they're trying to make a move while they are in a unique position to do so, given the landscape that NIL has created. There is a window now for programs/boosters that will shell out a ton of money to try to jumpstart their program in the new era of CFB. Some schools are trying to take advantage. It won't work out for everyone, but if you're a traditional mid-level player and it vaults you into the upper echelon, then it's a gamble that paid off.
I think we all know that this will continue to evolve until it is regulated (again) and the power tiers will reform into 90% of the way that we have known them for the last 60 years of CFB.
Now that Texas is in the SEC, the Texas schools are going to reignite their rivalry in a massive way. The dick measuring contest via NIL that plays out between those boosters will be insane. Then Saban and Kirby will point to whatever A&M and Texas are working with as the standard for what it will take moving forward to run a successful program. Then other schools will try to keep up with them, but it will prove unsustainable. Some rogue school(s) will flirt with Saudi money.
That will put a lot of pressure on the powers that be to reform the open market that NIL has become and put some regulations in place. Perhaps that manifests itself as revenue sharing with the players, that will then create a situation where everyone is carving up the turkey and has a seat at the table.
Teams like Alabama and Georgia will still have their under-the-table tactics, and recruiting/portal in CFB will go back to something similar to pre-NIL days.
