The Ohio State Buckeyes, fresh off their College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Notre Dame, are facing a new challenge—keeping their roster intact. While their success cements them as a powerhouse, it also makes their players prime targets in the evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith reportedly received a staggering $4.5 million NIL offer to leave Ohio State via the transfer portal, according to On3’s Peter Nakos. Similarly, sophomore wideout Carnell Tate turned down an offer exceeding $1 million to stay in Columbus. This trend highlights an increasingly common issue in college football: tampering.
Head coach Ryan Day, during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, didn’t mince words about the challenges NIL tampering presents. “One of the biggest issues across college football right now is enforcement,” Day stated. “People can approach an agent or even a player’s parents with offers, and it spirals from there. Until stricter enforcement is in place, this will continue to be a problem.”
Ohio State’s own NIL strategy has drawn scrutiny, with reports revealing they invested $20 million to construct their 2024 roster. While Day acknowledges the potential for teams, including his own, to recruit talent aggressively, he expressed uncertainty about the boundaries of NIL compliance. “We’re all seeking clarity,” he said. “If the playing field is even, we can compete for top talent, but right now, it’s different. We need more defined guidelines.”
As college football adapts to the NIL era, the Buckeyes’ championship status underscores both the opportunities and vulnerabilities of this new landscape. With tampering becoming the norm, the call for greater accountability and clearer regulations has never been louder.
