Remember a couple years ago when there were some saying that all this NIL/Portal concern was a lot of overreaction? Only a few players here and there would be getting $500 for being on a billboard, the portal might actually help schools like State, and nothing would change in terms of who was getting the top recruits?
Yeah, those people were idiots
To be fair, I think those people were arguing that we already were essentially taking leftovers after the big spenders bought the recruits they wanted. Still seemed obviously wrong even at the time, but I will say I have been surprised at just how bad it is also, so I was not pessimistic/cynical enough. I thought what was really going to hammer us was all the average sports schools with well off alumni all the sudden getting the "leftovers" that we were living off of because they were willing to spend. I knew the transfers and NIL would be an issue at times, but I have been surprised by how quickly it has devolved into complete free agency, with players more or less negotiating tentative deals before even entering the portal. I was not expecting big money to be offered to unproven players that showed even a little bit of promise. I guess I should have known that that would be seen as a better use of money than recruiting high school students.
I think MSU's only chance is if the NCAA will make a rule that once you enter the portal, that counts as a transfer whether you transfer or not. Then schools could at least take the position we're not renegotiating for our own players until they enter the portal. You come and show promise and want to cash in, good for you, but you only get to renegotiate the deal once without having to sit out. So if you want to do it after your freshman year, fine, but you may not get as much money as if you wait until you show out as a freshman.