ESPN's Troy Aikman Slams NIL System After He Sent Money to UCLA Football Player Who Transferred After Just One Season: I'm Done With It'

"In his response, Aikman called the college football landscape the wild west in this new era of players being paid. He then shared his own experience with NIL funding: Where I'm at with it is I think there has gotta be some leadership at the very top that kinda cleans all of this up, and starting with players that accept money. There's gotta be some accountability and responsibility on their behalf to have to stick with a program."

"Where I'm at with it is I think there has gotta be some leadership at the very top that kinda cleans all of this up, and starting with players that accept money. There's gotta be some accountability and responsibility on their behalf to have to stick with a program. I gave money to a kid. I won't mention who. I've done it one time at UCLA. Never met the young man. He was there a year. He left after the year. I wrote a sizable check, and he went to another school. I didn't even get so much as a thank-you note. So, it's one of those deals to where I'm done with NIL. I mean, I wanna see UCLA be successful, but I'm done with it."

Aikman announced he will no longer participate in the NCAA NIL system after personally providing financial support to an athlete who transferred. He described the modern college football environment as a "wild west" era driven by player payments. Aikman recounted giving a sizable check to a UCLA player he never met; the player remained one year then transferred and did not send a thank-you. He called for top-level leadership, accountability, and responsibility for players who accept money to remain with their programs. Some observers connected his account to quarterback Dante Moore's transfer to Oregon. He said he still wants UCLA to succeed but is done with NIL.

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