Want to win big? NIL collectives must be ready to break bank in basketball transfer portal

In college football, $1 million in NIL capital can go a long way.

A starting quarterback. Two elite offensive tackles. Maybe even four wide receivers. The top donor-funded NIL collectives are spending eight figures annually to field rosters that can compete for a College Football Playoff berth.

But in college basketball, finances run differently. Budgets range from $1 to $4 million. Deals pushing half a million to seven figures are much more frequent in basketball, unlike football.

“Think about it,” an agent who negotiates collective deals for football and basketball players told On3. “You really just need to pay seven or eight guys in basketball. Truly, just need two studs in basketball to win. But in football, you can’t just pay good money to two or three guys.”