NIL. The transfer portal. Big-money media. Players sit out bowl games and switch schools, not just once but multiple times. What happened to the game we love?
As the landscape of college football charges full throttle toward the postseason, it’s beginning to feel a lot like rush hour in a chaotic city. The race to the championship is on, with countless programs vying for victory like vehicles weaving dangerously through gridlock, each at the mercy of luck, skill, and the occasional crash.
–Some of these races will end up in the ditch, like Notre Dame (beaten by Northern Illinois) and Alabama (vanquished by Vanderbilt).
–Others, like the Texas, are more like sleek sports cars. They’re revved up and moving fast, but lacking a few vital repairs, they risk breaking down the road to glory.
–Then there’s Oregon. Its sprint to the playoffs has been a green-light journey, deftly dodging potholes and pitfalls with a mix of skill and luck. It’s a high-stakes drive, a model of resilience and resourcefulness that has other teams scrambling to keep pace.
–And who can overlook the underdog stories, like Indiana football? The Hoosiers are like an unlikely little car from your teenage years – maybe a bit underappreciated but surprisingly reliable, running smooth and strong as it races against teams with far more horsepower. No one expected it, but this car is screaming down the road.
Yet, no matter which team wins or why, the game is unsettled. The game’s soul and traditions are threatened. Are we, as fans, facing a future where our rosters turn over as frequently as a factory shift, players swapping teams when the final whistle blows?
It’s a bittersweet reality. While we love the thrill of college football’s unpredictability, there’s anxiety everywhere, and the big question is when and how—perhaps even if—reforms will restore stability to the game.
Only time will tell. For now, we’ll hold on tight, savoring every moment and every play, hoping our beloved programs – and the traditions that make them great will survive.
