I get it if fans hate the NIL, but a clarification of the facts.
1. $13 million wasn’t spent on attracting transfers. The number comes from last year when Day said given today’s market value, it would take OSU $13 million to retain the current roster.
2. No University including OSU spends a single cent for NIL. That comes from outside sources, usually collectives that garnish contributions.
3. NIL isn’t a result of programs wanting to pay players, it came from a law suit that said it was illegal to keep individuals from making money from their name, image, and likeness.
4. OSU didn’t buy a team. They’ve taken 6 transfers this season. One is a TE transferring from Ohio University, so a kid just looking to play at a bigger school. Three transferred out because Saban retired, and two of them-Downs and Sayin had OSU as one of their final choices when recruited. Caleb Downs was actually Crystal balled to OSU until the final days. Sayin, the 5-star QB from Alabama who had OSU in his final list and was recruited by Bill O’Brien at Alabama who is now the OSU OC, actually approached OSU. Day actually initially hesitated because they already have a 5-Star coming in the same recruiting class. In the end they took Sayin because he was their top target last season.
5. They got Howard the KSU QB because McCord, OSU’s last season’s starting QB transferred out. They wanted a replacement and Howard was already on the transfer portal.
Make no mistake, the NIL helped, but wasn’t the sole reason they attracted the Transfers.