Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron made a rather stunning claim about the state of the school’s NIL collective.
McCarron claimed in an appearance on the McCready and Siskey podcast Monday that the Crimson Tide are still far behind their rivals when it comes to the funds available in their Name, Image and Likeness collective. That, he argued, is a major factor in the decline of the program’s on-field fortunes over the last year or so.
“Another thing that hurts Alabama right now is you look at these other teams that have $40-50 million in NIL,” McCarron said, via Mike Rodak of Bama247. “Alabama — and I know this for a fact talking to multiple people inside the program — Alabama has got less than $20 million in their NIL.”
McCarron suggested that Alabama has traditionally held an advantage in recruiting because of a near-guarantee of on-field success. With winning less certain, the gulf in NIL money becomes a bigger issue.
“If you start losing, all of that goes away,” McCarron added. “And now you can’t pay guys what other schools are dishing out? Now it hurts you even more. I don’t care who you have as a coach — whether Coach Saban, Coach DeBoer, it doesn’t matter.”
There have been hints that Alabama’s NIL situation is not very good. During the offseason, coach Kalen DeBoer complained about a financial disadvantage, but most people were not feeling sorry for him. The years of success under Nick Saban ensure that many are glad to see Alabama fall from the top of the sport, as was the response when they lost their season opener to Florida State on Saturday.
Previously, McCarron has suggested there are other issues with the players suiting up for Alabama these days. However, if his figures are correct, the Crimson Tide are facing a major disadvantage in recruiting that they will need to address in order to get back to college football’s summit.
