Ohio State Celebrates National Title While Bracing for College Football’s Changing Landscape.
Ohio State is riding high after capturing
the **College Football Playoff National
Championship** with a victory over
**Notre Dame** on January 20, 2025, in
Atlanta. However, as the Buckeyes revel
in their triumph, they—along with every
other program—must now prepare for a
**rapidly evolving college football
landscape** that could look very
different by the time the new season
kicks off in August.
With Ohio State already labeled as the
**early betting favorite** to repeat as
champions in 2025, major questions
remain about how **new financial rules,
playoff structure tweaks, and transfer
portal chaos** will shape the sport
moving forward.
Buckeyes Benefited from Expanded Playoff Format.
Ohio State’s 2024 title run wouldn’t have
been possible under the previous **four-
team playoff format**. After suffering a
tough loss to **Michigan** in November,
the Buckeyes were knocked out of the
**Big Ten title race**, which, in past
seasons, would have ended their
national championship hopes.
However, the **new 12-team College
Football Playoff** gave them a second
chance. Despite being ranked **sixth by
the CFP selection committee**, they
entered the postseason as the **No. 8
seed** due to a system that gave
**automatic byes to conference
champions**, such as **Boise State
(Mountain West) and Arizona State (Big
12)**.
This playoff structure, which allowed
Ohio State to regroup and claim the title,
could be **re-evaluated** in the
offseason. Changes would require **a
unanimous vote** from the ten
conference commissioners and **Notre
Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua**,
who acknowledged that discussions
about improvements are already
underway.
“There will be honest conversations
about whether we should tweak things
for next year,” Bevacqua said. “Will there
be changes? I don’t know, but the
dialogue will happen.”
College Football Braces for New Revenue-Sharing Model.
One of the biggest **unanswered
questions** looming over the sport is
**how schools will compensate players
under the new revenue-sharing model**.
The recently approved **House
settlement** will allow colleges to **pay
athletes directly**, with up to **$20.5
million** allocated for player salaries.
While this change marks a new era for
**Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)
compensation**, uncertainties remain
regarding **Title IX compliance**. A
**government memo** released last
week hinted that disproportionately
paying **male athletes (football and
men’s basketball players)** could conflict
with federal **gender equity laws**.
With the **new U.S. administration**
now in place and the **settlement set for
final approval on April 7**, universities
will have to quickly determine how to
**distribute funds fairly** while still
prioritizing **revenue-generating
sports**.
Arizona State swimmer **Grant House**,
the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit that
prompted these changes, acknowledged
the uncertainty.
“No one has all the answers right now,
but we’re looking for solutions,” House
said.
Should College Football Have a Commissioner?
With the sport’s landscape shifting
dramatically—between **revenue-
sharing, NIL deals, transfer portal chaos,
and playoff debates**—many within the
industry have suggested that college
football needs **a commissioner** to
oversee operations.
Names like **former Alabama coach
Nick Saban** have been floated as
potential leaders who could bring
structure to the game. **ESPN analyst
Chris Fowler** has been vocal about the
need for a **centralized authority** to
regulate key issues such as **scheduling,
player movement, and enforcement of
financial rules**.
“A commissioner could help fans enjoy
the game more,” Fowler said. “We need
**better enforcement** and a **level
playing field** as we move toward
revenue sharing. Without proper
oversight, this could lead to **new waves
of rule-breaking**.”
Early Favorites for 2025: The Usual Powerhouses.
Despite all the changes, the **list of
preseason favorites** for 2025 includes
the usual college football elites:
– **LSU** landed what many consider **the top transfer portal class**.
– **Texas** will be led by **Arch Manning**, grandson of **legendary quarterback Archie Manning**.
– **Georgia** is expected to start **Gunner Stockton** as their new quarterback, following **Carson Beck’s decision to transfer to Miami**.
– **Miami** also landed **Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas**, despite him never officially entering the transfer portal—raising new concerns about **tampering violations**.
As for Ohio State, the **national champions** will look to **Julian Sayin**, a five-star quarterback recruit who transferred from Alabama **before ever playing a college snap**, to replace **NFL-bound Will Howard**.
Ryan Day’s Focus Shifts to 2025.
Even after securing his first **national
championship**, Ohio State head coach
**Ryan Day** remains under pressure.
After losing to **Michigan** for the third
straight season in November, speculation
swirled about his **job security**. Now,
despite winning it all, he knows that
expectations at **Ohio State never ease
up**.
When asked if winning a title gives him
breathing room, Day was already
focused on the Buckeyes’ **season
opener against Texas on August 30, 2025,
at The Horseshoe**.
“Try losing the first game and see how
that goes at Ohio State,” Day joked. “We’ll
see about that.”
With a **national title secured** but
**college football in flux**, Ohio State
will need to navigate **new rules, new
financial landscapes, and a loaded group
of contenders** if they hope to stay on
top in 2025.
