How to handle the College Season, It's not rocket science.

College division are postponing or canceling our seasons. Players and coaches have said they want to play. There are those who don't care about sports because they aren't human and don't need forms of entertainment but for the rest of us, this is a huge loss for the stability of society. Even the Romans knew their civilization would crumble without entertainment.

Then there are those of us who look at the student athletes. We know their entire college career is centered around making it to the pros. Granted it's a small number but for those players it's the difference between a lower "working" class income and a middle class income. 

These kids go to school but let's be real, there's billions of dollars involved in college football. The student athletes are corporate employees, like it or not. Education is expensive in the United States. That's why players have fought for the rights to their names and to have their own sponsors. It's why schools fight against it. It's Why the NCAA made Trevor Lawrence shut down his charity, they own the rights to his name and likeness while he plays for them.

So without a fall season, how do we make this up to the students? One idea floating out there is to give the players an extra year of eligibility. That way guys on the bubble or fringe can be a late round or undrafted player.

That Idea is great until you realize that those guys who are barely making it will now have to beat out the influx of high school seniors entering college in 2021. College has limits as to how many players can be on a roster.

The Next option is a spring league. Now if a player is sure that they are a draft lock, let them opt out if they so choose but allow the rest of the players to compete. Every year there are injured players that get drafted. And start their professional career on the injured reserve.

Sure it's a lot of work going from playing in the NCAA directly to the NFL. But the players will still be in shape. The NCAA already has conference bowl game rules that limit which teams can play for the National Championship. 

So the schools who aren't allowed to compete can play from February to April. The bowl game teams can play until may.  Every conference can play in a bubble. Until the 4 teams have to play in the NCAA playoffs. 

Move the NFL draft to June and don't have rookies report until August, just like this year. The NFL has made it clear that nothing, not even a nuclear war on American soil will shut down the league. Football to Goodell is the most important thing. Being America's main source of entertainment, they might be doing what's in the best interest of the country.

Few years back, the NFL stopped everything after the draft until a CBA was reached. Nobody met with teams and free agency was at a stand still. It was one of the most exciting off seasons. It also didn't damage the product and neither will this. Coaches are smart and know how to limit play of guys who look fatigued.

College is a business. They don't care about student athletes. Schools are not gonna pool Seniors and NFL eligible players to create enough rosters to fill a season. They want the money and it would limit the number of teams who can play and thus make money. It's a noble Idea to put those kids first but it's not gonna happen. 

So realistically, there are only two options. Give another year of eligibility and have them compete with the influx of Seniors or have them risk injury to play in the spring. It's a double edge sword. 

Maybe the NCAA can give players the option of one or the other but either way it's still very risky for the players, players can decide what's best for their football careers and lives. Unlike normal students who's degrees aren't impacted by the shutdown of the college season, for many student athletes football is their degree. They need to have say into what the NCAA does.