Miami quarterback Carson Beck graduated in 2022 but continues earning $4 million playing college football, sparking debate about eligibility rules in the NIL era
19:29 ET, 19 Jan 2026Updated 07:31 ET, 20 Jan 2026
Carson Beck transfered to Miami from Georgia(Image: )
Carson Beck may have accidentally revealed this week that he isn’t enrolled in any courses at Miami, having completed his degree back in 2022, but it seems the former Georgia standout was quite the academic achiever, based on his GPA.
Beck, 23, is wrapping up his sixth and final season of college eligibility, and will suit up for his last collegiate game on Monday when he leads Miami against top-ranked Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship, with Caitlin Clark picking her sides after a player named their dog after her.
The Hurricanes signal-caller transferred to Hard Rock Stadium a year ago after spending five seasons with Georgia, where he emerged as a key figure for the Bulldogs, posting a 24-3 record as the team’s starting quarterback in 2023 and 2024 after serving in a backup capacity during the consecutive national championship runs in 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, the massive game started with ESPN ruining the national anthem with an embarrassing error.
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On Saturday, Beck accidentally disclosed that he doesn’t actually take any courses at Miami, having already earned his degree two years earlier while still at Georgia, confirming what was perhaps the most obvious open secret in the modern NIL landscape of college athletics.
“No class. I graduated two years ago,” Beck remarked with a grin and a laugh when a reporter inquired whether he had class on Friday, and what his experience as a student had been like this week.
The clip has since blown up online, with many wondering how someone who finished their degree two years ago can still be eligible for college competition. “Not tryna hate or anything, but I don’t think someone should be able to play college football if they aren’t taking any classes anymore lol they should be forced to go pro or wrap it up and get a job,” one person posted on X.
“So uhhh… what are we even doing here, guys? This whole ‘college’ football thing gets weirder and weirder by the day,” wrote another, while a third social media user said: “So this isn’t college athletics. This is just a Pro Am league for all sports now.”
Miami quarterback Carson Beck stunned reporters this weekend by admitting that he graduated two years ago(Image: )
While there’s understandable bewilderment surrounding Beck’s circumstances, it turns out he was quite the scholar during his earlier years, particularly throughout high school.
Based on Beck’s National Scouting Report profile from his days as a 2020 baseball prospect, the Miami quarterback boasted a 3.8 GPA while tackling advanced honors coursework.
“Hello Coach, my name is Carson Beck and I am a freshman playing on Varsity at Providence High School in Jacksonville, FL. I am a 2020 baseball prospect, and currently play travel baseball for the LA Dodgers Scout Team 2020,” Beck’s personal message reads.
“I am a well rounded student athlete and have a 3.8 GPA taking advanced honors classes. I possess the core intangibles… integrity, leadership, work ethic and discipline. I value each and every day as an opportunity to work hard, improve, and perform.”
Fast forward six years, and Beck is currently earning more than $4 million – one of the biggest paychecks in college football – to suit up for the Hurricanes, for what amounts to essentially 12 months of work, two years after graduating.
It comes after Travis Kelce gave a brutal 10-word explanation for refusing to sign an autograph for a young Chiefs fan.