Highest paid college players with NIL

This era reminds me a lot of the 2014-2021 era of European soccer when the spending got out of control. You had some clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City that had never won much in their clubs history that were now backed by billionaire owners that could print money, whether it was a saudi prince or russian oligarch.

If a player was worth 40 million and interested in Arsenal, Chelsea might offer 50 million. Not because he was worth that, but because they could. If your collective has 150 million to play with, 6.5 million ain't shite. It's treated like disposable income because it is. I see the narrative a lot that eventually these billionaires will want to see some ROI. No they won't. They're old or middle aged men with a passion for their alma mater and the sport. They have more money than they or their next generation will ever spend. They are not worried about ROI. They are literally spending to buy happiness. Until a version of a salary cap is implemented the big spenders will compete.

That does not inherently rule out the fiscally responsible that occupy that next tier though. Teams like Georgia, Alabama, and Notre Dame are relying on smart spending and having the right guy in charge. Liverpool and Dortmund gave City and Bayern all they wanted

I think the trying to buy every player free for all is leveling out. Teams saw they'd pay an arse load for a player only for them to leave the next year.

Also players are finding out the grass isn't always (rarely is) greener on the other side. Some, and Alabama is a prime example of this; are going back to realizing that player development and high expectations (not related to money) matter. And, they matter A LOT.

If this bullshite is here to stay I'd like to see some kind of cap and progressive structure to it. Not really unlike NFL rookie contracts except not structured by "round or pick."

I don’t think it is leveling out to be quite honest. Payroll is still increasing substantially each offseason. Michigan buying a basketball title blew out the expected salary growth for many schools in the portal period for MBB. Nothing has indicated buying titles at any cost is unviable.

Agreed. Thought it would matter at some point but they just blow through money more and more each new season. Which means they have more money than you and I could ever imagine.

There is. Antitrust exemption and a collective bargaining agreement like all the pro leagues.