The College Football Free Market Follies

Dabo Swinney’s recent comments about the pursuit of NFL players by college teams have shed light on a growing trend that threatens to upend the very fabric of amateur athletics. The Clemson coach’s assertion that this phenomenon is “embarrassing” for the sport is spot-on, but his critique only scratches the surface.

For years, college football has been transforming into a professional league in all but name. The transfer portal, once touted as a revolutionary tool to help athletes maximize their opportunities, has devolved into a free market where schools bid against each other for the most promising talent. Coaches like Lane Kiffin, who are pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable, are reaping the rewards – and sometimes even getting rewarded by the courts.

The case of Dae’Quan Wright and Junior Tuihalamaka is just one example of this trend. Both players had already spent time in NFL camps and participated in preseason games with the Cleveland Browns, but LSU’s Kiffin has seen fit to pursue them anyway. The justification is that these athletes are being denied their rightful opportunity to compete at a higher level due to NCAA regulations. However, this ignores the fact that these players have already had significant exposure to professional football.

Swinney’s stance on this issue is refreshingly contrarian, and his decision to forgo the transfer portal has paid dividends for Clemson. By focusing on retaining his own players and developing high school recruits, he’s created a sustainable model that doesn’t rely on poaching from other teams. His comments are also a veiled critique of the NCAA’s handling of player eligibility, which has created a culture of exploitation where schools feel pressured to offer more lucrative deals in order to stay competitive.

This trend extends far beyond the gridiron. As college football continues down this path, it risks losing its amateur status altogether – and with it, the very essence of what makes sports so compelling: the underdog story, the Cinderella tale, and the triumph of human perseverance over adversity. When every player is seen as a potential NFL draft pick, the stakes become too high for athletes to truly develop their skills without being funneled into a system that prioritizes profit over development.

In an era of rising NIL deals and increasing commodification of college athletics, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. The pursuit of NFL players may seem like a harmless sideshow to some, but it’s actually a symptom of a larger disease: the erosion of amateurism in sports. Swinney’s comments are a much-needed wake-up call for the NCAA and its member schools – before it’s too late.

The free market approach to college football has created a culture of winners and losers, where the most successful teams are those that can afford to spend the most on talent. This is not only unsustainable but also antithetical to the very spirit of amateur athletics. As Swinney noted with characteristic humor, it’s “embarrassing” – but it’s also a clarion call for change.

The season has barely begun, and already we’re seeing the repercussions of this trend. Will the NCAA take notice, or will it continue down the path of least resistance? One thing is certain: if college football doesn’t course-correct soon, it risks losing its soul forever.