The wait is over. After years of chaos, lawsuits, and uneven spending fields, college football finally has a framework for Name, Image, and Likeness. With the finalization of the House v. NCAA antitrust settlement, NIL is no longer the wild west. It is not perfect, and it is not without flaws, but for the first time, it’s at least semi-regulated. And for Nebraska, this could be the helping hand the program has been waiting for.
The ruling allows schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes, marking the official end of the traditional concept of amateurism. Starting in the 2025–26 academic year, each school can pay up to $20.5 million annually to its athletes, with that cap expected to rise in the coming years. For many programs, that number is a dream. For others, including Nebraska, it is very real and very reachable.
According to 2025 NIL collective estimates, Nebraska ranks number 6 nationally in NIL spend, ahead of Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and Michigan. The estimated top 20 this season reads like a who’s who of college football royalty:
- Texas 11. Kentucky
2. Ohio State 12. Oregon
3. Texas A&M 13. Florida State
4. Tennessee 14. Iowa
5. Auburn 15. South Carolina
6. Nebraska 16. Louisville
7. Georgia 17. Washington
8. Alabama 18. Illinois
9. LSU 19. Michigan
10. Arkansas 20. Penn State
This new NIL cap will not level the field. It will divide it. The schools that can consistently raise this money will separate themselves further from those that cannot. We will still see underdogs rise and Cinderella runs every season, but a true Tier 1 is emerging, and Nebraska is in it.
The ruling also introduces roster caps, limiting how many scholarship athletes each program can carry. This is intended to prevent stockpiling talent simply through financial power. Current players are exempt for now, but over time this rule will force programs to be strategic with both recruiting and retention. In that environment, coaching and development will matter more than ever.
That is exactly where Matt Rhule shines. His reputation is built on turning around programs, developing players, and building cultures that last. He did it at Temple. He did it at Baylor. And now, with NIL funding in place and a level playing field in sight, he has the tools to do it at Nebraska.
This ruling gives Nebraska something it has not had in years and thats clarity and opportunity. The funding is there. The infrastructure is there. And most importantly, the coach is there. Now it is no longer about surviving in the shadows of bigger budgets or being punished for trying to compete. It is about doing what Rhule and Company do best, developing talent, building toughness, and winning football games.
Alongside the revenue cap, the ruling also mandates that any NIL deal over $600 must pass through a clearinghouse called NIL Go, operated by Deloitte. This will bring much needed transparency and accountability to the system. While no one loves more government oversight, the absence of rules had already created too many problems. NIL Go may be a bureaucratic addition, but it brings consistency to a chaotic process.
College football has officially entered a new chapter. The rules are starting to take shape. The lines are being drawn. And for Nebraska, this could be the moment the program reclaims its place among the winningest programs in the Country.
