Time for things to Change

It’s no secret I was not a proponent for FSU to be in the College Football playoffs. When Jordan Travis was injured they became a different team, one that did not belong in the conversation of four best teams, no matter what their record was. But they were put into a bowl game against the two time defending national champions who themselves had just lost by three to Alabama. This was still a chance to make a statement, take down the literal big Dawg, but these two teams went in two different directions.

One team said they believed they deserved more and they should have been in the playoffs. And the players decided they wanted to prove that point. And in the Orange Bowl Saturday night they proved it. The other team said they belonged. But their players chose a different route. What they felt was best for their futures. And they didn’t play. And that’s the problem.

Surprise this is not a bash FSU post. This is an indictment of the NCAA for allowing this new systemic problem of opt outs in bowl games. Once upon a time bowl games meant something. Even when you weren’t playing for a National Championship, bowl games were a reward for a good season. When you ask a football player about the teams they played on, they would always call it a brotherhood. It’s sacred, life long friendships. Now, you are only worth what might come in NFL riches. Or NIL riches at another school. And the NCAA allows it to happen. The schools allow it to happen. You’ve started to hear a cacophony call to do something about it. But it hurts when you can see the potential of a generational type game nullified because there is evidently a ME in team.

With the onset of NIL and the transfer portal and opt outs, it’s time to change the game before the game is ruined. Some of this will be quelled by the expansion of the playoffs. But an adult in the room needs to step up and make systemic changes to the college football offseason. Simple things too. Since we’ve basically entered into a free agency period in college football nothing should be allowed to happen until the title game is finished, just like the NFL. College coaches are trying to recruit, both incoming freshmen and their own teams to keep them together. Plus field a full coaching staff and prep for a bowl game. The changes are simple.

No transfer portal until after the championship game. The only early signing period there should be is if you want to enroll early, otherwise the second Wednesday of February should be signing day again. The coaching carousel will be over for all of this now. Kids may actually not be stung when their position coach takes a head coaching job somewhere else the week after they sign in mid December. For the bowl opt outs, you don’t want to play, fine. No problem. Just pay back your scholarship and NIL deal. If it was the NFL and they tried that nonsense they’d be fined and out even more cash and probably blacklisted. Why is it ok in college?

That’s a five minute thought process to come up with three simple changes to fix college football. And I’m a schlub on my couch. I love college football, it’s joyous and painful and glorious all at the same time. But the past few years have tarnished the gleam on the sport. It’s time for the adults of college football to step up. And if it’s not the NCAA then the conference heads need to figure out someone who can be that adult.

Maybe next time we see 5 vs 6 both whole teams will show up.