Laura Rutledge seamlessly navigates both the NFL and college football landscapes at ESPN, serving as the host of NFL Live and SEC Nation, along with her role as a sideline reporter for the College Football Playoff and overseas NFL games. As she observes the transformative impact of NIL on college football, Rutledge has noted that, compared to the professionals, the college game has become increasingly challenging to follow.
If it’s tough for her as a host and reporter, she sympathizes with fans trying to keep pace with the complexities of the modern transfer portal. In a recent appearance on The Varsity podcast, Rutledge acknowledged that while she believes college athletes should be compensated, fans are caught in a difficult transitional period until regulations are implemented. “When it comes to covering it, it’s incredibly difficult,” she shared. “I cover the NFL daily. When I transition from college to draft coverage, there’s a ton of crossover because I’ve been following these players all year long. By July, during SEC Media Days and into August, I find myself thinking, ‘who is on what team? What is going on with this?’”
Having hosted SEC Nation for nearly a decade and currently covering college football and the draft at the highest levels, Rutledge has conversed with coaches and fans who are grappling with significantly more complexity than the media. The sport is undergoing drastic changes, and everyone is striving to keep up.
“From our perspective, it’s so minor compared to what these coaches are dealing with, but it definitely makes it more difficult,” Rutledge continued. “I truly understand when fans say it makes it harder to root for my team—who am I actually rooting for—because so much of it changes. And you can’t blame the players for their lack of commitment at times; they are focused on their families and their own opportunities.” Meanwhile, college football continues to thrive. Viewership for the College Football Playoff was promising in its first year with a new schedule and format, and national championship game ratings are expected to soar with two powerhouses—Ohio State and Notre Dame—set to face off.
