Jay Bilas attacks NCAA over mission statement, continued realignment talk

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas has made his feelings about the NCAA well known during a multitude of on-air appearances and social media rants throughout the years. He continued his mission to attack the organization for its recent activity, or lack thereof, following a report on further conference realignment between the Big 12 and Pac-12.

After CBS published a story revealing “deep discussions” to add up to six teams from the Pac-12 in the wake of USC and UCLA’s departure for the Big Ten, Jay Bilas took to social media to call for any kind of oversight from the NCAA.

“Too bad there’s nobody at the NCAA that can get all conference leaders together and remind them this is all about education, tradition, and the ‘student-athlete,’” said Bilas. “Oh yeah, these are market competitors looking to do what’s best for themselves. Shocker.”

The shot comes as part of an ongoing disagreement that the NCAA actually cares about the education of “student-athletes,” which has long been viewed as an excuse to not pay players as employees. After long legal battles over NIL possibilities and complaints about the “Wild West” the floodgates opened with a lack of oversight in the transfer portal and NIL marketplace, Bilas continues throwing blame on the NCAA for its part in creating the current state of college athletics.

Jay Bilas on NIL advantages

Young adults often complain about never being taught in school how to manage their financial interests, legal obligations and everything else that comes with being an adult in the real world. Well – problem solved.

According to Jay Bilas, NIL has created real-world situations for young student athletes across the country to learn real-time how to negotiate deals with brands to benefit off their personal likeness.

“One of the clear positives of NIL is the financial literacy for athletes that comes with the business of college sports,” Bilas said. “Now, athletes can engage in commercial activity, sign contracts, pay taxes, make financial decisions whether to save or invest, and learn important lessons about how the business world really works. It is a great opportunity for athletes to learn and for schools to educate.

“In addition, since NIL, we have seen examples of athletes donating money earned to charitable causes they believe in. Such donations should not be seen as a requirement, but they are most certainly a positive of NIL.”