Dom Tiberi of 10TV recently sat down with Ohio State president Ted Carter, who used to be a vice admiral in the Navy. Carter didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts about where college sports are headed, especially with the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
He seemed genuinely worried about whether the current NIL setup can last. Carter talked about how, in the next few years, college sports could face some real challenges because of NIL.
He also touched on the future of the College Football Playoff. Instead of jumping straight to expansion, Carter thinks it’s smarter to slow down and figure things out first.
The Unsustainable Trajectory of NIL in College Sports
Carter sounded pretty blunt about how fast NIL is changing college sports. He pointed out that the whole thing started with the House vs. NCAA decision, but now the system feels like it’s growing out of control.
He mentioned that things have shifted from third-party endorsements to more internal NIL structures. There’s also the new College Sports Commission, which just adds another layer of complexity.
Ohio State’s Competitive Edge in NIL
Even with all these concerns, Carter admitted Ohio State’s doing well in the NIL race. He said only about five schools can really keep up when it comes to football, and Ohio State is lucky to be one of them.
But he was quick to admit that it’s not easy to stay competitive in every sport. Trying to keep up in men’s and women’s basketball, or even ice hockey, under this NIL system? That’s a tall order.
Future of the College Football Playoff
The conversation shifted to the College Football Playoff. A lot of folks assume the Big Ten wants to jump to 24 teams, but Carter’s not convinced that’s the best move right now.
He thinks the playoff should stick with 12 teams for a year or two. Maybe it’s better to tweak things before making any big leaps.
The Case for a Smaller Playoff Field
Carter gets why fans miss the days when only four teams made the playoff. He remembers when Ohio State had a better shot at the championship with a smaller field.
Still, he figures expansion is coming, whether that’s 16 or even 24 teams. But he insists it’s got to be done for the right reasons, not just for the sake of more games.
Protecting Student-Athletes and Iconic Games
One thing Carter really seemed to care about was how expansion affects student-athletes. He doesn’t think adding more games just to fit in more teams is the answer.
Instead, he floated the idea of maybe dropping conference championship games. That way, the schedule wouldn’t get even more packed, and players might catch a break.
The Importance of the Army-Navy Game
Carter didn’t want to forget about games like Army-Navy, either. He called it America’s game and said its tradition and timing matter a lot.
Since Army and Navy probably won’t be in a huge playoff, Carter thinks it’s even more important to protect what makes that game special. Some things, he suggested, shouldn’t get lost in all the changes.
Conclusion
Ted Carter’s take on the future of college sports is definitely worth a pause. He raises some real questions about whether these NIL deals can last, and he’s not rushing to expand the College Football Playoff either.
There’s a lot to figure out as college sports keep shifting. Balancing competitiveness, looking out for student-athletes, and holding onto those classic traditions? That’s no easy task.
If you’re curious, the full article is up at 247Sports.
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