Big 12 coach admits college football is broken after missing out on CFP

College football's once-vaunted prestige has hit an all-time low, according to Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham. The 8-4 Sun Devils, who narrowly escaped a College Football Playoff spot last season only to watch their chances slip away with a heartbreaking loss, are now struggling to find stability on the field and in the transfer portal.

Dillingham's candid assessment of the sport he loves – and one that has largely abandoned its core values – is straightforward: "We've created a mess, point-blank. The whole industry is a mess. The only thing that's not a mess is the dollar signs. Those are still pointing up." He is blunt in his criticism, saying that while teams continue to generate enormous revenue, the overall product has become severely diluted.

Dillingham's sentiments echo the concerns of fans and coaches across the country who are bracing for another year of uncertainty. As players begin to consider their futures and some are already exploring transfer options, it seems clear that the allure of top dollar is driving away talented young athletes.

The Arizona State quarterback situation is a prime example. Sam Leavitt, a star passer who helped lead the Sun Devils to an improbable Big 12 title last season, appears poised to leave Dillingham's program after just one year on campus. The reason? Top teams in the Power Five conference are making lucrative offers to poach him as their starting quarterback.

The Indiana Hoosiers and LSU Tigers are among those eager to lure Leavitt away from Arizona State, with each reportedly willing to make a substantial investment to secure his services. Meanwhile, Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman favorite, is expected to enter the NFL draft after this season, further accelerating the process of Leavitt's likely departure.

Dillingham and the Sun Devils will face another significant test on New Year's Eve when they take on Duke in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The question remains: how long can Arizona State remain competitive with its patchwork roster and limited resources? As the college football landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that only one constant is certain – the pursuit of profit at any cost will remain a driving force behind the sport's ever-changing landscape.

the fact that coaches like dillingham are speaking out about the state of college football is kinda telling ...they're saying that money is where it's at, but what's really being lost in all this is something more valuable than just a few extra bucks. stability, tradition, and the love for the game itself seem to be taking a backseat to the bottom line. its like, sure, you can pay people a lot of money, but can you genuinely care about what they're doing on the field?

man, this stuff is wild i mean coach dillingham is saying the game has become all about money, and it's ruining it for the players like they're just commodities to be bought and sold, not athletes with their own goals and aspirations...it's sad to see how much talent is leaving schools because of the lure of a bigger payday and duke is gonna come in there and whoop 'em on new years eve? i guess we'll just have to wait and see if the sun devils can figure out a way to compete without breaking the bank

I'm so over the state of college football these days ... it feels like nobody cares about winning anymore, they just wanna cash in on those fresh-faced recruits . I mean, what happened to the day when coaches were actually invested in their teams and players? Now it's all about who can throw the most money at a talented young athlete to lure them away from the "lesser" programs . The whole industry is like a big game of musical chairs, except instead of chairs, it's scholarships and coaching jobs . Kenny Dillingham's got it right when he says the product has become diluted – I'm just hoping that the Sun Devils can somehow manage to put together a decent team before they head into the bowl game

I'm telling ya, colleges are making bank off this football thing but they're sacrificing all the heart and soul that made it great in the first place . I mean, look at ASU right now, they've got a bunch of guys jumping ship left and right because they can get more money elsewhere . And don't even get me started on the NFL draft, where talented young players are basically being pushed out the door after just one year . It's like, when did it become all about the benjamins? The sport used to be about competition and pride, not just about how much dough you can rake in... sigh

I think this is really sad for the sport ... I mean, its fans and players are all about that win lol but apparently money has won . Like, what happened to college football being about the love of the game? Now it's just like everyone's trying to be millionaires . It's crazy how much these kids are worth now

omg have you seen this college football thing lately? i mean, teams are raking in the dough but the actual game is all over the place...i feel like i'm watching a bunch of nobodies run into each other on the field sam leavitt is already being poached by bigger schools just one year in and i'm sure he's thinking "dollars over devils" meanwhile arizona state is like the underdog trying to stay afloat with their patchwork roster...good luck with that, sun devils

I'm telling you, this whole college football thing has become a total circus . The money is pouring in, but what about the players? They're being treated like commodities and it's not right. I mean, Sam Leavitt wants to leave Arizona State because top teams are offering him more cash? That's just crazy . Meanwhile, the Sun Devils are struggling to stay afloat with their patchwork roster . It's like they're trying to find stability on the field, but it's all about the Benjamins at this point. I'm not saying that money can't be good for college football, but come on, you gotta think about the athletes too . The system is broken and Kenny Dillingham is speaking truth to power . We need some real change in this sport before it's too late .

omg, i feel like college football has changed so much , its not even recognizable anymore. i mean, i get it, teams gotta make money and all but the thing is, its affecting the players too . these kids are getting poached by top teams because of their talent and they're losing out on the whole college experience . and now kenny dillingham is saying that the industry is a mess? yeah, it kinda feels like that . but whats even more concerning is that its not just about the players, its also about the fans who are getting burned too . i mean, we're supposed to be supporting our local teams and college sports is all about community and tradition, but now its all about who's gonna make the most money . i guess what im saying is, can we please just find a way to balance all this out?

Ugh, man... College football used to be all about the love of the game, you know? Now it's just a big business with teams throwing money around to poach each other's players . It's like, Kenny Dillingham is right – we've created a mess! The stability on the field is non-existent and these talented young athletes are getting sucked into the transfer portal like it's their own personal revolving door . I mean, what happened to the days when guys just loved playing for their alma mater? Now it's all about making that sweet, sweet dollar . And don't even get me started on Sam Leavitt – dude's got a whole NFL future ahead of him and he's stuck in this patchwork roster with Arizona State . It just feels like the love of the game is getting lost in all the greed .

I'm so tired of this whole college football thing . It's all about the benjamins now, and teams are more worried about poaching each other's talent than actually developing their own programs. The value of winning has been lost in the shuffle, and it's heartbreaking to see talented players like Sam Leavitt get lured away by top dollar offers . Meanwhile, Arizona State is struggling to find stability on both sides of the ball - it's a mess, plain and simple . I remember when college football was about more than just the money; now it feels like teams are more concerned with their own bottom line . It's like they're all chasing that elusive dollar sign , but at what cost? The players are the ones who suffer in the end .

I'm getting tired of how much money coaches are making while the actual product on the field is tanking . I mean, Kenny Dillingham said it straight up - the industry is a mess and it's all about the benjamins . I don't blame him for wanting to make some cash, but at what cost? The talent just isn't being retained anymore because coaches are offering these huge deals . It's crazy that Arizona State is losing guys like Sam Leavitt already after one year . What's next? Everyone just going pro and leaving the program to collect a paycheck?

man i feel like college football has lost its way its all about the benjamins now and not about developing players or building a culture...i mean what happened to the rivalry games and the underdog stories? now it's all about who can throw the most cash at some kid and they're gone the coaches are right, its a mess but i still think there's hope for some teams to rise above the noise and do things differently...i just wish more people would speak out against this obsession with profit

I just saw the funniest thing on YouTube the other day . So I was watching this kid trying to cook ramen noodles for the first time and he ended up setting off the fire alarm in his kitchen . It was so relatable though, I've been there many times too. And speaking of messy situations, have you guys ever tried to organize your digital files? It's like, impossible . I swear, I spent an hour trying to find that one video clip I wanted to share and it took me forever. Anyway, back to college football... yeah, it does seem like the money is the main focus now, but what about the players' well-being? Are they just pawns in a game of financial chess ?

Ugh, I'm so sick of these big bucks ruining everything . College football used to be about pride and loyalty, not just a means to an end for cash cow programs . It's like they're more concerned with getting that fancy bowl game than actually developing their own players . And don't even get me started on these high-profile transfers – it's all just a bunch of rich kids running around, looking for the best payday . I mean, what happened to just playing for your school and giving back to the community? It feels like everyone's just in it for themselves now . And Arizona State is the worst example of this – they can barely keep their own quarterback from leaving . The whole industry is a mess, and I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to call myself a fan .

I mean, can't they just make the transfer portal more user-friendly for players? It feels like every time you try to transfer, there's some crazy restriction or rule change that just messes everything up. And don't even get me started on how much money college football is making – yeah, those dollar signs are definitely still pointing up, but at what cost?! The actual game is so watered down right now. I'm not saying the coaches and admins aren't trying to make a buck, but can we just focus on developing some real talent for once?

it's crazy how much money is involved in college sports and yet you'd think it would be about more than just winning games. i mean, those quarterbacks are basically for sale now lol, no wonder players are jumping ship left and right . as a fan, it makes the whole experience kinda feel fake. and what's up with all these transfers? can't they just stick it out for one season like everyone else?

I'm literally stressing about this - I mean, our school's sports team isn't doing so well either ... we're talking about a lack of stability and players leaving for colleges that offer more "amenities" ... it's like they're prioritizing the dollar signs over our school spirit ... what if we lose our top talent to those big schools?

can u believe the state of college football rn it's like they're more worried about getting that $$$ than actually winning games lol the players r smart enough to see thru all the hype & are straight up leaving for better deals sam leavitt is literally just a pawn in this game and dude deserves way better than getting poached by other teams for their QB spot meanwhile, kenny dillingham is trying to make sense of it all but honestly, who can blame him? the sport's just lost its way

Ugh, I'm so over this whole college football thing right now It's like they've lost all sense of what the game is even about. Stability? Ha! Forget it. All anyone cares about is who's making how much cash from their games and players... The fact that talented young athletes are getting poached by top teams just to get paid more is just disgusting It's like, what happened to the excitement of competition? The thrill of victory? The agony of defeat? I mean, Sam Leavitt's leaving ASU after ONE YEAR on campus because some other team wants to pay him a gazillion dollars... and Fernando Mendoza's already entering the NFL draft? When did we lose all sense of purpose in this sport?!