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For the past several decades, former NFL star quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman shared his thoughts on what he and his longtime broadcast partner saw during that game.
The three-time Super Bowl winner is part of the Monday Night Football crew. Aikman has regularly expressed his views on various football-related topics, starting with the state of NFL officiating in college football.
Some of Aikman's latest thoughts on the college game concerned the growing number of players taking advantage of the transfer portal in today's polarizing NIL environment.
former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and many others call the state of today's sports at the collegiate level the “Wild West.”
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Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants at Acresure Stadium. (Barry Rieger/Imagn Images)
“College football has become the Wild West, as everyone knows. Forget about Lane Kiffin for a moment, but since NIL there have simply been no guardrails. I'm on the board of the National Football Foundation, so I hear firsthand from a lot of the commissioners, athletic directors and people involved in all of this. First of all, it needs to be cleaned.” – Aikman told The Athletic.
When asked about student-athlete mobility in today's world, Aikman spoke about his personal choices while competing at the NCAA level.
“I was transferred. I moved from Oklahoma to UCLA, and I always felt that if a coach can pick up and leave, then a player should have the same opportunity if the coach leaves,” he continued.
UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman drives the ball against Arizona on October 2, 1988 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. (Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
“Obviously, what's happened in the years since I retired from college football is that in recent years with the NIL, there hasn't been any accountability from the players,” Aikman continued. “So the players are taken and now they leave all the time, whereas before it was usually the coach who did it. Previously, the player had to sit out a year. Players can now get up and leave regardless of whether they have been paid or not. Every man for himself.”
Aikman then dove into another hot topic in college football: Lane Kiffin's decision to leave Ole Miss plays for LSU. An NFL analyst weighed in on what prompted Kiffin to make the move.
“Lane Kiffin’s motivation? Is it his thoughts that this is his best opportunity at LSU? Maybe. Is this money? Maybe. Is this a way of life? Maybe. I can't answer any of these questions.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin throws a football before a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord-Oklahoma Family Memorial Stadium on October 25, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
“But whatever his motivation, he feels LSU is the right place for him. So I don't blame him for that in any way. I know that there are always grievances. Ole Miss didn’t want to lose Lane Kiffin,” he said. “Once he made the decision to leave, he is now an outcast. Let's get this guy as far away from us as possible. I understand that too. Everyone is a little tired.”
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Aikman concluded that those in power must ultimately take responsibility and focus on restoring order.
“I think there needs to be some kind of leadership at the very top that will sort of bring order to all this. Starting with the players who accept the money, there needs to be some accountability and responsibility on their part to stick with the program,” Aikman said.
“I gave money to the child. I won't mention who. I did this once at UCLA. I have never met this young man. He was there for a year.
Aikman is scheduled to compete in the Week 15 matchup between Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins, Dec. 15.
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