Ever since the NCAA approved name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in July 2021, the landscape of college sports has undergone significant changes.
Before NIL deals became legal, the NCAA considered college athletes to be "amateurs," and programs were prohibited from paying them directly.
Multiple athletes fought against programs using their names, images, and likenesses because they believed they were entitled to compensation. They thought they deserved compensation because athletic departments were profiting from them.
NIL deals opened the door for athletes to be paid directly from outside sources, and players in major sports could openly transfer to schools that could provide them with the highest compensation.
The landscape of college sports shifted even more drastically when Federal Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House v. NCAA settlement that created a revenue-sharing pool for athletes to be paid directly.
The floodgates opened as athletes can now be paid directly and profit from the use of their name, image, and likeness.
In order to regulate NIL deals and keep "fair play" in check, the new College Sports Commission (CSC) was created to approve or deny NIL deals.
This week, the commission announced it had approved over 8,300 NIL deals that totaled close to $80 million.
As NIL deals continue to reshape college sports as we know them, one legendary former head football coach believes it has given the advantage to the Big Ten Conference.
NEW: Nick Saban claims NIL has given Big Ten an advantage over SEC:
— On3 (@On3sports) September 5, 2025
"I mean, kids grew up wanting to go to LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Got the money now. They don’t mind going to Ohio State. They don’t mind going to other places. So, that geographic advantage that the Southeast… pic.twitter.com/ES055hWphw
Alabama legend Nick Saban weighed in on NIL and why he feels it has given the Big Ten an edge over the SEC.
Saban is widely considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, amassing a career 297-71-1 record in 367 games as head coach for four different programs (Toledo, Michigan State, LSU, and Alabama).
Saban is known for his time as Alabama's head coach, guiding them to a 206-29 record and six national championships.
In the new era of NIL and revenue-sharing programs, Saban believes the appeal of playing in the SEC has diminished because more teams can afford to pay top-tier athletes to join their programs.
What was once clear dominance by the SEC has shifted to an advantage for the Big Ten, with Saban giving the conference the edge as NIL deals and revenue-sharing continue to expand.