The NCAA transfer portal, originally intended to provide athletes with greater freedom, has evolved into a chaotic free agency system with significant consequences for academics and team dynamics. While the portal empowers athletes to escape unfavorable situations or seek better opportunities, it often undermines their educational progress. Many student-athletes struggle with credit transfers, delayed graduations, […]
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College football has always been more than just a sport—it’s a cultural institution rooted in tradition and regional pride. Yet, the sport has undergone a profound transformation, as illustrated by the changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) and bowl structures. The introduction of a 12-team playoff system signals a departure from the longstanding norms […]
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Should biological males be allowed to compete against women in college sports? The most obvious answer to that question is no. Not if we want a competitive contest. The strongest Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team would likely not come within 50 points of the weakest National Basketball Association (NBA) squad in a game of […]
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Rivalry Week in college football is known for thrilling matchups and heightened emotions, but it also brought an alarming pattern of conflicts at the end of last year’s season. On November 30, 2024, three separate flag-planting incidents sparked on-field fights, some more severe than others. From the University of Florida vs. Florida State flag-planting incident to the […]
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Mental health remains a critical yet under-prioritized issue among student-athletes. According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, 36.2 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25, approximately 12.6 million people, experienced a mental illness. Student-athletes are a part of this demographic, and more must be done to create a supportive environment where they feel […]
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The rivalry between the University of Michigan (Michigan) and Ohio State is among the most intense and storied in college football, but the last game of the 2024 season was particularly violent. It escalated into chaos, culminating in an on-field brawl that required police intervention and the use of pepper spray. While rivalry games bring […]
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal on December 4, 2024. With edits to match Minding the Campus’s style guidelines, it is crossposted here with permission. The San José State University (SJSU) women’s volleyball team made international news this season, with coverage by the BBC, the Telegraph, Quillette, the New York Times, CNN, […]
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The recent dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the Ivy League’s ban on athletic scholarships has brought renewed attention to the longstanding policies of some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. The case, filed by former Ivy League athletes at Brown, Tamenang Choh, and Grace Kirk, accused all Ivy League schools and the Ivy League Council of Presidents of violating […]
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College sports is on the verge of a profound transformation. Discussions surrounding the creation of a “super league” have been gaining momentum, fueled by the rapid expansion of power conferences like the Big Ten and SEC. But what exactly is a super league, and how could it redefine college athletics—and, more importantly, higher education? For […]
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University of Florida (UF) At UF, men’s basketball coach Todd Golden faces serious allegations of sexual harassment, stalking, and exploitation. As detailed in a Title IX complaint filed on September 27, the accusations against Golden include sending unsolicited explicit photos, aggressively targeting students on social media, and engaging in stalking. The Independent Flordia Alligator reported […]
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The University of Florida (UF) is in the midst of a scandal as men’s basketball coach Todd Golden stands accused of sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual exploitation. On September 27, UF received a Title IX complaint detailing disturbing allegations that Golden sent unsolicited explicit photos, aggressively pursued students on social media, and engaged in stalking. One woman […]
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October was a challenging month for college football, marked by a troubling series of player arrests at multiple universities. Here’s a breakdown of the most significant incidents: University of Georgia Arrest Epidemic The University of Georgia (UGA) football team has been plagued by a series of arrests this year, with six players facing various […]
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The House v. NCAA settlement could reshape the landscape of higher education by allowing colleges to pay athletes directly, raising questions about the future of academic and athletic balance. At its core, the decision proposes a model of athlete compensation that diverges sharply from traditional views of amateurism in college sports. Rather than emphasizing scholarships […]
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Things seemed promising when the 2023 Michigan Wolverines won their first national championship since 1997, with head coach Jim Harbaugh leading the team to victory. College football fans praised his leadership, grateful for the long-awaited success. But as soon as Harbaugh became the subject of NCAA scrutiny, it became clear that triumph would soon give […]
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The rising cost of college has dissuaded many from pursuing a degree and caused millions more to go deep into debt. One important factor contributing to this trend is the amount many institutions spend on intercollegiate athletics. About twenty large universities, such as Penn State and the University of Alabama, have successful football teams that […]
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The firing of football coach Mel Tucker from Michigan State University (MSU) following a sexual misconduct scandal that involved allegations from Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault awareness speaker, threw the team into turmoil. Left without a head coach mid-season, the Spartans needed a new coach and someone who could rebuild trust within the team and […]
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In recent years, intercollegiate college athletics has become an expensive activity for many American colleges and universities. Even at 68 Power Five Conference schools whose teams generate significant football and basketball income, very few typically even claim to make a profit, and that is using accounting procedures that, if followed by Fortune 500 companies, would […]
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal on May 17, 2024 and is crossposted here with permission. Not that long ago, college sports were relatively predictable. Like the U.S. passenger airlines, trucking fleets, and freight railroads regulated by government entities before President Jimmy Carter’s deregulation efforts in the late […]
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