College football players' earnings vary widely, primarily due to name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and now direct revenue sharing from their universities. In 2025, the highest-paid college football players can earn NIL valuations in the multi-million dollar range, with stars like Arch Manning at Texas valued at around $6.6 to $7.1 million annually from NIL deals alone. On the other hand, many players earn significantly less or nothing from NIL deals. Besides NIL, starting this season universities can set aside up to about $20 million per school per year to share revenue directly with athletes. The total collective earnings of college football players in 2025 from NIL and revenue sharing are projected to reach approximately $1.9 billion. Top quarterbacks and highly marketable players may make hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, while players in less prominent roles or smaller schools typically earn more modest sums. Many college football players still receive only stipends or scholarships worth around $15,000 to $20,000 per year without additional NIL income.
Summary of Earnings in 2025
- Top elite athletes: $4 million to $7 million+ annual NIL valuations (e.g., Arch Manning $6.6–7.1 million)
- Mid-tier top athletes: $2.8 million to $4.3 million NIL valuations
- Average NIL top players (quarterbacks, prominent roles): $300,000 to $800,000 per year
- Many players: No NIL deals; rely on scholarships and stipends ($15,000-$20,000)
- Total market size for college football NIL and revenue sharing in 2025: ~$1.9 billion collectively
This marks a significant shift, as before 2021, college players were not allowed to profit from their name or likeness, and direct payments from schools only became allowable as of 2025. Earnings are highly variable depending on the athlete's visibility, position, and marketability.
