"Liked when it was about building brotherhood & team": Nick Saban's former DT talks NIL as schools now get $20.5 million more to spend 

CFP National Championship presented by AT&T - Winning Press Conference - Source: Getty
Nick Saban's former DT talks NIL as schools now get $20.5 million more to spend - Source: Getty

College sports are evolving into a professional model that Nick Saban's former defensive tackle Daron Payne believes no longer encourages brotherhood, team building, character development and education. Payne particularly had some words against the current evolution of college sports.

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This comes in the aftermath of the historic House vs. NCAA settlement, which will now see athletes getting paid NIL money through revenue generated by the University. Division I schools will be permitted to share up to $20.5 million annually with athletes directly.

During an on-field interaction with Payne on Monday, he opened up to share his thoughts on the current state of college football, pointing out what the game used to represent and how it’s evolving today.

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"I don't know. To me, when I played, it was kind of more about the team," Payne said. "So it's like, you got in and it's all about the team. Try to build your way up to becoming a starter and a star for the team. I was like, I'll just go anywhere they want to go and just try to find a place that fits them.
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"But I feel like the way it's going is good. Like, kids get to brand themselves and market themselves. But I liked it when it was all about building the brotherhood and the team," he added.
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Daron Payne has same thoughts as Nick Saban who fears for college football

Seven-time national champion Nick Saban has spoken out against the nature of NIL impacting college sports.

The former Alabama coach has repeatedly voiced his concern about the direction of college football under NIL. Before retiring in January 2024, Saban called the NIL landscape unsustainable and criticized it for encouraging “pay-for-play” structures (via The Athletic):

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“If you think there’s disparity in college football now, there’s going to be a lot more in the future. Name, image and likeness is a good thing for players to be able to make money, but when it turns into pay for play, now you’re getting into a different area."

Saban added that NIL will hurt the competitive landscape in college football as established programs will get an advantage because they are flushed with money while others will struggle to attract top talent:

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“I made the statement years ago and got very criticized for it: Is this what we want college football to become? So, now it’s kind of becoming that. I don’t think it’s going to be a level playing field because some people are showing a willingness to spend more than others.”

What do you think of Payne and Saban's comments on the new NIL structure? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Edited by Veer Badani
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