Deion Sanders made his expectations very clear during the first team meeting of the 2026 college football season at Colorado. He announced a new monetary fine system for players who break his rules.
Is it legal?
If college football players are going to be paid like professionals, they should be forced to pay fines like professionals. However, per the rules as they are written, NIL money cannot be attached to performance. That goes for both incentives and reductions. Is a violation of team rules considered performance?
Deion Sanders will fine his players for a violation of team rules.
Coach Prime got his team together for the first meeting of 2026 last week. He introduced all of his new coaches, called on a few players (new and returning) to speak about their experience, and set the tone for the season.
That includes his list of rules. The most important rule is the most simple. No food, drinks or cellphones in meeting rooms. Fair enough.
NIL Apparel restrictions are just as straightforward. Players with NIL deals must not wear or use equipment or apparel from non-Nike companies during team activities.
Deion Sanders also revealed his list of “conduct expectations and violations,” which could lead to fines.
- ON THE FIELD:
- Sportsmanship, teamwork, effort, and compliance with rules.
- OFF THE FIELD:
- Fines for Attendance Violations:
- Late to Practice: $500
- No Show to Practice: $2,500
- Late to Meeting or Film Session: $400
- No Show to Meeting or Film Session: $2,000
- Late to Strength & Conditioning Workout: $1,000
- No Show to Strength & Conditioning Workout: $1,500
- Late to Treatment: $1,000
- No Show to Treatment: $1,500
- Fines for Attendance Violations:
- OTHER VIOLATIONS:
- Violation of Team Rules: $1,000 – $2,500 (based on severity)
- Public or Social Media Misconduct: $2,000 – $5,000 (based on severity)
This is not the full list of rules and/or violations but this is the gist. Show up on time. Where what you are supposed to wear. Act how you are supposed to act. Or you will be fined.
Can college football players be docked NIL money?
We are in an era of college football where it is no longer an amateur sport. It is a professional sport without any regulation. There are not many guidelines in place and the the guidelines that do exist are not enforced. And if the guidelines are actually enforced, a local (potentially bias) court will just provide an injunction to bypass the guidelines.
With that being said, there was one very specific rule in place when NIL was first introduced.
Any money presented to a college athlete must not be attached to performance. An athlete cannot receive a bonus if he or she plays well. She or he cannot be docked money if they don’t perform.
That leaves this weird grey space with fines.
Is a violation of team rules considered performance? Is a fine considered a financial deterrent?
Penny Hardaway fixed one of his best player’s poor behavior with a series of fines. Deion Sanders is taking a similar approach, which applies to his entire roster. They know what they can and cannot do. They know they will be fined if they do not meet expectations.
Although that seems completely reasonable, it may or may not go against the rules as they are written.