Why One of College Football’s Top Players Will Make $0 in NIL

Millions of Americans will tune in to see their favorite college football teams play this weekend on television, and hundreds of thousands will pack into stadiums to cheer them on.

College football is big business, and you don’t have to look far to see where the money is going. Coaches are signed to multi-million dollar deals, and players are now able to earn money themselves through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

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Some of the best players in the country can command massive deals with the same companies endorsed by professionals, blurring the line between student and athlete.

One of the best quarterbacks in the country is set to make his 2025 debut this weekend, but he won’t earn a dime in NIL – and it has nothing to do with his on-field play.

Why Blake Horvath Won’t Earn NIL Money

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was named an academic All-American and led his team to a 10-3 record last season. He could have left the Navy in order to pursue lucrative NIL opportunities at other schools, but he opted to remain at the institution.

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“There was never a thought in my mind to leave,” Horvath said at American Conference media days last month. “I don’t think there’s another quarterback or player in the country who’s a better fit for a system than I am at Navy.”

Horvath will earn about $1,300 in gross pay each month as part of his enrollment with the Navy, but he says it’s easy to see how much other players around the nation are making at bigger schools.

“It’s funny sometimes to look around and be like, ‘Wow, that guy’s getting $6 million, that guy’s getting $4 million,” he said.

Athletes from service academies are considered government employees, and therefore are unable to make money from their names, images or likenesses. The three service academies in FBS football (Army, Navy and the Air Force) are also prohibited from opting into the House v. NCAA settlement that will allow schools to pay players directly.

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Horvath grew up in a family of Ohio State fans and alumni, and he also played basketball and baseball in high school. He played in a run-heavy, option-focused scheme during high school, which his coach says was a “clone” of the offense run at Navy.

How Did Horvath End Up At Navy?

The Midshipmen were the only team to seriously recruit Horvath out of high school as a quarterback. His athletic ability prompted other schools closer to home in Ohio to offer him scholarships as a defensive back or wide receiver, but he stood firm in his desire to play quarterback.

Horvath would earn his shot as starter after Brian Newberry took over as head coach and installed Drew Cronic as offensive coordinator. Cronic brought in an offense that played into Horvath’s strengths, and the team was successful as a result.

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In his first season as the full-time starter, Horvath had 17 rushing touchdowns in 12 games. He also helped Navy defeat Army in their annual end-of-season matchup for the first time since 2021.

Fans can tune in to see Horvath and Navy start their season against VMI on Saturday afternoon on the CBS Sports Network at 12:30 PM ET.

This story was originally reported by Men’s Journal on Aug 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.