Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football Recruiting: How does Notre Dame compete in the NIL era?

By Andrew Hall

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Notre Dame football
Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Braden Lenzy (0) celebrates with running back Kyren Williams (23) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame Football Recruiting: How does Notre Dame compete in the NIL era?

Purpose of NIL

However, the purpose and the reality of how NIL worked in the FBS are two completely different beasts. NIL became an action of the universities and their agents and not relief for the student-athlete. It was weaponized as a tool for the “haves” to destroy the “have nots.”

One of those “haves”, Texas A&M, does not hide the fact that they are willing to pay top dollar for their football program. Numerous rumors are swirling about the legitimacy of their top-ranked recruiting class. According to one message board poster, the Aggies spent about $30 million on recruits via the current NIL loophole.

Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s comments about previous NIL deals under the table make this story seem realistic even if the source is sketchy. Ultimately, NIL will become another arms race, probably driven by the SEC, like facilities, “grey-shirting,” and graduate transfers. How does Notre Dame continue to compete with other programs that bend the rules?

Home/Notre Dame Football