Official 2020 College Football Thread

[Ghost Econ]

That college football mania overlaps with the south pretty much explains the mentality.

[albionmoonlight]

Hmm. The other part of this that I hadn't considered.

NFL draftees pretty much have to go play for the teams that draft them b/c they are literally broke otherwise.

When we think of the high profile exceptions, they had other options so they could credibly threaten to hold out for the year. Elway could play baseball. Eli Manning had family money.

If a top-five pick has a few hundred K in the bank from his college career, he suddenly has a bit more flexibility in deciding where to go.

I still think that the vast majority of guys will go play where they are drafted and start accruing years toward that second contract.

But for the very top guys, it will no longer be a choice between playing and starving.

Fascinating.

[cuervo72]

I wonder if some might stick around in school longer.

[Vegas Vic]

One of the next logical steps will be removing the minimum GPA requirements for admission and eligibility. Attending class and getting an education will become an option, and players can opt in if they wish to have that extra benefit.

[albionmoonlight]

Scholarship limits probably become pretty meaningless at the top schools, too, right?

"Sorry we can't offer you a scholarship. I hope that this booster's offer to pay you $150k per season makes up for that."

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by tarcone

NCAA Football 2022 here we come!

It looks like summer 2023 is when we'll be getting a game.


Near confirmation of a 2023 release - Operation Sports Forums

[tarcone]

Reading through the last several posts, really made me think of all that could and will go on.

I have always been in favor of players being able to major in football. Now seems like the time.

What a crazy time for college athletics with the open transfers and now the ability to get paid. Wow.

[JPhillips]

Majoring in a sport won't ever work for accreditation bodies.

[Ghost Econ]

I'm waiting for the NCAA's 4 years of eligibility to be challenged. Who's to say someone wouldn't find a player to pay who's not quite NFL level but better than who you have. There's not a lot of jobs out there where there's a cap on how long you're allowed to do it.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

I'm waiting for the NCAA's 4 years of eligibility to be challenged. Who's to say someone wouldn't find a player to pay who's not quite NFL level but better than who you have. There's not a lot of jobs out there where there's a cap on how long you're allowed to do it.

LOL at the fact that Tyler Hansbrough would still be playing for UNC if that were the case.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Majoring in a sport won't ever work for accreditation bodies.

Just call it a "fitness" major.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

LOL at the fact that Tyler Hansbrough would still be playing for UNC if that were the case.

Ping Jordan Bohannon

[molson]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

One of the next logical steps will be removing the minimum GPA requirements for admission and eligibility. Attending class and getting an education will become an option, and players can opt in if they wish to have that extra benefit.

I always thought that big time college athletes should just be treated as employees. Paid a negotiated salary with negotiated benefits. Which could, if the player was interested and they actually qualified academically, include tuition payments now or at a future time. (though as employees, they may not have time to do college full time at the same time they're a full-time employee of the school). But the whole relationship between sports and academics at that level is so forced and unnecessary. They there's for entirely distinct reasons.

[Vegas Vic]

It's fascinating to see some of the ripple effects this decision is generating.

Football fans want to see Reggie Bush get his Heisman Trophy back with new NIL rules in place

Another thought, can you imagine how many national championships the SMU football program might have won if this policy had been instituted in the mid 1980's? "Hey, Eric, Craig. I'd like an autographed Pony Express jersey. How does $100K apiece sound?"

[JPhillips]

Are agents still against the rules? I'm worried that a lot of kids are going to get the equivalent of the old recording industry contracts from people looking for investments in star athletes.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Are agents still against the rules? I'm worried that a lot of kids are going to get the equivalent of the old recording industry contracts from people looking for investments in star athletes.

NFLPA permits NFL agents to represent college football players in NIL marketing agreements, per reports - CBSSports.com

According to NFL Network and ProFootballTalk, the NFL Players Association has informed NFL agents they will be permitted to represent college football players in NIL marketing agreements.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

NFLPA permits NFL agents to represent college football players in NIL marketing agreements, per reports - CBSSports.com

I will post the whole article as it addresses the extent of the representation. I suspect other leagues will establish their own rules.

College athletes are now allowed to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL) thanks to an unprecedented NCAA ruling this week, removing restrictions for players to profit from marketing deals. The NFL is already feeling the ripple effects, mild as they may be. According to NFL Network and ProFootballTalk, the NFL Players Association has informed NFL agents they will be permitted to represent college football players in NIL marketing agreements.

NIL deals are "not generally the subject" of NFLPA regulations, a Thursday memo informed agents. So NFL player representatives will be free to engage college athletes in striking such sponsorship or marketing deals.

"However, under the regulations," the memo reads, "it is the (agent's) responsibility to monitor and ensure that they are in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, as well as NCAA rules that impact the player's eligibility. Further, any NIL contracts entered into with college players by (an agent) should be wholly separate from any future ... services involving the negotiation of player contracts with NFL teams; for example, an NIL contract should not include any terms that require or condition any NIL terms on the player later hiring that (agent) for NFL contract services."

The memo concludes by noting that the NFLPA will continue to monitor the evolution of NIL agreements. For now, however, agents' involvement with college players cannot legally extend beyond NIL marketing representation. Take Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, for example, a projected top 2022 draft prospect who just Thursday announced a sponsorship deal. An NFL agent could technically negotiate future NIL deals for Nix, but only if the agreement doesn't legally dictate that agent would also represent Nix in the NFL.

[Ghost Econ]

At least Clemson can keep paying their players tax free by continuing to funnel it through the New Spring church... unless Dabo keeps his word and quits.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

NFLPA permits NFL agents to represent college football players in NIL marketing agreements, per reports - CBSSports.com

Thanks for this. This looks like a pretty good solution.

[BYU 14]

One question I have is how this affects the service academies. Players there are prohibited from endorsing any products, and if there is no workaround this could hurt them. Though many of the players that commit to the academies do not have a lot of D1, I am sure it will further restrict their already tight recruiting net.

And, it may just be a big nothing burger as I have a feeling the number of players that benefit the most from this in terms of individual deals will be a smaller number than we think. I could be wrong there, but time will tell.

[miami_fan]

Former Georgia Bulldogs and Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt says he has Parkinson's disease

Tough news. I really do like and respect what I have seen from Mark Richt.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Tough news. I really do like and respect what I have seen from Mark Richt.

I've never heard anyone say anything bad about him as a person. Even the Georgia fans that called for his ouster said he was a nice guy. Tough neighborhood. Average 10 wins per season and get fired.

[bhlloy]

So the MMA gym NIL thing at Miami is the exact scenario we were worried about and were told wouldn’t happen right - that players can make more money being fifth on the depth chart at a school with rich boosters than they can starting at a mid major?

Sure it’s only $500 a month in this instance but what is stopping Phil Knight offering the entire Oregon roster $50k a year? I can’t see any way this doesn’t lead to a very slippery slope - I’m fully in favor of true NIL but this is just paying players under a different name surely.

[BYU 14]

Agree, the more this progresses the more loopholes are coming to light and they will be exploited.

There really should have been some boundaries set and I worry about the the effect this will have on graduation rates, as players but more into marketing than they do studying. All this does is leave them worse off when the money dries up after their playing days end and they have no degree to fall back on.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

At least Clemson can keep paying their players tax free by continuing to funnel it through the New Spring church... unless Dabo keeps his word and quits.

Alright Easy Mac, you can take your crazy misinformation from your Gamecock friends and/or message boards and peddle them somewhere else.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

There really should have been some boundaries set and I worry about the the effect this will have on graduation rates, as players but more into marketing than they do studying.

Graduation rates will eventually become extraneous information, as the players will be employees of the university, not students per se. Getting an education will be considered a perk, and players who wish to do so can opt in.

[albionmoonlight]

The opt-in will still make sense for a lot of guys.

I talked to someone coming to law school. He was a D1 kicker in undergrad. He really understood the system. He knew he wasn't good enough to go pro. But he was pretty good at kicking. So, as he put it, he got 4 years undergrad fully paid for and got to play a game as well. And then he was going to law school. Win/win.

I hope that that path still exists for guys who aren't future NFL stars.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

Graduation rates will eventually become extraneous information, as the players will be employees of the university, not students per se. Getting an education will be considered a perk, and players who wish to do so can opt in.

I've advocated a situation akin to this, but you're leaving out an important caveat: they get the same employee discount offered to other university employees, but that's it.

They wanted to turn pro, they don't just get the entitlement parts of it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

So the MMA gym NIL thing at Miami is the exact scenario we were worried about and were told wouldn’t happen right - that players can make more money being fifth on the depth chart at a school with rich boosters than they can starting at a mid major?

Sure it’s only $500 a month in this instance but what is stopping Phil Knight offering the entire Oregon roster $50k a year? I can’t see any way this doesn’t lead to a very slippery slope - I’m fully in favor of true NIL but this is just paying players under a different name surely.

Don't worry about the $500/month he's paying ... wait until his fundraising corporation gets rolling. That $500 will be chump change.

And that's all within the rules that were established (IIRC, he was on the advisory committee to help design the state law in Florida)

This isn't a loophole, this is how it was designed to work.

[Vegas Vic]

Yep, and I suspect that within a few years, there will be a significant structural change among the teams, and undoubtedly some more conference realignments. With the demise of the NCAA, the powerhouses will form their own cartel, probably with 40 or 50 teams. Some of the weaker Power Five programs will leave to join the current Group of Five conferences, as they will not be able to offer their players anything close to the income that the elite teams will.

[cuervo72]

Unless they stick around because the big boys need patsies, just as they do now. It's not as if Vandy can keep up with Bama for recruiting as things currently stand.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Unless they stick around because the big boys need patsies, just as they do now. It's not as if Vandy can keep up with Bama for recruiting as things currently stand.

That's possible, but with schools like Vanderbilt, Duke and Northwestern to name a few, who emphasize academics, there's another wildcard. I was thinking more about mid-tier programs like Kansas State, Nebraska, NC State, Arizona, etc. who manage to hold on by the skin of their teeth to be somewhat competitive, but stand no chance in what is likely to come.

[thesloppy]

I haven't followed this too closely, are there restrictions on multi-year endorsements?

[bhlloy]

I don’t know if there are any restrictions right now or at best it’s state by state? But clearly this took about a week before we got to somebody just deciding to pay the whole roster, which is absurd when you think what NIL actually means. But hey ho. I’m sure he’s getting great value from the backup long snapper promoting his gym.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Don't worry about the $500/month he's paying ... wait until his fundraising corporation gets rolling. That $500 will be chump change.

And that's all within the rules that were established (IIRC, he was on the advisory committee to help design the state law in Florida)

This isn't a loophole, this is how it was designed to work.

Absolutely. I imagine there’s also a hilarious conflict of interest when it comes to states writing the rules, when in many states football coaches are by far and away the highest paid state employees to begin with.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The U gonna be around if there's a dollar around

NHL's Florida Panthers reveal plan to get involved with NIL deals

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

So the MMA gym NIL thing at Miami is the exact scenario we were worried about and were told wouldn’t happen right - that players can make more money being fifth on the depth chart at a school with rich boosters than they can starting at a mid major?

Sure it’s only $500 a month in this instance but what is stopping Phil Knight offering the entire Oregon roster $50k a year? I can’t see any way this doesn’t lead to a very slippery slope - I’m fully in favor of true NIL but this is just paying players under a different name surely.

Any player that makes over 40k from NIL loses their scholarship and it's added income that has to be reported when applying for Pell Grants or any other aid. The Pell Grant thing may not be a deal breaker, but losing your scholarship generally will be.

EDIT: It's 40k, not 45K

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Any player that makes over 45k from NIL loses their scholarship and it's added income that has to be reported when applying for Pell Grants or any other aid. The Pell Grant thing may not be a deal breaker, but losing your scholarship generally will be.

When does that loss of scholarship take effect though?
Do you have to repay it if it processes in the meantime?

I mean, what keeps a senior from overcollecting?
Or a 1-and-done from overcollecting?

Not like either gives a shit about the scholarship unless there's teeth behind the enforcement of it.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

When does that loss of scholarship take effect though?
Do you have to repay it if it processes in the meantime?

I mean, what keeps a senior from overcollecting?
Or a 1-and-done from overcollecting?

Not like either gives a shit about the scholarship unless there's teeth behind the enforcement of it.

I believe it's for the next academic year, but I'm not certain.

Nothing that I know of keeps seniors or 1 and dones from overcollecting, but how many seniors are big enough draws to make that investment worthwhile?

As for 1 and dones, it's a serious roll of the dice for them. If getting paid is their primary goal, though, then the G-League or overseas offers way more money than NIL would likely pay out and a far safer bet.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Atocep

If getting paid is their primary goal, though, then the G-League or overseas offers way more money than NIL would likely pay out and a far safer bet.

Ain't gotta leave the country, ain't gotta do much of anything other than show up, ball some, & collect the check.

I'd say it's a closer toss up than you seem to think.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sidenote to all this. Twice this week (so far), the GHSA has issued a reminder to student-athletes that NIL only applies to college, not to high school.

I've been a fairly close observer of the state governing body for a lot of years now, for them to do that twice in a week suggests to me that they've got indications that it's an issue.

And if I'm a HS athlete, there has to be a temptation to think "well, let's just cheat the rules and they'll do like college and do away with those rules. It'll work"

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Ain't gotta leave the country, ain't gotta do much of anything other than show up, ball some, & collect the check.

I'd say it's a closer toss up than you seem to think.

Jalen Green made 500k to play in the G League rather than go to college this year. I don't think it's much of a toss for most potential 1 and dones.

[Ghost Econ]

So are Will Wade and Bill Self off the hook now?

[Thomkal]

I somehow missed this but after Coastal Carolina's stellar season, I had expected some good things to come from all that attention in recruiting. I was right:

First 4-star Coastal Carolina football commit Matt McDoom 'does it all' | Myrtle Beach Sports | postandcourier.com

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

What do y'all think are the best programs to be a HC at in terms of resources/likelihood of success vs. expectations? What are the worst?

I asked this a while ago, and several of y'all responded with Nebraska: Managing those expectations while being situated in a recruiting desert.

Without the benefit of hindsight, Frost actually seemed like a pretty good hire. A guy who seemed to have talent who also had a reason to go and stay there.

Will be interesting to see if anyone can right the ship now.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I asked this a while ago, and several of y'all responded with Nebraska: Managing those expectations while being situated in a recruiting desert.

Without the benefit of hindsight, Frost actually seemed like a pretty good hire. A guy who seemed to have talent who also had a reason to go and stay there.

Will be interesting to see if anyone can right the ship now.

Yep seemed like he was going to be the Head Coach for Life there since it seemed like such a good fit

[Breeze]

I love how Fox is promoting the Oklahoma vs Nebraska "rivalry" game. At this point, who wants to watch that? Nebraska has lost 4 of their last 5 games to teams no where near the talent level of Oklahoma.

There have been tons of upsets already this year, but this just doesn't look like it's going to fall that way.