By Dr. Glenn Mollette
The top 25 highest-paid college athletes by NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) valuation for the 2025-26 season include Arch Manning with a leading valuation of $6.8 million, and Fernando Mendoza, who ranks within the top 25 with a valuation of approximately $2.6 million to $2.2 million, depending on the source.
Top 25 Highest Paid College Athletes (2025-26 NIL Valuations)
The following table lists the top 25 athletes based on recent NIL valuations:
Rank
Athlete
School
Sport/Position
Estimated NIL Valuation
1
Arch Manning
Texas
Football – Quarterback
$5.3M – $6.8M
2
Carson Beck
Miami (FL)
Football – Quarterback
$4.3M – $4.9M
3
Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State
Football – Wide Receiver
$4.2M
4
AJ Dybantsa
BYU
Basketball – Forward
$4.1M
5
Garrett Nussmeier
LSU
Football – Quarterback
$3.7M – $3.8M
6
LaNorris Sellers
South Carolina
Football – Quarterback
$3.7M
7
DJ Lagway
Florida
Football – Quarterback
$3.7M
8
Darian Mensah
Duke
Football – Quarterback
$3.3M
9
Bryce Underwood
Michigan
Football – Quarterback
$3.0M
10
JT Toppin
Texas Tech
Basketball – Forward
$2.8M
11
John Mateer
Oklahoma
Football – Quarterback
$2.6M – $2.7M
12
Ryan Williams
Alabama
Football – Wide Receiver
$2.6M – $2.7M
13
Josh Hoover
TCU
Football – Quarterback
$2.4M – $2.5M
14
Jayden Maiava
USC
Football – Quarterback
$2.4M
15
Caleb Downs
Ohio State
Football – Safety
$2.4M
16
Ty Simpson
Alabama
Football – Quarterback
$2.3M
17
Yaxel Lendeborg
Michigan
Basketball – Forward
$2.3M
18
Cade Klubnik
Clemson
Football – Quarterback
$2.2M – $3.4M
19
Fernando Mendoza
Indiana
Football – Quarterback
$2.2M – $2.6M
20
Boogie Fland
Florida
Basketball – Guard
$2.1M
21
Dylan Raiola
Nebraska
Football – Quarterback
$2.1M – $2.3M
22
Taylen Green
Arkansas
Football – Quarterback
$2.1M – $2.6M
23
Donovan Dent
UCLA
Basketball – Guard
$2.0M
24
CJ Bailey
NC State
Football – Quarterback
$2.0M – $2.3M
25
Sam Leavitt
Arizona State
Football – Quarterback
$2.0M – $3.1M
Fernando Mendoza – not the highest paid but doing well.
- Major Endorsement Portfolio: Fernando Mendoza has secured partnerships with major brands, including Adidas, Dr Pepper, T-Mobile, Keurig, Epic Games, and Royal Canin.
- Heisman Recognition: He recently won the Heisman Trophy, an achievement that significantly boosts an athlete’s market value and earning potential.
- Authentic Persona: Mendoza is known for his dedication, leadership, and open discussions about his faith and his mother’s battle with MS, which contribute to a positive public image and brand appeal beyond just his on-field performance.
- Projected NFL Future: As a projected first overall pick in the NFL Draft, his current high NIL valuation is seen as a way to “layer leverage” on his future professional contract negotiations.
General NIL Trends
- Quarterback Premium: Elite quarterbacks dominate the highest NIL valuations, becoming the primary “luxury assets” for top programs.
- Transfer Portal as Free Agency: The transfer portal has amplified the role of NIL, with top players often receiving multi-million dollar offers from NIL collectives when they transfer to new schools. This essentially functions as a form of free agency within college sports.
- Direct School Payments: A significant new development for the 2025-26 season is that some schools can now directly pay athletes through a revenue-sharing model (up to approximately $20.5 million per year), in addition to third-party NIL deals.
- Valuation Factors: An athlete’s NIL valuation is not a fixed salary but an estimated projection based on performance, social media following (specifically Instagram is a major determinant), media exposure, and family legacy.
- Compliance Challenges: The rapid growth of the market and the new rules have led to concerns about non-compliance, as the value of reported deals appears to be a fraction of the actual money changing hands.
However, the majority of college athletes will have to settle for a scholarship or even a partial scholarship. In 2026, the landscape of college athlete compensation is divided between direct payments from schools and external marketing deals. While high-profile athletes earn millions, a vast majority of the approximate 200,000 NCAA student-athletes do not receive direct pay for their participation