Is the quality of College Football suffering as a result of the transfer portal/NIL?

[theballguy]

... by definition, that makes lower-tier teams like Ole Miss and TCU better.

That part I don't have much of a problem with. But it does hurt the overall game itself. I'm not saying Bama could have done any better but this NC game (Michigan and Washington) as far as both teams playing in it was the worst I've seen in a while. And there's no argument from me, these were the two best teams in all of college football and they just did not deliver.

 

[AlexanderFan]

All that’s really happening is the landscape is going from mountains and valleys to hills and hollows. In other words, the highs aren’t as high and the lows aren’t as low.

The field is leveling out, depth is being impacted because players are going elsewhere.

 

[RTR_UA#1]

YES.... college football is suffering.
Kids are draw to move from team to team and a player can't learn the scheme of a coach if he only is there one year. The TEAM has to work together as a team..... not as a spotlight for one or 2 players.

The school with the most money will BUY the best team. KIDS get into the portal with an attached price tag. You can see how much it will cost you to BUY a talented wide receiver for your team.
College football, as I remember it, from the days of coaching up kids and building a good team over a couple of years does not exist anymore.
Pandora's box has been opened..... college football is now just an extension of pro football.
Money begets greed and greed makes a player jump ship to go find more money. The love of YOUR TEAM and YOUR ALMA MATER is practically gone from the current players.
College football is DEAD.
(now, let's see how you can fix this mess ncaa...)

 

[DrJJoyner]

College football, as I remember it, from the days of coaching up kids and building a good team over a couple of years does not exist anymore.

But that's just what Harbaugh* did at Michigan this year. Indeed, to a lesser extent, it's what DeBoer did at Washington. Both had substantially less talent, as measured by recruiting rankings, than Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Texas, and others.

_____
*Yes, the sign-stealing scandal casts a shadow over their season. but it's not why they beat Alabama and blew the doors off Washington.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

My son (45) doesn't follow college ball. On the phone with him yesterday, I explained NIL and the transfer portal.

He came back with, "So college football has become even more of a minor league NFL?"

"Yes, but messier" was my response.

Two coaches who seem to use the portal extraordinarily well are Lane Kiffin and Deion Sanders. Kiffin uses it to plug holes in the lineup. Sanders used it to completely rebuild a whole team in record time.

NIL strikes me as (mostly) a bad joke. I recall last year on Sports Center -- or some other panel show -- when the retired pro players on the panel were *laughing* at NIL. They affirmed what many of us suspected(?) for decades ... that NIL merely "legitimized" the pay-for-play which had been going-on in college sports for a long time.

 

[Cruloc]

I know my interest is waning. Saban retiring is a big deal, he turned Bama into what I always hoped it would be.

I've had huge interest in the sport since I can remember. My earliest personal memory was that blocked FG vs Penn State in 89, I was 12, jumped up and ran around the house screaming.

I've loved the Saban era.

But my goodness these last few years with NIL and the portal are really starting to hit home for me. Teams aren't as good. Except Michigan this year because they kept so many of their players over the years and had an experienced, hungry group. That's a rarity now.

Kids moving around like musical chairs, no one wanting to do the difficult things anymore. That's why Saban was so emotional over Jalen Hurts. Not only was there a special bond there between those two....but Jalen Hurts is a rarity now.

I miss what college football used to be. What its becoming will erode my interest as the years go by. And now with Saban gone, that erosion likely speeds up.

 

[bamamc1]

The main problem as I see it is that by doing all the NIL & transfer stuff, players appear to be playing for themselves and not their schools. To ME that's what made college football special. Guys that stay because they want to play for their schools are rare in this environment. I think all players should be allowed 1 freebie transfer without consequence and play without sitting out. After that, no matter the circumstances, you should have to sit out a whole season ... Just so there's clarity on obligations and commitment and responsibilities. It also is not great for a student to transfer multiple times. Makes no sense in the educational process. Maybe an exception if you get your degree and want to transfer as a grad student to another school. At least that way you've earned that ability. JMHO.

The constant on the play by play calls of, transfer from xyz, is stunning each week. AU QB Payton Thorne was a team captain his last season at MSU. Transfers to the barn and grabs some cash and will now have to fight off the other competition just to gain his starting spot. After this year, the AU folks will forget him and the Michigan State folks probably can't stand him. What did he gain by doing this? Nothing

 

[BamaNation]

The constant on the play by play calls of, transfer from xyz, is stunning each week. AU QB Payton Thorne was a team captain his last season at MSU. Transfers to the barn and grabs some cash and will now have to fight off the other competition just to gain his starting spot. After this year, the AU folks will forget him and the Michigan State folks probably can't stand him. What did he gain by doing this? Nothing

some benjamins

 

[GulfCoastTider]

NIL, yes. It has hurt. It has allowed players to put themselves first instead of focusing on the betterment of the team. A football "team" has a potential that is greater than the sum of its existing parts. It is in each player's self-interest to insure that the team succeeds so that the individual can succeed and create better value for himself. A very good player on successful team has more value than a potentially great player on an unsuccessful team.

Transfer portal has a neutral effect, IMO. Transfers have always been permissible but the restrictions were so formidable that it almost wasn't worth it. But 18-year olds sometimes make bad decisions when it comes to college. It's a lot like changing majors. Also, if a player doesn't "fit" it hurts him and the team. If he finds a better fit, he helps the new team and removes a potential problem for the old one. And allows the old team to also find a better fit. A zero sum trade, if you will.

 

[theballguy]

And now with Saban gone, that erosion likely speeds up.

I'm with you. It's become very messy but hopefully the new hire slows it back down for you, brother 🍻

 

[CrimsonTusk]

Yep, and as a long time fan im steady losing interest...

I am too,... I've quit watching pro sports and NASCAR for a few reasons. College football is the only sport on my tv anymore. That is fading fast. Never thought I'd say that. It used to be so pure, so real. Now there is no commitment to the school. It's all about "me".

 

[crimsonaudio]

Is the quality of College Football suffering as a result of the transfer portal/NIL?

Yes.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

In a word, yes.

 

[colbysullivan]

I mean this with all due respect……….
………
………
……..
Seriously, what kind of insanely asinine question is this? Of course it’s suffering!

 

[hfhmilkman]

I don't see it. Pay for play has been part of college sports for decades. NIL just pseudo-legalized it. NIL is just the natural extension because college football tolerated pay-for-play. What NIL has done is if you build your success on recruiting the top 100, many of these individuals are not going to be interested in your team but the money your school is going to give you. Michigan is mentioned. Look at the biggest contributors. There are a score of three star and borderline four star players in their 5th year. These guys are not bums in that they have developed and played their way into an NFL career. Are they 1st day picks? No! But they are going to be NFL players. Michigan has made a strategic decision not to pursue the kinds that end up in Columbus because if green is more important than blue or red, you might not be so useful for winning football games.

Tactically, football is going through another cycle. Look at the NFL. YPC from running is at a historical high. Winning by running is back in vogue. This is because defenses are putting an emphasis on stopping high powered passing attacks. This means they are vulnerable to power running. Georgia won in 2021-2022 on this, and Michigan on 2023. Best two teams in the NFL(SF, Baltimore) are predicated on running first. Power football does not require an elite QB or flashy receivers. Football is a copycat league until the next innovation. Staffs in the NFL and college are innovating such that what worked in 2020 does not work against it.

Lastly, when I look at the blue bloods, football talent minus skill positions to me seems to be about the same. The set of Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, and OSU generally have roughly half of the top 100 recruits. Looking at that set, the only skill player that will be drafted in the 1st round are Marvin Harrison Jr, and Brock Browers. I think I can confidently say that the underclassmen minus Eubuka have no chance at being a 1st round pick. This may be because of NIL. I believe the bottom 100 schools are doomed because of NIL. But any team with money can take a swing and bring in their skill ringer. They can't compete with Alabama at the team level. But they can outbid for that one guy. Just a speculation.

 

[colbysullivan]

I don't see it. Pay for play has been part of college sports for decades. NIL just pseudo-legalized it. NIL is just the natural extension because college football tolerated pay-for-play. What NIL has done is if you build your success on recruiting the top 100, many of these individuals are not going to be interested in your team but the money your school is going to give you. Michigan is mentioned. Look at the biggest contributors. There are a score of three star and borderline four star players in their 5th year. These guys are not bums in that they have developed and played their way into an NFL career. Are they 1st day picks? No! But they are going to be NFL players. Michigan has made a strategic decision not to pursue the kinds that end up in Columbus because if green is more important than blue or red, you might not be so useful for winning football games.

Tactically, football is going through another cycle. Look at the NFL. YPC from running is at a historical high. Winning by running is back in vogue. This is because defenses are putting an emphasis on stopping high powered passing attacks. This means they are vulnerable to power running. Georgia won in 2021-2022 on this, and Michigan on 2023. Best two teams in the NFL(SF, Baltimore) are predicated on running first. Power football does not require an elite QB or flashy receivers. Football is a copycat league until the next innovation. Staffs in the NFL and college are innovating such that what worked in 2020 does not work against it.

Lastly, when I look at the blue bloods, football talent minus skill positions to me seems to be about the same. The set of Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, and OSU generally have roughly half of the top 100 recruits. Looking at that set, the only skill player that will be drafted in the 1st round are Marvin Harrison Jr, and Brock Browers. I think I can confidently say that the underclassmen minus Eubuka have no chance at being a 1st round pick. This may be because of NIL. I believe the bottom 100 schools are doomed because of NIL. But any team with money can take a swing and bring in their skill ringer. They can't compete with Alabama at the team level. But they can outbid for that one guy. Just a speculation.

You seriously don’t see it? College football doesn’t even resemble itself anymore.

 

[B1GTide]

You seriously don’t see it? College football doesn’t even resemble itself anymore.

I don't think that the quality of play has diminished, but the movement of players has made it tougher to get attached. You love a kid like Downs, then he moves on.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I don't think that the quality of play has diminished, but the movement of players has made it tougher to get attached. You love a kid like Downs, then he moves on.

Just me I see a problem in both areas.

Teams don’t seem as cohesive and sound as the past because you have so many kids jumping from team to team to the point that Upper Classmen are just as inexperienced within a new system as the younger players.

So it’s inevitable that the quality will drop off a bit because guys aren’t as seasoned within the system they are in or as teammates together.

Plus you are right about it getting harder to get attached to players.

It’s becoming a bit like MLB where there’s no guarantee from year to year that even 50% of your starters stay the same.

 

[B1GTide]

Just me I see a problem in both areas.

Teams don’t seem as cohesive and sound as the past because you have so many kids jumping from team to team to the point that Upper Classmen are just as inexperienced within a new system as the younger players.

So it’s inevitable that the quality will drop off a bit because guys aren’t as seasoned within the system they are in or as teammates together.

Plus you are right about it getting harder to get attached to players.

It’s becoming a bit like MLB where there’s no guarantee from year to year that even 50% of your starters stay the same.

With respect quality of play, I remember when college football teams played almost an entirely different sport than the NFL. But players are so much better prepared now than ever before. We have teams running sophisticated offensive and defensive schemes that would not have even been considered 20 years ago. All this with limited practice time and class attendance.

Has it diminished over the last few years? Hard to say given the small sample size. But it just doesn't feel that way to me. 2023 was a down year for the sport as there were no great teams. Maybe that is what we have to look forward to, but I remain optimistic.

 

[hfhmilkman]

With respect quality of play, I remember when college football teams played almost an entirely different sport than the NFL. But players are so much better prepared now than ever before. We have teams running sophisticated offensive and defensive schemes that would not have even been considered 20 years ago. All this with limited practice time and class attendance.

Has it diminished over the last few years? Hard to say given the small sample size. But it just doesn't feel that way to me. 2023 was a down year for the sport as there were no great teams. Maybe that is what we have to look forward to, but I remain optimistic.

Or could it be that a better prepared team with less talent but a superior scheme can beat a team that runs a simple scheme that is relying solely on it's superior talent. The Georgia/Alabama/Clemson/OSU personal talent levels from 2017-2022 was unprecedented and potentially unsustainable. Alabama literally had three NFL caliber QB's on the roster at the same time. One of the impacts of NIL, is if that happens again, two of those individuals are going to immediately transfer.