# US college football structural and economic shifts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-college-football-structural-and-economic-shifts
> Updated: 2026-10-13T22:13:28.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

The landscape of college football is experiencing significant shifts driven by conference realignment, the expansion of the transfer portal, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.

Early reports indicate that programs like Washington State have become “primary casualty” of these changes, struggling to maintain their standing within the FBS. By midseason, the impact of NIL valuations has become more pronounced, with individual players at programs such as Miami, Oregon, and Ohio State securing multi-million dollar contracts. 

Performance disparities have also emerged; for instance, the University of Washington has been identified as a midseason bust, struggling with a 3-3 record despite high preseason expectations and significant NIL investments in key players.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: College football midseason review highlights NIL spending and team busts

Midseason college football reviews highlight massive NIL payouts for stars like Darian Mensah and the underperformance of programs such as the University of Washington.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/college-football-midseason-review-highlights-nil-spending-and-team-busts

### 2026-10-06: Washington State struggles amid college football changes

Changes in college football, including NIL deals and conference realignment, have created winners like Indiana and losers like Washington State.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/washington-state-struggles-amid-college-football-changes

---
Cite as: US college football structural and economic shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-college-football-structural-and-economic-shifts