First, the proliferation of iPhone betting apps. From FanDuel. DrafKings to BetMGM I see this as just insane. Now you can lose your house and your entire savings without traveling to Vegas, you can do it on your phone. Worse, the networks (ESPN) give you betting "tips" before each game, so they are actively encouraging people to lose their money.
I'm waiting on a story about a man losing his home, getting evicted and sitting on the curb while he explains he got hooked on betting apps and now his family is ruined.
I don't think it's a good idea, and I sure don't like the networks promoting it.

Second, how long can "big donors" fuel the NIL race? Can you keep going back to them year after year to get a QB or defensive end? It doesn't look sustainable. Plus the transfer portal makes your investment pretty shaky. You pay $11 million for your QB, then he transfers after one season.

Congress (???) will have to pass some kind of legislation to where college players are held to a contract, much like NFL players, but right now no one seems to have an answer.

These things bother me.
Thanks for listening.

Troy Aikman agrees with your point #2. I would add to point #1 that the new term is "trading" and you can trade on anything. The actual word is betting and how long can all this go on before it collapses?

This actually applies to all sports not just football.

Right now there is no need for collective bargaining by players because the players are getting everything they want from management (the schools). Only after the P4 and G6 schools as a group decide we are all only paying x amount across the board (and it is low ball) will that cause the players to decide to unionize and come to the table and negotiate something that results in more stability and reasonableness. The schools currently are providing no incentive for anyone to try to bring sanity to the situation.

Gambling is a choice. State by state can be a bit sketchy, but people gonna do it.

I just think it's really bad for the game for sports entities to actually partner with gambling interest, especially when the scandals have become more and more prevalent. The constant drone of sports gambling sponsorships and commercials involved in everything you watch or hear is annoying and disturbing.

Three: With the lack of traction now with portal commitments (but some average OL from UAB) and our current roster and recruiting classes falling apart, how does Linda sleep at night? I still cannot believe our leadership thinks bringing back Dave even at this juncture in the year/process is the right answer. He is a dead man walking.

True Grit said:

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Three: With the lack of traction now with portal commitments (but some average OL from UAB) and our current roster and recruiting classes falling apart, how does Linda sleep at night? I still cannot believe our leadership thinks bringing back Dave even at this juncture in the year/process is the right answer. He is a dead man walking.

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Most scoff at my point; however, the fact that Yoda is STILL here and the NIL is open range I believe the BMD's have drawn a line. "We're not putting more money into a something that basically will stay in this position. I giving $XXXX do what you can with it, I'm not increasing or adding any more or move to a level that equates to the donations".

People are out there betting money on housing prices....

JUST IN: Polymarket announces plans to launch real estate prediction markets, allowing users to predict future home prices.

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) January 5, 2026

Hell...you can bet on presidents being captured. Crazy world.

A mystery trader made $400,000 betting on Maduro’s downfall, doubling down just hours before the overnight operation. 🔗: https://t.co/dkA0LJT6sl pic.twitter.com/byVD9phJzF

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 5, 2026

BBWCBear said:

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True Grit said:

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Three: With the lack of traction now with portal commitments (but some average OL from UAB) and our current roster and recruiting classes falling apart, how does Linda sleep at night? I still cannot believe our leadership thinks bringing back Dave even at this juncture in the year/process is the right answer. He is a dead man walking.

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Most scoff at my point; however, the fact that Yoda is STILL here and the NIL is open range I believe the BMD's have drawn a line. "We're not putting more money into a something that basically will stay in this position. I giving $XXXX do what you can with it, I'm not increasing or adding any more or move to a level that equates to the donations".

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If I was a BMD, I wouldn't spend this crazy amount of money on college football players. NFL owners pay high salaries because it is a business in which they make tons of money. An argument can be made that the universities are making a lot of money from CFB. Only about 16% of FBS athletic departments are profitable. The athletic departments have to change how they operate if players are going to be paid. It is ridiculous to think that many of the BMD's are going to continue to pay crazy money that they can't even write off their taxes.

boognish_bear said:

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Hell...you can bet on presidents being captured. Crazy world.

A mystery trader made $400,000 betting on Maduro’s downfall, doubling down just hours before the overnight operation. 🔗: https://t.co/dkA0LJT6sl pic.twitter.com/byVD9phJzF

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 5, 2026

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Pelosi family strikes again.

If betting sites were to eliminate point-spread bets from their menu's, much of the temptation to collude or even the appearance of collusion could be thwarted. P/S is easy to understand and too easy to manipulate.

Having said that, what is the point-spread on Sydney Sweeney?

I don't like NIL any more than anyone else here, but note again that with the possible exception of Oregon, we're spared having to watch the usual 3 or 4 suspects play for the national championship for the umpteenth consecutive year. It's still an ill wind that blows no good.

What about the Fkn HC? That doesn't concern you? Lol

Last, I heard a guy on ESPN mention that ANYONE can be an NIL agent in college football.
In the NFL they have to be certified. This announcer was complaining that a lot of agents in college ball are just the players roommate: someone with no experience.