Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton criticizes college football's direction and NIL

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has delivered a blunt critique of where college football is heading, questioning the new 24-team playoff format, the way name, image and likeness money is being used, and the physical toll the sport places on players. Hamilton, who played at Notre Dame from 2019 to 2021 during the early years of NIL, said he is unhappy with the direction the game has taken.

Hamilton doubts that 24 teams can realistically compete for a national championship in a meaningful way. He also argued that football's postseason structure is unfair when compared with the tournaments in baseball and basketball, which he sees as more balanced. He added that the sport's demanding calendar, which he described as a grind of spring practice, summer work and combine preparation, leaves players with little rest and places an unfair burden on them.

On NIL, Hamilton said he believes the money is being exploited. He noted that NIL compensation now reaches into the millions for some players, and he expressed support for a salary cap to bring order to the system. He also pointed to a practice he finds telling: rookies now are expected to disclose their NIL earnings during introductions, a development he views as a sign of how far the environment has shifted since his own college days. Hamilton's position is that the early NIL era he experienced looked very different from the market that has developed since, with payments growing quickly and the pressure on players growing with them.

Hamilton's comments come as the Ravens are struggling on the field. Baltimore is 4-5 after a four-game losing streak, and the stretch has been shaped heavily by injuries at quarterback. Starter Lamar Jackson suffered a fractured and dislocated thumb in Week 8, sidelining the team's most important player at the position. Backup Tyler Huntley is out for the season after turf toe surgery, which left the Ravens without their reserve option and pushed undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into the starting lineup for two losses. Baltimore responded by acquiring Jacoby Brissett, who is expected to start against the Los Angeles Chargers.

That game is a Monday Night Football matchup in Week 10, and it carries an added storyline. Chargers coach Jesse Minter previously served as the Chargers' defensive coordinator before taking over the Ravens' defense, so the game brings him back against his former team. The Chargers enter the contest at 0-8, a record that underlines how difficult the season has been on both sides. Through nine games, Hamilton has recorded 60 tackles and one interception, numbers that reflect his continued role in a Baltimore defense trying to hold the team together while the offense searches for stability.

Hamilton also took part in a community event tied to Toyota at the Baltimore Boys & Girls Club, where Toyota dealers agreed to donate $414 for each Ravens touchdown. The appearance placed the safety in a setting away from the field, a reminder that players in the league are also asked to represent the team and the city beyond the game itself.

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Derek Weston

Sports Writer

Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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