I was just thinking about last night's flogging, and how the Minnesota program fits within the greater landscape of college football. I realize that the Wolverines are thinking national championship or bust, but I don't think the Gopher program has been so utterly outclassed since I've been paying attention. I've witnessed the Gophers get eviscerated more than once, but this was different.
There was ZERO excitement on campus or in the New Brickhouse last night. NONE. It was as if everyone was going in to watch a public execution. I wasn't even angry leaving last night. Maybe it's the wisdom of age, but I really don't know where to go from here.
College football has stratified to where only a small handful of programs have the NIL payroll to compete for titles. Minnesota isn't one of them, nor is it even on the radar. Any NIL money of consequence in this market is going to be the 3rd sub-under-assistant East Western sponsor of the Vikings. Even at SC, you see Caleb Williams staying in because he's taking a pay cut to go to the NFL. That's a problem for the NFL that no one seems to be talking about, but that's a different discussion.
