Michigan Football Coach Pushing For Massive Changes To CFB

Revenue sharing: it’s a sensitive topic when it comes to the NCAA and its treatment of college athletes, especially at the Division I level. When it comes to college football, especially at Power 5 schools like the University of Michigan, players are generating eight to nine figures in TV revenue, yet there is no revenue-sharing system in place — something that Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh thinks is an issue, and is using his platform to advocate for.

Michigan football coach pushes for revenue sharing between NCAA and its players

If you ask Jim Harbaugh, his Michigan football players — and other NCAA athletes — should be a part of a revenue-sharing system that compensates them for their value to the game. College football is a massive money maker, bringing in hundreds of millions — perhaps billions — annually; however, none of that money goes to the players.

Earlier this year, ahead of the 2023 Michigan football season, Jim Harbaugh first mentioned the idea of revenue sharing between the NCAA and its athletes, something that undoubtedly ruffled some feathers with the higher-ups in college football.

What did Jim Harbaugh say ahead of the Big Ten title game?

On Saturday, not that Jim Harbaugh is no longer suspended and will be coaching against Iowa in the Big Ten title game next weekend, he once again advocated for a system where the players get paid.

“Who could be against (college football) players being compensated for what they do? At least even minimum wage,” Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh said Sunday. “I mean, who could argue against that? When there’s injury or not. I mean the emotional buildup watching it on TV.

“There wasn’t a commercial that went by, a sporting event that was played all week that you didn’t see those two teams and the buildup and the hype and the talk about players’ legacies and everything that could possibly be rolled into one game on the line. And then you see the amount of people that are benefiting financially from those players’ efforts out there.

“I wonder who could be against that? I asked other coaches to get on board and use their platform and their voice for the student-athletes. Not just football players, but all student-athletes, to be sharing in this ever-increasing revenue. That was another thought that I had, and I just don’t know who could be against that.”

Jim Harbaugh also offered to take a pay cut if it meant his players got more.

“Coaches are profiting millions, and I’ve had people tell me, ‘Don’t say anything about that, that’ll take away money for the coaches.’ What I’ve been able to do is donate money back to the athletic department, which I did in 2021,” Jim Harbaugh added on Sunday. “But yeah, I would, for the players to be to be compensated. I’m using my voice, and I would take less money for the players to have a share.”

Will anyone side with Harbaugh?

So, not even 24 hours after being un-suspended, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is already back to upsetting the higher-ups at TV partners by advocating for player compensation. Harbaugh also said that he is rallying other coaches, though considering how controversial of a stance it will be with conference and NCAA executives, I doubt many others will side with Harbaugh in his push for what he sees as fair treatment of the players.

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