In recent years, tampering has become a real headache in college football. Programs are getting more and more frustrated as rival teams reach out to their players, even those who’ve signed NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts.
The Ohio State football program has mostly steered clear of obvious tampering. Still, the recent mess with Darian Mensah makes you wonder if they should rethink their approach.
Mensah signed an NIL contract to stay at Duke, then tried to jump into the Transfer Portal and head to Miami. Duke pushed back with legal motions but, after some back-and-forth, settled and let Mensah move on.
This whole situation just highlights how tangled and messy the tampering issue has gotten in college football. It’s hard not to question if the rules are really rules anymore, or just suggestions that schools can ignore.
The Darian Mensah Situation
Darian Mensah’s case is now front and center in the tampering conversation. He committed to Duke with an NIL deal, but soon after, tried to transfer to Miami, which set off legal alarms at Duke.
They eventually reached a settlement, and Mensah landed in Miami. It’s a perfect example of how players can wiggle out of contracts and jump teams, sometimes with surprising ease.
Implications for Ohio State
Ohio State has usually tried to stick to the high road. But with stories like Mensah’s, you have to wonder if that’s still the smartest play.
If no one’s getting punished for tampering, what’s stopping Ohio State from doing the same? The NCAA’s spotty enforcement has basically created a free-for-all, and schools are starting to notice.
The NCAA’s Inconsistent Enforcement
The NCAA keeps saying it’ll crack down on tampering, but so far, not much has actually happened. That’s left most folks thinking tampering is just part of the game now.
Programs like Ohio State are stuck asking themselves why they should bother following rules that barely seem to exist.
Potential Signs of Tampering
Take Connor Hawkins, for example. Ohio State picked him up almost immediately after he entered the portal.
No one’s got hard proof of tampering, but the speed of that move sure raises some eyebrows. It just shows how fuzzy the lines have become.
Strategic Moves for Ohio State
Given all this, maybe Ohio State needs to get a little bolder. If nobody’s getting busted, why not go after any player you want?
That might be what it takes to keep up and keep winning.
Playing by the Rules
Ohio State has always tried to play it straight. But with the way things are now, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
If everyone else is bending the rules and getting away with it, sticking to the old way might just be holding them back.
Conclusion
The Darian Mensah situation really shines a light on the messy problem of tampering in college football. The NCAA’s enforcement has been all over the place lately.
Programs like Ohio State end up stuck in a gray area, never quite sure what the rules actually mean. If the Buckeyes want to stay competitive, maybe they need to get a little more flexible and reach out to players who could boost their roster.
Honestly, until someone actually gets punished for tampering, why should Ohio State play by rules that barely exist? It feels like they’re just following imaginary guidelines at this point.
If you’re curious and want to dig deeper, here’s the full article on the Darian Mensah situation.
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