• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

College Football’s Chaotic Week: Realignment, Redshirts, and NIL

  • The Pac-12 and Mountain West continue to fight for school members.
  • Redshirting midseason is the trend due to the transfer portal and NIL.
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

As college football heads into a pivotal weekend on the field, including a monumental SEC matchup when No. 2 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, chaos off the field has dominated discussion around the sport all week.

From conference realignment to the transfer portal to the evolving impact of NIL (name, image, and likeness), the shifting college landscape keeps leading to firsts across the sport.

Selection Service

The Pac-12 has been at the center of realignment among non-Power 4 conferences. It’s already successfully poached five schools from the Mountain West: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and most recently, Utah State

However, the Mountain West has notched a significant win, with six of its seven remaining football-playing members agreeing to keep the conference together, despite interest from rival leagues, according to The Athletic and other reports. The Pac-12 was said to be interested in UNLV, while Air Force had interest from the American Athletic Conference, which announced a long-term commitment from its current 15 teams this week.

That would leave both the Mountain West and Pac-12 with seven football programs, beginning in 2026. The Pac-12 needs one more member to retain its FBS status, and the Mountain West two more, as Hawaii is not a full-time member.

There’s Always Next Year

As many schools are figuring out which conference they will play in moving forward, athletes are utilizing new policies to keep their playing options open, too.

In April, the NCAA removed its one-time limit on allowing undergraduates to transfer and be immediately eligible to play the following season. Now, there is no cap. And that’s leading to several players cutting their seasons short for a variety of reasons.

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka is redshirting after three games due to an NIL dispute. This would have been his last year of eligibility, but now he’ll be able to transfer and play—perhaps for more money—somewhere else in 2025.

Football players can redshirt so long as they have played in less than four games that season. As most programs enter their fourth or fifth week, that opportunity is being taken advantage of.

On Wednesday, UNLV running back Michael Allen and USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander both announced decisions to sit out the remainder of the season and redshirt, due to a lack of playing time opportunities.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.

Golf’s Prize Money Boom Is Slowing Down

There is no purse increase at The Open Championship.

WNBA Stars Say Zero Progress Made at CBA Meeting

The WNBA and its union had their first in-person meeting Thursday.
Feb 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Calais Campbell (middle) receives the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award from executive director Lloyd Howell (left) and president) JC Tretter (right) at the NFLPA Press Conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

What Comes Next After NFLPA Chief’s Sudden Resignation?

Howell quit on his own accord; he was not forced out.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.
July 17, 2025

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.