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College Sports' NIL & Portal Changes Expose Deeper Problems

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, January 31st 2026 at 7:29 GMT by Orange County Register
      Locales: California, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, UNITED STATES

By J. Alexander Rhoe | January 31st, 2026 | 12:28 AM

The college sports landscape has undergone a seismic shift in recent years. The advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights and the expanded transfer portal were heralded as steps towards modernization, but as we reach the tail end of January 2026, a disquieting truth has emerged: these changes haven't fixed anything. Instead, they've acted as a powerful X-ray, revealing deeper, systemic fractures within the foundation of big-time college athletics.

The initial reaction to the turbulence has been to point fingers - at NIL deals perceived as excessive, at athletes leveraging the portal for personal gain, at boosters wielding unchecked influence, and at coaches and administrators seemingly prioritizing revenue over athlete well-being. But focusing on these surface-level symptoms is a critical error. We are witnessing the consequences of a flawed system, not the creation of new ones.

Think of it like this: removing a rotting section of a wall only to discover a thriving termite colony beneath. The rot wasn't the problem; it was a visible manifestation of a much larger infestation. Similarly, NIL and the portal aren't the sources of the issues plaguing college sports; they are exposing the long-ignored realities of inequitable revenue distribution, insufficient athlete representation, and an unhealthy concentration of power within athletic departments and among a small cadre of administrators.

Let's begin with revenue. The financial windfall enjoyed by many Power Conference athletic departments is staggering. Billions of dollars flow through these institutions annually, fueled by television contracts, ticket sales, merchandise, and donations. Yet, for decades, the athletes - the very individuals generating this wealth - received only scholarships, a comparatively small fraction of the overall earnings. While NIL provides some compensation, it's often unpredictable, unevenly distributed, and susceptible to market fluctuations. A more robust solution lies in establishing a dedicated, professionally managed trust fund for athletes.

This fund would receive a predetermined percentage of athletic department revenue, ensuring a consistent and reliable source of financial support. The funds could be used to provide long-term financial security, cover educational expenses beyond scholarships (such as graduate school or vocational training), and facilitate a smoother transition to life after sports - a period notoriously fraught with financial hardship for many former athletes. Such a system wouldn't simply give athletes money; it would invest in their future.

Beyond financial considerations, athlete representation is woefully inadequate. Currently, athletes are often left to navigate a labyrinth of complex NCAA rules and regulations with limited or no professional guidance. They lack the ability to collectively bargain for fair treatment, reasonable working conditions, and adequate healthcare. The power dynamic is heavily skewed in favor of institutions, who deploy legions of lawyers and compliance officers to protect their interests. Athletes deserve the right to independent representation - agents, financial advisors, and legal counsel of their choosing - and the ability to negotiate collectively, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.

Finally, and perhaps most critically, we must address the egregious power imbalance within college athletics. Coaches and athletic directors often operate with near-absolute autonomy, shielded by lucrative, guaranteed contracts and a lack of meaningful oversight. Accountability is minimal, even in cases of demonstrable misconduct. A crucial step towards reform would be standardizing coach and athletic director contracts, tying a significant portion of their compensation to clearly defined performance metrics - not just wins and losses, but also academic achievement, athlete well-being, and adherence to ethical standards. Transparency in compensation is equally vital. Sunlight, as the saying goes, is the best disinfectant.

The changes to NIL and the transfer portal didn't cause these problems; they illuminated them. To truly fix big-time college sports, we must confront the root causes: a deeply flawed revenue model, inadequate athlete representation, and a dangerous concentration of power. This won't be a simple task. It will require courage, political will, and a willingness to challenge the entrenched interests that have long benefited from the status quo. But if we are committed to creating a more fair, equitable, and sustainable future for college sports, it's a challenge we must embrace.