NIL

WSU's revenue sharing and NIL

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2025

WHEN IT COMES to revenue sharing and NIL dollars, Washington State isn’t playing the disclosure game. Athletic director Anne McCoy tells Cougfan.com in a wide-ranging interview the Cougars are purposefully keeping their numbers under wraps — a strategic decision designed to protect competitive advantage while zeroing in on what’s best for WSU in the evolving college football landscape.

If you missed the first article from CF.C’s talk with McCoy, CLICK HERE. Here’s her insight on NIL, revenue sharing and more …

COUGFANcom: How much NIL money do your coaches say that they need to be able to compete consistently each year?

McCoy: I think that’s still something we’re wrapping our arms around. And honestly, from a competitive perspective, not something we’re really talking very publicly about. We’ve leaned in on scholarships, we’ve leaned in on the cost of attendance — whatever the coaches think is important, whether it’s retention or recruitment from the NIL perspective. So we have purposefully worked with our coaches closely behind the scenes.

But from a competitive advantage or disadvantage, that really isn’t something we’re talking about very publicly.

COUGFANcom: In terms of revenue sharing, how much revenue will Washington State be sharing with its athletes this school year?

McCoy: I think that falls into that same boat. Again, from a competitive advantage or disadvantage, it’s not a number that we’re putting out there publicly.

COUGFANcom: Can you talk about how Washington State’s revenue sharing compares with our brethren in the new Pac-12?

McCoy: I think they’re in the same boat we’re in in a lot of cases, that people aren’t really talking about this very transparently. So we’re more focused on what we need to do at Washington State to continue to be competitive and to really be leaders in the new Pac-12 with what’s right for us.

COUGFANcom: What’s the status of the Washington State’s athletic department fundraising compared to this point last year?

McCoy: We’re trending in a really good direction. If memory serves me right, I think of our quarters this past year were higher than they’ve ever been in history. It’s always an interesting moving target because whether you have, capital project fundraising or bigger ticket things that are maybe a single focus vs. just general fundraising. But we feel really good about it.

Our donor engagement has been higher than ever. I think we are something like six tickets shy of 1,000 new season ticket holders, so that’s trending in a good direction, and many of those are in donor seating areas. We’re really focusing right now on not only our athletic scholarships, which obviously are always a priority, but really looking at fundraising specifically for additional fan enhancements that we hope to put in place next fall if we’re looking at the scoreboard, new turf, ribbon board, sound — a lot of other things we know need to happen, but we need a longer runway for not only from a competitive bid process but also, quite frankly, a funding aspect.

We feel really good about it. I think it’s been hard after people were a little uncertain of some of the directions things had been going. The fact that we’re entering this year with a full Pac-12 going forward, with the expanded media and just the excitement, enthusiasm on campus., think that it really is translating to folks not only continuing to invest, but maybe increasing that investment, and new people also coming to the table.

The increased membership to the Cougar Athletic Fund from the recent push, all of those things are really trending in a positive direction and are really exciting, honestly.

COUGFANcom: How is the fundraising for the Next Chapter program come together so far?

McCoy: It’s been really good. One piece of that, and it’s meant to be, is if you love NIL or scholarships, there’s an option. If you really are passionate about facilities, that’s an option. But one of the things we’ve put into place new as part of the Next Chapter is also these opportunities to invest more directly in the program that makes your heart sing, whether it be women’s basketball or football or swimming or whatever program.

It’s a new opportunity for people that want to invest in a specific program to really have increased access and exposure to our head coaches and our teams. We have some people that have wanted to join every single one because they want to be invested or involved and some that are picking, the sports that are nearest and dearest to their hearts.

COUGFANcom: We’ve heard that some of the savings from track will be used for scholarships and volleyball and other sports. Is that accurate?

McCoy: Yes, absolutely. I think as we talked about at the time, the track decision was not about an overall budget reduction for the department. It was about finding a way that we could not be spread as thin as we were becoming. And so absolutely the scholarships, particularly on the women’s side from track, will be reinvested in other women’s sports programs and we’re also really looking at ways that we can bolster the services that we’re providing all of our student athletes going forward. So yes, that is absolutely accurate.

COUGFANcom: What are some of the details? How many scholarships are we talking about and how does it break down across sports?

McCoy: I would not say it’s been a specific ‘this dollar to this place, this dollar to that place.’ I mean, we’re looking at our budget overall as a whole. And so we certainly have some staff savings that we’re able to reinvest from the track changes. We have money that we’re reinvesting in the track and cross country programs. And so I don’t know that I could give you a very succinct answer on tracking every dollar and where it’s going.

And so whether that’s a decreased load on our athletic medicine staff or nutrition or academic support services or whatever it might be, I think it’s a much larger picture. But I do know we’ve been extremely careful relative to any of the changes in our women’s scholarships to track to make sure those were reinvesting now we do have some track athletes still here that are finishing up their degrees or perhaps waiting to transfer at the semester or after the year.

COUGFANcom: Your reaction to the just-announced deal with The CW, the second TV deal announced so far with CBS the first?

The CW has been a great partner last year and coming up for this year and I think as all of the interest with the Pac-12 media rights going forward it’s really gained a lot of momentum. We’re excited for the opportunity to not only continue, but expand the partnership with The CW. They have such a broad reach, literally 100 percent of the households throughout the U.S.

It’s not only a chance for football in the Pac-12 to continue to be seen, but really the expansion into men’s and women’s basketball for that same level of exposure. They’ve been tremendous partners and I think really are excited about the vision of the Pac-12 and want to be a big part of that moving forward.

COUGFANcom: There obviously there’s still a lot of game inventory out there available for broadcast. When do you anticipate additional media rights partnerships being announced? Is that something fans should expect, say, in the next couple weeks, or is it something that’s still going to take a while?

McCoy: I don’t know that I have a good answer for that right now. The Pac-12 has been very deliberate with not only the membership but also Octagon, their media consultants, and I think just determining when each piece is ready to be not only signed off on, but then announced. We are really encouraged by all the interest, but I just think the Pac-12 has purposefully avoided a timeline only because then it becomes; ‘Why wasn’t it announced yet?’ And then people wonder if there’s more to the story.

And so they’ve been really thorough and, I think, deliberate about it. So I don’t know, I honestly don’t. I mean, it could be next week. It could be in three weeks. When the Pac-12 is ready, it’ll come out.

COUGFANcom: Turner Sports, TNT and TBS, ESPN — anybody else that we should be keeping an eye out for on potential TV partners?

McCoy: I think what I would say is that Octagon and the Pac-12 are leaving no stone left unturned of folks that might be interested in being partners, and whether it be streaming, whether it be traditional over the air broadcasts or whatever. So I would say if there’s any partner you could potentially envision, I think that they’re being vetted and looked at. But obviously it’s a competitive bid process. So beyond that, I probably wouldn’t say much more about it.

COUGFANcom: The press release last week said the large pregame tailgate area was moving to the CUB Senior Ballroom and the Fieldhouse was going to be used for corporate events. On first glance it seems like it should be exactly the opposite given the atmosphere in the Fieldhouse, no? Walk us through the thinking on that.

McCoy: I think it’s like a tale of two fieldhouses is how I would best describe it. If you came to events a decade or more ago, what the Fieldhouse was then vs. what it really has evolved into the last several years, I think are two very different things. And I think that the affinity people have for the Fieldhouse, which I completely understand and agree with, the facility unfortunately is in need of some maintenance. It needs some upgrades.

We’ve gotten a lot of complaints, quite frankly, from people who are choosing not to go to the Fieldhouse anymore: the audio/visual quality is tough, the lighting is tough. We aren’t able to do some of the things that we used to be able to do relative to food vendors and a variety of different things. And it just has withered a bit, quite frankly.

We took a lot of time in the off season to really think about it and thought, OK, well, we’re not doing a multi-million dollar upgrade to the facility right now. And we have a women’s tennis team that needs to be able to practice and compete in that facility and really looking at how even just the footprint has changed. You need a ticket to go into Cougville on Rogers Field, but we still want a place that people can go ideally where they don’t need a ticket. And we used to do things pregame, either through campus or athletics up in the CUB but that had kind of ceased over the last few years. And so as we looked at how can we provide a better environment that’s still resistant to the weather relative to an indoor space, a place where we can have large screen TVs for people to watch games and they can actually hear that and see it, and we can have yard games for the kids.

We can have beer, wine, cocktails and food options and really bringing some energy to that central part of campus. From a decade ago, that is not the same Fieldhouse, it’s not the same environment. And so we think the CUB has a chance to be potentially an even better space. And then the Fieldhouse right now would be available for private corporate events, (or) an opposing team alumni association or something that’s smaller and more contained. But really, honestly, we’re trying to bring in more energy, and listening to the fans about needing something that really was an improvement over where the Fieldhouse had evolved to.

COUGFANcom: In terms of potential expansion and new Pac-12 member schools, anything on the horizon soon for either a school coming in for all sports, and/or football, basketball and or baseball only?

McCoy: Much like the media, the Pac-12 continues to explore all options and evaluate what’s best for the conference going forward. I think that they’re also looking at continuing some expansion and maybe some affiliate members or other things that really can make the conference the strongest going forward. I don’t sit here knowing that there’s going to be an imminent announcement. But having said that, in college athletics these days, you know, things are the way they are until they’re not. But there’s no immediate, you know, either full -fledged or other announcements on the horizon that I’m aware of.

COUGFANcom: How engaged has President Elizabeth Cantwell been in athletics in her short time here?

McCoy: It’s been great. Having come from Utah State, a school that just made the decision to move to the Pac-12, I think she’s very aware of how an athletic department can help in spreading the vision and the mission for a university. So we had a chance to have her at a couple of our all-student athlete meetings recently to start the semester. She’s been involved coming to some practices, certainly competitions, but I think also just learning as much as she can, not only about our program and our budget, but much like she is doing for the entire system.

I feel like she’s done a great job of really understanding us as a department, but as part of the bigger mission of the university and so it’s been it’s been really good.

COUGFANcom: Any final thoughts? The floor is yours.

McCoy: It’s been hard with all the changes in college athletics and we understand that and the one thing I would say is is that there are a lot of really exciting things happening, and our student athletes and our coaches are working really hard. We all understand and feel the frustration with some of the changes in a variety of different areas, but we need to go forward and we need to look towards the future and do what we can to best position Washington State University. And I think just having that level of, you know, support for everything the other sports are doing or the coaches or the student athletes, and just realizing that, you know, it’s okay to be frustrated about some of the changes, but it’s also okay to be excited and ready to kind of move into the future.

And you know, any yoga fans out there, you have a chance for a couple home football games to do yoga on the field. I mean, just looking at how we can make the game day experience a more expanded, inclusive experience for all Coug fans, I think some things will be a hit and some will maybe take some time. But at the end of the day, understand that there are a lot of great things going on and we want to continue to partner with people and be good stewards of the department.

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VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr. on the state of college sports amid NIL, transfer portal, conversations with dad

Published

44 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

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Scarlet Knights Legend Leonte Carroo Sues Rutgers Over NIL Claims

Published

2 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Rutgers football legend Leonte Carroo is suing Rutgers University over the use of his Name, Image, and Likeness from when he was playing in college, according to an article written by Brian Fonseca of Nj.com/NJAdvancedMedia. Carroo’s lawsuit claims that he is entitled to back payments for the money he generated for the university throughout his college career. The lawsuit values those figures between 2.8 and 3 million dollars.

Carroo and his team originally filed the lawsuit in October. In December, Rutgers countered and tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that the statute of limitations had long passed and that several courts from around the country had already unanimously denied the type of NIL claim that Carroo’s team is making. On January 9th, Carroo’s legal team filed a brief meant to argue that the university’s dismissal should be denied.

According to the article by Fonseca, Carroo’s team gave Rutgers a formal demand letter in June seeking compensation for the unauthorized use of his NIL. The university did not provide such compensation, which led to the lawsuit.

The House vs. NCAA settlement granted back payment to college athletes who were in school between June 2016 and 2024. Carroo’s playing at Rutgers career falls just outside that, as he played from 2012-2015. Carroo’s legal team is arguing that just because he falls outside the period given, it does not take away from the fact that Rutgers unjustly profited from his time as a player.

Carroo was one of the most well-known players at Rutgers while he was playing. He currently holds the receiving touchdowns record in school history by a wide margin, and he was one of the faces of the team when they first entered the Big Ten. Carroo and his legal team argue that some sort of compensation is in order for his level of stardom.

If the courts side with Carroo in this case, it has the potential to open up a whole can of worms across college athletics. It would lay the groundwork and encourage other former athletes from other schools to sue their own school for the same reason. Similar cases to this, including players from other college programs, have been dismissed or denied already across the board. It remains to be seen what will come of this lawsuit in particular.

A link to the original article by Fonseca can be found here.

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Big Ten vs. SEC: Josh Pate explains where college football supremacy currently sits

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The great debate regarding which conference — the Big Ten or the SEC — reigns over college football might not be much of a debate anymore. Especially given the SEC’s dismal 4-10 bowl record this offseason.

That bowl record looks even worse in games between the SEC and other Power Four teams, with the Southeastern Conference finishing the 2025-26 bowl season a combined 1-8 versus the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. That includes a winless 0-4 mark against the ACC and a 1-3 record vs. the Big Ten, which has won the last two CFP national championships and will play for a third when No. 1 Indiana takes on No. 10 Miami in next Monday’s College Football Playoff national title game.

In fact, following No. 6 Ole Miss‘ 31-27 loss to the Hurricanes in last Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal, the SEC — winners of 13 national titles in 17 years between 2006-22 — was shut out of playing for a third consecutive national championship game, something it hasn’t experienced since 2000-02.

Those struggles have led college football fans and pundits alike to effectively dance on the grave of the once-dominant conference. College football analyst Josh Pate joined the fray on Sunday’s episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, making it clear he’s been off the SEC gravy train for awhile now.

“The SEC is lagging behind the Big Ten, at the top, (and) I would even venture to suggest the middle-tier now is at least comparable if not slightly lagging behind,” Pate said Sunday night. “That’s probably where my perception has changed of late, moreso than at the top. So I’m not beating that drum.”

Pate then preceeded to break down all the ways the SEC ultimately lost its crown as King of College Football to the Big Ten, including his perception Big Ten “culture” is just more focused on football, as opposed to SEC’s perceived focus on the pomp and circumstance of the sport.

“Maybe the average Big Ten player is wired a little bit differently, maybe they focus a little more on the football aspect, the mean-and-potatoes aspect of football, instead of the more highlight-ish, branding aspect of football,” Pate added. “I think there’s something to that.”

From there, Pate addressed how the advent of NIL and the NCAA Transfer Portal has leveled the playing field from a talent perspective. In fact, Pate suggested the SEC became so spoiled by its multi-decade talent advantage, effectively drunk off its own supply, that it didn’t do what was necessary to maintain it. That ultimately resulted in what Pate described as “lazy practices” like prioritizing recruiting over coaching and player development, including a tendency to fill out their football staffs based on the agency they were associated with rather than the most-qualified candidates.

“If you think that’s ridiculous, it’s because it is,” Pate concluded. “But that’s been standard practice in the SEC for awhile. And I don’t find it to be the case in the Big Ten.”

And while the SEC could certainly return to glory by this time next year, at least for forseable future, college football fans in the South will suffer through more gloating from their neighbors to the North.

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Urban Meyer predicts winner of college football national championship

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Indiana (No. 1) crushed No. 5 Oregon 56–22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal, forcing multiple first-half turnovers, dominating in all three phases, and improving to 15–0.

Miami (No. 10) survived a 31–27 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 6 Ole Miss, with quarterback Carson Beck’s late 3-yard scramble sealing the outcome after earlier College Football Playoff victories over Texas A&M and defending national champion Ohio State.

Miami’s College Football Playoff berth carried nearly as much drama as its postseason run.

Both the Hurricanes and Notre Dame finished the regular season 10–2, but despite ranking ahead of Miami for much of the year, the Irish were left out of the field, in large part because of Miami’s head-to-head win earlier in the season.

The decision sparked national debate about CFP criteria and the weight of head-to-head results.

Since then, Miami has done nothing but validate the committee’s call, advancing to the national title game, now just one win away.

The CFP national championship is set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, pitting Indiana against Miami.

On Monday’s episode of “The Triple Option” podcast, former head coach Urban Meyer praised Indiana’s coaching, offensive line, and efficiency on film, ultimately picking the Hoosiers to win the title.

“I think Indiana wins by 9,” Meyer said. “I think Vegas is right on the point spread, but I think Miami plays their [expletive] off at home.”

Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) raises the trophy. — Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) with quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15), wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13), and Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe (17) | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Indiana powered an unblemished run under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, transforming a 3–9 program into Big Ten champions.

The Hoosiers stacked signature road wins over Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State, dismantled Alabama 38–3 in the quarterfinals, and overwhelmed the Ducks again in the Peach Bowl semifinal.

Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has driven a balanced, physical attack that has dominated all season, throwing for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns while adding 284 rushing yards, six scores, and a 73% completion rate across 15 games.

Miami’s path has been far different, as the No. 10 seed fought through adversity to reach 13–2, upsetting Ohio State, beating Texas A&M, and edging Ole Miss 31–27 behind an elite scoring defense allowing just 14.0 points per game, the fifth-fewest nationally.

Indiana enters as the consensus favorite, listed by most sportsbooks as 8.5-point favorites with a 48.5-point total.

With Indiana’s balanced attack facing Miami’s opportunistic defense, the matchup likely hinges on tempo: the Hoosiers aim to dictate the pace while the Hurricanes seek pressure and takeaways.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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$1.8 million transfer QB expected to visit sixth college football program

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Beau Pribula, the former Penn State transfer who started the 2025 season at Missouri, announced his decision to re-enter the NCAA transfer portal on December 18 and has been conducting an active visit cycle since.

Over the last week, On3’s Pete Nakos has tracked visits to Nebraska, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech, along with a stop at Washington amid uncertainty within the Huskies’ quarterback room, followed by a visit to Tennessee.

However, on Sunday, Nakos reported that Pribula is now expected to visit Virginia next.

“The former Penn State transfer has made visits to Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Washington, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee over the last week. He’s expected to visit Virginia next,” Nakos wrote.

“The Cavaliers could offer to come in and be the starter for Tony Elliott’s program. Tennessee is expected to wait for a decision on Joey Aguilar’s court ruling on Monday, regarding his eligibility under NCAA JUCO rules.”

After spending his first three college seasons as a backup at Penn State, Pribula started at Missouri for the 2025 season, finishing the year with 1,941 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while adding 297 rushing yards, six rushing scores, and a 67.4% completion rate.

A native of York, Pennsylvania, Pribula signed with Penn State in December 2021 as a three-star recruit and the No. 27 quarterback in the 2022 class per 247Sports, drawing more than a dozen additional offers, including Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Syracuse.

After redshirting as a freshman and seeing limited game action over the following two seasons behind Drew Allar, Pribula sought a change of scenery, and now, after proving his dual-threat capability in the SEC, Pribula is seeking another opportunity to further elevate his profile.

For prospective programs, it is also worth noting that Pribula is among the more marketable players currently in the portal, carrying an NIL valuation of approximately $1.8 million according to On3, a factor that could influence where he ultimately lands.

Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula. — Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

All of the programs Pribula has visited present distinct opportunities and varying levels of appeal.

Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech both face recent turnover at quarterback and are seeking experienced portal options who can operate their systems and provide immediate competition.

Nebraska, under Matt Rhule, has also been active in the portal as it looks to add veteran depth and competition following the departure of starter Dylan Raiola to Oregon.

Pribula visited Washington amid uncertainty within the Huskies’ quarterback room surrounding Demond Williams, a situation that has created a potential opening for an experienced transfer.

Tennessee, meanwhile, has been monitoring eligibility developments involving other candidates, including Joey Aguilar, while keeping Pribula firmly on its radar.

Virginia, however, may offer one of the more intriguing fits as the Cavaliers have reportedly been targeting a veteran, pro-style, dual-threat quarterback who can compete for a Day 1 starting role under fourth-year head coach Tony Elliott.

The opportunity for immediate playing time, combined with proximity to Pribula’s Mid-Atlantic recruiting footprint, adds to Virginia’s appeal.

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College Football’s Semi-Pro Economy & Why the NFL Draft Isn’t a Sure Thing

Published

5 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

College football is in its semi-pro era, reshaping the NFL Draft calculus as quarterbacks weigh guaranteed NIL money against rookie contracts.

After four years at Georgia, quarterback Carson Beck declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 28, 2024, slated to make millions as a mid-round pick. But instead of taking that route, Beck entered the transfer portal on Jan. 9 and inked a $4 million deal to play out his final season of college eligibility at Miami, where he succeeded Heisman Trophy winner and eventual top pick Cam Ward. Now, Beck will play next week for a national championship as he’s still in line to make good NFL money at age 23, but now with a guaranteed $4 million in his pocket.

The passing of the House Settlement and the introduction of revenue sharing in Division I athletics have only enhanced this trend and the appeal of college football quarterbacks staying in school an extra year rather than try their luck in the NFL Draft. Alabama‘s Ty Simpson may be the perfect example of that. Despite declaring for the NFL Draft, at least three SEC teams reportedly have interest, with another school offering him up to $6.5 million to stay in college next season and enter the transfer portal prior to Friday’s deadline.

Despite ESPN grading Simpson as a late first-round or early second-round pick, $6.5 million is extremely appealing. NFL quarterback Tyler Shough, who the New Orleans Saints selected 40th overall in last year’s draft, got a four-year, $10.8 million contract, including a $4.5 million signing bonus. We seem to be approaching the point that, unless you’re guaranteed to be drafted in the first round, it might pay to stay in school an extra year, essentially making major college football a semi-pro outfit right now.

College basketball has experiencing a similar trend for years now. With the introduction of NIL, NCAA hoops stars like Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, and North Carolina’s Armando Bacot made far more money by staying in school than they would have as an NBA second-round pick or G-Leaguer. Bacot signed a deal worth more than $1 million to play this year in Turkey with Fenerbahce, Timme is on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth just over $500,000, and Tsiebwe has a similar arrangement with the Utah Jazz.

Were they still college eligible, they would’ve made more money. It’s why, as we reported, more EuroLeague-caliber talent are electing to come from overseas to college basketball teams. It’s why some players with G-League experience who are still college eligible are electing to go back to school. The money right now is just better.

Right now, schools can directly spend up to $20.5 million on their student-athletes, with the vast majority of that total allocated to football, their largest revenue-generating sport. But that $20.5 million number is expected to rise, and with it the amount that teams will likely offer to quarterbacks like Simpson and new Texas Tech starter Brendan Sorsby, whose record-breaking NIL deal we discussed last week. How long will it take until quarterbacks can make more money in college than they would as first-round NFL Draft picks?

Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick last year from Ole Miss, earned a signing bonus of just under $9 million as part of a four-year rookie contract worth just under $17 million. We may get to a point where these QBs get a larger guarantee to stay in school than a first-rounder would receive as a signing bonus, making it worth risking an injury in college that could wipe out potential future NFL earnings. It will take longer for players at other positions like running back and wide receiver, where second-round picks like Houston Texans wideout Jayden Higgins and Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins still got roughly $5 million to sign, still way more than they’d earn for a year in college.

Yet the fact that we’re even having this conversation at all indicates the direction college football is going in. It’s how wide receiver Cam Coleman, who doesn’t turn 20 until August, can leave Auburn for a transfer portal NIL deal at Texas of at least $2 million. We’re talking free agency for hundreds of college kids every year to make upwards of seven figures at their new destinations. If that’s not at least semi-professional sports, I’m not sure what is.

Now, all we can do is wait and see how far things go before the next wave of substantial changes hits college football in this ever-changing landscape that made it possible for Beck to accept, and Simpson to consider, an offer that made it more financially prudent to keep the NFL waiting for one more year.