Urban Meyer is revisiting one of the biggest assumptions he made about the new college football era, and this time he says he got it wrong.
Speaking with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, the former coach said he misread what NIL would do to the sport. Meyer had expected the money to widen the gap between the usual powers and everyone else, but instead he says the effect has been the opposite.
“I though the rich would get richer,” said Meyer. “What it's done is make parity in college football.
I've talked to many of my colleagues in the last couple weeks. You flip on UCLA and then you flip on Alabama, what's the difference?
I don't know.”
That change, Meyer said, has been tied to both NIL and the transfer portal.
"It's amazing what has really happened to the game of college football with the NIL and with the transfer portal," admitted Meyer.
The examples this season have been hard to miss. UCLA and Kentucky both come off losing seasons a year ago, yet with new coaches - Bob Chesney at UCLA and WIll Stein at Kentucky - and heavy transfer portal use, each has reshaped its roster and identity quickly.
At the same time, several teams that looked loaded before the season have stumbled. Oregon is its own case because of the injury to Dante Moore, which changed the course of the year.
But Texas A&M and Oklahoma have also taken hits, despite veteran quarterbacks in Marcel Reed at A&M and John Mateer at Oregon. Both have been poor this season, ranking 11th and 15th of the 15 qualifying SEC quarterbacks in QB rating, and both teams have struggled as a result.
The bigger picture is only going to get more crowded from here. The College Football Playoff is expanding to a 24-team bracket, and parity should only be amplified by that move. A 3-loss team reached the 12-team Playoff in each of the last two seasons, which opens the door for 8-4 teams to make the field once the expansion arrives.
In Other News...
Mike Elko Just Spotlighted An Aggie Who Could Matter Vs Alabama
After a 41-0 win over The Citadel, Texas A&M had plenty to like on the offensive side, from Marcel Reeds efficient afternoon to freshman Aaron Gregorys two touchdown catches. But one of the more noteworthy postgame notes came from Mike Elko, who singled out sophomore receiver TK Norman for his development and the kind of work hes been putting in behind the scenes.
Norman answered with a career-high five catches for 88 yards, giving the Aggies another useful option in a receiver room whose depth is still worth monitoring. The next step is availability, with Ashton Bethel-Roman and Mario Craver both set to get an update after the upcoming injury report, and that could shape how much Norman's role matters when Alabama arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces A Backfield Choice That Could Reshape The Offense
Texas A&Ms offense is spending part of camp sorting out one of the more useful problems a staff can have: too many running backs worth playing. Head coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins are weighing how to split the workload among a group that includes Jamarion Morrow, KJ Edwards and others, with each back bringing a different trait to the table.
Edwards has been the most efficient runner so far and leads the group in rushing yards, while Owens has handled the most carries and Morrow is working back from injury with a reputation for short-yardage success. The coaches have made it clear they are keeping every option on the table, and the way they settle that rotation could shape not just the backfield, but the rhythm of the entire offense moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense Is About To Test Texas A&M's Biggest Weakness
Texas A&M heads into a far bigger measuring stick after cruising past The Citadel 41-0 and turning its attention to No. 13 Alabama. The Aggies have reason for confidence on the surface, but the spotlight quickly shifts to Marcel Reed, whose road performances have been a concern throughout the season. He has taken multiple sacks away from home and has struggled to generate consistent passing efficiency, leaving Texas A&M with a clear question as it steps into a much tougher atmosphere.
Mike Elko has already said Reed will keep the starting job, so the issue is less about a quarterback change than whether the Aggies can protect him and help him settle in against one of the better defenses on the schedule. Alabama is exactly the kind of opponent that can expose those flaws, and this game should show whether Texas A&M can hide its biggest weakness or if it will be forced to live with it for another week. [Read more 🡒]