Are College Athletics Becoming Professional Teams? The Blurred Lines Between NCAA and Pro Sports:
The introduction of the NIL into NCAA in 2021 was instrumental in changing the landscape of collegiate sports forever. Athletes once aiming for a scholarship and free schooling are now inking NIL deals worth millions of dollars. Each new deal that comes about outdoes the last. Since 2021 the lines between pro leagues and collegiate athletics are blurring and fast. Colleges teams that used to entice recruits by promises of a free education and playing time now give way to teams offering millions in an attempt to outbid the other schools vying for the same talent. For instance, high school football recruiting, and the changes made to the transfer portal, now resemble the likes of NFL free agency. Let's dive into the transfer portal and in particular Syracuse QB Kyle McCord. In the 2023 season Kyle was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. A prestigious football program one where Kyle would earn hundreds of thousands of dollars and get the chance to compet...