CW Pod with Scott Siepker: Is College Football Losing Fans?

The episode begins with Chris Williams and Scott Siepker discussing their upcoming plans for the Iowa State Fair. Scott eagerly anticipates trying new fair foods and reviews his strategy for tasting and rating them, emphasizing the importance of keeping an open palate and trying a variety of foods despite feeling full after a few bites. The conversation also touches on their personal entertainment plans, including Scott’s concert attendance and the fair’s new exhibits celebrating American history, like a memorial walkway honoring all the U.S. states and a butter sculpture of Woody from Toy Story.

Chris and Scott promote the upcoming Iowa Everywhere Live event scheduled for August 21 in Des Moines. They describe it as a rare, well-produced live show with multiple Iowa sports and media personalities, including a roundtable and a live afterdark session. Tickets are limited, costing $40 and including drinks and swag. The event offers an opportunity for fans and the community to engage with their favorite sports figures and hosts in a lively, informal setting.

A significant part of the episode involves a candid discussion about college football’s current state. Scott admits his passion has waned due to chaos from transfers, NIL deals, and conference realignments, which have made the sport less predictable and, for some, less enjoyable. They delve into the idea of whether college football should separate from university departments to preserve its integrity, with Scott advocating for a possible relegation system similar to European soccer to reinstate competitive stakes and reduce economic disparities among programs. They criticize the current system’s focus on money and corporate influence, contrasting it with European sports where fan activism has successfully pushed back against commercialization.

The conversation explores the economic and competitive impacts of conference realignment, emphasizing how wealthier programs leverage their resources to maintain dominance. Scott argues that the North and more academically elite institutions are gaining advantages over traditional powerhouses like SEC schools due to smarter resource management. They suggest that future financial and conference adjustments may erode equal revenue sharing, favoring big brands and leading to further disparities. The potential for relegation and promotion to create a more equitable and exciting league structure is also discussed, comparing it to European soccer’s model, which encourages competitiveness and fan engagement.

Scott and Chris discuss the broader implications of commercialization, including the cultural disconnect it produces between fans and the sport. They critique the influence of boosters, private equity, and corporate interests on college athletics and question whether the current model is sustainable or beneficial for student-athletes and the wider community. The panel suggests that a more radical restructuring—such as making football its own independent entity—could benefit other sports and restore the essence of college athletics as a developmental and academic pursuit. They also highlight the importance of fans standing up against the greed and corporate interests that threaten the sport’s traditional appeal.