As Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal reshape the College Football landscape, analyst Paul Finebaum sounds the alarm, warning of the potential decline of a sport that is very close to America’s heart.
In a recent interview on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum called the current state of college football an “existential threat,” referring to concerns raised by Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.
The ‘Bizarre System’ of College Football Can Break the Sport Says Paul Finebaum
Finebaum didn’t mince words when asked about the health of college football.
“I think college football is at a tipping point,” he said, pointing to the massive shifts in the sport’s landscape brought by NIL and the transfer portal.
While the 2024 season delivered some of the most thrilling moments in the sport’s history, like Alabama’s upset over Georgia and Michigan’s gritty Big Ten title run, it also highlighted off-field issues that are creating a slow-burning disconnect.
“I think college football is at a tipping point, and I think what is going on now is an existential threat to the future of the game!” @finebaum on why the transfer portal is negatively affecting the future of college football! @WJOX945
Full interview: https://t.co/fULFehEWpM pic.twitter.com/TEaYebCL0K
— McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning (@macandcube) May 19, 2025
Finebaum noted that older fans, the backbone of college football’s loyal base, are growing frustrated. The lack of player loyalty, fueled by a transfer portal that allows athletes to leave “at a moment’s notice,” is eroding the emotional ties that bind fans to their teams.
Finebaum’s claims aren’t bogus; the numbers from the previous season show how on the money the analyst’s claims are. For example, in 2024, over 3,000 players entered the transfer portal, a 20% increase from 2022. This churn, combined with NIL deals that can see freshmen earning six-figure sums, has created what Finebaum calls a “bizarre system.”
Kirby Smart, speaking at a Regions Bank event in October 2024, highlighted the absurdity, saying, “It’s not right for a freshman to be paid more than an upperclassman.” Finebaum agrees with the statement, arguing that the issue isn’t players earning money but the lack of commitment to schools that makes the fans cheer for a team.
The Fan Disconnect
College football thrives on tradition. Rivals like Ohio State-Michigan or the Iron Bowl carry the emotions of generations of fans. But according to Finebaum, when players can switch teams with ease, that connection drops.
He acknowledges that the sport’s on-field product remains compelling for sponsors, as the viewership for the 2024 College Football Playoff hit 22.6 million for the championship game. Still, the disconnect can potentially “break” the sport off-field.
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Television executives and administrators may shrug off these concerns, but Finebaum believes the trickle-down effect is inevitable.
In the end, College football isn’t doomed, but it’s at a crossroads. Finebaum’s hope lies in the games themselves, which still captivate millions each Saturday. Yet, as Kirby Smart’s concerns highlight, the sport must address its “bizarre system” to preserve its soul. Without reforms, the disconnect could grow.
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