The advent of the transfer portal and the NIL has opened up a Pandora’s Box of new situations and decisions athletes must face, including the possibility of gambling entering the picture to tempt players who are not eligible for the big sponsorships and publicity deals. Additionally, in the middle of bowl preparations, many players have opted not to participate in the games because of early December signing days with the NFL. Have the plethora of bowls watered down the importance of the games and taken away their original purpose? Has the whole college football culture turned upside down at this point? Bo Nix will be bucking that trend and is playing in the Liberty Bowl for Oregon to complete his college career. Wouldn’t more student-athletes benefit from finishing their education to ensure success in life past university sports, as very few will have a professional career to rely on?

USC QB Miller Moss made six touchdown passes in the Holiday Bowl. Has he been underestimated, and should he be given more credit as a player? Does he have just as much potential as Caleb Williams?

Who will emerge victorious between Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban in the Rose Bowl game? As these two legendary teams come together for Pasadena’s granddaddy of all bowl games, how close will it be? Have Michigan’s travails this past season given them the extra incentive to roll over the Crimson Tide? Or will Alabama’s experience win out?

Are newspapers and magazines on the verge of becoming a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future? Until recently, most people got their information through print media, but the further we move into the digital age, the more news is sourced online. Many in the younger generations have grown up only seeking information digitally and have most likely never even read a hard-copy newspaper. How will this change the landscape of journalism in general and sports reporting as a specialty?

Email Fred, Art, and Andy with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com