This isn’t quarterback rocket science, or a gut feeling. It couldn’t be more clear and concise. 

The one-year wonders at the quarterback position don’t work in the NFL. 

Yet there they are, the talking heads all over the sport, falling for it again with Ty Simpson. The former Alabama quarterback showed up last week at the league’s annual NFL Scouting Combine — with all of 15 career starts in his pocket — and had an impressive throwing session for the assembled scouts and team personnel.

Throwing session.  

Suddenly, he’s a Top 15 pick. Even ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky — as smart and measured analyst as there is — declared Simpson’s tape “from his first eight games” of the 2025 season is better than projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. 

Has the entire NFL scouting world gone mad? This isn’t that difficult to process, everyone. 

Anthony Richardson started one season at Florida. Trey Lance started one season at North Dakota State. 

Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) and Mac Jones (Alabama) started one season in college, too. All flamed out. 

Meanwhile, I give you (since the 2018 draft) these multiple-season college starters who are all ascending in their careers: two MVPs (Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen), two Super Bowl champions (Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold), and eight who have led teams to the playoffs (Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Bo Nix). 

Obviously there are multiple-season college starters who don’t pan out, but the odds of success are much higher for a player with elite skills who has spent extended time leading a team, managing games and experiencing every possible win-lose scenario on the grass.

Not a throwing session. 

The last time we saw Simpson on the field at Alabama, he and the Tide were getting clobbered by Indiana in the Rose Bowl — where Simpson completed 12 passes for 67 yards before getting knocked out of a 38-3 loss.

It’s almost as if these NFL guys, whose very livelihood depends on getting it right more than getting it wrong, never learn.

Simpson is a talented player. He has a live arm, and is sneaky athletic. He’s accurate, and he has played well at times in big games. 

But it’s hard to fathom a position that demands as many game repetitions as possible to develop and reach potential, could have an obvious red flag so flippantly ignored by the best of the best in the sport.

It’s the quarterback obsession. The game — no matter the level — revolves around the play of the quarterback. 

The better he is, the better you are. 

But when we reach the elite of the game, where everyone runs fast and everyone is freakishly athletic, football IQ is heightened to an unreal level. Knowledge of the game, understanding the nuances, knowing the answers ― all before the ball snaps at the line of scrimmage. 

Translation: The more reps, the more you know before making the pick.

I can’t imagine why any NFL owner, now spending more than $300 million annually in salary cap revenue, would trust his franchise to a quarterback who has played one college season. It’s blind faith on steroids. 

This isn’t learning on the job, or sitting behind a cagey veteran. You’re drafted, and we’re paying you millions ― and you’re playing Week 1.

The enormity of the moment crushes some, overwhelms others. Typically, it impacts every quarterback. 

It’s rare that a rookie quarterback steps into the breach and starts making plays all over the field. Rare that he’s so good, teams win because of him — not with him. 

It takes two or three years (or more) for these guys to feel completely comfortable when they walk to the line of scrimmage. When they can look at grown men on the other side of the ball — whose coaches (the best in the sport, no less) spend an entire offseason scouting the player and the offense — and feel completely at ease.

When they can consistently win games at the highest level of football, and give their team — one that plays in a league designed for parity — an advantage more than the other guy. 

Now we’re ready to bet all that on a guy with 15 career college starts, and a throwing session?

The entire NFL scouting world has gone mad.

The two Super Bowl 60 participants were a prime example of why free agency is critical for every NFL team.

The Seattle Seahawks signed quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency and the New England Patriots spent more than $200 million in guaranteed money on free agents in 2025, the most by any NFL team last offseason. The aggressiveness of both teams during free agency paved the way for their Super Bowl runs.

Which teams will make bold moves during free agency this year? The Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders all have more than $70 million in salary cap space to work with, per Over The Cap.

All 32 teams have roster needs this time of year. Clubs are permitted to contact free agents starting at noon ET on March 9. Free agents can officially sign once the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET March 11. 

USA TODAY Sports examines the biggest position of need for all 32 NFL teams:

Arizona Cardinals

Biggest position of need: Quarterback

The Cardinals and Kyler Murray are headed toward an amicable divorce at the start of the new league year. A quarterback is priority No. 1 in Arizona, but this year’s quarterback draft class isn’t strong. The Cardinals could sign a bridge QB in free agency and wait until next year’s QB-rich draft class to select their franchise signal-caller.

Atlanta Falcons

Biggest position of need: Defensive line

Hopefully Sam Darnold’s journey to a Super Bowl title taught teams a value lesson to exercise patience before reaching a final verdict on a quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. has flashed, but injuries have made it difficult to discern if he can be a franchise QB. The Falcons have enough pieces on offense. Defense and the team’s inability to affect the quarterback remain an issue.

Baltimore Ravens

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Baltimore’s inability to get after the quarterback has plagued them in recent seasons. The Ravens ranked 28th in pass rush win rate last year, per ESPN. As a consequence, the Ravens finished tied with the Colts as worst pass defense in the AFC. The Ravens ranked 31st in pass defense in 2024.

Buffalo Bills

Biggest position of need: Wide receiver

The Bills have a couple starting offensive linemen hitting free agency. On the outside, wide receiver is a spot Buffalo should upgrade. Josh Allen hasn’t had a No. 1 wide receiver since Stefon Diggs was traded.

Carolina Panthers

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

The Panthers finished 24th in pass rush win rate and last in run stop win rate, per ESPN. The defense produced 30 sacks, only the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers had fewer.

Chicago Bears

Biggest position of need: Defensive back

Chicago’s offense was much improved under Ben Johnson’s tutelage, but the Bears’ defense struggled to get stops if they didn’t force a turnover. Safeties Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker and Jonathan Owens are all entering free agency.

Cincinnati Bengals

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who was Cincinnati’s best defensive player, is scheduled to enter free agency. The Bengals had the worst defense in the AFC. Now they must find a replacement for Hendrickson.

Cleveland Browns

Biggest position of need: Offensive line

Questions at quarterback are an annual tradition in Cleveland. Such is the same this year. The wide receiver room needs an upgrade, but only one Week 1 starter on the O-line is under contract in 2026. The acquisition of right tackle Tytus Howard represents the start of a significant offensive line overhaul in Cleveland.

Dallas Cowboys

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Micah Parsons’ departure created a void at edge rusher. Linebacker and secondary should also be addressed this offseason. The Cowboys finished 30th in total defense in 2025.

Denver Broncos

Biggest position of need: Running back

The Broncos haven’t had a running back rush for 1,000 yards since Phillip Lindsay in 2019. Oft-injured running back J.K. Dobbins led Denver in rushing last season. Dobbins is an impeding free agent.

Detroit Lions

Biggest position of need: Interior offensive line

Center Frank Ragnow’s retirement triggered Detroit’s offensive line regression last season. Left tackle Taylor Decker, who contemplated retirement this offseason, isn’t getting any younger either.

Green Bay Packers

Biggest position of need: Cornerback

Wide receiver Romeo Doubs, left tackle Rasheed Walker and backup quarterback Malik Willis are among the NFL’s top free agents. But the Packers are missing a No. 1 cornerback in this passing-heavy league.

Houston Texans

Biggest position of need: Interior offensive line

The Texans had one of the worst offensive lines in football, ranking 30th in pass block win rate and 32nd in run block win rate, per ESPN. Houston was most vulnerable in the interior of its O-line.

Indianapolis Colts

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

The Colts applied the transition tag on Daniel Jones, which satisfies their QB position (for now). On the other side of the football, Indianapolis ranked 30th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN.  

Jacksonville Jaguars

Biggest position of need: Linebacker

Impending free agent corners Montaric Brown and Greg Newsome clear the pathway for Travis Hunter to get more opportunities at cornerback. Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd, who led the team with five interceptions, is my top free agent available.  

Kansas City Chiefs

Biggest position of need: Cornerback

The Chiefs decided to trade their best cornerback, Trent McDuffie, to the Rams. Jaylen Watson is entering free agency. McDuffie and Watson were Kansas City’s top two cornerbacks. The Chiefs have needs at edge rusher and running back, but McDuffie’s departure creates a huge hole at cornerback.

Las Vegas Raiders

Biggest position of need: Wide receiver

It’s a safe bet the Raiders are going to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers are players Mendoza can rely on. But Las Vegas doesn’t have a No. 1 wide receiver on its roster.

Los Angeles Chargers

Biggest position of need: Interior offensive line

The Chargers’ maligned offensive line was the worst in football last season. The return of tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt from season-ending injuries is a huge boost. However, the interior of the O-line is the weak link. Center Bradley Bozeman announced his retirement in February and the team released guard Mekhi Becton.

Los Angeles Rams

Biggest position of need: Defensive back

The acquisition of Trent McDuffie is a sign the Rams are all in on a Super Bowl 61 run. The Rams completed their Super Bowl mission the last time SoFi Stadium hosted the big game. Their defense allowed 276 passing yards and 26 points per game last postseason, and the Rams’ shortcomings in the secondary are a big reason why the team didn’t advance to Super Bowl 60.

Miami Dolphins

Biggest position of need: Quarterback

New Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley inherited Tua Tagovailoa after the last regime benched the quarterback. It’s becoming increasingly likely the Tagovailoa experiment is over in Miami.

Minnesota Vikings

Biggest position of need: Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy didn’t instill much confidence that he was ready to be a starting quarterback in 2025. Kyler Murray makes sense for the Vikings. Murray’s dual-threat ability would add another element to Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Veteran Kirk Cousins is also slated to be a free agent. A Cousins-Vikings reunion makes sense, too.

New England Patriots

Biggest position of need: Wide receiver

Stefon Diggs is reportedly on his way of New England. Diggs was the Patriots’ leading receiver last season. A No. 1 wide receiver is essential for Drake Maye’s continued development. K’Lavon Chaisson produced a team-best 74 pressures in 2025 but is scheduled to hit free agency.

New Orleans Saints

Biggest position of need: Running back

The Saints must supply Tyler Shough with more weapons if they believe he’s their franchise quarterback. Wide receiver Chris Olave was subject to trade speculation at the deadline and running back Alvin Kamara has one year remaining on his contract. The Saints are one of six teams that averaged fewer than 100 rushing yards per game last season.

New York Giants

Biggest position of need: Offensive line

Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and right guard Greg Van Roten are both impending free agents. The Giants could be players in the O-line market during free agency.

New York Jets

Biggest position of need: Quarterback

Quarterback Justin Fields is a candidate to get cut after a disappointing season in the Big Apple. The Jets might consider another quarterback in free agency or in the draft.

Philadelphia Eagles

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Jaelan Phillips turned into the team’s best edge rusher after he was acquired near the trade deadline. He tallied 44 pressures in nine games, including the playoffs. Phillips is one of the top free agents available.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Biggest position of need: Quarterback

The Steelers need a franchise quarterback even if 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers returns for a 22nd season. The Steelers haven’t had a long-term solution at QB since Ben Roethlisberger. Although, Pittsburgh might not fill the need until next year’s draft.

San Francisco 49ers

Biggest position of need: Wide receiver

General manager John Lynch said it’s “safe to say” Brandon Aiyuk has played his last snap with the 49ers. Fellow wide receiver Jauan Jennings is a free agent. The 49ers don’t have a Bonafide No. 1 wideout.

Seattle Seahawks

Biggest position of need: Running back

Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker is entering free agency. Walker gained a postseason-high 313 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the playoffs. His performance vaulted him to the No. 1 running back in free agency.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David are key free agents. Tampa Bay hasn’t had a solid pair of edge rushers since Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Tennessee Titans

Biggest position of need: Wide receiver

All three-win teams have multiple positions of need. Luckily for the Titans, quarterback isn’t one of them. A wide receiver is important for Cam Ward’s continued development. Tennessee’s leading receiver, Elic Ayomanor, had just 515 receiving yards.

Washington Commanders

Biggest position of need: Edge rusher

Washington’s defense gave up a league-worst 384 yards per game last season. Edge rushers Von Miller, Deatrich Wise and linebacker Bobby Wagner are key free agents on defense.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

With each passing iteration, the World Baseball Classic gets bigger and bigger – in crowd size, cultural currency and participants.

Yet the world within it keeps shrinking.

As the sixth WBC gets underway this month, the pool play portion of the event will bear faint resemblance to the earliest versions of the event, an apparent marker of its growth and the game’s elevated level of play worldwide:

Closer games. Fewer run-rule victories and shutouts. And the more than occasional upset of a perceived global power.

“Everyone can see that there’s so much talent all over the world,” San Diego Padres and Dominican Republic third baseman Manny Machado tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s not just here, but all over the world. It means a lot to be the last team standing. I hope it’s us.

“It’s just such a cool event. You’re playing for not just your country, not for the fans, but the people in their countries and across the world. I get goosebumps just talking about it because it’s such a special event.’

The inaugural WBC was a little lighter on goosebumps. Pool play games were contested not in big league stadiums but rather spring training sites, Scottsdale and Lake Buena Vista among the locales to determine quarterfinalists.

 And the games were, well, often over before they started.

In 2006, the nine countries and territories that supply the most major league talent – Japan, South Korea, USA, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba and Canada – went a combined 15-0 against less-renowned baseball countries in pool play, with four shutouts and three run-rule wins.

Average score: 9-3, kicked off by Team USA’s 17-0 shellacking of South Africa behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s 4-for-4, two-homer performance.

Yet the gap has been shrinking in almost every WBC since.

Have glove, will travel

In 2009, the less-heralded countries managed three victories in 13 games, including Australia turning the tables and run-ruling Mexico. The Netherlands, powered by a handful of major leaguers hailing from Curacao, scored the first big tourney upset, toppling the mighty Dominican Republic and bouncing them from the tournament.

And suddenly, the average margin of victory shrank from 9-3 to 7-3.

The trend continued through 2013 – when the average score between haves and have-nots shrank to 6-4 – and 2017, when the baseball-poorer countries endured just one shutout. Colombia knocked off Canada and took Team USA to 10 innings, while Australia fell in 10 innings to Venezuela.

China, which lost its first six WBC games against global powers from 2006 to 2013 by a combined score of 64-5, was suddenly playing baseball games in 2017, losing 6-0 to Cuba and 7-1 to Japan.

Meanwhile, players are seeing the upside of playing in a global event by representing homelands with which they have strong or even faint connections. Italy this year will feature Kansas City Royals sluggers Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone as it aims to repeat – or exceed – its quarterfinal showing from 2023.

Israel, with major league old heads like Sam Fuld, Jason Marquis, Ike Davis and Ty Kelly alongside its “Mensch On The Bench,” made a startling 2017 run to the quarterfinals.

And stars spurned by their country of birth are nonetheless still pining to play. Eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado, who starred for Team USA in 2017 and 2023, didn’t hear his phone ring this time as a star-studded group of American-born commitments poured in.

Instead, Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina, his old St. Louis Cardinals teammate, called him up, asking to galvanize a squad beset by injury and insurance woes. Arenado, whose mother Millie is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, was all in.

“I didn’t expect (Team USA) to call coming off last year,” says Arenado, who produced a career-low .666 OPS for St. Louis before an off-season trade to Arizona. “I wasn’t going to play this year, but Yadi called me and my mom wanted me to do it.

“I love the tournament. The talent is sick. It just gets better and better.’’

Lurkers in the groups

Expansion may have its limits, however. In 2023, the event grew from 16 to 20 teams, with five countries now placed in the four pools. The giants flexed their muscles and the likes of Nicaragua, Czechia and Israel went 0-8 while getting outscored 66-6.

It made for a stirring back end of the tournament with Team USA surviving Venezuela in the quarterfinals and reaching its second consecutive championship, this time losing to three-time champion Japan. The final out, famously, came on a Shohei Ohtani strikeout of then-teammate Mike Trout.

Soon, we’ll see if the early rounds can again inject some drama into the proceedings. Australia will aim to repeat its first quarterfinal appearance in 2023 but will have to dislodge either Japan or Korea to do so.

Netherlands will aim to disrupt the Dominican-Venezuelan power duo in Pool D in Miami, with Israel also there in a spoiler role.

And Team USA will have to keep one eye on the disrupters in Houston’s Pool B, where Great Britain will deploy nearly a dozen current or former major leaguers – led by Bahamian Jazz Chisholm Jr. – and Italy’s paisan power bats for its third quarterfinal appearance in four tries.

Perhaps the chalk results will rule the day. But it’s likelier things will get a little tighter before the blue bloods move on.

“The WBC is getting better and better,” says Dodgers and Puerto Rico closer Edwin Diaz, “for every team. Look at the USA, they have a bunch of stars in this tournament.

“So that’s something that’s good for everyone.’’

It’s perhaps the ultimate rite of spring – poring over prospect ratings, getting too excited over a rookie’s chance to impact their Major League Baseball squad, going nuts over absurdly small samples of fake baseball in Grapefruit and Cactus league exhibitions.

Well, maybe this is the year to revel in it a bit.

Four top prospects have done little to dispel that they may not only be big league-ready, but poised to break through even before the most starry-eyed prospect-head could’ve imagined.

Yes, three weeks remain before Opening Day, plenty of time for twentysomethings to get schooled by superior pitching and steady veterans look more alluring to a manager. Noted.

Let’s take a minute to hone in on four uber prospects who have made the industry take notice with their early performances in camp:

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates

Might as well start with the aircraft carrier. Griffin is a teenager, at least until April 24, the game’s top prospect and a dude who has no idea how to tamp down the hype surrounding his name.

Thankfully, Griffin finally mixed in a single in an exhibition against Colombia, ending his spring streak of every hit being a gargantuan home run. Alas, those tape-measure shots did little to dull the roar that emerged from a .333/.415/.527 first professional season that started at low A and concluded at Class AA.

At 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, Griffin looks the part and, in his comportment and style of play, acts it as well. Ace Paul Skenes has voiced his support that the kid start in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.

And for whatever it’s worth, he’s still at shortstop while presumed incumbent Jared Triolo is getting reps at third.

Tea leaves will soon turn to brass tacks. And the most anticipated debut in several years may very well stay on the fast track.

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

Here’s the deal: The Tigers were a really good team last year, falling short of the ALCS only because the Seattle Mariners outlasted them in a 15-inning elimination game. And the really good team returned virtually intact on the position-player side.

Run it back? Not so fast, perhaps.

McGonigle is the consensus No. 2 prospect in the industry behind Griffin and we just have to say, this simply doesn’t happen. Nos. 1-2 never bust down the door in tandem, in spring training. Perhaps 1 is major league-ready and 2 is an uber talented kid ticketed for Class A.

But no. While Griffin’s loud noises in Bradenton have generated attention, McGonigle is doing even more to win a job up in Lakeland.

The Tigers keep putting him in high-profile positions – imagine never playing above Class AAA and suddenly playing behind Tarik Skubal – and he keeps answering. They batted him leadoff against the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team in front of a crowd in the D.R. ready to tear the roof off in support of their heroes.

And McGonigle hit a leadoff home run and produced a 3-for-3 night.

Never mind the stats, which are great – six hits in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats, a 1.137 OPS. The 21-year-old simply seems unbothered, and steady.

“The confidence that he’s showing in his at-bats against these particular pitchers,” manager A.J. Hinch said after McGonigle lit up the Dominicans, “is impressive.”

There was little doubt McGonigle would impact the Tigers this season, especially as it got closer to the playoffs. The next three weeks will reveal just how much that timeline has sped up.

Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies

Don’t be alarmed, but the Phillies very much look poised to plug a young player into the lineup.

Nope, John Middleton’s store-bought NL East champions all won’t carry nine-figure contracts this season. In fact, one of the most important positions figures to be manned by a guy making his major league debut when he jogs out to center field March 26 at Citizens Bank Park, when the Phillies open against the Texas Rangers.

He’s had a very nice spring thus far, with six hits in 19 at-bats, including three doubles, a nice catch in center field and, like McGonigle, a feeling that he’s ready.

Probably more than ready.

Crawford is 22 and has 112 Class AAA games already under his belt. And it’s true … legacy players are typically less fazed by the big league environment and Crawford bears many uncanny resemblances – looks and game-wise – to his father Carl, a four-time All-Star.

Unlike Griffin or McGonigle, Crawford carries neither the top two prospect hype nor the weight of franchise expectations. Batting ninth in a lineup of All-Stars is actually a pretty great way to break in.

Right now, it feels only a matter of time.

Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies

OK, it was just two innings in a fake baseball game in Clearwater.

Yet 20 pitches, two perfect frames against the New York Yankees and a sense of command – figuratively and literally – went an awful long way toward cementing Painter’s spot in Philadelphia’s rotation to begin the season.

“I was very encouraged,” manager Rob Thomson told reporters after the March 1 outing. “I thought it was great.”

It is no small thing. It’d been three years since Painter’s first exhibition start. Then came Tommy John surgery, sidelining what was then the game’s top pitching prospect, and two years spent largely on the mend. He fought himself and his new arm a bit last summer, costing him a chance at a late-season recall once Zack Wheeler succumbed to a blood clot and thoracic outlet surgery.

Wheeler won’t be ready until perhaps a month into this season. That created the opening Painter is vying for and, most likely, has already nailed down.

His next start is March 7 against the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays. They will see a guy with enhanced confidence and a five-pitch mix building himself up for his big league debut.

Some university administrators are warning of a financial crisis in college sports and are asking Congress for help.
Excessive spending includes large coaching salaries, massive buyouts for fired coaches, and bloated staffs.
Donald Trump to the rescue? He’s convening a roundtable for ‘Saving College Sports,’ headlind by Tiger Woods!

You’ve probably heard this college sports model is “unsustainable.”

University of Louisville’s president and other school administrators recently co-authored a panicky paper titled “College Athletics is Running out of Time” in which they lamented the insolvency of the enterprise and begged Congress for help.

Later this week, President Trump is scheduled to convene a roundtable under the banner of “Saving College Sports.”

You might recall Trump uncorked an executive order in July entitled “Saving College Sports.”

Apparently, that executive order was about as effective at “saving college sports” as those bombs Trump ordered last June were in rendering Iran’s nuclear program “obliterated.”

Anyway, this is all sounding very dire, right? College sports on the precipice of financial ruin, oh my!

To the extent this is true, here’s an idea: Tighten the belt.

Why it’s hard to take NCAA athletics ‘crisis’ seriously

It’s hard to take any of these college athletics ‘panicans’ seriously when they continue to blow through money like drunks in a casino.

Days after Louisville released its essay on the “financial crisis” plaguing College Sports Inc., its neighbor 80 miles away, the University of Kentucky, announced it was strapping retiring athletics director Mitch Barnhart into a golden parachute and stuffing his pockets full of doubloons.

Barnhart will transition into a role with a fancy title that basically translates to UK athletics consultant. His salary: $950,000.

Just a few years ago, that’s what SEC athletic directors were making. Now, they’re making three times that much, while a retiring athletic director like Barnhart can bag almost seven figures, plus football and basketball tickets and a golf membership.

Lest you think UK couldn’t possibly survive without Barnhart’s consultation, don’t forget, he’s responsible for the $38 million Kentucky owes to fired football coach Mark Stoops.

First task as consultant: Tell the next athletic director to not sign coaching contracts with stupid buyouts.

I think I’ve got a bead on this “financial crisis” college athletics finds itself in.

Louisville wants to borrow NFL salary cap. Just one problem …

The Louisville administrators begging for congressional action also argued in favor of a hard and enforceable cap on student-athlete payouts, akin to an NFL salary cap. Just one problem: The NFL has a collective bargaining agreement. College sports doesn’t. Good luck getting a cap that hampers athletes’ earnings to hold up in court.

How about this, fellas: Congress can get to that hard cap on athlete compensation right after it puts a hard and enforceable spending cap on coaching and administrator salaries, plus a hard and enforceable cap on buyouts. Does that sound good?

A recent analysis from The Athletic found the buyouts from FBS head coach firings last season totaled nearly $270 million, more than double the previous single-season record. Some buyout costs can be mitigated through settlements or offset clauses, but that figure still speaks to the soaring rate of severance expenses.

If we’ve got to have those precious federal guardrails I keep hearing about, how about some guardrails on failure money?

As Texas A&M athletics director Trev Alberts put it two years ago: We don’t have a revenue problem in college sports. We have a spending problem.

Bingo, buddy.

Here come Donald Trump, pro golfers to ‘save’ college sports

Trump is on the case, though, so I’m sure this will all get ironed out soon. Perhaps, he’ll release an executive order titled, “Saving College Sports, Part II,” and, voila, problem solved.

In the meantime, we’ve got us a good old-fashioned roundtable cued up. The list of luminaries invited to this meetup in Washington D.C. reportedly includes pro golfers Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau. If college sports can be “saved” through a long drive competition, then the future is in good hands.

Hey, the NCAA, academia and politico classes had their shot at fixing this and achieved very little, so why not let the golf bros take a swing at it, right?

Whatever you do, just don’t blame the folks steering the college sports enterprise. As Louisville’s president, athletic director and chairman of the board of trustees insisted multiple times in the alarmist paper they authored, “we don’t have the answers,” ‘nor are we experts,’ (no argument here), but they also swear they’re not part of the problem.

“These are not stories of mismanagement,” the UofL brass wrote. “They are symptoms of a structural crisis.”

They pointed to Louisville athletics’ $12.5 million budget shortfall.

“New revenue alone will not solve the crisis if spending continues to escalate without restraint,” the Louisville authors wrote.

OK, sure, runaway spending needs to be addressed, but why is federal action required for athletic departments to rein in the gluttony?

Louisville paid football coach Jeff Brohm $6 million last season. He’s a good coach, and that’s a bargain rate compared to what some peers paid worse coaches. But, Brohm’s salary is almost double what Louisville paid his predecessor, Scott Satterfield, four years ago.

Nobody forced these schools to double coaching salaries every few years, even while support staffs became larger than ever.

A scan of Louisville’s athletics department website shows the school employs 16 individuals with the words “associate AD,” “senior associate AD” or “deputy AD” in their job title, plus another glob of assistant ADs.

Then, there are five assistant equipment managers. They’re not to be confused with the associate director of equipment operations or the director of equipment operations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they all work very hard, but I want to make sure we’re not solely blaming this “financial crisis” on schools now having to cut athletes in on the revenue they’ve been helping generate all these years.

Louisville says operating deficit not a sign of ‘mismanagement’

Put football and men’s basketball aside, and most sports within a college athletics department operate at a loss on the balance sheet. That’s nothing new, but administrators have become more concerned about these losses now that they’re also spending more on athlete compensation.

Louisville’s women’s basketball program apparently is headed for a $4 million operating deficit.

“These are not signs of mismanagement,” Louisville’s administrators wrote.

I’m sure it’s not at all related, but the Cardinals traveled to California and Stanford to play conference games this winter.

Remind me, who decided to put two California schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference?

Did Congress decide that? No.

Did the athletes decide that? No.

Did the judicial system make that call? Again, no.

Ah, yes, I remember now. University and athletics administrators and conference commissioners decided to realign and grow conferences from coast to coast, right before frenetically begging Congress for a bailout that saves them from themselves.

“Congress must get involved before it is too late,” the Louisville brass wrote.

Or, try this idea: If you’re truly afraid of growing broke, tighten the belt instead of begging for a bailout.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.