It’s been an uneven playing field in the college football world since the invention of NIL deals. It’s basically been the wild west with money flying all over the place, and that has given schools that have more engaged donors with deep pockets the advantage on the recruiting trail.
That has been especially true in the SEC, where people are more likely to give to their favorite college football program than to charity, and that’s led to what Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops believes have been unfair advantages.
Stoops recently revealed that he believes things are about to change and that’s going to help Kentucky compete in this new NIL era.
“I think the last three seasons have been absolutely, unequivocally, the most challenging. You know, at this point, come July 1, we’re supposed to have some guardrails around this thing. True authentic name, image, and likeness. If a young man can earn money, you know with his name, image, and likeness by all means he should be able to do that and go do that. The era of just truly donors pouring $20, $30 million into rosters and just paying for play, that’s been the last three years. That’s gone,” Stoops said on “Kentucky Sports Radio.” (h/t On3)
Stoops is hoping that new rules, leading to revenue sharing as well as some sort of legitimate oversight over NIL may help schools like Kentucky even the playing field a bit.
Ultimately though, this is the game of football, so wins and losses come down to what happens between the white lines. And to that point, Stoops is pleased where Kentucky is at this spring.
“I love the way they have attacked the offseason, you know, coming in and attacking the weight room, having the accountability, having the discipline, having the work ethic, you know, attacking the day,” Stoops said.
