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NIL confusion raises alarms and concerns among Florida football alumni

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6 months ago

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Big-time college football has become a Wild West situation, marked by new rules for name, image, and likeness (NIL), where players now receive salaries from schools, and the transfer portal, which enables student-athletes to move from one school to another from year to year.

This new anything-goes-era of major college football has former University of Florida gridiron players a bit concerned about the state of the game and lost loyalty to one team. The NCAA’s power programs now resemble pro teams. Some even describe it as NFL Jr.

“NFL Jr.? No.” said Jon Xynidis, who played safety and special teams for the Gators from 1994-97. “I think it’s the NFL with no rules. No salary cap, trade rules, nothing.”

Former Florida Gators express views on NIL

Beginning this season, athletic programs will be allowed to share revenue directly with their athletes. Based on a court-ordered mandate, every school will be allowed a cap of $20.5 million in direct payments to athletes in the first year, increasing by 4 percent every season for the next 10 years.

Former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon is widely considered the Father of NIL. He fronted a lawsuit in 2015 that eventually led to players taking control of their NIL, which opened the door for athletes to lend their name to products and services for profit.

It’s a far cry from John Schnebly’s college experience. Schnebly was the Gators backup quarterback and placeholder under head coaches Ray Graves (1968-69) and Doug Dickey (1970-71).

“When I played, I got what I bargained for,” said the 75-year-old Gator pigskin alum. “I got a good education. They fed me and took care of me. Whether I needed new shoes or to fix a broken leg, the Gators took care of it.”

“Am I jealous of these guys? I don’t know,” he added. “I guess maybe a little bit. To me it seems like these rules make it very difficult to coach because you don’t know what players you’re going to have from year to year.

“These days they can leave and go play someplace else if they want. Maybe they get a little better offer, and they are gone. So, there’s no loyalty. It’s all about what each individual gets. It’s definitely different.”

Xynidis, 49, played for legendary Head Coach Steve Spurrier, who advocated for player pay in the 1990s. The Gators won the SEC Championship each year Xynidis was on the team. UF captured the NCAA National Championship in 1996. No big money was being tossed around in those days.

“We struggled in college,” he said. “We got a stipend for food and for rent. You had to have a side job to get out to dinner or go on a date or whatever it was. It wasn’t easy living but it was part of the experience so I appreciated it.

“Would have been a different experience if I had been given $5,000 a month? Yeah. I can see why they did this because the schools were profiting off the players and the players deserved to share in that. But I can see that a lot of the sacred stuff about college football may be gone. Back when I played it the big thing was (college programs) turning boys into men. Now when schools recruit players, the players ask, ‘How much am I going to get paid?’ That part is unfortunate.”

Seemingly gone are the days of developing a high school athlete with potential into a stellar player. Schnebly believes some football coaches have left the game because of these new rules.

“Because it’s too difficult to work your butt off to get good players, then somebody offers them some more money and they go off down the road after you spent all that time to get the player to a certain level,” he said. “It’s definitely going to change things, well, it already has to some degree. I guess people will have to adjust to it.”

Xynidis agreed and cited this recent example.

“What bugs me is the freedom players have to move from team to team,” he said. “Take, for example, the Florida basketball team. There was a kid, Denzel Aberdeen, who just transferred to Kentucky for his senior season. He was sure to be a starter next season for the Gators. So, Florida will be playing against him next year after winning the National Championship this year. That part of it is heartbreaking to me.”

The NCAA approved a $2.8 billion settlement via the House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit. The money will be used to pay former athletes, who were denied NIL opportunities. This applies only to athletes who played from 2016 to 2024. Neither Schnebly nor Xynidis are eligible for compensation.

“Before 2015, you’re out of luck,” Xynidis said. “It is what it is. I’m not looking for money. My knees and shoulders hurt but I appreciate what I got (when I was playing) and what I put into the University of Florida.

“I was there at a really good time. We won four SEC Championships and an NCAA Championship, so that was a great experience. To me it’s all about experiences and that experience can’t be replaced and can’t be bought. Well, I guess, now it can be bought (laugh).”





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Joel Klatt can’t stand NIL re-signing announcements

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December 19, 2025

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Texas Tech Linked to $2.4 Million College Football Transfer Quarterback

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December 19, 2025

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the BYU Cougars 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. It secured them the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. They’ll play either the No. 12 seed James Madison Dukes or No. 5 seed Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl.

While Texas Tech strives for its first national championship in program history, it’s never too early to look into the future. The Red Raiders will face several major changes after the 2025 season, including from quarterback, Behren Morton. He’s using his final year of eligibility, while ESPN’s Matt Miller gives him a fifth-round grade in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2, but On3 reports that over 800 players are already set to enter. With Morton set to leave, Texas Tech could find his replacement in the portal.

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

In an article, On3’s Pete Nakos, links the Red Raiders to Cincinnati Bearcats transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

“Viewed as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Texas Tech is the school to watch early on for Brendan Sorsby,” Nakos wrote. “He’s also expected to evaluate the NFL draft, and Indiana and Tennessee are other schools to know.”

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This season, Sorsby has completed 207 of 336 passes for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 155.1 passer rating. He’s also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries.

Sorsby is going to be highly sought after, with Rivals placing him as the third-ranked player in the transfer portal. His On3 NIL valuation of $2.4 million is tied for the 10th-highest in college football.

However, that may not be a problem for Texas Tech, which had the top-ranked transfer portal class in 2025. After bringing in 21 players, the Red Raiders had an adjusted NIL value of $7.6 million.

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As the official transfer portal period approaches, Texas Tech’s quarterback situation will be one to watch. With Morton playing his final year of eligibility, the Red Raiders could already be exploring other options.

The Red Raiders will play in the Orange Bowl at noon ET Jan. 1 on ESPN and the ESPN app.

Related: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed Shares NIL Update Before College Football Playoff

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.



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Anonymous coach names biggest fraud in the College Football Playoff

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2 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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There’s always plenty of argument about who belongs and doesn’t belong in the College Football Playoff, and that was certainly the case this season, especially given the debates around that final spot coming between Notre Dame and Miami.

But looking over the 2025 bracket, it’s one of the most recognizable SEC programs that is getting the biggest criticism from those in the coaching business.

Asked to name the biggest fraud in this year’s College Football Playoff, it wasn’t one of the Group of Five teams that got the most attention, but none other than Ole Miss, which made the field on the back of a historic season.

Ole Miss, a fraud?

That’s according to one FBS coach, who doesn’t believe the Rebels have a good case.

“They’ve had so many distractions with Lane Kiffin leaving, and Oklahoma is probably their only good win this year,” an unnamed Group of Five head coach said of the Rebels heading into the College Football Playoff, according to The Athletic.

Whoever it was who said it, he apparently wasn’t alone. Far from it.

Taking a vote from more than two dozen anonymous coaches heading into the playoff, the publication found that to be, if not a consensus opinion, then something like it.

Ole Miss won out among the various playoff teams with 29 percent of respondents saying it was the most fraudulent team in the College Football Playoff this season.

A wild year for Ole Miss

Picking on the Rebels for not being playoff-worthy sounds counter-intuitive, given the unprecedentedly good season they’ve had on the field.

For the first time ever, Ole Miss completed an 11-win regular season and qualified for its first College Football Playoff berth.

Then came the drama. The head coach who brought them that success became the biggest name in what emerged as college football’s most hectic coaching carousel.

Lane Kiffin was named as the leading target for two other SEC programs and ultimately departed the Rebels for conference rival LSU after winning the Egg Bowl game.

Coach highlights Rebels’ schedule

The concern around Ole Miss’ perceived quality of schedule doesn’t seem like a concern at first glance.

It played three teams that made the College Football Playoff, beating both Oklahoma and Tulane, and losing a closely-fought matchup on the road against SEC champion Georgia.

Otherwise, the Rebels beat lesser SEC opponents like Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas.

The win against then-No. 4 LSU doesn’t look as good as it did at the time, given the Tigers’ fall from grace that led to Brian Kelly’s ouster.

There was no universe in which an 11-1 Ole Miss was being left out of the College Football Playoff. Whether it truly belongs will be decided on the field, which can be said for any team in the bracket.

But the Rebels weren’t alone

Not far behind in the fraud poll were two surprising names. Big 12 champion Texas Tech and SEC runner-up Alabama were both decried as playoff frauds with 17 percent of the vote each.

Texas Tech being included is truly puzzling, given the quality of its defense, but those asked expressed concern for the offense, in particular quarterback Behren Morton.

In second place was “no answer,” as 21 percent of those asked didn’t provide any hints as to who they thought were frauds.

Group of Five selection James Madison received 8 percent of the vote as a perceived fraud, while Oregon and Oklahoma each got 4 percent.

Alabama not getting respect

One defensive coordinator from the SEC and a defensive assistant from the Big Ten took issue with the Crimson Tide being included among the dozen playoff teams this year.

“Alabama should have, like, five losses this year. They shouldn’t be there,” the SEC defensive coordinator said.

And the Big Ten coach added: “I’ve watched them. They’re not that good this year. I didn’t see enough from them to get this chance.”

(Athletic)

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

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P.J. Fleck reveals Gophers’ mindset and strategy in NIL contract negotiations

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3 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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There are hundreds of conversations happening behind closed doors of college football programs across the country right now. Between player-contract negotiations, coaching staff turnover and transfer portal decisions, the sport has transformed into the wild west.

Minnesota has already seen 13 of its own players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens next month. They’ve also had notable players such as Drake Lindsey, Jalen Smith and Maverick Baranowski reveal their plans to return next season.

“I don’t think anything in elementary education taught you how to negotiate contracts in college. Even as you look at the past of you being a head football coach, everything you’ve gained experience on — and then you get into this world of new college athletics — and unless you’re a head coach that backs away and says, ‘Hey, I am just gonna coach football.’ You have to be so in line with your chief of staff, your GM, director of player personnel… You have to talk more than you ever have, and have meetings more than you ever had,” P.J. Fleck said.

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Minnesota has seen notable players like Bucky Irving, Phillip Daniels, and Athan Kaliakmanis enter the transfer portal over the years, but it’s routinely among the best programs in the country at retaining players. For example, past and present Gophers stars Justin Walley, Tyler Nubin, and Darius Taylor have turned down more lucrative offers to stay at Minnesota.

“It’s just a new era of college athletics, and we’ve embraced it. I think Gerrit Chernoff and his staff do an amazing job. Our retention rate, as of right now, is really, really high. Everybody does it on their own time frame. That’s one thing I’ve learned,” Fleck said.

“Everybody has representation. Everybody has their own view of not necessarily what they’re worth, and what they want to be able to get out of that, and what they value, and you respect that.”

Many fans and traditionalists are frustrated by what college sports have become, but it’s the new reality. It’s essentially one-year contracts for every player on your team, and they’re able to re-negotiate every offseason, with no salary cap or clear market. Fleck has historically had boundaries with the amount of information he shares about the inner workings of his Gophers’ program, but he shared a legitimate inside look on Wednesday.

The Gophers are currently in the stage of the offseason where they’re re-recruiting the entire roster. We likely won’t know the details or specifics of the contracts, but it was interesting to hear Fleck peel back the curtain.

Gophers news, rumors and analysis





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Tulane rides wave of economic impact into college football postseason

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4 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Tulane’s playoff appearance is generating millions in donations, NIL funding and local business revenue
  • Athletic donations jumped 373% year over year, totaling $1.68 million in just over a month
  • NIL collectives raised more than $1.1 million following the conference championship
  • Uptown retailers report record merchandise sales tied to Green Wave success

After being the first Louisiana university (sorry, LSU fans) to qualify for the college football playoffs, Tulane University, its athletic program, NIL organizations, and surrounding Uptown New Orleans businesses are seeing a multi-million dollar economic impact. From surging athletic donations to increasing merchandise sales, the Green Wave’s success on the field is translating into a massive green influx off of it.

“Since last week, we’ve taken in about 1,000 orders on the website, sold over 2,000 hoodies and 1,000 shirts, and a lot of the playoff merchandise,” said David Cariello, owner of the Campus Connection, an off-campus Tulane merchandise retailer on Broadway Street. Cariello has worked there since college and has owned Campus Connection since 2008. “This is unlike anything I have ever seen. Halfway through December, we are already at where we would be in a really good month, and by the end of the month, we may be at three times our typical monthly revenue.”
Cariello added that Campus Connection still has Tulane playoff merchandise available for fans interested in purchasing swag before Saturday’s game.

The American Conference champion Tulane Green Wave will travel to Ole Miss on Saturday to play in the first round of the college football playoffs. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., and the winner will take on Georgia on Jan. 1, 2026, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.


Ole Miss athletic officials are projecting a $74 million economic impact in Oxford for the playoff game, but, at home, in New Orleans, the institution and surrounding business community also are witnessing a financial windfall that administrators and shop owners describe as “unprecedented and magical.”

Tulane University Director of Athletics David Harris announced that between Nov. 12 and Dec. 16, the department received $1.68 million in donations from 519 donors. The figures represent a staggering 373 percent increase in dollar amount and an 83 percent rise in the number of donors compared to the same period last year.

Sam Scelfo, owner of the iconic Gambino’s Bakery in Metairie, has donated to Tulane University since 1973 and recalls his first donation of $100. For 52 years, Scelfo has consistently donated to the university and the athletics program.

“It’s magical what Tulane football has done this season. This college football playoff run is not just good for the university; it’s beneficial to the city as a whole, and it kind of mirrors the energy of New Orleans when the Saints are successful,” said Scelfo, who will attend Saturday’s game. “Even my LSU friends have called this past week to congratulate me. This season will breed success across the entire university – national recognition of the athletics program and university, more investment dollars, donations, applications – it’s just a win, win, win across the board.”

The financial impact extends into the modern frontier of college sports: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Michael Arata, co-founder of the Fear The Wave Collective, reports the collective has raised over $1.1 million in NIL donations since the conference championship game. Arata can recall the early days of the Fear the Wave Collective in 2021 when he and co-founder Jimmy Ordeneaux set a goal of raising $10,000 in one year.


Fear The Wave fundraises to enhance accessibility for selected Tulane student-athletes to NIL deals, empowering them to gain financial and business exposure while maintaining their commitment to academics and sports. ‍

“It’s such an unprecedented time for everyone involved in Tulane University and Tulane athletics. It’s been so busy but so much fun as well,” said Arata, who projects that Fear The Wave Collective will almost double its NIL fundraising amount in 2025 compared to 2024. “It would have taken us several months to raise the kind of money we just did in one week. We went from asking people to help maintain where we are to getting incoming calls of people wanting to do more to continue to support a program that has grown so much over recent years.”

Sumrall arrived at Tulane in 2024 and coached the team to a 9-5 record and an appearance in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. This season, Tulane finished 11-2 and won the American Conference championship with a 34-21 win over North Texas in front of a sold-out Yulman Stadium.

Sumrall has announced that he will be the new head coach of the Florida Gators next season, but he has been allowed to coach Tulane through its playoff run. In the last week, Sumrall and his family announced a $100,000 contribution to the Green Wave Talent Fund, the university’s primary NIL fund and a Tulane athletics initiative to expand NIL opportunities for Tulane student-athletes across football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball.

“Jon’s donation shows the type of character he has, to help position Tulane for success after his departure. He is investing in the future of the program he helped build and in the lives of the kids he has changed,” Scelfo said. “His family’s donation definitely stimulated more donors to jump on board and also invest in the future of Tulane.”

For example, Arata said a Tulane family donated $500,000 to Fear The Wave Collective and then added $100,000 more after seeing Sumrall’s announcement. His donation also encouraged another donator to send a significant amount, and more donations have continued to come in since Tuesday’s news.

“We feel like we are just getting started, and this momentum over the last month can be self-sustaining and powerful going into the future,” Arata said. “We hope this sets the stage for building a program that is a permanent fixture on the national stage. Tulane was in the first Sugar Bowl, so why not play in the next one? Can you imagine the energy of the city and economic impact the Sugar Bowl will have if Tulane plays Georgia on New Year’s Day?”



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JMU Coach Bob Chesney Doesn’t Hold Back On Dan Lanning And Dante Moore

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5 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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The No. 5 Oregon Ducks (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) and the Sun Belt Conference champions, No. 12 James Madison Dukes (12-1, 8-0 Sun Belt), are nearing their first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff in Eugene, Oregon, at Autzen Stadium.

Dukes coach Bob Chesney is going into unfamiliar territory, with their best win on the 2025 season coming against the Troy Trojans on Dec. 5 in the Sun Belt title game at home inside Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisburg, Virginia, 31-14. Their lone loss at the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Louisville Cardinals near the start of the season on Sept. 5, 28-14.

James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney argues a call with an official during the first half

Sep 5, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney argues a call with an official during the first half against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Bob Chesney Doesn’t Hold Back On Dan Lanning And Dante Moore

Regarding redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore, Chesney knows he’s the most dangerous player on the field for the Ducks, due to his ability to impact the offensive game in any facet under center. He touched on the leader when speaking to the media before the Saturday, Dec. 20, matchup.

“To me, it’s the willingness of the quarterback to throw into coverage. He understands tight windows and trusts his arm. He could be one of the top draft picks in this draft. There’s a lot in there. He has confidence and trust. He’s mobile. He does a really good job of getting the ball out,” Chesney stated.

When Chesney touched on matching up with Oregon coach Dan Lanning, the future UCLA Bruins head coach spoke on Lanning’s success in taking over a new program back in 2022 and making it his own, to what the college football world sees today.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks the sideline as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks the sideline as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“They’re extremely well coached. They are just really good at understanding protections and trying to break those protections. When they get to their one-on-one matchups or if they get on a running back, they do a really good job of keeping their pad level down.”

Chesney continued, “They do not quit as they are pursuing the quarterback. A lot of the big plays that have happened against them have been quarterbacks being able to evade some sort of rush and get their feet set and find something downfield.”

MORE: Oregon Ducks Face Escalating Flood Risk as Playoff Game Approaches

MORE: Bo Nix and Justin Herbert Push Toward NFL Playoffs as Former Ducks Thrive

MORE: JMU Quarterback Doesn’t Hold Back On Oregon, Flashy Uniforms, Autzen Stadium 

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Preparing for Autzen Stadium Atmosphere

In front of a sold-out crowd of 54,000+ in Eugene on Saturday, Chesney understands that the loud atmosphere will play a major factor for his units on both sides of the ball when trying to hear play-calling from the James Madison sideline.

That’s without the full Ducks’ student body present, being on Christmas break.

“We want to try and make it to where we can’t even hear each other on both sides of the ball, knowing that it will affect the offense and the special teams more than it will the defense, but that is definitely what we’re jumping into,” Chesney said. “We have all their songs, all the things they do, their band, everything we could gather is what we’re putting on display out there for our guys, so that’s something that they’ve heard before.”

James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Sep 21, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Oregon vs. James Madison NIL Disparity

Chesney pointed out that James Madison’s Name, Image, and Likeness or NIL for the 2025 season was around $1 million. As for Oregon’s football program and NIL, it’s considered to be the top in the sport. This is due to the university’s long-time partnership with Nike and co-founder Phil Knight.

In fact, the Dukes and Ducks are so far from each other financially that Oregon’s defensive coordinator, Tosh Lupoi (earned $2 million in 2025), makes more than James Madison’s head coach and his 2025 roster combined. Chesney was owed a $833,495 salary for the 2025 season.



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