🔥Upside Chat: Dr Ron Dick, Duquesne University, Ex NBA/NCAA Exec on College Football / Basketball ($50 Million Buyout) & NIL Updates, Stephen Curry & Trae Young, NBA Title & SB Favorites, WorldSeries

This week we had the honor to interview again Dr. Ron Dick, associate professor of sports marketing at Duquesne University in the school of business. Ron also worked for 20 years in sports, including 15 years in the NBA with the Sixers and the Nets, and then five years in the NCAA.

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Ron located at the top of this blog post.

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

📝Show Notes: During the interview with Dr. Ron Dick, we discussed major storylines across college and professional sports, including Penn State’s $50 million buyout of coach James Franklin and the growing volatility in college football and NIL deals. He highlighted preseason college basketball favorites like Purdue and Houston, and reflected on the passing of Sister Jean at 106. Dr. Dick also analyzed NBA stars Stephen Curry and Trae Young taking assistant GM roles at their alma maters, calling it a smart NIL and post-career move. He previewed the NBA season, predicting a competitive field led by the Celtics, Bucks, and Mavericks, forecasted the Dodgers to win the World Series, and noted strong performances in the NFL’s West divisions along with the resurgence of Daniel Jones and Baker Mayfield.

Here are some of the best quotes of our conversation with Ron:

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🏈 1. College Football – Penn State Firing, $50 Million Buyout, Rankings & NIL Updates

“It’s unbelievable — just 18 days ago, James Franklin was in the top 10, top five, winning at home in overtime against Oregon, which was number two in the country. And here he is without a job. After two losses to Northwestern and UCLA, he’s gone. It’s shocking, but that’s the business.”

“This is not a one-off thing. Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M got a $77 million buyout — the highest in NCAA history. That’s how irrational it’s become in college football. Texas A&M also paid Kevin Sumlin $10.4 million, and Ed Orgeron $17.1 million. The system just keeps recycling money.”

“The rumor is that Adidas might have stepped up and paid somewhere between $45 to $50 million for Franklin’s buyout — deferred payments. It’s not a lump sum. In his contract, he has to pursue employment, and if he gets hired elsewhere, that offsets the owed money.”

“When do we hold the people responsible who make the decisions to hire the coaches? We never hold the athletic directors or board of trustees accountable. They make million-dollar mistakes, and no one calls them on it.”

“College football is more irrational than any other sport — even more than the NFL. It’s all about results. If you can’t win, you’re out. There’s no patience anymore, no perspective.”

“And another thing — why don’t colleges honor contracts like the pros do? In the NBA or NFL, if you’re under contract, another team can’t just hire you away. In college, presidents and boards don’t honor that. That would be called tampering in the pro leagues.”

“The Group of Five conferences — Sun Belt, Conference USA, the MAC, Mountain West — are wasting their time. The power lies in the SEC and Big Ten. Right now, 10 of the Top 25 are SEC schools and five are Big Ten. The Pac-12 has disappeared.”

“We don’t really use the term ‘collective’ anymore in NIL discussions, but the chaos continues. There’s no uniform contract or payment structure. Is it lump sum? Paid monthly? Seasonal? Nobody knows. Pitt gave $2 million to Eli Holstein, and now he’s been benched. There’s no consistency or oversight.”

“It used to be that scholarships were one-year deals renewed at the coach’s discretion. Now we’re in the Wild West. NIL has made the system even more unpredictable — and we’re still figuring out what that means for recruiting, loyalty, and team building.”

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🏀 2. College Basketball – Season Start, Rankings, and the Passing of Sister Jean

“College basketball officially tips off on Monday, November 3rd, and the preseason rankings are loaded. Seven SEC schools, six Big Ten, and six Big 12 teams make up most of the Top 25. The Pac-12? None. The Big East? None at the very top, though UConn and St. John’s both cracked the Top 5.”

“Purdue starts at number one in the country, followed by Houston at number two, Florida at number three, UConn and St. John’s rounding out the Top 5, and Duke right behind them. Michigan and Kentucky are also in the mix. The SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 clearly dominate this year.”

“I’d be remiss not to mention the death of Sister Jean. She passed away at 106 years old. Loyola Chicago’s beloved team chaplain was born in 1919 and wrote a book at 100. She represented everything good about college sports — faith, loyalty, and joy. Her loss is deeply felt in the basketball community.”

“There’s also growing discussion about expanding the NCAA Tournament from 68 teams to 76 — and maybe even 128 one day. It would just mean one more weekend of March Madness, and probably even more revenue. It’s coming; it’s just a matter of time.”

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🏀 3. Stephen Curry & Trae Young Become Assistant GMs of Their Schools – NIL Implications

“This is a fascinating new development. Davidson announced that Stephen Curry — yes, Steph — has been named Assistant GM at his alma mater. At the same time, Trae Young donated $1 million to Oklahoma and received the same title. Both still have full-time NBA careers, so what does that really mean?”

“I called my contacts and asked, ‘What does an Assistant GM title even mean for an active NBA player?’ It seems like these guys are preparing for life after basketball — positioning themselves for management or ownership roles down the line.”

“But there’s also a practical NIL component. These players bring credibility, media attention, and massive fundraising power to their schools. Imagine Steph Curry hosting a fundraising dinner circuit — Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, alumni galas — raising millions for the NIL pool. That’s huge for recruiting.”

“In today’s college landscape, having an alumnus like Steph Curry or Trae Young actively connected to your program isn’t just symbolic — it’s strategic. It gives the school’s NIL operation legitimacy and a face fans recognize and trust.”

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🏀 4. NBA – Favorites to Win the 2025–26 Title

“The preseason is wrapping up, and this year’s NBA landscape looks more balanced than ever. You’ve got the Celtics, who look strong again, the Bucks always in the mix, the Mavericks, the Rockets with KD, and the Spurs with Wemby getting stronger. The competition is fierce.”

“The Warriors brought back Al Horford from Boston, and that could be a sneaky move — though they’re an older roster now. Still, experience wins in the playoffs.”

“The Celtics are my early favorite in the East if Jason Tatum stays healthy. But don’t count out the Bucks or Cavs. The Pacers were one of the surprise teams last year — we’ll see if that was a fluke or a real step forward.”

“In the West, the Spurs, Rockets, and Mavericks all have enough talent to make a run. The Lakers are always a wildcard. It’s too early to crown anyone — but expect the balance of power to keep shifting. The NBA parity is real this season.”

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⚾ 5. MLB – Final Four, Free Agency, Hot Stove & Arbitration

“Right now, both visiting teams — Seattle and the Dodgers — have taken 2–0 leads on the road. The Dodgers look deep, pitching lined up perfectly. Seattle has never made a World Series — imagine what that would mean to that city. It’s one of the most loyal fan bases in sports.”

“Our playoff format is 2-3-2 now. So the next three games are in Los Angeles and Seattle. If either team can close it out at home, it’ll be a massive boost heading into the World Series.”

“I think the Dodgers will beat Seattle. They’re too balanced. And if that happens, it’d be a fitting send-off for Clayton Kershaw, who’s announced this is his 18th and final season. Winning back-to-back titles would be a storybook ending.”

“Free agency and arbitration start right after the World Series — the so-called Hot Stove season. Players with three years of service enter arbitration; full free agency comes after six. If I were a free agent, I’d sign a long-term deal now, before a possible salary cap hits MLB in 2027.”

“We’re fine for 2026, but 2027 could bring a reckoning for baseball economics. Locking in security now is smart business.”

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🏈 6. NFL – Power in the West, Quarterbacks Improving

“Here we are six games in, and the iron is in the West. The Chargers are 4–2, the Broncos 4–2, and the Chiefs are 3–3 — but that’s one of the best 3–3 teams you’ll ever see. They always come alive later in the season.”

“Daniel Jones — left for dead by the New York Giants — is playing out of his mind with the Colts. They’re 5–1. It’s a great comeback story.”

“Baker Mayfield, also left for dead in Cleveland, is now 5–1 with the Buccaneers. Some people even think he’s the MVP of the league right now. The redemption stories this season are incredible.”

“The Lions might finally get there. I think we’ll see the Chargers and Lions in the Super Bowl — finally a shot for Detroit to break through.”

“The AFC East is all over the place. There’s a real lack of parity right now — some very good teams, and some horrifically bad ones. The Jets are definitely in the latter category.”

“The NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh in April 2026, and it’s projected to generate between $120 and $160 million in local economic impact — hotels, restaurants, everything. It’s a major event for the city.”

“And when we look at the quarterback class for the next draft, it might not be the blockbuster we expected. Outside of a couple standouts like Marino at Indiana, most have underperformed. It’s going to make for an interesting evaluation period.”

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