NIL Becomes College Football’s Playing Field as 7 Gridiron Stars Secure Top 10 Spots, Shedeur Sanders Leading the Pack

College football is no longer just an amateur sport! The stars are now getting legally compensated for playing the game they love. Over time, court rulings have transformed the NIL landscape, especially with the landmark NCAA vs. Alston decision. Well, this essentially legalized the “pay for play” concept.

As a result, top college football stars are now earning big bucks, and an interesting trend has emerged: the NIL world is becoming the new playing field for CFB. Seven gridiron stars have secured top 10 spots in the NIL rankings, with quarterbacks leading the charge.

No surprise here—the top NCAA player is none other than Shedeur Sanders. The Buffaloes quarterback is having a massive $4.7 million to his name. The ‘Sanders’ kid was under his dad Coach Prime’s wings for four years and has landed deals with major brands like Under Armour, Mercedes Benz, and Gatorade. And it’s not just experience that’s paying off—even freshman QB Arch Manning is cashing in, earning $3.1 million and taking third place.

Gymnast Olivia Dunne grabs the second spot, but CFB still dominates the top 10, especially the quarterback position. From Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Texas’ Quinn Ewers to Georgia’s Carson Beck, it’s a quarterback carousel in the NIL world. Beck even recently signed a deal with Athens-based private jet company Air Star Charter, joining Ewers and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, who also have deals with private jet companies.

Meanwhile, wide receivers are also cashing in. Buffs two-way star Travis Hunter is number four on the list with a whopping .7 million. And then there’s WR Evan Stewart from Oregon, who’s got .3 million to his name. So, why all the hype for these college football stars in the NCAA? 

The big money game in college football

Now, schools like Alabama, Miami, and Texas are often known for having deep pockets. They leverage largely their alumni networks and brand connections to offer lucrative NIL deals. But it’s not just about the school—your position matters too. Usually, quarterbacks are the golden boys in college football when it comes to NIL.

CBS Sports even estimates a starting quarterback’s NIL value ranges from $5 to $8 million. As one power four collective operator puts it, “It’s QB1…the most important playmaker on your team and the most valuable.” So, why are they actually more valuable than athletes in other sports? Well, it’s all about the eyeballs. Last year, over 25 million viewers tuned in to the NCAA college football national championship. In comparison, basketball had 9.86 million viewers, and other sports didn’t even come close. With that, a player’s fan following also plays a huge role. For instance, Buffaloes star Shedeur Sanders has a whopping 2.5 million followers in total, and Travis Hunter has 2.3 million. While women’s basketball stars like Flau’jae Johnson and Haley Cavinder are gaining ground here, college football stars still dominate NIL deals.

Now, this has even changed the transfer portal game altogether. Recruits are now considering not just the best coaches or facilities, but which teams offer the best NIL opportunities.