Marcus Freeman, head coach of Notre Dame, discussed how the introduction of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals influences decisions on player playing time, particularly in quarterback competitions. He noted that while higher-paid players might have an advantage in close contests, he emphasizes that freshmen must earn their positions based on performance. This reflects a broader shift in college sports as schools can now directly compensate players significantly, impacting roster dynamics and player development.
Marcus Freeman reveals how NIL impacts playing time decisions by: Nick Schultz 04/16/26 NickSchultz_7 Read In App In the NFL, the sense is higher-paid players are more likely to start, given the salary cap impact. But at the college level, Marcus Freeman doesn’t see that trend as the NIL era continues to evolve – though he noted a couple rare instances during his time at Notre Dame . Freeman cited the two transfer quarterbacks the Fighting Irish brought in under his watch: Sam Hartman in 2023 and Riley Leonard in 2024. If there was a tie in the quarterback competition, Freeman would have been inclined to give it to the higher-paid player. His goal would be to make it “fair” for the starter with regard to expectations. SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter But Freeman said he doesn’t run into such decisions about playing time much since his approach is that freshmen have to earn their spots. His reasoning is simple. If they put in the work and play their way into a key role, they’ll have opportunities to make even more money. “I think as I look back to the two transfer quarterbacks that we had previously with Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard, I remember having a conversation: If it’s a tie, you have to put the guy out there you’ve invested the most money in because it’s not fair to the guy who’s starting,” Freeman said on Bussin’ with the Boys . “Because the minute he throws an incomplete pass, they’re going to boo him and say get the other guy in. That’s the only time that’s really mattered. The rest, like, if you’re an incoming freshman, no matter what you make, you’ve got to earn your opportunities. And guess what? If you do earn those things, you’re going to get paid more money. 1 Brendan Sorsby takes leave of absence for gambling addiction 2 Where does Texas Tech pivot after Brendan Sorsby news? 3 5-star PG Dylan Mingo commits to Baylor New 4 Oklahoma lands G-League center Akoldah Gak 5 Ryan Day: It's more than just one game for Ohio State View All Get the On3 Top 10 Newsletter in your inbox every morning Email Subscribe to Newsletter By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice , Terms , and use of my personal information described therein. “That’s why I say it’s a little bit different where, first-round picks in the draft, they’re paid so much, you have to go in there and you’d better start, or someone in the personnel department’s probably going to be fired. Whereas here, your incoming freshmen aren’t making the money that your dudes are making. So they have to earn the right to make more money. When they earn the right, they’ve earned it on the field, and then they’re compensated for it.” Roster construction continues to change as the revenue-sharing era comes up on its one-year anniversary. Schools can now directly pay players up to $20.5 million, and that figure will go to $21.3 million on July 1. Of course, there’s also the third-party NIL component and “ above the cap ” potential.
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: on3.com
Notre Dame, On3, Baylor University, Texas Tech University, Ohio State University
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Notre Dame: Notre Dame is a collegiate athletic program that has been impacted by the NIL era, particularly in its quarterback competition decisions.
On3: On3 is a sports media company that provides insights into NIL and sports business trends, including the impact of NIL on player decisions.
Baylor University: Baylor University is a collegiate athletic program that recently secured a commitment from a 5-star player, reflecting the competitive nature of recruitment in the NIL era.
Texas Tech University: Texas Tech University is a collegiate athletic program that is navigating changes in its roster construction following player news related to NIL.
Ohio State University: Ohio State University is a collegiate athletic program that is involved in discussions about player performance and expectations in the NIL landscape.
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