+ The NCAA Cross Country championship field is set for both the men and women’s teams. Northern Arizona, interestingly enough, has won five of the last six men’s championships. With BYU winning the other. Mid-major programs like BYU and New Mexico have had championship success on the women’s side, but larger athletic departments like NC State, Arkansas, Oregon, Michigan and Colorado have also been in title contention. What is it about CC that makes it easier for a mid-major to build an elite program? Why do you think Women’s CC titles are won by more big-budget programs than men’s?

+ Despite their loss on Saturday, UCLA football has improved significantly. They’re a Top 20 program and will compete for a high-end bowl this season. Still, the school has struggled mightily to sell tickets. What are some factors that UCLA could control, beyond wins and losses, that might impact their ability to sell tickets? What are factors outside of their immediate control? 

+ Tulane sits in one of the most talent-rich areas in the country, and in a part of the United States that cares deeply about college athletics. After reading this story from SI, what are some reasons that their athletic department has struggled, outside of this season, to build consistent winners that are supported by fans? 

+ Siena won’t sign a waiver to allow an athlete that transferred from their program be eligible to play this season, making Colby Rogers one of the only athletes who didn’t get a transfer waiver this basketball season.  Based on the statements from their athletic department in this story, do you think they’re in the right? What would you do if you were an administrator for Siena basketball? 

+ After near record highs, returns from university endowment funds have fallen throughout the country. How do you think this might impact an athletic department? What sorts of schools might be more vulnerable to significant swings in their endowment investment funds?

+ USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley told the Washington Post, ‘Honestly, I make a lot of money. I want our players to make a lot of money. I want them to feel like I’m able to make the money that I make off of their backs and [I should] be able to help to create some wealth [for them] — no matter how big or small. I am an active participant in wanting them to benefit in this space." Based on this story and what we know about NCAA and state law guidelines, what are ways that Staley can directly help her athletes take advantage of NIL, and what are lines she can’t cross? 

+ Inflation hasn’t just hurt household budgets, it’s also taken a bite out of athletic department budgets, from the P5 to DIII. What are specific areas of an athletic department budget that may be more susceptible to inflation related increases? Based on this story, how are those pressures different with a $100 million budget vs a $10 million budget?

(see the archive below the jobs board if you're looking for more discussion questions)