I hope it stands out to you here, too:
Auburn and South Carolina really need to reconsider their return on investment, to say the least. While Nico did up and leave, one has to wonder when looking at these players and their respective teams, was it even worth it? Of the Top 25, only 5 teams represented here are in the CFP…and another five aren’t even playing a bowl game.
Also, this is your daily reminder that wherever and however Kirby is spending the Collective’s NIL funds, it’s clearly working out better than it is for others in the conference.
Also, DJ Lagway. Cough.
Anyway…maybe the better investment for college football programs would be a Financial Planner, or an Actuarian.
At least with all that NIL money they spent in Auburn, they didn’t have to worry about financing toilet paper on Toomer’s Corner. You only get to roll the trees when you win, after all.
I was a little leery when I saw that UGA/CCC was suing Damon Wilson to pay back the NIL. Figured this might scare off kids (or at least, their handlers, ministers, youth coaches, uncles or other nefarious “guardians” of their best interests). Now I hear that supposedly Mizzou knew about the NIL and paid it like a buyout as part of their deal to get Wilson. Only they paid it directly to him, and he never paid it back to UGA. Welcome to adulthood, son…
I wonder if Wilson has any regrets about leaving now or is money more important to him?
Actions speak louder than words, he was in it for the money all the time. Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
That is a lot of money to 2 QBs who had to be benched.
Athletic Directors make the worst deals with coaches in the sport – NIL Freshman QB deals, hold my beer.
I think I remember folks saying it wasn’t about the $ with Arch. Doesn’t matter though, I’m just fine with our qb1.
Hell, it was the Mannings themselves who pushed that prevarication, did they not?
This is a list I’m totally ok with Georgia being omitted from. There’s maybe 4 players on that picture worth what they were paid this year.
Did the Archduke deliver $6m of value?
Could Miami spent a lot less than $4m for a QB to get similar results?
Did Ohio State get $4m of value out of Jeremiah Smith (I would have force fed the ball to him)?
DJ Lagway? $223,500 per TD accounted for … hahahahahaha!
Did USuCk get close to enough from Sellers?
Garrett Nussmeier? $3.6m in NIL to get Lane Kiffin was probably worth it, right, Corn Dogs?
$3.3m for the most overrated QB entering the season other than the Archduke? At Clemson, you can do that.
Penn State went all in for $3.2 for a QB who couldn’t beat UCLA?
Nico? Hahahahahahahahahaha, Vowels!
I could keep going, but these guys generally didn’t deliver the goods.
Meh … So I could not figure out who was at #9 on this graphic so I went to the group that created the graphic and their own article from 6 days ago doesn’t match the graphic. I don’t know how accurate it is but my count about 20% (5 players) from this graphic made the playoffs.
https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/nil-2025-college-football-top-100-rankings-name-and-likeness-list-6
Let’s do same with the top 25 NFL salaries as well. Here are the links
https://www.nfl.com/photos/ranking-the-nfl-s-biggest-contracts-for-2025
https://www.nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture
If you look at the NFL and the current standings, 10 of the top 25 salaries would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. 40% of the list. The NFL does have 14 teams in their playoff. 25% of the list (6) are eliminated from playoffs today. 9 players (36%) are still on the bubble. But if someone from the bubble makes the playoffs it will be at the expense of the other 10. There are just 2 bubble teams (Colts, Panthers) who do not have anyone on the list. It is a relatively safe assumption that somewhere between 7-10 players from the Top 25 NFL salaries will make the playoffs.
All of this is new to the college game AND not so new to the NFL. The fact is this. Even the “smartest” people in sports throw major money at athletes they think will take them to the top of the game. The NFL hit rate is not THAT much higher than the ROI in the college game. They also have smaller rosters in the NFL compared to colleges. Also every contract is subject to collective bargaining.
In fact, Paul DePodesta, who was the basis of Jonah Hill’s Moneyball character was responsible for the terrible contract of DeShaun Watson and gave Myles Garrett a big contract this year only to watch another Browns season turn into a disaster so he took a job with the Rockies.
To me it looks like roster construction needs to be a balance between highly paid “stars” and talented role players who do not command as much in salary because of role, position, experience levels etc.
What I think is encouraging here is that I think Bryce Underwood is the lone first year player on this list. Despite what is being reported in college recruiting, colleges are paying more for transfers/more proven players than inexperienced ones.
As a Dawg fan though, I might have concerns if we NEVER have a star player on a list like this year after year. I believe in the concept of “moneyball” which can be a great find the right blend of players but that A’s season was 23 years ago (2002.) Ask any diehard fans from Oakland if they wished the team had opened up the coffers. Since 2020, the last time they won their division, they have finished 3rd, 5th, 5th, 4th and 4th. They have broken .500 since 2021 and are now in Las Vegas.
This may be one of the best posts I have ever read on this site. You are on the mother my friend.
How many of the top 25 NFL salaries have been in the league for less than 4 years? The rookie salary scale manages that. I’m guessing (too lazy to look it up) every one of those players is in their 2nd or 3rd contract after they have delivered for years.
I will just put up the names but I don’t know about which contract they are on. Most of the list are QB’s though:
1: Dak Prescott – Cowboys
2: Josh Allen – Bills, Joe Burrow – Bengals, Trevor Lawrence – Jaguars, Jordan Love – Packers
6: Tua Tagovailova – Dolphins
7: Brock Purdy – 49’ers, Jared Goff – Lions
9: Justin Herbert – Chargers
10: Lamar Jackson – Ravens
11: Jalen Hurts – Eagles
12: Micah Parsons – Packers
13: Kyler Murray – Cardinals
14: DeShaun Watson – Browns
15: Pat Mahomes – Chiefs, Aidan Hutchinson – Lions, Kirk Cousins – Falcons
18: TJ Watt – Steelers
19: Ja’Marr Chase – Bengals
20: Myles Garrett – Browns, Matt Stafford – Rams
22: Geno Smith – Raiders
23: Danielle Hunter – Texans
24: Maxx Crosby – Raiders
25: Justin Jefferson – Vikings
#AUBURN SUCKS!!
How do we know this is accurate?
Does it include money from the university as well as the collective?
I suspect, it is understated.
It has to be wrong. The Michigan Freshman QB isn’t on here, and I would suppose there are others. I am not certain how to aggregate the data effectively given there are multiple pathways for players to receive money. This is probably just revenue from the schools known collectives.
I guess Miamuh got their ROI with Napolean Dynamite.
He just doesn’t spend it wisely.
I thought the Saintly Dabo doesn’t pay NIL.
You’re 18 and can take $3m somewhere or $1m at UGA. I’m advising take the $3m. You can’t buy groceries with a trophy and maybe you can portal in later if Kirby wanted you now. That’s not saying Kirby’s strategy is wrong but if a kid gets that choice take the cash. You may never get that opportunity again. If they go for trophies fine but the financial play is the guarantee. Carson Beck is better off and so are we. Both paths work.
This graphic illustrates that a game changing QB can be a trump card, team depth seems to be more valuable than individual players in the NIL era. Kirby is refining the process 2.0.