NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
There is no argument: College football is the nation’s second-most popular sport when factoring in ratings, attendance, hype and, of course, the billions generated. Only the NFL is bigger, but even in that space, there is a discussion to be had about passion and how to measure it. For example, there is no NFL comparison to the profound, solemn debate over whether to get married on an SEC football weekend.
Some things are just too important to interrupt, even for wedding vows.
In a parallel universe, though, there is also little argument the game is undervalued, perhaps even tremendously so. In fact, as we enjoy this offseason before Season No. 156, there is a crossroads looming.
To that point, there is so much money being left on the table in major college football that something has to give.
“We are at the fork in the road no matter what anybody says,” said Casey Wasserman, one of the most powerful entertainment and sports executives in the world as head of the Wasserman Group. “College football is either leaving [the current structure] and keeping all the money or they’re staying … It’s not that complicated.”
Those with Wasserman’s view are talking about a $4 billion-$5 billion valuation shortfall in college football. The Power Four media rights deals are currently worth a combined $17 billion — and that’s not counting the $1.3 billion College Football Playoff deal with ESPN. That’s mainly because conferences negotiate individual media rights that suit them but doesn’t necessarily maximize revenue.
The sides on either end of the discussion have separated like political parties. One side is ready to tap into that valuation like it’s a new vein of crude discovered in the North Dakota oil reserve. The other is a formidable…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/is-college-football-undervalued-americas-second-most-popular-game-still-leaving-billions-on-the-table/
Author : Dennis Dodd
Publish date : 2025-04-04 13:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
