Going rate for QB's

[richard levy]

North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker, nation’s leader in passing, plans to enter transfer portal

Mestemaker, a former walk-on, will be heavily pursued by quarterback-needy Power 4 programs.

www.nytimes.com

In October, when Morris was still with the Mean Green, Murti and NIL general manager Steve Keasler told The Athletic that their goal was to raise enough money to make a seven-figure offer to Mestemaker after the season to try to retain him. A typical Power 4 starting quarterback in 2025 made around $1 million, though the market for top-end quarterbacks reached above $3 million. The going rate for quarterbacks could be even higher in the 2026 offseason. Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who on Monday announced his intentions to enter the portal, is believed to be fielding offers as high as $4 million annually.

 

[richmondcuse03]

North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker, nation’s leader in passing, plans to enter transfer portal

Mestemaker, a former walk-on, will be heavily pursued by quarterback-needy Power 4 programs.

www.nytimes.com

In October, when Morris was still with the Mean Green, Murti and NIL general manager Steve Keasler told The Athletic that their goal was to raise enough money to make a seven-figure offer to Mestemaker after the season to try to retain him. A typical Power 4 starting quarterback in 2025 made around $1 million, though the market for top-end quarterbacks reached above $3 million. The going rate for quarterbacks could be even higher in the 2026 offseason. Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who on Monday announced his intentions to enter the portal, is believed to be fielding offers as high as $4 million annually.

Agents love inflating some of these numbers.

 

[texascpa]

Is this just NIL or a combination NIL/Salary from school?

 

[OrangeTarheel]

I forget who it was who said over the summer (I think?) that even top NFL players don’t get $1 million ad deals - seems incredible that a college player would get that. Is it possible these are deals with a multi million dollar price tag but enough conditions and provisos that only the very best QBs actually see most of that amount?

 

[texascpa]

I forget who it was who said over the summer (I think?) that even top NFL players don’t get $1 million ad deals - seems incredible that a college player would get that. Is it possible these are deals with a multi million dollar price tag but enough conditions and provisos that only the very best QBs actually see most of that amount?

Keep in mind that schools are allowed to pay $22.5M to athletes and some schools are paying more. The ask may not be all NIL.

 

[richard levy]

during the Vanderbilt -Memphis basketball game on ESPN2, the announcers claimed more than once that in order to motivate or penalize one of his players, Penny Hardaway, Memphis coach, had "fined" one his players, Aaron Bradshaw, several times, 3K, and 5K for various transgressions, similar to a professional team. That money must be payments coming from the school

 

[PAcuse]

Agents love inflating some of these numbers.

Was just going to ask when Scott Boras started taking college clients...yikes

 

[sufandu]

I forget who it was who said over the summer (I think?) that even top NFL players don’t get $1 million ad deals - seems incredible that a college player would get that. Is it possible these are deals with a multi million dollar price tag but enough conditions and provisos that only the very best QBs actually see most of that amount?

These aren't really ad deals. These are "I'm a booster that wants my team to win and I have money to throw around" deals. It's why it's an artificial market.

 

[djorange1989]

during the Vanderbilt -Memphis basketball game on ESPN2, the announcers claimed more than once that in order to motivate or penalize one of his players, Penny Hardaway, Memphis coach, had "fined" one his players, Aaron Bradshaw, several times, 3K, and 5K for various transgressions, similar to a professional team. That money must be payments coming from the school

That sounds kinda illegal. Just like every court in the country will say you can’t limit the earning power of these players without collective bargaining, I can’t imagine they can be fined either. But, who the hell knows anymore

 

[007]

Keep in mind that schools are allowed to pay $22.5M to athletes and some schools are paying more. The ask may not be all NIL.

The revenue sharing mandate is capped at approximately 20.5M currently. This $$$ comes directly from the AD revenue stream. Schools cannot revenue share over that amount, but they can allocate to programs within the university as they choose. I believe that BB got a slightly larger share this season than the House Settlement model suggested.

NIL earnings are third party payments, essentially uncapped (there is a Clearing House review process), and are separate and in addition to the revenue sharing funds.

 

[orange_in_VA]

That sounds kinda illegal. Just like every court in the country will say you can’t limit the earning power of these players without collective bargaining, I can’t imagine they can be fined either. But, who the hell knows anymore

I'm pretty sure I saw an interview with Cuse football players and they said Fran does this too

 

[richmondcuse03]

The revenue sharing mandate is capped at approximately 20.5M currently. This $$$ comes directly from the AD revenue stream. Schools cannot revenue share over that amount, but they can allocate to programs within the university as they choose. I believe that BB got a slightly larger share this season than the House Settlement model suggested.

NIL earnings are third party payments, essentially uncapped (there is a Clearing House review process), and are separate and in addition to the revenue sharing funds.

the issue is the enforcement mechanism of the clearing house is up in the air and I've heard other schools will submit deals, but if they get declined, they ignore the clearing house anyways. so it remains a wild west.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I'm pretty sure I saw an interview with Cuse football players and they said Fran does this too

yea there was an interview at end of last year with meeks and the rest of the senior years discussing how guys get docked for being late to practices or meetings. The message is - "if you're late in the real world to your job, you don't get paid either" so why should you here.

 

[007]

the issue is the enforcement mechanism of the clearing house is up in the air and I've heard other schools will submit deals, but if they get declined, they ignore the clearing house anyways. so it remains a wild west.

fully agree.

 

[dollarbill44]

Some of our QBs this season should be paying SU.

 

[texascpa]

The revenue sharing mandate is capped at approximately 20.5M currently. This $$$ comes directly from the AD revenue stream. Schools cannot revenue share over that amount, but they can allocate to programs within the university as they choose. I believe that BB got a slightly larger share this season than the House Settlement model suggested.

NIL earnings are third party payments, essentially uncapped (there is a Clearing House review process), and are separate and in addition to the revenue sharing funds.

My understanding from hearing about Penn St's plan of paying over $30M just for football is that state AG's are telling schools not to sign the settlement and, thus, are not obligated to pay to the cap.

 

[richmondcuse03]

My understanding from hearing about Penn St's plan of paying over $30M just for football is that state AG's are telling schools not to sign the settlement and, thus, are not obligated to pay to the cap.

It may also conflict with state laws, including NY.

 

[capeorange]

Some of our QBs this season should be paying SU.

Heck, they should be paying us for having to watch them.

 

[dollarbill44]

Heck, they should be paying us for having to watch them.

It was kind of like watching "The Chair Company". Super cringey but strangely entertaining.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I can't imagine all taxes are being handled properly on these things. How do non school related boosters clear the money and how are the athletes receiving it? We're well past figures that can be cash transactions.

You simply can't launder that much money unless you are crime syndicate with multiple fronts, the government (redundant I know), or some billionaire running "not for profits" (also same as the first). I can't wrap my head around the liquid assets being available to do this to pay an individual and not have tons of red flags pop.

 

[OttosShoes]

At the same time, what’s Duke without Mensah? They spent a bag and got an (ugly) ACC championship.

If you’re going to put all your eggs in one basket, QB is the position to do it in.