CFB Insiders Dish on Rising NIL Contracts for QBs, $1M Pays for 'An Inexperienced Guy'
NIL contracts for college football quarterbacks have continued to rise heading into the 2026 season.
"If you've got a $1 million starting quarterback, they're probably an inexperienced guy at this juncture," a Big 12 general manager told ESPN's Max Olson.
Starting signal-callers at Big Ten and SEC schools are also receiving upwards of $3 million in NIL funds.
"If you're in the ACC and Big 12, you're probably $1 million to $2 million," an SEC general manager told Olson. "If you're Big Ten and SEC, you're probably $2 million to $3 million and then plus, plus, plus for the elite."
According to the latestย NIL valuations from On3.com, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah ranks No. 1 among all college athletes with an NIL deal worth $6.5 million after transferring from Duke. Oregon passer Dante Moore ranks No. 4 among athletes across all sports. He's expected to earn $5 million in NIL funds.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt, who transferred from Arizona State to LSU, also received a hefty NIL contract.
An SEC general manager told On3's Pete Nakos that Leavitt landed a $6 million NIL package (h/t SI.com's Rowan Fisher Shotton).
As Power Four schools attempt to clinch spots in the 12-team College Football Playoff, it won't be surprising to see them hand out increasingly large deals in order to secure their future under center.
