• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Plenty of coaches are frustrated with the beginning of the revenue-sharing era in college sports. Colorado’s Deion Sanders is calling for a hard football salary cap.

Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

There is “a lot of bulljunk going on” in college football, according to Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who criticized the state of the sport at Big 12 media days as the revenue-sharing era has gotten off to a chaotic start.

“Quite frankly, we’re sick of it,” Sanders said Wednesday. “Nobody’s saying it. I’ll say it for everybody.”

What’s the solution? Coach Prime thinks it’s a hard, pro-style salary cap. 

“I wish there was a cap,” he said. “Like, the top-of-the-line player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you’re not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does. So the problem is, you got a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him a half-million dollars and you can’t compete with that. And it don’t make sense.”

Division I athletic departments are allowed to share up to $20.5 million with their college athletes this coming academic year. Most Power 4 schools are expected to allocate 75% of that (roughly $15.38 million) to their football programs. But there are no rules against a school giving 100% of its revenue-sharing money to football players—and more importantly there is no cap on the NIL (name, image, and likeness) money players can receive, although the newly formed College Sports Commission is trying to curb pay-for-play deals that aren’t considered market value.

Sanders lamented schools and agents “doing stuff under the table,” despite the new changes to college sports. “I wish it was truly equality,” he said.

Gundy: Earn It First

Sanders isn’t alone in his desire for a true college football salary cap. 

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy wants a system akin to the NFL’s rookie wage scale, which limits contract amounts for first-year players. 

“We really need to get some guardrails to eliminate the things that are going on from the tampering standpoint, and players that are coming out of high school that are getting way too much money before they’ve ever made a play on game day,” Gundy said. “That’s how I feel personally about it. I’m O.K. with paying the players that are producing. And that’s the NFL model that I believe that some of what we pattern ourselves out of needs to be that.”

Last week, Texas Tech agreed to give 2026 five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo what his agent said is a three-year, $5.1 million revenue-sharing contract.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.

SEC Adopts 9-Game Conference Schedule As CFP Changes Loom

The conference matches schedule formats used by the Big Ten and Big 12.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they totaling more than $12 million in sales.
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
August 18, 2025

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”
August 17, 2025

‘Labubu Gang’: The Creepy-Cute Dolls Sweeping Pro Sports

The creepy-cute doll is the hottest collectible—and fashion statement.
Middle Tennessee wide receiver Cam'ron Lacy (86) catches a pass and carries the ball during the season final home football game against New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
August 15, 2025

How Middle Tennessee State Added $668,000 to Its NIL Budget

The Blue Raiders are creating a new blueprint for cutting costs.
McDonald's All-American

NCAA Considers Making High School Athletes Register NIL Deals

The rule would likely be tested in court if adopted.
Justin Harrington (4) runs drills during an OU football practice in Norman, Okla., on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.
August 21, 2025

Federal Courts Lean Toward Striking NCAA JUCO Eligibility Restrictions

A federal judge granted four West Virginia football players eligibility this year.
Pat Fitzgerald
August 21, 2025

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Settle Lawsuit Over Firing

Fitzgerald has insisted he had no knowledge of hazing on the team.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
Julian Edelman
August 19, 2025

Julian Edelman: ‘Outrageous’ NIL Makes Colleges ‘Look Like an NFL Parking Lot’

The Patriots legend called the current state of college football the “Wild West.”
August 19, 2025

Virginia Tech’s Perceived $56M Budget Gap Shows New Challenges

Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock wants a $200 million budget.
August 19, 2025

Texas AD Del Conte Signs $38M Deal, but Still Not Highest-Paid AD

Del Conte could receive another raise before the new expiration date.
Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Woodi Washington (5) runs after a reception during the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
August 19, 2025

Oklahoma Selling Fans Tickets to Press Conferences

Press conference tickets for the Sooners’ season opener are already sold out.