Who Is the Highest Paid College Football Player?

Between sponsorships and NIL, it's tough to say. But when considering just the latter, these are the top five. For now.

by Eric W. Bolin

Aug 18, 2026

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah speaks to the media during ACC Media Days.

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Determining how much money a college football player makes is about as easy as figuring out how much your neighbor who drives the tricked-out Escalade and lives in the mansion makes.

That is, you have a general idea, but it’s probably impossible to tell exactly.

College athletes make money on name, image, likeness deals and places like On3 make valuations on those deals. But the players also have sponsorship deals with brands, too, and those dollar figures are rarely publicly known.

So for our list of the top five highest paid college football players can only take into consideration what we do know. It’s very possible, though, this list fluctuates throughout the year.

For now, these are the top five, as ranked by using On3’s valuations.

5. Sam Leavitt, LSU Quarterback ($4.5 Million)

ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt scrambles out of the backfield against the Houston Cougars at Mountain America Stadium.

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Now at his third school in four seasons, Leavitt has been a beast already at Michigan State and Arizona State, even if his numbers from 2025 don’t look the part: just 10 touchdown passes.

Consider, though, that Leavitt suffered a foot injury in late September and managed just two more games after it was revealed his foot was broken.

By December 9, Leavitt was in the transfer portal for the second time, leaving the Sun Devils for the Tigers, instantly turning LSU into one of the favorites in the Southeastern Conference and, therefore, the country.

4. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Wide Receiver ($5 Million)

Ohio Stat wide receiver Jeremiah Smith shakes off Indiana Hoosiers defensive back D’Angelo Ponds during the Big Ten Conference championship game.

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Speaking of favorites, Smith’s Ohio State team ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll released Monday, August 17. He’s a big reason why.

Smith has twice been named Big Ten Receiver of the Year and won a national championship as a freshman in 2024 then earned unanimous All-American honors in 2025 after catching 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver and he’ll earn at least that distinction again in 2026, barring injury.

3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss Quarterback ($5 Million)

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss scrambles past Miami Hurricanes defender Armondo Blount during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.

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Chambliss’ story to this space is the kind you love, the kind you don’t see too often anymore. He spent three years at Ferris State at the Division II level before transferring to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season.

He was supposed to be the back-up to Austin Simmons, but when Simmons went down with injury early the year, Chambliss never let go of the reins.

He won SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2025 after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions while also running for 527 yards and another eight scores.

In November, he petitioned the NCAA for another year of eligibility as he didn’t play one season at Ferris State because of medical reasons. The NCAA granted the extra year and Ole Miss looks mighty tough heading into the fall.

2. Dante Moore, Oregon Quarterback ($5 Million)

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore passes against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Now that athletes can be paid for their names, images and likenesses, Moore making the cover of EA Sports College Football 27 is quite the haul.

With deals from Nike and Beats by Dre, Moore is tied to some of the most popular and famous brands in the world. And that’s with just one full season under his belt.

Moore was the top recruit in the country coming out of high school in Michigan and played in nine games his freshman year at UCLA before transferring to Oregon.

With the Ducks in 2025, his first as a full-time starter, he threw 30 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

1. Darian Mensah, Miami (FL) Quarterback ($6.5 Million)

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah celebrates after a touchdown in overtime during the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Like Leavitt, Mensah is also on his third school, though his route was filled with a bit more controversy.

He started at Tulane and transferred to Duke where he signed an NIL deal reportedly worth $8 million over two years. He played just one season with the Blue Devils, though, before hitting the portal and landing at Atlantic Coast Conference rival Miami.

The junior has been electric in his two seasons of collegiate ball so far, throwing 56 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. The jump from the American Conference to the ACC didn’t phase him in 2025 as those totals were 34 scores against six picks even with the increase in competition.

Those types of numbers earned him a big payday and put Miami right up alongside LSU, Ole Miss when it comes to potential in 2026.