In part two of this two-part series, Matt Daily and Coach Cody Hawkins shift from student success to the evolving business of college athletics, focusing on how money, roster turnover, and policy changes are transforming the sport. Hawkins explains why “everything” has changed in the last few years, from the way coaches recruit and retain players to the way student-athletes experience college, as NIL income and the transfer portal introduce new opportunities and pressures.
Hawkins shares why he supports NIL in principle, describing the real financial sacrifice and physical risk players take on, and how modest NIL support can improve quality of life for athletes who often come from challenging economic circumstances. He also explores unintended consequences, including more transactional relationships, unrealistic expectations about NIL dollars, and the challenge of sustaining deep program loyalty when players can move freely.
Throughout the episode, Daily and Hawkins discuss what these dynamics look like in the FCS and Big Sky environments, where budgets are far smaller than in Power Four programs, and why clarity about standards, empathy, and relentless emphasis on culture are critical to keeping Bengal football grounded in people and not just paychecks and wins.
