I think it’s a little different picture for those in the BIG and SEC with their TV money. Somebody can look it up, but I think eiu is getting $30M more than us from their media deals. I would think for them it’s highly sustainable. Much less dependent on donors - although they have them.
***Official portal tracker thread***
- Thread starter demoncore1031
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Its not hard. All you have to do is take a picture of a player and hang it in some business, and pay that player millions, for said picture.
Its not like all those oil barons dont have multiple businesses and corporations that can "sponsor" an NIL promotion.
That NIL cap is not a cap, it is just the rev share of the school. The school cant give more, in their name, but all the donors can give as much as they want, in the name of NIL. All they did was make it ok for the bag man to pay players out in the open.
I would love to see some rules or backtracking put in place.
1. require college players to go back to amateur status, meaning no income outside college. (yes I know there are so called NIL issues with this, but I also believe their are ways to make it work) using contracts etc.
2. Keep the rev share, from the university, making it qualified income like stipend and scholarship, that does not count toward their amateur status.
3. Players get a share of the income the school is earning on them, which is what the entire issue was supposed to be about, but takes the pay to play NIL donor, and transfer issue out of it, and puts everyone back on a level playing field. (Nothing says you cant go make more money or get NIL deals, you just cant and continue to play college, I get it they are saying their NIL is the value etc. but that is the entire problem today. And the rev share is supposed to cover that.)
5. Adjust transfer rules and timeline to reduce transfers. Bring back a sit out year, change the transfer until after spring etc.
6. Require contracts, ie a 3 year contract for incoming freshmen, they are locked in for 3 years then become a free agent, that their current school has the option to reup or they go to the portal for their remaining 1-2 years etc. similar to how NFL does rookies.
7. Require compensation for portal/trades while under contract. If a player wants to go to the portal or is pushed there by the program, they will need to be traded for, being money or players. So if a player wants to leave ISU for Alabama, during their contract, Bama has to either pony up to buy out contract or offer a player in trade. Like pro leagues.
These are just a few options, any of them may help, there are many others that could also. I doubt any of it happens unless it is forced by congress or something at this point.
It’s not too hard. Look at the pork producers purchase Moore Hamman bacon ads. There are jerseys similar to ISU with their names. No logo and all you do is get a red jersey with similar yellow stripes on it with their name. Say football player X and you haven’t used ISU technically.
The ROI on football players is wins and program success, of course.
We know what the current market value is - it’s what teams are willing to pay for college players.
They are in the 65 area compared to 30.
I don’t know if they broke the rules for the PAC schools but the big 10 has a requirement of around 22-24 sports have to be scholarships. That probably eats up close to 10MM of that. It also is one reason we would not be able to join the big 10 unless we got a 10MM bump in media right away.
Right. “We are just better at evaluating players than other programs.” It’s the same thing fans say when their team lands a recruiting class full of lightly recruited players.
Sometimes it works out. Most often it does not. That’s because you have dozens of football programs evaluating these transfers/recruits and the other coaches are paid well to know what they are doing too.
We will always be digging for diamonds of course. To be successful, we’ll have to mix that with ponying up and paying some players what they are worth.
This is correct but the teams that will prevail are the ones that can best manage the market to put together the right pieces and that won't necessarily be who spends the most in the market. I don't know the $$ involved but I am guessing Indiana spent much more wisely than TTech? I doubt anyone spent more than a tOSU or TAMU? And lets not even look into the return PSU had on investment.
That is to say, there is an opportunity for a team to be in the top 10? 20? of those investing in the market and to have the winning combination.
And someone can be in the top 25, 30, 40? and still be on the national stage - I think what campbell was targeting but seems to have realized he couldn't get to here?
Where does ISU fall in what we will spend? 40th-50th? maybe lower? ugh
I think the only way you really accomplish this is to make them employees and own their media rights
Especially when they don't see returns on their investments.
The ROI benefits the school and the school alone. Not the people footing the bill. That’s not how ROI should work.
The answer is Iowa State needs to spend wisely.
We can't pay top dollar for the perceived best players at each position. Our GM & coaches have to be great talent evaluators and pay 50-75% of elite market value but get 90% of the performance.
It's about team over high profile and coaches developing players. ISU need to overachieve during the next 3-5 years of chaos that will be CFB.
It still isn't sustainable because they have already spent the additional media money. If they were flush with cash they wouldn't even entertain PE.
Here's what I think is the issue and why Campbell and Whittingham left. Big 12 as a 1 bid league. BYU was totally screwed this year and should have been in over several schools.
Looking to next season we won't, IMO see 5 SEC teams in the playoff. Why? They will now play 9 conference games. Half the teams will get another loss. In addition to extra losses for teams it lowers the number of quality wins (has to be above .500 for a QW) and strength of records will decline.
Sky must be falling in Iowa, we got a beautiful bluebird sky in Colorado!
He's going to be 1 of 60 portal kids we sign. And we'll need somewhere between 15-20 OL kids on the roster. Just a piece of the puzzle.
ISU was hit pretty darn hard in the portal due to coaching change. When coach is established we will obviously see less churn.
Saying this, I'd anticipate a high than average turnover for next season simply because of all the 'hired guns' that will be filling out ISUs roster for the 2026 season.
Saying this, I'd anticipate a high than average turnover for next season simply because of all the 'hired guns' that will be filling out ISUs roster for the 2026 season.
I knew Marcus Neal wasn’t coming back but I see he committed to Penn State. I’ll be in my room listening to “Goodbye to You” by Michelle Branch on repeat with a gallon of ice cream. It’s my breakup routine.
Cooper didn't always play at a high level while at ISU. Thought he was great year 1, avg yr 2&3 while playing safety. But then looked good in few games playing CB in 2025.
With ISU's lack of pass rush in 2024 & 2025- hard to be too critical of our coverage guys.
As far as NFL talent, Bell might have a better chance of making NFL than Cooper. But Bell needs to be more physical in run game support.
Cooper looked best when Freyler and Verson were healthy. When beau and Malik were dinged up, cooper struggled heavily.
