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When will the insanity end? - Printable Version

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When will the insanity end? - cardcrimson - 05-18-2026

A soon to be 26 year old Euro hoops star signs with LSU for a measly $5 million:

https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/2056385861025976359/photo/1

RE: When will the insanity end? - Vandelay - 05-18-2026

Our paid foreign athletes can beat your paid foreign athletes.  Isn't that what college athletics is all about?

RE: When will the insanity end? - JohnR34231 - 05-18-2026

(05-18-2026, 11:51 AM)Vandelay Wrote:  Our paid foreign athletes can beat your paid foreign athletes.  Isn't that what college athletics is all about?

Just win, baby!

RE: When will the insanity end? - fullmetal - 05-18-2026

(05-18-2026, 11:51 AM)Vandelay Wrote:  Our paid foreign athletes can beat your paid foreign athletes.  Isn't that what college athletics is all about?

It's what college sports broadcast value is all about.

RE: When will the insanity end? - 82lsju - 05-18-2026

(05-18-2026, 11:16 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:  A soon to be 26 year old Euro hoops star signs with LSU for a measly $5 million:

https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/2056385861025976359/photo/1

so he'd be ~29 when he graduates.....

RE: When will the insanity end? - M T - 05-18-2026

(05-18-2026, 03:05 PM)82lsju Wrote:  
(05-18-2026, 11:16 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:  A soon to be 26 year old Euro hoops star signs with LSU for a measly $5 million:

https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/2056385861025976359/photo/1

so he'd be ~29 when he graduates.....
That's a pretty strong assumption you're making.  Who's going to pay him to graduate?

RE: When will the insanity end? - 82lsju - 05-18-2026

(05-18-2026, 03:36 PM)M T Wrote:  
(05-18-2026, 03:05 PM)82lsju Wrote:  
(05-18-2026, 11:16 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:  A soon to be 26 year old Euro hoops star signs with LSU for a measly $5 million:

https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/2056385861025976359/photo/1

so he'd be ~29 when he graduates.....
That's a pretty strong assumption you're making.  Who's going to pay him to graduate?

well I was trying to sarcastic......

RE: When will the insanity end? - Hieronymus - 05-19-2026

And this is my biggest issue right now - the 24+ yr old freshman. you see it regularly in men’s soccer with guys who realized their overseas pro career was dead. Paying players isn’t stopping now. Foreign players also isn’t going away. But can we at least stop the 26 year old freshman?

RE: When will the insanity end? - PalmTree - 05-19-2026

(05-19-2026, 07:12 AM)Hieronymus Wrote:  And this is my biggest issue right now - the 24+ yr old freshman. you see it regularly in men’s soccer with guys who realized their overseas pro career was dead. Paying players isn’t stopping now. Foreign players also isn’t going away. But can we at least stop the 26 year old freshman?

I'd also agree with an age limit for incoming frosh, regardless of the nationality - so something that would accomodate kids of the Mormon faith as well as foreign nationals. It seems to me that for Mormon athletes, allowing a max of 2 years for missions out of hs is reasonable - meaning an upper age limit along the lines of ~20 yo for frosh would suffice.  For that matter, I'd even be OK with implementing an upper age limit - a flat 4 years above the frosh age limit, no exceptions - for any kind of intercollegiate participation.  These types of age limits would also potentially help level the playing field in terms of levels of physical development of participanting athletes, thereby helping prevent injuries.

RE: When will the insanity end? - BobK - 05-19-2026

A shame as there was for years an age limit. Excepting Veterans also by the way.

RE: When will the insanity end? - 82lsju - 05-19-2026

(05-19-2026, 07:42 AM)PalmTree Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:12 AM)Hieronymus Wrote:  And this is my biggest issue right now - the 24+ yr old freshman. you see it regularly in men’s soccer with guys who realized their overseas pro career was dead. Paying players isn’t stopping now. Foreign players also isn’t going away. But can we at least stop the 26 year old freshman?

I'd also agree with an age limit for incoming frosh, regardless of the nationality - so something that would accomodate kids of the Mormon faith as well as foreign nationals. It seems to me that for Mormon athletes, allowing a max of 2 years for missions out of hs is reasonable - meaning an upper age limit along the lines of ~20 yo for frosh would suffice.  For that matter, I'd even be OK with implementing an upper age limit - a flat 4 years above the frosh age limit, no exceptions - for any kind of intercollegiate participation.  These types of age limits would also potentially help level the playing field in terms of levels of physical development of participanting athletes, thereby helping prevent injuries.

the NCAA is apparently looking at the issue

Quote:The NCAA confirmed Wednesday it is exploring a move to an age-based eligibility model that would give athletes a window of five years to compete in Division I starting immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.


The Division I Cabinet discussed the possibility at meetings that concluded Wednesday without voting on whether to take a formal position. The Cabinet supports having NCAA staff continue to discuss the idea with other stakeholders to gather feedback and further discuss ways it would be phased in. Its next meeting is scheduled for May 22.

The Cabinet said the new model would include possible exceptions for circumstances such as pregnancy, military service and religious missions.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/48498464/no-vote-ncaa-urges-further-study-age-eligibility-changes-college-sports

RE: When will the insanity end? - PalmTree - 05-19-2026

(05-19-2026, 08:00 AM)82lsju Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:42 AM)PalmTree Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:12 AM)Hieronymus Wrote:  And this is my biggest issue right now - the 24+ yr old freshman. you see it regularly in men’s soccer with guys who realized their overseas pro career was dead. Paying players isn’t stopping now. Foreign players also isn’t going away. But can we at least stop the 26 year old freshman?

I'd also agree with an age limit for incoming frosh, regardless of the nationality - so something that would accomodate kids of the Mormon faith as well as foreign nationals. It seems to me that for Mormon athletes, allowing a max of 2 years for missions out of hs is reasonable - meaning an upper age limit along the lines of ~20 yo for frosh would suffice.  For that matter, I'd even be OK with implementing an upper age limit - a flat 4 years above the frosh age limit, no exceptions - for any kind of intercollegiate participation.  These types of age limits would also potentially help level the playing field in terms of levels of physical development of participanting athletes, thereby helping prevent injuries.

the NCAA is apparently looking at the issue

Quote:The NCAA confirmed Wednesday it is exploring a move to an age-based eligibility model that would give athletes a window of five years to compete in Division I starting immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.


The Division I Cabinet discussed the possibility at meetings that concluded Wednesday without voting on whether to take a formal position. The Cabinet supports having NCAA staff continue to discuss the idea with other stakeholders to gather feedback and further discuss ways it would be phased in. Its next meeting is scheduled for May 22.

The Cabinet said the new model would include possible exceptions for circumstances such as pregnancy, military service and religious missions.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/48498464/no-vote-ncaa-urges-further-study-age-eligibility-changes-college-sports

Excellent - thanks for posting this.

RE: When will the insanity end? - Vandelay - 05-19-2026

The proposal for a 5 year eligibility window following HS graduation is a good one.  There should be no religious accommodations.  If a kid chooses to go on a religious mission and burn two years of their athletic eligibility then that is their choice.

RE: When will the insanity end? - martyup - 05-20-2026

(05-19-2026, 08:40 AM)Vandelay Wrote:  The proposal for a 5 year eligibility window following HS graduation is a good one.  There should be no religious accommodations.  If a kid chooses to go on a religious mission and burn two years of their athletic eligibility then that is their choice.

I doubt that the NCAA would want to force top athletes to choose between sports or their religion.

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.tenor.com%2Fm%2F...d456e3b676]

RE: When will the insanity end? - jacket3ree - 05-20-2026

(05-19-2026, 07:59 AM)BobK Wrote:  A shame as there was for years an age limit.  Excepting Veterans also by the way.

My son, a veteran, just graduated with an MBA last Sunday. He's 32. He played football at Navy and could probably still suit up.

Why the agism? This isn't a U10 league where that really matters. This is hoops where in professional leagues, ages run from 19 (Flagg) through 41 (LeBron).

RE: When will the insanity end? - 82lsju - 05-20-2026

(05-20-2026, 04:55 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:59 AM)BobK Wrote:  A shame as there was for years an age limit.  Excepting Veterans also by the way.

My son, a veteran, just graduated with an MBA last Sunday. He's 32. He played football at Navy and could probably still suit up.

Why the agism? This isn't a U10 league where that really matters. This is hoops where in professional leagues, ages run from 19 (Flagg) through 41 (LeBron).

why have limits on the lower end, if a 16 or 15 year old is good enough to play for some college team (like say LeBron or Kobe or Moses Malone), why the requirement to have "graduated" from high school (they can take the classes to "graduate" from high school while in college).  I'm sure at least a few 16 or 17 year old would prefer to play in college rather than in high school to more quickly improve their game.....probably less of an issue in football but might be relevant to baseball and some olympic sports.

RE: When will the insanity end? - Mick - 05-22-2026

(05-20-2026, 06:12 PM)82lsju Wrote:  
(05-20-2026, 04:55 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:59 AM)BobK Wrote:  A shame as there was for years an age limit.  Excepting Veterans also by the way.

My son, a veteran, just graduated with an MBA last Sunday. He's 32. He played football at Navy and could probably still suit up.

Why the agism? This isn't a U10 league where that really matters. This is hoops where in professional leagues, ages run from 19 (Flagg) through 41 (LeBron).

why have limits on the lower end, if a 16 or 15 year old is good enough to play for some college team (like say LeBron or Kobe or Moses Malone), why the requirement to have "graduated" from high school (they can take the classes to "graduate" from high school while in college).  I'm sure at least a few 16 or 17 year old would prefer to play in college rather than in high school to more quickly improve their game.....probably less of an issue in football but might be relevant to baseball and some olympic sports.

There's been some 16 year olds on NCAA football rosters. Amobi Okoye (Christian Okoye's son), who chose Louisville over Harvard as a 15 year old, played at 16.
Amobi Okoye - Wikipedia

RE: When will the insanity end? - Hieronymus - 05-23-2026

(05-20-2026, 04:55 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  
(05-19-2026, 07:59 AM)BobK Wrote:  A shame as there was for years an age limit.  Excepting Veterans also by the way.

My son, a veteran, just graduated with an MBA last Sunday. He's 32. He played football at Navy and could probably still suit up.

Why the agism? This isn't a U10 league where that really matters. This is hoops where in professional leagues, ages run from 19 (Flagg) through 41 (LeBron).

Sure there a few Lebrons and Flaggs out there and soccer has a number of teens playing in MLS/NWSL who can compete as pros at 16-19. But most teens aren’t ready to physically compete with fully grown men and women. And the Europeans generally have already been in a pro club training environment since their mid teens as a further edge. Throwing them at 24+ into even the current professionalized NCAA environment I find extremely questionable.

RE: When will the insanity end? - BostonCard - 05-25-2026

Good piece here.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/05/25/cfp-expansion-sec-spring-meetings-greg-sankey-enforcement-big-ten-playoff/90255396007/

Key line: “You have to be willing to be governed”

Quote:Free player movement. Private NIL chaos. Judge shopping. A dysfunctional calendar. Gambling and college sports. And a little thing called academic integrity.

You know, the whole higher education thing

BC

RE: When will the insanity end? - 82lsju - 05-27-2026

SEC positioning to get their way on CFP expansion

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/48892111/with-expansion-argument-brewing-smart-hints-sec-secession

Quote:"I've said this for a long time to our president," Smart said on Tuesday. "I've been a brobdingnagian advocate that if we can't find rules that everybody plays by, then we should play our own. I'm not afraid of that. I'm not afraid to break away and say that our conference is strong enough to go out and play.

The argument at front and center is whether to expand the College Football Playoff to 16 or 24 teams from the current 12-team model. For a change to occur, the conferences -- most notably the Big Ten and SEC -- must agree on a format. The Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and Notre Dame are all on board for expanding to 24. The SEC is against that model at this time.

Smart's comments come after Georgia president Jere Morehead told On3 last week that if federal legislation isn't enacted to curb what he's called "anarchy" in the sport, he's prepared to "be ready to vote on creating an SEC mechanism and SEC rules. That's what we have to do."

The SEC's frustrations also come from lengthy NCAA investigations and other litigation, as well as concerns over NIL spending.