NDSU Opts Out!!! Who is next?

Can you dumb it down for me?

This is actually a pretty big announcement. NDSU has a lot of influence across FCS with most other programs in FCS trying to imitate NDSU's athletic model. They are the best positioned FCS program and could be a successful FBS program if they desired to. They are very similar to Boise St when it comes to facilities, funding and fan support for FCS programs.

Every mid-major AD and mid-major conference commissioner will reference NDSU as their justification for opting-out. Them decided to opt-out and stay FCS is an indication that there is going to be another split.

This will obviously hurt NDSU's competitiveness if other FCS schools opt in. Despite their strong fan base and healthy booster group, they don't have the resources or scale to sustain paying athletes while steering donors to their NIL collective.

I think there are many Division 1 programs, including at least a third of FBS schools, who'll be unable to sustain the ongoing costs.

I assume the Academies will opt out as well. Everyone there is already not paying anything and the guarantee of a well paying job will be valuable to plenty.

Now, what will the Patriot League do as a whole is the question

Military Academies expected to Opt OUT

“They cannot recruit using big NIL paydays, nor can they mine the portal for better players. In addition to that, they will opt out of any future revenue-sharing tied to the House antitrust case settlement.”

sports.yahoo.com

In era of NIL and transfer portal, Navy and Army are thriving without either. How are they pulling it off? 'We are a unicorn'

@RossDellenger

Army and Navy are somehow still undefeated despite all the changes and upheaval in college football. Could it possibly continue and lead to one of them making the CFP?

Open link

Awhile ago I inquired about what the Service Academies will do. I don't know for sure (my gut says they will have roster caps). But I don't think it is clear cut.

NDSU is a powerhouse MVC school, every other institution falls in line.

But Air Force is in the MWC. They have influence, but the rest of the conference may take the stance that everyone needs to be on the same level ground concerning roster sizes. Or, you could argue that Air Force is already paying players (they pay their whole student body) and should have to submit to roster caps.

Even more complicated is the situation for Army and Navy, who play football in the AAC (probably compulsory opt in like the MWC) and everything else in the Patriot League (the kind of conference that may opt out).

Personally, I have always thought Army and Navy should quit sandbagging every sport outside of football and move to a bigger conference anyway.

I think many more programs will opt out than most think. The more opt out, the better for current and future track and field athletes. We could see a big late recruiting push for some high school athletes if after the dust settles, many schools restricted their numbers for nothing.

i think academy cadets already get paid a salary.

i think the combination of high academic qualifications to get in -- even for recruited athletes -- and required military service on the back end (as well as the general difficulty of the experience), are a natural limiting factor on the ability to use any unusual benefits to recruit in a way that ends up competitively unfair.

ivies have generally lined up IAA on paper but we don't realize it because like d1 HBCU they skip the playoffs. they also have been a longtime oddball in the division that competes that high while not allowing scholarships in their conference. it's an interesting question how they would match up if they did IAA playoffs.

i would assume that the argument would be that if you sign ivy you know what you're getting into upfront, that it's a resolute amateur league. like signing d3.

What limits apply to schools who opt out?

my guess is this will break down initially somewhat along IA vs. IAA lines. the interesting questions are (a) whether some of the smaller "bowl" conferences/teams (non power 5) shift to IAA where they fit better for football and revenue or if they stay put for prestige and (b) whether it becomes a formal, separate division for everything and not just the football postseason.

if that happens it then gets interesting what d2 teams do. if you no longer have to compete with the big dogs to be a good IAA do some of them move back up.

d3 i don't think has to worry about that part. what they would deal with is the trickling down caused by roster limits. IA would have an explicit limit. maybe also IAA. kids cut from there start dropping divisions. eventually some of that has to end up d3.

Who needs NCAA, USATF, USOPC in this day and age of $Trillion Hollywood Internet Streamers dominating the world?

Not sure but nothing close to the 17 XC and 35 for track. Some programs had their own limits due to title 9 but in terms of the NCAA there are programs that could have 100 on their track roster

So you think they retain the current limits? That seems unlikely since the new rules disconnect track and XC. But I guess it is possible. But only 12.6 when other schools can do a 45 + 17 which is essentially 45 total, will make them very uncompetitive.

Sorry for maybe a dumb question.

But theoretically, what is stopping universities from opting out of revenue sharing?

Mostly, falling behind in recruiting. If someone is willing to pay athletes, that is obviously where the talent will end up. In many cases conferences will decide as a whole for member institutions (obviously the member schools are a part of the process).

I think more will opt in than people think. Going to have to pay a couple basketballers to stay relevant.

Hopefully this is a sign of a return to sanity.

Yes, it was a joke the NCAA wouldn't let a QB at Florida State or runniing back at Notre Dame make some money of their name. But paying athletes is not what college sports should be about. If you are going to have pro sports, go all the way - that means a draft, trades, salary cap, etc.

If only we could also go back to regional conferences. I thought we were supposed to be worried about global warming but now we have the USC volleyball team flying to Penn State for a conference matchup.

Roster caps would be another non-starter for the service academies. I believe Navy requires almost everyone to play a sport, and so team rosters are filled out with lots of mediocre talent. Their men's track roster lists over 100 athletes!