This is ridiculous

[Warlerski]

Judge rules some NFL players can enter the transfer portal, return to college football in 2026

 

[creamery freak]

Judge rules some NFL players can enter the transfer portal, return to college football in 2026

Yikes, the out of control wild west of college football just got wilder!

 

[Nitt1300]

rules? we don't have no stinkin rules

 

[psuro]

Awesome! Campy shoukd recruit Jerry Rice for WR.

 

[Nitt1300]

Texass will be buying all pro linemen

 

[KingLando]

We weren't prepared for this with the other ruling?
Anyone in the 2022 class is going to have another year of eligibility--obviously those that thought they didn't have any left would be able to go back
Not saying i like this but it's only impacting one year and there's no other option legally

 

[Warlerski]

rules? we don't have no stinkin rules

That is because the NCAA doesn't run college sports any more, judges do.

 

[BCS PSU]

That is because the NCAA doesn't run college sports any more, judges do.

Judges now largely are making laws, which is not their job. This is becoming a very dangerous development in this country, and especially with federal district court judges because they can’t even be voted out of office.

As far as these last few rulings, anybody with a brain knows that current big time college football is a complete mess and the whole concept of what that sport should be has become totally bastardized. It basically has devolved into what the sport was at the end of the 19th century when players often played for multiple schools in the same season; it’s become totally lawless and eventually will become financially unviable for all but fifteen or so schools to truly compete.

Finally, and you may think that I’m crazy, but I really think that we’re headed to a situation in which many players who are borderline NFL players are just going to play for as many years as they want in college and sort of make it a career unless government action is taken to stop this madness.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Unsurprising since the judge is from Colorado

 

[BCS PSU]

Unsurprising since the judge is from Colorado

If only Trump would issue an executive order saying that there are no rules anymore in college football and anything goes, them some federal court judge in DC or on the West Coast can rule against him, which usually happens anyway, and implement their own rules. That’s probably the only way that rules ever are going to be applied in college football now.

 

[op2]

Judges now largely are making laws, which is not their job. This is becoming a very dangerous development in this country, and especially with federal district court judges because they can’t even be voted out of office.

As far as these last few rulings, anybody with a brain knows that current big time college football is a complete mess and the whole concept of what that sport should be has become totally bastardized. It basically has devolved into what the sport was at the end of the 19th century when players often played for multiple schools in the same season; it’s become totally lawless and eventually will become financially unviable for all but fifteen or so schools to truly compete.

Finally, and you may think that I’m crazy, but I really think that we’re headed to a situation in which many players who are borderline NFL players are just going to play for as many years as they want in college and sort of make it a career unless government action is taken to stop this madness.

I think we are already at the place that your last paragraph referenced. Of the guys fighting in court to get to play one more year in 2026-27, how many are going to play pro the year after that? Not many, and I suspect they already know it. They want to come back for another year because it pays them a lot of money.

It is much much much more difficult to make it in the NFL than it is to play in college while being good enough to make a decent amount of money. If you’re a good but not fantastic college player, common sense tells you that it is much more financially lucrative to play in college for as long as you can.

For that matter, you are also incentivized to put as much time into football as you can even if it takes time away from your academics. You will be able to do your academics later, assuming you even want to that is, but after your college football career is over, you won’t be able to make anywhere near that amount of money playing football ever again.

 

[leinbacker]

Since players now get 5 years to play (no redshirts), will Sean Clifford be our 2027 starting QB?

 

[PSU Soupy 615]

Since players now get 5 years to play (no redshirts), will Sean Clifford be our 2027 starting QB?

Saw Kerry Collins at practice throwing to Bobby Engram.........

 

[Marshall2323]

Why not? If players are being paid I don't see the need to bar individuals with eligibility remaining. If you are out of work and a former employer wishes to have you return. Cool.
Remember when "pro" athletes couldn't compete in the Olympics?
I loved college football as it was......or at least as we all fantasized that it was. But it' gone. This is minor league football.
When will the average "college football fan" wake up? Each year 50% of a team's roster will be comprised of incoming "freshman" and mercenaries that sought the most lucrative financial arrangement. We then can anticipate the process occurring all over again come December. Will any of the aforementioned players ever be seen in a classroom? What is the actual tie between the athlete and the university other than it is arranging a payment to him thru some third party. But hey, that's my team!
It got ridiculous long before this.

 

[BCS PSU]

Why not? If players are being paid I don't see the need to bar individuals with eligibility remaining. If you are out of work and a former employer wishes to have you return. Cool.
Remember when "pro" athletes couldn't compete in the Olympics?
I loved college football as it was......or at least as we all fantasized that it was. But it' gone. This is minor league football.
When will the average "college football fan" wake up? Each year 50% of a team's roster will be comprised of incoming "freshman" and mercenaries that sought the most lucrative financial arrangement. We then can anticipate the process occurring all over again come December. Will any of the aforementioned players ever be seen in a classroom? What is the actual tie between the athlete and the university other than it is arranging a payment to him thru some third party. But hey, that's my team!
It got ridiculous long before this.

What you posted is an excellent summary of where we are right now with big time college football, and it's a sad state of affairs. I remember when Jim Covert was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he said in his speech that a great weekend for him was when Pitt won and PSU and ND lost. I respected him for feeling this way because he actually loved Pitt and had tremendous loyalty to them.

Right now, I have to think that there are very, very few players who have that same type of loyalty to their school, which makes it a farce after a game when you see the team go to the band to sing the Alma Mater.

 

[BCS PSU]

Since players now get 5 years to play (no redshirts), will Sean Clifford be our 2027 starting QB?

As long as you have judges with alterior motives, any absurdity is possible, as we've seen repeatedly.

 

[Psumatt85]

That is because the NCAA doesn't run college sports any more, judges do.

Because the NCAA hasn’t been running it for years

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

As long as you have judges with alterior motives, any absurdity is possible, as we've seen repeatedly.

The reason it is happening is because the NCAA is powerless to stop it without a Federal Anti-Trust Exemption. These rulings are being made by State judges - if the NCAA is given a Federal Anti-Trust Exemption (the Federal Government legislates Interstate Commerce, not the states), but the NCAA currently has no power to limit players eligibility in the era of Professionalization without a Federal Anti-Trust Exemption. Without the Exemption cases brought in State Courts can challenge their authority. With the Federal Exemption (part of the Federal Law - i.e., legislation - currently being proposed) State courts cannot challenge their Authority as Intestate Commerce is exclusively Federal Jurisdiction and the State Court would have no authority.

 

[Psumatt85]

What you posted is an excellent summary of where we are right now with big time college football, and it's a sad state of affairs. I remember when Jim Covert was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he said in his speech that a great weekend for him was when Pitt won and PSU and ND lost. I respected him for feeling this way because he actually loved Pitt and had tremendous loyalty to them.

Right now, I have to think that there are very, very few players who have that same type of loyalty to their school, which makes it a farce after a game when you see the team go to the band to sing the Alma Mater.

I’m waiting for the suit that goes after more than 5. Why should we not allow non NFL players to make a living after 5 years?

 

[LMTLION]

At this point judges can rule that 1+1=3 and that will become law. This is all becoming quite ridiculous. Pretty soon we’re going to see failed college players wanting to go back into high school. We also have dudes playing female sports. It’s all about making people feel good.

 

[bdgan]

I loved college football as it was......or at least as we all fantasized that it was. But it' gone. This is minor league football.

I'm starting to think the NFL is the minor league

College QBs Now Out-Earning Some NFL Rookies
In recent years, the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has transformed college football salaries, with some quarterbacks now making more in a single season than some NFL rookies earn in their entire rookie year.
Key examples:

• Darian Mensah (Duke) – Signed a two-year, $8M deal with incentives that could push total earnings over $10M. In 2025, he made about $4M in base salary, with more to come College Football Network.
• Carson Beck (Miami) – Turned down the NFL Draft for a contract worth $3.2M–$6M with incentives College Football Network.
• Drew Allar (Penn State) – Earned $3M+ in 2025, with NIL deals adding to his pay College Football Network.
• Sam Leavitt (LSU) – Valued at $4M–$6M, with reports suggesting LSU paid closer to $6M to land him NewsBreak.
• Arch Manning (Texas) – Estimated valuation between $5.4M and $6.8M, with a major tech NIL deal from Google’s AI NewsBreak.

NFL rookie comparison:
In the 2026 NFL Draft, Carson Beck (Arizona Cardinals) and Drew Allar (Pittsburgh Steelers) combined to make roughly $2.5M in their rookie years, with Beck around $1.35M and Allar about $1.15M EssentiallySports. This is far less than many of the above college QBs’ annual salaries.

 

[Bvillebaron]

We weren't prepared for this with the other ruling?
Anyone in the 2022 class is going to have another year of eligibility--obviously those that thought they didn't have any left would be able to go back
Not saying i like this but it's only impacting one year and there's no other option legally

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

At this point judges can rule that 1+1=3 and that will become law. This is all becoming quite ridiculous. Pretty soon we’re going to see failed college players wanting to go back into high school. We also have dudes playing female sports. It’s all about making people feel good.

What is a woman?

 

[Marshall2323]

I'm starting to think the NFL is the minor league

College QBs Now Out-Earning Some NFL Rookies
In recent years, the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has transformed college football salaries, with some quarterbacks now making more in a single season than some NFL rookies earn in their entire rookie year.
Key examples:

• Darian Mensah (Duke) – Signed a two-year, $8M deal with incentives that could push total earnings over $10M. In 2025, he made about $4M in base salary, with more to come College Football Network.
• Carson Beck (Miami) – Turned down the NFL Draft for a contract worth $3.2M–$6M with incentives College Football Network.
• Drew Allar (Penn State) – Earned $3M+ in 2025, with NIL deals adding to his pay College Football Network.
• Sam Leavitt (LSU) – Valued at $4M–$6M, with reports suggesting LSU paid closer to $6M to land him NewsBreak.
• Arch Manning (Texas) – Estimated valuation between $5.4M and $6.8M, with a major tech NIL deal from Google’s AI NewsBreak.

NFL rookie comparison:
In the 2026 NFL Draft, Carson Beck (Arizona Cardinals) and Drew Allar (Pittsburgh Steelers) combined to make roughly $2.5M in their rookie years, with Beck around $1.35M and Allar about $1.15M EssentiallySports. This is far less than many of the above college QBs’ annual salaries.

If fans ever awake and realize that the only tie that their university has with the (for this discussion) football team is arranging 3rd party payments to athletes ....attendance will diminish, sale of tees, jerseys and hats etc will dwindle and cottage industries (bwi, lions 247, tengwall etc) will disappear. How popular is minor league baseball? There is a pretty good brand of baseball is played at AAA. Who cares?

 

[LionJim]

@Midnighter called this, is my (confident) recollection.

 

[Midnighter]

@Midnighter called this, is my (confident) recollection.

Me anytime there is some new, even stupider development in college football:

 

[bdgan]

If fans ever awake and realize that the only tie that their university has with the (for this discussion) football team is arranging 3rd party payments to athletes ....attendance will diminish, sale of tees, jerseys and hats etc will dwindle and cottage industries (bwi, lions 247, tengwall etc) will disappear. How popular is minor league baseball? There is a pretty good brand of baseball is played at AAA. Who cares?

I don't see it quite the same because the money from attendance, TV, etc. keeps flowing. Some things college football has going for it:

• A gameday atmosphere that's unmatched in the NFL
• Student, alumni, and local market loyalty.
• It's the only game in town. What else is close to State College, Lincoln Neb, Tuscaloosa AL, etc.

I think it's more likely that the fans will become less loyal to the players and that many schools will eventually drop football or move to smaller conferences because they can't afford to compete.

 

[Marshall2323]

I don't see it quite the same because the money from attendance, TV, etc. keeps flowing. Some things college football has going for it:

• A gameday atmosphere that's unmatched in the NFL
• Student, alumni, and local market loyalty.
• It's the only game in town. What else is close to State College, Lincoln Neb, Tuscaloosa AL, etc.

I think it's more likely that the fans will become less loyal to the players and that many schools will eventually drop football or move to smaller conferences because they can't afford to compete.

What connection do the students have with football players that are on their 3rd or 4th college football team and don't attend class with them?

The only game in town (state college) is totally dependent on out of town fans.

The NFL is better because the fans aren't expected to make contributions (beyond ticket purchase) to keep the team competitive.
I wonder what Beaver Stadium will look like in 10 years if NIL funding doesn't increase and PSU is the 4-7th best team every year in conference? Just thoughts.

 

[bdgan]

What connection do the students have with football players that are on their 3rd or 4th college football team and don't attend class with them?

The only game in town (state college) is totally dependent on out of town fans.

The NFL is better because the fans aren't expected to make contributions (beyond ticket purchase) to keep the team competitive.
I wonder what Beaver Stadium will look like in 10 years if NIL funding doesn't increase and PSU is the 4-7th best team every year in conference? Just thoughts.

The Bills implemented a PSL license for the first time after completing the new stadium. That's not the price for tickets. It's for the right to buy tickets. It reminds me of the Nittany Lion Club. And guess what? The PSLs sold out.

I should have said in the general area instead of out of town. Where else are people going to go if they live in Ames IA, Tuscaloosa AL, or even Williamsport or Altoona?

 

[KingLando]

The Bills implemented a PSL license for the first time after completing the new stadium. That's not the price for tickets. It's for the right to buy tickets. It reminds me of the Nittany Lion Club. And guess what? The PSLs sold out.

I should have said in the general area instead of out of town. Where else are people going to go if they live in Ames IA, Tuscaloosa AL, or even Williamsport or Altoona?

I agree with you. I just wonder what the future holds when younger generations are as financially secure and don't care about "watching games in person" as much.