I’m not saying that the reasons given are irrelevant, but they do appear to leave out the very important factor of the observable thumb-on-the-scale that the NFL clearly utilizes to keep nationally-televised games close and favor certain teams in certain circumstances:
Blowouts are an unavoidable reality in college football, though. Of the 863 games played during the regular season, 355 of them (41.1%) were decided by at least 20 points, while 295 (34.2%) were one-possession games. Mismatches are bound to happen in the college game, and not just when power-conference teams schedule tuneup games against East Podunk State. The NFL can implement rules and policies to promote parity, like the salary cap and schedules based on a team’s previous season record—not to mention the much more consistent talent level of professional players—and that results in far fewer blowouts. There have been roughly one-third as many 20-point blowouts in the NFL this season (50) as there have been one-possession games (143, more than half of the 272 games played through 17 weeks). College football is far more decentralized and less regulated than the NFL. If Ohio State wants to spend $20 million on its football roster, there’s nothing to stop the Buckeyes from doing it (for now).
Speaking of Ohio State’s $20 million team salary, it’s fascinating to see that the professional NCAA teams are rapidly approaching the original NFL salary cap set in 1994.
The salary cap would take effect for the 1994 season. That year, the salary cap was supposed to be $32 million per team. But after the league sold expensive television rights to networks, the inaugural cap was set at $34.608 million.
And if the additional excitement produced by the expanded College Football Playoffs this year is any guide, the NCAA is going to need a salary cap soon just to maintain its competitive balance.