Mark Gronowski reportedly earned $1.3M this season, btw.
Is Iowa spending this kind of money on Portal Signees?
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Maybe to retain key players but we are probably on the lower end of the scale.
Are these like top 5 guys at any position?
Is Lauck getting $1M to stay?
Is Lauck getting $1M to stay?
Well it sounds like the did last season. I have no idea how they are supposed to keep up with that. Not unless they start using BTN money on it.
Those are the numbers for the major players that people on this board consistently whine about Iowa not getting. Iowa is actually building the way they need to with the funds they have. I would put my money on Iowa underspending and coming up with better results than 90% of the other programs heavily in the transfer portal. Cignettis, "Why not Indiana" comment is more about having four high dollar donors piling cash than it is about Indiana building a program for the future. Good coaches at new schools with high dollar contracts are going to have to spend high dollars to stay employed. I wouldn't put Cignetti in that column as "it is INDIANA" and I think he wisely jumped all in and took advantage of his recruiting evaluation years with Saban and beyond to maximize dollars they were providing. Other programs like Nebraska, some Texas schools, USC, Oklahoma have tried to pour funds in, but they don't have they eye for talent that other schools have. Biggest reference is Cignetti. Even little ole Tulane has done well with evaluating lower-level talent and paying them more than what a lot of schools are willing to offer them and have really improved what is going to become a poachable roster.
Football has drastically changed, and I am amazed at very average talent making big dollars. I have no problems with the way Iowa is plodding along and at least staying competitive. High dollars for a Dylan Ravioli are just not a practical use of funds. Mendoza was worth every penny spent as the afterthought would have it. Probably why you are going to see some head scratching Iowa players enter the portal. They really are going to start chasing funds if they are not 100% convinced, they are getting paid what THEY think their worth is. Players representing players, and agents just in for the money makes for some overvalued rosters. I really am interested in the stats after this portal period on who actually transferred where and what that team looks like come playoff season next year. Keep those numbers handy in the above post and just tweak them according to what you think that team has for funds. Make for some rough ideas of what it will cost to win championships at different levels, conferences and schools. Someone who has lots of time could do the conference and see if tOSU, Michigan, Indiana, Oregon, USC, and even Nebraska got their monies worth. We would all agree Indiana did.
Football has drastically changed, and I am amazed at very average talent making big dollars. I have no problems with the way Iowa is plodding along and at least staying competitive. High dollars for a Dylan Ravioli are just not a practical use of funds. Mendoza was worth every penny spent as the afterthought would have it. Probably why you are going to see some head scratching Iowa players enter the portal. They really are going to start chasing funds if they are not 100% convinced, they are getting paid what THEY think their worth is. Players representing players, and agents just in for the money makes for some overvalued rosters. I really am interested in the stats after this portal period on who actually transferred where and what that team looks like come playoff season next year. Keep those numbers handy in the above post and just tweak them according to what you think that team has for funds. Make for some rough ideas of what it will cost to win championships at different levels, conferences and schools. Someone who has lots of time could do the conference and see if tOSU, Michigan, Indiana, Oregon, USC, and even Nebraska got their monies worth. We would all agree Indiana did.
Iowa still has to be close on paying for market values to keep players here. If Iowa is paying a kid $100k and some other school winks and offers $700k, what is the kid gonna do?
With profit sharing and NIL I would say we have $18 to $20 million to spend on the roster. Schools at the top are spending more like $30 to $40 million. Those are the schools spending $4M for a QB.
These numbers are for proven P4 starters, at least the higher end. Iowa usually is going for high performers at the FCS/G6 level, usually with multiple years of eligibility left.
I’m sure they are still spending a bunch, but likely on player retention, not incoming transfers.
I’m sure they are still spending a bunch, but likely on player retention, not incoming transfers.
Iowa will pay the value they consider to be market value for the players they want on their roster. They can also afford to pay higher values for starters and creep higher yet for must have retains. What is your question? My post was saying Iowa is not going to get into the bidding wars for players above their means. The QB position for last year must have been within their means and met the value they felt fit.
I was stating the obvious that there are plenty of teams and players over inflating the worth of a position in the market. Iowa isn't and can't afford to get in that race. I also thought without knowing numbers, (no one but those involved know the numbers) Indiana maximized dollars spent. Do you think Iowa had Indiana's money last year or in this year's portal? What is paying close to market values? What market in what conference as I think numbers fluctuate for each individual market. The bottom line is what does an individual player in Iowa feel they are worth? Very few players making $100,000 at Iowa are going to be poached for $700,000. Isn't that a rather large wink for an Iowa player? Maybe a third- or fourth-year player could see a significant increase in value, but most players that are evaluated by a team's coaching staff are being offered what that team considers their markets value. Iowa is not undervaluing many players, or you would see way more portal entries.
I had to shake my head that you would think a player at Iowa is being paid $100,000 and someone was going to come offer $700,000! So, you must really believe Iowa is underpaying for their receivers and teams are lining up to poach them for 7 times the money! That would be by the chart for top players!
Brendan Sorsby’s NIL deal exceeds Shedeur Sanders’ NFL rookie contract
Story by Nelson Espinal• 11h•
2 min read
Featured games in the NCAA FB
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was the hottest player in the transfer portal from the outset, though the race to sign him ended up coming down to the Red Raiders and LSU.
He met with both schools, though he chose the team that was the odds-on favorite at the outset — inking a reported $5 million NIL deal with Texas Tech to be their starting quarterback for one season.
His new deal is one of the biggest in the NIL era thus far, rivaling some of the top earners in college football. Sorsby was contemplating entering the NFL Draft, but he decided it was better to stay in college for another year, potentially raise his draft stock, and make more money than he would as a Day 2 pick.
In fact, he is making more in one year of college ball than Sanders will make through his rookie NFL deal with the Cleveland Browns.
Sanders is set to make $4.6 million across his rookie deal over the four years, paling in comparison to the college senior’s payday.
Now, the Browns QB was a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft, meaning that Sorsby, who was graded as a Day 2, would have eclipsed that number in total, though he would not have reached the yearly sum that he is getting.
Texas Tech is going all-in on the upcoming season, investing millions in football’s premier position and targeting other big-money transfers.
In 2025, the Red Raiders signed multiple players in the portal for over $7 million, including defensive linemen David Bailey, Romello Height, Lee Hunter, Skyler Gill-Howard, and A.J. Holmes Jr.
The defensive front was elite all year, and it was not the reason they lost to Oregon in the Orange Bowl. Their quarterback play led to their downfall, and they are hoping Sorsby can help lead them to a National Championship.
If he does, Sorsby will be well worth the massive investment.
So you are telling all of us a player at Iowa making $100,000 is wink wink leaving to go make 700,000? Your example not mine and no where in any post did I say any player anywhere wasn't leaving for more money. Quite the opposite in relation to a player from Iowa who went into the portal. Dense?
You ever understand maybe exaggerating a bit to illustrate. A dude don’t leave for a small monetary difference. You are clueless.
Until congress steps in and gives the NCAA power back so they can establish guidelines this crazyiness will continue. Everybody knows this is not NIL.
I have said it before but I have seen several "experts" say that a collective bargaining agreement (like you see in all pro sports) is the only way to put guard rails on.
I think Iowa State has like 22 players now to field a team. They may have to play both ways.
Have you guys been following this crazy story?
He signed a good deal with Washington & apparently someone came in with a better offer.
I hope Washington sues his a$$ off.
He signed a good deal with Washington & apparently someone came in with a better offer.
I hope Washington sues his a$$ off.
We know this has to explode at some point. Schools will join together in enough numbers to get something done to enforce signings.
Pro sports don’t typically if ever limit what players make off the field from outside sources.
good luck with that.
they can regulate their $22.5 million but that is just minimum wage to the top talent. They are moving schools for the outside money.
also, most teams in NFL want parity. I think that’s the total opposite in NCAA football. The top teams have zero desire for parity.
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I know you have advocated for unlimited compensation for players...how do you see college sports in 5 years and Iowa's place in it?
I see 300 million payrolls for maybe 5 or 6 programs and Iowa not competitive.
Will this please you?
What controls things in the NFL are employment contracts and collective bargaining. We will get there someday. Then donors at other schools cannot poach developed kids from Iowa.
I just don’t think you can write a law that survives a court challenge trying to limit what a person makes via private companies. It’s like trying to write a law limiting what a college kid makes working at McDonald’s. only reason we care now is the kid also plays football.
maybe a law limiting the number of transfers a kid can make would survive a court battle. Not even sure about that.
Tough to form a players union when everybody in the union won’t be there long. It’s why the nfl is the weakest union. Average career in NFL is like three years. If a second year player in NFL goes on strike and sits out his entire 2nd season on average they just lost 1/2 of what is left of their career income. Assuming season 3 is their last year on average.
you are not going to get a union of college kids scattered across super programs and broke programs to agree on anything. Certainly nobody at Ohio St is going to sit out or accept less so a kid at Western Kentucky has it better.
comparing nfl collective bargaining to the ncaa with wealth disparities or schools is a waste of time.
Universities have this interesting position, where RICH alumni want to pay millions to players so their almamater can win a championship.
You don't see Mark Cuban paying NBA players out of his own pocket, but theres that almamater connection to pay Indiana players.
The interesting thing will be how long rich alumni want to continue pay players MILLIONS after they win a couple championships or if they continue to fail to win championships. Most people like Mark Cuban were/are businessmen that made smart financial moves to earn their money, how long do they "throw money away"? Unless you are a billionaire, there's gotta be a limit.
Would love for the novelty of this direct pay from alumni to wear off.
They won't need to once they are university employees with 4 year contracts. Then they can earn whatever they want outside.
$300M for 105 college football players might not be that far off.
NFL teams have 53 man rosters. The official 2026 NFL Salary Cap isn't set yet (as it's early 2026), but projections place it around $300 million to $305 million.
Going to force a union on the players?
“You like transferring every year to the highest bidder?” “How about you form a union and we will put an end to that?”
interesting tactic
good luck. The freshman players next year are still in high school and the senior players are done. Not sure who agrees to anything and why.
are people assuming the Michigan’s Ohio St’s LSUs and the rest of the big spenders give a damn about keeping it fair ? IMO that’s the last thing they want.
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Iowa has no money. The B10 big boys are cornering the market. The little guys in college football are going to be real small in a few years, now that the big boys have figured out the NIL/portal system.
$4M deal?
He accounted for 36 TDs last season.
Last season in 12 games:
Passing
62% completion
2,800 yds
27 TDs
5 Ints
Rushing
580 yds
5.8 yds/attempt
9 TDs
He accounted for 36 TDs last season.
Last season in 12 games:
Passing
62% completion
2,800 yds
27 TDs
5 Ints
Rushing
580 yds
5.8 yds/attempt
9 TDs
Which leaves Iowa about where they currently are in the non-revenue sharing environment. The programs with fans who will continue to donate to NIL will keep those programs way ahead of Iowa in what they can offer players.
Speaking of QBs looking for a $4M pay day....
Miami (13-2). one of the biggest spenders this season, is heading to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck's base salary to start this season was $4.0M.
Miami could pay Beck up to $6.0M this season, including incentives, Pete Nakos of On3 reports.
Last night Beck was 23-37 (62%) for 268 yds, 2 TDs and 1 INT.
He also rushed for the GAME WINNING TD.
Watch:
www.espn.com
Miami (13-2). one of the biggest spenders this season, is heading to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck's base salary to start this season was $4.0M.
Miami could pay Beck up to $6.0M this season, including incentives, Pete Nakos of On3 reports.
Last night Beck was 23-37 (62%) for 268 yds, 2 TDs and 1 INT.
He also rushed for the GAME WINNING TD.
Watch:
Miami 31-27 Ole Miss (Jan 8, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Miami Hurricanes vs. Ole Miss Rebels NCAAF game from January 8, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats.
www.espn.com
Saw where Texas is going to rely more on retention and recruiting. There NIL payout has decreased more than $4 millon. A lot of talent still in the portal, it'll probably change.