Here’s How The NIL Program Is Making A Joke Out Of College Football

Darren - December 9, 2022

Here’s How The NIL Program Is Making A Joke Out Of College Football

Darren - December 9, 2022

External Influence

Some boosters and sponsors may wield their influence over teams and force them to play undeserving players. Nobody wants to see this happen but the NIL program may cause it. After all, if a company is paying thousands of dollars to a quarterback, they want to know that he is starting.

It won’t happen to every team but it wouldn’t be a surprise if schools instructed coaches to avoid dropping their biggest names. That’s an issue because it may affect their sporting integrity and restrict the opportunities of more deserving athletes. Nobody wants to be the backup QB in this situation (via Populous).

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Bad Advice

Some players will receive terrible advice from parents and boosters because of short-term financial gain. There’s a strong chance that athletes will reject proven programs because they’re chasing cash. For example, Southern California may offer richer rewards than the Georgia Bulldogs.

But everybody knows which program is elite. It’s not unreasonable for a lesser athlete to choose the path with guaranteed money. But some stars may damage their NFL dreams because they didn’t join the best school for their needs. In sum, money makes people do stupid things (via SBNation).

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No Team Loyalty

We fantasize that our favorite college players love the team and feel a strong attachment to it. The reality is that they came to the best program available. But when they stay for a couple of seasons and create memories it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, many fans won’t experience this because of the new NIL program.

It’s having a serious impact on the transfer portal as college athletes switch schools like Leonardo DiCaprio changes girlfriends. We’ve seen college players spend six seasons with the same team but this may never happen again. Some schools may see the benefit of bringing in an older player to guide their younger stars (via TWSN).

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Salary Dream Gone

Some people fear that the NIL program may hurt college football. They think that the NCAA will point to it as an excuse to defer the salary dream. Many people think that college athletes deserve a salary because the sport is so lucrative. They put their bodies on the line but the majority don’t reap the rewards.

Yes, most of them receive scholarships but it’s not the same as a stable income. Meanwhile, executives and schools make millions off their backs. Some of them will receive endorsements because of the NIL program but these won’t be evenly distributed. It remains a two-tier system and it’s more divisive than ever (via Sportico).

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Money Made

In 2022, Bryce Young allegedly made $3.2 million in NIL deals. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams both made about $2.5 million. These players are at the top of the college football food chain but this is the beginning. There will likely be an explosion and some athletes will eventually earn more than five million dollars.

This could have a profound effect on the NFL because some players may opt out of the draft. It may be a tiny minority but some of them may think that head trauma isn’t worthwhile. They will already be millionaires and may choose to focus on external business interests than risking concussions (via Action Network).

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Big Brand Athletes

Another issue with the NIL program is that it may change how teams scout athletes. The best teams pursue five-star recruits and analyze them based on their attributes. But marketability may become a key factor and influence teams. If somebody has thousands of Instagram followers and good looks a team may choose them.

We’ve already seen this in other college sports outside of football. Furthermore, this may have a profound effect on the draft because big-brand athletes may be more attractive. An NFL franchise may prefer a Texas running back with millions of fans over a similar Fresno player with a lower profile (via Front Office Sports).

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Small Schools Suffer

In truth, small schools have always struggled to compete against the biggest programs. Throughout the past decade, the likes of Baylor, TCU, and Boise State enjoyed moderate success. They combined clever recruitment with great coaching as they overachieved against the top teams (via Bleacher Report).

Now there is another hurdle that they must overcome. It will be extremely difficult for them to lure the same talent to their rosters now. That’s because it will be challenging for them to make lucrative connections with sponsors who can pay young players. The imbalance is growing and it’s incredibly unfair.

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Big School Bias

The biggest issue with the NIL program is that bigger schools have all of the advantages. A glance at Texas A&M’s fortunes shows the impact that it had on their roster and results. They had several garbage years but suddenly turned it around after luring young high-school stars to their program.

Bigger schools will continue to attract the best players because they offer more financial opportunities. There has always been an imbalance but this is disproportionate. Nick Saban’s outrage is reasonable because the proof’s in the pudding. These teams are blowing their rivals out of the water because they’re attracting better sponsors (via CBS Sports).

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