JP Acosta

With playoffs kicking off Friday, it's a bigger than usual week for college football, but it's also been a huge year. College athletes have been getting paid. Arch Manning, 3.1 mil, I believe.

With playoffs kicking off Friday, it's a bigger than usual week for college football, but it's also been a huge year. College athletes have been getting paid. Arch Manning, 3.1 mil, I believe.

With playoffs kicking off Friday, it's a bigger than usual week for college football, but it's also been a huge year. College athletes have been getting paid. Arch Manning, 3.1 mil, I believe.

About a $2 million deal with Adidas. The biggest deal of the year was a whopping $10 million reportedly paid out to quarterback Bryce Underwood to change his commitment from LSU to Michigan. But what's kind of weird about these deals is that the schools aren't necessarily the ones paying out.

About a $2 million deal with Adidas. The biggest deal of the year was a whopping $10 million reportedly paid out to quarterback Bryce Underwood to change his commitment from LSU to Michigan. But what's kind of weird about these deals is that the schools aren't necessarily the ones paying out.

About a $2 million deal with Adidas. The biggest deal of the year was a whopping $10 million reportedly paid out to quarterback Bryce Underwood to change his commitment from LSU to Michigan. But what's kind of weird about these deals is that the schools aren't necessarily the ones paying out.

Bryce's millions apparently came at least partly from the tech billionaire Larry Ellison, all because his fifth wife went to the University of Michigan We're going to figure out what's going on in college sports on Today Explained.

Bryce's millions apparently came at least partly from the tech billionaire Larry Ellison, all because his fifth wife went to the University of Michigan We're going to figure out what's going on in college sports on Today Explained.

Bryce's millions apparently came at least partly from the tech billionaire Larry Ellison, all because his fifth wife went to the University of Michigan We're going to figure out what's going on in college sports on Today Explained.

This special series from The Verge is presented by Adobe Express.

This special series from The Verge is presented by Adobe Express.

This special series from The Verge is presented by Adobe Express.

College athletes are getting paid, at least some of them. At least some of them are getting huge paydays, but the money isn't coming directly from their schools. It's a kind of confusing situation, and it all boils down to something called name, image, and likeness, or NIL.

College athletes are getting paid, at least some of them. At least some of them are getting huge paydays, but the money isn't coming directly from their schools. It's a kind of confusing situation, and it all boils down to something called name, image, and likeness, or NIL.

College athletes are getting paid, at least some of them. At least some of them are getting huge paydays, but the money isn't coming directly from their schools. It's a kind of confusing situation, and it all boils down to something called name, image, and likeness, or NIL.

It is a way for college football and college student athletes to make money off of their name, their image, or their likeness. An example of that would be the new video game that came out, EA College Football 25. Every player that was in that game that is currently an athlete in college football got $600 because their name, image, and likeness was used in the game.

It is a way for college football and college student athletes to make money off of their name, their image, or their likeness. An example of that would be the new video game that came out, EA College Football 25. Every player that was in that game that is currently an athlete in college football got $600 because their name, image, and likeness was used in the game.

It is a way for college football and college student athletes to make money off of their name, their image, or their likeness. An example of that would be the new video game that came out, EA College Football 25. Every player that was in that game that is currently an athlete in college football got $600 because their name, image, and likeness was used in the game.

But some athletes, the really good ones, are able to make way more money because of slush funds that college athletic programs have at their disposal. We reached out to JP Acosta from SB Nation to help us understand, and we started with the NCAA.

But some athletes, the really good ones, are able to make way more money because of slush funds that college athletic programs have at their disposal. We reached out to JP Acosta from SB Nation to help us understand, and we started with the NCAA.