First Down Kentucky: College Football Change Fatigue

NIL. The transfer portal. Conference realignment. Playoff expansion! College football is in the midst of dramatic change. Its success and popularity have created a monster that cannot be contained by the old model of the NCAA.

Overall, it’s a good thing. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine that Kentucky football could be a part of something so significant. However, the football is starting to become an afterthought in this sport.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick and tired of Ross Dellenger reporting each week the latest bickering between conference commissioners. Suits sit in rooms and argue over money, dramatically changing the sport we love forever.

The latest report is that there may be a gap as wide as $320 million a year in CFB Playoff revenue distribution between the Power Two of the SEC and the Big Ten, and the ACC and Big 12. This proposal defines the haves and the have-nots of the sport by drawing an official financial line of demarcation.

“Considering the distribution percentages, SEC teams will earn as much as $23 million annually, Big Ten $21 million, ACC around $13.7 million and Big 12 around $12.3 million,” writes Dellenger. “Group of Five teams are expected to earn a figure just south of $2 million.”

What does this mean for Kentucky? It’s probably a good thing, but I’m tired of asking that question. When the SEC added Texas and Oklahoma, there was excitement about what was next for college football. That was amplified with the formation of the 12-team CFB Playoff. Now we can’t even play either of the scenarios out without the suits getting into money fights about the next expansion. Can we just play the damn games and see how much we enjoy them before messing with the sport too much?

I love college football. It’s the dumbest, most beautiful sport there is. The way things are trending, I fear the money-hungry suits are going to ruin a good thing, forcing changes under the guise of self-improvement, just to squeeze as many dollars out of this as possible.

No Named Awards in the College Football Video Game

The news surrounding the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game is significantly more amusing than the Ross Dellenger reports. Should it be news that you can’t play for the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Awards? I don’t know, but I also don’t know why the National College Football Awards Association wouldn’t want the promotion that comes from this video game. There’s not one good reason why they should opt-out. Nobody playing the game is going to care. Kentucky fans will happily pave the way for Barion Brown to win the no-named College Football Wide Receiver of the Year Award.

Kentucky Adds New Support Staffer

Dae’one Wilkins recently announced he will be joining Mark Stoops’ staff as a defensive graduate assistant, helping Chris Collins and the Kentucky cornerbacks. A former Furman football player, he spent his post-grad career with the Paladins. He initially planned on serving as a GA at Coastal Carolina before this opportunity in Lexington arose.

Mitch Barnhart makes a NIL Ad

The Kentucky athletics director made a public plea to recruit funds for Kentucky’s NIL efforts. I’m sure some coaches are happy to see their boss take a more direct approach to NIL fundraising.

Happy Flex Friday!

It’s the final Flex Friday before spring practice. Spring Break is next week for students on Kentucky’s campus. The Wildcats will return and hit the ground running with 15 practices over three weeks. Can’t wait.