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Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With the possibility of revenue sharing with college players increasing, some bowl leaders are already hoping for collective bargaining agreements with players that would help significantly reduce the number of postseason opt-outs. There is.
Nick Carparelli, executive director of bowl season, told ESPN at this week's Fiesta Bowl Spring Summit that after speaking with conference commissioners and NCAA President Charlie Baker, the NIL Collective has been established internally. He said his understanding was that there had been discussions about: Enter into a contract in exchange for payment of NIL.
“Once you sign a contract and get paid, you're obligated to fulfill certain obligations. In this case, you play 12 regular season games and a bowl game, or a bowl game and the playoffs,” he said. “That makes sense. That's how the rest of us working people operate.”
Fiesta Bowl Executive Director and CEO Eric Moses agreed, adding that the organization is not insensitive to the risks players and agents may take.
“Think about the industry we're in,” Moses told ESPN. “We put on live events. You come see the talent. If the main talent isn't there, you go see the Stones, and Mick Jagger isn't playing, you really don't see the Stones.” We want the best talent to be there.'' People are paying to see those matches and those events.
“Yes, they probably care more about the name on the front of the jersey than the name on the back of the jersey. That's what's special about college sports and college football,” he said. “But everyone wants to see the best players play, and the only way to do that is to have collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts that require them to play in the postseason if they're healthy. think”
Carparelli said bowl season does not officially track the number of opt-outs, but estimates each team has about eight players who choose not to play in bowl games due to the transfer portal, NFL Draft or other reasons. He said he is doing so.
Moses hopes the new 12-team College Football Playoff this fall will help reduce the number of opt-outs, as more teams play for national titles rather than just postseason wins. said.
“…Obviously you want to see the best players play, and I think the only way to do that is to have collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts that require them to play in the postseason if they're healthy.”
Eric Moses, Fiesta Bowl Executive Director and CEO
“We're not coming to the Fiesta Bowl just to win the Fiesta Bowl, that's all,” he said. “Are you going to abandon your brother and your teammates when you have a chance to win a national championship? That's something they'll never forget. You're part of history at that point.”
Carparelli pointed out that a 12-team system would not require eliminating the currently operating bowls, but one team could be cut if the CFP eventually expands to 14 teams after 2026. did. Bowl season includes a total of 44 games, including 35 “traditional” bowls, the New Year's Six Bowl, the National Title Game, the Celebration Bowl, and the East-West Shrine Bowl.
“It'll be interesting to see,” he said. “Certainly, he has two more teams going to the playoffs, which could mean one less bowl game for him.”
This year's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will feature a CFP quarterfinal game on December 31st, the first of the 12-team playoffs. The 2025 Fiesta Bowl season will feature the semifinals on January 8, 2026.
Moses said there is no reason to believe the New Year's Six Bowl will not be included in future iterations of the CFP beyond 2026.
“I think we're at a stage now where we're challenging the traditions of the sport in just about every way,” he said. “And in my opinion, the tradition of college football and college sports is an important part of the affinity that people have with this sport, and we need to look for common-sense ways to preserve that tradition as much as possible. I also think expanding the playoffs is a great innovation. I think the introduction of bowls is a great compromise between consistency of tradition and innovation. In my mind, that's the sweet spot. ”
