In the summer of 2023, NCAA football underwent what could be its most dramatic evolution yet. In a landmark conference realignment, the SEC and BIG10 became the nation's premier pigskin stages, the BIG12 and ACC found their futures on shaky ground, and the PAC12 all but disappeared into thin air. In fact, this development came down the pipeline so quickly that Washington State and Oregon State, the only schools expected to belong to the PAC12 past this year, successfully sought an injunction against the teams departing the conference. The temporary restraining order restricts the exiting programs from making decisions that will affect the future of the PAC12. Regardless of this legal battle, the landscape of college football has changed forever. In fact, the question has turned to what could be next.
Could the SEC and BIG10 turn into the new AFC and NFC? Will we ever get to see a team like Alabama play one like Louisiana Tech again? Is there enough money in college football to debut some sort of "super league?" (Yes) Gather here to speculate wildly with only a sliver of relevant expertise but a ravenous hunger to know what you'll be watching on fall saturdays in three years.
If college football further distinguishes itself from the rest of scholastic athletics, will that be such a bad thing? The sport is already in a tier of its own in terms of popularity and revenues. Perhaps football's not-so-gradual approach towards professionalism can capitalize on its business potential while simultaneously protecting the beauty of amateurism in other college sports.
In mid-August, Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts shared his thoughts on the future of college football. He suggested that there were more changes ahead and perhaps even an unprecedented disruption on the horizon. The Cornhuskers have a storied program, near the top of all-time wins and championships lists. Alberts would not only have a seat at the table for such formative discussions, he'd be one of the first consulted about next steps. While it's impossible to say what the AD is basing these comments on, one can inuit the possibilities he has in mind. He could even foresee a future in which athletic directors and conference bigwigs sever football completely from the rest of collegiate athletics. Football already has the FBS/FCS system, so it wouldn't be completely without precedent to further isolate the top few dozen programs. Indeed, the shift could not only preserve the current state of other sports, but also that of amateur football. Hundreds of programs could continue to promote athletic excellence alongside academic endeavors while a new NFL feeder league rises from the ashes of the defunct Power Five.
What awaits college football is anybody's guess. This particular guess is less educated than others, but who knows. The glamor of what could be next is obvious. 20 blue blood matchups every weekend, September through November. Michigan v Texas, USC v Clemson, Georgia v Oregon, all one after another, and every saturday lineup just as thrilling. Exorbitantly rich network contracts would follow, and before long there's a channel dedicated to the entire competition, with "saturday ticket" access available for $400. Athletes from these programs legally adopt employee status, and the commercialization evident in the fresh NIL era soars to new heights. The new iteration of college football outgrows the NCAA, a possibility some suggest is on its way sooner rather than later. Although college football may lose some of its current charm, the support for these programs only grows, ushering in widespread fandom reminiscent of the NFL.
Such an evolution of college football is necessary to safeguard the remaining facets of NCAA competition. First and foremost, to ensure the sustainability of less financially and historically prominent football programs. Young men who love the gridiron and want to spend four more years in the trenches should be able to do so while earning a degree. The thousands of programs across the country, spanning all divisions and sports, can continue getting by with unspectacular athletic department funding and families buying pizza for post-game meals. The bright lights of college football will continue to get the headlines, but countless young athletes will be able to play the sport they love, competing for school pride alongside their best friends. Let's celebrate that the same way we celebrate grandiose football settings and tradition.
Although this separation could protect things we love in college sports, there's always the question of what could be next. As the consolidation of the richest football programs in the country continues, amassing more power and money, when does the extra money trickle down? After department heads and school presidents reinvest in the next stage of football, what happens when they find they have leftover dough? When could bloated athletic departments decide to go after March Madness and debut their own, exclusive version of the competition? Does college basketball have a support base strong enough to defend itself? With all these questions up in the air, fans will be impatient to learn more about what these decision-makers have planned for the future. One thing is certain: for college football, there's simply no turning back.
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