College Football Off-Field Matchups-Week 10
1. 10 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
The Bedlam Series (named after the raucous crowds their two wrestling programs attract when they face off) returns for another edition of the rivalry, which has been played since 1904. This may be one of the last games of the 112-year matchup, because Oklahoma is leaving the BIG-12 for the SEC in 2024. With tight schedules planned well ahead (all the way to 2038 for OSU) the likely hood of the second longest continuous college football rivalry coming to an end soon is almost certain at this point. Much like USC and UCLA, Oklahoma and Texas announced they will leave their conference for supposedly greener grasses, joining the SEC in 2024. Conference realignment has rattled the country with the pursuit of with media rights deals and the NIL rules playing large factors. While the Bedlam game has been played for over a hundred years consecutively and has been an economic boost in the state every year, Oklahoma saw allure of joining SEC worth giving up the historic rivalry. With this weekend possibly being the final chapter of Bedlam, tickets are skyrocketing, with ESPN posting that the lowest prices for tickets are at $408, by far the most across the country. The finale in an alltime great rivalry will have the entire state of Oklahoma’s attention this Saturday.
2. 3 Ohio State at Rutgers
Eric LeGrand is well known in the Rutgers community, the former Rutgers Defensive Tackle was tragically paralyzed when attempting to make a tackle in a game in 2010, but since then, he’s made it his mission to walk again and inspire others, becoming a regular around the program. Not only is he inspiring the people around him, he’s making business deals. Over the summer, Rutgers agreed to a multiyear partnership with LeGrand’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, featuring it in SHI Stadium and Jersey Mikes arena, becoming the first partnership between a university and a spirits company. (nj.com). LeGrand also has a coffee company that has been featured at the stadium for the past two years. His bourbon and coffee may see an uptick in consumption this week, as statistically the biggest college football fanbase in the country comes to town with The Ohio State Buckeyes. Not only are they the largest fanbase, but also travel well, according to StubHub Ohio State is the most in-demand road ticket in the country. Rutgers is making business moves in their stadiums and OSU is bringing economic boosts wherever they go.
3. 13 LSU at 8 Alabama
We have a matchup between two SEC powerhouses going down in Tuscaloosa, with Brian Kelley’s LSU Tigers traveling to ‘bama to take on the Crimson Tide. Two of the most wellrounded athletic programs in the country, LSU has led the way embracing NIL for their female student athletes, with not one but two women, Olivia Dunne and Angel Reese, in the top ten of earners across all of college athletics. The Crimson Tide on the other hand, are essential to the economic success of their city, according to Ava Morthland of the Crimson White. According to her report, tourists brought $895 million to Tuscaloosa last year, on average of 20-25$ million per home game. For many businesses, the profits from Alabama games are what keeps them afloat in the summers when students aren’t in town. For example, the local Publix in Tuscaloosa reports to make 100-150k per weekend on home games. A restaurant manager called ‘Bama football the “Lifeblood of this town” and went on to say, “In some places I’ve worked, you could pay your rent, your insurance, everything else on seven weekends, 14 days,” (Morthland). This is a great example of how sport can have a massive economic impact on everyone in the community, even if they aren’t directly involved. With LSU coming to town this week, football-related tourism is sure to spike again and the city of Tuscaloosa will see another economic boost that the local businesses strive off of.