Former NFL Star Demands NCAA drop ‘Charade’ Around Student-Athletes

Retired NFL star J.J. Watt just torched the NCAA—and he didn’t hold back.

In a scathing post on X Monday, Watt accused college sports leaders of hiding behind a lie: that education comes first.

“At some point the NCAA needs to drop the ‘student first, athlete second’ charade,” Watt wrote. “Billions of dollars, NIL, transfer portal (free agency), traveling cross-country for midweek games… Education is not the main focus. Admit it and call it what it is. A business. Run it as such.”

Watt’s blunt assessment comes as the NCAA faces mounting criticism for how it manages student-athletes in the NIL era—an era where the term “student” often feels like an afterthought.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year played college football at Wisconsin before going pro. He’s watched the game change drastically. Now, he’s calling it what many already suspect: college football is big business, and the players are the product.

One user responded, suggesting Watt’s comments only apply to top-tier athletes. Watt agreed.

“That’s exactly my point,” he replied. “We’ve got kids who aren’t ‘making money’ and will never go pro, yet they are traveling across the country midweek for ‘conference games,’ transferring schools, sacrificing studies for sport, etc. None of this is about what’s doing best for the student.”

He’s not alone in his thinking.

Nick Saban: “Student-Athletes Don’t Exist Anymore”

Legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban echoed Watt’s frustration in an ESPN interview last month. Saban, who recently retired and joined ESPN as an analyst, said the term “student-athlete” has lost all meaning.

“What we have now is not college football — not college football as we know it,” Saban said. “You hear somebody use the word ‘student-athlete.’ That doesn’t exist.”

Saban slammed the system of NIL collectives, claiming they’ve morphed into pay-for-play schemes instead of rewarding actual name, image, and likeness.

“Just like an NFL player has a contract or a coach has a contract, something in place, so you don’t have all this raiding of rosters and mass movement,” he added. “I wonder what fans are going to say when they don’t even know the team from year to year.”

Behind the Scenes: Billions on the Table

The NCAA pulls in billions from TV deals, ticket sales, and merchandise—mostly driven by football and men’s basketball. Meanwhile, players juggle heavy practice schedules, cross-country travel, and media demands, all while trying to pass classes.

And with the recent explosion of the NIL market, elite athletes now sign endorsement deals worth hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—before even graduating.

Critics say the NCAA is still operating under outdated rules while pretending this is still 1985.

Former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty recently told Fox News Digital he supports NIL but warned younger athletes to keep perspective.

“You’ve got to know who you are and stay grounded,” Jeanty said. “There’s money out there, but it can go fast. Focus on building your name the right way.”

Where Does This Go Next?

Calls for reform are growing louder. Some argue the NCAA needs a professional-style structure with contracts, transfer windows, and salary caps. Others want Congress to step in.

But one thing’s clear: more and more voices—from locker rooms to living rooms—are demanding honesty about what college sports has become.

As Watt put it: “Stop pretending. Call it what it is.”