This story was hilarious. The Tennessee QB had a deal to get paid $2.5M/yr. He demanded $4M/year. They said no, he stopped showing up to practice as a holdout, so he got kicked off the team. (They have a few weeks of Spring practice.) Allegedly, before Tennessee's playoff game, he demanded more money or he would no-show the playoff game.

He was an above-average QB by SEC standards, but not an elite superstar player. He wanted to get paid like he was Tim Tebow, but he was merely above average.

College football players can get paid now. It used to be under-the-table, but now it's legal to do NIL deals. What happens is rich alumni who want their team to succeed throw wads of cash at the players. The reason some teams suddenly got good last year is their alumni spent a fortune hiring all the best players. For example, a rich alumni can pay a student-athlete $2M to make an ad for his car dealership, or whatever other business he owns.

The alumni are starting to balk at the price tag. "You mean we have to spend this much money EVERY YEAR?" They opened their checkbooks in the first year, but some of them are getting sticker shock. It's normal now that, in addition to paying $$$ for season tickets, fans are also expected to kick some money into the pool of NIL money for players.

The QB's name literally is "I am a leaver". He can enter the transfer portal and switch schools, but every school that can pay $2M+ for a QB has their starter already. Allegedly, UCLA is the biggest name with an opening, but their budget is allegedly $1M, which is less than the $4M he was demanding and less than the $2.5M he could have gotten by not bluffing and losing. Are they really going to sign a player for $1M who was demanding $4M and could have had $2.5M? How would that work out? He'll be pouting the whole season.

Tennessee's coach looks like the hero of the story in the media. A player who says "$2.5M isn't enough." is just looking too greedy. The difference between $0 and $2M is much bigger than the difference between $2M and $4M. There are a lot of college players that are stars in college, but not good enough for the NFL. It's nice that they can graduate with a couple million in the bank now (if they don't waste it), but it is a chaotic mess. Due to various laws and lost lawsuits, there is very little the NCAA can do. It isn't like a pro league, where there's a commissioner and CBA that can make and enforce salary rules and player movement rules.

The transfer portal rules mean a player is a free agent after every season. The players do have the leverage. Tennessee is being portrayed as heroes by turning down unreasonable demands, even if it means they're forced to tank next year without a good QB.