Beyond the Gridiron: Academic Pathways that Power Football

When fans think of football, they may picture their favorite teams and players, tailgating, and the excitement of the on-field action. Yet behind every collegiate and professional football game is a diverse team of professionals. Many have earned postsecondary degrees that helped them make America’s most-watched sport possible.

The National Student Clearinghouse is dedicated to understanding the academic pathways that lead students from education to the workforce. As the football season kicks off, we explore how the Clearinghouse’s resources illustrate the paths to careers that support college and professional football. These resources can apply to any industry.

1: From Classroom to Sideline: Evaluating the Growth in Football-Related Majors

A wide range of postsecondary degrees supports the business and operations side of competitive football. This includes fields like Business & Finance, Data Science & Analytics, and Sports Psychology.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Current Term Enrollment Estimates report provides year-over-year enrollment trends across major fields of study. For instance, the Spring 2025 report’s Major Field Data Appendix reveals a small rise in majors such as Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness in undergraduate four-year institutions. In contrast, enrollment in Nutrition Sciences, which can be a pipeline for dietitians and sports nutritionists, is declining. These insights can help football operations leaders align talent pipelines with real-time enrollment trends.

“The National Student Clearinghouse’s enrollment data helps workforce planners identify and address talent gaps,” according to Matthew Holsapple, Senior Director of Research at the Clearinghouse. “We provide timely and detailed insights into academic trends across majors. This empowers institutions and industries to align their workforce strategies with the changing educational and economic landscape.”

2: Ensuring Credential Accuracy in Professional Football

Verifying candidates’ credentials is a critical step in maintaining the integrity, professionalism, and performance standards in any organization. However, football operates in a high-stakes, high-visibility environment. Roles in operations, analytics, sports medicine, and business management require specialized knowledge and training. It’s important to confirm that candidates have earned the degrees they claim — whether in Sports Management, Data Science, Kinesiology, or Business. This helps teams avoid hiring unqualified individuals and protects them against legal risks and damage to their reputation.

The Clearinghouse’s DegreeVerify service enables employers to instantly, accurately, and securely confirm academic credentials.

3: The Growth of Non-Degree Credentials

Professionals working in football often pursue non-degree credentials to enhance their expertise. This is especially true for off-the-field roles like coaching, analytics, operations, and player development.

These credentials include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), sports analytics certifications, and certificates in data science, sports management, and video analysis. Such specialized training helps individuals stay competitive and aligned with the evolving demands of the football industry.

“Non-degree credentials are increasingly valuable when they are well-designed and aligned with industry needs,” said Melissa Buckley, Senior Director of Strategy and Market Insights at the National Student Clearinghouse. “These programs offer flexibility and targeted skill development, often completing faster than traditional degrees — making them a practical and powerful complement to formal education.”

A Winning Game Plan: The Clearinghouse’s Solutions for Businesses

While athletes are central to the game, it’s the educated professionals behind the scenes who help them succeed. They are the pros who keep operations running smoothly, and bring the game to millions of fans. Postsecondary education plays a crucial role in powering every play, every game, and every season.

Discover how organizations can leverage the Clearinghouse’s education-based insights and verification services for businesses to identify talent gaps and enhance performance.