One of the most turbulent year’s in American college sports is coming to an end. With the COVID-19 pandemic leaving cancelled games and seasons in it’s wake. Here are four takeaways from 2020 in college sports.

1. College Football’s inequality problem

Cincinnati Football is becoming the latest example of the College Football Playoff’s inequality problem. Despite being unbeaten after eight regular season gameS. Plus, gaining home field advantage for Saturday’s American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The No.9 (CFP Poll) Cincinnati Bearcats could be shut out from the CFP. Even if they win Saturday’s conference title game. While ranking lower than three power five programs with two losses. No.8 Georgia Football didn’t even qualify for the Southeastern Conference title game.

If the College Football Playoff is essentially going to be a country club. For the Power Five conferences and occasionally Notre Dame Football. Then the Group of Five conferences, including the AAC, should form their own playoff. Another alternative could be expanding the CFP field to 16 teams. So each Football Bowl Subdivision conference champion and six at large teams can be included.

2. Spare a thought for the non-revenue generating sports

We’ve also seen already exposed inequities in college sports deepen in 2020. Schools and conferences are pulling out all of the stops to play football and basketball. The sports which generate the most revenue for colleges and the NCAA. Meanwhile, several schools barely wasted any time scrapping lower profile sports. Such as gymnastics, tennis and swimming among others. Due to the financial strains of this pandemic on college budgets.

Locally, the University of Cincinnati scrapped their men’s soccer program. Wright State University cut softball, along with men’s and women’s tennis. Budgetary strains have also prompted layoffs and pay cuts in athletic departments nationwide. These cuts are already effecting hundreds of students and staff. Enrollment declines this year could make matters worse for lower-profile sports.

According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center; freshmen enrollment dropped 13.1% this year. Many prospective students are reconsidering going to college during this pandemic. Due to concerns over affording tuition during an economic downturn. Along with not wanting to drown in student loan debt. Plus, concerns over the quality of the education with many schools operating mostly online. Enrollment declines and potential funding shortfalls will hit colleges in various ways. Sports-wise, lower profile sports will continue to bear the brunt of the fallout.

3. Where’s the leadership?

College sports repeatedly held up a mirror to America throughout 2020. Just like America’s collective approach with various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. FBS conferences took a discombobulated approach to this year’s college football season. When it came to football, the National Collegiate Athletic Association was effectively missing in action. With minuscule power over FBS Football, conferences were left to fend for themselves. Conference leaders played follow the leader throughout 2020; making decisions and reversing course. Based on junior high school-like peer pressure and at times frank greed.

4. After chaos in 2020, calls for college sports reform could grow in 2021

Politically and legally, the NCAA is going to have it’s hands full in 2021. Lawmakers at the state and federal level are increasingly challenging the NCAA’s amateurism rules. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would hear a case regarding student-athlete compensation. In the last two weeks, two bills calling for student-athlete compensation were introduced in the U.S. Senate. One introduced by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss); the other by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn).

Bipartisanship reform proposals extend beyond Washington D.C. on this issue. California’s predominantly Democratic and Florida’s predominantly Republican legislatures recently passed legislation. Paving the way for student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness (NIL). The NCAA is already considering changes to allow NIL compensation. The association is set to vote on this issue in January.

After perhaps the most chaotic year in American college sports history. A year when football and basketball teams were hounded to play amid a devastating pandemic. Risking the health of athletes, coaches and others. For the sake of boosting public morale and their universities wallets. Calls for various college sports reforms could grow louder in 2021.