The World of College Football

[GP1]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

This NIL era is still new and programs are still jockeying for position. I think some programs are a given such as; Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Michigan (especially since Larry Ellison's wife who is a former alumni has took an interest), and Texas A&M to be at or near the top in spending. 

 

Oregon is certainly up there in spending, but much of that comes from Phil Knight. Who knows if that money keeps flowing in once he passes. I know Oklahoma State appears to have suffered from their billionaire philanthropist passing away. Indiana was a minnow in the college football world, but ever since NIL several wealthy alumni, including Mark Cuban, have become more involved.

 

I'm sure more billionaires boosters will emerge and some might just get bored and quit giving.

Good post. 

 

I think a lot of it is going to revolve around not just one person, but the wealth in a state, the number of P5 schools in a state and how the money is divided up. For example, OSU is the only P5 school in a state with three major population centers. 

 

Mississippi State and Mississippi are two schools in a poor state with little population. There aren't many Uber wealthy people in Mississippi. Oregon is a small state, but tech has created a lot of very wealthy people who have more than car dealership money. 

[exit322]

6 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Good post. 

 

I think a lot of it is going to revolve around not just one person, but the wealth in a state, the number of P5 schools in a state and how the money is divided up. For example, OSU is the only P5 school in a state with three major population centers. 

 

Mississippi State and Mississippi are two schools in a poor state with little population. There aren't many Uber wealthy people in Mississippi. Oregon is a small state, but tech has created a lot of very wealthy people who have more than car dealership money. 

To be fair, Cincinnati is also a P4.

 

But Cincinnati is still #2 in a one-school state, and your greater point is 100% correct.

 

[kreed5120]

43 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Good post. 

 

I think a lot of it is going to revolve around not just one person, but the wealth in a state, the number of P5 schools in a state and how the money is divided up. For example, OSU is the only P5 school in a state with three major population centers. 

 

Mississippi State and Mississippi are two schools in a poor state with little population. There aren't many Uber wealthy people in Mississippi. Oregon is a small state, but tech has created a lot of very wealthy people who have more than car dealership money. 

 

I would add in alumni base. I mentioned Mark Cuban and Ellison emerging as big boosters. Neither accumulated their fortunes in the states they attended college. You need a large network of successful alumni.

 

Theoretically a school like Stanford could generate an unfathomable amount of money given their connection to Silicon Valley. At the same time they likely pride themselves on academics too much for that to be the case.

Edited 23 hours ago by kreed5120

[GP1]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Theoretically a school like Stanford could generate an unfathomable amount of money given their connection to Silicon Valley. At the same time they likely pride themselves on academics too much for that to be the case.

Stanford is an interesting case. I'm not sure they want to do what it takes to win at a high level, but they should be better. 

 

When I think of Stanford, I think about Notre Dame without the history of success. ND is flooded with money and puts it into the football program. They have their own TV network. Don't look now, but they are ranked #12 and have a relatively easy schedule with Pitt being the toughest game. They should win out and be back in the playoffs. I think Freeman is a good coach and has a good background in paying players from his time at OSU. The ACC deal is perfect for ND. 

[Zippy87]

11 hours ago, GP1 said:

Arkansas brings in more revenue than LSU by a little. Arkansas has Walmart money. In addition to Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Texas AM and Oklahoma have more revenue than LSU. The point is, in the playoff era, LSU is close, but will be almost always in the second level. 

 

The question of Brian Kelly is interesting. He only had three losing seasons in over 30 years as a head coach, which is pretty awesome. He never won a national championship, which in 2025 means you suck as a head coach beyond belief. Guys like him, who tend to be unlikeable people, tend to have a lot of poop thrown a them when things go wrong. I'm betting that once the loud a-holes who love when someone they don't like move on to hating someone else, history will be kind to Kelly. 

 

LSU was estimated to have spent the 3rd most NIL money in 2024 among all D1 football teams. In no way are they second level. 

 

As for Kelly, you should know that at places like LSU, a winning record isn't good enough. And for a coach who was making $10 M a year, it shouldn't be. You are paid to be a national title contender, and his LSU teams never were. 

 

If that makes me or anyone else willing to point that out a "loud a-hole", so be it. 

 

P.S. History will not view Kelly kindly regardless of what he wins or doesn't win. He will be remembered for valuing practice footage over the life of Declan Sullivan.

[GP1]

12 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

 

LSU was estimated to have spent the 3rd most NIL money in 2024 among all D1 football teams. In no way are they second level. 

 

As for Kelly, you should know that at places like LSU, a winning record isn't good enough. And for a coach who was making $10 M a year, it shouldn't be. You are paid to be a national title contender, and his LSU teams never were. 

 

If that makes me or anyone else willing to point that out a "loud a-hole", so be it. 

 

P.S. History will not view Kelly kindly regardless of what he wins or doesn't win. He will be remembered for valuing practice footage over the life of Declan Sullivan.

They spent a lot last year. Only fourth in the conference over a number of years. LSU won't be able to sustain it over time. At this rate LSU will be hiring a new coach every year or two. NFL teams aren't this stupid. 

 

Over time, Kelly will not be remembered for a student getting killed. It didn't get him fired and he still got the LSU job. 

[Zipped Up]

I believe Stanford just had an alum give $50 million to the football program.  With Andrew Luck as the GM, I think they’ll be OK pursuing football and academics.

[GP1]

47 minutes ago, Zipped Up said:

I believe Stanford just had an alum give $50 million to the football program.  With Andrew Luck as the GM, I think they’ll be OK pursuing football and academics.

I think they will be "ok" also. Solid 5-7 wins a season. 

[kreed5120]

58 minutes ago, Zipped Up said:

I believe Stanford just had an alum give $50 million to the football program.  With Andrew Luck as the GM, I think they’ll be OK pursuing football and academics.

 

My comment was more about I'm not sure they would be willing to lax academic standards.

 

An Alabama, Miami (FL), Auburn, etc will admit a kid with an 16 ACT score if they thought it could help win them ballgames. Stanford prides itself too much on academics for that to be the case (I don't fault them. Just speaking the reality). The same with schools like a Northwestern or Vanderbilt

 

That's not to say you can't win at these schools. Vanderbilt is currently in the top 10. Stanford was nationally relevant ~15 years ago. Its just that those higher academic standards are going to handicap them so they can't really be a perennial contender. They can have windows of being really good, but they will soon later fall back to irrelevance.