College Football Expands Role of General Managers

College football is experiencing a significant transformation as the role of the general manager (GM) becomes increasingly prominent within collegiate programs. At the recent NFL scouting combine, a major symposium highlighted how college football is entering a 'golden age' for personnel management, with GMs gaining influence, expanding front offices, and even in some cases, having head coaches report directly to them. This shift is marked by rising GM salaries, the movement of NFL scouts to college positions, and the expectation that GMs may soon match coordinators in pay and job security. Notable figures such as former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck and ex-coaches like Ron Rivera are now serving as GMs, signaling a blending of professional and collegiate management styles. While coaches still dominate most programs, industry experts predict that the growing power and permanence of GMs could reshape the landscape of college football. This evolution reflects broader trends of professionalization and strategic complexity in the sport.