Why?: Why the XFL is becoming competition to College Football
Andrew Tineo
Posted On October 2
Living the life of a college athlete can definitely have it’s perks. Many athletes get thought of in higher regards than scholarly students.
While on the other hand, student athletes have to worry about sports and academics and juggling both is way harder than most people realize.
One of the major questions over the past couple of years is whether college athletes should get paid. I had made a article roughly 6 months ago that explained the reasoning as to why the NCAA is handling things well.
Player likeness gives athletes the opportunity to get paid by using their name. This can be used through Commercials. That could also include creating camps to teach young athletes.
However, the NCAA has been trying to use their power to keep the college landscape exactly how they want it.
Originally, the NCAA issued out a statement that “if any school were to accept accommodations, they would be banned from postseason eligibility”.
States are fighting against the NCAA
Ever since then, states are starting to fight back and are taking action. This all started when the state of California proposed a bill that would let college athletes use their likeness to receive accommodations.
Ever since then, other states are starting to follow in this process. The state of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida have also proposed the same bills. The difference in this is that Florida’s bill could take into effect as early as July of 2020.
This brings up the question that, could the NCAA really consider the universities in these states ineligible? Taking out the state of California and Florida would damage it’s reputation. It also leaves out a ton of prestigious schools out of events.
With enough big name schools, the NCAA should fold and let player likeness become available in all states. This is actually the best thing that could happen to the NCAA. In one sport at least.
XFL’s relaunch could create chaos
The XFL begins it’s season in the spring of 2020. The first launch of the XFL was to say the least, not successful. However, the XFL is gaining more traction. The depletion of the AAF helped with that.
It is also a positive that the XFL is being played when no other football events are being played, during the spring.
Something else very interesting is that there is no time table for how many years of college eligibility players need in order to join. Players from college could only play for one year and instead of coming back, could declare for the XFL.
Someone along the lines of Tua Tagavailoa, Trevor Lawrence, Rondale Moore, and more may not play for CFB. They very well could be in the XFL.
Which could ruin the NCAA if there isn’t rule toward eligibility. Some highly rated High School kids could skip college and go straight to the XFL, gain experience, and then declare for the NFL.
Now the bill for Florida could be 2020, but the California bill wouldn’t come into effect until 2023.
A lot of this depends on if the XFL even becomes a success. Vincent Kennedy McMahon is the owner of the XFL and is one of the best creative minds in the entire business industry.
If he can pick up some very intriguing players into his league, he can bring in massive viewership. Adding top High School level talent can turn the XFL into a NFL development league.
They’re going to need players come in and be apart of their draft. High School and College football players could very well become apart of that discussion.
What the NCAA needs to do
The NCAA has hade their fun over the past 6 years of not creating a video game over the player likeness. If they don’t accept these player likeness laws, they may end up paying for it.
Image Credit: https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2018/05/the-best-games-the-most-games-espn-announces-early-season-college-football-schedule/
