The Decline of Collegiate Sportsmanship: A Culture Eroded by NIL and the Transfer Portal

This past weekend, a string of ugly incidents marred college football games, leaving many fans and alumni questioning the current state of the sport. The Michigan-Ohio State melee, along with examples of poor sportsmanship at other matchups, serves as a stark reminder of how far college athletics have strayed from their original purpose. What was once a platform to teach discipline, teamwork, and character has devolved into a battleground of unchecked egos and entitlement—a transformation fueled by the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, the transfer portal, and the over-commercialization of college sports.

A Culture of Accountability Lost

In the glory days of college football, coaches like Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler instilled discipline both on and off the field. Players understood that representing their university was a privilege, and with that privilege came accountability. Today, however, the landscape looks vastly different. Players face little to no meaningful repercussions for their actions. Instead, the focus has shifted to individual branding, lucrative sponsorships, and stadiums plastered with marketing—undermining the values that once defined college sports.

The NIL era has turned college athletes into quasi-professionals, prioritizing personal gain over team success. While players undoubtedly deserve fair compensation for their contributions, the unintended consequence has been a shift in focus from academic and athletic excellence to self-promotion. The transfer portal, meanwhile, has exacerbated this issue, allowing athletes to abandon challenges or conflicts at the first sign of adversity. These changes have created a toxic culture where loyalty and perseverance are undervalued, if not entirely absent.

The Purpose of Scholarships Undermined

The original intent of athletic scholarships was clear: to provide talented individuals with an opportunity to earn a college degree while competing at a high level. Scholarships were a means to an end, not the end itself. Today, however, college sports increasingly resemble the minor leagues for professional athletics, with little regard for academics. The notion of the “student-athlete” has become a convenient myth, used to justify a system that prioritizes revenue and entertainment over education.

Every square inch of stadiums like Ohio State’s is now a billboard for corporations, further emphasizing the commercialization of the sport. The focus has shifted away from student-athletes achieving academic success and toward creating a spectacle that generates revenue. This shift has profound implications not only for the athletes but also for the universities they represent. Institutions that were once bastions of higher learning now risk being reduced to training grounds for professional sports, eroding the educational mission that underpins their existence.

The Fallout: Toxicity on the Field and Beyond

The consequences of this cultural shift were on full display this weekend. The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, long celebrated for its intensity and tradition, descended into chaos as players and fans alike engaged in unsportsmanlike behavior. Similar scenes played out at other games across the country, highlighting a growing trend of disrespect and hostility in college athletics. These incidents are not isolated; they are symptoms of a deeper problem.

When players are treated as commodities and programs prioritize winning at all costs, the result is a breakdown in the values that once made college sports a unique and cherished institution. The lack of accountability—both for players and coaches—creates an environment where poor behavior is not only tolerated but, in some cases, rewarded.

A Call for Change

It is not too late to restore balance to college athletics. Universities must reaffirm their commitment to the educational and character-building aspects of sports. This starts with holding players and coaches accountable for their actions, both on and off the field. The NCAA, for its part, must establish clearer guidelines and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that NIL and the transfer portal do not undermine the integrity of the game.

Coaches, too, have a role to play. While the days of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler are long gone, their emphasis on discipline and respect can and should serve as a blueprint for the modern era. Players must be reminded that they are not just athletes but ambassadors for their universities, with a responsibility to uphold the traditions and values of their programs.

Conclusion

The current state of college sports is a cautionary tale of what happens when the pursuit of profit eclipses the principles of education and sportsmanship. The melees, poor sportsmanship, and over-commercialization witnessed this past weekend are not anomalies but rather the inevitable result of a system that prioritizes individual gain over collective good. To honor the legacy of great coaches and the true purpose of collegiate athletics, it is imperative to address these cultural issues head-on and ensure that the “student” in “student-athlete” is more than just a hollow label.

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