CW Pod: Iowa State’s NEXT 20 Years & AI Takes Over College Sports

Jamie Pollard is retiring as Iowa State’s athletic director after more than 20 years. What comes next for Iowa State Athletics? Chris Williams looks at Pollard’s legacy, the future of the Cyclones, Matt Campbell’s departure, Jimmy Rogers, NIL, revenue, and what Iowa State needs to do to compete in the next 20 years.

Then, CW tackles the growing use of AI in college athletics. Washington State Athletics is partnering with FanWord to create sports content and game recaps, raising a bigger question: how much should AI be involved in college sports journalism?

What does this mean for journalism students? Where does human storytelling fit in? And can college athletics become so focused on revenue that it loses sight of its fans, students and broader mission?

Chris Williams breaks down Iowa State’s future, the changing college sports landscape, and the complicated role AI could play in athletics on the CW Pod from Iowa Everywhere.

00:00 Intro + Jamie Pollard’s Legacy
02:12 The Next 20 Years of Iowa State Athletics
06:20 What Jamie Pollard Got RIGHT
08:00 Who Should Be Iowa State’s Next Athletic Director?
10:00 Iowa State’s Biggest Challenge: Money
13:08 What Happens to Iowa State’s Coaches?
15:00 Matt Campbell, Jimmy Rogers & Iowa State’s Future
17:00 Can Iowa State Compete in the New Era of College Sports?
19:27 Iowa State’s Moneyball Approach
21:25 Washington State Is Using AI for Sports Content
22:35 What Does AI Mean for Journalism Students?
24:20 Where Should AI Fit in College Athletics?
26:48 Who Actually Owns AI-Generated Sports Content?
28:03 Can AI Replace Human Sports Writers?
30:00 The Problem With AI-Generated Content
31:02 Why College Sports Still Needs Human Storytelling
32:36 AI, Athletics & the Future of Journalism
34:35 College Sports Can’t Be ONLY About Money
36:19 Final Thoughts
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