College sports used to be about tradition, loyalty, and the raw passion of amateur athletes playing for the love of the game. Now? It’s about money, free agency, and a never-ending cycle of player movement that makes the NFL look stable.
Let’s be clear—name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals were a long time coming. College athletes deserved to be compensated in some way, especially when schools and the NCAA were making billions off their talents. But what was supposed to be a fair system has turned into the Wild West, where the highest bidder wins, and the transfer portal has become a free-for-all.
NIL: From Fair Play to Pay-for-Play
At its core, NIL was meant to let athletes profit off their own brand. But instead of being a way for players to earn a little extra cash, it’s now a full-blown bidding war. Boosters and collectives are throwing millions at recruits, essentially creating a pay-to-play system. Want a five-star quarterback? Just find a rich donor to cut him a check. The result? The schools with the deepest pockets win, while the smaller programs don’t stand a chance.
Parity is dead. College sports used to have Cinderella stories—small programs that could rise up and compete. But now? Those programs are being gutted. As soon as a mid-major player shows promise, a bigger school waves an NIL check in his face, and he’s gone.
The Transfer Portal: Free Agency with No Rules
Then there’s the transfer portal, which is another disaster. Players used to commit to a school for the long haul. Now? They can leave whenever they want, as many times as they want. One bad season, one coach they don’t like, one NIL deal that’s not big enough—and they’re out.
What happened to team chemistry? What happened to developing players over time? We’ve got guys transferring three, even four times in their careers. It’s impossible to build a stable program when half your roster turns over every year. Coaches can’t develop talent because they never know who’s actually going to be there next season.
What Needs to Change?
The NCAA needs to step in—fast.
- Cap NIL Deals – Put a reasonable limit on how much a player can earn in NIL, so it doesn’t become a straight-up bidding war. Let players profit but keep the playing field somewhat level.
- Restrict Transfers – Make players sit out a year if they transfer more than once (except in extreme cases). It worked before, and it kept the madness in check.
- Enforce Tampering Rules – Schools and boosters shouldn’t be able to poach players with NIL offers while they’re still on another team. Period.
Right now, college sports are spiraling into chaos. If the NCAA doesn’t act soon, we won’t recognize the game in five years.
Tradition, loyalty, and team building used to mean something. It’s time to restore some order before college sports become nothing more than a minor league for the highest bidder.
What do you think? Is college sports better or worse under NIL and the transfer portal? Let’s hear it in the comments.
