Deion Sanders introduced NIL fines at Colorado by tying discipline directly to money. Players who show up late, miss classes, skip meetings, or hurt the team with penalties are fined, and that amount is deducted from their NIL payouts through the program’s collective. Accountability now has a real cost.
This move came as Deion Sanders continued reshaping Colorado football after inheriting a program that went 1-11 before his arrival. He has repeatedly said the issue was not talent alone, but habits, standards, and daily behavior. By linking NIL earnings to conduct, Sanders is using the modern college football system to enforce old-school discipline.
The policy has sparked debate across college football. Supporters see it as a structure in an era with fewer controls. Critics question whether financial penalties solve deeper culture problems. The bigger question remains. Is Deion Sanders using NIL fines to fix a lingering culture issue in Colorado, or to expose one that already existed?
Mark Ingram Weighs In on Deion Sanders’ NIL Fine Policy
Mark Ingram believes the real story behind Deion Sanders’ NIL fine system is not the money. It is the behavior that forced the rule into existence.
According to Ingram, the fines point to ongoing issues with punctuality and professionalism inside the program.
He made it clear that this is not a random power move, but a response to repeated problems showing up late and missing required activities.
“Prime has an issue within the locker room, within the culture that he has to address this, right?” Ingram said while breaking down the situation. He emphasized that fines do not appear unless something deeper is already broken.
“He’s putting these fines in place because there’s an issue going on where people are being late to treatment, people are being late to conditioning, people are being late to practice, people are missing practices,” continued Mark Ingram, adding, “that’s the biggest storyline to me in this because if that wasn’t going on within the culture of the locker room, you wouldn’t have to address this.”
Ingram’s take frames the policy as a correction tool rather than a punishment. Deion Sanders has long been known for running a strict, military style program, both as a player and a coach. At Jackson State, accountability and discipline were non negotiable, and Colorado appears to be no different. The difference now is that NIL gives Sanders a financial lever that did not exist before.
The fines are not about control. They are about standards. And if players respond, Colorado’s culture may change faster than the scoreboard ever could.
Also Read: Deion Sanders’ Colorado Becomes a Top 20 Most Valuable Football Program