owner. Universities are in the business of every other profession they teach. They have some of the best hospitals in the world, some of the best research centers in the world, without a doubt the best husbandry minds in the world, so why shouldn't they get even more involved in Sports teams if it can make money? That's the key. Some of these Universities are paid for by taxpayers, yet they operate like Corporations. That's the issue that's not kosher...too much power being given to academicians on how to spend tax-dollars without input from the public or accountability to the public. There's a lot of money that's spent wastefully and unethically.

Ever met a professor who hasn't written his own book for the course that he teaches that his students must buy, and then the next term the "new version" has to be purchased?

I don't see how the above is justification for going from one extreme to another with the portal and NIL? These kids are getting a free college education/room and board/ and other perks that gives them far and above advantages over their peers.

I, and many, liked college football because of it's amateur status and the fact it was different from the pros.

Let them do whatever they're going to with this portal and NIL. No skin off my back. They're going to anyway (lol). I just don't like what it's going to do to college football. The way to win national championships is by utilizing the portal and NIL to buy them. We're already seeing the bigger institutions "enticing" talent to leave those smaller schools and make that jump. The portal makes this process so much easier.

So instead of giving out scholarships are they going to instead sign high school recruits to contracts? Subtract the cost of education from salary, and maybe set up a fund to help those who can't afford a college education.

[bucksfan2]

For me, it could spell doom for my further participation in the sport. They want my loyalty to a team whose players are not required to show any. Show me da' money is their alma mater.

IMO, they went from one extreme to the other.

Thought this was an interesting story (and humorous) ....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ansfer-portal/

My thoughts on this are evolving.

Its been 20 years since I graded from OSU so my connection with the school dwindled. But OSU football is probably the thing I pay attention to the most. I have yet to give a dime to any of the NIL collectives, I find the actors running them to be a little to slimy for my taste.

I don't have much of an issue with the players being paid by outside parties. Years ago they got free use of cars, now its just above board. While all these guys are posting about their rides, IMO they are leases, cars the dealers will then turn around and sell. But there is going to come a point where a lot of these deals just aren't worth it. Companies aren't going to be throwing good money at bad investments.

One of the golf shirt brands I like inked Kyle McCord to a NIL deal last season, which id imagine didn't work out that well. This season they signed Caleb Downs, probably a better choice. But those types of deals make sense, pick a player or two represent your brand.

The transfers need to be reigned in. I do think you should get one free transfer, and then after that you either have to have graduated or have to sit out a season. Look at Miami, Cam Ward is on his 3rd or 4th team at this point, is a paid mercenary, but the big backer of Miami's NIL is filing for bankruptcy. Should someone be able to go from one school to another because they are able to start (or be better developed) absolutely. Should you be able to go from UCF-Oklahoma-Oregon? That is a little much for me.

[Boss-Hog]

My thoughts on this are evolving.

Its been 20 years since I graded from OSU so my connection with the school dwindled. But OSU football is probably the thing I pay attention to the most. I have yet to give a dime to any of the NIL collectives, I find the actors running them to be a little to slimy for my taste.

I don't have much of an issue with the players being paid by outside parties. Years ago they got free use of cars, now its just above board. While all these guys are posting about their rides, IMO they are leases, cars the dealers will then turn around and sell. But there is going to come a point where a lot of these deals just aren't worth it. Companies aren't going to be throwing good money at bad investments.

One of the golf shirt brands I like inked Kyle McCord to a NIL deal last season, which id imagine didn't work out that well. This season they signed Caleb Downs, probably a better choice. But those types of deals make sense, pick a player or two represent your brand.

The transfers need to be reigned in. I do think you should get one free transfer, and then after that you either have to have graduated or have to sit out a season. Look at Miami, Cam Ward is on his 3rd or 4th team at this point, is a paid mercenary, but the big backer of Miami's NIL is filing for bankruptcy. Should someone be able to go from one school to another because they are able to start (or be better developed) absolutely. Should you be able to go from UCF-Oklahoma-Oregon? That is a little much for me.

For better or worse, there's no way the unlimited transferring will be reigned in because the NCAA already tried limiting it to one free transfer without penalty before the lawyers got involved on the players' behalf. Frankly, the NCAA doesn't have the ability to enforce many of their own rules because they keep losing in court everytime they try, which is what started the whole NIL process, so while you and I might prefer limiting the number of transfers to one before a player has to sit out, it's not going to happen again

[bucksfan2]

For better or worse, there's no way the unlimited transferring will be reigned in because the NCAA already tried limiting it to one free transfer without penalty before the lawyers got involved on the players' behalf. Frankly, the NCAA doesn't have the ability to enforce many of their own rules because they keep losing in court everytime they try, which is what started the whole NIL process, so while you and I might prefer limiting the number of transfers to one before a player has to sit out, it's not going to happen again

They can, it will have to be agreed upon. You are going to schools directly paying players, when you do that, you will see players signing contracts, binding by financial terms. I know some players want to unionize and collective bargain, but in doing so, that will also give the school power to enforce the contract.

I do wonder if you are going to see bigger NIL deals that state this is a X year contract, there is a buy out clause and a mutual buyout clause. Then if you make it to the NFL the contract can escalate.

That is how all of this gets reigned in. And I thought I saw something where the schools will begin to directly pay the players in the near future.

[Boss-Hog]

They can, it will have to be agreed upon. You are going to schools directly paying players, when you do that, you will see players signing contracts, binding by financial terms. I know some players want to unionize and collective bargain, but in doing so, that will also give the school power to enforce the contract.

I do wonder if you are going to see bigger NIL deals that state this is a X year contract, there is a buy out clause and a mutual buyout clause. Then if you make it to the NFL the contract can escalate.

That is how all of this gets reigned in. And I thought I saw something where the schools will begin to directly pay the players in the near future.

What is the incentive for players to agree to transfer restrictions, which would clearly lower their bargaining power from both an NIL and playing time perspective? As you mentioned, they aren't even in a position right now that they can collectively bargain anything since they're not employees or a union, and colleges appear ready to fight that one tooth and nail.

[Boston Red]

I'm looking forward to the first season we lose due to a strike and the colleges bringing in replacement players. Those will be some entertainng intramural games!

And the oddsmakers will somehow set good lines for those games.

[RedTeamGo!]

I am honestly looking forward to college football just kind of ending. It's all just kind of getting annoying.

[bucksfan2]

What is the incentive for players to agree to transfer restrictions, which would clearly lower their bargaining power from both an NIL and playing time perspective? As you mentioned, they aren't even in a position right now that they can collectively bargain anything since they're not employees or a union, and colleges appear ready to fight that one tooth and nail.

The whole idea of collectively bargaining is you have to give something up. For the vast majority of Power 4 football players, a nice little income each season will go along way. For every star, there are backups and 3rd stringers. Even on a star laden team, there are some 70 players who are pretty nameless and would be better served getting paid via the university.

[Kingspoint]

My thoughts on this are evolving.

Its been 20 years since I graded from OSU so my connection with the school dwindled. But OSU football is probably the thing I pay attention to the most. I have yet to give a dime to any of the NIL collectives, I find the actors running them to be a little to slimy for my taste.

I don't have much of an issue with the players being paid by outside parties. Years ago they got free use of cars, now its just above board. While all these guys are posting about their rides, IMO they are leases, cars the dealers will then turn around and sell. But there is going to come a point where a lot of these deals just aren't worth it. Companies aren't going to be throwing good money at bad investments.

One of the golf shirt brands I like inked Kyle McCord to a NIL deal last season, which id imagine didn't work out that well. This season they signed Caleb Downs, probably a better choice. But those types of deals make sense, pick a player or two represent your brand.

The transfers need to be reigned in. I do think you should get one free transfer, and then after that you either have to have graduated or have to sit out a season. Look at Miami, Cam Ward is on his 3rd or 4th team at this point, is a paid mercenary, but the big backer of Miami's NIL is filing for bankruptcy. Should someone be able to go from one school to another because they are able to start (or be better developed) absolutely. Should you be able to go from UCF-Oklahoma-Oregon? That is a little much for me.

Of course they should be able to go anywhere they want. The schools are going anywhere they want when they change conferences. What's the difference?

[Chip R]

I could eventually see some programs eventually shut it down in the next 10 years or so. Even programs in the SEC, ACC, B1G and Big XII. I'm not talking about the Alabamas, Ohio States and Michigans. I'm talking about the Iowas, the Colorados, the Dukes, the Kentuckys. They may sneak into an expanded playoff but they aren't going anywhere. By "shutting it down" I don't necessarily mean terminating the football program all together but perhaps teaming up with G5 schools or even going to FCS. Even with the amount of money that is coming in from the media, it seems like all they can do to keep their heads above water. Fans are going to demand more of a commitment from the NILs and there may only be so much money to go around. Especially of there's an economic downturn. Also, as evidenced in this thread and elsewhere, fans are starting to get disillusioned by the changes that have taken place. What happens if they don't go to/watch games anymore? Tickets are already expensive enough. That may be the tipping point.

[Boss-Hog]

The whole idea of collectively bargaining is you have to give something up. For the vast majority of Power 4 football players, a nice little income each season will go along way. For every star, there are backups and 3rd stringers. Even on a star laden team, there are some 70 players who are pretty nameless and would be better served getting paid via the university.

What you're refrencing is already going to happen whether they collectively bargain or not and isn't something they have to give anything up to get. It's no longer a question of IF that's going to happen - it's when, though it sounds like next summer as of today. Take a look at the terms of the House settlement for more information:

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...paying-players

Otherwise, I simply don't get why they'd voluntarily give up the right to transfer as many times as they'd want when just last year, the NCAA agreed to let that one go due to the possibility of litigation over it. Additionally, wouldn't the schools have to agree that the student athletes are employees for them to collectively bargain? If so, that won't happen without a big legal fight.