The hidden cost of NIL is destroying college sports’ middle class

It marks the lowest total in more than 20 years. It’s being framed as a sign of progress, proof that the NIL era is keeping talent in school and strengthening the […]

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 21: Gold medalist, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Team United States, celebrates with the national flag after winning the Women's 4x400 Metres Relay Final on day nine of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images There’s a number being celebrated across college basketball right now. Seventy-one.

That’s how many players entered the 2026 NBA Draft early, per the NBA. It marks the lowest total in more than 20 years. It’s being framed as a sign of progress, proof that the NIL era is keeping talent in school and strengthening the game by keeping stars around longer.

And at the top of the sport, that’s true. College basketball arenas are packed with familiar faces, recognizable names, and players making life-changing amounts of money. Not always for the same team as they did last year, but they are still in school.