College football has an ego problem that the NIL era will fix

In 2025, college football is witnessing an unprecedented number of high-profile head coaching vacancies, with twelve positions open. Virginia Tech recently filled one of these roles by hiring James Franklin. The open positions include schools such as LSU, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Stanford, UCLA, Arkansas, Oregon State, UAB, and Colorado State. Despite the numerous vacancies, a limited number of potential candidates are frequently mentioned, including Lane Kiffin, Eli Drinkwitz, Jon Sumrall, and Marcus Freeman.

The competition for top coaching talent highlights the growing importance of budget and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) revenue in college football. Programs that can generate significant financial resources are better positioned to attract top recruits and coaches, shifting the focus from traditional metrics like historical success. This financial power is crucial in the current landscape, where NIL deals have become a key factor in decision-making for players and coaches.

As the college football hierarchy evolves, programs that fail to adapt to the NIL-driven