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Uncertainty surrounds the transfer portal and NIL in college football. Annual free agency is taking place with star players testing their market value after each and every season.
It’s having a direct impact on the Colorado football team. The program’s boosters are reportedly threatening to halt support without having assurances of loyalty.
Sean Keeler of the Denver Post spoke to one particular moneyman fed up with the current state of the sport. He will not write checks for short-term rentals.
“We’re not just going to write checks and hope (the players) come. You give them (that) check and the guy’s gone tomorrow. To hell with that. That ain’t happening to me. No allegiance, no money.”
-Dan Stroh, longtime Colorado donor
Colorado football has a problem.
It’s one being seen throughout the sport in its current landscape. There are no guarantees that money spent will result in on-field production. There is nothing tying players to a school even after deals are negotiated.
We’ve seen it firsthand this offseason.
Washington QB Demond Williams recently revealed intentions to stay with the Huskies through 2026 with reports of a $4 million deal being signed. Days later, he entered the transfer portal amid rumors of a more lucrative offer from LSU.
Tampering is an issue. Players are being contacted by rival schools even before making transfer intentions clear. In some cases, it’s created issues surrounding NIL money received.
Last year, Arkansas threatened to take legal action over lost funds when Madden Iamaleava transferred to UCLA after signing an agreement with the Razorbacks months earlier.
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) April 22, 2025
Schools and boosters are at a disadvantage. The situation is sticky given student athletes’ status as non-employees.
Are their contracts legally binding? It’s currently a gray area.
We’ve seen the others around the country vow to withhold NIL giving after being snubbed by players leveraging their standing in pursuit of higher offers. Troy Aikman, a former UCLA player and donor, is one of the more prominent.
“I gave money to a kid, I won’t mention who. I’ve done it one time at UCLA, never met the young man. He was there a year, he left after the year. I wrote a sizable check, and he went to another school. I didn’t even get so much as a thank you note. So, it’s one of those deals, to where I’m done with NIL. I want to see UCLA be successful, but I’m done with it.”
-Troy Aikman
The current setup is unsustainable. Many boosters are wising up. Colorado football will be the next program impacted.
Deion Sanders will be affected.
The head coach is entering Year 4 with the school after an up-and-down first three seasons. He was able to lure top talent to Boulder upon taking over, leading to a nine-win campaign in 2024.
That success was a direct result of recruiting success and player buy-in. Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders were among a few big names that could’ve left for larger paydays after going 4-8 in 2023. They stuck around to guide the Buffs to their most successful season in nearly a decade.
Their departures for the NFL forced a rebuild this past year. Colorado went 3-9 in 2025.
Sanders must now fill key voids to ensure the downward spiral does not continue. That means securing commitments from talented players in both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
His job will be made more difficult if boosters decide to halt NIL donations without having guarantees that their investments won’t be wasted.
Unfortunately, until some guidelines are made to further enforce NIL contract terms, the issues will persist. And the fact that others will continue to take full advantage of the lacking NCAA restrictions could put the Buffs further in the hole.