🏅New CFP Seeding is a win for the SEC and Big Ten

Hey there,

What a packed week of NIL news – from the legal sphere to the business world, college sports is undergoing one of the largest periods of change we’ve ever seen right now. We talked about the NCAA’s decision to stop enforcing amateurism in Thursday’s All-Access piece, so we’re not covering that here today. Frankly, there’s too much other stuff to talk about.

First, we’re looking at how the CFP’s new payment structure could benefit the SEC and Big Ten – and not just on the field. Then, we’re looking at why President Trump is pausing his idea for a Saban-backed college sports commission. Finally, the NIL clearinghouse could absolutely destroy collective NIL efforts… which is exactly what it’s supposed to do. It’s all coming up now – let’s get into it!

— Cole and Collin

The Big 3

The Money Behind the CFP’s New Seeding System

The College Football Playoff Management Committee voted to change the tournament’s seeding structure this week, getting rid of automatic first-round byes for conference champions. That’s bad news for anyone outside of the Big Ten and SEC, as Big 12 President Brett Yormark knows: 

It all comes down to payment structure. If you make the CFP’s 12-team field, you automatically get $4 million. Then, if you win your first game, you make another $4 million for getting to the second round. However, if you get an automatic bye, you get $8 million off the bat – like Arizona State did this year.

The Big Ten and SEC have always dominated CFP rankings, but because of the seeding system last year, teams like Texas and potentially even Penn State were forced to earn their next $4 million while ASU and Boise State cruised into their own $8 million payout. That won’t happen again under the new seeding system. (More)

Trump is Pausing College Sports Commission Idea

Many saw President Trump’s idea for a commission on college sports as a vote of non-confidence in the NCAA, but not NCAA President Charlie Baker. According to him, it’s actually a good sign.

Now, however, the idea’s been put on pause, as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tries to advocate for his own college sports reform plan, which would restructure much of the college sports landscape. With support from the Big Ten and SEC, President Trump reportedly listened to Cruz and tabled the issue.

Baker and the NCAA have been asking the federal government to help reign in college sports for years now, so maybe he’s excited about the potential for executive action – especially as he stares down a $2.8 billion settlement tab. But if he’s waiting for a college sports commission to save the day… he may be waiting a while. (More)

NIL Clearinghouse Will Crush Collectives

If the House settlement actually passes – which, to be clear, seems a bit less likely with every passing minute – the proposed NIL clearinghouse will severely hamstring NIL collectives trying to pay their players:

So according to this data, 90% of all public company deals were approved – that makes sense, as the company wants a business ROI on the deal. But 70% of collective payments would not fly, and likely be categorized as pay-for-play. 

This was the whole point of the NIL clearinghouse idea, to be clear. The House settlement is set up to disallow teams to pay players outside of the 20 million rev-share cap, and it seems like that is what will happen if everything holds up. (More)

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Here’s how opt-outs would work in the revised House settlement

♦️ Texas Tech’s $1M softball bet was well worth it

♦️ A DIII basketball star is winning the NIL game… without social media

♦️ Texas A&M saw a donation drop-off after the Jimbo Fisher buyout

♦️ After a tough year, Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb has an NIL plan for his second season

♦️ If schools don’t need to disclose NIL agreements to the public, why shouldn’t athletes be able to keep their brand partnerships under wraps?

♦️ North Texas is bringing their NIL efforts in-house

♦️ Could the NCAA eligibility ruling eventually reach the Supreme Court?

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Is Nick Saban a good choice to head the college sports commission (if it ever exists)?

• Yes, he knows the system better than anyone - 65%

• No, he’s not the right guy for this job - 35%