In this episode, Ryan Alford sits down with Jay Paterno to break down the business of college football, the realities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), leadership under pressure, and how the college sports landscape is changing faster than ever.

Jay Paterno shares rare insight from his experience as a Penn State coach, author, trustee, and NIL consultant, including how today’s NIL system evolved into a pay-to-play model, why leadership is missing in college athletics, and what college football risks losing if the current system isn’t fixed.

From NIL collectives and transfer portal chaos to mental health, gambling, and brand-driven leadership, this conversation goes far beyond the field.
If you’re a fan of college football, sports business, or leadership, this episode is a must-watch.

Key Topics:

• How NIL was supposed to work vs. how it actually works
• Why collectives turned into pay-to-play systems
• The lack of transparency in NIL money and contracts
• Why collective bargaining may be inevitable in college sports
• Leadership vs. “leadership by title”
• Lessons Jay learned from Joe Paterno about adapting and evolving
• Mental health challenges facing players and coaches
• Why transfer portal chaos hurts both players and programs
• The danger of legalized gambling in college athletics
• What fans are losing as college football becomes more transactional
• Insights from Jay’s novel Blitzed and the real stories behind it

Why This Episode Matters:

College football is at a crossroads. Jay Paterno explains why: Paying players isn’t the problem, the lack of structure is. With the development of the NIL leadership, trust, and development are being replaced by transactions and now fans are slowly disconnecting from the game they love

This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s really happening inside programs, boardrooms, and locker rooms.
About Jay Paterno

Jay Paterno is a former Penn State assistant coach, author of multiple books including Blitzed, television host of Nittany Game Week, NIL consultant, and member of Penn State’s Board of Trustees. He brings a rare blend of football, business, and leadership experience to the conversation.

Learn more:

Website: jvpaterno.com
X (Twitter): @jpaterno
Instagram: @jvpaterno

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Jay Paterno joins the show
02:15 – Penn State football leadership and culture
05:30 – Leadership lessons from Joe Paterno
08:00 – Nature vs. nurture in great leaders
11:00 – NIL: how it started vs. where it is now
14:30 – Collectives and pay-to-play explained
17:30 – Transparency problems in NIL money
20:30 – Contracts, loyalty, and the transfer portal
23:00 – Inside Blitzed: real stories behind the novel
27:00 – Mental health pressures on players and coaches
31:00 – College football cycles and roster building
34:45 – Gambling, bowl games, and TV-driven expansion
38:45 – Where to find Jay Paterno and final thoughts