Ohio State AD Gene Smith shared his thoughts on potential CFP expansion, his future with the school and the name, image and likeness issue in a podcast with Bill Rabinowitz of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. Below are excerpts from the Q&A:
Q: What are your thoughts on potential College Football Playoff expansion?
Smith: It’s going to happen. I’m concerned, first and foremost, how they do the schedule because of health and wellness (considerations). ... I’m kind of old school; I think there ought to be a window around Christmas. I think (expansion) is going to happen. I don’t know structurally what it will look like, but probably eight (teams).
Q: How much of [the NIL issue] is occupying your time right now?
Smith: Not as much as people think. It was from May to November of last year. We submitted our report in October to the board. And we had to do some work after that.
Q: Do you have a sense of how it will be resolved?
Smith: It won’t be resolved until 2021. We need federal assistance to come up with something as standard across the country. You can’t have all these states having different laws. Otherwise, this thing falls apart. ... There are things that will require minimum legislation. There are things that are going to require major regulation.
Q: Your contract expires in June 2022. What are your thoughts about your future?
Smith: As long as I’m still passionate, which I am, as long as they want me, I’m here, I’m not going anywhere. I don’t live by the contract. I live by: Am I healthy? Am I still passionate? And do they want me? They might not want me and I still might be passionate and healthy. But I’ve got a lot of things I want to accomplish, not just for football but for our other sports (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 2/9).
