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NIL or no NIL, The Brass Ring Is Still the Draft

It seems to me that every time I sit down to study the current state of college football, I’m figuratively slapped in the face with two huge factors that have changed the game, NIL money and the transfer portal. needless to say, I think we can all admit that these two elements of the game have changed the trajectory of the competition forever in my opinion. Like the invention of the wheel or the Wright Brothers first ability to fly, nothing is ever going to be the same again. NIL money and the transfer portal are huge game changers, once in a lifetime event that we can never come back from. What was once a mere two ideas that would allow players to be paid to play and allow them to switch schools almost at will and on a whim has left not only myself but many college sports fans both confused and frustrated and at times, elated. Not shockingly and like most things in life today it’s all about money, big money, life changing and at times generational money. I’m not a bit surprised. Go figure. It’s important to note that in spite of NIL and transfer portal drama the game, and overall, the college football sports industry, remains one of the largest money-making markets in the world. I’ve traveled all over the world and I can tell you that no other country has a university sports industry as strong and as competitive as ours in The United States. Hundred thousand seat stadium used to be a rarity, now in many areas like Michigan, Ohio and California they are becoming the norm. What’s more, tickets sales are thru the roof in this stadiums and big games against arch rivals are sold out. With a post season stretching now into late January schools continue to collect TV and Streaming revenue, ticket sales, merchandise and concession dollars in amounts once only dreamed of. College football is a huge business and we all love it and breath it. With all this being pointed out the games themselves still need to be played. Each week this year has seen a new number one team, a new top ten ranking. With conference realignment and twelve teams making it into the playoffs it doesn’t matter where you are or who to follow as a fan, you’ve got a shot to go all the way. Six weeks ago many were calling for the firing of Head Coach Ryan Day at Ohio State after loosing to Michigan. With the Buckeyes now in the Championship game against Notre Dame a win would make him a legend. Conversely, The Irish lost earlier in the season to an unranked Nortgern Illinois team yet survived to make it to the final game. Yes folks, the college football Gods are fickle and I can’t decide if they toy with us to keep us interested or continue spending money. I’ll let you decide that one. When everything is all said and done next week I will be able to safely say that it’s been one heck of a year. I’m a bit disappointed that no SEC team was able to dominate at the end but I think the competition was strong across the board no matter which conference you follow. As usual serious season ending injuries doomed many teams like Georgia and Oregon and of course The Miami Hurricanes performed their late season melt down around a quarterback that is projected to go number one in the NFL draft. Grudgingly, I’ll give a lot of credit to Deone Saunders and The Colorado Buffaloes for giving us some great highlights and exciting games. I’m goanna go ahead and admit I was wrong when I predicted they wouldn’t win five conference games. Truth be told they almost made the playoffs (wouldn’t that have been fun!!). With just one game to go I’ll have to sit down and begin my transition to another college sport, basketball. It might not be as big as college football but it’s still a sport in transition due to NIL and the transfer portal. Like its counterpart it’s hard to keep track on who is where and whose getting paid the big bucks but rest assured someone like me is on it and yes, I’ll be making my picks come tournament time like the rest of America. Let’s hope for basketball my winning averages are better than college football!!! Hey, at least we’ll have fun, right?!?Just a couple more days till my last college podcast, so play on I Say!!KevKev's Corner Our Staffs Weekly Sports perspective(click here for more of Kev’s past articles)