If it has been a few years since you sorted through a trading card collection or if you have a shoebox or two stored away in a closet somewhere in your home, then Topps and Penn State may have just what you have been waiting for to dive back into the hobby.
Fanatics Collectibles, the parent company of the storied Topps trading card manufacturer, announced it will begin production of physical and digital trading cards featuring college athletes from more than 100 universities across the country. In addition, the company announced it has reached multi-year deals for exclusive rights with more than 35 schools, including Penn State. The multi-year deal will allow for trading cards and other collectibles featuring official school logos and trademarks and will feature both current and former players.
Topps will also begin exclusive NIL partnerships with individual players on top of the other arrangements announced on Thursday and already has agreements with star football players like Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, USC quarterback Caleb Williams, and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. Topps also has deals with some incoming college basketball players and has signed a number of premier women’s basketball players. At this moment, it is unknown or unconfirmed if any Penn State student-athletes are a part of these individual deals, but it will be something to keep an eye on moving forward.
“This collection is the first offering of officially licensed collegiate cards featuring current athlete NIL rights,” Dave Leiner, Topps Global Vice President and General Manager, said in a released statement. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to launch these comprehensive programs that combine premier student-athletes and elite institutions to create a best-in-class collegiate trading card product for fans and collectors.”
It is expected Topps will begin manufacturing exclusive trading cards for four schools as early as 2023 (Wisconsin, Kentucky, Miami, and Oregon). Penn State fans may have to wait a little longer, as the official press release states Penn State’s exclusive deal will begin in 2025.
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