Social and behavioral scientists often miss the mark with their predictions. The dire forecasts in The End of College Football: On the Human Cost of an All-American Game go far beyond what is plausible. The suggestion that college football is nearing its demise is unfounded. Swedish sociologist Göran Therborn offers an insightful perspective, noting that:
The reproduction of any social organization, be it an exploitative society or a revolutionary party, entails a basic correspondence between subjection and qualification. Those who have been subjected to a particular patterning of their capacities, to a particular discipline, qualify for the given roles and are capable of carrying them out. But there is always an inherent possibility that a contradiction may develop between the two. New kinds of qualification may be required and provided, new skills that clash with traditional forms of subjection. Or, conversely, new forms of subjection may develop that clash with the provision of still-needed qualifications. The effects of a contradiction between subjection and qualification are opposition and revolt or underperformance and withdrawal (Therborn, 1980, p. 17).
This dynamic is not evident in SportsWorld, particularly not in football—amateur or professional.
There is no end in sight for college football. If recent bowl game attendance numbers are any indicator, the sport remains a powerful cultural and economic force. Consider the Bahamas Bowl, where Buffalo faced Liberty in front of 4,610 fans—many of whom traveled hundreds of miles to support their sons, brothers, or friends. This dedication underscores the passion college football ignites.
Contrast this with the Capital One Orange Bowl, where Notre Dame and Penn State drew an impressive 66,881 fans to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. These numbers, far exceeding what can be attributed solely to family members, are a testament to the sport’s unyielding spirit and the enthusiasm of its broader fanbase.
Authors Nathan Kalman-Lamb and Derek Silva, in The End of College Football, demonstrate both naivety and arrogance in their critique. It’s striking that two white male academics from Canadian universities—institutions that do not participate in American-style football—would assert that Black American athletes are unwittingly complicit in their own exploitation.
Exploitation? That term was relevant decades ago, when players received minimal compensation and limited opportunities for higher education while coaches earned multimillion-dollar salaries. But today, the landscape has drastically changed. With the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, players can now earn substantial sums. Shedeur Sanders, formerly Colorado’s quarterback, reportedly earns between $6.5 million and $12 million annually through NIL agreements. Coaches like Ryan Day of Ohio State acknowledge that it takes significant resources—Day estimated $13 million—to keep a competitive team together, and this compensation is now above board.
Authors Kalman-Lamb and Silva call college football “morally repugnant” and argue for its abolition. However, their analysis falls short by ignoring similarly demanding sports such as ice hockey, wrestling, swimming and diving, soccer, and basketball.
Why single out football?
From the elation of victory to the heartbreak of defeat, college football captures the hearts and minds of millions. It’s a tradition that transcends generations, uniting communities and creating lifelong memories. The roars of the crowd, the thrill of the game, and the steadfast support of fans ensure that college football remains a cultural powerhouse, here to stay.
For those who, like the authors of The End of College Football, wish to challenge this tradition, perhaps they should reflect on the words of the late Indian sociologist Ramkrishna Mukherjee: “What will it be?”
References
Bacon, J. (2013). Fourth and Long: The Fight for the Soul of College Football. Simon &
Schuster.
Kalman-Lamb, N., & Silva, D. (2024). The End of College Football: On the Human Cost of an
All-American Game. University of North Carolina Press.
Mukherjee, R. (1979). What will it be? Explorations in inductive sociology. New Delhi: Allied
Publishers.
Therborn, G. (1980). The Ideology of Power and the Power of Ideology. New Left Books.