Could South Carolina Fine Dylan Stewart? Breaking Down the Financial Side of His Suspension
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Dylan Stewart’s indefinite suspension raises an increasingly relevant question in college football’s NIL era: can South Carolina actually withhold or reduce his pay as part of the punishment? According to sources, the answer is likely yes.
Contracts Likely Include Disciplinary Clauses
Sources within the agent and front office communities told The State that NIL/revenue-sharing contracts often include language allowing schools to fine players or halt payments for disciplinary reasons. Both Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney have previously confirmed in interviews that player punishments now frequently carry real financial consequences.
Stewart’s Reported Earnings
For context, The Athletic reported South Carolina is spending between $32-35 million on its football roster for 2026, with Stewart believed to be the program’s second-highest-paid player behind quarterback LaNorris Sellers, earning roughly $2 million this season, according to On3.
Beamer Stays Vague on Financial Specifics
Asked directly whether suspended players continue receiving NIL/rev-share money, Beamer declined to answer, calling it an internal matter. He did, however, reject the idea that disciplining a highly paid player differs fundamentally from disciplining a scholarship-only athlete of the past: “What hasn’t changed and never will is the standard of how we do things. It’s always about the team… My job is always, as a leader, to protect the team and do what’s best for the team. And sometimes those are really, really hard decisions, but it’s what’s best for the team.”
Contract Details Remain Private
Stewart’s agent declined comment, and the specific terms of his contract with South Carolina are not publicly known. Schools aren’t required to disclose player contracts or team-wide compensation figures — and even if disclosed, those numbers would likely be misleading given how programs use third-party NIL deals (often through apparel partners or multimedia rights holders) to work around the NCAA’s $21.58 million spending cap.
How These Fines Typically Work
According to an agent representing a South Carolina player, most programs include conduct clauses permitting schools or NIL collectives to reduce compensation for behavior deemed detrimental to the program. A source within another Power Four program’s front office echoed this, though noted the language is often carefully worded to avoid appearing as a direct “pay-for-play” arrangement while still preserving the ability to withhold money for discipline. That same source suggested that if South Carolina fully dismissed Stewart from the team, it’s quite possible the school wouldn’t owe him any further payment.
Stewart’s Immediate Future
Beamer confirmed Stewart won’t play against Kentucky this week, with a broader decision on his future still pending: “I’ll make the decision on what his future looks like beyond this week here in the next day or so. Still having some meetings and talking with him.”
Precedent From Other Programs
Other SEC and ACC programs have already set examples of financial consequences tied to suspensions. When Clemson suspended linebacker Vic Burley following an August arrest, Dabo Swinney confirmed Burley didn’t receive his monthly payment during the suspension: “It cost him some money, too. It’s pretty big consequences, you know, when you get suspended. So, you know, he paid the price.”
Georgia’s Kirby Smart made similar comments in 2024, acknowledging the Bulldogs’ NIL collective had been fining players “substantially” amid a string of arrests for speeding and reckless driving: “I actually think the best key is the pocket because you look at what the NFL has done, their model is defined. And if you asked any of our players what they would rather have, they want their money. When I say substantial — very substantial — in terms of the hits some guys have taken.”
Given this precedent across the conference, it appears likely that Stewart is facing some form of financial penalty as part of his suspension, even though South Carolina has not confirmed specifics.
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