On the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez sits down with University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam to unpack a whirlwind week in Missoula. Haslam breaks down Bobby Hauck’s brief retirement and rapid move to defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, the decision to...
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Great interview last night Colter! I thought Kent was very open and honest about the whole situation! Even breaking down the Soccer coaching search and why it took so long he was very transparent about!
I believe this is relevant based on some of Kent's comments.
In the not to distant future schools will have less say and control.
It isn't just a rumor—the "professionalization" of college football is accelerating. While teams aren't being sold off like franchises just yet, the barrier between a university department and a private corporation is thinning rapidly.
As of early 2026, several major shifts are moving college football toward a private organizational model:
1. The Rise of "Private Capital" Partnerships
Instead of direct ownership, schools are forming joint ventures. A landmark example is the University of Utah, which recently partnered with the private equity firm Otro Capital in a $500 million deal.
The Structure: The school creates a separate for-profit entity to manage commercial assets (media rights, sponsorships, ticketing).
The Stake: The private firm takes a minority ownership stake in that specific company, not the university itself, to bypass legal hurdles regarding the school's non-profit status.
2. Conference-Level Privatization
The Big Ten and Big 12 have both explored multibillion-dollar deals with firms like RedBird Capital and CVC Capital Partners.
In one proposed model, a conference would spin off its media and commercial rights into a new company (e.g., "Big Ten Enterprises").
Private equity firms would then buy a 10–15% stake in that company, providing schools with immediate cash to pay players and build facilities in exchange for a slice of future TV revenue.
3. The "Super League" Concept
There is serious momentum behind the idea of a College Football Super League. This would effectively decouple the top 70–80 football programs from the NCAA and their traditional conferences.
This league would likely operate as a private commercial entity, similar to Formula 1 or the English Premier League.
Teams would still wear the "Michigan" or "Alabama" colors, but the financial and operational control would sit with the league's private board of directors and investors.
4. Why Is This Happening?
The primary driver is the House v. NCAA settlement, which now allows schools to share revenue directly with athletes (up to roughly $20.5 million per year per school). Universities are looking for "private" ways to fund these massive new expenses without draining their academic budgets.
