Dirk Koetter: Big Ten powerhouse offered $700,000 for Boise State starter to transfer

Boise State recently finished off a season we're unlikely to see again, and we're unlikely to see it for two reasons. One, the window of time in which a Group of 5 team can realistically earn a No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff is now down to one year, and perhaps zero. After Boise State, the No. 9 team in the selection committee's final rankings earned the No. 3 seed and Arizona State, No. 12 in those same rankings, grabbed the No. 4 seed, the format will change perhaps as soon as the 2025 season and no later than 2026.

More immediately, though, the only reason Boise State was in position to earn that No. 3 seed was because the Broncos had a rare player who did a rare thing: Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty chose to stay at Boise State.

The numbers state clearly that the Group of 5 and below have become AAA ball for the Power 4. (Mandatory counterpoint: It was that way for coaches for decades, without a sport-wide existential crisis.)

In an interview with local radio station, Boise State assistant Dirk Koetter discussed the situation the Broncos find themselves in. Now, a coach lamenting the changes in college football is anything but new, but Koetter did something precious few of his peers do -- he brought numbers and names.

Boise State's NIL budget, Koetter said, was $2 million.

“One of our quality control coaches recently took another job at a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team,” Koetter said, via Sports Illustrated. “He was down there for a week or so and he called me and goes ‘Yeah, we just got our NIL budget. … In 2024 it was $9 million, 2025 it’s $12.5 million.’ It is what it is.

“I know for a fact that just last week, after the Fiesta Bowl, one of the key starters on defense got a call from the Oregon Ducks offering him $700,000. (Offensive tackle) Kage Casey, Casey’s probably going to be a first-round pick. He would’ve probably been a high pick this year, but I do think he needs another year to develop … I’m sure he could’ve got close to a million dollars in the portal.”

Koetter later claimed every Boise State starter could earn $200,000 through the portal. He also said that, while others will fund the full 105 scholarships soon to be allowed as part of the House settlement, Boise State will remain at 85. 

Now, Koetter is in a different position within the profession than most. At 65, the former Boise State head coach has climbed the ladder -- he spent three years as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach -- and is now on his way back down, easing into his sunset years. Koetter returned to Boise as an offensive analyst in 2022, stepped in to become offensive coordinator for the past two-plus seasons, and recently stepped back into an analyst role. He can name Oregon without having to worry about looking for a job from the Ducks and/or Dan Lanning in the future. Very few of his peers have that luxury. 

But, man, is it refreshing -- assuming it's true, which is not always the case -- to see a coach name names rather than tell the world they're keeping a list of portal poachers, then keep that list to themselves.

By the way, more than five days have past since Boise State's season ended and Spencer Danielson remains the Broncos head coach, so by rule Casey should be safe from the portal... until the next window opens April 16-25.