LET'S TALK LIKE PIRATES.

Over the weekend, Michael Smerconish interviewed California - Los Angeles basketball player Ed O'Bannon, who has a lawsuit seeking compensation for his image as a college player on the video screens of children of all ages all around the world.

It's more wishful thinking from California.

The Fair Pay to Play Act would allow college athletes in California to sign endorsement deals; earn compensation based on the usage of their name, image and likeness; and sign all types of licensing contracts that would allow them to earn money.

The bill was passed by the state legislature earlier this week and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for signature.

The Utopian Wonkery^(TM) has begun.

If signed into law, the Fair Pay to Play Act wouldn't go into effect until 2023. But it would have immediate implications for recruiting athletes. And while many people in sports have cheered the bill, it has also reignited a longstanding debate over whether college athletes should be paid.

In like manner to any discussion of higher education turning into some variant of the U. S. News problem, any discussion of College Sports, Inc. turns into some variant of the Power Conference problem.

One of the most vocal opponents of the California bill has been former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, who says that it would make college sports indistinguishable from the National Football League and ruin what makes college football unique.

"I know we live in a selfish culture where it's all about us, but we're just adding and piling it on to that, where it changes what's special about college football," he said on ESPN's First Take on Friday. "We turn it into the NFL where who has the most money, that's where you go."

To a large extent, that's already true: Mr Tebow was able to find an opportunity to showcase his talents in a power conference.  Introduce compensation, however, and it's not clear the Mid-American Conference (or some of the other aggregations of wannabes) can stand the strain.  Eastern Michigan, for instance, has been home to disgruntled faculty for some time now.  But, despite all financial logic, they persevere, and a year ago they got to fly the Jolly Roger at Purdue.

It's flying again this year, after Eastern Michigan looted Chief Runs-From-Huskies.  Arguably Rutgers, Purdue, and Illinois aren't exactly Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.

On the other hand, there's not much rum left in the Mid-American's pantry.

The power conferences are likely to object to increased player compensation as that will dry up the supply of cupcakes.  The conferences that supply the cupcakes will likely rethink their commitment to football, or risk more widespread faculty discontent.