In Reply to: It is my understanding that no one really knows posted by ej on June 03, 2025 at 13:31:28
I agree that no one outside the inner circle truly knows the exact numbers. But if you listen to that CBS podcast regularly, it’s clear those two reporters are well-connected and frequently talk to coaches about NIL budgets. I don’t think UCLA would’ve been mentioned if Norlander didn’t have a solid source. It all seems to align, Cronin himself has acknowledged that things have changed significantly since 2023, and multiple reports have highlighted the strong job he’s done raising money.
Based on what’s out there, it’s fair to say UCLA isn’t in the same tier as BYU or Arkansas, but we’re definitely in the mix. Two other credible data points are Ben Howland’s interview, where he mentioned that UCLA has billionaire donors of their own, and the excellent conversation with Ken Graiwer, which also gave the impression that UCLA’s NIL situation is healthier than many assumed. That’s a shift from the perception from a couple of years ago, especially after Cronin’s comment about the Reds (Ohtani) and having to go to Europe because domestic players were too expensive.