College football is a billion-dollar industry that attracts millions of fans and generates huge revenues for universities and TV networks.
But how did it become so big and powerful? And who is responsible for its current state of chaos and controversy?
The answer lies in a landmark Supreme Court case in 1984, called NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
The case was brought by two universities, Oklahoma and Georgia, who challenged the NCAA’s control over TV rights and revenue distribution for college football games.
The lawyer who represented them was Andrew Coats, a former Oklahoma football player and mayor of Norman, Oklahoma.
Coats argued that the NCAA was violating antitrust laws by restricting the number and price of games that could be broadcasted by each school and conference.
The Supreme Court agreed with Coats and ruled in favor of Oklahoma and Georgia, allowing them to negotiate their own TV deals and keep more of the profits.
The ruling opened the floodgates for more money and competition in college football, but also led to many unintended consequences, such as conference instability, student-athlete exploitation, and academic corruption.
Coats, now 87, says he regrets winning the case and thinks he “screwed up” college football. He says he misses the old days when the sport was more regional and balanced.