There was an Article in the Athletic titled: "In College Sports' Big Money Era, Here is Where the Dollars Go". The article discusses the current state of this new NIL era. When the NIL's became legal, money was flying all over place with no parameters or 'market value' being used to determine how much a specific athlete should receive. Over the last several years, there began to evolve a 'market value' that started to sort out these values. These numbers were consolidated into what is called a 'Black Book'. In the article they put together some of the dollar values that will be required to recruit the top athletes to attend and play the many different collegiate sports..

FOOTBALL: Recruits

If Maryland football wants to compete and bid on any 5-Star or Top 4-Star athlete, here is what they will have to offer: Running Back--$340,000; Defensive Back--$410,000; Linebacker--$440,000; Defensive Line--$470,000; Offensive Lineman--$550,000; Wide Receiver--$610,000; Quarter Back--$820,000

FOOTBALL Starting Lineman (also starting grad transfers):

BIG TEN: Total Starting Line Up: $5.2 million dollars; Wide Receivers--$328,893, Defensive Linemen--$196,548; Offensive Linemen--$322,002; Running Backs--$220,983; Linebackers--$177,467; Defensive Backs--$168,770; Quarter Backs--$377,109

SOUTHEAST CONF.: Total Starting Line Up: $14.4 million; Wide Receivers--$710,000; Defensive Linemen--$760,000; Offensive Linemen--$780,000; Running Backs--$436,617; Linebackers--$584,629; Defensive Backs--

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Total Team Starting Line Up: $3.3 million dollars; Centers $510,000; Forwards--$750,000; Guards--$640,000

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Total Starting Line Up: $730,000; Centers--$70,000; Forwards--$100,000; Guards--$230,000

The total estimate payout for NILs is estimated at $1.7 billion dollars.

A few years ago, I had read (possibly 'Off Tackle Empire) that Mayland was either 13th or 14th in NIL money in the Big Ten. The article also showed numbers for many of the other collegiate sports, and they are also rising at a very fast rate.

Since I have read that article in the 'Athletic', I have started watching college games in an entirely different way. When I looked at both of our football games with Michigan State and Indianna, I see those games quite differently now. Between this year and last year's Indianna team, they are probably paying their starters four or five times more than they did to last year's team. I had read that Michigan State had also significantly increase their spending. How much were they paying that 5-stars stud freshmen wide receiver whose catch put the dagger in our hearts?

Maryland may now be 20th out of 20 in NIL spending in the new Big Ten. Rutgers probably has surpassed us seeing that they recently defeated Washington. In writing this Fan Post, I wanted to stimulate some conversation and insights as to how to give Maryland a better opportunity to compete. [I struggle with Maryland's three (1-0) losses this season in field hockey. I keep thinking one or two more top players, (especially some better attackers) and we could have won those games] At this point, for Maryland is to become competitive within the Big Ten across all sports; it's not through better coaching; it's not through better game strategy. It is all about being able for Maryland to somewhere, somehow find the NIL money that will allow us to compete for those higher priced, better athletes. Then we can start talking about coaching strategies and game management. This situation is not going to change until the NCAA or the Universities' Administrations step in and actually make changes. For Maryland, this is our new reality, and if we want to compete, we are going to have to significantly increase the NIL money that we pay to our athletes.