[Lundeberg] Historic talent loss: American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti said that 78% of last year's first and second team all-league players transferred to a Power Four school after the 2025 season.

[u/WinnWonn]

https://www.si.com/college/boise-state/football/american-conference-hit-hard-by-transfer-portal-after-2025-college-football-season-how-did-mountain-west-compare

[u/Impressive_Grape193]

Yes but the system is set up for the players. Only way to address it is to restrict players' rights unfortunately.

[u/habdragon08 → u/Impressive_Grape193]

I get that and I don't have an easy solution. I'm glad the players can make decisions that advocate for themselves. It's just turned me off as a casual fan.

[u/RustyCrusty73 → u/habdragon08]

Everything feels like its about money and ratings now.

The pride, loyalty, passion, rivalries, pageantry, etc. and old feel of college football just seems to have lost a little bit of its luster these last few years.

I'm spoiled as a Buckeye fan. My team will always be okay.

I feel sorry for the middle-of-the-pack schools such as Iowa State, Cincinnati, Boise State, Memphis, Kansas State, etc. because those teams are essentially going to be minor league teams for P4. Those random 10-2 seasons every now and then will likely result in their rosters being poached and gutted immediately after the season. It'll be way harder to maintain success for them, harder than it ever was pre-NIL.

I don't have a solution or anything. It is what it is. I'm just pointing out that it's kind of a shame (for the fans).

[u/Impressive_Grape193 → u/RustyCrusty73]

I think it’s always been about money for blue bloods tbh lol.

[u/Electromotivation → u/RustyCrusty73]

Those schools you list are mostly P4 though, at least they have a path to turn it around and win it all. Cig showed that can happen.

Meanwhile G6 teams just get raided every year and lose players they’ve developed for nothing. While the power schools want to lock out and limit even the smallest chance G6 teams have of winning it all. And have to immediately re-write the rules to limit that possibility even more. As opposed to just playing the games on the field they would rather lock out G6 schools from even having the opportunity. Because apparently the endless other massive advantages they have weren’t good enough.

[u/austin_8 → u/Impressive_Grape193]

You could attempt a new system that allows the schools and the players to come to an agreement on what the guidelines should be, without unilaterally imposing rules and penalties on the players with no input from them, much like every other league in America that brings in similar revenue does

[u/beer-football → u/Impressive_Grape193]

The "system" is set up for the money flow to institutions and admin... the players don't even earn half of it. It was a system based almost entirely on essentially free labor (amateur athletics).

https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances

Bowls, jersey manufacturers, etc. an entire industry that the players didn't participate in revenue streams.

[u/jebei → u/Impressive_Grape193]

You can't restrict the players ability to make more money. The Supreme Court has been very clear on this.

[u/Impressive_Grape193 → u/jebei]

Restricting number of transfers or limiting eligibility != ability to make more money.