Wolverine Digest

On3: Michigan now among college football's biggest NIL spenders

The Michigan Wolverines have now become one of the top NIL spenders in all of college football.
Chris Breiler|
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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It wasn't all that long ago that Michigan was widely viewed as an underachiever in the world of NIL. Despite having no shortage of wealthy donors and institutional resources, many believed Michigan was a sleeping giant -- held back only by the decision-makers in Ann Arbor. But those days are now firmly in the past.

RELATED: Michigan Football: Sherrone Moore says incoming transfer could be Big Ten's best

Today, Michigan has emerged as one of the major players in the NIL landscape, offering resources that few programs in the country can compete with. This shift in mindset and a more aggressive approach to NIL have resulted in back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes for head coach Sherrone Moore. The most high-profile victory came when Michigan flipped five-star QB Bryce Underwood from LSU, reportedly offering an NIL package worth over $10 million to secure his commitment.

While Underwood's deal grabbed headlines, Michigan is also closing significant NIL deals with other elite prospects as well.

On Tuesday, On3 released its rankings of the top NIL spenders in college football -- and Michigan landed firmly in the Top 10.

Here's what On3 had to say about Michigan's place on the list:

Michigan’s highest-paid player on this year’s roster is well documented. The Wolverines flipped On3’s No. 1 overall recruit from LSU in November. The quarterback inked a multi-year deal that is expected to pay out over $12 million in his career at Michigan. The Wolverines are another program that is expected to cross the $20 million threshold in 2025.

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.

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