Tigers Cashing In

By Jim Gazzolo

If you don’t think NIL is changing college football, look no further than what is happening in Baton Rouge.

The Name, Image, and Likeness world is front and center at LSU. Whether new players come in or old players stay, it all has NIL dollars associated with it. 

Even the head coach, Brian Kelly, is getting involved. He is contributing an astounding $1M to the fund as he desperately tries to find the Tigers' championship formula. 

Before committing his own money to the fund, Kelly whined about NIL and how LSU fans had to work hard to get in the game. This despite a report that said the Tigers were third in the nation in NIL money, at around $20M. 

That’s a pretty hefty college football payroll for an 8-4 team. Meanwhile, the program Kelly left because he claimed it could not win the national title is in the playoffs.

Maybe money can’t fix everything.

“It’s not just about finding the right fit academically or holistically anymore,” Kelly said. “It’s about what’s the most money I can get, and that’s unfortunate. But it’s the world we live in, and you have to be able to adapt and realign.”

Well, at least he is putting his money where his mouth is.

Under NCAA rules, coaches cannot give directly to the school’s collective. However, they can donate to the athletic fund, which is what Kelly is doing.

“I figured that after my last press conference, where I pretty much challenged the entire LSU fan base, that if they wanted to continue to have a championship program that they needed to understand the financial responsibility as well,” Kelly told NOLA.com.

It seems Kelly isn’t only willing to pay a few bucks but also wants to pass a buck or two along for LSU not winning.

That is a different point, Kelly. For now, it is ahead of the trend of coaches chipping in. Of course, it makes you wonder if that won’t lead to future contracts giving coaches extra money to increase program funding.

Still, the Tigers’ NIL funds look to be paying off. 

There is no question that NIL money has something to say about each decision.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was the first to say he was staying put. He had a solid season but still needs more time to mature. In the past, he would have gone to the NFL as the projected third or fourth quarterback and been a middle first-round pick. 

Instead, he can make a healthy living playing for the Tigers. It was reported that Nussmier’s deal for this year stands at $1.1M and will likely grow next fall. 

"When we were able to present him with what we felt was a great opportunity from a NIL to revenue sharing and all the things that go along with that, him arguably being the best quarterback in the SEC, maybe in the country, then we were able to close this and get him to say he was coming back," Kelly said.

We will see if NIL money impacts Harold Perkins’ decision. The star linebacker who was hurt for part of this season could return for a final year with the Tigers or go to the NFL. 

If he returns, his deal with LSU’s collective will undoubtedly affect part of that decision. 

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles.