Over the past couple years college football has been in a constant change. It may be because of the four-team playoff getting boosted to 12 teams, or players transferring more than once and seeking NIL opportunities.
“NIL” stands for name, image and likeness and is meant to compensate players for the use of their NIL by the college. But schools are starting to play players just to come play for their school. Many players that are getting paid do no advertising, no brand deals, and just get paid to play. Some collegiate athletes are being paid more than professional athletes but don’t want to be treated like professionals. Today’s college players now complain about people texting them if their sports bets don’t hit. Yes, that is wrong, but you guys want to be paid like professionals.
Talented athletes that have accumulated a fan base deserve to be paid for the attention they bring to their schools. In the recent documentary “Untold Johnny football” it was stated that he made Texas A&M football program 120 million dollars. When he was playing NIL and paying players was illegal, so he never saw any of that money. Johnny had to make his money by signing autographs and many other things that were against NCAA rules. Since these rule changes, athletes like Shedeur Sanders, Arch Manning, Livvy Dunne, and Cooper Flagg did not face the issues that Manzel did. These athletes all have significant followings and have generated plenty of money for their schools’ athletics. Sanders is making around $5 million a year, with the others pulling in roughly $2-4 million.
I had the opportunity to sit down with a classmate, Maddox Arnold who is committed to play football at the University of Toledo. He just finished up the recruiting and NIL process and he said, “It was not the easiest thing.” Maddox has been a great player for the Elder defense over the past four years. “I’m so happy I chose to come to Elder, because I have met great friends and have been given great opportunities to succeed here.” Maddox held offers from about 14 division one colleges before committing. “One of the biggest parts of my recruitment process was the NIL opportunities that the coaches have set me up with and how well they treat my brother Micha who has special needs. I don’t care about the money like some guys do, but having NIL in the game is good for players.”
Football is not the only sport in college that NIL has affected. It’s become a part of every sport. Some of the highest paid athletes in college sports are basketball players.
Cooper Flagg is a freshman at Duke who makes almost 4.3 million dollars. Dylan Harper, son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and Ace “Boogie” Bailey who are both freshman at Rutgers, have NIL deals with Nike. Senior Chaz Lanier has an estimated 1.7-million-dollar NIL evaluation, and he is currently a shooting guard for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Many of these guys have built up followings because they have been getting recruited since they were 12 years old. They have built fans and have steady followings. It is becoming more difficult for even the best programs to keep a lot of great players together, because everyone leaves for more money or playing opportunities.
Throughout college sports NIL will soon be, if it is not already, one of the biggest and most important considerations for programs. Successful schools will have a good NIL plan and creative ways to get their players enough money.
