Rumor: NIL can soon officially become pay-to-play for SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Group of Five schools

College football, from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC to the Group of Five conferences, will all feature direct pay-to-play NIL -- allowing the schools to send direct payments to recruits in a free agent-like manner, per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger via Bowl Season director Nick Carparelli.

"Bowl Season director Nick Carparelli told Yahoo Sports in Phoenix that he expects NIL to soon come 'in-house' and for athletes to sign binding compensation contracts with schools that will require them to play in bowls and CFP games, eliminating or greatly reducing opt-outs," Dellenger wrote.

When I spoke to Postgame CEO and co-founder Bill Jula, who represents countless athletes across the country, including top NIL-valuated Colorado stars Shilo and Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, he insinuated that pay-to-play was already a thing; with Texas and Ohio State being the highest bidders.

Jula told me that top high school quarterbacks are already looking at several million dollar payouts.

"I think on the pay-to-play side, I think the ceiling is much, much higher," Jula said. "In terms of on the pay-to-play side, quarterbacks in high school, big-time 5-star quarterbacks, you're probably looking at a few (millions). Easy. There are no real brands out there willing to give an 18-year-old that kind of money to attend a school."

Athletes in SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and Group of Five moving toward being employees

The Dartmouth men's basketball team being ruled employees of Dartmouth College was the first major step toward Carparelli's suggestion for what college football can soon be. Tennessee and Virginia battling the NCAA in an effort to bring this to reality is now picking up steam, adding New York, Florida, and Washington D.C. to the cause.

All signs are pointing to Division I FBS football becoming no different from a pro league. Direct payouts from schools to players are already here, but are about to become an allowed, widespread practice for all 134 programs.