Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck is among the top NIL earners in college football, with his NIL valuation set at $4.2 million, according to On3. However, the evolving NIL world of college football received a new reality check on Friday.
Before the Alabama-Oklahoma game this week, college football analyst Pete Thamel suspects that the transfer portal has several big names and it could surpass $5 million per season in NIL money.
“Well, Rhys, we’re going to see plenty of movement in the quarterback portal this year, and it’s already been a flurry in this market,” Thamel said. “Think about this: Nick mentioned the Heisman candidates this year. Seven of the last nine Heisman winners have come from the portal, and the only two that didn’t played for Nick. Sources told me the tip-top of this quarterback market, financially, could reach $5 million for one season.
“Miami will be in the quarterback market again. So will LSU. So when you really take a look at what could drive this quarterback market, it’s going to be the most expensive in the history of college football.”
The top quarterback market could reach up to $5 million for just one season, sources told @PeteThamel 😳
That's the most expensive in college football history 💰 pic.twitter.com/zXjP4CheAz
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 20, 2025
Thamel also suggests where each of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal might end up before it closes.
“You’ve got Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby at the top of the market, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, and TCU’s Josh Hoover, who went in yesterday,” Thamel added. “You have Arizona State’s Sam Levitt and Florida’s D.J. Lagway.”
Carson Beck Headlines Miami’s Playoff Push and NFL Draft Talk
This winter and the upcoming spring, Miami’s Carson Beck will stay in the spotlight not only because of the College Football Playoff push but also regarding his entry in the 2026 NFL draft.
His Miami is preparing for its College Football Playoff (CFP) matchup with Texas A&M this weekend. Over his final four games, he has thrown 12 touchdowns with just one interception.
For Beck, it “means everything” to him as he wants to help Miami deep into the postseason. Beck’s play this season also has NFL evaluators taking notice. A new 2026 Draft scouting report projects him as a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.
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