Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is raising concerns about what he believes is a widening gap in college football. He’s warning that the sport risks losing its competitive balance in the NIL era.
Drinkwitz cited reports of roster budgets reaching $45 million at powerhouse programs like Texas, LSU and Ohio State. He compared the trend to Major League Baseball, where bigger market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers can outspend smaller franchises.
This creates a financial divide that often shows up in on-field results.
Nobody should oppose players earning money through name, image and likeness opportunities. It should remain a key part of the modern game. But there’s a clear difference between legitimate NIL deals and a “pay-for-play” structure tied directly to recruiting and roster building.
His concern centers on sustainability. Without guardrails, Drinkwitz says college football could become a system where a handful of programs dominate annually simply because they can afford to.
“If you’re going to have teams that have 45 million dollar rosters competing against teams that have 15- and 20 million dollar rosters, you’re going to run the risk of turning into Major League Baseball, where you have the LA Dodgers and the Florida Marlins,” Drinkwitz told On3. “And that’s a professional league that’s not growing, that’s struggling in their TV deals.”
In a more balanced model, programs like Vanderbilt or Rutgers could realistically rise into conference contention within a few years. Strong coaching, development and smart use of the transfer portal would make the difference.
That type of parity mirrors professional leagues like the NFL and NBA. Competitive cycles shift and fan interest remains high across markets.
The current landscape is somewhat of a “mercenary” system that, without reform, could crumble.
College football risks prioritizing spending power over competitive integrity. It’s a shift that could damage the long-term health of the sport.
