Since taking over as Alabama’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer has faced the monumental task of sustaining the Crimson Tide’s dominance in the ever-evolving college football landscape. With the introduction of NIL deals and the transfer portal creating a more unpredictable environment, DeBoer believes that revenue sharing could be the key to ensuring Alabama remains on a “balanced playing field” with other top programs.
The Changing Landscape of College Football
The days when powerhouse programs could rely solely on tradition, coaching excellence, and recruiting prowess to maintain their dominance are fading. With players now able to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness (NIL), and schools indirectly benefiting from deep-pocketed boosters and collectives, financial incentives have become a crucial factor in recruiting and roster retention.
For DeBoer, who took the reins from the legendary Nick Saban, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities. While Alabama still boasts one of the most attractive brands in college football, other programs with well-structured NIL collectives have been able to outbid the Tide for top talent.
“We know what Alabama stands for, and we know the type of talent we can develop here,” DeBoer said recently. “But in today’s world, competitive balance isn’t just about coaching and facilities—it’s about how schools are navigating the financial side of things for their athletes.”
How Revenue Sharing Can Help Alabama
Revenue sharing, the idea that schools would allocate a portion of their athletic revenue directly to players, has been gaining traction as a potential solution to the growing disparity in college football. While NIL deals currently rely on external boosters, businesses, and collectives, a formalized revenue-sharing model would allow schools to directly compensate players in a regulated manner.
DeBoer sees this as a way for Alabama to maintain a level playing field against schools that are using NIL funds more aggressively.
“If there’s a structure in place where every player knows what they’re getting and it’s fair across the board, then it removes some of the unpredictability that we’re seeing with NIL,” he explained. “It allows us to focus on football, development, and keeping our roster intact.”
While Alabama has been able to retain much of its talent, the transfer portal and NIL-driven decisions have caused roster shake-ups nationwide. Schools with less tradition but stronger NIL backing have successfully poached players from top programs, a reality that DeBoer believes could be mitigated with a more structured compensation model.
The Bigger Picture: Will the NCAA Embrace Revenue Sharing?
The NCAA and major conferences are already in discussions about potential revenue-sharing models, but significant legal and logistical hurdles remain. Schools generate billions in revenue from television contracts, ticket sales, and merchandise, but redistributing those funds to athletes requires a complete restructuring of the amateurism model that has governed college sports for decades.
For Alabama, which has one of the most profitable football programs in the country, a well-executed revenue-sharing system could actually be an advantage. The school already generates substantial revenue from football operations, and if a structured system levels the playing field in recruiting and retention, the Tide’s superior infrastructure and coaching would still make it a prime destination.
As DeBoer continues to navigate his first year in Tuscaloosa, his comments reflect a broader reality in college football: the game is changing, and programs that fail to adapt risk falling behind. While Alabama is unlikely to be left in the dust anytime soon, embracing revenue sharing could be a crucial step in maintaining the dynasty that Nick Saban built.
One thing is certain—college football’s financial arms race is just beginning, and Alabama intends to remain at the forefront.