A Big Ten green-filled pasture

STATE COLLEGE – No one associated with big time college football will deny that there is an ongoing tornado of change going on. With coaches Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh having moved on, the transfer portal, conference realignments, the expanded college playoffs, and the incorporation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) monies, you need more than a scorecard to keep track of all the transformations.

NIL has taken center stage as tens of millions of dollars are pouring into every big college football program. As one insider told me without NIL monies rolling in, it would be like trying to play football without the football.

Ohio State’s athletic director told Yahoo! Sports that Buckeye football players last year received an estimated $20.3 million in NIL money. Within the Big Ten, Michigan was second in NIL monies at $16.4 million, while Penn State finished third at $13.8 million with nearly 75 percent of the money going to the football program. Compliance with Title IX will certainly make for interesting theater when the NCAA establishes NIL revenue-sharing for the tidal wave of monies flooding the nation’s biggest collegiate athletic programs.

Penn State football coach James Franklin was adamant at a press conference back in May saying, “Our goal is to compete for championships while doing it the right way. But having an elite NIL program is critical to this mission. A strong NIL program is a foundational component of building and maintaining an elite roster of players that will ensure our program is competitive in today’s college football.”

A week later in The Wall Street Journal, quarterback Jaden Rashada accused University of Florida donors of promising him millions in endorsements that they never intended to pay. Rashada did what anyone jilted in a money deal would do – he filed the first ever civil lawsuit in this emerging NIL era.

Note to the NCAA: the present NIL model is simply unsustainable.

With the addition of four new schools, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said last month at the conference’s annual media day that they are “focused on the 18 right now.” With that said, it appears Florida State and Clemson, who are embroiled in lawsuits with the ACC provided the conference survives, are out – for now.

The SEC is also reportedly not an option for Florida State, so the Big 12 might be the Seminoles best option.

At The Big Ten’s media day Petitti said Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium will continue to host the conference championship which it has done since the championship game’s inception in 2011. However, the contract runs out in 2028 and you can bet after that Indianapolis will be an antiquated memory. 

Who needs hayseed Indianapolis in December when Los Angeles is available. 

With the expanded College Football Playoff and the ongoing flux of conference realignments the Rose Bowl will still maintain its place on New Year’s Day’s football ledger, according to ESPN. Do not be surprised if this is only in the short term.

The Rose Bowl has evolved from a matchup between the winners of the Big Ten and Pac-12 into a CFP semifinal game, and it will be a CFP quarterfinal game for the next two years. After 2026, the Rose Bowl’s fate remains unknown.

Traditions are made to be exiled especially when the almighty dollar beckons.

The Big Ten has released its updated “Maps” commercial with its four new member schools. Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA have officially joined the conference.

Let the games begin.