The NIL Arms Race: Which Programs Are Winning Off the Field?

Since the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy took effect in 2021, the landscape of college football has changed dramatically. By 2025, this change has evolved into a full-blown arms race. The competition for national championships now extends beyond the weight room and film study, reaching into boardrooms, branding agencies, and funding collectives. In today’s game, success on the field begins with success off of it.