Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz raising his concerns about what he believes is a widening gap in college football. He’s warning that the sport risks losing its competitive balance in the NIL era.
Drinkwitz cited reports of roster budgets ballooning to as much as $45 million at powerhouse programs such as Texas, LSU and Ohio State. He compared the trend to Major League Baseball, where bigger market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers can outspend smaller franchises, creating a financial divide that often translates to on-field results.
Nobody should oppose players earning money via name, image and likeness opportunities, and it should remain a key part of the modern game. However, there’s a clear distinction between legitimate NIL deals and a “pay-for-play” structure tied directly to recruiting and roster building.
His concern centers on sustainability. Without guardrails, Drinkwitz says college football could become a system where a handful of programs dominate annually simply because they can afford to.
“If you’re going to have teams that have 45 million dollar rosters competing against teams that have 15- and 20 million dollar rosters, you’re going to run the risk of turning into Major League Baseball, where you have the LA Dodgers and the Florida Marlins,” Drinkwitz told On3. “And that’s a professional league that’s not growing, that’s struggling in their TV deals.”
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In a more balanced model, programs such as Vanderbilt or Rutgers could realistically rise into conference contention within a few years through strong coaching, development and smart use of the transfer portal. That type of parity mirrors professional leagues like the NFL and NBA, where competitive cycles shift and fan interest remains high across markets.
The current landscape is somewhat of a “mercenary” system that, without reform, could crumble. College football risks prioritizing spending power over competitive integrity. It’s a shift which could damage the long-term health of the sport.