College football is just getting srarted, but Matt Leinart is asking fans to think beyond what happens on the field. For the third consecutive year, the former USC star is teaming up with Abbott and the Big Ten for the We Give Blood competition, an initiative aimed at addressing the country’s ongoing blood shortage.
For Leinart, the cause hits close to home. His mother had a rare blood disorder called polycythemia and ultimately required multiple blood transfusions before her death after the condition progressed to leukemia.
“So I just, when this partnership came about, it just meant a little more to me,” Leinart told Men’s Journal. “I understand the need for blood. I understand how important it is to be able to donate if you can, and because it saves lives.”
The We Give Blood competition brings together all 18 Big Ten schools in a battle to see which university can inspire the most blood donations. Abbott will award the winning school a $1 million grant to advance student health. Over the first two years of the competition, donations have helped save up to 300,000 lives.
Leinart has participated himself, donating blood for his alma mater, USC, during the first two years of the competition. And with USC now competing in the Big Ten, he has another reason to hope his fellow Trojans fans turn out in force.
“I hope so because we’ve been just not — we have not been good,” Leinart joked when asked whether he expects more USC fans to participate. He pointed to Nebraska and Wisconsin as some of the Big Ten schools that have performed well in the competition, adding that USC and UCLA need to “step up a little bit.”
Why Matt Leinart Wants Younger Fans to Get Involved
The competition’s college football connection is intentional. About 25% of blood donations currently come from people ages 65 and older, according to the campaign, making it increasingly important to encourage younger generations to become regular donors.
For Leinart, using the competitive nature of college sports to encourage people to give blood makes perfect sense.
“Fans are competitive. We know athletes are competitive no matter what they play,” he said. “So it’s like, hey, we can be competitive off the field, but in a super impactful way.”
The campaign is open to everyone, not just current college students or alumni. Anyone can donate at a U.S. blood center and represent their favorite Big Ten school, or simply donate without choosing a school.
And while the $1 million prize gives fans an obvious reason to get involved, Leinart believes the most important incentive is considerably bigger.
“One donation can save up to three lives,” he said. “To me, that’s just as impactful.”
Leinart Has a Front-Row Seat to College Football’s Changing Landscape
Leinart has experienced college football from just about every possible angle. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2004, helped USC capture a national championship, played in the NFL, and now works as a college football analyst.
That makes him particularly well-positioned to assess just how much the sport has changed since his playing days.
The biggest differences, he said, are obvious: NIL and the transfer portal have fundamentally altered the college football experience.
“When I was going to school, there were transfers and all that, but it just was rare,” Leinart said. “You went to school, you committed to that school, you were loyal to that school for the most part, and you finished out at that school for the most part.”
Leinart stressed that he supports players being compensated, but he acknowledged that something has changed along the way.
“I do think there’s a certain level of loyalty and commitment that’s gone,” he said.
His perspective is now also informed by his role as a parent. Leinart’s older son is a quarterback at SMU, giving him a firsthand look at the modern college football system from the other side of the recruiting process.
“It’s not their fault. This is the world they’re growing up in,” Leinart said of the changes.
Abbott / Big Ten
Matt Leinart Is Ready for Another College Football Season
Despite all the changes, Leinart’s enthusiasm for the sport hasn’t faded. If anything, he still sounds like the same college football fan who once led USC onto the field.
There is one part of the modern preseason experience he could happily do without, though: rankings.
“I hate preseason rankings,” he said. “I think they’re just useless.”
Instead, Leinart is looking forward to seeing teams actually take the field and establish their identities. He specifically pointed to early-season matchups such as Michigan vs. Oklahoma and Texas vs. Ohio State as games that could provide an early glimpse at where some of the country’s top teams stand.
He’s also watching for the unexpected teams that emerge as the season progresses. And these days, he has an especially personal rooting interest in SMU, where his son plays quarterback.
But before the games take over, Leinart has one more message for college football fans.
“Just go,” he said when asked what he’d tell someone who has been considering donating blood but hasn’t done it yet. “It’s just very easy to do.”
Fans can learn more about the We Give Blood competition and find information about donating at BigTen.org/Abbott. The competition runs through December 4, giving fans plenty of time to turn their school spirit into something that can make a real difference.
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Author: Rachel Schneider
