In a recent statement, Penn State coach James Franklin expressed his belief that college football needs more uniformity in its scheduling practices. He highlighted the discrepancies in the number of conference games played by different conferences, ranging from seven to nine games. Franklin emphasized the importance of decisions being made in the best interest of student-athletes and the sport rather than solely based on financial considerations.
Franklin proposed several ideas to bring consistency to college football, including all teams playing the same number of conference games and either all teams participating in conference championship games or none at all. He also suggested starting the season a week earlier to reduce end-of-year pressures, especially for teams advancing deep into the College Football Playoff.
One of Franklin's more controversial suggestions was the appointment of a college football commissioner, with former Alabama coach Nick Saban being his top choice for the role. Saban's reputation for prioritizing the well-being of players and the game itself garnered support from other coaches, such as Mississippi's Lane Kiffin.
Amidst the evolving landscape of college football, with the introduction of name, image, and likeness opportunities and an expanded playoff format, coaches like Franklin and Manny Diaz of Duke are advocating for a centralized authority figure to oversee the sport. Diaz emphasized the need for consensus-building and empowering a commissioner to make decisions that benefit the entire college football community.
While acknowledging that he doesn't have all the answers, Franklin underscored the importance of open discussions involving stakeholders who are not influenced by university or conference pressures. As college football navigates through a period of significant change, coaches like Franklin are raising critical questions and advocating for reforms to ensure the long-term success and integrity of the sport.
