Charles Barkley called Auburn’s game against Ole Miss on Wednesday and didn’t hold back on college education costs. He specifically criticized the NIL system, calling it unsustainable.
“I think we have to have a talk about college basketball,” he said. “I don’t think the model of NIL is sustainable… asking colleges to come up with $20, $30 million a year, especially some of the smaller schools, I don’t think that’s a sustainable model.”
NIL has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it gives wealthier schools an unfair advantage in recruiting. While Barkley supports student-athletes getting paid, he believes tuition is too high.
“I love these kids… but most of these kids gotta get a free education, which is by far the most important thing,” he said. “One of the great travesties of this country is what we’re charging kids to go to college.”
The Education Data Initiative reports that college tuition has risen 36.7% at public four-year schools since 2010.
Scholarships once made education more accessible for athletes, but NIL has changed the landscape, especially with the massive profits colleges earn from major sports programs.
Charles Barkley: Expensive college tuition 'one of the great travesties of this country' https://t.co/Ia4QpQZ5Oe
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 27, 2025
