Deion Sanders isn’t one to hold back, and he’s not now either — this time with a surprise pitch for reform. As debates rage over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules, lawsuits swirl, and the NCAA’s grip on college athletics continues to loosen, Sanders is calling for structure where there currently is none.
Deion Sanders Blasts NCAA: ‘Just Washed Their Hands’ — Calls for NIL Chaos Fix
Now entering his third season at Colorado, Sanders has a unique stake in the NIL landscape — not just as a head coach, but as a father. His son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, was one of the biggest names in college football and is widely projected to be a top pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders has seen firsthand how uneven the current NCAA system can be as his son navigated the high-stakes world of endorsements, national exposure, and on-field expectations.
“There’s a lot going on in college football, and the NCAA has just washed their hands and they walk away,” Sanders told USA TODAY’s Jarrett Bell. “As long as they collect those checks, they walk away instead of saying, ‘OK, we’ve got to do something about this.’ Because if you don’t, it’s going to keep spiraling.”
Sanders’ comments come as a federal judge weighs final approval of a $2.8 billion settlement from a class-action lawsuit that could reshape athlete compensation. Under the terms, schools would be allowed to pay athletes directly — up to $20.5 million per year. On the surface, that sounds like progress. But for Sanders, it doesn’t fix the core issue: Third-party NIL deals remain unchecked.
“There should be some kind of cap,” Sanders said. “Our game should emulate the NFL game in every aspect. Rules. Regulations. Whatever the NFL rules, the college rules should be the same. There should be a cap, and every team gets this, and you should be able to spend that.”
In other words, he’s calling for a salary cap similar to the one used in the NFL — a structure that would provide clearer limits and a more level playing field. Sanders even acknowledged that different programs could have adjusted caps based on conference and revenue level, but the principle remains the same: College football needs guardrails.
That perspective comes with extra weight considering Shedeur’s rise. As one of the highest-profile players in the nation and a soon-to-be NFL quarterback, his NIL value soared. But Deion argues that while players like Shedeur thrived, most programs can’t compete with the spending power of top-tier schools.