Overview
- Aikman told the Sports Media Podcast he wrote a sizable check to a UCLA player who transferred after one year without offering a thank-you, prompting his decision to stop NIL donations.
- He said he backs player freedom to transfer, referencing his own move from Oklahoma to UCLA, but argued players who accept money should face clearer accountability.
- He described college football’s current NIL and transfer landscape as a “Wild West” and urged leadership at the highest levels to establish guardrails.
- Several outlets highlighted speculation that his anecdote refers to former UCLA quarterback Dante Moore, a connection Aikman has not confirmed.
- Aikman noted, as a National Football Foundation board member, that commissioners and athletic directors share concerns about the lack of structure in today’s system.