Dave Portnoy Offers to Pay Top College QBs $3 Million to Transfer to Michigan: ‘I Think That’s Legal’

Barstool founder Dave Portnoy wants to put up $3 million every year to ensure the Michigan Wolverines football program has a top quarterback.

Name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation once again became a hot topic when UNLV QB Matthew Sluka accused the team of not paying him. Despite the Rebels having their first 3-0 start in 40 years, Sluka decided to sit out for the rest of the season.

While sources within the program insisted their NIL commitments to Sluka were fulfilled, he has maintained the opposite.

On a recent episode of the Barstool Pick Em podcast, Portnoy explained to Dan Katz how he’d entice the best quarterbacks in the country to play for his alma mater.

PORTNOY: Michigan, I will be your quarterback guy. You just say, “Dave, you go” — I’ll talk to [head coach Sherrone Moore] — “Who do you guys want? Who’s in there?” Give me a group. I’ll go get them. I will sign them [for a] million, two million, whatever it is.

KATZ: What’s the top?

PORTNOY: Three million.

KATZ: What if, I mean, are some of them going for more? Wasn’t [Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava] like —

PORTNOY: I don’t know. Fine, but I can get a quarterback. We don’t have a quarterback. If I don’t get the number 13 though, you can be in the Yeah, but you don’t wanna

KATZ: I’m wondering, like, is Dave — are you — how are you running this? Are you, “I wanna get quarterback” or, “I’m like George Steinbrenner. I will spend any amount of dollars”?

PORTNOY: I’m gonna get us a top-10 quarterback in the portal coming out every year, top 10 quarterback.

Although student-athletes can now profit from their name, image, and likeness, schools can’t just hand them money. Portnoy believes he has a loophole figured out.

“They’re doing a weekly spot on Pardon My Take — my guy, not your guy,” Portnoy said in reference to his hypothetical QB. “That’s already been taken, so you’re gonna have to find something else for the Wisconsin guy.

“A college football recap and a college football hit. So there’s two things. Three-million-dollar marketing agreement. I think that’s legal!”

Have a tip for us? tips@mediaite.com