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The bigger picture in this mess
Posted on 9/1/26 at 2:51 pm
Posted on 9/1/26 at 2:51 pm
Amid all the angst surrounding these players seeking injunctions, I haven’t seen anyone discuss the bigger picture.
What we are seeing right now is the individual conferences stepping in to the void created by a bungling NCAA.
For decades the NCAA tried to impose draconian sanctions against players and schools for picayune infractions just trying to help an indigent (unpaid) player keep his lights on, while turning its back to huge bags of cash being thrown at other players.
Ridiculous limits on baseball scholarships. Penalizing recruits solely to enforce unrealistic efforts to equalize the playing field between schools. The list of ineptitude goes on and on.
When NCAA finally quit its campaign against players getting at least some revenue for their sacrifices, it did a miserable job of ushering in the RS and NIL programs. No collective bargaining agreement put in place. No protection for lower tier athletes. No reasonable schedule or standards for the transfer portal. No enforceable rules relating to tampering.
The one thing that most fans agree on is that the NCAA completely dropped the ball, leaving college sports in a chaotic wild-west atmosphere where almost anything goes.
Now, we are seeing the conferences stepping in to try and create some order. Big 10 has led the way but SEC and Big 12 are coming along. ACC also is doing some good things. It took the Big 12 to do the difficult work of pressuring its own member school on the Soresby mess. Whether you like it or not, the SEC is stepping in on the pro players thing. I anticipate we will see the individual conferences taking more action in a lot of these areas.
Without either congressional action or a good CBA, it’s going to be up to the conferences to put things on track. The NCAA has shown no competence in doing so.
What we are seeing right now is the individual conferences stepping in to the void created by a bungling NCAA.
For decades the NCAA tried to impose draconian sanctions against players and schools for picayune infractions just trying to help an indigent (unpaid) player keep his lights on, while turning its back to huge bags of cash being thrown at other players.
Ridiculous limits on baseball scholarships. Penalizing recruits solely to enforce unrealistic efforts to equalize the playing field between schools. The list of ineptitude goes on and on.
When NCAA finally quit its campaign against players getting at least some revenue for their sacrifices, it did a miserable job of ushering in the RS and NIL programs. No collective bargaining agreement put in place. No protection for lower tier athletes. No reasonable schedule or standards for the transfer portal. No enforceable rules relating to tampering.
The one thing that most fans agree on is that the NCAA completely dropped the ball, leaving college sports in a chaotic wild-west atmosphere where almost anything goes.
Now, we are seeing the conferences stepping in to try and create some order. Big 10 has led the way but SEC and Big 12 are coming along. ACC also is doing some good things. It took the Big 12 to do the difficult work of pressuring its own member school on the Soresby mess. Whether you like it or not, the SEC is stepping in on the pro players thing. I anticipate we will see the individual conferences taking more action in a lot of these areas.
Without either congressional action or a good CBA, it’s going to be up to the conferences to put things on track. The NCAA has shown no competence in doing so.
5
Posted on 9/1/26 at 2:56 pm to TeeteringBrink
If the end result is the complete desolation of the NCAA, then it’s all worth it. People bitching now about “selective enforcement” as if the last several decades don’t exist.
Hell of a poster by the way
quote:
draconian sanctions
Hell of a poster by the way
Posted on 9/1/26 at 2:58 pm to TeeteringBrink
I'm curious to see if judges, on a whole, start to view conferences as an extension of the NCAA. If so, that could defeat this whole idea.
It's an interesting premise as conferences are technically independent but do tend to operate beneath the NCAA's umbrella. With conferences taking more of an active role in enforcement, I'm sure it's something we'll start to see.
It's an interesting premise as conferences are technically independent but do tend to operate beneath the NCAA's umbrella. With conferences taking more of an active role in enforcement, I'm sure it's something we'll start to see.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:03 pm to SidewalkTiger
The NCAA is pretty much a monopoly when it comes to college sports, which means it is subject to antitrust and restraint-of-trade lawsuits.
The conferences are not. At least, they won’t be as long as they don’t collude too much.
The conferences also have mostly stayed out of a lot areas where the NCAA has been very inconsistent, so they don’t have that history burdening them. At least, not yet.
The conferences are not. At least, they won’t be as long as they don’t collude too much.
The conferences also have mostly stayed out of a lot areas where the NCAA has been very inconsistent, so they don’t have that history burdening them. At least, not yet.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:04 pm to TeeteringBrink
This is definitely the beginning of the end for the NCAA. In time, I don’t see how they don’t get pushed out completely and a new governing body is put together. One that is better suited for today’s game, and something similar to overseeing the NFL.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:05 pm to geauxcoco
quote:
This is definitely the beginning of the end for the NCAA. In time, I don’t see how they don’t get pushed out completely and a new governing body is put together. One that is better suited for today’s game, and something similar to overseeing the NFL.
Please god, yes.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:06 pm to TeeteringBrink
quote:
The conferences are not. At least, they won’t be as long as they don’t collude too much.
The collusion is what worries me.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:06 pm to geauxcoco
Which is why they’re begging for the save sports act to pass giving them exemption status. It’s their last life line.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:08 pm to SidewalkTiger
My theory would be that any conference collusions would come by way of TV rights. The competitive advantage still exists between conferences, but they will leap if the mouse asks them to jump.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:08 pm to geauxcoco
quote:
This is definitely the beginning of the end for the NCAA. In time, I don’t see how they don’t get pushed out completely and a new governing body is put together. One that is better suited for today’s game, and something similar to overseeing the NFL.
With an antitrust exemption, a child could lead them.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:13 pm to ukraine_rebel
quote:
Which is why they’re begging for the save sports act to pass giving them exemption status. It’s their last life line.
This, 100%
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:14 pm to TeeteringBrink
Great post.
Another thing that is wild is how bad the product was in week zero.
Even those teams had guys making $1M on it. That would have been what you paid the best player in the game just 4 years ago. It’s silliness. These guys aren’t even good to make nfl practice squads yet colleges are gonna pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It’s come down to who can pay the most period.
College was about the pageantry, the love of the game, the university, the fans and alumni. Now it’s just a shittier version of the nfl.
If ole miss wasn’t benefiting from NIL I don’t think I’d watch.
Another thing that is wild is how bad the product was in week zero.
Even those teams had guys making $1M on it. That would have been what you paid the best player in the game just 4 years ago. It’s silliness. These guys aren’t even good to make nfl practice squads yet colleges are gonna pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It’s come down to who can pay the most period.
College was about the pageantry, the love of the game, the university, the fans and alumni. Now it’s just a shittier version of the nfl.
If ole miss wasn’t benefiting from NIL I don’t think I’d watch.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:20 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
I'm curious to see if judges, on a whole, start to view conferences as an extension of the NCAA
Conferences are separate entities.
They can add and drop whatever member they so choose for violating the by laws agreed upon.
The NCAA is a monopoly that’s why they constantly get wrecked by anti trust issues specifically for unevenly applying their own rules.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:22 pm to ManBearSharkReb
quote:
Another thing that is wild is how bad the product was in week zero.
To be honest, I enjoyed it. I’m OK with having a week zero to where it’s lesser televised and prestige schools battling out. It gives them a lot more exposure and it can be pretty fun to watch.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 3:31 pm to ManBearSharkReb
There’s lots to complain about how the NCAA has handled this transition, but the thing I dislike most is the unrestricted transfer. Sure, a player ought to be able to get out of situation that’s not working for him/her. But there are players out there who have bounced around to four teams in four years. Not good for the players, coaches, or fans. Let players transfer once or maybe twice in their college careers. Multi-year contracts. Maybe with incentive clauses with raises to accommodate better performers. Anything that would incent players to transfer less, and maybe disincentives for transferring more. I don’t have the answers. I just know that I always liked following players through their four years. And I think overall it’s a better college experience for the player if it’s not shaken up every year with a transfer.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 4:29 pm to ManBearSharkReb
quote:
Conferences are separate entities.
They can add and drop whatever member they so choose for violating the by laws agreed upon.
In theory, but judges could start viewing them as extensions of the NCAA if they collude too much.
A conference just can't enforce its bylaws willy nilly, they have a certain obligation to their members.
Posted on 9/1/26 at 4:33 pm to TeeteringBrink
I would bet a new governing body will be created by the SEC, Big12, Bog Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 within 15 years. It has gotten very bad now
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