College football’s landscape has turned upside down lately, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL deals. It’s wild how players at the Power 4 level are now raking in serious cash.
ESPN recently dug deep into the money side of things, showing just how much players are making across different positions. At the Personnel and Recruiting Symposium in Nashville, general managers and agents opened up about how the market for college football talent is changing as we head into 2026.
Quarterbacks: The Million-Dollar Playmakers
Quarterbacks are still the big earners. The usual salary range sits between $1 million and $3 million.
General managers expect Power 4 starters to clear $2 million on average this year. Guys like Oregon’s Dante Moore and Texas’ Arch Manning are cashing in with revenue share guarantees and hefty NIL endorsements.
High-End Deals and Market Trends
Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech) and LSU’s Sam Leavitt are nudging the market up into the $4 million to $5 million zone. Even backups stepping into starting spots—Lincoln Kienholz at Louisville, Kenny Minchey at Kentucky—are inking deals around $2.5 million to $3 million.
Revenue share mixed with third-party money from media and apparel partners is making these deals balloon fast. It’s hard not to wonder where the ceiling is.
Running Backs: The Value of Versatility
Running backs aren’t pulling quite as much, but they’re still doing well. Most are landing between $300,000 and $800,000.
Elite guys like Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss) and Jadan Baugh (Florida) are closer to the $750,000 to $1 million mark. Still, a lot of teams are happy to pay a strong starter about $500,000 to $600,000 and spread the rest out.
Rising Stars and Future Prospects
The 2027 class could shake things up even more. Five-star Tennessee commit David Gabriel Georges is reportedly getting a deal around $2 million per year.
Schools seem more willing than ever to spend big on young talent. Whether that’s wise long-term is anyone’s guess.
Wide Receivers: The High Stakes of Playmaking
Wide receivers are cashing in, too. Typical deals range from $400,000 to $1 million.
Some superstars—like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith—are rumored to be earning north of $5 million to $6 million, thanks to a mix of team and NIL deals. Elite duos at places like Indiana, Texas, and Miami are really pushing things.
Portal Dynamics and Value Hunting
Despite all the big-money headlines, there’s still plenty of value in Group of 6 and FCS players. Last year, a bunch of G5 guys transferred up to Power 4 teams and made an impact.
Tight Ends: A Market of Development
Tight ends saw a small bump in pay, with most deals between $300,000 and $600,000. Big names like Oregon’s Jamari Johnson and Texas Tech’s Terrance Carter Jr. are setting the bar higher.
Plenty of teams are still betting on developing backups for less. It’s a wait-and-see kind of position for most coaches.
Strategic Investments and Market Gaps
Some programs will pay a premium for a star tight end, but others go for a rotation, paying closer to $250,000 for multiple guys. It really depends on how a team wants to build its roster.
Offensive Linemen: The Backbone of the Offense
Offensive linemen, especially tackles, have seen their paychecks jump. Typical deals now run from $600,000 to $1.2 million.
Top tackles in the portal are getting offers between $1.2 million and $1.5 million. LSU’s Jordan Seaton? He’s reportedly over $2 million.
Interior Linemen and Market Dynamics
Guards and centers are doing well, though their deals are a bit lower. Some teams are paying rising starters $1.3 million to $1.4 million.
Others are finding bargains among Group of 6 and FCS transfers. There’s a clear mix of splurging and bargain hunting across the board.
Defensive Players: The Battle for Impact
Defensive positions are getting paid, too. Edge rushers typically land between $500,000 and $1.2 million.
Top names like Texas’ Colin Simmons and South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart are making even more. Defensive tackles are also seeing offers over $1 million for the top transfers.
Linebackers: The Affordable Defense
Linebackers are still the most affordable defensive starters, with deals usually in the $300,000 to $700,000 range. High-profile transfers have nudged the top of the market up, but the average for a team’s best linebacker is still about $600,000.
This leaves teams with room to invest elsewhere on defense. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me.
Special Teams: The Unsung Heroes
Special teams players aren’t always in the spotlight, but they’re starting to get paid more these days. Programs are investing in these roles because, honestly, a game can hinge on a single kick or return.
The way college football pays its athletes is changing fast. The transfer portal and all those NIL deals have turned things into a bit of a gold rush at the Power 4 level.
If you want to nerd out on the details or see how this might shake up the sport, you might want to read the full analysis on ESPN.
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