NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The athletic director of a notable mid-sized school that has recently been making headlines has introduced a unique concept aimed at addressing the issues surrounding the current transfer portal system in college sports. Sean Frazier, who leads the athletics program at Northern Illinois University, believes in the necessity of a “talent acquisition fee” that could bring order to a system that many see as chaotic.
The proposed fee would require schools that recruit players from other institutions to pay a certain amount to the player’s former school, resembling the transfer fee system utilized in European soccer. Although this idea is still in its conceptual phase, Frazier believes it could enhance transparency and allow smaller programs to remain viable, given that over 11,000 football players across all divisions enter the transfer portal each year, often with their deals finalized on mobile phones at odd hours.
Frazier, in a conversation during the NCAA convention, emphasized the need for properly compensating students while also ensuring that institutions get something in return as they strive to keep their programs alive. “At the end of the day, the kid deserves the compensation and support,” he stated. “But the institution, to keep the cycle going, they deserve something as well. We’re not in the situation to continue to do that if we keep losing our best and brightest.”
Despite recent success, mid-sized schools such as NIU face ongoing challenges. Following their unexpected victory against Notre Dame, NIU announced plans to shift its football program from the Mid-American Conference to the Mountain West Conference starting in 2026. This new conference is more competitive and includes notable teams like Boise State, which has participated in the College Football Playoff this season. NIU, like other smaller institutions in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), is now at a crossroads as the House Settlement prepares to change college sports by allowing direct payments to players, along with altering roster sizes across sports.
These smaller schools will need to make pivotal decisions by March 1 regarding whether to join revenue-sharing agreements that would allow them to compensate players directly for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, or to maintain the existing model where these arrangements are managed by external collectives. Neither path avoids the harsh reality of modern college football; maintaining financial sustainability has become increasingly difficult, especially as larger programs continue to attract top talent from smaller schools.
Frazier cited the example of Skyler Gill-Howard, a 285-pound defensive tackle who began his college career as a walk-on, improved significantly during his time at NIU, and is now transferring to Texas Tech for his final year of eligibility. “He did a wonderful job. Our coaching staff did a great job developing him,” Frazier admitted. “The heartache of it is, he’s gone.” He believes that introducing a direct fee system could adequately recognize the development efforts of smaller programs, allowing for financial acknowledgment in player transfers.
That said, implementing a system like this would likely encounter several obstacles. First, while recent years have seen quicker advancements in college sports regulations, any significant changes traditionally take a considerable amount of time to materialize. Moreover, past rulings in the U.S. court system suggest a resistance to measures that might restrict players from monetizing their opportunities.
History shows that similar ideas have failed; during the 1970s, a law deemed the “Rozelle Rule” illegal, providing a precedent against the idea of paying fees for player transactions. While transfer fees in soccer have become an industry standard, the landscape continues to evolve, and recent legal challenges could impact established practices.
Experts in sports law have expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of Frazier’s proposal, stating, “There are lots of ideas out there, but that doesn’t mean they’ll go into effect.” As the landscape of college athletics continues to shift, leaders are scrambling for innovative solutions to restrain the ever-changing transfer portal.
As college football looks ahead, the arrival of the national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame highlighted the ongoing volatility in player movement. Numerous players have left their teams, often amid controversies, like UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka, who experienced unfulfilled NIL promises. Similarly, former Florida recruit Jaden Rashada took legal action against his former coach over an unfulfilled $13 million NIL deal.
Amidst these disputes, accusations of tampering have emerged, leaving programs powerless to retain players who leave unexpectedly. NCAA President Charlie Baker voiced concerns over the lack of accountability and transparency in the current system and remarked, “I can’t believe we live in a world where people are making decisions and issuing offers in text messages.”
Frazier recognizes the complexities of college athletics and does not regard his proposed “talent acquisition” fee as a definitive solution. However, he sees it as a starting point for discussion. He points to established professional leagues like the NFL and NBA that have set rules through collective bargaining and drafts, creating structured frameworks that currently do not exist in collegiate sports.
“This is one of the guardrails that could get us to the point of acknowledging that, yes, you still can buy your team, but it shouldn’t be the wild, wild west,” he concluded, indicating a need for more organization within the system.
