Big 12 team preview: Struggling Baylor hits the panic button, hopes re-investment in NIL, transfer portal pays dividends

Credit Baylor football coach Dave Aranda for the most honest, and succinct, quote at last week’s Big 12 football media days in Las Vegas.

Asked why the program has experienced a sudden upsurge in recruiting success by the website SicEm365.com despite back-to-back losing seasons on the field, Aranda’s answer was simple and direct.

“We are paying players,” Aranda said.

So is everybody else, but to hear a respected coach say it that plainly illustrates just how much college football has changed the past few years, thanks to the legalization of basically putting players on the payroll in the name of NIL and the transfer portal.