Players are already being paid.
NIL represents name, image, and likeness. College athletes can now earn money by promoting things, people, and businesses, all while maintaining their scholarship. Under heavy public and legal pressure, the NCAA established NIL in 2021 as a stopgap fix. That is, it allows players to monetize their own influence while preventing schools from paying them directly. However, as The Athletic reported, NIL has become “a de facto pay-for-play device.” Not everyone is thrilled with the situation.
When former Michigan Wolverines football coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about NIL, he was particularly reserved. “I’ve always supported student-athletes being allowed to earn off their name, image, and likeness. “It simply makes sense, right?” But it was also evident that Harbaugh understood how NIL would play out. A player who profits off their name and image, whether through a public appearance or a television commercial, is compensated. As a player. They are professional. They are simply not being compensated directly. Consider if Budweiser, Hyundai, or Pepsi paid NFL players instead of the NFL. Today’s NIL is similar to that.
But, whether paid directly or indirectly, players are still compensated. Whether you like it or not, this makes them more like professional athletes than “student athletes.” Harbaugh was wary about this. In the year 2022, he said, “right or wrong, our philosophy coming to the University of Michigan — it’s still going to be a transformational experience rather than a transactional experience.” Harbaugh sought to preserve the student-athlete culture that had served him and so many others well. Those days are gone. It’s understandable that you’re upset about this. However, NCAA college football generates billions of dollars in revenue. Nobody puts more on the line than the players.
Players are going to be paid
Nick Saban, the now-former Alabama football coach, expressed his opinions on NIL in a congressional hearing. “You have a pay-for-play system and a free agency system that has no guidelines, so there’s no competitive balance.” Without irony, Saban went on to say that NIL will “create a caste system where the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.”
But, until the NCAA or another regulatory body for college football comes up with a better solution, football clubs that wish to compete for championships must accept NIL. And, for their part, the Michigan Wolverines appear to have finally accepted the reality of NIL.
When questioned about recruiting, Sherrone Moore, the current Michigan Wolverines football coach, was straightforward. He says he wants to make “sure that we have the resources that we need here on campus from a NIL standpoint.” Similarly, the University has just appointed a general manager for NIL. According to the university, with this new office, “student-athletes have a centralized point of contact and access to specialized expertise, enabling them to navigate and maximize NIL opportunities skillfully.”
Michigan also formed a NIL collective to solicit fan donations to support its NIL activities.
Michigan was slow to accept the reality of NIL, but they now see why they must. They now understand how utilizing the Michigan brand can help them achieve their NIL goals. Their efforts are working. According to the recruitment website The Wolverine, numerous “key players” from Michigan’s championship squad will return thanks to NIL. These players include senior running back Donovan Edwards and junior cornerback Will Johnson, who was named the national championship game’s defensive MVP. Players are going to get paid. Players are already being paid.
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