The new NIL revenue sharing cap is the most misunderstood thing in recruiting right now. Everyone thinks it levels the playing field, but it just changes the game. The big dogs will still hit that $20.5M ceiling and then funnel more through their collectives. It's not about the cap, it's about the structure of the deal.
I'm hearing from a source close to a major collective that the smart programs are building packages now that are heavy on brand building and local business partnerships for the croots, not just straight cash. It looks better for compliance and it locks the kid into the community. That's how you beat the flashy bagman from a random SEC school offering a blank check.
For us, this is a massive opportunity if our collective gets aggressive. We can't just match dollar for dollar with Ohio State or Oregon on a five-star, but we can sell the hell out of being the face of a resurgent program in a massive market. That's the pitch. Find the guys who want to build a legacy, not just cash a check, and structure the NIL to make them stars in the Midwest. The schools that master that are gonna win the new era.