Deion Sanders, never one to shy away from bold opinions, is once again stirring the pot in college football. This time, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach is calling for a major overhaul to how schools handle Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
In a recent interview, Sanders argued that college football should adopt a salary cap system modeled after the NFL, saying it’s the only way to restore balance to the sport.
“There should be a cap,” Sanders said. “Every team should get the same amount to spend. The rules and regulations should mirror the NFL.” His comments, now making waves on social media, reignited the debate around NIL regulation and the growing power imbalance between college programs.
The money gap is the real advantage
For Sanders, the root of the problem isn’t talent development or coaching, it’s financial firepower. “You want to talk about competitive advantage?” he said. “It’s not who can host a spring scrimmage. It’s who has hundreds of millions of dollars behind them.”
He pointed to the same programs making the playoffs year after year, linking their success to bloated budgets rather than innovation on the field. Sanders believes the NCAA’s failure to regulate spending is creating an uneven playing field, one where schools like Colorado are constantly chasing wealthier rivals.
Fans and coaches react with mixed feelings
Online responses to Sanders‘ proposal were quick and divided. Some fans applauded the idea of a cap, especially if it came with tighter windows for transfer portal moves. Others doubted whether regulation could ever be enforced, arguing that under-the-table deals would simply make a comeback.
Still, Sanders‘ call adds to growing pressure on the NCAA to take stronger action. Earlier this year, his idea to allow teams to scrimmage other programs in spring games was shut down, with the NCAA citing competitive fairness. To Sanders, that response was proof of misplaced priorities.
A sport at a crossroads
As the NIL era continues to reshape college football, voices like Sanders‘ highlight the urgent need for structure. Without it, he warns, the sport risks becoming a financial arms race-with fewer teams able to compete at the top.
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