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College Sports in Crisis: Commercialism, NIL and Academic Decline

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  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. isis-commercialism-nil-and-academic-decline.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 4:06 GMT by Boston Herald

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Summary of “Harper: Time for a Conservative Fix to College Sports” (Boston Herald, Nov. 26, 2025)

The Boston Herald column by “Harper” argues that the current crisis in college sports is a product of unchecked commercialism, lax oversight, and a drift away from the core educational mission of the NCAA. Harper contends that the only viable path forward is a “conservative fix” that preserves tradition, tightens the amateurism model, and re‑anchors the sport around student‑athletes’ academic and personal development.

1. The State of College Sports Today

Harper opens with a broad indictment of how college sports have become a revenue‑generating machine rather than a platform for student‑athlete growth. He points to:

• Escalating media contracts – The recent 2025 “College Football Playoff” deal (linking to the NCAA’s press release) has pushed the top Power Five conferences toward an almost corporate structure.
• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) exploitation – While the 2023 NIL reforms were meant to empower athletes, Harper notes that many programs now use NIL deals to secure recruiting advantages, creating inequity among schools (see link to Sports Illustrated analysis).
• Academic dilution – He cites the 2024 Academic Progress Rate (APR) decline in five Power Five schools, noting that the focus on big‑money sports has eroded academic support (link to NCAA APR report).

Harper emphasizes that these trends culminate in a “culture of win‑at‑all‑costs” that erodes the NCAA’s original ethos.

2. What a “Conservative Fix” Looks Like

The columnist’s central thesis is that a “conservative fix” need not involve a wholesale overhaul but incremental, value‑driven changes that reinforce the status quo’s positive aspects while addressing its most egregious problems.

a. Reaffirm Amateurism

Harper argues for a stricter enforcement of the amateurism principle. While the NCAA’s 2023 NIL rule set is praised for fairness, the author believes that the extent to which athletes can monetize their likenesses should be limited. He references the Harvard Law Review article linked in the column that warns of the “commodification of athletes” when NIL is treated as a quasi‑professional contract.

b. Strengthen Academic Oversight

The piece calls for tighter academic thresholds. Harper suggests increasing the minimum GPA for athletic eligibility and mandating that scholarship athletes complete a set number of credit hours each semester (link to National Association of Student-Athletes guidelines). He highlights the University of Oregon’s model, where a mandatory “Academic Success Coordinator” has kept the school’s APR above 930.

c. Reinforce NCAA Oversight

Harper insists that the NCAA must act as a regulator rather than a facilitator of revenue. He urges the creation of a “Compliance Review Board” that would audit scholarship distribution, NIL arrangements, and academic support structures. He cites the NCAA’s 2024 enforcement reforms (link to NCAA news) that increased penalties for non‑compliance but argues that they lack consistent application across conferences.

d. Adjust Conference Dynamics

The columnist acknowledges that the current Power Five/Group of Five imbalance fuels a revenue arms race. He proposes a tiered revenue‑sharing model where smaller conferences receive a larger slice of media contracts, leveling the playing field. The article links to a Financial Times piece detailing how such a model could mitigate the “pay‑to‑play” incentives that skew recruiting.

e. Protect Student‑Athletes Beyond the Field

Harper ends with a call for comprehensive welfare programs. He cites the 2024 NCAA Mental Health Initiative (link to NCAA press release) and suggests that every scholarship program should include mandatory counseling and post‑career planning. He also calls for better regulation of booster contributions to avoid undue influence (link to New York Times investigative piece on booster scandals).

3. Case Studies and Evidence

Harper uses a series of concrete examples to illustrate both the problems and potential solutions.

Harper links each example to the relevant NCAA documents or news reports, providing a tangible basis for his arguments.

4. Addressing Counterarguments

The columnist anticipates criticism that a conservative approach may not tackle systemic inequities. He counters this by pointing out that incremental reforms maintain institutional stability while avoiding the backlash of a radical overhaul. He notes that the NCAA’s 2025 governance review (link to NCAA policy paper) supports “evidence‑based incremental change” as the most viable path for stakeholder buy‑in.

5. The Bottom Line

In closing, Harper urges policymakers, university presidents, and athletic directors to recognize that the integrity of college sports hinges on a delicate balance: preserving the tradition of student‑athletes while curbing the excesses of commercialization. A conservative fix, he maintains, is not a return to 1950s America but a measured adjustment that keeps the NCAA’s mission alive for the next generation.

Word Count: ~ 770 words.