Highest-Paid College Football Players 2026: 10 Top NIL Valuations in CFB Right Now

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Who is the highest-paid player in college football? The introduction of NIL compensation has opened the door for student-athletes in major collegiate sports to now be compensated for what they’re doing on the field. While not much is known about exactly how much players are making and where the money is coming from, NIL valuations shed some light on the matter.

Based on NIL valuations by On3.com, here are the highest-paid college football players in 2026.

1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami Hurricanes: $6.5 Million NIL Valuation

It is fitting that in this modern era of college sports, Darian Mensah has the highest NIL valuation in college football. After two seasons at Tulane, he transferred to the Duke Blue Devils last season and earned second-team All-ACC honors thanks to a 34-6 TD-INT ratio with nearly 4,000 passing yards and a 66.8 percent completion rate. Duke thought it had its face of the program and leader of the offense for 2026. Suddenly, Mensah entered the college football transfer portal on Jan. 16 with a do-not-contact tag and left for the Miami Hurricanes. Duke filed a restraining order to try and block it, resulting in a settlement between the quarterback and his former program. Set to replace Carson Beck as the Hurricanes’ starting quarterback, Mensah will be under a far bigger spotlight with more public scrutiny and pressure than he ever experienced at Duke. Mensah has a $6.5 million NIL valuation from On3.com, but it has been reported that Miami spent between $8 to $10 million to land him.

2. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon Ducks: $5 Million NIL Valuation

Dante Moore could be making more money right now had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft, but that would’ve also meant playing for the New York Jets and ending his collegiate career with a three-turnover game in the CFP Semifinal. Instead, he returned to the Oregon Ducks for a shot at taking the program to the CFP National Championship Game and NIL earnings, including from Nike, that are reported to be in the ballpark of $5 million. The total aligns perfectly with his NIL valuation done by On3.

Read More: Highest-Paid College Football Coaches 2026

3. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss Rebels: $5 Million NIL Valuation

A life can change quickly in a single year. Trinidad Chambliss won two Division II national championships with Ferris State and it landed him a spot with the Ole Miss Rebels, but he had to open the 2025 season as the backup quarterback. He took the starting job by midseason and earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors after putting up 30 total touchdowns with over 4,000 total yards of offense while pushing the Rebels on a College Football Playoff run with Lane Kiffin off at LSU. Chambliss’ breakout year would have been enough to make him a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but Judge Robert Whitwell ruled in his favor for a sixth year of collegiate eligibility and then Ole Miss got the ruling it needed from the Mississippi Supreme Court in March. That allowed Chambliss to cash in, with Chambliss’ reported NIL earnings ($6 million) well exceeding his NIL valuation.

4. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes: $5 Million NIL Valuation

How good is Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith? Put aside the fact that the All-American offensive weapon has been viewed as the most talented prospect eligible for the 2027 NFL draft class for the last two years. The standout wide receiver admitted an undisclosed program offered him over $10 million to enter the college football transfer portal and leave Ohio State. Instead, he remained loyal to the Buckeyes, and his $5 million NIL valuation is tied for the second-highest in college football right now, speaking volumes about a wide receiver earning as much as Heisman-caliber quarterbacks do.

5. Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU Tigers: $4.5 Million NIL Valuation

At the end of the 2025 season, there was immediate smoke that Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt would leave the team via the transfer portal. Unsurprisingly, Lane Kiffin made sure LSU wouldn’t lose the bidding war for the star quarterback’s services. Leavitt carries a $4.5 million NIL valuation, but thanks to a late push from the Tennessee Volunteers, the actual closing cost for the Tigers to pull in 2024 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year is closer to $6 million. Of note, LSU is the only program with two representatives among the highest-paid college football players in 2026 on NIL valuations.

6. Demond Williams Jr, QB, Washington Huskies: $4 Million NIL Valuation

No situation was weirder this offseason than what happened with the Washington Huskies and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. After a breakout season in 2025, the 20-year-old passer intended to enter the transfer portal in January. Washington and the Big Ten Conference squashed that, as Williams had reportedly just agreed to an NIL contract in the mid-$4 million range to stay with the team. That contract was effectively enforced, resulting in Williams recommitting to being Washington’s QB1 this fall.

7. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU Tigers: $4 Million NIL Valuation

Left tackles are among the highest-paid players in the National Football League for a reason and the NIL era demonstrates the position is valued similarly at the college level. LSU made protecting Leavitt a priority, poaching offensive tackle Jordan Seaton from the Colorado Buffaloes. Seaton, who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors this past season, is by far the highest-paid offensive lineman in college football this season thanks to LSU putting together a package of NIL enorsements that are reportedly worth around $4 million for the season.

8. Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana Hoosiers: $4 Million NIL Valuation

After the success the Indiana Hoosiers had with Fernando Mendoza, committing to Curt Cignetti’s program had to be easy for Josh Hoover. Viewed by some as the top signal-caller available in the transfer portal this offseason, Hoover is coming off a junior campaign at TCU with 31 total touchdowns, a 66 percent completion rate and almost 3,500 passing yards. Hoover’s NIL valuation is significant, but the Hoosiers also backed him up by pouring money into a strong supporting cast that includes receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. We’re pretty confident the reward will justify the price.

9. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State Cowboys: $3.5 Million NIL Valuation

It may come as a surprise to see an Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback among the highest NIL valuations in college football. Let it tell you how this program is shifting its commitment to turning things around under head coach Eric Morris. Mestemaker led the NCAA in passing yards last season in Morris’ system at North Texas and the coach-quarterback duo should excel this year airing things out with the Cowboys. Reports have the deal at $7.5 million over two years, right in line with On3’s NIL valuation.

10. Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan Wolverines: $3 Million NIL Valuation

It is fair to wonder if the Michigan Wolverines might be living with some buyer’s remorse with Bryce Underwood. The program poached him from a commitment to LSU thanks to an NIL deal that was reported to be around $10-plus million over four years. As a true freshman, Underwood completed just 60.3 percent of his passes with an 11-9 TD-INT ratio and 20 sacks taken for a 9-4 team that largely won despite him. There is hope in Ann Arbor that the arrival of head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck can deliver a second-year breakout for Underwood. With that said, he has by far the highest probability of anyone on this list of being benched during the season.

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