SPORTS

Money Talks in College Football: Deion Sanders Calls for Spending Limits

USAThu Jul 10 2025
Deion Sanders, the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, has been vocal about his approach to building a winning team. He has been very active in the transfer portal and has helped his players secure name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. However, Sanders believes that college football needs to address the issue of spending limits. Sanders thinks that a salary cap would be beneficial for college football. He believes that it would prevent teams from losing players to programs that can offer more money. Sanders said, "I wish there was a cap. The top players make a certain amount, and if you're not at that level, you know you won't make that much. That's how the NFL works. " The issue is that programs in the Big 12, where Colorado plays, often can't match the spending power of the biggest programs in the SEC and Big Ten. Sanders points out that this leads to those programs dominating the College Football Playoff. He said, "It's hard to compete with teams that are spending $25 to $30 million on a freshman class. It's crazy. " Sanders believes that the team with the most money will ultimately win. He said, "The team that pays the most is going to win. " This is a concern for many in college football, as it can create an uneven playing field. The debate over NIL deals and spending in college football is ongoing. Some argue that these deals are necessary to keep up with the rising costs of college athletics. Others, like Sanders, believe that they need to be regulated to ensure a fair and competitive environment.

questions

    What measures can be taken to ensure that smaller programs can compete with larger ones without a salary cap?
    How can the balance between financial fairness and competitive integrity be achieved in college football?
    How does the implementation of a salary cap ensure fairness without limiting the earning potential of athletes?

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