In a pretty wild development, former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby just became the most expensive player in college football history. He signed a jaw-dropping $5 million deal with Texas Tech.
This agreement, first reported by On3’s Pete Nakos, is setting a whole new bar for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Sorsby chose the Red Raiders after some serious interest from LSU and their new head coach Lane Kiffin, who apparently put a $3.5 million offer on the table through a third-party NIL marketing deal.
Let’s take a closer look at what these financial packages actually mean, and how schools are getting creative trying to land the best players.
Brendan Sorsby’s Record-Breaking Deal with Texas Tech
Sorsby’s $5 million agreement with Texas Tech puts him right at the top of the college football pay scale for quarterbacks. This deal blows past former Georgia QB Carson Beck’s $3-3.5 million contract with Miami, setting a new high-water mark for NIL agreements.
The Red Raiders, clearly not shy about spending, have made a pretty loud statement in the recruiting world.
Details of the Texas Tech Agreement
The deal is supposed to make Sorsby one of the highest-paid quarterbacks by 2026. There are also incentives that could bump the value even higher.
It’s a sign of how universities are leaning on big NIL deals to bring in top talent.
LSU’s Competitive Offer
Before Texas Tech came in with their monster offer, LSU and Lane Kiffin were right in the mix trying to get Sorsby. According to documents seen by Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, LSU put together a $3.5 million NIL guarantee through their multi-media rights partner, Playfly Sports Properties.
This offer was structured to avoid counting against the school’s revenue-sharing cap, which is a pretty clever move in the current NIL climate.
Innovative NIL Marketing Deal
LSU’s proposed deal was a good example of how schools are working with third-party groups to build competitive offers. The 11-page contract between Playfly and Sorsby, though never actually signed, gives us a peek at how universities can offer big money without going over the $20.5 million salary cap set by the House vs. NCAA settlement last June.
The Role of Playfly Sports Properties
Playfly Sports Properties played a big part in LSU’s pitch to Sorsby. As LSU’s multi-media rights partner, Playfly set up a marketing guarantee through NILSU MAX, an independent collective linked to LSU athletics.
This collective is supposed to find and secure NIL opportunities for Tiger athletes, and maybe even offer a more sustainable model for future deals.
Exceeding the Salary Cap
The draft contract between Playfly and Sorsby included language about extra compensation through direct revenue-share payments from LSU. This kind of approach lets schools put together strong offers while still following the salary cap rules.
Mixing third-party guarantees with direct payments is just another sign of how fast the NIL world is changing.
The Impact of NIL Deals on College Football
The rising value of NIL deals is totally changing college football recruiting. Sorsby’s $5 million deal with Texas Tech and LSU’s $3.5 million offer both show just how much schools are willing to spend to land top players.
It’s hard to see this trend slowing down, honestly.
Future Implications
As NIL deals get bigger, it raises all kinds of questions about where college football recruiting is headed. With schools putting more money on the table, the battle for elite talent is only going to get more intense.
We’ll probably see even more creative NIL agreements soon, and who knows—maybe it’ll end up changing college athletics as a whole.
Conclusion
Brendan Sorsby’s $5 million deal with Texas Tech is a real turning point for NIL agreements in college football. It’s wild to see numbers like that, honestly.
LSU’s $3.5 million offer was also nothing to sneeze at. Both deals show just how serious schools are about landing top talent now.
Universities are putting big money on the table, and it feels like the whole recruiting game is shifting right under our feet.
If you want the full scoop on Sorsby’s NIL moves and how college football recruiting is changing, check out On3’s article here.
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