The Big Lead

Former Alabama star makes shocking claim about SEC school's NIL spending

A Crimson Tide quarterback has come out making wild statements about Alabama's current NIL situation after their loss to Florida State.

By Matt Reed

Clemson Tigers quarterback Chris Denson looks to pass the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half
Clemson Tigers quarterback Chris Denson looks to pass the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half / Melina Myers-Imagn Images
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The Alabama Crimson Tide are already facing massive scrutiny following their Week 1 loss against the Florida State Seminoles, and given how seriously the SEC school takes its college football program there will need to be answers very quick or else head coach Kalen DeBoer will really be on the hot seat.

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While DoBoer and Co. certainly weren't expecting the Seminoles to take the game to them the way that they did, but now the fallout from the loss has prompted a former Alabama star quarterback to have to come out in defense of the current team by stating that NIL is making it tough for the Crimson Tide to compete against other elite programs.

AJ McCarron was recently talking about Alabama's woes on the field, and that prompted him to suggest that the SEC giants have spent "less than $20 million" to recruit players with NIL money as opposed to top teams that are spending nearly double that amount.

While it's unknown if McCarron's figures are accurate, it became public in the spring that another SEC school, the Texas Longhorns, were prepared to spend somewhere between $35 million and $40 million on its football program, including a hefty amount dedicated to Arch Manning.

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