Has the Ohio State football program finally figured out NIL?

NIL money is still new in the college football landscape. There's still a bit of a Wild West component to it. Florida State just got hammered for not following the rules of NIL, which aren't super-defined. We gave them credit too early and then chastised the Ohio State football program for not properly using NIL in the past.

With the Buckeyes adding all kinds of talent in both recruiting and the transfer portal, and with a host of good players returning, has the Ohio State football program finally figured out how to properly use NIL money? Could they actually be using a tool properly for once?

The only way I see Quinshon Judkins coming to Columbus is because the Buckeyes were able to give him a hefty NIL deal. The same goes for Eddrick Houston, the defensive tackle recruit. These collectives seem to have gotten their act together, which is great.

So what does this mean moving forward? It means that the Buckeyes can still recruit nationwide. It also means they can be more active in the transfer portal, which they have been since the Cotton Bowl ended. I wouldn't be shocked if they added another player from Alabama soon.

It also means that Ohio State won't get left behind. Other programs have already figured out how to best use their NIL money. Miami bought a few recruits away from Ohio State in this past cycle using NIL money. That may have given the Buckeyes a lesson in how to do things better.

You and I may not like it, but NIL is here to stay. Perhaps the NCAA will finally introduce some legislation that will give some rules for every program regarding NIL. Right now, the rules are mostly made by each individual state. We'll see if that changes any time soon.

Regardless, this seems like a positive development for the Buckeyes.