In a surprising turn for college sports, football players are starting to stick around campus instead of bolting for the NFL Draft. The reason? Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals are now offering paychecks that rival or even outpace what some pros make. These deals have totally shaken up college football, sparking a wild bidding war between programs and forcing everyone to rethink recruiting. Quarterbacks, in particular, are pulling in more cash in a season than some NFL rookies ever dreamed of. Just a few years ago, that would’ve sounded like a joke, but here we are.
The Impact of NIL on College Football
NIL has flipped college football on its head. What started out as a way to finally pay athletes legally has morphed into a full-on financial arms race. Now, college quarterbacks are out-earning some of their NFL counterparts, and that’s making a lot of guys rethink leaving school early.
Take Jaxson Dart, for example. He was the 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed for about $4.2 million a year. Meanwhile, college QBs Sam Leavitt and Brendan Sorsby are set to earn double that—combined—next season. No wonder so many players are sticking around.
Quarterbacks Leading the Charge
Quarterbacks are right in the thick of this money boom. Tyler Shough, starting QB for the New Orleans Saints, is on a four-year deal worth roughly $2.7 million per year. On the flip side, Darian Mensah at Duke made nearly double that last season. It’s not just an outlier, either. Alabama’s Ty Simpson could pull in $6 million next season if he decided to transfer to somewhere like Miami.
Pressure on College Coaches
With all this money flying around, college coaches are feeling the heat. Winning right away is more important than ever, and attracting top talent is now about who can put together the best financial package. The old pitch about school tradition or NFL pipelines just doesn’t cut it like it used to.
The Case of Lane Kiffin
Look at LSU’s Lane Kiffin. He hopped on a plane to Knoxville at the last minute to land Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt, knowing he could probably outbid Tennessee or Miami. That’s the kind of high-stakes stuff happening now. Kiffin needs a big first year at LSU, and he knows it.
Coaches like Curt Cignetti at Indiana have shown you can turn a program into a contender fast. That only adds more pressure for everyone else to get results, and get them now.
Shifting Priorities of High-Dollar Prospects
Today’s top prospects? They’re chasing financial incentives more than old-school factors like championships or NFL dreams. Schools that used to hoard talent are struggling to keep guys from jumping ship for bigger NIL deals elsewhere.
Immediate Impact on Freshmen
The focus on quick money has made the development window for high school recruits almost nonexistent. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, for instance, was one of the highest-paid players as a true freshman and faced big expectations right away. Colorado’s Jordan Seaton started his first two years in Boulder but hit the transfer portal, hoping to score $3 to $4 million in 2026.
Patience for developing talent? Pretty much gone. High-profile recruits are getting thrown into the spotlight immediately, with big money riding on their performance.
The Future of College Football
Where’s all this heading? Honestly, it’s tough to say, but the money isn’t slowing down. As long as schools and boosters keep spending, the lines of what’s legal will keep getting pushed. The recruiting wars are only going to get wilder from here.
If you want to dig deeper into how NIL is changing college football, check out the full article on OutKick here.
The rise of NIL deals has completely changed how college football works.
Now, quarterbacks are making more than some NFL rookies. Coaches? They’re under more pressure than ever to win right away.
High-profile recruits are chasing immediate payouts, not just development or tradition. The money on the table is wild—and it’s only getting bigger.
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