College football bowl games, once considered prestigious showcases, are now losing their meaning as players increasingly opt to enter the transfer portal before the games. Last year, Florida State, which had an impressive 13-0 regular season record, suffered a humiliating 63-3 loss to Georgia in their bowl game after many of their players left for the portal. This trend has continued this year, with multiple teams facing roster decimation before their bowl games. Many bowl games are now filled with second-, third-, and fourth-string players, turning them into meaningless exhibition contests.
Critics blame the NCAA and college athletic administrators for allowing this situation to occur, damaging the enjoyment and credibility of college football. Coaches like Brian Kelly, Mike Gundy, and Mike Norvell are reportedly paying into their school’s NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) to retain players and save their jobs. Some speculate that USC athletes may soon see larger checks to prevent them from entering the portal.
Suggestions for solutions to the current college football crisis include renegotiating coaches’ contracts to allocate more funds towards retaining players, similar to how Tom Brady took a pay cut to win Super Bowl titles. Others propose putting players’ names on the back of their jerseys to keep track of who is still on the team amidst the chaos of the transfer portal and NIL issues.
As college football grapples with these challenges, fans and analysts express concern over the future of the sport and call for decisive action to restore the integrity and excitement of college football bowl games.
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