In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 season, quarterback Carson Beck entered the transfer portal and left Georgia to join the Miami Hurricanes.
Beck, who will replace the NFL-bound Cam Ward in Miami, promptly signed an NIL worth a reported $4.3 million, one of the richest in the country.
During a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin learned about Beck’s NIL deal, which is second in value to only Arch Manning of Texas, and quickly criticized the former Bulldogs quarterback.
“Miami gave him $4.3 million?” Kiffin asked. “Did they watch his game against us?”
Beck lost just two games in 2024, including a 28-10 defeat at the hands of Kiffin and Ole Miss. In that game, he completed 20 of his 31 pass attempts for 186 yards and one interception.
Even in a down year, that was a far cry from Beck’s expected production. On the season, he completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
After cracking wise, Kiffin clarified his stance on Beck and NIL deals, stating that he doesn’t fault student-athletes for taking the money, but rather the current system in college football.
“I don’t ever get mad at the kids,” he said. “It’s not their fault. The system, [they] can go get it. It’s free market with no cap and in some areas, unlimited boosters.”
In Beck’s case, he determined an additional season would help boost his draft stock in 2026 after it took a hit in 2025. The $4.3 million NIL deal was simply the icing on the cake, more than he would have made had he entered the NFL Draft and been a Day 2 pick.
