Paul Finebaum believes college football is at 'tipping point' with NIL, transfers

Since NIL came to be three years ago, college football has seen multiple seismic shifts. The dollars continue to flow, fueled by collectives, and this year’s transfer portal window once again saw NIL and player movement intersect.

In the time since the landmark ruling paved the way for athletes to capitalize on their name, image and likeness, the sport changed dramatically. As for what could lie ahead, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum called the state of the game a potential “tipping point.”

Finebaum, speaking on CNN’s The Source with Alabama alum Kaitlan Collins, pointed out the amount of money flowing to players during the 21-day transfer window. More specifically, he noted the fact the athletes can ask for more money each year and the position that puts schools in every offseason. That, Finebaum said, adds to the importance of this era in college football, and he compared it to where things were in 1987 – long before NIL came about.

I grew up listening to @finebaum on the radio. Loved having him on tonight to talk about the next round of the College Football Playoffs — and how college football itself is at an inflection point. pic.twitter.com/cBqoeBIzUZ

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 28, 2024

“I’m not optimistic, Kaitlan,” Finebaum said when asked where the sport will be in five years. “I know in a position like I have where we want the game to be great, we are possibly at a tipping point. What I mean by that is, players are not only getting huge sums of money to go to school. Now, at the end of the first year, the second year, the third year – whatever year it is – they’re now holding the schools hostage for even more money. And we’re talking $3, $4 million for the very top players.

“SMU – which made the playoffs this year – nearly 40 years ago, was put out of business. They were given the death penalty for less than what’s going on right now in college football.”

Paul Finebaum: NCAA needs protection ‘because they’ve done such a poor job’

The landscape isn’t done changing, either. Earlier this year, the landmark House v. NCAA settlement received preliminary approval, and final approval in April would effectively usher in the revenue-sharing era. Schools would be able to directly pay players through a cap, which the Power Conferences set at $20.5 million for 2025.

But there’s also the quest for federal legislation to help settle things. NCAA president Charlie Baker has made multiple trips to Capitol Hill to ask lawmakers for aid, but no bill has come to fruition. One – the Protecting Student Athlete’s Economic Freedom Act – made it to the House floor this past summer.

Paul Finebaum said the NCAA is asking for Congress’ help because leadership let things get out of control. But now that Republicans have control of both chambers and the White House after Donald Trump’s victory, that could be a semblance of hope. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is one of the most outspoken about the need for change.

“What the college administrators are doing, which also sounds crazy, is they need Congress to bail them out,” Finebaum said. “Where have you ever heard something like that before? It’s possible with the Republicans in charge and Donald Trump at the helm, it may actually go through, where in a split Congress, it would not have.

“But they need protection because they’ve done such a poor job. The people that run college athletics have literally been asleep at the wheel for a very long time.”