Here’s my thoughts on this. If you weren’t a top 15 team before the NIL started, it’s going to be really hard to get into a position of relevancy. The top teams, save the outliers like Colorado and fsu who littered their roster with portal players after not being top contenders, will continue to be top teams due to being able to pay players (maybe not Colorado for the long term.) Any programs that are middling at 6 +\- wins are going to struggle to keep from losing their talent to these programs that can pay more money. I understand that there was always a discrepancy in how much they can pay based on donations etc., but here’s the main thing…..
A coach such as Key has to be hating the fact that not only do you have to build a program, but you also have to rebuild that same program every year based on players that you may or may not have throughout the offseason. I know the portal gives and takes away, but this is a darn near impossible landscape to navigate for coaches. You have to recruit hs talent, portal talent, your own players, and still try to figure out how to manage the team that is still invested.
I know coach’s salaries across the board have gotten out of control which is one of the reasons that got us in this mess, but in Key’s position, I feel like he will be earning every dollar that is given to him.
Bottom line is that something has to be done with the system if anything is going to change. There are no guardrails, and there needs to be a minimum 2 year commitment if any player transfers. One more transfer if they want, but you forfeit half the nil money and a year of eligibility. If not, what is in it for the investors (fans?)