We thought we had seen the last of Zakai Zeigler when his Tennessee Vols ended Kentucky’s season in the second weekend of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Zeigler, who played four years that felt like eight at Tennessee, graduated with a four-year degree in May. The 5-foot-9 guard played in 138 college basketball games over those four years at Tennessee, averaging 11.3 points and 5.4 assists in his career as a Vol. He ranks third in SEC history in career assists (747).

So, what’s next for the longtime Tennessee point guard? More college basketball, he hopes. Zeigler recently filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking more eligibility on top of his 138 games in four years (34.5 games per season).

From the Knoxville News Sentinel:

“The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA’s rule permitting only four seasons of competition within the five-year eligibility window is an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws,” Zeigler’s counsel from The Garza Law Firm and Litson PLLC said in a statement. “We have requested a preliminary injunction to allow Zakai to compete in the upcoming season while pursuing his graduate studies. We look forward to a swift resolution of this matter so that Zakai can begin preparing for next season.”

A retail and merchandising management major, Zeigler intends to enroll in graduate school while extending his playing career. He did not enter the transfer portal during the spring portal window, so a return to Knoxville would be likely if he wins the suit, barring a special waiver to explore other options.

Tennessee already has its 2025-26 floor general in All-Big Ten point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie from Maryland, but Rick Barnes has room to welcome Zeigler back if this wild scenario plays out in Zeigler’s favor.

Tennessee doesn’t play by the rules

What is it with Tennessee trying to kill college athletics? First, the new state law ignoring the NCAA’s NIL rules. Now, Zeigler files a lawsuit to ignore the traditional four-year college career. The Vols are the most defiant athletics program in the NCAA. They can’t get away with this.

The transfer portal era has already changed college football in big ways. With NIL rules now changing rosters and entire seasons, coaches are scrambling to keep up. A proven quarterback no longer just costs a scholarship — it can run seven figures, depending on the bidding war.

For Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, this new landscape has been equal parts frustrating and eye-opening. As he tried to build a winning team, he found that the NIL marketplace can be cutthroat. But in Lincoln, it’s not just about scouting talent — now, it’s about outlasting the chaos of a college football economy where loyalty can be bought.

Matt Rhule Explains How Struggling Programs Are Outspending Contenders in the NIL Era

Nebraska HC Matt Rhule is not afraid to say things that coaches tend to whisper behind closed doors.

Recently, Rhule was on the “HuskerOnline” podcast, where the third-year Nebraska head coach shared a reality that’s reshaping how programs approach recruiting.

“The desperate team sets the market,” Rhule said, referencing a conversation with personnel staffer Troy Vincent.

As Rhule sees it, “Bad teams have more money.” But why is that the case? Unlike strong programs that have to spread resources across multiple top-tier talents, struggling teams throw bags at anyone who can turn the program around. That dynamic has created what Rhule calls a “chaotic economy” in the portal.

While Nebraska was active and aggressive in December to bring in talent, Rhule chose not to jump back into the spring portal rush. Was this because it wasn’t worth the chaos or because of the cost?

As Rhule puts it, “We didn’t see a lot of need—or we didn’t have a lot of resources left—to go out and get a bunch of guys.” Instead, Nebraska focused on locking down its current roster.

The Huskers have watched other programs fall into the trap of turning spring into a recruitment showcase for everyone else’s benefit, and Rhule wants no part of that. That being said, Nebraska’s offseason was not without chaos. 31 players left via the portal, with 12 landing at other Power Four programs.

Rhule’s squad has, however, rebuilt strategically. They have added 15 portal players ready to suit up for spring ball and will also have 13 early-enrollee freshmen from December’s class. Still, Rhule is under no illusions. He knows that other schools are targeting his roster, especially those lacking depth and direction.

“If you’re a good player on this team and you’ve produced, you’re going to get hit up in the portal every single time,” added Rhule. However, Rhule’s skepticism is not simply about money. It’s about the calendar.

“You’re going to show up somewhere June 1, be with coaches for three or four weeks, and then you’re on your own in July. Then you’re going to start in August.” That sounds like a recipe for disaster to Rhule.

The idea of plucking a savior from the portal in late spring and expecting them to lead by fall? Rhule’s not buying it. The way he sees it, true development and building chemistry take time. That’s why Rhule isn’t just chasing stats or chasing stars. He’s chasing fit, experience, and long-term value.

RELATED: Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola Shares Heartfelt Tribute To His Mom, Showing A Personal Side Fans Rarely Get To See

“There wasn’t a ton of depth in the portal,” he said flatly. Most guys left are either backups, injury replacements, or stopgaps. And all of that is a no-no at Nebraska. That mindset may not grab headlines, but it just might lead to wins. And that is what the Husker Nation is after.

And it is hard to debate that, considering Nebraska finally broke its losing streak last season, finishing 7-6. That is their first winning record since 2016.

With Year 3 of the Rhule era in the making, the stakes are high. Historically, Rhule turns things around fast. At Temple, he went from 2-10 to 10-4 in three years. At Baylor, it was 1-11 to 11-3. Naturally, fans in Lincoln are asking: Is this the Huskers’ year?

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It’s no secret that the current state of college sports and the rise of NIL-based transfers has left a stain on the product. Instead of schools naturally recruiting players and developing them over four years while they earn an education, athletes are now being lured with huge checks to pack their bags and head to new programs. It’s gotten legends like Dwyane Wade and Tina Thompson upset, as they feel kids today aren’t thinking about the bigger picture.

Wade and the WNBA legend touched on a litany of topics on his podcast Time Out—from Thompson’s roots and upbringing to her experience as a mother. But it was the topic of NIL that she had the most to say about.

Thompson told Wade she couldn’t believe how often kids transfer to other schools these days. Her concern wasn’t about playing time or sport-related factors. Instead, she emphasized their education, which she believes is of paramount importance.

“These kids are transferring colleges, going to a different school every single year. You can’t get an education that way,” Thompson stated. “Like, you’re not getting a degree. The money that you’re getting, 75, 100,000, 300,000 thousand dollars- you think it’s a lot of money because you’ve not made any money.”

This wade Wade sit up in agreement.

“Exactly!”, the three-time NBA champion said.

It was an interesting conversation between the two basketball greats. NIL money — short for Name, Image, and Likeness — allows college athletes in the U.S. to earn income before turning professional. This policy was implemented in 2021, and both Thompson and Wade agree it’s great to see young athletes getting paid for their talent, something they believe is well deserved.

However, they also expressed concern about the impact NIL could have on athletes’ long-term education.

This makes sense. Even staying at one college and completing a degree is challenging, so it becomes almost impossible for student-athletes to pursue their education if they’re constantly transferring to schools in different parts of the country, each with its own academic requirements.

Cam Newton on NIL

NIL money, of course, isn’t limited to just basketball prospects. We now know how Wade and Thompson feel about the subject — but what about a football legend who’s closely watching the next generation in his sport?

Well, Cam Newton recently addressed it on his podcast 4th & 1, and he didn’t hold back.

“People have come before you. Crawled, walked, burnt, got killed for your ability to receive a stipend for your collegiate time. Appreciate that. This is not generational money. Even if it’s a million dollars, bro you 19 years old, doggie. That money is going to be spent by the time you hit 21…” Newton said. 

It’s a sentiment Wade and Thompson also want college athletes to be mindful of. NIL money can mean a lot to a teenager, and they may not always handle it as wisely as they should.

Moreover, not every college athlete is going to go pro or make a sustainable living from sports. That’s what makes the current NIL model feel shortsighted — and, at times, like colleges are exploiting their athletes. Because in many ways, they are.

But this is what we wanted. When athletes weren’t getting paid, fans complained. Now that they are, we’re still complaining. The strange part is that, like Wade and Thompson, many of us are genuinely happy for these athletes and believe they deserve to be paid. Still, the way it’s been implemented has been rocky — and confusing, to say the least.

1

Houston
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler — from a team that finished 35-5 and advanced to the championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs, Sam Houston transfer Kalifa Sakho, five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr. and four-star freshmen Isiah Harwell and Kingston Flemings.

— 35-5
2

St. John’s
This ranking is based on the Red Storm returning one of the top two scorers — specifically Zuby Ejiofor — from a team that finished 31-5 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by North Carolina transfer Ian Jackson, Providence transfer Bryce Hopkins, Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon, Cincinnati transfer Dillon Mitchell, Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers, Idaho State transfer Dylan Darling, NAIA transfer Handje Tamba, international prospect Imran Suljanovic and four-star freshman Kelvin Odih.

— 31-5
3

BYU
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning four of the top 10 scorers — specifically Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Keba Keita and Mihailo Boskovic — from a team that finished 26-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Baylor transfer Robert Wright, Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis, UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens, Washington transfer Dominique Diomande, Idaho transfer Tyler Mrus, five-star freshman AJ Dybantsa and four-star freshman Xavion Staton.

— 26-10
4

Purdue
This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning five of the top six scorers – specifically Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Daniel Jacobsen and C.J. Cox – from a team that finished 24-12 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff, North Florida transfer Liam Murphy and international prospect Omer Mayer. — 24-12
5

UConn
This ranking is based on the Huskies returning four of the top seven scorers — specifically Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed and Jaylin Stewart — from a team that finished 24-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., Dayton transfer Malachi Smith, five-star freshman Braylon Mullins, four-star freshman Eric Reibe and three-star freshman Jacob Ross.

— 24-11
6

Florida
This ranking is based on the Gators returning five of the top 10 scorers – specifically Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, Urban Klavzar and Micah Handlogten – from a team that finished 36-4 and won the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland and four-star freshmen CJ Ingram and Alex Lloyd.

9 36-4
7

Texas Tech
This ranking is based on the Red Raiders returning two of the top four scorers — specifically JT Toppin and Christian Anderson — from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by Washington State transfer LeJuan Watts, UNC Greensboro transfer Donovan Atwell, Villanova transfer Josiah Moseley, VCU transfer Luke Bamgboye and redshirt freshmen Marial Akuentok. 1 28-9
8

Michigan
This ranking is based on the Wolverines returning three of the top eight scorers — specifically Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett and L.J. Cason — from a team that finished 27-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, Illinois transfer Morez Johnson Jr., North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau, UCLA transfer Aday Mara and four-star freshmen Trey McKenney and Winters Grady. 1 27-10
9

Duke
This ranking is based on the Blue Devils returning three of the top nine scorers — specifically Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba — from a team that finished 35-4 and advanced to the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Washington State transfer Cedric Coward, Rice transfer Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, five-star freshman Cameron Boozer, and four-star freshmen Nikolas Khamenia and Cayden Boozer. 1 35-4
10

UCLA
This ranking is based on the Bruins returning three of the top four scorers – specifically Tyler Bilodeau, Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark – from a team that finished 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class featuring New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent, Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker, Kansas City transfer Jamar Brown, San Diego transfer Steven Jamerson and North Carolina Central transfer Anthony Peoples Jr.

1 23-11
11

Arizona
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning four of the top eight scorers — specifically Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Motiejus Krivas and Anthony Dell’Orso — from a team that finished 24-13 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Harvard transfer Evan Nelson, five-star freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, and four-star freshman Dwayne Aristode. 1 24-13
12

Kentucky
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning two of the top seven scorers — specifically Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison — from a team that finished 24-12 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance, Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate, Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe, Tulane transfer Kam Williams, Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen, Miami (Ohio) transfer Reece Potter and four-star freshmen Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. 1 24-12
13

Iowa St.
This ranking is based on the Cyclones returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Tamin Lipsey — from a team that finished 25-10 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia transfer Blake Buchanan, Purdue Fort Wayne transfer Eric Mulder, Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams, Utah Valley transfer Dominick Nelson and four-star freshman Jamarion Batemon. 1 25-10
14

Louisville
This ranking is based on the Cardinals returning two of the top five scorers – specifically J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor – from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely, Xavier transfer Ryan Conwell, Kennesaw State transfer Adrian Wooley, five-star freshman Mikel Brown and four-star freshman Sananda Fru. 1 27-8
15

Michigan St.
This ranking is based on the Spartans returning four of the top eight scorers — specifically Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, Jeremy Fears and Carson Cooper — from a team that finished 30-7 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Samford transfer Trey Fort, FAU transfer Kaleb Glenn, Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu and four-star freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott.

1 30-7
16

Oregon
This ranking is based on the Ducks returning four of the top 10 scorers – specifically Nate Bittle, Jackson Shelstad, Kwame Evans Jr. and Jamari Phillips – from a team that finished 25-10 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Ohio State transfer Sean Stewart, Elon transfer TK Simpkins and three-star freshman JJ Frakes. — 25-10
17

Kansas
This ranking is based on the Jayhawks returning one of the top seven scorers – specifically Flory Bidunga – from a team that finished 21-13 and advanced to the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Illinois transfer Tre White, Loyola Chicago transfer Jayden Dawson, St. Bonaventure transfer Melvin Council, five-star freshman Darryn Peterson, four-star freshman Samis Calderon and three-star freshman Corbin Allen – plus Elmarko Jackson, a former five-star prospect who missed this past season with a knee injury. — 21-13
18

Auburn
This ranking is based on the Tigers returning one of the top three scorers — specifically Tahaad Pettiford — from a team that finished 32-6 and advanced to the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall, Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy, Texas Tech transfer Kevin Overton, Lincoln Memorial transfer Elyjah Freeman, JUCO transfer Abdul Bashir and four-star freshmen Sebastian Williams-Adams and Kaden Magwood.

— 32-6
19

Arkansas
This ranking is based on the Razorbacks returning four of the top nine scorers – specifically DJ Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III – from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Florida State transfer Malique Ewin, South Carolina transfer Nick Pringle, five-star freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. — 22-14
20

Tennessee
This ranking is based on the Vols returning three of the top eight scorers — specifically Felix Okpara, J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips — from a team that finished 30-8 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey, Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram, five-star freshman Nate Ament and four-star freshmen Amari Evans and DeWayne Brown.

— 30-8
21

Gonzaga
This ranking is based on the Zags returning four of the top 10 scorers — specifically Graham Ike, Braden Huff, Ismaila Diagne and Emmanuel Innocenti — from a team that finished 26-9 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia transfer Jalen Warley, Arizona State transfer Adam Miller, Colgate transfer Braeden Smith, four-star freshman Davis Fogle and three-star freshman Parker Jefferson — plus the return of Steele Venters, who has missed the past two seasons with injuries.

— 26-9
22

Texas
This ranking is based on the Longhorns returning three of the top six scorers — specifically Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark and Chendall Weaver — from a team that finished 19-16 and advanced to the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Xavier transfer Lassina Traore, FAU transfer Matas Vokietaitis, Purdue transfer Camden Heide, St. John’s transfer Simeon Wilcher, Xavier transfer Dailyn Swain and four-star freshman John Clark. — 19-16
23

Illinois
This ranking is based on the Illini returning two of the top four scorers – specifically Tomislav Ivisic and Kylan Boswell – from a team that finished 22-13 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic, Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic, international prospects David Morkovic and Mihailo Petrovic, and four-star prospects Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler – plus the return of Ty Rodgers, who missed this past season with an injury. — 22-13
24

Alabama
This ranking is based on the Crimson Tide returning two of the top four scorers – specifically Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Aden Hollowayl – from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Miami transferJalil Bethea, Florida State transfer Tayor Bol Bowen, Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, Tarleton State transfer Keiteen Bristow and four-star freshmen London Jemison, Davion Hannah and Amari Allen.

— 28-9
25

Wisconsin
This ranking is based on the Badgers returning three of the top nine scorers – specifically John Blackwell, Nolan Winter and Jack Janicki – from a team that finished 27-10 and advanced to the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd, Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde, Portland transfer Austin Rapp, Tulsa transfer Braeden Carrington, International prospect Aleksas Bieliauskas and four-star freshman Zach Kinziger.

— 27-10
26

Ohio St.
This ranking is based on the Buckeyes returning three of the top four scorers — specifically Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. — from a team that finished 17-15 and missed the 2025 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by Wright State transfer Brandon Noel, Santa Clara transfer Christoph Tilly, Indiana transfer Gabe Cupps and four-star freshmen A’mare Bynum and Dorian Jones. — 17-15

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One of the most prominent Indiana University athletes over the last three seasons was women’s basketball player Yarden Garzon.

A native of Israel, Garzon developed as a younger player as most players do who come from the European zone of competition (which Israel participates in) – she played with her Israeli professional team. In Garzon’s case, it was Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan.

Overseas, there is little-to-no separation of professional and amateur standing as we know it here. Garzon played as a professional before she came to Indiana from 2022-25. She has since transferred to Maryland.

Indiana did not have to pay Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan any money to release Garzon to play for the Hoosiers – and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis wants to change that. FIBA, translated as the International Basketball Federation, governs the sport around the globe.

During FIBA’s Mid-Term Congress in Bahrain last weekend, Zagklis noted that NCAA schools are getting away with procuring talent without having to pay for it. That runs counter to the way the international basketball system typically works.

“The colleges in the NCAA are getting closer every day to being commercial entities or professional clubs,” Zagklis said in a speech to the Congress. “That’s challenging our ecosystem for the simple reason that our ecosystem is based on one principle — you can transfer as long as contracts are respected. Agreements must be respected.”

Zagklis was noting that in the United States college basketball players are compensated via name, image and likeness, and if approved, by the schools themselves if the House settlement is approved to govern college sports.

“In order to transfer from one professional basketball institution to another de facto professional basketball institution, there should be a process, call it a Letter of Clearance,” Zagklis continued.

“There must be clearance from the exiting club and national federation, and there needs to be some safeguards of where the player is going: what the conditions there will be, what will be the availability for the national team, and what is the recompense for the FIBA ecosystem, our clubs, our leagues, our federations and their members that have invested for someone who started playing at the age of 9, 10, or 11 and now ends up with a 7-figure check in the hands at the age of 18,” Zagklis said.

Zagklis said FIBA will formally engage the NCAA about this process.

“It won’t be easy, because this is an environment that still hasn’t decided for itself how it will regulate itself,” Zagklis said.

The way international clubs and organizations usually make this work is via a transfer fee. They are most commonly known in soccer, but are used in other sports, too.

Transfer fees are largely unknown in American sports, though baseball teams occasionally have paid them to Japanese teams to get highly coveted players. They are typically called posting fees, but the principle is the same. NBA teams have also paid transfer fees for access to international talent.

With a transfer fee, the team that wants the player pays the club that has rights to them. That fee is independent of the salary paid to the player.

Soccer transfer fees are astronomical, very often into nine figures for the best talent. Basketball transfer fees are often much lower but not insignificant.

However, given the demand for international women’s players, their clubs would almost certainly set high fees for American colleges interested in talent they developed.

Using Garzon as an example, even what may seem like a modest fee in the international marketplace would not be insignificant for a college athletic department. If Indiana had to pay $50,000-$200,000 to get access to Garzon, would it have bothered?

This potential transfer fee would affect both men’s and women’s basketball. In the immediate environment and in the recent past, Indiana’s women’s basketball team has had more international players than the men’s team.

Only one player currently on the women’s basketball roster, Valentyna Kadlecova, has come to Indiana directly from a European club team.

However, transfers Edessa Noyan and Phoenix Stotijn did play for club teams in Sweden and the Netherlands, respectively, before they came to the United States to play college basketball. Virginia (Noyan) and Arkansas (Stotijn) would have had to pay transfer fees to gain access to those players.

Under FIBA’s proposal, it is possible Indiana would have had to pay a fee to their clubs too, depending on how their agreement to come over to the United States were structured. There is no international equivalent to the transfer portal, so it’s unknown how that might factor into transfer fees.

What is clear is that the international organizing body wants NCAA teams to pony up to have access to international players. That will present a challenge for basketball teams that like to rely on international talent – much as Indiana women’s basketball team has done.

College football has been slowly morphing into something that looks more and more like the NFL, and not always in a good way.

We’ve seen players sit out bowl games or even enter holdout-like situations over NIL deals and promises. Negotiations between athletes and schools are now routine. The chaos of the transfer portal often feels like free agency gone wild.

But if college football is going to adopt the ugly parts of the NFL, why not take a few of the good ones too? There are some practical, even game-enhancing, changes that the NFL has figured out—rules and structures that college football could desperately use right now. From playoff format changes to tech upgrades and centralized leadership, here are five NFL-style ideas that college football should absolutely consider adopting.

1. Only Champions Are Guaranteed a Playoff Spot

Let’s be real—college football’s postseason is headed for chaos without a clearer structure. While more playoff expansion sounds nice, it’s far too much for the SEC and Big Ten to get in based on popularity or perception, rather than on-field results. The same can be said with giving the ACC or Big 12 automatic bids.

In the NFL, the rule is simple: if you win your division, you’re in. College football could do something similar by reinstating divisions within each conference and guaranteeing spots to each division champion—or just to the overall conference champion. From there, the rest of the playoff field could be selected based on standings and rankings, not brand name.

It would force teams to win when it matters, place real value on conference championships again, and remove some of the ambiguity that fans—and coaches—are already frustrated by.

2. Summer OTAs for Team Development

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are a core part of NFL preparation. They’re voluntary in name, but essential in reality. College football has spring practice, but it’s inconsistent across the board and often more about evaluation than development.

What if the NCAA or the future college football commissioner (more on that in a second) put in place regulated OTAs during the offseason? Not just a few practices in April, but multiple structured phases throughout the offseason—giving teams and players a safe, consistent schedule to develop chemistry, install schemes, and build depth, if they so choose.

It could go a long way in improving player readiness, especially for freshmen or transfers who are expected to contribute immediately.

3. Laser Markers for First Downs

This one’s a no-brainer. The NFL is finally getting with the times this season and introducing laser systems to mark the first down line. That means no more chains dragged out by officials. No more guessing whether the ball “nicked” the stick.

College football is still out here using 10-yard chains and eyeballs in an era where the spot of the football can literally change the outcome of a game—or a season.

It’s time for college football to modernize with this technology. The laser systems are more accurate, faster, and eliminate those agonizing delays while the officials try to figure out where to place the ball. In a world full of slow reviews and sketchy spots, this one upgrade could immediately improve the game.

4. A Real Commissioner With Actual Power

Right now, college football is like a town with six different mayors who refuse to talk to each other, or only use one another to push their own narrative. The SEC does its thing, the Big Ten has its own agenda, and the ACC and Big 12 are just trying to survive. Every conference has its own media rights, its own rules, and its own motivations.

That doesn’t fly in the NFL. Roger Goodell may not be perfect, but the league has one commissioner who enforces rules, manages revenue distribution, negotiates media rights, and makes decisions that benefit the league as a whole.

College football desperately needs someone in that role—someone who could unify the sport, centralize TV deals into one bidding package like the NFL does, and put the good of the game ahead of individual conference power grabs.

With the expanded Playoff, NIL chaos, and conference realignment spinning out of control, this may be the single most important change the sport needs.

5. Fix the Pass-Interference Rule

On a little smaller scale, it’s time to adjust the pass-interference rule. In the NCAA, all defensive pass interference penalties are 15 yards. In the NFL, it’s a spot foul—meaning if you interfere 40 yards downfield, that’s where the offense gets the ball.

It might seem like a small tweak, but this rule leads to constant underthrows, arm-grabbing, and deliberate DPI penalties on college defenses. Corners have little incentive to play the ball deep downfield when taking a 15-yard penalty is often better than giving up a 50-yard bomb.

If college football really wants to clean up deep passing and reward skill over sloppy defense, it needs to move to the NFL’s spot foul rule. It would eliminate the “just tackle the receiver” strategy and make the game more exciting for fans.

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