Peace Out

[Danl]

https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-nil-collective-leaders-for-2025-ncaa-estimates-nations-top-25-spenders-241949240/#2564344

That's just one website's estimate.

Here's one that says Indiana spent more than $20M.

Miami vs. Indiana NIL: How Much Did Football Rosters Cost?

National championships do not come cheap in college football.

sports.yahoo.com

Here's another that says they spent $21M.

Miami vs. Indiana: Comparing the NIL Cost of Two Championship Rosters

2026 The Year of the Hoosiers

www.mwcconnection.com

Here's another that says $21M

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/miami-vs-indiana-football-nil-money-spending-how-much-national-championship-roster-cost

I'm pretty sure that no one knows for sure except the universities involved and maybe their collectives. But it seems to me that Indiana spent much more than we, and almost everybody else did.

 

[amstelman]

It's change... it's gonna come.

When the pads go on you still gotta have the right play called and execute.

I'll still watch that; I'll still get charged up for Saturday and I will ignore how the players made their way onto the field.

 

[mackievol]

So has the op fulfilled his duties of being peace out or is this just another grown man crying like a girl?

 

[thehardknoxlife]

Indiana spent around the same amount of $$ in the portal as we did.

It's not public information so no one knows, but people "in the know" have said it was closer to 36 million than the 20 million people assume. Regardless, they obviously evaluated and paid for a better team no matter the amount. Props to Mark Cuban, without him they would still be a doormat. Everyone thinking this was some miracle achievement is ignorant. They just proved it's all about buying a team now, even at a doormat school. They were great at it. He stepped in and literally overnight they became a championship team after just 9 wins the previous 4 years.

 

[Boston Vol]

It's not public information so no one knows, but people "in the know" have said it was closer to 36 million than the 20 million people assume. Regardless, they obviously evaluated and paid for a better team no matter the amount. Props to Mark Cuban, without him they would still be a doormat. Everyone thinking this was some miracle achievement is ignorant. They just proved it's all about buying a team now, even at a doormat school. They were great at it. He stepped in and literally overnight they became a championship team after just 9 wins the previous 4 years.

Well first, teams have been buying championships in major college sports for decades, so good for IU in joining the club. Second, the $36 million figure is all-in, meaning NIL and revenue sharing. Most schools are spending around $15 million, give or take, on rev sharing, so $20 million on NIL lines up with what’s being speculated.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

It's not public information so no one knows, but people "in the know" have said it was closer to 36 million than the 20 million people assume. Regardless, they obviously evaluated and paid for a better team no matter the amount. Props to Mark Cuban, without him they would still be a doormat. Everyone thinking this was some miracle achievement is ignorant. They just proved it's all about buying a team now, even at a doormat school. They were great at it. He stepped in and literally overnight they became a championship team after just 9 wins the previous 4 years.

Average star rating of an Indiana player was something like 3.50 (or maybe it was 3.05). Do you really think a bunch of James Madison transfers, along with a bunch of other 3 star guys commanded THAT much NIL money? Indiana did not spend anywhere near what Texas Tech, Miami, OSU, Texas, LSU, etc spent. I'm telling you, they spent roughly the same amount in NIL as we did. Stop this bullsh_t narrative that Indiana "bought" themselves a championship. Yes, they spent in the portal just like everyone else did, but its not like they got into bidding wars with a bunch of teams for 4 and 5 star guys. They signed low-rated, veteran guys with experience, and Cignetti developed them. He said it himself, he prizes production over potential. And he doesnt care if you did it in Power 4, G5, or FCS. If you've shown you can play, you can play.

 

[Carp]

Narrator: He, in fact, was not done with college football. The Future would be back in his chair on fall Saturdays like every fall Saturday before. Yelling at his TV and telling his wife how terrible the refs, coaches, and players are, despite himself having never played or coached football past the high school level.

 

[utchs81]

It’s the Universities fault for being greedy. The President’s and AD’s run the NCAA and they didn’t want to share the money. Had they just given kids a few dollars here and there for shirt sales-etc, we wouldn’t have been in this.

Not sure greed works that way. A little only leads to wanting Mo.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Not sure greed works that way. A little only leads to wanting Mo.

It was never going to work with one side deciding what market value was and "giving you this" for services instead of negotiating. That's greed. The schools held all the cards.

Now that schools and players negotiate, suddenly it's "greedy students" asking for more when in reality it's just a business negotiating with a laborer for services.

If the UT doesn't feel like Leavitt is worth what he's asking, they can meet and negotiate. The risk for UT is not getting Leavitt and the risk for Leavitt, as played out with Nico, is losing money when you change jobs.

I don't get all the back and forth over this. It's business being done the way it's done every day in America.

 

[sjt18]

College football we know is done. $$$$ makers are gonna get their way. There may come a day though, young athletes will have to decide to either join the g-league out of high school or go get a college education. I would much rather watch a group of young athletes compete for their school, with a free education, boarding, and nourishment, even though they are of less talent, then the so called future g-league player out of high school and his/hers family thinks. And maybe once a young athlete makes that decision, that's it. He ain't running back to college. Period. Nadda. First it was baseball, then basketball, now football. Go ahead and start g-league football with all the dam sponsors you want. I won't be watching. Never thought it would come to this, but after 50 years as a True VOL Fan,,, I'm out.

Minus the emotionalism... pretty much agree.

I hate to lose what college football was but let's be honest. It ended somewhere around 1980. Similar to NASCAR's decline into commercialism over sport.

In the 70's how big was the typical lineman? How much time did players spend in the off season focused on football? Why did it all change?

What we have now is just the natural conclusion of something that started 50 years ago.

 

[ptcarter]

Here is an unlikely scenario, (A guys gotta dream). College football is heading towards being the minor leagues of the NFL, just using the on campus stadiums for games and selling to sucker fans loyal to a brand (the power T), but the players don't have that same loyalty. Players aren't even expected even to go to class and there is no such thing as "academic ineligibilty" anymore. (I read that Carson Beck didn't attend a single class in the last couple of years of playing)

Eventually, some fraternitys or other groups of students decide to get a pickup game with another school and "do their own thing", without expectations of pay, just for the fun of it, and pride for their school. (this is how college football started). As time goes they get a small following and start keeping up with W's and L's. The purity and loyalty is there without the premadonas transferring to other schools.

Impossible you say? How about let's all get behind the Rugby clubs at these universities - thats what they do. It's as close to the roots of college footall as anything.

 

[volfanbill]

Yeah its changed for me, but its not all bad. Between this and getting older Ive mellowed quite a bit. Honestly, looking back, I think that 2015 Florida game flipped a switch. I still get excited and emotional but the highs arent as high and the lows arent nearly as low and only lasts minutes or maybe a few hours instead of weeks and months.

Anyway, when this NIL started I realized I was going to have to learn to adapt to all that was coming with it or be miserable. Is what it is.

what drugs are you back on to get you mellowed out?

 

[sjt18]

It was never going to work with one side deciding what market value was and "giving you this" for services instead of negotiating. That's greed. The schools held all the cards.

Now that schools and players negotiate, suddenly it's "greedy students" asking for more when in reality it's just a business negotiating with a laborer for services.

If the UT doesn't feel like Leavitt is worth what he's asking, they can meet and negotiate. The risk for UT is not getting Leavitt and the risk for Leavitt, as played out with Nico, is losing money when you change jobs.

I don't get all the back and forth over this. It's business being done the way it's done every day in America.

It was NEVER supposed to be like that. It was supposed to be free education for athletes... not an exchange for services like professional sports. It is the difference between "amateur" and "professional".

It is a moot point. Amateur athletics at the D-1 level are a thing of the past. Might as well detach them from the schools altogther.

 

[Delmar]

It was NEVER supposed to be like that. It was supposed to be free education for athletes... not an exchange for services like professional sports. It is the difference between "amateur" and "professional".

It is a moot point. Amateur athletics at the D-1 level are a thing of the past. Might as well detach them from the schools altogther.

And if detachment happens, that will be the nail in the coffin for a ton of college sports fans. It won’t affect the gambling public. They won’t care if it’s affiliated with the school or not. The problem there is gamblers don’t have to buy tickets.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

It was NEVER supposed to be like that. It was supposed to be free education for athletes... not an exchange for services like professional sports. It is the difference between "amateur" and "professional".

It is a moot point. Amateur athletics at the D-1 level are a thing of the past. Might as well detach them from the schools altogther.

It was NEVER supposed to generate over $200M in revenue for the school either and that's what caused all this.

The schools turned it into big business.

 

[adam.vol]

Indiana spent around the same amount of $$ in the portal as we did.

Past 2 years or 2026?

They are the national champions. I would not expect Indiana needing a complete overhaul. I’m surprised they are spending the same as Tennessee.

 

[Voltopia]

And if detachment happens, that will be the nail in the coffin for a ton of college sports fans. It won’t affect the gambling public. They won’t care if it’s affiliated with the school or not. The problem there is gamblers don’t have to buy tickets.

Oh let it happen. I am so ready for it. Because it ultimately becomes a test of what really matters in this whole mess of a sport.

"Money is all that matters." Right? That's what people have been driving the sport to. Well let's see it. Go play for money in front of a few thousand fans in downtown Chattanooga or Paducah or wherever.

Meanwhile the college kids at Tennessee and Georgia and Vanderbilt and everywhere else, the ones that want to play for colleges and be student-athletes, they can suit up and play in front of 100,000 fans in Neyland or 90,000 in Sanford or wherever. Well, maybe less. Some of the fans may check out if "the best of the best" aren't playing for the schools. But as long as it's an even contest between schools, people will come. Because the regional rivalries are what powered so much of it to begin with. I'm good with getting those back. And I think there'll be quite a few players who want the adoration of the crowd, and the adoration of the fans that follow it. I actually bet the experience of being in those big SEC stadiums is worth a whole hell of a lot more than some people think it is.

And hey, the ones that don't want that? It's all good. Enjoy whatever it is you're after.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

In the words of Curley Bell, Goodbye! There will be somebody to take your place. College football is not going anywhere. The stands will still be packed, the bands will be playing, the tailgates will be plentiful and we will still be cheering for the team in Orange! GBO

 

[sambronkowitz]

Just leave then. You don't have to announce your departure.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Oh let it happen. I am so ready for it. Because it ultimately becomes a test of what really matters in this whole mess of a sport.

"Money is all that matters." Right? That's what people have been driving the sport to. Well let's see it. Go play for money in front of a few thousand fans in downtown Chattanooga or Paducah or wherever.

Meanwhile the college kids at Tennessee and Georgia and Vanderbilt and everywhere else, the ones that want to play for colleges and be student-athletes, they can suit up and play in front of 100,000 fans in Neyland or 90,000 in Sanford or wherever. Well, maybe less. Some of the fans may check out if "the best of the best" aren't playing for the schools. But as long as it's an even contest between schools, people will come. Because the regional rivalries are what powered so much of it to begin with. I'm good with getting those back. And I think there'll be quite a few players who want the adoration of the crowd, and the adoration of the fans that follow it. I actually bet the experience of being in those big SEC stadiums is worth a whole hell of a lot more than some people think it is.

And hey, the ones that don't want that? It's all good. Enjoy whatever it is you're after.

So you'll just ignore the millions and millions of people watching on TV for hours every Saturday?

And the billions in TV revenue at stake for the schools in media deals?

If you think you're going to see that kind of business fail overnight, I suggest you look at NASCAR which is getting less popular but it's a relatively slow death spiral. PBA bowling, which used to be a reasonable TV sport, disintegrated into a clown show but it's taking several years to die and it was a comparably low rent business.

College football and basketball are massive revenue businesses that will evolve (read: be told by the courts that the players are, in fact, employees) long before they crash.

 

[VolInNW]

I doubt Indiana spent THAT much more than Tennessee

The difference between us and Indiana is that Cignetti demanded production, discipline, and excellence from himself, his coaches, and his players, while Heupel just seems happy to be here.

 

[VolInNW]

Minus the emotionalism... pretty much agree.

I hate to lose what college football was but let's be honest. It ended somewhere around 1980. Similar to NASCAR's decline into commercialism over sport.

In the 70's how big was the typical lineman? How much time did players spend in the off season focused on football? Why did it all change?

What we have now is just the natural conclusion of something that started 50 years ago.

Mick Tinglehoff played center for the Vikings at about 235 lbs. I doubt many college OL were above that by much, huge guys were likely in the 260 range. That is genetics and school-year weight room training. Today's 370lb lineman is the result of genetics, weight room, nutrition, and CONSTANT work. College football became professional long before we acknowledged it.

 

[Delmar]

Just leave then. You don't have to announce your departure.

Correct. But one is dang sure free to voice their dissatisfaction.

 

[thehardknoxlife]

Average star rating of an Indiana player was something like 3.50 (or maybe it was 3.05). Do you really think a bunch of James Madison transfers, along with a bunch of other 3 star guys commanded THAT much NIL money? Indiana did not spend anywhere near what Texas Tech, Miami, OSU, Texas, LSU, etc spent. I'm telling you, they spent roughly the same amount in NIL as we did. Stop this bullsh_t narrative that Indiana "bought" themselves a championship. Yes, they spent in the portal just like everyone else did, but its not like they got into bidding wars with a bunch of teams for 4 and 5 star guys. They signed low-rated, veteran guys with experience, and Cignetti developed them. He said it himself, he prizes production over potential. And he doesnt care if you did it in Power 4, G5, or FCS. If you've shown you can play, you can play.

Which is why I have repeatedly said stars beside a name do not matter anymore. It's about what you do on film in college.

They did buy a championship and that will be the new normal. You take Mark Cuban money away and they are still a 3 win team. Indiania isn't paying Cignetti 9 million a year and 30+ million roster without his money, let's be real. Cuban donated millions they buy a coaching staff and a team and they became a championship team overnight. Literally overnight. There's a reason NFL put a salary cap in place. This is only the beginning. I think you'll see $100+ million teams before long.

 

[Delmar]

In the words of Curley Bell, Goodbye! There will be somebody to take your place. College football is not going anywhere. The stands will still be packed, the bands will be playing, the tailgates will be plentiful and we will still be cheering for the team in Orange! GBO

I don’t know about that. Depends if they get control of this mess or not. If it continues unbridled, I’ll wager the situation will get worse and more fans will bail. Might take a few years to trail off but I believe it will happen. Have to wait and see.