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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught," he said. "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me," Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state," Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before," he said. "And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' "And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys," Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman , who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught,' he said. 'That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,' Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state,' Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before,' he said. 'And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' 'And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys,' Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught,' he said. 'That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,' Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state,' Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before,' he said. 'And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' 'And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys,' Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___ AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report. ___ AP college football:
Fox Sports
17-07-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
House Settlement Provides Level NIL Playing Field in SEC, Says Arkansas Coach
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month has leveled the college football playing field in a good way. Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other SEC powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said at SEC media days that his program had previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022. According to the terms of the House settlement, each school can now share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes. "Financially, with revenue sharing, I think we are finally back on [an] even keel with everybody, which we weren't," said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. "If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven't done quite as well. ... But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming." Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred. Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but that many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, "Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught." "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances." The House settlement era began on July 1. The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission informed athletic directors in letters last week that it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for NIL. Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL. "I would most definitely say so," Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. "Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. ... With the transfer portal, if you don't have [a necessarily good] opportunity at this place you're at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. "It wasn't necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I've seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it's good for the players." When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, "Listen, we all love our players, whether they're one year in our program, six months, or four years." Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta. "Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness," Lovett said. "But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money." Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia. "It's the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff," Lovett said. "I love football. ... I still haven't, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia's one of my goals." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Arkansas Razorbacks recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox News
17-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
House Settlement Provides Level NIL Playing Field in SEC, Says Arkansas Coach
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month has leveled the college football playing field in a good way. Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other SEC powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said at SEC media days that his program had previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022. According to the terms of the House settlement, each school can now share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes. "Financially, with revenue sharing, I think we are finally back on [an] even keel with everybody, which we weren't," said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. "If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven't done quite as well. ... But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming." Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred. Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but that many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, "Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught." "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances." The House settlement era began on July 1. The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission informed athletic directors in letters last week that it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for NIL. Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL. "I would most definitely say so," Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. "Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. ... With the transfer portal, if you don't have [a necessarily good] opportunity at this place you're at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. "It wasn't necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I've seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it's good for the players." When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, "Listen, we all love our players, whether they're one year in our program, six months, or four years." Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta. "Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness," Lovett said. "But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money." Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia. "It's the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff," Lovett said. "I love football. ... I still haven't, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia's one of my goals." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
