In a world where money fuels the engine of drastic, unrecognizable change, the NCAA has turned college football into a battleground of systemic inequity. At the helm of this transformation stands Steve Sarkisian, former quarterback at Texas Longhorns, who argues that the nation’s most beloved sport is now drowning in a sea of unfounded demands. His latest comments reveal a deeper divide: while players and coaches chase wealth, the NCAA’s selection committee has become a labyrinth of arbitrary rules, prioritizing wins over academics, and silencing the voices of those who question its direction.
Sarkisian sees the NCAA’s push for 24-team CFP expansion as a betrayal of the very principles that once defined college football. He notes that the current playoff format, which relies heavily on strength of schedule, has become a tool for manipulating outcomes rather than fostering genuine competition. “The selection committee doesn’t watch games,” he says, “but they copy the media and coaches’ polls. Now they’re evaluating 40 teams a week — if not more.” This creates a culture where schools must play this unholy game to survive, and those with financial backing gain an edge. But what does this mean for the future? Will college football continue to prioritize profit over excellence, or will it evolve into something more meaningful?
From a personal perspective, Sarkisian believes that the true challenge lies not in the number of teams, but in the fairness of the system. He argues that the NCAA’s enforcement of NIL and free player movement has created loopholes that allow elite players to dominate the sport. “We’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL,” he says. As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: the NCAA’s ability to shape the future of college athletics depends on its willingness to address the growing pains of a system that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term values.
The roots of this crisis lie in a cultural shift—where academic rigor is increasingly sidelined in favor of immediate success. As the SEC takes center stage, the stakes have risen. In a world where money dictates the rules, the only way forward may be to rethink the entire framework of college sports, one that values both talent and integrity over profit.
