Let me say this clearly and up front: I’m all in on women’s sports. I’m a proud girl dad. I believe women deserve every single opportunity and scholarship that men get in college athletics. Just look at LSU women’s basketball, right here in my home state, and how it’s transformed the school’s athletic brand. Or the rise of elite women’s soccer across the country. We should be investing in that momentum, not slowing it down.
But while we’ve reimagined nearly every aspect of college sports, Title IX remains largely untouched. It’s been a critical vehicle for progress — no doubt about that. But it has also shut down opportunities for men in ways that don’t always make sense anymore, especially now that money is flowing into college sports like never before.
The entire landscape has shifted over the past few years with the arrival of NIL and the paying of college “amateur” athletes. What used to be one of the great taboos in college sports — punishable by suspensions and resulting in scandal — is now wide-open. Instead of carefully regulated compensation, it’s become a free-for-all. And in some ways, there are even fewer restrictions than in professional leagues, because these players aren’t under contract. The transfer portal has only added to the chaos, giving athletes the freedom to chase winning programs, preferred coaches or better systems.
Men’s soccer is Exhibit A. Did you know that not a single SEC school has a varsity men’s soccer team? Think about that. Florida, Alabama, Georgia — massive athletic brands with passionate fanbases — don’t field men’s teams. Many of their club teams could probably compete with varsity squads elsewhere. Do you think Vermont wins the national title in 2024 if the SEC is in the mix?
With the North American World Cup around the corner and growing concern over the U.S. Men’s National Team, it’s worth asking: Wouldn’t more scholarships, more programs and more investment help raise the level of play? It might not be the silver bullet, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
And it’s not just about soccer. Wrestling tells a similar story. States like Texas, Florida and Louisiana have elite high school programs, but those athletes often have to leave the region to find a handful of scholarship opportunities at schools like Iowa. Auburn won the SEC title in wrestling in 1981. That same year, it cut the program. LSU finished in the Top 10 in 1983 and 1984, then dropped the sport shortly after, again due to Title IX compliance pressures.
It doesn’t end there. Men’s gymnastics, crew, weightlifting — sports that don’t require huge budgets — have been cut at schools across the country. These aren’t luxury sports. They’re opportunities for student-athletes who train just as hard and dream just as big.
And here’s the thing: The money is there now. NIL deals, big booster clubs and collectives with deep pockets have changed the equation. A well-organized collective focused on soccer or wrestling in a major sports state could absolutely fund a varsity program, maybe even several, without taking anything away from women’s athletics. In fact, support for women’s programs could be built in as a requirement when launching or restoring these men’s teams. That’s the kind of practical, modern framework we should be discussing.
No one is suggesting we undo Title IX. But maybe it’s time to evolve it — just as everything else in college sports has evolved. Let’s build a system that continues to champion women while also making room for men in places where there’s real interest, tradition and potential national impact.
Compared to the multimillion-dollar NIL chaos and the anything-goes transfer portal, this feels like a pretty reasonable conversation. Title IX was written with great intentions, and it’s accomplished a lot. But it deserves a thoughtful, modern look — one that ensures the mission lives on while keeping pace with the reality of today’s college sports landscape.