Paul Finebaum: Mississippi State Bulldogs Can't Compete Without NIL Spending

Analyst says Bulldogs need to invest in name, image and likeness deals to keep up in the SEC.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a college football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the official colors of the teams mentioned in the story.The growing divide in college football's NIL landscape puts pressure on mid-tier programs like Mississippi State to keep pace with their deep-pocketed SEC rivals.Mississippi State Today

Prominent college football analyst Paul Finebaum has warned that the Mississippi State Bulldogs will struggle to compete in the SEC unless they significantly increase their spending on name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for players. Finebaum's comments came as part of a discussion on the Locked On Mississippi State podcast about the Bulldogs' spring game, recruiting, and the future of the program.

Why it matters

NIL deals have become a major factor in college football recruiting and roster management since being legalized in 2021. Top programs are pouring millions into NIL contracts to attract and retain elite talent, putting pressure on mid-tier schools like Mississippi State to keep up or risk falling behind.

The details

Finebaum argued that Mississippi State's current NIL spending is not enough to compete with the financial resources of SEC powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M. He said the Bulldogs need to be more aggressive in securing lucrative deals for their players in order to have a chance at winning championships.

  • The NCAA legalized name, image and likeness deals for college athletes in July 2021.

The players

Paul Finebaum

A prominent college football analyst and host of the Paul Finebaum Show.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

The football team of Mississippi State University, a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

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What they’re saying

“Mississippi State has to spend money on NIL. They have to. If they don't, they can't compete in the SEC.”

— Paul Finebaum, College Football Analyst

The takeaway

The rise of NIL deals has created a new financial arms race in college football, putting pressure on mid-major programs like Mississippi State to invest heavily in order to attract and retain top talent. Finebaum's comments highlight the challenges facing the Bulldogs as they try to keep up with the SEC's elite programs.