Charles Barkley weighs in on current state of college athletics: ‘Really sad and unfortunate’

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NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is not a fan of the current state of college athletics. 

Joining "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Barkley unloaded on the recent happenings in college sports, which has experienced a massive upheaval in the past few years. 

Charles Barkley waves to fans after playing the 14th hole prior to the 2023 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 13, 2023, in Stateline, Nevada. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

"This whole college thing right now, we have just totally, totally f----- it up," Barkley said. 

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"Between realignment, between NIL, the transfer portal, I don’t understand. I just don’t understand how in the world we screwed up this situation."

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules allowed student-athletes to be compensated beginning in July 2021, while the transfer portal is a place that allows athletes to find a new school to play for. 

The combination of NIL and transfer portal has created a potent concoction as more players than ever are transferring, especially as the rules now allow for transfers to be immediately eligible to play. 

Conference realignment has essentially been the only topic of conversation over the past month as schools have made moves to different conferences in order to navigate the shifting media market. 

Former basketball player Charles Barkley for the Auburn Tigers after their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena on March 4, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama.  (Michael Chang/Getty Images)

"There’s only a couple of these guys that are going to go pro," Barkley