College football has been in the news for all the wrong things. Players are getting their due, being paid for their name, image, and likeness, but that has opened the door for ugly contract disputes. Washington quarterback Demond Williams was looking to join forces with Lane Kiffin at LSU, and his team, the Washington Huskies, brought out a lawsuit to prevent that from happening.
Just like the NFL and any other business, college football is now a money game. Regardless of whether you are still in a contract with your current team, another program can give the Brinks truck to you and cover your last contract, all while giving you a more attractive contract. That is exactly what is transpiring with the next case involving Darian Mensah, the Duke Blue Devils, and Miami Hurricanes.
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Here is Matt Hayes with USA TODAY Sports. He has some thoughts on the latest drama with Darian Mensah and the current state of college football a recent feature:
“Now we’re all shocked a Miami booster, or boosters, is willing to pony up as much as $10 million — $4 million to buy out the remainder of Mensah’s contract with Duke, and $6 million for a new deal with Miami — for a one-season run with Mensah? Don’t be ridiculous,” Hayes wrote. “The only thing more absurd than ignoring that reality is welcoming the Wild, Wild West to college football and begging Congress to help after the fact. Or setting up something called the College Sports Commission, and hiring a czar — or whatever they’re calling CEO Bryan Seeley these days — to police the private NIL world. Which is sort of like asking a lifeguard to stop a tsunami.
“Let me explain the deep, disturbing extent of “winging it” by these brilliant university presidents and chancellors: they’re relying on the honor code. The CSC has no subpoena power, no legal enforcement; it’s all voluntary compliance. In other words, it’s the NCAA — which was last seen in an uncontrollable death spiral.
“It is here where I remind everyone that after the NCAA came up with this ludicrous dog and pony show, one of the CSC’s first major steps was executing a promissory document for private NIL deals that went something like this: Do you agree to not cheat? Check yes or no. And, in the shocker of all shockers, not everyone checked yes.
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“So please stop the hand-wringing for the Mensah-Duke kerfuffle. There’s only one thing that ends this nonsense, and those brilliant university presidents and chancellors know it’s collective bargaining — but won’t get within a country mile of it. Unless forced to.”
Hayes makes a lot of strong points. The players should not be at fault for what college football has come to. It should be the ones at the top that have made this monster what it is today. Recruiting has become even harder for certain teams that are not loaded with cash, while teams like Miami, and the other upper echelon squads are buying the top players in the country.
Thankfully, Indiana created a way to win within that, which could change the landscape of college football. They did not go out there and buy 5-star recruits; they went out there and got seasoned veterans who have tons of experience that can play at a high level.
Lincoln Riley had no problem achieving the No. 1 recruiting class in 2026, due to his great recruiting ability, all that USC has to offer, and other attractive things at USC. However, when it comes to the Daraian Mensah’s of the world, and Malachi Toneys, it will be extremely difficult to outbid other schools for them.
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Riley will have to ensure he is hitting on the guys he is bringing to USC, and this team is in the best position to compete because if not, the current landscape of college football will pass him up and USC. Leaving the Trojans no success to show for it.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC inhabits Wild West college football world with no guardrails
