Question to ponder

[Tractorman]

Eventually college football as it is today will not exist. I'm not sure how it will play out, but, it is not sustainable. People, no matter how rich, will not continue to throw millions away and have the sames results they did before they had to shell out millions of dollars. If it continues along the current path, like many have already suggested, it will turn into a Super League of a few teams. When this happens, it may turn into the Starkville Bulldogs vs the Oxford Rebels. In this case, does MSU, Ole Miss, etc. decide to have amateur athletes that receive a football scholarship in return for a free education with room and board?

The question to ponder: Will fans revert back to supporting their school football team over the local semi pro team? As we have seen, fans don't support regional minor league teams. If the name Miississippi State is not attached to the current team we have, I would not have a clue anything about them. I believe the reason college football has boomed so much is most fans of a school, went there. We have a sense of connection to the football team representing my school and we all have pride in what is ours. The Starkville Bulldogs means nothing to me, but, Mississippi State is what I'm connected to. I do believe I would have more passion about the MSU Bulldogs in the amateur league vs the minor league Bulldogs. You can't say you wouldn't be as invested because of talent. Take a look at the XFL attendance. A lot of high school teams draw more than XFL. Once again, the reason is school pride.

What say ye?

 

[T-TownDawgg]

I think when contracts become the lynch pin of college sports, continuity and common sense will slowly return.

This current system is like an asylum jail-break. Nurse Rachet is dead, but another warden will surely arise. Will always be crazy, but at least contained.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Support HailState Rugby and other club sports on campus. Perhaps they can become the new scholarship *student/athletes*.

 

[Xenomorph]

Think about how asinine NIL is now that revenue sharing is here. So athletes are going to receive salaries from their school…. AND fans are being told to donate cold hard cash for play.

Imagine the Kansas City Chiefs passing the hat for Mahomes so they can supplement the salary cap and try to entice him from transferring to the Dolphins next year.

Thats EXACTLY where we are with college football.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

The answer is no, people won’t continue to support the way they used to. But as long as people watch on TV, it doesn’t matter.

MSU specifically, we need to figure out how to moneyball football with the TV money. We also have State Excellence to use toward football. Use BI NIL for basketball and non-revenue sports.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

People have been bemoaning and predicting the end of major college sports for three years now. They will continue on, there may be some type of salary cap or revenue sharing and the highest level of CFB will par down from 134 teams to likely 60 or so. Just like the last 20 years 4 or 5 teams have a shot at a natty (and they can all be identified before the season). It is making CFB a better product, last season was great and this season will be even better. It will be crazy come playoff time.

I don't know what's going to happen to the lessor sports, but CFB, CBB and Baseball will get even better.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

People have been bemoaning and predicting the end of major college sports for three years now. They will continue on, there may be some type of salary cap or revenue sharing and the highest level of CFB will par down from 134 teams to likely 60 or so. Just like the last 20 years 4 or 5 teams have a shot at a natty (and they can all be identified before the season). It is making CFB a better product, last season was great and this season will be even better. It will be crazy come playoff time.

I don't know what's going to happen to the lessor sports, but CFB, CBB and Baseball will get even better.

Don’t know about baseball. Think you’ll see half the D1 teams get cut.

I also think more than 4-5 teams have a shot at football. At least the hope, because more make playoff. And people can get upset in a one game scenario.

 

[Xenomorph]

ditto

 

[thatsbaseball]

At the end of the year only one team will say "well that was worth it" about their NIL spending. The rest will be disappointed and second guessing themselves . Even the other playoff teams. That just doesn't seem something that will last for a long time.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Don’t know about baseball. Think you’ll see half the D1 teams get cut.

I also think more than 4-5 teams have a shot at football. At least the hope, because more make playoff. And people can get upset in a one game scenario.

I think the high level baseball programs will be fine, and get even better, don't know what will happen to Campbell type programs that make regionals.

over the last 10 years (playoff era) the only "outsiders" to win it are LSU and Michigan, but they still blue bloods. Clempson has fallen off, but for a 4-5 year stretch the were as good as any other team.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

I think the high level baseball programs will be fine, and get even better, don't know what will happen to Campbell type programs that make regionals.

That’s my point, how does baseball get better under that model?

 

[POTUS]

At the end of the year only one team will say "well that was worth it" about their NIL spending. The rest will be disappointed and second guessing themselves . Even the other playoff teams. That just doesn't seem something that will last for a long time.

I disagree slightly in that I think there are 4-8 teams that will say, "Yeah we didn't win it, but we got close. We just need a few breaks and we're getting a natty. So pony up folks."

 

[HRMSU]

People have been bemoaning and predicting the end of major college sports for three years now. They will continue on, there may be some type of salary cap or revenue sharing and the highest level of CFB will par down from 134 teams to likely 60 or so. Just like the last 20 years 4 or 5 teams have a shot at a natty (and they can all be identified before the season). It is making CFB a better product, last season was great and this season will be even better. It will be crazy come playoff time.

I don't know what's going to happen to the lessor sports, but CFB, CBB and Baseball will get even better.

You have good points but I feel like it's a slow fade. One day we will wake up and wonder how it got to where it is. I could be wrong.

 

[HRMSU]

I disagree slightly in that I think there are 4-8 teams that will say, "Yeah we didn't win it, but we got close. We just need a few breaks and we're getting a natty. So pony up folks."

The Jerah model ****

 

[L4Dawg]

I think when contracts become the lynch pin of college sports, continuity and common sense will slowly return.

This current system is like an asylum jail-break. Nurse Rachet is dead, but another warden will surely arise. Will always be crazy, but at least contained.

THIS. Contracts is where it will have to end up. No pro league on earth uses what college sports is trying to do now. Free agency at any time is not sustainable.

 

[Maroon13]

We are seeing this year that the schools that are competing for the playoffs have fans following and full stadiums. Fans wil stick with a winner. Regardless of how the players are classified, employees or students.

The change that may happen, may come from the schools themselves rather than a conference. I believe the schools have the option to opt out of revenue sharing and the settlement. If they do, they drop to D2.

$30-50 million a year expense to the budget is going to be very difficult to cover for teams that don't make playoffs and can't generate ticket sales and donations. I think you'll see many G6 schools go bankrupt.

As for P4, don't see how Oregon st or Washington St (just two off the top of my head) will afford a $50 million dollar payroll. Those two will be the two to watch. See how long they can keep above water.

Back to the fans, schools are going to increase ticket prices. Mark my words. Schools that aren't competing for championships will have empty stadiums. Because who wants to pay $150-200 a ticket to watch a loss. Teams that win, fans will pay it.

Anyways, that's how I see it shaking out from our perspective.

 

[golferdog]

Eventually college football as it is today will not exist. I'm not sure how it will play out, but, it is not sustainable. People, no matter how rich, will not continue to throw millions away and have the sames results they did before they had to shell out millions of dollars. If it continues along the current path, like many have already suggested, it will turn into a Super League of a few teams. When this happens, it may turn into the Starkville Bulldogs vs the Oxford Rebels. In this case, does MSU, Ole Miss, etc. decide to have amateur athletes that receive a football scholarship in return for a free education with room and board?

The question to ponder: Will fans revert back to supporting their school football team over the local semi pro team? As we have seen, fans don't support regional minor league teams. If the name Miississippi State is not attached to the current team we have, I would not have a clue anything about them. I believe the reason college football has boomed so much is most fans of a school, went there. We have a sense of connection to the football team representing my school and we all have pride in what is ours. The Starkville Bulldogs means nothing to me, but, Mississippi State is what I'm connected to. I do believe I would have more passion about the MSU Bulldogs in the amateur league vs the minor league Bulldogs. You can't say you wouldn't be as invested because of talent. Take a look at the XFL attendance. A lot of high school teams draw more than XFL. Once again, the reason is school pride.

What say ye?

This is true, in what world do we have professional sports teams associated with a school? That just sounds like a stupid business model. Schools cannot afford that. If this becomes professional football, the teams should have to disassociate from the schools. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Eventually college football as it is today will not exist. I'm not sure how it will play out, but, it is not sustainable. People, no matter how rich, will not continue to throw millions away and have the sames results they did before they had to shell out millions of dollars. If it continues along the current path, like many have already suggested, it will turn into a Super League of a few teams. When this happens, it may turn into the Starkville Bulldogs vs the Oxford Rebels. In this case, does MSU, Ole Miss, etc. decide to have amateur athletes that receive a football scholarship in return for a free education with room and board?

The question to ponder: Will fans revert back to supporting their school football team over the local semi pro team? As we have seen, fans don't support regional minor league teams. If the name Miississippi State is not attached to the current team we have, I would not have a clue anything about them. I believe the reason college football has boomed so much is most fans of a school, went there. We have a sense of connection to the football team representing my school and we all have pride in what is ours. The Starkville Bulldogs means nothing to me, but, Mississippi State is what I'm connected to. I do believe I would have more passion about the MSU Bulldogs in the amateur league vs the minor league Bulldogs. You can't say you wouldn't be as invested because of talent. Take a look at the XFL attendance. A lot of high school teams draw more than XFL. Once again, the reason is school pride.

What say ye?

Go look up “university enrollment cliff”. MSU along with every other higher ed institution is looking at an estimated decline of about 30% in the not to far future. Football will be the least of the worries for many schools.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

If the name Miississippi State is not attached to the current team we have, I would not have a clue anything about them. I believe the reason college football has boomed so much is most fans of a school, went there. We have a sense of connection to the football team representing my school and we all have pride in what is ours. The Starkville Bulldogs means nothing to me, but, Mississippi State is what I'm connected to. I do believe I would have more passion about the MSU Bulldogs in the amateur league vs the minor league Bulldogs.

What say ye?

While you are correct about the fans' personal connection to the team, you cannot possibly be correct that "most fans of a school went there". Maybe it depends on how you define "fan"?

According to the Alumni Association, we only have about 157,000 living alumni. Maybe that only includes people who earned a degree (although people who attended a single class are considered alums), but even if you double or triple that number, it isn't nearly enough of a fan base to support a major college sports program.

Now, if you're talking about BC donors and season ticket holders, I think the percentage of people who attended State certainly climbs, but you still have people who live in the area and/or have a family connection to the school but never attended. If you're talking about the people who will still be sitting at Scott Field during the 4th quarter of a humiliationas by the Rebels to finish off a 1-11 season, I certainly hope those people are alums. Otherwise they should seek professional help. **

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

College football only means anything to me when MY team is somewhat successful. Last year was a crappy season. This year is worse. I can accept moving to the same level as UL-Monroe, La Tech, Troy UL-Lafayette, Memphis, Etc.... as long as State resides at the top of that class. I cannot accept being dead last in the SEC just because of the funding when thst funding still isn't enough to move State at least to middle of pack.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

I'm not sure where all of this goes. I have always considered College Sports to be an unsustainable business model, but I honestly thought it would reach a financial breaking point much earlier. I didn't foresee an entertainment landscape where broadcasting companies would be desperate for content and willing to pay enormous sums for sports.

Historically, the NFL is fortunate that College football was already popular when it first formed in 1920. It had a built in farm system, and one of the purposes of the NFL was to put a stop to professional teams paying college players to join them for a few games.

It's hard to imagine an NFL developmental league being financially viable today. It would be more of a curiosity with fans having little interest in the outcomes of games.

So, I could be wrong, but I don't see the creation of minor league football teams with no college affiliation. Unless the colleges just completely stop playing football. (Which they probably should do, but certainly wont). The minor league football teams simply wouldn't have fans.

I think it's obvious we will need to further divide football, and maybe basketball, into leagues with different levels of financial support for the players. Declare the players employees, let them unionize, and settle all the anti trust issues through Collective Bargaining.

I don't know how this affects the other sports, but if more money goes directly to the players, then there is less money for the other sports.

 

[Maroon13]

This is true, in what world do we have professional sports teams associated with a school? That just sounds like a stupid business model. Schools cannot afford that. If this becomes professional football, the teams should have to disassociate from the schools. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Exactly. This what I was getting at, above.

The price to play ball is going way up, with payrolls for athletes, new GM staffers to manage the portal, increased scholarship expenses and all the other ancillary expenses to operate a Gameday.

When schools start going into the red every year, have empty stadiums every game..... how long will that be tolerated???

Really I have no idea. Maybe some schools will cut out all sports but football and basketball to reduces expenses. Maybe some schools just punt and drop to D2. Maybe some just bend over, take it and accept a Big$ Conference check.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Why do folks say it isn't sustainable? What exactly? If fans get tired of paying for players, they'll quit and the players will then *GASP* have to attend school on a scholarship and stipend. Oh the horror.

So what exactly is going to collapse?

 

[pseudonym]

I don't think it would be the Starkville Bulldogs. I think the extreme scenario is the players become employees of the university (not students). It would be some version of pro sports. Just like Jerry Jones has a football team made up of paid athletes, Mississippi State would have a football team made up of paid athletes who don't go to class.

I'm not predicting that. I think the pendulum swings in the other direction before it gets to that point.

 

[Tractorman]

Why do folks say it isn't sustainable? What exactly? If fans get tired of paying for players, they'll quit and the players will then *GASP* have to attend school on a scholarship and stipend. Oh the horror.

So what exactly is going to collapse?

You just answered your own question. The money in this format is not sustainable, not college football.

 

[Ranchdawg]

I don't think it would be the Starkville Bulldogs. I think the extreme scenario is the players become employees of the university (not students). It would be some version of pro sports. Just like Jerry Jones has a football team made up of paid athletes, Mississippi State would have a football team made up of paid athletes who don't go to class.

I'm not predicting that. I think the pendulum swings in the other direction before it gets to that point.

I will predict that. I think as paid athletes they will be employees so no reason to attend classes. Why should we burden them with that when they have work to do??? Amateur college sports are dead and the new advent of professional college sports is beginning. My question is how long before it is labeled entertainment like the NFL to make it above board on the betting set up.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

You just answered your own question. The money in this format is not sustainable, not college football.

The TV money is absolutely sustainable. The NIL/collective is not, but if it's not sustained, there are no changes. Players will still go to the colleges to play football. What are they going to do, cry?