Bingo
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This has come down simply to who can buy what, which is why older guys like me have been checking out more with each season. It's minor league pro football. No esprit de corps, loyalty, etc., any more.
This is why I think college football is going down the same path as NASCAR did back in the 00's. They have fundamentally changed the sport with the NIL, transfer portal, and ever-changing playoff system. Nascar ratings got huge and the sport became insanely popular, but then they went and changed the points system, introduced a playoff, the Car of Tomorrow, racing at tracks outside the traditional ones, etc. Then the economy crashed in 08 and that was that. In game attendance is dropping nation-wide, and fans like you and me are starting to check out due to the game that we loved is completely changed. CFB TV ratings might be higher now then ever, but like Nascar in the mid 00's, the cracks are there if you look.
Is attendance dropping nationwide??? I think that is debatable. (Source: https://www.d1ticker.com/2025-fbs-attendance-trends/ )
Just looking at the SEC for 24 vs. 25:
Bama - 100% sold out, no change
Auburn - 100% sold out, no change
Florida - up .12%
Georgia - 100% sold out, no change
LSU - up 2%
MSU - up 9% (4,377 a game)
Mizzou - down 8% (endzone construction impact)
OM - down 0.76%
USC - up .01%
Tenn - 100% sold out, no change
Texas - down .02% (19 people a game)
A&M - up 3.22%
Vandy - up 24%
Nationally, 73 of 136 programs saw an increase or are 100% sold out and saw no change (54%).
Overall, national attendance was flat (0.95% increase), but the over 5 year trend is a 3.56% increase
The explosive growth of the 2010s may be done - but its not going in a hole... yet
Back to the original point, OM is indeed making sure they don't get gutted and have a competitive roster. Chambliss will probably get another year even if he shouldn't, they kept Lacy and have gotten a few other sought after guys already. They are clearlly willing to spend the big money and losing Lane and the offensive staff for now isn't affecting those guys.
He may turn out to a mediocre head coach but they are going to make sure it's not because of a lack of talent like we've suffered with the past few years. Enough talent can make even average coaches look ok and a special QB is so impactful it's worth whatever you pay them right now if you're good enough other spots to get into the playoff discussion.
Mississippi just landed one of LSU's starting OT's today
I love those statements. Leach had a system that didnt require the most talented in the world to succeed, which one would think would be a good thing, and was. When you change the system it sucks, which is why Arnett crapped the bed by going with Barbay. Slow change would have made that much easier, especially after a big year with was expected with 19 returning starters.
Well moving to a 9 game SEC schedule is screwing all of us to be honest. We could go 6-6 next year and it be a really solid season.
I don't see anyone going 11-1 in a new 9 game SEC schedule. I just don't see it happening. If they get the waiver for the QB, 9-3 will be on the table assuming they have their normal soft SEC schedule.