Part 5/11:
The discussion naturally leads to broader questions about coaching standards and the future of institutions like Penn State. The concept of "higher standards" is now intertwined with the reality that the landscape is becoming more competitive and unpredictable. The rise of parity, partly fueled by the influence of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the transfer portal, has leveled the playing field across college football.
This parity is evidenced by recent data indicating that the gap in margin of victory in the SEC has significantly narrowed. Since NIL’s inception, the league’s dominance has softened; in 2020, the average victory margin was nearly 19 points, but recently it has shrunk to just over 10 points, signifying a more balanced competition.