The Future of Football

How College Football Lost Its Way—And How We Can Save It

College football was built on rivalries, passion, and tradition. For decades, it was a game of communities—where a Saturday in the fall felt like a sacred ritual. But today, the sport stands at a crossroads. Conference realignment has shattered regional identities, television contracts dictate the fate of entire programs, and the rise of NIL and the transfer portal has unleashed a chaos that can’t be undone. The game that once felt like home is becoming unrecognizable to many fans who have announced the end of College Football.

In The Future of Football, long-suffering Ole Miss fan Christopher Lomax unpacks the seismic shifts shaking the sport, weaving together its history, his personal fandom, and a bold vision for what comes next. Told through the eyes of a lifelong College Football fan and new-found Premier League junkie, this book follows decades of heartbreak, fleeting hope, and the improbable rise of Lane Kiffin—college football’s ultimate wanderer. As the game barrels toward an uncertain future, Kiffin emerges as a prophet of its evolution, embracing the chaos while exposing the forces driving it toward collapse.

By navigating through the past, present, and future of both college football and world soccer, The Future of Football explores what the sport can learn from its trans-Atlantic cousin’s rise to prominence. Through a blend of personal stories, historical deep dives, and thought-provoking parallels, Lomax takes readers on a ride from the beginning all the way into the future. Along the way, we see two cousins separated by an ocean endure challenges and experience triumphs. Once they arrive in the future of College Football, fans are challenged to imagine where their team would land in a world of promotion and relegation. Would they rise to the top, fighting for championships on the biggest stage? Or would they struggle to survive in an unforgiving new structure?

College football’s Pandora’s box has already been opened. The question now isn’t whether we can close it—but whether there’s still hope left inside. For those who believe the sport isn’t dying but transforming, this book offers a fresh perspective—and a hopeful path forward.