With the college football transfer portal getting set to re-open in just under a month, one college football coach took the time Monday night to make his thoughts known on the portal, NIL, and how both things affect his school.
Washington State Cougars head coach Jake Dickert explained how he thinks the Cougars may run into some issues once the portal opens, simply because they don’t have the NIL resources of some of the other teams in the Pac-12.
“In today’s world, you can no longer just say passion and spirit is going to get you by anymore. It’s just completely real that NIL matters,” Dickert said. “And the fact is, Washington State is way behind. Not even competitive in some aspects of the NIL.”
Dickert went on to explain that he knows they’re behind most Pac-12 schools in NIL because he hears it from recruits. “Recruiting, these kids tell you what they are getting. So, Oregon State probably has us by 10x. Arizona has us by 20x. USC, Washington, Oregon – who even knows, it’s a whole other planet. That’s part of what we need and what’s really important. In three weeks, it’s going to be open-target season on our players. That’s what it’s going to be, and it’s already started. Know that’s what’s coming.”
Washington State’s uncertain future also plays a part. The Cougars are one of two schools, along with Oregon State, that do not have a new conference yet following the dissolution of the Pac-12.
