So the toothless NCAA...

[Turfdawg67]

... has opened an investigation on OM and nothing here?!? Hmmm... I guess my thread title is the overall feeling and the expected outcome is zilch?

[Santiago]

They can't wait to tell their side of the story ***

[Coach34]

There are no rules now

[viverlibre]

We'd self imposed the death penalty.

It pisses me off that we self report, then cooperate with the NCAA and get shafted. Other programs, with much more serious infractions, fight the NCAA and get little to no penalty.

[msstate7]

Might be leverage against OM suing them over chambliss

[Todd4State]

Here's what I would do if I was Dabo. I'd get with every ACC coach and any other coaches that had players tampered with from Ole Miss and I would get all of those coaches to en masse tamper with their players.

If the NCAA won't do anything you just take matters into your own hands and handle it yourself.

[Todd4State]

Might be leverage against OM suing them over chambliss

That's a separate issue. We'll see what happens with the basketball player from Alabama because whatever happens there I'm sure the NCAA will follow the same route if they are successful. No idea what will happen with that though.

[Pancho]

chambliss and pete tampering are 2 different issues. chambliss case is him alone vs the ncaa. i do see what ya'll are saying though.

[CaptainObvious]

chambliss and pete tampering are 2 different issues. chambliss case is him alone vs the ncaa. i do see what ya'll are saying though.

You can call it separate, but Ole Miss will spend millions to help Chambliss win his case. Can you imagine them going into next season with an unknown QB, and questions about their HC and OC. No way. They expect to be in the playoffs next year. They will assist Trinidad in the only way they know how! $$$$

[StarkVegasSteve]

Nothing is going to happen. We need to stop wishing for OM to go away and start playing the way they do. It seems to be working a little better.

[EdwardDrayton]

Nothing is going to happen. We need to stop wishing for OM to go away and start playing the way they do. It seems to be working a little better.

Unpunished cheating will destroy what's left of college athletics and accelerate the destruction. It will be the proverbial straw that causes fans to find something else to do with their time and money.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Unpunished cheating will destroy what's left of college athletics and accelerate the destruction. It will be the proverbial straw that causes fans to find something else to do with their time and money.

I'm willing to bet a sizable amount that won't happen. Ratings are as high as they've ever been and interest in the sport is higher than ever. It may be what causes you to find something else to do with your time and money but not to everyone else.

Also, tampering is cheating. Do you want everyone who tampers to be punished. Because if so, we're going to get hammered for it.

[MaroonFlounder]

I'm willing to bet a sizable amount that won't happen. Ratings are as high as they've ever been and interest in the sport is higher than ever. It may be what causes you to find something else to do with your time and money but not to everyone else.

Also, tampering is cheating. Do you want everyone who tampers to be punished. Because if so, we're going to get hammered for it.

Who did we go after from another team's roster, that would have been considered tampering?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Who did we go after from another team's roster, that would have been considered tampering?

Brennen Thompson, Zion Ragins, Dillon Gabriel, Markel Bell, Jordan Seaton, Anthony Evans, Kendel Dolby, Isaiah Autrey-Dent, Jardin Gilbert.


I could go on. The truth of the matter is that 75-80% of these guys know exactly where they're going before they enter the portal. They're tampered into the portal. If you're not tampering then you'll be left behind.

[bulldawg28]

Brennen Thompson, Zion Ragins, Dillon Gabriel, Markel Bell, Jordan Seaton, Anthony Evans, Kendel Dolby, Isaiah Autrey-Dent, Jardin Gilbert.


I could go on. The truth of the matter is that 75-80% of these guys know exactly where they're going before they enter the portal. They're tampered into the portal. If you're not tampering then you'll be left behind.


We didn't get caught if we did. so there's that. Play the game reckless you get reckless results. All of this everyone is doing this is a crazy take when they're investigated that won't hold up. Ole Miss isn't Alabama or a blue blood they should be nervous.

[1bigdawg]

Brennen Thompson, Zion Ragins, Dillon Gabriel, Markel Bell, Jordan Seaton, Anthony Evans, Kendel Dolby, Isaiah Autrey-Dent, Jardin Gilbert.


I could go on. The truth of the matter is that 75-80% of these guys know exactly where they're going before they enter the portal. They're tampered into the portal. If you're not tampering then you'll be left behind.

Did our head coach call them after they signed an FAA? I don't believe so. I believe we contacted their agent or someone close to them to "encourage" them into the portal. That is tampering, but it is not against the establiched rules. What Ole Miss did is clearly and presumably provably against the rules.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Did our head coach call them after they signed an FAA? I don't believe so. I believe we contacted their agent or someone close to them to "encourage" them into the portal. That is tampering, but it is not against the establiched rules. What Ole Miss did is clearly and presumably provably against the rules.

No Lebby straight up called Thompson during the season and told him to get in the portal. We were contacting Bell all season trying to get him in. Same with Evans last year. Hell Lebby's first call when he got the job was to Dillon Gabriel.


EVERYONE TAMPERS. EVERYONE.

[bulldawg28]

No Lebby straight up called Thompson during the season and told him to get in the portal. We were contacting Bell all season trying to get him in. Same with Evans last year. Hell Lebby's first call when he got the job was to Dillon Gabriel.


EVERYONE TAMPERS. EVERYONE.

You have no clue about conversations. It sounds good for discussions but Lebby is not stupid enough to let that word out and he's not telling boosters and don't say Bumphis told everyone lol.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You have no clue about conversations. It sounds good for discussions but Lebby is not stupid enough to let that word out and he's not telling boosters and don't say Bumphis told everyone lol.

Bumphis didn't have to tell me. Lebby and the GAs were quite open about it. Wasn't some big secret. Wasn't like we were going to get punished for it. And what do you know.....we didn't.

[Leroy Jenkins]

Here's what I would do if I was Dabo. I'd get with every ACC coach and any other coaches that had players tampered with from Ole Miss and I would get all of those coaches to en masse tamper with their players.

If the NCAA won't do anything you just take matters into your own hands and handle it yourself.

The only reason we know anything about it is because its Dabo. He's relatively clean when it come to poral violations. The reason no one else has made a stink until now is because they all tamper too. OM just happened to pick on the one guy who's nose is clean enough to crow about it without anyone turning him in for the same crap.

[bulldawg28]

Bumphis didn't have to tell me. Lebby and the GAs were quite open about it. Wasn't some big secret. Wasn't like we were going to get punished for it. And what do you know.....we didn't.

Never did it ever happen. Coaches aren't that negligent

[StarkVegasSteve]

Never did it ever happen. Coaches aren't that negligent

Every coach is that “negligent”. Because it is not negligence. It is the environment we live in.

[EdwardDrayton]

Every coach is that “negligent”. Because it is not negligence. It is the environment we live in.

We're $hitty AND we don't play by the rules. Great. Can't even be proud of at least being clean.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We're $hitty AND we don't play by the rules. Great. Can't even be proud of at least being clean.

Why would we want to be clean. Jesus. No one plays by the rules these days. I want us to be dirtier than Ole Miss. If the Saudis want to give us 100 mil in blood money then let’s roll

[Dawgface]

Unpunished cheating will destroy what's left of college athletics and accelerate the destruction. It will be the proverbial straw that causes fans to find something else to do with their time and money.

I?ve already given up on college sports. A lawless system is not for me. I bet I didn?t watch 2 hours of college football this season.

[Dawgface]

Why would we want to be clean. Jesus. No one plays by the rules these days. I want us to be dirtier than Ole Miss. If the Saudis want to give us 100 mil in blood money then let’s roll

Good God you’ve hit a new low. Peace out.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Good God you’ve hit a new low. Peace out.

So you don’t want to win? That is what I am getting out of this. EVERYONE TAMPERS AND EVERYONE CHEATS. Stop trying to be holier than thou and just play the game. Thankfully we are doing exactly that.

[Brobi-wan]

Who cares if we’re tampering? When in Rome. This thread is like ugly women complaining about the hot chick in the cul-de-sac having fake tits. If you can afford ‘em, get ‘em.

[1bigdawg]

So you don’t want to win? That is what I am getting out of this. EVERYONE TAMPERS AND EVERYONE CHEATS. Stop trying to be holier than thou and just play the game. Thankfully we are doing exactly that.

What you describes us doing was what Dabo called "tampering 101." That's not in the same league as Ole Miss.

I want to win according to the rules - as they are enforced, not as they are on paper.

[confucius say]

I'm willing to bet a sizable amount that won't happen. Ratings are as high as they've ever been and interest in the sport is higher than ever. It may be what causes you to find something else to do with your time and money but not to everyone else.

Also, tampering is cheating. Do you want everyone who tampers to be punished. Because if so, we're going to get hammered for it.

Some of the playoff ratings were way down. The Mississippi vs Miami game was horrible. Nightmare for espn.

[Extendedcab]

So you don’t want to win? That is what I am getting out of this. EVERYONE TAMPERS AND EVERYONE CHEATS. Stop trying to be holier than thou and just play the game. Thankfully we are doing exactly that.

It has nothing to do with winning but with keeping one’s integrity and self worth as a human! Just because some or maybe even the majority may act like lemmings and walk/run off the cliff doesn’t mean we should follow the path to destruction! I still think that one day, the non blue blood university sports teams will withdraw from the current alignment and form a new true college league and the blue bloods can continue to be the minors for the “pro” leagues.

The current NIL/TRANSFER arrangement is not sustainable.

[DownwardDawg]

Who cares if we’re tampering? When in Rome. This thread is like ugly women complaining about the hot chick in the cul-de-sac having fake tits. If you can afford ‘em, get ‘em.

Sometimes I really enjoy a simple analogy. Thanks!

[Todd4State]

So you don’t want to win? That is what I am getting out of this. EVERYONE TAMPERS AND EVERYONE CHEATS. Stop trying to be holier than thou and just play the game. Thankfully we are doing exactly that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in this situation with Clemson to my understanding the player in question already had signed a FAA with Clemson and was attending class.

I know there is tampering and we do it- but there has to be a line somewhere. To my knowledge we haven't done anything like that where a guy in the portal goes somewhere else and signs a FAA and then MSU still recruits them and basically just throws money at them until the say no.

I think Dabo is basically saying "Hey, once a guy signs the FAA and is enrolled in classes the portal recruiting for that cycle needs to be over and stop at that point." Now, if Ole Miss wanted to keep recruiting the player and get him in the next portal cycle- that's different. They have to draw the line because otherwise the portal never ends.

They're getting into breach of contract issues here.

[Dawgface]

So you don?t want to win? That is what I am getting out of this. EVERYONE TAMPERS AND EVERYONE CHEATS. Stop trying to be holier than thou and just play the game. Thankfully we are doing exactly that.

Under the current lawless system winning means zilch to me. I realize MSU has no choice but to participate being a member but I?m not interested. I?ll continue to do other things as I did this past season. I hope you guys enjoy donating every nickel you can spare to play the game and satisfy your hunger to ?win?.

[Really Clark?]

Correct me if I'm wrong but in this situation with Clemson to my understanding the player in question already had signed a FAA with Clemson and was attending class.

I know there is tampering and we do it- but there has to be a line somewhere. To my knowledge we haven't done anything like that where a guy in the portal goes somewhere else and signs a FAA and then MSU still recruits them and basically just throws money at them until the say no.

I think Dabo is basically saying "Hey, once a guy signs the FAA and is enrolled in classes the portal recruiting for that cycle needs to be over and stop at that point." Now, if Ole Miss wanted to keep recruiting the player and get him in the next portal cycle- that's different. They have to draw the line because otherwise the portal never ends.

They're getting into breach of contract issues here.

You are correct and most schools are not going that far much less the head coach reaching out directly after the player has signed and attending classes. That's in violation of contact rules outside of the tampering issues as well. Multiple violations. Will or can the NCAA do anything? That's the question. They need to and the commissioners need to address this in their conference as well. If it's gonna be just fines, then it needs to be big fines paid by the persons involved themselves. Golding loses a portion of his salary and paid directly the plaintive school. A suspension as well or loss of a the number of portal signees you can have for next portal season or actually what I like better is substantially restricting how much the school can spend during that portal season. A second offense inside of 4 years and you are locked out of participating in transfer portal for a year. I understand it will be litigated but so be it, things have to come to a head with some real teeth and sooner the better.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Under the current lawless system winning means zilch to me. I realize MSU has no choice but to participate being a member but I?m not interested. I?ll continue to do other things as I did this past season. I hope you guys enjoy donating every nickel you can spare to play the game and satisfy your hunger to ?win?.

I make more than enough money to do it. I enjoy Mississippi State succeed so I'm going to do my part to make sure that happens. It's a personal choice for me just like you're choosing to not watch the games. No one is blaming you if you don't donate, but when the answer to everyone's question is, "Why are we losing?" My answer will continue to be, "Donate more and we may not lose anymore."

Ole Miss is going to be 8-4 or better this year because they're all in. They may not have an incredible coach anymore but Pete is good enough to get the job done. Hell Shane Beamer is a terrible Xs and Os coach but he had a team in 24 that arguably would've won the National Championship. They were the hottest team in the country. They were winning because they continued to donate even after bad years and they got good players and retained those players.

[StarkVegasSteve]

You are correct and most schools are not going that far much less the head coach reaching out directly after the player has signed and attending classes. That's in violation of contact rules outside of the tampering issues as well. Multiple violations. Will or can the NCAA do anything? That's the question. They need to and the commissioners need to address this in their conference as well. If it's gonna be just fines, then it needs to be big fines paid by the persons involved themselves. Golding loses a portion of his salary and paid directly the plaintive school. A suspension as well or loss of a the number of portal signees you can have for next portal season. I understand it will be litigated but so be it, things have to come to a head and sooner the better.

And there it is....

I was waiting for someone else to throw out that Ole Miss needed to lose portal signees. Like come on guys. This isn't the NCAA of 2000. Nothing is going to happen other than a fine, which one of their boosters will HAPPILY cover, and MAYBE Golding gets suspended for when they play Charlotte. It's not going to be anything punitive. It's just not.

[Really Clark?]

And there it is....

I was waiting for someone else to throw out that Ole Miss needed to lose portal signees. Like come on guys. This isn't the NCAA of 2000. Nothing is going to happen other than a fine, which one of their boosters will HAPPILY cover, and MAYBE Golding gets suspended for when they play Charlotte. It's not going to be anything punitive. It's just not.

Did I say it was going to happen? I definitely did not. I was saying what needs to happen and let it go to litigation because it most definitely will. This has to come to a head to bust at some point. I'd rather this blow up sooner rather later and force structure even if it's through the courts, if the NCAA can't or won't do anything. There has to be controls in place, because the next step that most do NOT want to do is language that is punitive directly to the players. And honestly for the most part while they share some of the blame, the vast majority of the issues is the authority figures and where punishment needs to levied.

And what I also mean is if the NCAA does nothing then Clemson (and whatever offended school involved) goes after another school directly. And / or the schools league being involved, which won't happen honestly unless it's leagues suing leagues. Still doubt that would be the course of action that takes place quickly. If it comes to that, then conferences coming together to form their own league with rules and enforcement and naming a commissioner.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Did I say it was going to happen? I definitely did not. I was saying what needs to happen and let it go to litigation because it most definitely will. This has to come to a head to bust at some point. I'd rather this blow up sooner rather later and force structure even if it's through the courts, if the NCAA can't or won't do anything. There has to be controls in place, because the next step that most do NOT want to do is language that is punitive directly to the players. And honestly for the most part while they share some of the blame, the vast majority of the issues is the authority figures and where punishment needs to levied.

Let me tell you what structure looks like. Collective Bargaining and a Player's Association. Which most people think would be great. Except it will eventually lead to what MLB is about to see. A strike. When you start dealing with CBAs and Players Associations then a strike is inevitable.

Did Ole Miss do something wrong? Yes. They contacted a kid after he had signed a FAA with another school. Should they be punished? Yes. They should be fined. Maybe 500K for the school and 250K for Golding. That's punitive enough. But let me tell you what happens if/when that occurs. Ole Miss is then going to do the same thing to 3 other schools. Then those schools are going to do the same thing to 5 or 6 other schools. And on and on it goes. It's just like the old days. We didn't turn OM in for recruiting violations because we were doing the same thing. The minute we said something they'd have receipts from Chris Jones or Willie Gay or whoever it may be.

Because here's the thing, coaches and staffers are contacting these kids during the season. I know that for a fact because I know there were multiple coaches and staffers who contacted Issac Smith in 24 before and after the Florida game. He sat out that Texas game because of it. They said it was concussion protocol, which was convenient to hide behind, but we were having to renegotiate his deal. Now, most would say, why did we not turn those schools in? Because we were doing the same thing. Chad Bumphis was talking to Ayden Williams from October of 24 til he got in the portal. Lebby was talking to Brennen Thompson damn near the entire season. Everyone does it. Dabo is just mad they didn't get paid. If they would've signed a rev share agreement with the kid, they would have. Their inability to understand this new landscape in college football is to blame. Ole Miss just took advantage of it.

[msstate7]

And there it is....

I was waiting for someone else to throw out that Ole Miss needed to lose portal signees. Like come on guys. This isn't the NCAA of 2000. Nothing is going to happen other than a fine, which one of their boosters will HAPPILY cover, and MAYBE Golding gets suspended for when they play Charlotte. It's not going to be anything punitive. It's just not.

I doubt much will happen, but the NCAA is like an animal backed into a corner with it appearing they have no authority... it wouldn't surprise me at all if they give OM the max punishment they can. They've hit OM before too

I just hope it isn't a show cause bc Golding doesn't scare me at all

ETA... also, OM publicly called out one of the sec's blue blood on this topic, so the sec may throw OM to the wolves

[StarkVegasSteve]

I doubt much will happen, but the NCAA is like an animal backed into a corner with it appearing they have no authority... it wouldn't surprise me at all if they give OM the max punishment they can. They've hit OM before too

I just hope it isn't a show cause bc Golding doesn't scare me at all

It won't be a show cause. Trust me. It won't be much of anything. Now, if Golding was to go 3-9 next year, they'd use this to fire him. With Cause.

[msstate7]

If you really wanna stop it, you slap the school with a 1-year postseason ban and make the said player ineligible for one season

[Really Clark?]

Let me tell you what structure looks like. Collective Bargaining and a Player's Association. Which most people think would be great. Except it will eventually lead to what MLB is about to see. A strike. When you start dealing with CBAs and Players Associations then a strike is inevitable.

Did Ole Miss do something wrong? Yes. They contacted a kid after he had signed a FAA with another school. Should they be punished? Yes. They should be fined. Maybe 500K for the school and 250K for Golding. That's punitive enough. But let me tell you what happens if/when that occurs. Ole Miss is then going to do the same thing to 3 other schools. Then those schools are going to do the same thing to 5 or 6 other schools. And on and on it goes. It's just like the old days. We didn't turn OM in for recruiting violations because we were doing the same thing.

Because here's the thing, coaches and staffers are contacting these kids during the season. I know that for a fact because I know there were multiple coaches and staffers who contacted Issac Smith in 24 before and after the Florida game. He sat out that Texas game because of it. They said it was concussion protocol, which was convenient to hide behind, but we were having to renegotiate his deal. Now, most would say, why did we not turn those schools in? Because we were doing the same thing. Chad Bumphis was talking to Ayden Williams from October of 24 til he got in the portal. Lebby was talking to Brennen Thompson damn near the entire season. Everyone does it. Dabo is just mad they didn't get paid. If they would've signed a rev share agreement with the kid, they would have. Their inability to understand this new landscape in college football is to blame. Ole Miss just took advantage of it.

I know all of that but wide open free reign cannot work long term. I don't really WANT a CBA and contracts, that's a lot more expense than many think and the public university aspect is thrown in there as well. You still have a lot of presidents that are at best leery of going down that route. Many are adamant against it. It is a very complex and expensive problem. But it can't continue like it is. There will probably be differing models of where it will end up over the next decade. But things have to implode to get to structure, and I just don't see it not coming to that point. The sooner it implodes the better in my opinion.

[StarkVegasSteve]

If you really wanna stop it, you slap the school with a 1-year postseason ban and make the said player ineligible for one season

Then we'd be ineligible for the postseason and still wouldn't have gotten Markel Bell...........


I think the easiest thing is fine OM 500K, fine Golding 250K, and he's suspended for one game(probably Charlotte or Wofford). None of that will do anything to stop it but at least the NCAA gets to act like they did something.

[Really Clark?]

If you really wanna stop it, you slap the school with a 1-year postseason ban and make the said player ineligible for one season

A postseason ban doesn't do much now, you see how many schools are opting out of playing in bowl games. Now a playoff ban would be punitive

[msstate7]

A postseason ban doesn't do much now, you see how many schools are opting out of playing in bowl games. Now a playoff ban would be punitive

Postseason ban makes you ineligible for bowl distribution money, right? It should if it doesn't

[msstate7]

Then we'd be ineligible for the postseason and still wouldn't have gotten Markel Bell...........


I think the easiest thing is fine OM 500K, fine Golding 250K, and he's suspended for one game(probably Charlotte or Wofford). None of that will do anything to stop it but at least the NCAA gets to act like they did something.

So be it. This sport is falling apart... it needs some rules to this mess

[StarkVegasSteve]

I know all of that but wide open free reign cannot work long term. I don't really WANT a CBA and contracts, that's a lot more expense than many think and the public university aspect is thrown in there as well. You still have a lot of presidents that are at best leery of going down that route. Many are adamant against it. It is a very complex and expensive problem. But it can't continue like it is. There will probably be differing models of where it will end up over the next decade. But things have to implode to get to structure, and I just don't see it not coming to that point. The sooner it implodes the better in my opinion.

Here's the thing, paying players is not going away. I think that's what some people think is going to happen. I don't think you mean it but you used the term they often use, "implodes". I do agree it needs structure but I don't know that structure can really ever be provided in the college model. I mean at some point these Presidents are going to ask themselves, and most are probably already doing it, why are we continuing this fallacy that these kids are "student athletes"? They're not. They're athletes who are being paid. I don't know that there is a good way to fix this. Because at a certain point, we've devalued the student portion of this thing to the point of, "Why are they even going to class?"

[StarkVegasSteve]

Postseason ban makes you ineligible for bowl distribution money, right? It should if it doesn't

No. Also, the postseason is peanuts compared to the ESPN money. They'll get a donor to cut them the bowl distribution check.

[Really Clark?]

Postseason ban makes you ineligible for bowl distribution money, right? It should if it doesn't

Pretty sure they don't get the bowl money split out but they still get the TV money, etc. someone can check me on that.

[Really Clark?]

Here's the thing, paying players is not going away. I think that's what some people think is going to happen. I don't think you mean it but you used the term they often use, "implodes". I do agree it needs structure but I don't know that structure can really ever be provided in the college model. I mean at some point these Presidents are going to ask themselves, and most are probably already doing it, why are we continuing this fallacy that these kids are "student athletes"? They're not. They're athletes who are being paid. I don't know that there is a good way to fix this. Because at a certain point, we've devalued the student portion of this thing to the point of, "Why are they even going to class?"

Oh I never meant paying players is going away. That's here to stay. And I agree it is very complex with the university side being a large problem of how do you develop a pro like league with all of these different agendas and thoughts from the each conference much less the individual schools and presidents. Who do still have power in what takes place. I agree they will have to wake up at some point and decide these are employees, we are going to contract them for a period of time, they no longer get scholarships unless they make below a certain threshold of salary but can get employee tuition discount, we will have to cover medical, retirement, etc. but we will invest enough in the program to recoup that to generate more for the university. Then we have to get all the presidents and AD's to agree to the same language and terms which is a huge mountain. I've said it before, anything inside of a decade is probably the best we can do unless someone emerges with the leadership that gets everyone away from running their own agendas, won't happen. But several implosions along the way will help push it closer in my opinion. Very very complex issue. Then we will still have to go through all the Title IX implications and lawsuits, etc. being tied to federal funding. Messy all around.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Oh I never meant paying players is going away. That's here to stay. And I agree it is very complex with the university side being a large problem of how do you develop a pro like league with all of these different agendas and thoughts from the each conference much less the individual schools and presidents. Who do still have power in what takes place. I agree they will have to wake up at some point and decide these are employees, we are going to contract them for a period of time, they no longer get scholarships unless they make below a certain threshold of salary but can get employee tuition discount, we will have to cover medical, retirement, etc. but we will invest enough in the program to recoup that to generate more for the university. Then we have to get all the presidents and AD's to agree to the same language and terms which is a huge mountain. I've said it before, anything inside of a decade is probably the best we can do unless someone emerges with the leadership that gets everyone away from running their own agendas, won't happen. But several implosions along the way will help push it closer in my opinion. Very very complex issue. Then we will still have to go through all the Title IX implications and lawsuits, etc. being tied to federal funding. Messy all around.

I agree. I think we'll be lucky to have any of this decided by 2036.

[Really Clark?]

I agree. I think we'll be lucky to have any of this decided by 2036.

Well B10 TV contract ends 2030 and SEC's ends 2034. I do think that the networks will push to have at least an initial structure set or beginning to form with either the existing conferences or a new league before they extend a long term deal that might end up losing significant value before it expires. Or language that allows for it expire upon certain league changes to negotiate anew. I just don't think 2030 B10 contract is far enough away unless a significant issue pushes the timetable up. 2034 might be closer to having something in place.

[CaptainObvious]

It has nothing to do with winning but with keeping one’s integrity and self worth as a human! Just because some or maybe even the majority may act like lemmings and walk/run off the cliff doesn’t mean we should follow the path to destruction! I still think that one day, the non blue blood university sports teams will withdraw from the current alignment and form a new true college league and the blue bloods can continue to be the minors for the “pro” leagues.

The current NIL/TRANSFER arrangement is not sustainable.

I think this is closer than you think. But I also think programs like State will pay for membership into the upper group and continue to be the whipping boy for the elites. If you drop into the non-pay-for-play division, if you have any success, the elites will just come and buy your best players. For reference see current portal results from G6, FCS, DII, Ivy League, and even the Service Academies. So, State has to stay in the upper level on the chance that it will find that once in every 10 years 9 win season. We are STUCK!

[Goldendawg]

Here's the thing, paying players is not going away. I think that's what some people think is going to happen. I don't think you mean it but you used the term they often use, "implodes". I do agree it needs structure but I don't know that structure can really ever be provided in the college model. I mean at some point these Presidents are going to ask themselves, and most are probably already doing it, why are we continuing this fallacy that these kids are "student athletes"? They're not. They're athletes who are being paid. I don't know that there is a good way to fix this. Because at a certain point, we've devalued the student portion of this thing to the point of, "Why are they even going to class?"

I doubt most even attend classes in person, have tutors in the Templeton Center, take online classes, choose questionable majors, or make limited progress toward a degree when at your 6th or so school in 4 years. My grad school son saw his first athlete on campus yesterday: MBB, for the 2025-2026 academic year.