College football 2026: How much does a Power 4 starter earn?
We talked to general managers, staffers and agents from around the nation to put a price on each position.
The world of college football is a far cry from the squash courts we're used to, but it's hard to ignore the massive amounts of money flowing into the sport. As we've seen in recent years, college football has become a multi-billion dollar industry, with top programs generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from TV deals, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. The question on everyone's mind is: how much do the players themselves earn?
According to sources, the salary for a Power 4 starter varies greatly depending on position, with top players at premium positions like quarterback and defensive end earning significantly more than those at less valuable positions. While these figures are likely to be eye-popping for fans of squash and other sports, it's worth noting that college football players are not technically employees and therefore don't earn a traditional salary. Instead, they receive a host of benefits, including scholarships, training tables, and now, increasingly, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.
As the college football landscape continues to evolve, it'll be interesting to see how player compensation changes. With the introduction of NIL deals and the growing influence of collectives and boosters, the lines between amateur and professional sports are becoming increasingly blurred. For squash fans, it's worth keeping an eye on how these developments impact the sport as a whole, particularly when it comes to issues like athlete welfare and competitive balance. What's next? The upcoming season will provide a fascinating case study in how these new compensation models play out on the field.
Originally reported by espn.com. SquashNews adds analysis for sports & fitness readers.