College Football: How much longer will NCAA control CFB?

In some ways, the NCAA’s control of college football has been derided since the organization was formed. Recounting how the NCAA has failed and how often it has come up short of expectations does not warrant a re-telling.

The Transfer Portal, NIL and the Alston ruling, while bringing appropriate value to athletes, were badly managed by the NCAA.

The NCAA, likely following the advice of many college presidents, has drawn a line at ever allowing athletes to become school employees. Now the Big Ten has stated it is at least willing to pay athletes.

Acknowledging athletes as employees has long been thought to be the tipping point that dismantles the NCAA. A new tipping point has emerged and it comes from massive media deals for certain conferences.

When, not if the NCAA is reconfigured and downsized, there will be a need for an organizing body to replace it. How much authority will be vested in a new group is unknown. Will a new overseer of college football have all the FBS in its scope or a smaller group of ‘top’ programs? Who will enforce new rules that would evolve? Would it be the new overseer group or would it be left to a new enforcement group created by the ‘top’ conferences? As has often been suggested, would college football have a Commissioner with authority to act in the game’s best interest?

About a week ago, for the first time ever, a group of influential college football individuals openly discussed the possibility of being the new overseer.  As reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the College Football Playoff’s board of managers discussed what might, at some point, dramatically change college football.

"The (CFB Playoff) board of managers briefly discussed the possibility of restructuring how college football is governed, with the idea presented of major college football potentially being governed outside of the NCAA. The most logical place for the sport to be run outside of the NCAA would be under the auspices of the CFP …"

According to Thamel, the college presidents and chancellors discussed the potential for only five minutes. Preliminary and potential are key words to describe the brief conversation. Apparently, no member of the group balked at the idea of further discussion. Thamel was also clear about what was not done,

"No action is imminent or known next steps planned."

The issue will not fade away. While the CFB Playoff board of managers ruminate, an expanded Playoff format is a more pressing concern. The most recent buzz is over the interest in expanding the field to 16 teams and doing it sooner than the 2026 season. Not leaving ‘money on the table’ appears to be the main motivator.

A few weeks ago, I offered an opinion on why a 16-team field is a bad idea. One reason is unlike the previous 12-team idea, the top four teams do not get byes. Making the best four play an extra game is needlessly unfair and In most seasons, one of the four will be Alabama Football.

A revolutionary change in the structure of college football may take many years of planning before it can be executed. An expanded Playoff will come first.