That is based on the assumption that the break offs will continue with the conference approach. Why not create a league of X number of teams, like pros, and then just create divisions? What’s value of lifting and loading conferences into brave new world?
Agree. That branding matters a lot.Established branding.
Can conferences mean as much with the super differences in talent coming with NIL?
fightingillini.com
With NIL, nothing has really changed with the competitive environment except players are going to be paid which creates new problems for schools. Yes, there will be one offs like Pitt's star WR potentially transferring to USC or Alabama, but there hasn't been widespread movement of top players from one school to another. Also, a school like BC has never competed for recruits with Alabama, Florida, USC, Texas, LSU,..., so that hasn't changed. Plus, in the last 20 years, 10 schools have finished the year ranked #1 and all of them will be high NIL programs in the current environment: Alabama. Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida St., Georgia, LSU, Ohio St., Texas, USC. And, there are plenty of football players to go around. For example, only 1 QB can start on a team, so top rated QBs will be always be available like they always have been, although the portal has made transferring easier. In the last 7 NFL drafts these 3 schools have had the most QBs drafted with 3: North Dakota St., Oklahoma, Western Kentucky.Can conferences mean as much with the super differences in talent coming with NIL?
Not really good examples. Williams followed his head coach and offensive guru, Lincoln Riley, to USC. Dye’s head coach bolted to Miami and it is not a done deal that Addison goes to USC. And, USC lost 2 top QBs to the portal due to the coaching change.Take a look at USC....
They took Caleb William's, Oklahoma's starting QB, they took Addison, Pitt's Bilitnikoff awarded WR, they took Travis Dye who rushed for 1271 yards at Oregon...playmakers...and they loaded up on defenders.
I sense that some folks are hoping that NIL and the change in transfer rules will not have a dramatic impact on college athletics as we know it (or knew it). I just don't see how that can be the case. NIL will provide certain programs with the tool it needs to use money as the lever to attract the best talent either through recruiting or the transfer portal. It will be as simple as that. Free agency......
.......and I know that is not the intent of NIL, but it has opened the door for programs to funnel money to recruits and transfers in a way that has heretofore not existed.
The top programs are already attracting the best talent. For example, the top BC football recruit in 2022 would have been the 3rd worst recruit at Alabama. The top Syracuse football recruit would be the lowest rated recruit at Alabama. How does NIL change that?I sense that some folks are hoping that NIL and the change in transfer rules will not have a dramatic impact on college athletics as we know it (or knew it). I just don't see how that can be the case. NIL will provide certain programs with the tool it needs to use money as the lever to attract the best talent either through recruiting or the transfer portal. It will be as simple as that. Free agency......
.......and I know that is not the intent of NIL, but it has opened the door for programs to funnel money to recruits and transfers in a way that has heretofore not existed.
The top programs are already attracting the best talent. For example, the top BC football recruit in 2022 would have been the 3rd worst recruit at Alabama. The top Syracuse football recruit would be the lowest rated recruit at Alabama. How does NIL change that?
And, look at the portal. There isn't enough playing time at the top schools that are loaded with talent so the top P5 teams are the ones SUPPLYING the talent, not taking it. Look at these numbers:
Alabama has taken 5 transfers and lost 20 transfers.
Clemson has taken 1 transfer and lost 11 transfers.
Georgia has taken 0 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Texas A&M has taken 2 transfers and lost 11 transfers.
Ohio St. has taken 3 transfers and lost 19 transfers.
Michigan has taken 2 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Texas has taken 5 transfers and lost 20 transfers.
Baylor has taken 2 transfers and lost 6 transfers.
Oklahoma State has taken 3 transfers and lost 16 transfers.
Florida State has taken 6 transfers and lost 19 transfers.
Maryland has taken 3 transfers and lost 22 transfers.
Penn State has taken 3 transfers and lost 14 transfers.
Notre Dame has taken 3 transfers and lost 13 transfers.
The above 12 have taken in 38 transfers and lost 195 transfers.
Where we have seen top P5 schools taking in transfers is at schools that have had a coaching change:
Florida has taken 6 transfers and lost 10 transfers.
LSU has taken 15 transfers and lost 10 transfers.
Oklahoma has taken 10 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
USC has taken 13 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Oregon has taken in 7 transfers and lost 15 transfers.
Miami has taken 11 transfers and lost 14 transfers.
There are tons of examples of transfers who left top programs and went on to star at other programs. This past year, Cincy’s top RB, Jerome Ford, was a transfer from Alabama and drafted in the 5th round. And, what about Justin Fields (Georgia to Ohio St.) 1st round pick, Jalen Hurts (Alabama to Oklahoma) 2nd round pick, Wandale Robinson (Nebraska to Kentucky) 2nd round pick, Malik Willis (Auburn to Liberty) 3rd round, Joe Flacco ( Pitt to Delaware) 1st round, Josh McCown (SMU to Sam Houston St.) 3rd round.Yes, after recruits at the top programs find out they won’t see the field they will transfer leaving the BETTER players at those top programs.
……and, players at lower level programs who prove to be capable of competing at the top programs will go into the portal with no requirement to sit. They’ll wait for the best deal (probably the most money).
That concentrates the best talent at the top programs.
I agree that the transfer portal is an opportunity for schools further down on the food chain to upgrade their talent, But I think that @uconndogs is correct when he says that the portal system will tend to concentrate talent at the top schools. Yes, lesser schools will have access to highly ranked players who did not pan out at the bigger schools, but lesser ranked kids who succeed at lower schools will also have the opportunity to move upward. I strongly doubt we will ever see a top kid who is successful at a top school, getting all the playing time he wants, etc., moving to a lesser school.There are tons of examples of transfers who left top programs and went on to star at other programs. This past year, Cincy’s top RB, Jerome Ford, was a transfer from Alabama and drafted in the 5th round. And, what about Justin Fields (Georgia to Ohio St.) 1st round pick, Jalen Hurts (Alabama to Oklahoma) 2nd round pick, Wandale Robinson (Nebraska to Kentucky) 2nd round pick, Malik Willis (Auburn to Liberty) 3rd round, Joe Flacco ( Pitt to Delaware) 1st round, Josh McCown (SMU to Sam Houston St.) 3rd round.
As for teams, #4 Cincy had 7 P5 transfers on the roster this year, #16 Louisiana had 9 P5 transfers, #17 Houston had 14 P5 transfers, #24 Utah St. had 10 P5 transfers, #25 San Diego St. had 5 P5 transfers. SMU had 18 P5 transfers. The transfer portal has become a huge opportunity for schools to upgrade their talent. UConn under Edsall was just slow to adjust to the changing landscape.
I agree that the transfer portal is an opportunity for schools further down on the food chain to upgrade their talent, But I think that @uconndogs is correct when he says that the portal system will tend to concentrate talent at the top schools. Yes, lesser schools will have access to highly ranked players who did not pan out at the bigger schools, but lesser ranked kids who succeed at lower schools will also have the opportunity to move upward. I strongly doubt we will ever see a top kid who is successful at a top school, getting all the playing time he wants, etc., moving to a lesser school.
It reminds me of a conversation I heard between the top guys at two competing organizations. Steve was humble bragging about a new addition he had taken from Jim’s organization. Jim replied I’d like to think anyone who leaves us to go to you increases the average IQ of both organizations.
the numbers in post 9,058 don't really bear that out. Someone riding the pine at Alabama can certainly go to a lesser program and be a star. Guys who are playing great at a lesser program, I am not so sure so many of them are going to transfer to Alabama where they could risk being relegated to bench duty. Alabama can only have so many starters and needs ditch diggers too.I agree that the transfer portal is an opportunity for schools further down on the food chain to upgrade their talent, But I think that @uconndogs is correct when he says that the portal system will tend to concentrate talent at the top schools. Yes, lesser schools will have access to highly ranked players who did not pan out at the bigger schools, but lesser ranked kids who succeed at lower schools will also have the opportunity to move upward. I strongly doubt we will ever see a top kid who is successful at a top school, getting all the playing time he wants, etc., moving to a lesser school.
It reminds me of a conversation I heard between the top guys at two competing organizations. Steve was humble bragging about a new addition he had taken from Jim’s organization. Jim replied I’d like to think anyone who leaves us to go to you increases the average IQ of both organizations.
The genie is out of the bottle. All compliance is voluntary.
Yeah, I’m not sure that that is the conclusion that should be drawn from those numbers. They are entirely consistent with the wheat being separated from the chaff at top programs. I suppose as we get more history it will become more clear.the numbers in post 9,058 don't really bear that out. Someone riding the pine at Alabama can certainly go to a lesser program and be a star. Guys who are playing great at a lesser program, I am not so sure so many of them are going to transfer to Alabama where they could risk being relegated to bench duty. Alabama can only have so many starters and needs ditch diggers too.
Yeah.....well, we're talking past each other on this. I don't see how the current system as it develops doesn't foster a further concentration of the best talent at the top programs.There are tons of examples of transfers who left top programs and went on to star at other programs. This past year, Cincy’s top RB, Jerome Ford, was a transfer from Alabama and drafted in the 5th round. And, what about Justin Fields (Georgia to Ohio St.) 1st round pick, Jalen Hurts (Alabama to Oklahoma) 2nd round pick, Wandale Robinson (Nebraska to Kentucky) 2nd round pick, Malik Willis (Auburn to Liberty) 3rd round, Joe Flacco ( Pitt to Delaware) 1st round, Josh McCown (SMU to Sam Houston St.) 3rd round.
As for teams, #4 Cincy had 7 P5 transfers on the roster this year, #16 Louisiana had 9 P5 transfers, #17 Houston had 14 P5 transfers, #24 Utah St. had 10 P5 transfers, #25 San Diego St. had 5 P5 transfers. SMU had 18 P5 transfers. The transfer portal has become a huge opportunity for schools to upgrade their talent. UConn under Edsall was just slow to adjust to the changing landscape.
I'll leave you with one final point. I believe the top talent is already concentrated at the top of the P5. In the 2021 HS recruiting class, 69 out of the top 100 recruits went to 7 schools: Alabama, Ohio St., LSU, Georgia, USC, Oregon, and Florida. Of the Top 500 2021 recruits, 6 went to a G5 school or 1.2%. Of the 7 P5 schools, they had a combined 3 G5 transfers on their rosters in 2021. I believe the top schools will continue to dominate high level high school recruiting and at the margin take on transfers and those transfers will probably be from other P5 schools. I don't think NIL will change what is going on as the top schools will participate to maintain their position in college football.Yeah.....well, we're talking past each other on this. I don't see how the current system as it develops doesn't foster a further concentration of the best talent at the top programs.
I agree that second tier programs that are proactive will be able to improve their position relative to the rest of the second tier, but that has never been the point I was trying to make.
The cost of Division I could be going up...
The cost of Division I could be going up...
Don't really see how this impacts parity in college basketball.
Keep in mind the Title IX implications so whatever additional $$$ you were expecting to spend to be competitive; double it.I could affect other sports than football..
...want to be good in baseball ? Put everyone on a full scholly. Not 11.7 scholarships spread amongst as many as 27 players...more $$$ to be competitive. Unlimited players, unlimited schollies if it comes to pass.
Soccer..men's capped at 9 currently...got money? Pay for 25.