Sanders came with evidence to back up his claims as well, in the form of the 2024 College Football Playoffs. The brand-new 12-team format was packed with some of the most expensive rosters in all of college football, where Ohio State, which notoriously spent upwards of $20 million on its roster, ended up walking away with the national championship.

College sports has another before and after date. Before July 1, 2025 — this past Tuesday — athletes could make money off their names, images and likenesses (NIL) but not be paid directly by their schools. And after July 1, that changed, making college sports look and feel even more like the pros.