How NIL is Shaping the Playoff Race: For Good and Bad

When the NCAA allowed players to earn revenue from their name, image, and likeness in 2021, college football as a whole changed. Players could finally profit from their popularity, and schools could use NIL as a way to recruit players. NIL resulted in some athletes staying in college longer instead of heading to the draft, as they could continue to develop their skill set while earning money. However, as the 2025 season unfolds, NIL is shaping the playoff race in both positive and negative ways for different teams. 

With NIL comes opportunity. Players can hit the portal if they do not like their situation and are persuaded by NIL opportunities. Carson Beck, Georgia's starting quarterback the past two years, initially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck then committed to Miami shortly after with one of the highest NIL deals in the country. In his Hurricanes debut, Beck threw for two touchdowns in a hard-fought win against Notre Dame, increasing Miami's playoff hopes. Without NIL, Beck might have never ended up at Miami, but he did, and the Hurricanes gained an experienced and skilled new QB and a legitimate shot to compete in January. 

Similarly, Florida State gained quarterback Thomas Castellanos from the portal, where he is reportedly making almost one million dollars from NIL to lead the Seminoles. Castellanos led the Seminoles to a gigantic upset over Alabama. Through two games, Castellanos has 389 pass yards and 85 rush yards. Castellanos demonstrates how NIL enables players to secure better opportunities without compromising their financial stability and transform teams into playoff contenders. 

Although there is a great opportunity that comes with NIL, not all situations work out as planned. UCLA's Nico Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee with a lot of hype around his name. His arrival in Los Angeles was met with excitement, but his debut was not. Iamaleava completed just 50% of throws and threw one touchdown and one interception in a blowout loss to Utah. After a rocky start, UCLA may question its decisions in bringing him in, and its shot at making the playoffs narrows. 

With NIL comes great opportunities for teams like Miami and Florida State to gain talent and compete for a playoff spot. For Beck and Castellanos, it's a chance to earn, improve, and transform a team's season. However, for every program improving by NIL, there's one like UCLA whose hopes and dreams are struggling with a transfer who is not producing or a team with a wealthier rival. Now, the playoff race is about who can navigate the NIL era the best, rather than just playbooks and recruits.