This is absolutely crazy, the state we are in with college football and the portal.  I heard the other day that almost 1/3 of all Div I players are in the portal.  My enthusiasm for college football is one of my loves in life after my family and faith.  I fear that with changing rosters, not knowing year to year who will be there for the Buckeyes next year, players chasing the money, the climate this is creating, etc. that my enthusiasm might dwindle like it has with college basketball over the past years. 

How can this be fixed?  I throw  possibilities, one realistic and one not so realistic, unfortunately.  

1. NOT SO REALISTIC- People advising these young men, the agents, parents, people of significance in their lives, and the young athletes themselves, change their philosophy of what is more important in the long-term.  Rather than persuade the young men to persevere, work harder, put in more time, compete harder, etc. (good old time tested values that render positive long-term value) these "advisors" are counseling them to go get the money now.  This will have negative impact on the quality of the NFL long-term, not to mention college football.

2. REALISTIC- While I would have cringed years ago at this, the current climate, I believe, necessitates this:  College football to fix this mess, needs to create something like collective bargaining for the players, so that players can still get paid, but colleges can put some guardrails and jake brakes on this downhill runaway semi that could crash College Football into a mountainside wall.  This could have tiered pay structures that go up if a player stays with a team year 2, more in year 3, more in year 4.  Limit players to one or two portal changes over their career. While doing this, change the current playoff structure to be done with the Rose Bowl every year on Jan 1st. This will necessitate other main bowls (cottton, sugar, etc.) changing their dates to a week earlier, lesser bowls (duke mayo, citrus, etc) to an even earlier week.  This way the season ends for all teams Jan 1 and the portal opens one time early January.  We need home games for the first and second round playoff games.  The teams that don't make the playoff can play in the lesser bowls still as long as they are before Jan 1.

What are your thoughts to fix this wild west portal, and save college football?