Nick Saban wants salary caps for college football players. The former Alabama head coach believes NIL payments have created an unfair system where wealthy programs dominate recruiting.
Name, Image, and Likeness deals now define college football. Some programs spend millions more than others to build their rosters. The NCAA’s hands-off approach has created a free-for-all market.
Saban supports player compensation but wants competitive balance.
"Players need to get compensated, no doubt. But it has to be done in a way where, you know, in some kind of way, have competitive balance, you know, and that every school has the same thing. One school can’t spend $30 million for players while another school’s spending $3 million," Saban said.
Georgia Coach Reveals Recruiting Costs
Kirby Smart has raised similar concerns about NIL’s impact on college athletics. The Georgia head coach believes the current system creates backwards incentives.
Smart thinks freshmen shouldn’t earn more than upperclassmen. He’s also worried about non-revenue sports getting cut due to budget constraints.
"I just want to be able to have a freshman come in and not make more than a senior, and I’d like for other sports to be able to still survive. You know, we’re on the brink of probably one to two years away from a lot of schools cutting sports," Smart said.
Smart revealed how much programs spend to secure commitments from high school recruits.
"Kirby Smart tells YahooSports that collectives are striking deals with high school recruits to keep and gain their commitments—paying them as much as $20,000 a month in this unregulated market," YahooSports’ Ross Dellenger posted.
High school players earn five-figure monthly payments before stepping on campus. They haven’t practiced with their future teams or played a single college down.
This represents the new reality of college athletics. Landing top talent now requires substantial financial commitments long before players arrive on campus.
