This weekend, the 2024 College Football Playoff kicks off, featuring more teams, more storylines and a lot more money than ever before. Today on the show, how we got to this moment in college sports, and what could be next.

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In 2021, amateur athletes won the right to profit off sponsorships using their name, image and likeness or NIL). Now, some college football players are able to ink million-dollar endorsement deals with shoe brands and insurance companies. This has led to sweeping changes in college athletics, from how players are recruited to whom teams play against. 

Guest host Ava Wallace talks to sports columnist Jerry Brewer and Jesse Dougherty, a reporter covering the business of college sports. They talk about the development of NIL, how conference realignment shaped the 2024 season and what the future could hold for amateur athletics.

Today’s show was produced by Lucas Trevor and edited by Maggie Penman. It was mixed by Ted Muldoon.