Eli Drinkwitz Warns College Football Risks MLB-like Inequality, Misstates Facts

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College football’s changing fast, and Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz isn’t exactly thrilled about it. He’s been pretty vocal about the growing gap he sees from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and direct payments to players.

According to Drinkwitz, this new world is tipping the scales, making things feel a bit like Major League Baseball (MLB) with its infamous financial imbalances. But, let’s be real, his MLB comparison ruffled feathers—partly because he got some facts wrong about the league’s recent growth and financial state.

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Understanding the Concerns of Eli Drinkwitz

Drinkwitz is worried about how college football budgets are ballooning, all thanks to NIL and direct payments. He says this is making the rich get richer, and only the biggest programs might be able to keep up.

That, in his view, could really mess with the spirit and fairness of the sport. It’s a concern that’s hard to ignore, even if you don’t agree with every point he makes.

The Impact of NIL Deals

NIL deals have totally changed the game, letting college athletes cash in on their own brand. Sure, that’s opened doors for players, but it’s also thrown a wrench into the balance between schools.

Now, if a school’s got deep pockets, they can offer fatter deals and pull in the best recruits. That’s not exactly what most fans picture when they think “level playing field.”

USC’s Investment in NIL: USC threw serious money at NIL, and it paid off—they landed the top recruiting class in the country.
Texas Longhorns’ Extravagance: Texas Longhorns literally brought out Lamborghinis to woo high school players. Not subtle, but it sure got attention.
Financial Powerhouses: Ohio State, Michigan, and Texas Tech are flexing their wallets too, landing high-profile signings left and right.

Comparing College Football to Major League Baseball

Drinkwitz tried to draw a line between college football and MLB, warning that college football could end up with the same kind of money gap. He pointed at the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins (though he called them the Florida Marlins, which… hasn’t been true for a while) as examples.

Inaccuracies in Drinkwitz’s MLB Comparison

Honestly, his take on MLB missed the mark in a few ways. First, the Marlins haven’t been “Florida” since 2011, which is a small thing but still.

More importantly, he said MLB is struggling, but that just doesn’t line up with the numbers.

MLB’s Growth: MLB’s actually on the upswing. In 2025, attendance climbed for the third year in a row, hitting its best numbers since 2017.
Attendance Success: The Padres packed their stadium to nearly 100% capacity for all 81 home games. The Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Phillies weren’t far behind.
Television Ratings: TV ratings? Up by double digits. The World Series just saw its biggest audience since 2017.
Future TV Deals: And with MLB’s national TV rights up for renegotiation in 2028, there’s a good shot at even more exposure and cash coming in.

Money Can’t Buy Everything: Lessons from College Football

Even with all the money flying around, it doesn’t always buy you a title. The Indiana Hoosiers, who aren’t exactly rolling in cash, pulled off a national championship and went undefeated. That’s no small feat.

The Role of Coaching and Strategy

Coaching and smart strategy still matter—a lot. Money helps, sure, but it can’t replace sharp coaching or a solid game plan.

Indiana’s Triumph: Indiana’s recent championship is proof that good coaching can beat out bigger budgets.
Texas’ Struggles: Texas had one of the priciest rosters around, but they missed the College Football Playoff after dropping a few close games. Money can’t fix everything, apparently.

The Future of College Football

NIL deals and direct payments are still shaking things up, and it’s hard to say where college football’s headed next. The money gap’s not going anywhere, but coaching and team chemistry? Those still make all the difference.

Potential Solutions

People keep tossing out ideas to fix these financial gaps. Some talk about putting limits or caps on NIL deals and direct payments.

But honestly, figuring out how to let players earn money while keeping things fair? That’s a tough one.

Regulatory Measures: Putting caps on NIL deals and direct payments might help even things out. Still, any rules would need to be pretty thoughtful, or else we could end up with new problems nobody saw coming.
Ensuring Fairness: It’s crucial that every program gets a real shot to compete. Otherwise, college football’s long-term health could be at risk.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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