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Interest in the sport never lower

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Hill Country Ag
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12:15p, 8/25/26
AG
I'm interested enough to post this, but this is a rant on my growing lack of interest, and the demise of the sport I used to really love: college football.

I loved our TexAgs football board and it was an important part of my day - no matter the time of year. Some would say "get a life" I guess.

Well, I have:
- I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one.

- I find I can't really stand to watch the sports shows

- I turned on SEC Now and listened for 20m. I realized the TV business people that run the sport have what they've always wanted: the top 10-15 teams that practically never change make for lower costs. They set story lines for these teams starting jn Feb and hit the "play" button starting in late July. The narratives are very scripted, predictable - and boring. The episide I watched covered the top 10 teams with A&M at #8. I waited to see what they were going to say after the scripted glowing comments for the top 7. They literally skipped the Ags! Not one point made. They went to their next darling team.

- And now I guess athletes can go pro and return to college, and have 25, 26, 27yo playing against 18 yo?

Now that we're paying athletes to put on a FTA jersey, why would we care or track what is going on in recruiting? They come and go depending on the highest bidder. What does that have to do with being an FTA student?

I will still watch the games if I don't have other important matters. But I don't really care about the outcomes any longer. That feels really weird.

Maybe I'm the only fan left that liked it much better before. We have gained some things that increases $$$ payouts. But we've lost alot, too. Today's game is a shadow of what it used to be when there was at least the perception of diversity and regional cultures. The college game now feels like Jerry Jones lite. Gag.

That is all.
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Alpha Texan
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12:22p, 8/25/26
AG
My interest has never been lower, but it's still high. I will still tune in for every A&M game and keep an eye on other scores all day. I don't keep up with all of CFB all year, and only loosely keep up with A&M outside of the season.

I've found that watching sports shows that boast guys who just love the game for all it is has helped keep my interest alive. Pate is a big one, Pat is another fun one.
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Panama Red
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In reply to Hill Country Ag • 12:27p, 8/25/26
AG
There's obviously a lot not to like about the current state of college sports

But your paragraph about what you saw on the SEC now is something that that's been an issue since last century on the various networks and TV.


I'd also say that you've "got a life" by spending less time here. I imagine you have many better things going on now in your world. That should be celebrated, not lamented.
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An L of an Ag
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12:29p, 8/25/26
AG
Now wait until the deluge of NFL players hitting the NIL button when teams cut down to the 53 man roster.
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usmcbrooks
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12:33p, 8/25/26
I'll be spending my weekends dove, turkey and deer hunting. My interest is gone, why they still have to go to class is beyond me.
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TX_Aggie37
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12:35p, 8/25/26
AG
Feel free to take your ball and go home.
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Fatboy Thaddeus
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12:40p, 8/25/26
CFB -> NFL also means CFB -> WWE

IOW I'm right there with you OP.

But, still, there will be many delicious tears in our future.
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NoahAg
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12:43p, 8/25/26
I guess my interest has dropped a bit. I just had to google what time our first game is, thinking it is this Saturday. Turns out we don't play until 9/5.

The nice thing about losing interest is I don't plan my weekends around 18-25 year olds anymore. I do still watch, but I usually record the game and watch later at night, after I've done things that actually matter.
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Signel
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12:48p, 8/25/26
AG
Despite being one of the most well funded teams, it is hard for me to get excited about a broken pay to play system. It is the same reason I hated the New York Yankees as a kid.

On the flip side, the kids should be paid for sure. How do you do that and not bite off the hand that feeds (the fans?) If there were no fans, the kids wouldn't get paid anymore.

We have to find a balance that doesn't break all the schools, conferences, and sports in general. I don't have an answer, but I know I don't like where we are headed. 8 year seniors playing NFL last year, but got cut, but comes back to college? No thanks...
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BboroAg
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In reply to Hill Country Ag • 12:48p, 8/25/26
AG
Unfortunately I think you are correct….but I may have become an old man yelling at clouds.
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greg.w.h
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In reply to Hill Country Ag • 12:49p, 8/25/26
AG
Hill Country Ag said:
I'm interested enough to post this, but this is a rant on my growing lack of interest, and the demise of the sport I used to really love: college football.

I loved our TexAgs football board and it was an important part of my day - no matter the time of year. Some would say "get a life" I guess.

Well, I have:
- I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one.

- I find I can't really stand to watch the sports shows

- I turned on SEC Now and listened for 20m. I realized the TV business people that run the sport have what they've always wanted: the top 10-15 teams that practically never change make for lower costs. They set story lines for these teams starting jn Feb and hit the "play" button starting in late July. The narratives are very scripted, predictable - and boring. The episide I watched covered the top 10 teams with A&M at #8. I waited to see what they were going to say after the scripted glowing comments for the top 7. They literally skipped the Ags! Not one point made. They went to their next darling team.

- And now I guess athletes can go pro and return to college, and have 25, 26, 27yo playing against 18 yo?

Now that we're paying athletes to put on a FTA jersey, why would we care or track what is going on in recruiting? They come and go depending on the highest bidder. What does that have to do with being an FTA student?

I will still watch the games if I don't have other important matters. But I don't really care about the outcomes any longer. That feels really weird.

Maybe I'm the only fan left that liked it much better before. We have gained some things that increases $$$ payouts. But we've lost alot, too. Today's game is a shadow of what it used to be when there was at least the perception of diversity and regional cultures. The college game now feels like Jerry Jones lite. Gag.

That is all.
And yet the tv numbers keep going up without you…
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AozorAg
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12:50p, 8/25/26
My interest in the sport has never been lower, but I still have interest and will watch. The on-field product and drama is still the best in sports.
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QB1
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12:52p, 8/25/26
AG
Good, maybe ticket prices will drop for my family of 6
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dabo man
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12:53p, 8/25/26
AG
I'm tinkering with numerical modeling/prediction. I might start grinding it out against Vegas with safe bets and see if I can make a little every weekend. Why shouldn't I get paid something for college football?

The game itself is now something I watch on Saturdays in the fall because I've done it for 40+ years.
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Panama Red
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In reply to dabo man • 12:56p, 8/25/26
AG
Quote:
I might start grinding it out against Vegas with safe bets

The Vegas "Safe bet."

The best way to make money.
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kyledr04
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12:58p, 8/25/26
AG
My interest has dropped. Maybe closer to the nfl. I'll watch but that's about it and maybe miss some.
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TexAgs91
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In reply to Hill Country Ag • 12:59p, 8/25/26
AG
Get a dog. It's not like it's 2020 when the team was ****ting on the traditions of this school and getting in alumni's faces (that's the only season I skipped since I was at A&M)

"I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one"
Why start today?
May I direct your attention to the wide range of topics on this site...
No, I don't care what CNN or Miss NOW said this time
Ad Lunam
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Zachary Klement
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1:02p, 8/25/26
AG
Agree with the general sentiment.

Where I am at with CFB right now: If A&M is performing well, I will be generally interested in the rest of the CFB landscape and will throw on a game here and there. If we fall out of playoff talks or are embarrassing, I will likely tune out for the rest of the season and won't watch games outside of ours.

The sport as a whole is a complete joke. I liked the idea of players getting paid...things have gone WAY too far, TROs, guys coming back from the NFL, transferring multiple times without penalty. The things that made CFB great are going away and I am sort of in a place where I would just rather watch the NFL because the league is not making brain dead rule changes or allowing things to go on that completely ruin what I love about it.
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Howdy Dammit
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1:13p, 8/25/26
AG
Agreed. Even if we won it all, is there really anything for me to be prideful about? These guys aren't Aggies. They didn't chose the same school I chose. It's just their job to wear the color jersey that writes them the best check. As others mentioned, I will still watch. I enjoy the on field product. But I have about the same affiliation with the players as I do with any pro team. That used to be the whole reason I was so invested into 'my' team.
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dabo man
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In reply to Panama Red • 1:17p, 8/25/26
AG
I worked with AI to build software to make hypothetical $100 bets on Monday mornings for select Saturday games. It predicts the final score of every game on the schedule and then checks multiple sports books' lines to find games that make sense to bet on. I'm going to keep track of the bets and payouts as the season goes along. If I find I'm actually making money, I might start using real money.

Not many games this Saturday, but the model "bet" on six of them:
TCU to win and cover against UNC
USC to beat SJSU
Virginia to beat NC State
North Dakota State to beat JAX State
Eastern Michigan to cover against Sac State
Florida State to beat NMSU

I've been doing this with MLB games for one week and have had five winnings days and two losing days. I'd never get rich, but I'd never run out of money either. The difference with baseball is that I've been betting on every game. I'm about to change that because there are games I don't want to touch. I'm only betting on 13 of 15 MLB games tonight.

========================================================================
2026 MLB BETTING PERFORMANCE
========================================================================
Hypothetical bets: 94
Betting record: 59-35
Hypothetical $100-bet profit: $+663.39
Hypothetical ROI: +7.06%
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Zachary Klement
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In reply to Howdy Dammit • 1:25p, 8/25/26
AG
Yup, I would still be proud. It is so hard to assemble a team that can win it all and then actually do it.

Sure, there are guys who just come here for the money or because it is the best fit for them to have a shot to play professionally, but I would imagine that there are a lot of guys on the team (if not most of the guys) that love A&M...this has always been the case, IMO.
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rbtexan
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In reply to greg.w.h • 1:37p, 8/25/26
S
greg.w.h said:
Hill Country Ag said:
I'm interested enough to post this, but this is a rant on my growing lack of interest, and the demise of the sport I used to really love: college football.

I loved our TexAgs football board and it was an important part of my day - no matter the time of year. Some would say "get a life" I guess.

Well, I have:
- I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one.

- I find I can't really stand to watch the sports shows

- I turned on SEC Now and listened for 20m. I realized the TV business people that run the sport have what they've always wanted: the top 10-15 teams that practically never change make for lower costs. They set story lines for these teams starting jn Feb and hit the "play" button starting in late July. The narratives are very scripted, predictable - and boring. The episide I watched covered the top 10 teams with A&M at #8. I waited to see what they were going to say after the scripted glowing comments for the top 7. They literally skipped the Ags! Not one point made. They went to their next darling team.

- And now I guess athletes can go pro and return to college, and have 25, 26, 27yo playing against 18 yo?

Now that we're paying athletes to put on a FTA jersey, why would we care or track what is going on in recruiting? They come and go depending on the highest bidder. What does that have to do with being an FTA student?

I will still watch the games if I don't have other important matters. But I don't really care about the outcomes any longer. That feels really weird.

Maybe I'm the only fan left that liked it much better before. We have gained some things that increases $$$ payouts. But we've lost alot, too. Today's game is a shadow of what it used to be when there was at least the perception of diversity and regional cultures. The college game now feels like Jerry Jones lite. Gag.

That is all.

And yet the tv numbers keep going up without you…

And the attendance numbers are down. I suspect more people are staying home and watching rather than paying the insane amounts of money it takes to go to the games. Probably a wash IMO
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Panama Red
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In reply to rbtexan • 1:47p, 8/25/26
AG
Quote:
And the attendance numbers are down

Across all leagues?
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rbtexan
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In reply to Panama Red • 1:55p, 8/25/26
S
Overall across college football. Some conferences, like the SEC and B10 are doing fine. But overall, down. And the bowl game attendance has completely tanked.
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greg.w.h
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In reply to rbtexan • 1:58p, 8/25/26
AG
rbtexan said:
greg.w.h said:
Hill Country Ag said:
I'm interested enough to post this, but this is a rant on my growing lack of interest, and the demise of the sport I used to really love: college football.

I loved our TexAgs football board and it was an important part of my day - no matter the time of year. Some would say "get a life" I guess.

Well, I have:
- I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one.

- I find I can't really stand to watch the sports shows

- I turned on SEC Now and listened for 20m. I realized the TV business people that run the sport have what they've always wanted: the top 10-15 teams that practically never change make for lower costs. They set story lines for these teams starting jn Feb and hit the "play" button starting in late July. The narratives are very scripted, predictable - and boring. The episide I watched covered the top 10 teams with A&M at #8. I waited to see what they were going to say after the scripted glowing comments for the top 7. They literally skipped the Ags! Not one point made. They went to their next darling team.

- And now I guess athletes can go pro and return to college, and have 25, 26, 27yo playing against 18 yo?

Now that we're paying athletes to put on a FTA jersey, why would we care or track what is going on in recruiting? They come and go depending on the highest bidder. What does that have to do with being an FTA student?

I will still watch the games if I don't have other important matters. But I don't really care about the outcomes any longer. That feels really weird.

Maybe I'm the only fan left that liked it much better before. We have gained some things that increases $$$ payouts. But we've lost alot, too. Today's game is a shadow of what it used to be when there was at least the perception of diversity and regional cultures. The college game now feels like Jerry Jones lite. Gag.

That is all.

And yet the tv numbers keep going up without you…

And the attendance numbers are down. I suspect more people are staying home and watching rather than paying the insane amounts of money it takes to go to the games. Probably a wash IMO
Hard to say. Bama has had flat attendance lately, though…

https://www.d1ticker.com/2025-fbs-attendance-trends/
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Little Rock Ag
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In reply to greg.w.h • 1:59p, 8/25/26
AG
greg.w.h said:
Hill Country Ag said:
I'm interested enough to post this, but this is a rant on my growing lack of interest, and the demise of the sport I used to really love: college football.

I loved our TexAgs football board and it was an important part of my day - no matter the time of year. Some would say "get a life" I guess.

Well, I have:
- I can't remember when I last opened a post here, much less posted one.

- I find I can't really stand to watch the sports shows

- I turned on SEC Now and listened for 20m. I realized the TV business people that run the sport have what they've always wanted: the top 10-15 teams that practically never change make for lower costs. They set story lines for these teams starting jn Feb and hit the "play" button starting in late July. The narratives are very scripted, predictable - and boring. The episide I watched covered the top 10 teams with A&M at #8. I waited to see what they were going to say after the scripted glowing comments for the top 7. They literally skipped the Ags! Not one point made. They went to their next darling team.

- And now I guess athletes can go pro and return to college, and have 25, 26, 27yo playing against 18 yo?

Now that we're paying athletes to put on a FTA jersey, why would we care or track what is going on in recruiting? They come and go depending on the highest bidder. What does that have to do with being an FTA student?

I will still watch the games if I don't have other important matters. But I don't really care about the outcomes any longer. That feels really weird.

Maybe I'm the only fan left that liked it much better before. We have gained some things that increases $$$ payouts. But we've lost alot, too. Today's game is a shadow of what it used to be when there was at least the perception of diversity and regional cultures. The college game now feels like Jerry Jones lite. Gag.

That is all.

And yet the tv numbers keep going up without you…

Yeah, and you obviously don't get it either with that reply.
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VP at Pierce and Pierce
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2:00p, 8/25/26
My interest is not as high as it used to be. One reason is is the game is sloppy and not as crisp as the nfl. As I've aged I have started to enjoy the precision in which pro players play with. If only they could figure out how to wear uniforms instead of all looking like they are going to a scrimmage. My other point with the college game is the style of play is all the same now. 15 years ago teams ran the triple option, spread option, veer, air raid, pro style, west coast, and spread power. It was fun to watch styles clash. Now it's all one hybrid offense. Add in the mess with the portal and it's just not as enjoyable plus the officiating is awful and predictable as it relates to outcomes.
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greg.w.h
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2:03p, 8/25/26
AG
Stop watching then???
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Hank the Grifter
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2:06p, 8/25/26
At the end of the day, the fan gets screwed over and the rich get richer. Period. They don't give a damn about you but they do know that you'll keep throwing good money after bad to support your school…and they leverage that knowledge to fleece you.
That's why I haven't given a dime to athletics in decades. There was already too much money in the game 35 years ago but at least you could get into to see any given game for $15.
Now, you have to pay 10 times that plus another $100 for drinks and a snack for your family, then you're subjected to 4 hours of commercials and ****ty music interrupted by a little bit of football.
But please continue to pay them money for the privilege of buying tickets, then the tickets themselves, then giving to NIL

Not a chance.
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Rec
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2:11p, 8/25/26
AG
They have pills for these kind of problems
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GrayMatter
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2:43p, 8/25/26
AG
So, this has become the t-shirt fan thread then?
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Mac94
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3:06p, 8/25/26
AG
First year in decades I haven't bought a preseason mag ... have a collection of them going back to the 80's. The SEC shorts skit kinda nailed it ... I know so few of the players now. I can still ramble off players from the 80's, 90's, 2000's ... but outside of QB1 really don't know these guys. Can't name a single kid from last years recruiting class or a single commit now.

This isn't the sport I grew up loving (yes, I know about the under the table money and stuff, I'm not stupid). There just isn't the connection anymore and money is the only thing that matters to anyone.

The sport is gone ... and while I know what was ain't coming back... I don;t have to accept what has replaced it.
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Ginormus Ag
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3:13p, 8/25/26
AG
I only watch and keep up with college football so that I can understand the inside jokes on SEC Shorts.
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Bitter Old Man
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3:13p, 8/25/26
AG
My kind of post.
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South Platte
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3:16p, 8/25/26
College sports is a waste of time now. They just couldn't leave it alone and let us enjoy it.
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