"The influence of two specific conferences has kind of threatened the depth of college football."

Welcome Bill Connelly:

We’re joined on the Starline by an ESPN writer, podcaster, nerd and author of three books. His latest one is on college football’s shifting landscape and exploding influence in “Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football”. We welcome Bill Connelly.

Bill, let’s go Beyond the Mic. The future of college football is in the hands of the College Sports Commission. Texas Tech’s Cody Campbell wants order and protections for the chaos of college sports. Is there one thing that you agree with Cody Campbell and one you disagree with?

One of my favorite mentions from your “Podcast Ain’t Played Nobody”, is “This sport hates usurpers”. Which is the bigger usurper right now, the SEC, the Big 10 or the college football playoff committee?

You had the Red Raiders at 3rd in the opening SP+ ratings of the Big 12 at the beginning of the season, what changed?

The worst kept secret in college football was teams have been paying for players for a while. Why is Texas Tech getting the bad rap for attacking the portal like they did last year while Indiana and Ohio State did the same?

Don’t hate the player. Hate the game, in your book you discuss NIL fatigue “The NCAA just had to accept it. So did boosters: booster fatigue, stemming from programs asking the same rich donors for a little more and a little more, over and over, has quickly become an issue for a lot of schools”. At what point was NIL gone from the kids making a buck to paying the kids to play?

“Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football” is the book, Bill Connelly is the author and

The Rockin' 8:

It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, just trust your first instinct. There is no Pressure.

1. Best non power 4 football game you’ve ever attended?

2. Who wins in a college basketball analytics steel cage match, Ken Pomeroy, Sean Oliver or Erik Haslam?

3. Best course you took at Missouri?

4. First concert you ever went to was who and where?

5. Best thing about your rescue dogs?

6. Which upset is more likely to happen, Michigan over Ohio State, Texas over Texas A&M or Auburn over Alabama?

7. Best Pizza Tree pizza has what on it?

8. Favorite whiskey of all time that isn’t Pappy is?

The Impossible Question:

In 90 years the Heisman award has been awarded to a true defensive player once. Is it truly representative of the best player in college football or the best offensive player and what will it take for Jacob Rodriguez to get a sniff?

The Back Half:

“Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football” is the book, Bill Connelly is the author and it’s time for the Back Half.

Bill, what is the perfect playoff format in your opinion?

Why is the transfer portal the best and yet the worst for college football?

As a stats nerd, what football stat has lost its meaning in today’s game?

So TQBR is the football stat needs more love?

Yes, No or Maybe: There will be a super college football league formed in the next 10 years?

So what will be the ending of the logjam of the 16 team playoff?

Can college football be fixed or it is broken forever?

Will private equity destroy college football?

Speaking of soccer, what’s your thoughts of the current US Men's National Team?

Future development of the team?

World Cup thoughts?

Your dream college football bracket?

What’s your nightmare bracket?

One Big Question:

If you were made college football commissioner and had sweeping powers to change the sport for the better, what 3 changes would you make?

The Wrap:

He loves Kimchi Pizza Pie, craves a Texas Tech / Indiana national championship and want you to read his book “Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football”

Bill Connelly thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.

And that my friends is Beyond the Mic.