This applies to most of the conversation at hand. Ran across the premise a couple weeks ago so I asked for a direct explanation...
I saw a short explanation that a lot of the reason NCAA teams don't have solid backups any more is because of NIL money. Does this actually make sense?
Yes, it absolutely makes sense, but it is actually a two-part equation: NIL money is the fuel, but the Transfer Portal is the vehicle.
Together, they have created a massive "backup crisis" across college sports, most notably in college football. Elite programs can no longer easily stockpile four- and five-star talent to sit on the bench.
Why Teams are Losing Their Backups
The drop-off in reliable roster depth comes down to three interconnected shifts in the modern NCAA landscape:
• The "Play and Get Paid" Incentive: In the past, a highly-rated backup quarterback or defensive lineman might wait two or three years for their turn at a powerhouse like Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State. Today, a school with a lesser roster can offer that same backup hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars in NIL money to start immediately.
• The Power of Freedom of Movement: NIL alone wouldn't strip depth if players were locked into their schools. Because the transfer portal allows players to move freely without sitting out a year, a backup who realizes they won't start can instantly shop themselves to the highest bidder. For example, Ohio State coach Ryan Day explicitly noted that the portal-and-NIL combination makes keeping a deep quarterback room nearly impossible.
• The Death of "Stockpiling": Head coaches like Texas A&M's Mike Elko have stated that it is practically "impossible" to recruit depth out of the portal because elite transfers do not go where there is an established starter. Talent has essentially been flattened and distributed across the country, creating unprecedented parity but leaving top teams dangerously thin if a starter gets hurt.
The Backup QB Crisis: A Clear Example
The impact is most visible at the quarterback position. During the 2026 season, half of the 18 teams in the Big Ten have had to start or rely heavily on second-string quarterbacks due to injuries.
When powerhouse programs lose their starting quarterback, they no longer have an experienced, elite backup waiting in the wings. Instead, they are forced to hand the offense to unproven true freshmen or lower-tier recruits because their previous quality backups left to become starters elsewhere (such as former Ohio State backup Lincoln Kienholz transferring to start for Louisville).
Incoming Changes: Roster and Spending Caps
To fight this exact issue, the NCAA and major conferences are implementing guardrails. For instance, the Big Ten established a $49 million total NIL and revenue-sharing cap, and new 105-player roster limits are specifically designed to prevent wealthy schools from hoarding players on their benches.
