First Down Kentucky: College Football at a Crossroads

Greg Sankey opened the 2022 edition of SEC Media Days by quoting Bob Dylan. The changes coming to college football were pointed to NIL, the transfer portal, and the expansion of the SEC and CFB Playoffs. Those changes may lead to even bigger ones for college athletics.

In a report for Yahoo Sports, Ross Dellenger details what will be discussed today in the nation’s capitol between NCAA president Charlie Baker and the Power Five commissioners. Last month Baker rolled out the plan for a new subdivision that would put the payment of players into the hands of respective schools in this new ‘D1’Project D1.’ In short, not everyone is behind his plan.

Dellenger spoke with power players and shared their concerns. With lucrative NCAA legal settlements looming in the backdrop, the most powerful people in the room are not on the same page with Baker. Those people are the commissioners of the Big Ten and SEC, Tony Petiti and Greg Sankey. The leagues will include 34 schools over 26 states. If they don’t want to play ball with Baker, they don’t have to.

“Everything is on the table,” said one SEC athletic director. “That includes a breakaway.”

Time is ticking. The longer the sides fail to find a compromise, the more likely the Power Two take matters into their own hands.

NIL isn’t Driving Away Donors

The emergence of NIL, particularly collectives, stoked fear among college athletic administrators. Their primary function is to fundraise. They feared NIL collectives would pull that money away from the athletic departments and put it into the hands of players.

Those fears appear to be unfounded. A study by Sportico revealed athletic department donations are up nationwide. Data collected from financial reports at 46 of 115 public schools reveal a median increase of 13% in the first year of NIL collectives. Two-thirds of those 46 schools saw year-over-year increases in donations.

What does this mean locally? Donations from 2021-22 to 2022-23 were down 19% at UofL. Most of that can be attributed to poor-performing men’s basketball and football teams. Donations to UK Athletics were up 36%, totaling nearly $40 million.

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Big Changes at the Top of College Football

Some of the biggest names in college athletics are getting out before the massive changes take place. The emergence of NIL and the transfer portal played a role in the retirement of college basketball’s old regime. Now it’s happening in football. Nick Saban retired and Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL. Three of the four head coaches in the CFB Playoff will not be returning next fall.

Kalen DeBoer left Washington to coach another Playoff team, Alabama. One of his first big wins on the trail was re-recruiting five-star Ryan Williams to Alabama. It produced one of the most prop-filled commitment videos this recruiting reporter has ever seen.

Ain’t Really Leave But I’m Back 🥰!! #RollTide🐘 @AlabamaFTBL @KalenDeBoer @GrubbRyan @GoatLatia @GoSaraland @RyanMWms @Brett_Boutwell @tjkelly17 @coachTigg @SaralandSchools pic.twitter.com/w3ucf8p7Gg

— 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 “𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝” 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝟏 (@Ryanwms1) January 24, 2024

Trayanum has a whole lot to give

Chip Trayanum is bringing four years of college football experience to Kentucky this fall. Even though he’s logged some high-quality reps, like last year’s game-winning touchdown at Notre Dame, he hasn’t received a high quantity of reps.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is I have a lot of tread on my tires,” he told BBN Tonight. “I’ve never had over a 100-carry season, so this is my opportunity to really show what I can do. Definitely excited for it, looking forward to it, putting in the work every day to fully show what I can do on the field on Saturdays.”

Kentucky Expands its Recruiting Territory

The UK coaching staff is expanding its recruiting footprint. Liam Coen and Brad White have utilized their ties to the Mid-Atlantic in recent years. The latest offer is from an unusual area.

Brad White and Anwar Stewart are recruiting Kade Pietzrak. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound EDGE in the 2025 recruiting class is from Fargo, North Dakota. He announced an offer and tagged Brad White and Anwar Stewart in the post. Kentucky went West to find a kicker in Montana. That may happen with specialists, but this is a whole different ball game.

100 Days till Kentucky Derby 150

Let the countdown begin. Kentucky Derby 150 is expected to be a celebration unlike any other, albeit one without the fervor from Kentucky Derby 100. Princess Margaret was one of 163,628 spectators for the centennial celebration that included numerous infield streakers, including one who climbed the flagpole just before the big race.

Churchill Downs has made efforts to quell the craziness in the infield while celebrating various achievements elsewhere. On the day before this year’s event, Churchill Downs will host the 16th annual Survivors Parade. Ahead of the running of the Kentucky Oaks, 150 breast and ovarian cancer survivors and fighters will be invited to march down the track, marking a defiant celebration over the deadly disease. Starting today you can submit your story to be a part of the Survivors Parade, which includes tickets for the recipient and a guest. Submissions close Feb. 20.