Toggle sidebar

One thing not being discussed is that fan interest is waning in this new professional model.

J

JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws

Senior
Jun 26, 2025
937
966
93
With rising ticket prices, etc... to pay for all this, fans are starting to step off the bus. duhO$U a good example - their football revenues were way down in FY2024 (some of it was explained by having 1 less home game in 2024, but football revenues were down by a significant amount more than that explained by only having 4 b1g home games in 2024 [not 5]).

This model is unsustainable on so many fronts - the court system, fan interest, L/T financial viability, etc....
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: m.knox, fiftishA1, PSU1969A and 1 other person
LionsAndBears

LionsAndBears

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2009
2,206
3,984
113
The structure of CFB is broken but it can be fixed. I hate all the Transfer Portal stuff and how it's Free Agency every year but I still love PSU Football and CFB in general.

PS, I think having a team like Indiana in the NC is the type of thing that can spark a renewed interest. It certainly bucks the norm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ChandlerPearce58, Pa$ky859, CVLion and 8 others
O

op2

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
11,642
1,233
103
I would be interested in a comprehensive assessment of how things are financially and I'm sure someone somewhere is going it.

In a separate issue, it wouldn't surprise me if eventually a lawsuit came challenging college sports in general. I mean, at this point universities are effectively running their own professional sports. Is that legal? Is there anything that universities, especially public ones, are not legally allowed to do? I don't know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Catch1lion
L

LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
9,956
14,488
113
JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws said:
With rising ticket prices, etc... to pay for all this, fans are starting to step off the bus. duhO$U a good example - their football revenues were way down in FY2024 (some of it was explained by having 1 less home game in 2024, but football revenues were down by a significant amount more than that explained by only having 4 b1g home games in 2024 [not 5]).

This model is unsustainable on so many fronts - the court system, fan interest, L/T financial viability, etc....
Click to expand...
Yeah, the seats are empty at the playoff games and nobody is watching! That simply is not what we are seeing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dcf4psu, step.eng69, LionsAndBears and 1 other person
1

19333lion

Senior
Jan 30, 2016
319
544
93
I was already on the precipice before the $49 million buyout. I quit watching after the UCLA debacle and haven't watched since. I DESPISE the NIL payments (so a kid will accept a fully paid athletic scholarship), the transfer porthell, and the obscene coaching salaries and length of contracts. If it were suddenly to revert to the way it was, I would become interested again but never to the extent that I once was. It has greatly freed me of what was once an obsession.
 
  • Like
Reactions: uh-Clem, baltimorened, lion4ever76 and 2 others
Nitt1300

Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
7,032
13,267
113
It's hard to see how CFB can continue on the present course without running aground soon.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: step.eng69 and Catch1lion
R

rigi19040

Senior
Aug 1, 2024
1,120
673
113
19333lion said:
I was already on the precipice before the $49 million buyout. I quit watching after the UCLA debacle and haven't watched since. I DESPISE the NIL payments (so a kid will accept a fully paid athletic scholarship), the transfer porthell, and the obscene coaching salaries and length of contracts. If it were suddenly to revert to the way it was, I would become interested again but never to the extent that I once was. It has greatly freed me of what was once an obsession.
Click to expand...

Yet you are still here.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: dcf4psu, step.eng69, CyphaPSU and 1 other person
Nitt1300

Nitt1300

Heisman
Nov 2, 2008
7,032
13,267
113
Future homecomings will be different.

Will fans remember or care about one and done players like they remember Jack Ham or Kerry Collins? That was a big part of what we used to love about college football.

I realize that that's all in the past, but I will miss it. Not all change is for the better.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: FHSPSU67, G3624, slwlion01 and 2 others
84lion

84lion

All-Conference
Oct 7, 2021
838
1,449
93
I don't watch ESPN or ABC that much, so I don't really follow "what's on" those platforms. I tend to look at Yahoo Sports to determine what's coming up. But most of the time, during the week, I have Yahoo on the Finance page. Since last night was Friday, I switched over to the Sports page, mainly to get an idea of the NFL games upcoming this weekend. Imagine my shock to find that 1) I had totally missed the whatever bowl it was that Ole Miss and Miami played in (and that Miami had won) and 2) that the Peach bowl, being played in Atlanta (where I live) was happening that night. (No, I don't watch that much of the local news, either.) Really, I was only vaguely of these games until then, and in fact was rather surprised these games were being played on weeknights. I guess ESPN doesn't have the fortitude to pit CFB playoff games against NFL on Amazon (Saturday night) or NBC (Sunday night). Or have the bowl games on Saturday, back to back. I think it'll be interesting to see what the ratings are for the two games, especially last night's blowout.

I do think it's really odd that ESPN thinks so much of their CFB Playoff extravaganza, yet won't pit that against NFL. Maybe there's a "gentleman's agreement" there, don't know. But I do think the CFB Playoff needs to have some better scheduling for the semifinals.
 
L

LMTLION

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2008
1,348
2,874
112
84lion said:
I don't watch ESPN or ABC that much, so I don't really follow "what's on" those platforms. I tend to look at Yahoo Sports to determine what's coming up. But most of the time, during the week, I have Yahoo on the Finance page. Since last night was Friday, I switched over to the Sports page, mainly to get an idea of the NFL games upcoming this weekend. Imagine my shock to find that 1) I had totally missed the whatever bowl it was that Ole Miss and Miami played in (and that Miami had won) and 2) that the Peach bowl, being played in Atlanta (where I live) was happening that night. (No, I don't watch that much of the local news, either.) Really, I was only vaguely of these games until then, and in fact was rather surprised these games were being played on weeknights. I guess ESPN doesn't have the fortitude to pit CFB playoff games against NFL on Amazon (Saturday night) or NBC (Sunday night). Or have the bowl games on Saturday, back to back. I think it'll be interesting to see what the ratings are for the two games, especially last night's blowout.

I do think it's really odd that ESPN thinks so much of their CFB Playoff extravaganza, yet won't pit that against NFL. Maybe there's a "gentleman's agreement" there, don't know. But I do think the CFB Playoff needs to have some better scheduling for the semifinals.
Click to expand...
It is a special event and as such requires an exclusive timeframe, not to be shared with other sports. Also, it’s foolish to go up against the NFL, which is the king of American sports.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LB99
R

RolexKong

Junior
Aug 15, 2025
323
295
63
JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws said:
With rising ticket prices, etc... to pay for all this, fans are starting to step off the bus. duhO$U a good example - their football revenues were way down in FY2024 (some of it was explained by having 1 less home game in 2024, but football revenues were down by a significant amount more than that explained by only having 4 b1g home games in 2024 [not 5]).

This model is unsustainable on so many fronts - the court system, fan interest, L/T financial viability, etc....
Click to expand...
Nice try, Alfalfa. The two fewer home games that Ohio State had in FY2024 (compared to 2023) completely explain the fall off in revenue for that year. You might have learned that had spent time researching it instead of hammering your joy stick.
 
P

psu31trap

All-Conference
Oct 29, 2021
1,345
1,271
113
I forget who but someone on this site said if you give it enough time the portal and NIL will destroy college football. Well, one thing is for sure the bowl games took a massive hit and fewer and fewer fans know who is standing on the sidelines anymore during the regular season.

IDK maybe the playoffs need to be expanded to 25 teams in order to generate more interest?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69
WanderingSpectator

WanderingSpectator

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
596
1,034
93
The changes have made a dramatic impact on parity. That's a good thing. What's causing the most concern is the divide between fan/alumni loyalty and player/coach loyalty.

That's why I love the no-name jerseys even more now. It's about the team and not the individual.

I'd like to see PSU start a new tradition of honoring the players who actually earn their degree from Penn State. Whenever they do, during playing days or after, honor them with a jersey with their name on it. Put up a wall honoring the players who have graduated from Penn State.
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69, SleepyLion, 94LionsFan and 1 other person
L

LMTLION

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2008
1,348
2,874
112
psu31trap said:
I forget who but someone on this site said give it enough time, the portal and NIL will in time destroy college football. Well, one thing is for sure the bowl games took a massive hit and fewer and fewer fans know who is standing on the sidelines anymore during the regular season.

IDK maybe the playoffs need to be expanded to 25 teams in order to generate more interest?
Click to expand...
It was widely reported that the non-cfp bowl games had record high viewership this year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69 and LB99
B

BBHorn86

Junior
Dec 6, 2003
107
245
43
Mixed bag overall, more parity great, becoming a big money sponsor game not so great, transfer portal needs some guardrails, NIL gets players a bigger spendable share of the pie, fair enough.... The issue that I see somewhat similar to MLB is no salary / NIL cap and undefined labor practices. All players should be paid or none should be paid the money bag to the needed star has to stop. Also the universities are just the branding and infrastructure there is zero connectivity to academics... If I had an unlimited source of funding could I rent an NFL stadium, offer some NIL and field a team? Why not? It's a mess BUT it still is popular to many people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69
step.eng69

step.eng69

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2012
3,547
4,838
113
Nitt1300 said:
Future homecomings will be different.

Will fans remember or care about one and done players like they remember Jack Ham or Kerry Collins? That was a big part of what we used to love about college football.

I realize that that's all in the past, but I will miss it. Not all change is for the better.
Click to expand...
On Football Saturdays, I would take the grandkids to the 'Bookstore' on college Ave.; there would usually be a set-up in the store where each game day featured a former player on 'mike' recalling his playing days at Penn State, that would autograph a large picture of himself. I don't recall ever having to buy a picture to have autographed. Nitt's probably right......those days will be gone as the older players ride into the sunset. 🥺

I remember the grandkids having met Lenny Moore, another week meeting John Cappelletti and so one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FHSPSU67, bdgan, OptionBob and 1 other person
L

LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
9,956
14,488
113
This feels like a fabricated narrative. The same as the fabricated narrative from several years ago that NFL viewership was down and the NFL was struggling. I think some people want to see certain things fail, so they start conspiracy theories to try to undermine it and hope it gets traction and support.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blair10
O

op2

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
11,642
1,233
103
84lion said:
I don't watch ESPN or ABC that much, so I don't really follow "what's on" those platforms. I tend to look at Yahoo Sports to determine what's coming up. But most of the time, during the week, I have Yahoo on the Finance page. Since last night was Friday, I switched over to the Sports page, mainly to get an idea of the NFL games upcoming this weekend. Imagine my shock to find that 1) I had totally missed the whatever bowl it was that Ole Miss and Miami played in (and that Miami had won) and 2) that the Peach bowl, being played in Atlanta (where I live) was happening that night. (No, I don't watch that much of the local news, either.) Really, I was only vaguely of these games until then, and in fact was rather surprised these games were being played on weeknights. I guess ESPN doesn't have the fortitude to pit CFB playoff games against NFL on Amazon (Saturday night) or NBC (Sunday night). Or have the bowl games on Saturday, back to back. I think it'll be interesting to see what the ratings are for the two games, especially last night's blowout.

I do think it's really odd that ESPN thinks so much of their CFB Playoff extravaganza, yet won't pit that against NFL. Maybe there's a "gentleman's agreement" there, don't know. But I do think the CFB Playoff needs to have some better scheduling for the semifinals.
Click to expand...
The NFL and ESPN aren't competitors, they're business partners. The NFL recently bought part of ESPN. And of course even before then the NFL and ESPN were business partners in the sense that ESPN (and ESPN's business partner ABC) were paid to televise NFL games.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KingLando
O

op2

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
11,642
1,233
103
19333lion said:
Barely. I don't even bother with the recruiting threads anymore, which were once a daily staple. I haven't a clue as to which coaches have been hired, other than Matt Campbell. This is simply a slow demise.
Click to expand...
It makes no sense to be interested in recruiting anymore other than the guys coming in the portal this year. And although the guys coming in the portal this year are relevant to this year, often that's all.

It used to be you could follow a guy from when he was recruited, then onward throughout his career. You got to know a lot about him, followed his development, etc. And that was a lot of the fun. Even if he wasn't the greatest player he was still Our Guy. That's completely gone now. Anyone recruited out of high school now may well be gone in a year or two or three.

I bet someone somewhere is keeping stats on how long high school recruits end up staying at the college they first commit to and how many of them eventually move on. Those results would be very interesting to see.
 
  • Love
  • Sad
Reactions: step.eng69 and 19333lion
B

BCS PSU

All-Conference
Jun 2, 2001
805
1,357
93
op2 said:
It makes no sense to be interested in recruiting anymore other than the guys coming in the portal this year. And although the guys coming in the portal this year are relevant to this year, often that's all.

It used to be you could follow a guy from when he was recruited, then onward throughout his career. You got to know a lot about him, followed his development, etc. And that was a lot of the fun. Even if he wasn't the greatest player he was still Our Guy. That's completely gone now. Anyone recruited out of high school now may well be gone in a year or two or three.

I bet someone somewhere is keeping stats on how long high school recruits end up staying at the college they first commit to and how many of them eventually move on. Those results would be very interesting to see.
Click to expand...
To tell you how relatively worthless high school recruiting has become, it seems as if the vast majority of first and second year players who either never have seen the field or very little of it, and thus have no college resume, enter the portal as a matter of course, let alone the ones who actually get playing time and actually have some tape.
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69
J.E.B

J.E.B

All-Conference
Jul 8, 2001
2,217
3,226
113
Those days of bringing on less than 10 transfers are over. Name of the game is acquiring veterans especially on the LOS and top at QB. Five star recruits are great but they’re signing 1yr deals. It’s the B1G model to the championship. You win with veterans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69
P

Psumatt85

Senior
Jan 5, 2002
482
588
93
J.E.B said:
Those days of bringing on less than 10 transfers are over. Name of the game is acquiring veterans especially on the LOS and top at QB. Five star recruits are great but they’re signing 1yr deals. It’s the B1G model to the championship. You win with veterans.
Click to expand...
And free agency and cuts every year
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom