Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is not pleased with the current direction of college football, and it’s not just because his team has suffered two consecutive losses to ranked opponents. He believes that the landscape of college football is changing in ways that are detrimental to the sport.
From his perspective, expansion has eradicated traditional conferences, such as the Pac-12, while the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules has allowed players to potentially earn millions of dollars before even setting foot on campus. The transfer portal has further blurred the line between college and professional sports, turning offseasons into something akin to NFL free agency.
Gundy argues that college football is in dire need of a commissioner to oversee and regulate these evolving complexities. During a recent press conference, he stated, “College football needs a commissioner. And if it’s one of the four guys, now, if it’s the guy at SEC commissioner, I don’t care, we need a commissioner.”
“And then we need the Power Four, Power Five if we go back to it. Those commissioners are under them. And then we need a football oversight rules committee that is going to enforce the whatever rules that we say there are whether that is recruiting, NIL, salary cap, employment agreements, transfers, whatever those rules are, and they need to follow the NFL model.”
While some traditionalists may bristle at the idea of modeling college football after the NFL, Gundy believes that adopting a more structured system akin to the professional league could help restore order to college football. He argues that with the amount of money being exchanged in the sport, it’s crucial to have a governing body in place.
As college football continues to evolve, Gundy suggests that leaders like Nick Saban or Mack Brown could potentially serve as a football commissioner to navigate the changes. Both men have extensive experience in coaching and understanding the inner workings of the game.
“You know, Coach Brown in North Carolina when he retires, Coach Saban, that’s your football commissioner. That’s Roger Goodell for us, in my opinion. Because he knows what he’s doing, he gets it,” Gundy explained.
While Saban and Brown would undoubtedly bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, the question remains whether they would be willing to take on the responsibility and challenges that come with being a college football commissioner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ever-changing landscape of college football presents new challenges and opportunities for the sport. While some may view these changes as unsettling, others like Mike Gundy see them as an opportunity to reform and improve the system through the establishment of a commissioner and oversight committee.
Whether college football ultimately adopts a more structured approach akin to the NFL or finds a different path forward, it’s clear that the sport is at a crossroads. With passionate voices like Gundy advocating for change, the future of college football remains uncertain but full of potential.
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