Players speak out on NCAA conference realignment

College athletes returned to campus this fall faced with an unsettling question: How much are their lives about to change? Last summer, fifteen schools in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), realigned conferences, chasing lucrative media deals in what led to the demise of the Pac-12. Seemingly overnight, the 109-year-old conference of a dozen schools, with decades of rivalries, became a conference of two. For some student-athletes, the switch meant their schools would play games across the country, leading to longer travel schedules, increased time away from school, and a more rigorous schedule. Athletes saw the move as a change they hadn’t entirely signed up for. Some worry their well-being has been overlooked. In this week’s Stay Tuned, we’ll explore the real human cost of conference realignment and how it could impact student-athletes’ mental health.

Stay Tuned is an NBC News brand dedicated to bringing the trusted, accurate, premium journalism to Gen Z News consumers. We think like our audience and highlight the stories that resonate and are relevant to them. Stay Tuned each week for new videos on Mondays.
»Subscribe to our channel and turn on the 🔔 so you never miss another video!

See more exclusive reporting at our NBC News YouTube channel:

Follow our social accounts:

#NCAA #Football #college #athlete #studentathlete #Pac12 #Pac2 #mentalhealth

[marcus]

If the Pac-12 didn't make that crazy counteroffer to ESPN, this video wouldn't have been made.

[JuanWayTrips]

Football should have done what hockey does and have completely separate conferences, while keeping the other sports in more regional conferences. That way, Stanford can go play in the ACC for football (and maybe basketball) while the Pac-12 remained for soccer, baseball, etc.

[Cloudtv]

Football pays the bills, everyone needs to get in line.

[sirbixalot]

exactly my concerns when this all went down. Shame on the PAC-12

[kswiss]

This is a business and there’s million of student athletes waiting to take your spot if you don’t like it.

[mustang]

I don't care. They get a scholarship deal to a good school with the possibility of NIL money. Student athletes are the most dramatic people on campus