ABOUT
College football is no longer governed by a system capable of sustaining it. The College Football Federalist Papers is a series of essays proposing a coherent, durable structure for the future of college football.
This project proceeds from a simple premise: college football requires a new constitutional order—one that aligns authority with reality, establishes legitimate rulemaking power, and restores stability through transparent governance and negotiated labor relationships.
Modeled loosely on the Federalist Papers in purpose, the series examines why the current system has become unstable and outlines a framework for reform grounded in law, economics, and institutional design.
Topics addressed in the series include:
- The need for a football-specific governing federation separate from the NCAA
- Antitrust and the limits of current eligibility and compensation rules
- Collective bargaining and standardized compensation structures
- Transfer rules and eligibility reform
- Early NFL draft entry
- The competitive calendar and postseason structure
- Enforcement and institutional credibility
This is not an argument to abandon tradition. It is an argument to preserve what matters by building a system capable of sustaining it.
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About the Author
The author is a former Division I college football player and practicing attorney who went pro in something other than sports. This project reflects a combination of lived experience within the sport and a professional focus on legal structure, incentives, and institutional design.
The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or affiliated organization.

