Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

4-2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

Reader 1

Angela Vossmeyer

Abstract

In this paper, I examine how NIL valuations are related to recruiting strength, program resources, and player transfer portal behavior. The study contains two data sets: A team-level and a player-level. The analysis reveals that NIL valuations and recruiting strength are closely linked, favoring Power Five programs and reinforcing existing inequalities. Players with higher ratings are more likely to transfer, particularly to schools offering stronger NIL environments. Lateral transfers, players transferring within the same group, resulted in financial losses. Conference affiliation and position visibility also play critical roles in NIL outcomes. While NIL empowers athletes to monetize their brand, it influences recruiting and creates an inefficient labor market that benefits Power Five programs and skill positions. It also increases transfer portal activity, diminishing student-program relationships. These findings suggest that NIL has introduced significant structural changes to college football, deepening financial divides and hurting player-program relationships.

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