On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, which will play out over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The first year of the 12-team playoff hasn’t been without controversy, but it appears to be serving as intended. The four quarterfinal games include a pair of high profile matchups–Oregon vs. Ohio State and Georgia vs. Notre Dame. The hosts talk about the slight lag between the expansion to 12 teams and full TV money; the benefits of 11 high profile, consequential bowl games; and how the structure may change in the future.
Next they talk about the NFL‘s much-anticipated Netflix games. The streaming giant had no major tech issues–notable given its challenges with a boxing match just a month prior–and everything else felt … normal. The NFL now plays on so many days, on so many different platforms, that new ones no longer feel like hallmark moments.
They close by talking about a new lawsuit filed by former FSU basketball players against head coach Leonard Hamilton. They players claim that Hamilton promised them NIL money–at least $250,000 each–paid by business associates. According to the complaint, athletes considered not playing but were convinced to keep suiting up.
The hosts talk about the sheer number of athletes who have claimed after the fact that they were not given the NIL money promised to them. They also talk about the possibility that at some point athletes might actually refuse to play in a game because of their grievances. That’s been close to happening at places like Wisconsin, Michigan State and Florida State, but no team has so far taken that bigger step.
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