NIL

The Clemson Insider

Published

7 months ago

May 13, 2025

With the summer months approaching, Dabo Swinney is preparing for some big changes.

The House Settlement is expected to be finalized as soon as this week, and with that comes a new revenue-sharing model that will turn college athletics on its ear. It is expected to go into effect in July.

For the first year, that money is capped at $20.5 million, with each school being able to decide how to distribute it. Clemson plans to devote a large majority of that money to football. As much as any school in the country, something that should be a game-changer for the program.

“I think we are well-positioned,” Swinney told The Clemson Insider, who is at the ACC Spring Meetings for the 13th consecutive year at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island. “I think it is going to create some order where there has been no order. We really have had very few rules, and whatever rules there were, they either changed them or nothing happened.”

On top of that, expectations are that NIL will be more heavily regulated, with a third party being put in place to oversee all deals.

More structure should mean a more level playing field, and anyone caught skirting the rules is expected to be held accountable under the new guidelines.

“There’s been no budget, there’s been no cap,” Swinney added. “Not any type of just order. I think the rev-share is going to be a great thing for all involved, and it will create some order. And there is going to be a third-party entity created that is going to regulate and have some consequences. There is a lot that is coming with this.”

“So, the NIL won’t go away, but the NIL is going to have to meet a standard. There will be a clearinghouse for that. There are a lot of good changes coming.”

However, this new landscape presents a whole new set of challenges. Many college programs are now set up more like an NFL organization, including Clemson, with Jordan Sorrells now serving as the General Manager. Part of his job is determining who gets what, and with the Tigers having so much production from last year’s team, that was no easy task.

“The main thing is, it’s a cap,” SWinney said. “There will be some consequences to that, because you can’t sign everybody. It is what it is. For example, this year, obviously, we have very veteran tackles. We have an elite senior receiver in Antonio (Williams). We got some really good young talent that is proven. We have a quarterback back, who is a high-level guy. We got a couple of high-level corners. It’s no different than the NFL. You have premium players at premium positions, things like that.”

Swinney has always believed in rewarding production. The best players tend to play, regardless of class. And with this new model, Swinney still plans to reward production on the field. A very productive senior, who might have been a former three-star talent coming out of high school, might very well earn more than a five-star freshman coming out of high school.

“It is also going to reward more performance than potential, and that is what I believe in. I believe in performance. That is real life. I think what has happened in college football the last few years really hasn’t had anything to do with performance. That has allowed a lot of kids to get manipulated. A lot of kids to make some bad decisions. That is sad to me. We have just kind of stayed the course with what we believe in, the core of who we are, so it will be a very smooth transition for us. Because we just have a different process as far as how we evaluate.”

At the same time, working on a budget also means you can’t sign everyone. There will still be recruiting misses and players transferring out.

“You will lose some kids, like we always have. You will get some,” the head coach said. “I mean, I think we have done ok. We still got these elite players even when this chaos was going on. Because there are a lot of people out there who really align with who we are and understand the bigger picture.”

Despite moving to this new model, Swinney fully believes culture still sells. However, he also knows that in this new era, a program has to offer more, and he expects Clemson to be able to offer as much as anyone.

“We have a great model at Clemson, and all I know is nobody is going to have more money for football than Clemson,” Swinney said. “They may have more money with the TV contract, but they are not going to have more money that they can rev-share. We’ve always had the money, just couldn’t use it. You had to go raise money. That creates a lot of challenges. So, I think it is a great thing, and hopefully it gets resolved soon, and we can kind of step into the next era, if you will.”

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NIL

No. 1 college football team predicted to sign $2.1 million transfer QB

Published

13 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As Indiana prepares to host its first-ever College Football Playoff game as the No. 1 seed, the Hoosiers are quietly already planning for 2026.

Fernando Mendoza, a redshirt junior transfer who led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 regular season, won the 2025 Heisman Trophy after throwing 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 passing TDs and is widely seen as an early NFL first-round prospect.

Should Mendoza depart for the draft, Indiana would be tasked with replacing an elite, NFL-caliber starter, which explains why numerous quarterbacks expected to enter the transfer portal have been linked to the Hoosiers.

On a December 20 episode of “Hoosiers Football Tailgate,” host Coach Griff specifically named TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who announced he will enter the transfer portal and skip the Alamo Bowl, as a name Indiana should watch.

“I like this guy as a definite target for Indiana,” Griff said. “So, Josh Hoover, keep an eye on him as a potential target… The one I think they’ll really try to get is Hoover.”

TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover. — TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) comes off the field during the game between the Horned Frogs and the Bearcats | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Hoover was a three-star recruit out of Rockwall-Heath (Texas) and initially committed to Indiana in 2021 before flipping to TCU after the school extended an offer.

He then redshirted in 2022 and became the starter in 2023, producing breakout numbers in 2024 with 3,949 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 66.5% completion rate.

In 2025, Hoover threw for 3,472 yards and 29 TDs, with 13 INTs, and projects among the most productive returning QBs in 2026 on career totals of 9,629 passing yards, 80 total TDs, and a career passer rating of 147.8.

On3’s NIL valuations list also shows Hoover ranking among the most marketable college quarterbacks, with a valuation in the neighborhood of $2.1 million.

Hoover is an intriguing option for Indiana due to his proven production and Power Five experience, positioning him as a potential one-year, plug-and-play solution as Curt Cignetti prioritizes continuity.

There is also a “full-circle” aspect to his recruitment, as Hoover originally committed to Indiana before flipping to TCU in 2021.

NIL

Joey McGuire sees NIL similarities between Oregon, Texas Tech

Published

3 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Two teams that have really embraced the NIL era are set to meet on New Year’s Day. Oregon‘s win over James Madison advanced them to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where Texas Tech was waiting on the other side. Now, it’s Dan Lanning vs. Joey McGuire in the Orange Bowl with a lot of resources put into rosters.

Oregon has been at the forefront of NIL since its inception, especially under Lanning. Texas Tech could be considered the new kid on the block after major investment from a few donors. Even so, McGuire sees some similarities between the two when it comes to winning at whatever cost.

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“They’ve got a great booster in Phil Knight that really said, ‘We’re going to go win at the highest level and there’s no excuse when it comes to finance.’ You turn around and I think that we’re showing that we’re doing that. I think we’re really comparable,” McGuire said.

“We’ve got guys that have stepped up and done a great job. I kind of call them the ‘Big Five’ whenever you talk about Cody and John, Mike, Dusty, and Gary. Those guys have, along with everybody else in Red Raider Nation, but those guys have really led the charge. So, we’re kind of comparable on and off the field in this team. They’ve just done it for a little bit longer. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

As he said, McGuire is looking to put together a run similar to Oregon. All four years since hiring Lanning have been a resounding success, finishing with double-digit wins in all of them. This is the program’s second College Football Playoff appearance in the 12-team format, just missing out in 2023 due to a Pac-12 Championship loss.

Oregon won the Big Ten in its inaugural season inside the conference. Texas Tech can check that box already though, winning the Big 12 for the first time in school history. Advancing in the CFP would be a sweet bonus.

No matter the result on Jan. 1, Texas Tech is positioning itself to be successful moving forward. The 2026 recruiting class ranked 20th in the country but No. 1 in the Big 12 per the Rivals Industry Team Rankings. This is all before raiding the NCAA transfer portal, something McGuire and his staff did so well with last offseason.

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No. 1 college football transfer portal QB predicted to draw $3 million offer

Published

4 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the weeks leading up to the opening of the NCAA transfer portal, hundreds of college football players have announced their decisions to leave the schools they played for in 2025 for new horizons next season.

Some cases involve players transferring up from Group of Five or FCS programs to broaden their exposure. Others feature players following their coaches from one school to another due to the coaching carousel. In occasional instances, players are searching for the highest bidder on the portal.

Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is a portal entry drawing the attention of high-bidding college football programs. He will enter the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

On3 ranks Leavitt as the top available quarterback in the transfer portal. Chris Hummer of CBS Sports reported that schools are expected to offer Leavitt around $3 million.

Sam Leavitt look toward the sideline in Arizona State's game at Texas Tech. — Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“Sam Leavitt on the open market is going to command a significant amount of money,” Hummer said. “We’re talking $3 million plus most likely. Although, in all fairness, I think teams really do have questions about Sam Leavitt’s injury and what that means moving forward. It’s kind of like the Carson Beck situation a year ago.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder began his college football career with Mel Tucker at Michigan State in 2023. He played in a maximum of four games that season to maintain his redshirt, throwing for 139 yards, two touchdowns, and a pair of interceptions.

Leavitt transferred to Arizona State in the 2024 offseason. The Sun Devils were 10-2 in the regular season and defeated Iowa State (45-19) en route to the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Leavitt passed for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions and rushed for another 443 yards and five touchdowns.

Postseason honors for Leavitt included Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Big 12. His 2,885 passing yards are the most by a freshman quarterback in Arizona State history.

Leavitt’s season was cut short after the Sun Devils’ game against Houston due to a Lisfranc injury. He threw for 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions while he ran for 306 yards and five touchdowns in seven games.

Arizona State will not start Leavitt in its bowl game. The Sun Devils (8-4, 6-3) will play ACC champion Duke (8-5, 6-2) in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas (3 p.m. EST, CBS).

The NCAA transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, 2026, the final day of bowl games across the FBS ranks. It will remain open for the following two weeks.

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NIL

University of Alabama football player uses NIL money to spread Christmas cheer

Published

5 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – University of Alabama offensive lineman Parker Brailsford’s childhood experiences inspire him to help Tuscaloosa’s underserved youth.

Brailsford is an Arizona native, who has made a name for himself in the world of college football. But when he takes off the helmet and pads, his focus shifts to something else.

“Being able to give back to kids that don’t have – that’s something that fulfills me,” Brailsford said. “It’s my purpose.”

Brailsford took 10 children and their families from the Boys and Girls Club Christmas shopping on Monday.

Each child received a $100 Target gift card. All together it was $1,000 of NIL money.

Alabama moves up to No. 14, Auburn falls out of AP men’s college basketball rankings

“He just gave her a turkey for Thanksgiving, and now he’s taking her Christmas shopping,” Toniko Bryant said. “I’m very thankful because he doesn’t have to do that.”

Brailsford understands he doesn’t have to – but he wants to.

“As a kid, we didn’t have a lot but we had enough,” Brailsford said.

During Brailsford’s infancy years he was adopted.

“I never was in the foster care system, but one of my friends was,” Brailsford said.

Brailsford’s formative years were a stark contrast to what he saw other children experience. His parents gave him support and stability, while other children moved from home to home.

At the same time, his mother took him to homeless shelters and food pantries to volunteer. There he saw how poverty affects anyone of all ages, races, and gender.

“Sometimes you get caught in the what you’re living in right now – you think there’s not a place for you,” Brailsford said.

Brailsford found his place on the field, but his purpose is to help children find theirs.

“This is something God put on his heart,” John Nero said. “I appreciate every bit of it, not just for Oshae but for all the other kids.”

Brailsford relates to many of the children he serves. Whether it’s adoption, financial hardships, or empathizing with experiences his friend encountered years ago.

While Brailsford’s success in football gives him the financial resources and name recognition to coordinate outreach events, this is just the beginning even if his football career comes to an end.

“I’m working on my social work degree right now because I really want to be able to help kids, anyway I can,” Brailsford said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.

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NIL

Major college football team reportedly does not have ‘any interest’ in $2.4 million QB

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Indiana’s meteoric ascent to the top of college football has transformed the Hoosiers into a prime destination for transfer quarterbacks, and for a brief moment, that attention turned toward a familiar face.

Cincinnati signal-caller Brendan Sorsby, who spent his first two seasons at Indiana before moving on, formally entered the transfer portal on December 15 after a productive 2025 campaign with the Bearcats.

In 2025, Sorsby produced 2,800 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes, and five interceptions, plus 580 rushing yards and nine rushing scores.

Across his collegiate career, he has totaled 7,208 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, 1,305 rushing yards, and 22 rushing touchdowns, positioning him as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks currently available in the transfer portal.

He is also one of the market’s most valuable quarterback assets, with an estimated NIL valuation of approximately $2.4 million and reports indicating that suitors have discussed packages exceeding $4 million.

Recent reports have tied Sorsby to several Power-5 suitors, notably Texas Tech and, in initial rumor threads, a potential reunion with the Hoosiers.

However, “Hoosier Tailgate” host Shannon “Coach Griff” Griffith pushed back on the speculation during a December 20 episode, suggesting that Indiana would not view Sorsby as a realistic target.

“I do not think Sorsby is anybody that Indiana would have any interest in,” Griff said. “I don’t necessarily think Sorsby is better than, other than playing, Alberto (Mendoza). I just don’t think that’s something that I can see them getting back in. He’s kind of linked to Texas Tech.”

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby. — Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) throws the ball during the game between the Horned Frogs and the Bearcats | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Hoosiers finished the 2025 campaign undefeated, captured the Big Ten title, and entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed.

Their offense was driven by Fernando Mendoza (2,980 yards, 33 TDs, six INTs), who swept national awards (Davey O’Brien, Maxwell, and the Heisman) and is widely discussed as a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Head coach Curt Cignetti’s program has proven adept at integrating transfer quarterbacks, with both Fernando Mendoza (Cal) and Kurtis Rourke (Ohio) finding success after joining the Hoosiers.

For Sorsby, the portal still offers multiple paths, including a high-value college package or an NFL evaluation, but commentary from influential IU voices, such as Griff, has effectively taken a straightforward reunion scenario off the table.

NIL

University of Alabama football player uses NIL money to spread Christmas cheer

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – University of Alabama offensive lineman Parker Brailsford’s childhood experiences inspire him to help Tuscaloosa’s underserved youth.

Brailsford is an Arizona native, who has made a name for himself in the world of college football. But when he takes off the helmet and pads, his focus shifts to something else.

“Being able to give back to kids that don’t have – that’s something that fulfills me,” Brailsford said. “It’s my purpose.”

Brailsford took 10 children and their families from the Boys and Girls Club Christmas shopping on Monday.

Each child received a $100 Target gift card. All together it was $1,000 of NIL money.

“He just gave her a turkey for Thanksgiving, and now he’s taking her Christmas shopping,” Toniko Bryant said. “I’m very thankful because he doesn’t have to do that.”

Brailsford understands he doesn’t have to – but he wants to.

“As a kid, we didn’t have a lot but we had enough,” Brailsford said.

During Brailsford’s infancy years he was adopted.

“I never was in the foster care system, but one of my friends was,” Brailsford said.

Brailsford’s formative years were a stark contrast to what he saw other children experience. His parents gave him support and stability, while other children moved from home to home.

At the same time, his mother took him to homeless shelters and food pantries to volunteer. There he saw how poverty affects anyone of all ages, races, and gender.

“Sometimes you get caught in the what you’re living in right now – you think there’s not a place for you,” Brailsford said.

Brailsford found his place on the field, but his purpose is to help children find theirs.

“This is something God put on his heart,” John Nero said. “I appreciate every bit of it, not just for Oshae but for all the other kids.”

Brailsford relates to many of the children he serves. Whether it’s adoption, financial hardships, or empathizing with experiences his friend encountered years ago.

While Brailsford’s success in football gives him the financial resources and name recognition to coordinate outreach events, this is just the beginning even if his football career comes to an end.

“I’m working on my social work degree right now because I really want to be able to help kids, anyway I can,” Brailsford said.

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