USC fans shouldn't worry about NIL money when Trojans move to Big Ten
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How will the NIL landscape change when USC football moves to the Big Ten Conference? It’s an interesting question. Beyond that, it seems like the kind of question which is freighted with importance and urgency. After all, USC will become a direct conference competitor for Ohio State and Michigan. It would seem that having a strong NIL plan and infrastructure will matter quite a lot when the Trojans compete with the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
Yet, USC football fans really shouldn’t be that worried about NIL in particular. NIL will take care of itself as long as one other part of USC football does the job in 2023.
That part: the defense.
When you look around and see how USC’s roster is constructed, and when you see how easily Lincoln Riley gets prime offensive talent from the recruiting trail and the transfer portal, it should become apparent that NIL is not preventing the Trojans from getting the offensive players they want.
Star quarterbacks, stud running backs, and elite wide receivers all want to play for Lincoln Riley, because he is the best at teaching offense and putting players in position to succeed in college football. It’s not hard to grasp.
Alex Grinch, on the other hand, is not a coach the very best defensive players in college football will flock to. He is not magnet for the very best pass rushers and defensive backs. They all want to see proof of concept first. Then they’ll come. If the defense sorts itself out, the NIL angle will resolve itself.
We talked about this with Mark Rogers at The Voice of College Football:
Oregon coach Dana Altman vents frustrations after Ducks' season ends
Reese Dixon-Waters, Malik Thomas enter transfer portal
Intrigue builds for five-star TE Duce Robinson; decision is coming closer
Maryland native and four-star safety has USC on his list of schools
