Jedd Fisch says the Big Ten’s new spending plan, along with the Protect College Sports Act, could help level a college sports landscape that has left Washington operating with less than many of its peers.
The Huskies football coach talked through the issue during a weekly Zoom news conference Thursday, pointing to the financial realities facing both Washington football and men’s basketball this season. In both sports, the Huskies are near the bottom of the Big Ten and the broader Power Four when it comes to roster spending, and that has shaped the way both teams have had to build.
Football has leaned heavily on first- and second-year players, with many of them in starting roles. Men’s basketball, meanwhile, has had to fill out its roster with older players and its international pipeline, aside from a few exceptions such as second-year guard and Rutgers transfer Harun Zrno.
The possible fix now moving through Congress is the Protect College Sports Act, which recently cleared the Senate by a 77-22 bipartisan vote and is headed to the House. The proposal would put a $49 million cap on each university’s total pool, including a $5 million set-aside for women’s and Olympic sports.
It would also limit transfers to one without costing eligibility, with each additional move triggering a year of lost eligibility. The law would also align with the NCAA’s new “5-for-5” eligibility model, which eliminates redshirts and medical waivers while giving players five flat years of playing time.
Before the bill has even made it through the House, the Big Ten has already taken a step in that direction. The conference recently approved new league-wide rules unanimously through its 18 university presidents, increasing the amount that can be allocated to athletes through third-party NIL deals to $27.5 million. There is no cap right now on how much a third-party NIL agreement can pay a player.
There is still a question about whether the Big Ten has enough authority to restrict what outside companies can pay players without the legal backing of the PCSA in place.
Fisch, though, sees the conference action and the bill as progress.
"I think it's awesome when you have all 18 (Big Ten) presidents vote a certain way," UW football coach Jedd Fisch said in a weekly news conference held via Zoom on Thursday. "That means the entire conference is on board. ...
I think some teams might be affected differently - teams spending over $49 million this year alone just in football. But they're gonna have to bring those numbers down.
I think it can also encourage or entice programs to bring their numbers up. And I think it's a really cool start. ...
We need the PCSA to pass. We need that to happen.
Not just as in Washington, but 'we' as in fans of college football and college athletics. I'm really hopeful.
I was really excited to see that that happened."
In Other News...
Washingtons Trip To Nebraska Looks Tougher Than Fans Might Think
Washingtons trip to Nebraska has the feel of a game that could be more complicated than it looks on paper. The Cornhuskers are 5-2 under Matt Rhule in his fourth year, and the structure around this team has changed enough that the old assumptions about Nebraska no longer really fit. Dana Holgorsen is coordinating the offense with Glenn Thomas working closely with the quarterbacks, and Anthony Colandrea has settled in as the kind of upgrade at the position that can change how a matchup is played and, just as importantly, how it is defended.
What makes this one tricky for the Huskies is how many moving parts Nebraska now has in place on both sides of the ball. Owen Chambliss is the headliner on a defense built around a 4-2-5 look, and the broader fan discussion around the Huskers has centered on player roles and whether this version of the team is finally built to hold up in the games that matter most. For Washington, that means this is not just another road test. It is the kind of matchup where the details, and not just the record, may decide how uncomfortable the afternoon becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Have Avoided A Bigger Problem Against Nebraska
Washingtons pass-rush plans got a little more interesting heading into Nebraska when Ramzak Frueans status changed from the bluntest possible injury designation to something far less final. The edge rusher had initially been listed out with a knee injury, but a strong day of rehabilitation put him back on the radar, and Jedd Fisch said he is now trending toward being available. Even with that progress, the Huskies are still being careful about what exactly he can handle if he suits up.
For a defense that needs bodies on the edge, the timing matters. Washington is preparing to start fifth-year edge rusher Isaiah Ward in Frueans spot, which gives the Huskies a workable backup plan if the week does not end with a full return. The larger question is less about whether Fruean can dress and more about how much he can contribute if he does, a detail that could shape how Washington attacks Nebraska. [Read more 🡒]
Washington May Finally Get Relief In A Battered Backfield
Washingtons backfield has been stretched thin for much of the season, so even a modest dose of good news carries some weight. Jayden Limar is on track to return for the first time since Week 1 after getting back on the practice field and showing up as probable on the injury report, a welcome development for a Huskies offense that has been piecing together its running game through injuries.
Head coach Jedd Fisch said he expects Limar to be available against Nebraska, and his presence alone should give Washington some needed stability. The next question is how quickly the Huskies can work him back into the rotation and how much they can lean on him after such a long layoff, with more clarity likely to come once the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]