The Name, Image and Likeness era in college football has become one of the biggest moments in sports with the collegiate game now becoming closer to semi-professional football. With the implementation of NIL deals came multimillion-dollar verbal agreements with the highest-paid college football players. Now, we’re looking at the college football players with the biggest NIL valuations right now.
Based on On3.com NIL valuations, here are the 10 highest-paid college football players in 2025.
10. John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma Sooners – $3 million
After going 6-7 in 2024, the Oklahoma Sooners threw everything they had at upgrading the offense heading into the 2025 college football season. They poached offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, giving him a hefty raise. Oklahoma also brought in John Mateer, Arbuckle’s standout quarterback with the Cougars, to Norman. Mateer has already delivered, leading the Sooners to a win over the Michigan Wolverines. While landing the Heisman Trophy candidate came at a hefty cost, it might end up saving head coach Brent Venables’ job.
9. Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan Wolverines – $3 million
The Michigan Wolverines went all-in on quarterback Bryce Underwood, paying top dollar to land the 247 Sports’ No. 1 overall recruit. Underwood, a Michigan native, was brought in with the financial backing of billionaire owner Larry Ellison as the centerpiece of the program’s 2025 recruiting class. Ahead of the season, Underwood was named the Wolverines’ starting quarterback for 2025. In Week 1, at 18 years and 11 days old, Underwood became the youngest starting quarterback in Michigan history.
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8. Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson Tigers – $3.1 million
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik came to Dabo Swinney’s program as a five-star recruit, rated as the second-best quarterback prospect in 2022. The 6-foot-2 passer became the full-time starter in 2023 and his play significantly improved in 2024. In 2024, Klubnik recorded the 12th-highest ESPN QBR (78.7), Klubnik is on pace to become just the fourth player in Tigers’ history to reach 10,000 passing yards. The senior quarterback’s NIL deal was backed by Clemson’s NIL collective, the 110 Society.
7. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State Nittany Lions – $3.2 million
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar decided to forego the 2025 NFL Draft and return for his senior season. Allar came out of high school rated by On3.com as the third-beest quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class and he’s progressively improved as a two-year starter. Heading into his senior season, Allar has the sixth-most passing yards (6,302) and the third-most passing touchdowns (53) in Penn State history. Allar’s NIL deal was heavily backed by the Nittany Lions’ Happy Valley United NIL collective.
6. DJ Lagway, QB, Florida Gators – $3.4 million
Florida Gators, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, turned a promising freshman season into one of the largest NIL valuations in college football. As a true freshman, the 6-foot-3 quarterback posted a 154.9 QB rating with nearly 2,000 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, including a 4-0 record in his final four games as the Gators’ starting quarterback. Lagway has also donated a massive portion of his NIL deal, making a six-figure donation to support the women’s athletics programs at the University of Florida.
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5. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina Gamecocks – $3.8 million
A 247 Sports three-star recruit in 2023, rated as the 34th-best quarterback in the country, LaNorris Sellers turned a breakout season into becoming one of the highest-paid players in college football. The South Carolina native earned SEC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American team honors in 2024 after accounting for 25 total touchdowns with 2,534 passing yards and 674 rushing yards as a 19-year-old starter. Heading into his sophomore season, another step forward from Sellers would give him a chance to have the largest NIL deal in the SEC in 2026. Sellers received a new NIL deal in 2025, with backing from South Carolina’s GarnerTrust.
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4. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU Tigers – $4 million
LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeir became one of the highest paid college football players in 2025. Once rated by On3.com as the 11th-best quarterback in 2021, Nussmeier barely saw the field until 2024. In his first full season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, the Louisiana native accounted for 32 total touchdowns with over 4,000 passing yards. Nussmeier is the third-highest paid player in the SEC with the third-biggest NIL valuation at quarterback. LSU’s NIL funding for Nussmeier largely came from the Bayou Tradition Collective, which covers all Tigers’ athletics.
Related: LSU Game Today, LSU Tigers football schedule
3. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes – $4.2 million
Ohio State Buckeyes‘ star Jeremiah Smith is the only non-quarterback among the highest-paid college football players in 2025. Rated by On3.com as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, Smith had one of the best seasons ever by a freshman this past year with the Buckeyes. He is already viewed as a future NFL star who could’ve been a top-five pick if he had been eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. As a freshman, he earned first-team All-American honors and won a national championship. Smith turned down lucrative NIL deals this offseason to remain with the Buckeyes. That’s in part thanks to Ohio State’s NIL collective, The Foundation. For comparison, the second-highest NIL valuation among wide receivers (Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams) is $1.6 million less than Smith’s NIL valuation.
Related: Ohio State Game Today, Buckeyes Football Schedule 2025
2. Carson Beck, QB, Miami Hurricanes – $4.7 million
After a successful stint as the Georgia Bulldogs starting quarterback, quarterback Carson Beck transferred to the University of Miami this offseason. The 22-year-old reportedly received a $4 million deal to become the Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback and his NIL valuation has increased since. Since transferring to Miami, Beck had his Mercedes and Lamborghini stolen. It’s estimated that Beck has earned close to $10 million in career NIL earnings as of 2025.
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1. Arch Manning, QB, Texas Longhorns – $6.3 million
The nephew of legendary NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has the highest NIL valuation in college sports right now. It’s a title Manning has held for two years, even when he was the backup to Quinn Ewers in 2024. Manning, who is widely expected to remain the Longhorns’ starting quarterback through the 2026 season, has NIL sponsorships with Panini America, Red Bull, Uber, Warby Parker, EA Sports and Raising Cane’s.
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