The era of name, image and likeness has changed the collegiate athletics landscape.
Now that players can benefit from his nameathletes base their decisions about where to play, at least in part, on the amount of money they can earn during their college careers.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and offensive line coach Eric Wolford during a game against the Mississippi Rebels on November 12, 2022, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who has been an advocate for college athletes earning compensation, has made it clear that he sees flaws in the current NIL system.
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«The problem is that when you create those [collectives] for individuals, are you establishing a kind of pay-per-play environment that can be used in recruiting? So now all of a sudden kids aren’t going to school where they can create the most value for their future,» Saban told Sports Illustrated. “The boys go to school where they can earn more money. I don’t think that’s the best for the player.»
NIL collectives pool money from promoters and companies and help facilitate NIL deals for athletes.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban during pregame warmups before facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
«You went to college. I went to college,» Saban added. «Why were we going? We had goals and aspirations for how we wanted to create value for our future. Sometimes these things can be both an academic and athletic distraction. But I’ll say it again: I think the name, image, and likeness is good for gamers.
«The whole concept of collectives is what has created this environment that we find ourselves in, and I’m not sure anybody really had the insight or the vision to see that that was going to happen. So, therefore, we didn’t have guidelines. and now we’re trying to develop some.»
NIL collectives created a recent controversy in college football with the University of Florida and four-star recruit Jaden Rashada.
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In November, Rashada changed her miami pledge to Florida, giving head coach Billy Napier a major recruit as Napier enters his sophomore season.
But Rashada’s commitment hinged on a four-year contract, $13 million NIL settlement signed with the Gator Collective fan club, according to The Associated Press.
The Florida Gators commit to Jaden Rashada during the second half of a game between the Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
On December 7, Rashada reportedly received a letter from the head of the Gator Collective who wished to terminate the deal, according to a report by The Athletic.
While the reasons behind the deal breakdown were unclear, the AP reported that not all financial backers were aware that the NIL deal had gone from around $5 million to more than $13 million.
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Rashada was released from his NIL in January and committed to Arizona State University.
When asked for a solution to the problems that NIL presents, Saban told Sports Illustrated that it may need to be addressed at the federal level so that «you don’t have different state laws and there are guidelines on what you can and can’t do.» «
«The players should create their chances, and what we’ve done now is some schools are creating chances for them. I don’t think that was the intention,» Saban told SI.
In August, US Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Joe Manchin, DW.Va., announced their intention to write legislation to regulate the NIL.
Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban walks off the field after a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Miss. (Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Saban, who reportedly has a close relationship with both senators, said he occasionally speaks with both politicians about their legislative effort.
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«I talk to them from time to time, but I’m not trying to spearhead a solution. I talk to [SEC Commissioner] Greg Sankey a lot,» Saban said. «I talk to [SEC Associate Commissioner] William King. I listen to the other coaches in our meetings. I’m just trying to help provide information to [the senators] so they know what the problems really are. I’m also trying to direct them to people who I think can provide the solution, like Greg Sankey and those types of people.
«Everyone needs to look at the problem from 1,000 feet. I don’t want to take away opportunities from players. I just think the mechanics of how they get those opportunities need to be more standard for everyone.»