Sean Frazier, the AD at Northern Illinois, thinks a “talent acquisition fee" might help the small guys sustain their programs while adding transparency to deals involving some of the 11,000-plus football players across all divisions who enter the portal.

The run-heavy team also has two of the best running backs in the nation, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. In his third year with the Nittany Lions, Singleton produced 12 touchdowns and 1,099 yards on 172 carries. Allen finished the season with eight touchdowns and 1,108 yards on 220 carries.