DJ Lagway’s Florida flameout is a brutal reminder about modern NIL

When NIL first became the way of the land in college athletics, it was meant to be a way for athletes to get a slice of the money that already existed. Coaches, administrators, and other executives were making big money, so why couldn’t the athletes who were the ones actually playing the sport?

In that regard, nobody is going to fault players like DJ Lagway for making millions during his time with the Florida Gators.

But it is how that money had to be raised and what fans were gaslit into believing that also highlight the folly of how the NIL Era in college football has been going.

DJ Lagway set to hit the transfer portal

Lagway’s camp wanted to make it clear that his departure from Gainsville isn’t over money. Whether or not that is actually true, there is a good chance that in the pre-NIL Era, Lagway would still be a Gator heading into next season. If all Lagway cost was a scholarship spot, Jon Sumrall would probably be more apt to keep Lagway around. After a poor 2025 season, we can also understand why Florida’s new staff would be hesitant to invest real resources in Lagway that could go toward other parts of the roster.

But this tale isn’t just about the money that will be spent going forward; it is also about the money already spent and what happens when one doesn’t get a return on investment.

There are no official NIL numbers publicly available, but it is believed Lagway made between $3 and $4 million in 2025.

Some of that came from sponsorship deals like Jordan Brand, Gatorade, Epic Games, and others. But another chunk of money came from whatever deal he signed with Florida Victorious, the NIL arm of the Gators, and this is where the college system is broken compared to the professional system.

If Lagway were an NFL QB and flamed out, it would be annoying, but it wouldn’t be the fans left feeling empty-handed.  The money spent on NFL contracts is coming from the natural revenues the league collects, and fans aren’t asked to donate extra money that goes directly to contracts.

But in this first phase of the NIL Era, when teams couldn’t directly share revenue with players, it was the fans who were constantly bombarded with messages to give extra money to Florida to acquire and retain players. The underlying message was “Hey now, if you don’t give more money, some other fanbase will, and they will take DJ Lagway from Florida.”

Some fans might have signed up for the $10 a month plan. Others may have felt compelled to give more. Nobody, however, probably feels like their money was money well spent after this 2025 season.

And that really is the frustration for most fans, where they are gaslighted to believe things won’t get better without giving even more money, but aren’t given any kind of solace when that money gets covered in gasoline and burns up in flames.

So as Florida fans await the next QB to come to town on whatever NIL deal he will be on, Lagway’s journey is a reminder that there is no such thing as a sure investment in the world of college football.