How Much Do College Football Players Make in 2025? Salaries, NIL Deals & Benefits

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For decades, the debate around college football was centered on one big question: do college football players get paid? Until recently, the answer was simple—no. Players relied only on scholarships and the dream of going pro. But the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era has transformed everything. In 2025, many student-athletes are earning six and even seven-figure incomes through sponsorships, endorsements, and collective contracts. Let’s break down how the system works, who earns the most, and what the future looks like for college sports.

NIL, short for Name, Image, and Likeness, refers to the legal right of college athletes to earn money from their personal brand. This became law in 2021 after a Supreme Court ruling, ending decades of strict amateurism rules.

Players now sign deals with brands, appear in commercials, and partner with companies ranging from Nike to local businesses. Some schools also help athletes by coordinating booster collectives designed to fund these deals. For those wondering what is NIL in college football, it’s essentially a system that lets athletes profit from their marketability without giving up college eligibility.

College athletes earn income primarily through:

• Sponsorship deals with national or local companies.
• Collectives organized by schools’ boosters to keep players from transferring.
• Merchandise sales such as jerseys and personal branding.
• Social media promotions for athletes with large followings.

For example, Quinn Ewers, a Texas quarterback, signed with Dr. Pepper for their “Fansville” commercials, which paid him directly.

Some top athletes are now making enough to delay going pro. According to Syracuse professor Dave Meluni, NIL has “created legitimate avenues for young athletes to leverage their personal brands”.

If you’re researching or writing on this topic for class, you might look for help with writing papers, and resources like help with writing papers can support students in analyzing how NIL changes education and sports.

The income varies dramatically. On average, many players make only a modest stipend from small deals, but the stars make millions.

• Top quarterbacks: Often earn $400,000–$600,000 per year, which translates to $30,000–$50,000 per month.
• Elite NIL athletes: Some have yearly valuations exceeding $5–7 million, which is more than $400,000 per month.
• Regular players: Many make no money at all from NIL. Only a fraction of athletes land high-paying contracts.

So, while it’s common to ask how much do college football players make a month, the reality is highly unequal.

Top Earning College Athletes in 2025

Not every player cashes in, but those at the top can rival pro salaries. Here’s a snapshot of the highest paid NIL athletes and their reported values:

This table highlights who is the highest paid college football player in 2025: Arch Manning, with a staggering $7.1 million in reported NIL valuation.

No. That’s one of the biggest misconceptions. While headlines focus on the highest paid student athlete, the truth is that most players receive little or no NIL income.

• Superstars: Can make millions through top NIL deals.
• Role players: May only secure small sponsorships.
• Walk-ons: Often make nothing and still rely on scholarships.

This uneven distribution has fueled debates about fairness and whether NIL has created a new class divide in college sports.

What College Player Makes the Most NIL Money?

Right now, Arch Manning leads the list with a $7.1 million NIL valuation. His last name, family legacy, and role as Texas’ starting quarterback make him the most marketable player in college football.

Other top earning college athletes include Carson Beck and Jeremiah Smith, both with multimillion-dollar deals that rival NFL rookie contracts.

The Future of Pay-for-Play

In 2024, a legal settlement opened the door for schools to share up to $20 million annually with student-athletes. This means that in addition to NIL, direct payments from schools could soon become standard.

While some critics argue NIL has turned college sports into a “Wild West,” most agree that it is here to stay. For athletes, this marks the first era where staying in school could be more profitable than leaving early for the pros.

Final Thoughts

So, do college football players get paid in 2025? Yes—many do, and some make millions. But the majority still earn little to nothing. The NIL era has created a fascinating new financial landscape, with top NIL deals making certain players household names and millionaires before they even graduate.

As schools prepare to directly share revenue with athletes, the future could bring even more change. The days of pure amateurism in college football are over, and the market for athletes’ names and brands is only getting stronger.