The SEC, Big Ten, and Charles Bediako: Unveiling the Game-Changing Forces Reshaping College Football Playoffs

The dust has settled on another thrilling college football season, yet the chatter surrounding the College Football Playoff (CFP) is far from over — actually, it’s heating up like a pot left unattended. While the actual gridiron battles have paused, the intense discussions among the powers that be are in full swing, centered on whether the CFP should expand and if so, by how much. Andy Staples and Ross Dellenger recently dissected the critical meetings leading up to the National Championship, revealing a stalemate between the Big Ten and SEC commissioners who are locked in a tug-of-war over the playoff’s future. As the clock ticks down to the deadline, the air is thick with anticipation — but a decision? Not so much. Ross sheds light on why the Big Ten and SEC wield such formidable clout in steering this pivotal choice.

Of course, the drama spills over into the transfer portal saga, spotlighting Duke quarterback Darian Mensah’s contentious move — a case stirring up significant legal and NIL-related debates, with Adidas playing a discreet yet powerful role. And if that’s not enough, college basketball is buzzing too, with Charles Bediako’s potential return to Alabama adding fresh excitement and controversy. Through it all, one thing’s crystal clear: though the season’s finished, the stories, the lawsuits, the negotiations — those never call it quits.

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It is officially the offseason, unfortunately, but just because the confetti has been cleaned up does not mean the conversations about the CFP have stopped. In fact it is quite the opposite. The difference is these conversations are not about what is happening on the field. The debate continues to rage on as commissioners discuss potential expansion of the CFP. Andy Staples and Ross Dellenger discuss what happened in the meetings that were held in the week leading up to the National Championship. The Big Ten and the SEC seem to be at an impasse of how much they want the College Football Playoff to expand. With the deadline fast approaching, no decision appears in sight. Ross explains why these two commissioners hold all the power for this decision.

Then, the guys shift from one hot button topic to the next. The transfer portal. Specifically one athlete. Darian Mensah. The Duke quarterback has officially entered the transfer portal even though he has a signed NIL contract with Duke. The Blue Devils are suing Mensah to prevent him from leaving. It is expected he will head to Miami to be their new quarterback. Andy and Ross discuss the differences between this situation and the one with Demond Williams and Washington. They share why it seems like Mensah has a good chance to win this case and how schools can prevent these situations in the future. Plus, they dive into Adidas’ potential impact in this situation and their overall aggressive handling of NIL. Also, Duke wide receiver Cooper Barkate has entered the portal as well, with Miami being a favorite to land him too.

Later, the big news in college athletics is no longer about football. It is over in the college basketball world as Charles Bediako has temporarily been granted the ability to return to Alabama basketball. There is a hearing next week that will determine whether or not he can return full-time. Bediako previously played at Alabama and entered the 2023 NBA Draft. Although he has never played in an NBA regular season game, he has played on multiple Summer League and G League teams. Andy and Ross discuss Bediako being allowed to play college basketball again and the impact this could have on college athletics.

The season is over but the news never stops with College Football Enquirer.

0:00:00 – Will the CFP expand further?

15:40 – Why the Big Ten & SEC hold all the power

27:44 – Duke sues Darian Mensah

37:48 – Adidas’ impact in the NIL space

44:08 – Duke WR Cooper Barkate to transfer

49:23 – Charles Bediako returns to Alabama

53:43 – How Bediako could impact college sports

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