NIL
Unintended Consequences
You guys probably recall the surprise when we all learned just how much Cooper Flagg made this past season at Duke, around $28 million. He’s an outlier of course, but the trend is unmistakable: income is going up across the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That’s a bit of problem and not just for the NCAA. […]

You guys probably recall the surprise when we all learned just how much Cooper Flagg made this past season at Duke, around $28 million.
He’s an outlier of course, but the trend is unmistakable: income is going up across the board.
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That’s a bit of problem and not just for the NCAA. Turns out it’s causing a global…well, let’s call it a game drain.
What’s happening, in essence, is that NCAA players are suddenly making a lot more money than international players, and the employers of said international players don’t like it one bit.
Philippe Ausseur, the President of France’s National Basketball League, calls it looting, saying this:
“Given the number of players approached, about fifteen of whom have signed up, we can call it looting. The colleges are casting their net wide, even in Pro B, and are dispossessing us of a certain number of our key players without us being able to react.
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“What took us by surprise were the amounts. We were expecting big contracts worth $350,000, but it’s $2 million…We were expecting half a dozen players to be approached, but it’s more than triple that…We’ve heard of agents trying to get clubs to sign certificates to demonstrate that their players are still amateurs. The situation remains unclear.”
Well first of all, looting seems like a very Gallic response to competition. Secondly, they didn’t complain when sub-NBA American players left college ball for European paychecks.
All that said, he does have a point: in a very short period of time, the NCAA has emerged as the second-best league in the world, the money keeps getting better and there are some real perks: you can get an education if you want, you get access to first-class coaching, facilities, training, nutrition and equipment. And you’re on TV all the time and thus on the NBA’s radar.
And while this appears to be less of a problem than it was in recent years, at least in Europe, there was a time when players spent way too much time trying to get paid. This has apparently been a problem for American players in China too. It’s less likely to be the case for NCAA players, which could also be a factor.
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NIL
Duke expert just admitted Louisville’s 5-star phenom is a walking nightmare
Louisville basketball’s incoming freshman Mikel Brown Jr. has been the talk of the summer so far, and not just for Louisville fans but the entire nation. The 5-star phenom recently represented Team USA in Switzerland at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, earning his second gold medal in his young career. While delivering elite performances, […]
Louisville basketball’s incoming freshman Mikel Brown Jr. has been the talk of the summer so far, and not just for Louisville fans but the entire nation. The 5-star phenom recently represented Team USA in Switzerland at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, earning his second gold medal in his young career. While delivering elite performances, he impressed the rest of the nation.
Brown had experts from all over the world praising him, including some Kentucky fans and announcers, but the glorious silver lining was that Brown is emerging as one of the best players in college basketball. The 6-foot-5 guard showed off his elite playmaking ability the entire tournament, and led Team USA in points, assists, efficiency, and made 3-pointers.
While he was blatantly snubbed of the MVP award, his dominant gold medal run has a Duke expert warning Blue Devils fans of what is to come next season, and they are shivering with fear.
Related: Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. proves he’s the best PG in college basketball
Duke expert just admitted Louisville’s 5-star phenom is a walking nightmare
Brown went on to average 14.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from the 3-point line. When Brown was on the floor, he controlled the pace of the game while playing his style of play. He was nailing 3-pointers from well beyond the arc while penetrating the defense and either finishing through contact or finding a shooter in the corner.
Louisville fans cannot wait to see him in red and black this upcoming season, playing alongside Adrian Wooley, Isaac McKneely, and Ryan Conwell. Brown should be just as dominant, and considering what’s to come, not only has Cardinals Nation been excited, but it has also left a Duke Blue Devils expert terrified.
Jason Evans, the host of Duke Basketball Roundup, is an expert who put out a social media post over the weekend about the Cardinals’ incoming freshman and warned Duke fans of what is to come.
Ummm, Duke fans… this is what we have to look forward to when we play Louisville this year.
Mikel Brown, Jr. is HIM. https://t.co/WA5sb6MCLi— Jason Evans (@JasonDukeEvans) July 5, 2025
Evans went on to state Brown is “HIM” and was referring to the viral image of Brown soaring through the air and trying to tomahawk and dunk on the New Zealand defender. While some Kentucky experts and fans only view this as a missed dunk, the rest of the nation is realizing this 6-foot-5 185, 185-pound guard is going to be an absolute beast.
Brown is the second-highest commit in program history, and with Pat Kelsey’s addition from the Transfer Portal and the key veterans he brought back, the 5-star guard is poised to break out next season.
Louisville currently has the No. 10 best odds to win the 2026 National Title and the second-best odds to win their first-ever ACC Title. Brown is expected to lead the ship and guide the Cards to their first Title since 2013, and be the first Cardinal selected as a top-five pick in an NBA Draft since Pervis Ellison in 1989.
Related: Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. has Kentucky fans admitting the hype is real
For all the latest on Louisville basketball’s offseason and recruiting, stay tuned!
NIL
College athletics the way it was meant to be still exists at Barton
When he was named head football coach at the University of North Carolina, seven-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick proudly proclaimed that the Tar Heels would become the “NFL’s 33rd team.” It’s been reported that former Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg earned upwards of $28 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation and endorsements […]

When he was named head football coach at the University of North Carolina, seven-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick proudly proclaimed that the Tar Heels would become the “NFL’s 33rd team.”
It’s been reported that former Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg earned upwards of $28 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation and endorsements during his one year with the Blue Devils.
And new N.C. State basketball coach Will Wade was investigated and subsequently fired for allegedly paying players during his time at LSU. With no trace of irony, his ability to pay players and construct a winning roster, primarily through the transfer portal, was cited as the primary reason for his hire by the Wolfpack.
To quote the famous line from Bob Dylan: “The times they are a-changin’.”
The NCAA that most of us know is virtually unrecognizable now. Terms like NIL, transfer portal, conference realignment and House settlement have forever altered the landscape of college sports. There is no question that we are looking at the professionalization of college football and basketball at the Division I level. The term “student-athlete” is nothing but a quaint reminder from the past, and the reality is that most football and basketball players are now more employees than students, and the whole enterprise has become transactional.
NIL legislation started with good intentions a few years ago. Student-athletes should be compensated for their name, image and likeness, especially now that college athletics has become a multi-billion-dollar business. However, NIL is a misnomer, as there were few guardrails put in place by the NCAA, and it quickly evolved into a recruiting inducement and pay-for-play system. To be clear, I don’t begrudge the athletes who are capitalizing; I wish NIL had been around in the 80’s when I played basketball at William & Mary. Back then, I was thrilled with an occasional post-game sandwich and maybe a pitcher of beer!
This new era of college sports is still wildly popular. Stadiums remain full, TV ratings go up every year and donors are spending millions to help build championship-caliber rosters. There is a never-ending chase for more money, and increased spending. And like many of you, I remain a fan and am still captivated by the College Football Playoff and March Madness (both of which are looking to expand, by the way).
I believe strongly in the power of sports to lift people up, to teach valuable lessons and forge lasting relationships. I know it because I lived it as a college basketball player and coach, and now as an athletic director. I know that coaches are educators, leaders, role models and mentors. I know the incredible value that a college degree holds, and the way it can impact a family for generations.
At Barton College, we approach athletics from a transformational standpoint, not a transactional one. We offer life-changing opportunities to our 700 student-athletes, and our focus is guiding them down the path of resilience and growth. You’ll see them not only on the field or court, but also serving as orientation leaders, resident assistants and research associates. While we play to win — and we do it a lot — the biggest “game” on the schedule is always graduation day. Athletics supports the mission and business model of the college, providing a positive and nurturing student-athlete experience, and competing to win in the classroom, in competition and in the Wilson community.
You can root for the Heels, Devils, Pack, or Pirates, but we are Wilson’s hometown college team, and we have no doubt you’ll root for the Bulldogs.
We have great coaches and staff, beautiful facilities, and talented student-athletes who compete at a high level. You know what we are? We’re what college athletics used to be, and what it was meant to be. We may have some navigate the transfer portal and a few Bulldogs dipping their toes into the NIL waters, but most of our student-athletes, including football and basketball players, are here to get a first-class education and to learn and grow as people.
Our games are affordable and many are free, and you can bring your kids onto the field or court after the game for a photo, no problem.
I look forward to seeing how Belichick and Wade do, and I’ll be rooting for Cooper Flagg.
But mostly, I’m proud to be part of the team, Wilson’s hometown team, at Barton College, where we still do it the right way.
Ken Tyler is Vice President and Director of Athletics at Barton College. A former NCAA Division I basketball player and coach in Divisions I, II and III, Tyler has spent over 30 years in college athletics. Prior to Barton, he served as Director of Athletics at the University of Mary Washington and West Virginia Wesleyan College. Tyler resides in Wilson with his wife Dr. Leona Ba Tyler.
NIL
Thomas Castellanos just picked his biggest fight yet, fighting against the Playoff
This offseason, Florida State transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos has lived in the headlines, and it hasn’t been for his performances at Florida State’s Spring Practices. During an interview, Thomas Castellanos aimed at Alabama, saying that the Crimson Tide no longer have Nick Saban to save them when the teams face off to start the season. […]

This offseason, Florida State transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos has lived in the headlines, and it hasn’t been for his performances at Florida State’s Spring Practices. During an interview, Thomas Castellanos aimed at Alabama, saying that the Crimson Tide no longer have Nick Saban to save them when the teams face off to start the season. In the same interview, Castellanos threw his teammates under the bus, claiming he finally has talent around him.
While Thomas Castellanos has challenged Alabama and his former Boston College teammates, he was challenging an opponent giving his side of transferring which didn’t make it all that bad even if he made himself a target. Thomas Castellanos’ latest challenge may be his boldest yet, and most likely a battle he has no chance of winning.
Thomas Castellanos becomes the 6th athlete to appeal the NCAA House Settlement
On Monday Night, a 6th athlete filed a notice of appeal regarding the NCAA House Settlement with an objection to the College Football Playoff’s role in the settlement.
A sixth notice of appeal regarding House-NCAA settlement has been filed. This one is on behalf of Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos, whose objections included the College Football Playoff’s role in, and legal coverage from, the settlement
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) July 7, 2025
Among the thousands of athletes in College sports, only 6 have filed appeals, with Castellanos being the most high-profile of the group. The argument Thomas Castellanos has with the House Settlement is an intriguing argument but, when it’s actually resolved will be a bigger question.
The biggest objection Thomas Castellanos has with the NCAA House Settlement is the role the College Football Playoff plays in the settlement. The College Football Playoff plays a massive part in the revenue, and based on the little information given about the appeal indicates it has significant coverage from the settlement.
The biggest impact that Castellanos and everyone else in the appeal has is on the former college athletes. The NCAA was ordered to issue $2.8 billion in back payments to former athletes but, the payments can’t be made until there are no outstanding appeals which will delay when former players receive their payments.
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NIL
Deion Sanders doesn’t hold back on why certain college football teams keep winning
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is pushing for a cap within the Name, Image and Likeness market as college football programs fight to stay competitive in the aftermath of the House settlement. While schools can share up to $20.5 million directly to student athletes this year, the revenue share cap doesn’t apply to third-party NIL […]

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is pushing for a cap within the Name, Image and Likeness market as college football programs fight to stay competitive in the aftermath of the House settlement.
While schools can share up to $20.5 million directly to student athletes this year, the revenue share cap doesn’t apply to third-party NIL deals. Programs can work with outside partners to give athletes even more opportunities.
Sanders helped turn Colorado around in his second season at the helm, finishing at 9-4 after recording just four wins in 2023.
Despite the promising trajectory of the program, though, Sanders is wary about competing against programs with more backing from an NIL perspective.
“I wish there was a cap,” Sanders said Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days. “You know, like, the top-of-the-line player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you’re not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does. So, the problem is you got a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and give him a half a million dollars. And you can’t compete with that.”
Larger programs have a leg up in recruiting and maintaining top-tier talent. The last three national championship winners – Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State – were among the country’s biggest NIL spenders.
Ohio State reportedly spent around $20 million to field its national championship roster last season.
“All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you’ll understand darn well why they’re in the playoffs,” Sanders said. “It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving 25-30 million dollars to a darn freshman class.”
“It’s crazy,” Sanders continued. “We’re not complaining, because all these coaches up here can coach their butts off… But what’s going on right now don’t make sense. We want to say stuff, but we’re trying to be professional… But the team that pays them more, pays the most, is going to be there in the end.”
All third-party deals totaling over $600, in light of the House settlement, are subject to the NIL Go clearinghouse. That process could begin to reign in unsustainable deals and provide more of an equal playing field.
However, the effectiveness is, and will continue to be, under question, as the current landscape was just instituted on July 1.
NIL
‘Don’t Make Sense’ — Colorado HC Deion Sanders Provides Alternate NIL Idea Amid Inequality in College Football
Deion Sanders stood at the podium during Big 12 Media Days with a message that addressed college football’s biggest problem. The Colorado head coach wasn’t mincing words about NIL deals and the chaos they’ve created. His solution? Stop pretending the current system works and start copying what does. Dive into Try out PFSN’s FREE college […]

Deion Sanders stood at the podium during Big 12 Media Days with a message that addressed college football’s biggest problem.
The Colorado head coach wasn’t mincing words about NIL deals and the chaos they’ve created. His solution? Stop pretending the current system works and start copying what does.

Why Does Colorado HC Deion Sanders Think NIL Creates an Unfair Playing Field?
The college football landscape has shifted rapidly, largely due to the rise of NIL deals. While these opportunities benefit student-athletes, they have also deepened the divide between powerhouse programs and those with limited funding.
Wealthier schools now leverage major donor support and lucrative endorsements to secure elite talent, leaving smaller programs struggling to compete. As these major developments continue to unfold, Sanders has closely monitored them, expressing concern about the NCAA’s uncertain role in this evolving system.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has reemerged on the college football stage, and with him comes a renewed critique of the current state of NIL deals. Speaking at Big 12 Media Days, Sanders didn’t hold back while addressing the competitive disparity NIL has introduced into the sport.
He pointed directly at the imbalance in spending among programs and its visible impact on postseason appearances. “All you gotta do is look at the [CFP] and see what those teams spent, and you’ll understand darn well why they’re in the playoffs,” Sanders said.
His frustration was rooted not in the principle of player compensation, which he supports, but in the lack of structure guiding it. Sanders voiced concern over how programs now land recruits based primarily on NIL money rather than coaching or development.
“All you gotta do is look at the [CFP] and see what those teams spent, and you’ll understand darn well why they’re in the playoffs.”
Deion Sanders on NIL and the current state of college football. pic.twitter.com/y6A5C3dWUP
— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2025
“You got a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him a half a million dollars and you can’t compete with that,” he said. “We’re not complaining because all these coaches up here could coach their butts off… but what’s going on right now don’t make sense.”
Sanders noted that schools with the largest donor bases are stockpiling talent, while others simply can’t keep pace financially.
“And you’re talking about equality, not equality, like equal, I guess, equality. And all you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you understand darn they’re wider in the playoffs.”
What Solution Does Sanders Propose for College Football’s NIL Problem?
Sanders has long advocated for NIL regulations and, earlier in April, proposed a clear solution: a salary cap mirroring the NFL’s structure.
“There should be some kind of cap,” he said in an interview with USA Today‘s Jarrett Bell. “Our game should emulate the NFL game in every aspect. Rules. Regulations. Whatever the NFL rules, the college rules should be the same.”
Sanders believes a structured cap would allow fairness to prevail across programs of varying size and resources. This approach would level the playing field by preventing the wealthiest programs from simply outspending their competition for top talent.
RELATED: Colorado HC Deion Sanders Takes Cheeky Jab at Texas Tech HC Joey McGuire’s Transfer Portal Activity While Praising Red Raiders
However, the current trajectory suggests his concerns are only growing. As part of a recently approved antitrust settlement in the House v. NCAA case, schools will soon be permitted to share up to $20.5 million annually with athletes. However, for Sanders, that measure falls short of addressing the core issue.
“It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s given $25, $30 million to a darn freshman class,” he said, pointing out the growing gap between schools flush with cash and those without such advantages.
Sanders’ message was direct and uncompromising. Without firm guidelines, the sport risks becoming a predictable cycle dominated by the wealthiest programs. His NFL-style salary cap proposal represents a fundamental shift toward structured competition rather than the current free-for-all approach that has transformed college recruiting into a bidding war.
NIL
NIL Go
In addition to the $2.8 billion, 10-year settlement and a $20.5 million annual revenue-sharing pool for Division I schools, the House v. NCAA lawsuit settlement is also transforming college sports by the creation of the College Sports Commission online portal, NIL Go. Developed and to be administered in partnership with Deloitte, NIL Go was established […]


In addition to the $2.8 billion, 10-year settlement and a $20.5 million annual revenue-sharing pool for Division I schools, the House v. NCAA lawsuit settlement is also transforming college sports by the creation of the College Sports Commission online portal, NIL Go. Developed and to be administered in partnership with Deloitte, NIL Go was established to oversee all third-party NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals exceeding $600. It evaluates whether each such contract falls within a “reasonable range of compensation,” a subjective criterion that many believe could lead to future legal disputes.
One glaring issue is that Deloitte officials have already stated that a significant portion of past NIL collective deals would have been rejected under their new formula, with 70% potentially being denied. While most public company NIL deals are valued under $10,000, some athletes proactively secured six-figure deals with Power Four programs before the July 1 deadline, in anticipation of the revenue cap.
The NIL Go system will notify athletes if their deals are cleared, rejected, or flagged for further review. Athletes will then have the option to revise, cancel, or appeal. However, unlike professional leagues, colleges sports lack a collective bargaining agreement, raising questions about the legitimacy of this arbitration process. The new system is sure to face challenges, including potential legal battles if deals are denied, and there are already indications that some parties intend on challenging the clearinghouse’s authority.
Another concern is that many athletes, especially those not on campus during the summer, are largely unaware of the new NIL Go platform and its processes. While some expect clear standards for athlete compensation to emerge once the new revenue-sharing model is fully understood, others worry that some athletes may simply fail to submit NIL deals because they are unaware of the new requirements.
Given the rapidly evolving landscape of NCAA regulations, it’s important for student-athletes and those advising them to understand the complexities of NIL agreements. Consulting with legal professionals experienced in athletic or endorsement contracts can help ensure that deals are both compliant and in the athlete’s best interest.
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