College football has been significantly impacted by the introduction of NIL in recent years and Coorado Buffaloes head coach, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, has ideas about what he would change.
Coach Prime Discusses What He Would Change With NIL in College Football
With NIL money available to players, stars are often given salaries that are equal to some NFL players. While it is good to see players compensated financially with the money they deserve in a business that brings in billions of dollars every year, it has changed the college football landscape.
Most fans, media members, and players agree that NIL is a good thing for the health and fairness of college football. However, a lot of those people also agree that it is problematic in the way it is implemented right now.
There is an issue right now where players can sign four-year contracts but leave after one year. As a result, it feels like every player is a free agent every season with the transfer portal.
Coach Prime appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Friday to discuss college football and NIL. He did not mince words when talking about what he would change.
“There has to be more structure to what’s supposably NIL… So if I could change something it’s structuring guidelines for these guys. It would be a mimic of the NFL. When rookies come in this is what you can get, this is the max.”
–@DeionSanders on what he’d change about CFB pic.twitter.com/lV2yrenxgn
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 7, 2025
“It has to be more structured in regards to what was supposedly NIL. It’s not NIL, it’s collective, it’s pay-per-view. If I could change something, it would have to be structure and guidelines for these kids,” Sanders said. “It would be a mimic of the NFL where rookies come in, this is what you can get, this is the maximum. It would be like that for high school kids, then the college kids who have already proven themselves would have more value.”
“We gotta have some type of structure. If not we’re gonna have the same teams that are exhausting themselves financially go to the playoffs every year,” Sanders continued.
“You might see two surprises, like Arizona State, who played phenomenal, and a couple other teams. But mostly, you get knocked out. It’s not even if I can’t give you what the other team is willing to give and pay you.”
KEEP READING: Deion Sanders Delivers Hilariously Blunt Response to NFL Draft Questions
This type of payment and salary structure would not be unique. As Coach Prime said, it is how things work in the NFL.
It is also how it works in all other North American major pro sports. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL all have different cap structures, but they all also have limits on how much rookies can make.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
