Greg McElroy’s Bold Critique of NIL Go and Its Impact on College Football

In a landscape where college football is constantly evolving, Greg McElroy has emerged as a voice unafraid to challenge the status quo. On a recent episode of his podcast, the former Alabama quarterback delivered a searing analysis of the NIL Go initiative, designed to regulate the financial dealings in college sports. His insights have sparked a conversation about the unintended consequences of this ambitious system.

NIL Go: A System Under Scrutiny

The NIL Go program was introduced with the intent to bring transparency and order to the complex world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. It promised to streamline the process, ensuring athletes could benefit from their talents while maintaining the integrity of college sports. However, McElroy’s critique suggests that the system may have opened Pandora’s box, revealing challenges that were previously hidden.

McElroy’s Insightful Perspective

McElroy’s perspective is grounded in his deep understanding of the sport’s inner workings. He argues that while NIL Go aims to simplify, it may inadvertently complicate matters. “The system was supposed to be a solution,” McElroy remarked, “but it seems to have created a new set of problems that no one anticipated.” His words resonate with those who worry that the initiative might be more of a cosmetic fix than a substantive change.

The Broader Implications for College Football

The introduction of NIL Go has sparked a broader debate about the future of college athletics. McElroy’s critique highlights a critical tension between maintaining the amateur nature of college sports and embracing the commercial opportunities that NIL deals present. This tension raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the current model and whether it truly serves the best interests of student-athletes.

Reflecting on the Future

As college football continues to navigate these turbulent waters, McElroy’s candid assessment serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in reforming a deeply entrenched system. His critique invites stakeholders to reconsider the path forward, ensuring that changes benefit the athletes without compromising the essence of college sports. The conversation he has ignited is not just about NIL Go but about the very future of college athletics—a future that demands careful thought and deliberate action.

With the House v. NCAA settlement now finalized and approved, a new push within Congress will attempt to turn it into law and give the NCAA and conferences more power to enforce their rules.

A discussion draft of a bill obtained by The Athletic outlines an upcoming proposal in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce that would codify most of the federal support the NCAA has lobbied for in recent years. Although previous congressional efforts haven’t gained much steam, college sports leaders hope the settlement will finally provide the spark for something to get done. The Republican-led committee would work hand-in-hand with two other House committees for a three-pronged approach this week that would do the following:

• Fully deputize the Collegiate Sports Commission (or another entity) to enforce the settlement rules, such as requiring athletes disclose third-party name, image and likeness deals worth more than $600 and allow the prohibition of compensation that is not considered fair market value
• Allow an entity to establish a revenue-sharing cap; the one instituted by the settlement begins at around $20 million for the 2025-26 academic year
• Pre-empt state NIL laws with this national NIL law
• Allow the NCAA, conferences or another entity to establish and enforce rules around transfers, eligibility length and the paying of recruits
• Declare that college athletes are not employees
• Require athlete agents to register with an entity such as the CSC or NCAA

A House subcommittee is scheduled to discuss the draft, dubbed the SCORE Act and sponsored by Florida Republican and subcommittee chair Gus Bilirakis, at a Thursday hearing. To support it, the House’s Judiciary Committee is expected to discuss a bill for antitrust protections around these items, while the House’s Education and Workforce Committee will work to codify that athletes are not employees. The Washington Post first reported on the committee drafts.

“This discussion draft comes at a time of historic transition for college athletics,” the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC said in a joint statement to The Athletic. “In the absence of federal standards, student-athletes and schools have been forced to navigate a fractured regulatory framework for too long. Following the historic House settlement, this draft legislation represents a very encouraging step toward delivering the national clarity and accountability that college athletics desperately needs. We urge lawmakers to build on this momentum and deliver the national solution that athletes, coaches, and schools deserve.”

The main Energy and Commerce bill, if passed, would also codify several athlete protections Democrats have asked for, requiring schools to provide injury care for athletes for at least two years after graduation, catastrophic injury insurance and additional mental health services and give “autonomous” authority to team physicians and trainers over player health and return-to-play decisions. It would also make law that schools cannot pull scholarships or aid over performance or injury. Many of these benefits are already allowed or required by the NCAA.

Republican and college sports officials who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity said they hope those athlete protections are enough to get some Democrats on board. Democratic representative Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, a former Georgetown volleyball player who is on the Energy and Commerce Committee, released a statement on Saturday expressing concern that congressional action could choke off gains made by athletes.

Thus far, congressional attempts on a college sports bill have not gone far, despite full Republican control of the legislative branch to streamline the process. One Democratic congressman who spoke to The Athletic questioned whether the full House would have time for the issue amid other more pressing topics.

A bipartisan group of senators led by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have spent months working on a potential bill. President Trump has considered creating a presidential commission on college sports. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua played golf with Trump on Sunday.

“I don’t think this is about drawing lines between Democrats and Republicans or the House and Senate,” Sankey said Monday. “I think this is an opportunity for our governmental leaders, our political leaders, to come together around solutions to support our Olympic development program, to support college football and every one of our sports that flows off of that, including those that are labeled as non-revenue sports, to provide additional support for women’s sports.”

The finalization of the House settlement could be the inflection point for something to get done. NCAA president Charlie Baker has said that college sports needed to put together a plan to take to Congress. That has now happened.

“The big message from the federal government is you have to do everything you possibly can on your own, then come talk to us,” Baker said last September on a panel alongside Nick Saban.

In a letter Baker sent to members of Congress over the weekend obtained by The Athletic, the NCAA president pointed to the House settlement as needed progress, while asking for help on establishing antitrust protections, pre-empting state laws and keeping athletes from being employees.

“The progress we’ve made, especially with the House settlement, represents a significant step forward,” Baker wrote. “And, in the narrow areas where we lack the authority needed to address outstanding issues, we look forward to working with you and your staff to advance solutions that will ensure that college sports continue to provide fair opportunities to all student-athletes, for generations to come.”

College sports leaders have said the House settlement wouldn’t fix all their problems, that it was only a first step. Now the focus moves to accomplishing step two, convincing Congress that it’s done enough to get something made into federal law.

(Photo: Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images)

The Texas Longhorns have been at the top of college football’s game in terms of recruiting in recent years. In fact, Texas’ 2024 recruiting class was ranked No. 6 overall, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings last year; and in 2023, No. 3 overall, according to 247Sports.

There’s room to improve, in other words.

Enter Texas football’s Lamborghini roster.

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Last weekend, Texas “showcased a fleet of Lamborghinis outside its football facilities as it hosted some of the nation’s top high school prospects for official visits. The luxury cars, parked in front of the Moncrief Athletics Center next to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, were impossible to miss as blue-chip recruits arrived … . The spectacle is part of an ongoing trend for Texas, which first rolled out the exotic cars during last year’s recruiting cycle. This year’s event featured around 14 to 15 top targets from the Class of 2026, including five-star running back Ezavier Crowell and Lamar Brown, as well as four-star edge rusher Jamarion Carlton, cornerback Davon Benjamin and four-star quarterback Kavian Bryant.”

In this episode of Monday Night Therapy, host Minnie Hunt is joined by Pigskin PD (Peter Bartell) and law professor Adam Lamparello for an in-depth look at the NCAA House Settlement and its massive impact on the future of college football. The panel breaks down how the new system allows universities to pay up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, alongside NIL deals, and explores the legal, competitive, and Title IX ramifications. Adam explains why this structure may further widen the gap between powerhouse programs and smaller schools—sparking antitrust concerns and long legal battles.

The conversation also dives into Nebraska football’s identity, the importance of returning to its physical, trench-dominant style, and head coach Matt Rhule’s efforts to rebuild the program. The group reflects on Nebraska legends like Tommy Frazier and Lawrence Phillips while discussing NIL’s broader impact on player movement, recruiting, and competitive balance across college football.

If you’re passionate about Nebraska football history, college football NIL, or the changing landscape of the sport, this is an essential discussion. Plus, hear some fun memories about the 1869 Rutgers-Princeton game and Nebraska’s storied quarterback legacy.

#NebraskaFootball #CollegeFootballHistory #NIL #NCAASettlement #GoBigRed

The Texas Longhorns have been at the top of college football’s game in terms of recruiting in recent years. In fact, Texas’ 2024 recruiting class was ranked No. 6 overall, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings last year; and in 2023, No. 3 overall, according to 247Sports.

There’s room to improve, in other words.

Advertisement

Enter Texas football’s Lamborghini roster.

More from USA Today:

Last weekend, Texas “showcased a fleet of Lamborghinis outside its football facilities as it hosted some of the nation’s top high school prospects for official visits. The luxury cars, parked in front of the Moncrief Athletics Center next to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, were impossible to miss as blue-chip recruits arrived … . The spectacle is part of an ongoing trend for Texas, which first rolled out the exotic cars during last year’s recruiting cycle. This year’s event featured around 14 to 15 top targets from the Class of 2026, including five-star running back Ezavier Crowell and Lamar Brown, as well as four-star edge rusher Jamarion Carlton, cornerback Davon Benjamin and four-star quarterback Kavian Bryant.”

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