Tag: NIL

Watch Will Campbell gift LSU offensive line $10,000 worth of Bose headphones as part of NIL deal

Will Campbell is surely a popular guy in the offensive line room right about now.

The advent of name, image and likeness in college football has certainly had major impacts for players, who now have the opportunity to profit off their play through branding deals off the field.

It also allows players to give back to their teammates, and that’s exactly what LSU offensive tackle [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] did this week. The likely first-round 2025 NFL draft pick has signed a partnership with Bose, and as a result, he was able to gift his offensive line teammates and position coach [autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] $10,000 worth of headphones.

“Y’all know I love y’all and appreciate y’all,” he said in the video. “I was lucky enough to partner up with Bose and get everybody a pair of headphones.”

Campbell is expected to be one of the best players in the SEC this season, and with that comes some pretty nice perks.

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Brian Kelly speaks about balancing booster donations with NIL support

College athletics are changing right in front of our eyes. It’s time we adapt to it.

We have talked about [autotag]NIL[/autotag] and how it affects college football so much that we could write an entire dissertation about it. Is it good for the game? Is it bad for the game? The answers to those questions remain to be seen. The only certainty is that NIL is here and it’s best to just embrace it.

In the past, if people wanted to donate to LSU athletics, they would usually donate to the booster club of that sport. Adding new NIL collectives raises the question of where you should donate if you choose to do so. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has an idea of how to handle that issue.

“As I understand it, you’ll get points from donating to the NIL through TAF,” he said, per On3. “I think there is a way to kind of funnel both of those together now. I think that’s what this is all starting to begin to look like. …If you give to the NIL at LSU, you get points to get upgrades on your seats and a tax deduction, which we don’t have right now, but I think that’s coming.

“I think it’s just natural in its progression of everything that we’ve seen from revenue sharing in 2025 that that’s kind of the next iteration. So although that might be the case right now, I think we’re starting to move closer towards if you do make a donation, you’re gonna be able to see that through TAF go to an NIL.”

College athletics are changing right in front of our eyes. It’s time we adapt to it.

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Georgia QB Carson Beck signs unique new NIL deal

Georgia star quarterback Carson Beck signs a unique NIL deal

Many people are expecting Georgia Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck to take his game to new heights. Beck is one of the favorites to win the Heisman this year, and he is preseason first-team All-American.

Beck signed on the dotted line on an NIL deal with Air Star Charter, a private jet company, according to On3. Beck has been known for his lavish lifestyle off the field, going viral on social media for buying a Lamborghini.

He has talked about his love for vintage automobiles, but with this contract, he will not have to use his nice cars too much when playing on the road. He’s not even the first SEC quarterback to ink a deal with a private jet company. He joins Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Texas’ Quinn Ewers in that company.

This is what Air Star had to say on the matter:

“We are thrilled to announce Carson Beck, star Georgia quarterback, as the new Brand Ambassador for AirStar Elite. Carson embodies the values of dedication, excellence, and pursuit of greatness — qualities that resonate deeply with our mission. As a brand that encompasses AirStar Charter and AirStar Flight Support, we are excited to partner with Carson as he represents the elite standards we strive to deliver in luxury private aviation and top-tier aircraft maintenance. Together, we aim to make every journey an extraordinary experience. Together, we believe that it’s not the destination but the journey that counts. Fly Elite.”

The UGA offense looks to launch against Clemson on Aug. 31 at noon ET on ABC and hopes to dominate in the air.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers new ‘face’ of premium apparel company Rhoback

Rhoback has announced Texas QB Quinn Ewers will be the ‘face’ of its new ‘Rhoback U’ line of apparel.

In the new NIL era of college football, student athletes are getting more and more opportunities to join with sponsors and companies for marketing and advertising. 

Being the starting QB at the University of Texas affords some pretty hefty earning power for any player in that position. Throw in Heisman candidate/playoff favorite, and Quinn Ewers is one of the hottest names in the NIL realm. Rhoback has announced Ewers will be the ‘face’ of its new ‘Rhoback U’ line of apparel. The company says, “We can’t wait to showcase Quinn’s talent and personality through our “EARN IT.” campaign this fall.” 

Rhoback is a premium apparel line founded in 2016. The Charlottesville, Virginia-based brand sells activewear “designed to transition from one activity to another.” 

The brand’s name comes from the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed. Rhodeisn Ridgebacks are known for being active and typically have a ridge down the middle of its back. Rhoback says they wanted to “create a high-end, fun, and stylish activewear line that was sweat-wicking.” Affluent males are the company’s target consumer. 

Rhoback U is a line of Rhoback clothing designed to highlight college athletics. The company has signed Ewers to an exclusive apparel deal that includes a base fee plus revenue share. On3 reports Ewers’ deal is worth between $100,000 to $150,000 dollars.

“I am incredibly excited to be working with Rhoback as my official apparel sponsor and to become a leading face of their Rhoback U program. It’s exciting to see their presence really take off within the college athletics community. Their products are the most comfortable I have worn, and it’s been such a fun experience being able to create some awesome content with their team. I’m a big fan of their involvement in the Texas community and I’m pumped to be a part of Team Rhoback and Rhoback U this season.” – Quinn Ewers statement

The deal also involves the release of an officially licensed Texas Longhorns collection from Rhoback. Ewers will earn a portion of net sales from new customers who use Ewers specific discount link – HERE!

“We are excited to join Quinn Ewers team as his official apparel sponsor. The Heisman candidate and new face of Rhoback U will lead the program this Fall and help set a new standard for what it means to be a premier collegiate athlete. Quinn’s leadership, demeanor, and love for the game immediately stood out to us. Quinn’s qualities will make a big appearance within our Earn It campaign this Fall and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce them to the Rhoback community. Quinn’s talent and personality will help us showcase new trendsetting content, and we can’t wait to share. Quinn will also help unveil our licensed Texas collection. We are proud to be a part of Quinn’s team as he guides the Rhoback U program to the next level.” – Rhoback statement 

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Matt Forbes must forfeit US Open prize money, despite earning NIL

Michigan State tennis player Matt Forbes must forfeit US Open prize money, despite earning NIL.

While the landscape of college athletics is ever changing, and with the introduction of Name Image and Likeness, the rules within the sports and professional sports becomes very murky.

Michigan State tennis player Matt Forbes won the 2024 USTA National Boys’ 18s championship, earning him a spot in the US Open. Now, despite the new rules in  the NCAA where Forbes can make NIL money, he will have to forfeit his prize money for playing in the US Open.

Another rule that doesn’t make sense as the waters become more murky with the landscape of NIL in college athletics.

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Two Longhorns ink NIL deals with Lamborghini dealership in Austin

Two Texas football standouts sign NIL deals with Austin Lamborghini car dealership

NIL has been a part of college athletics for a few years, but it still feels like a lot is changing. Obviously, NIL favors Universities with large alumni networks and strong booster programs, so schools such as the Texas Longhorns and Oregon Ducks have done an outstanding job of adapting to the changing times.

It is no secret that there is a lot of money down on the Forty Acres, so it is cool to see the University invest that money in the athletic program and athletes. For example, earlier this summer the Longhorns had a recruiting weekend where they brought in a bunch of Lamborghini’s sitting outside Darrell K. Royal Stadium for recruits to look at while on campus.

The relationship between Lamborghini and the Longhorns appears as if it will only get better over time with WR Isaiah Bond and DB Michael Taaffe being selected as Lamborghini Austin’s Promotional partners for the 2024 season.

In the case of Taaffe, a former walk-on and fan favorite, it is awesome to see guys like this get a life-changing opportunity that would have never happened before NIL became part of the current college landscape.

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What are the Oklahoma Sooners chances to make the College Football Playoff?

The Sooners enter a whole new world in 2024, but can they make the expanded College Football Playoff?

The Oklahoma Sooners are less than a month away from opening the 2024 season against the Temple Owls on August 30. Fall camp is underway as OU readies for Year 3 of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era.

College football looks a lot different than it did just twelve months ago, and the Sooners are right in the middle of all the changes. [autotag]Conference realignment[/autotag] has shaken up the sport, and one of the most notable moves is Oklahoma leaving the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to join the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. The [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] has expanded from four teams from 2014 to 2023 to twelve teams for 2024 and 2025. [autotag]NIL[/autotag] and the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] continue to be shifting sands of the sport as well.

With all of the changes coming to college football in 2024, ESPN released their list of thirty teams they believe can reach the Playoff this season (ESPN+). The list was based off of ESPN analytics from the Football Power Index (FPI). 30 teams were given at least a 10 percent chance to make the [autotag]CFP[/autotag], according to ESPN’s calculations.

Here’s what college football analyst Heather Dinich, who wrote the article, had to say about the new possibilities in the Playoff.

“This is what the 12-team College Football Playoff is all about. Inclusion. Interest. A field so deep you need waders,” Dinich said. “Of course, there will be the familiar faces, as the SEC and [autotag]Big Ten[/autotag] have combined to win eight of the first 10 playoff titles, and that trend is expected to continue. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, 12 of the top 15 teams are from those two leagues. The Allstate Playoff Predictor gives the SEC a 53% chance to win the national title and the Big Ten a 32% chance. They’re in good company, though. There are 30 teams — 30 teams! — with at least a 10% chance to make the CFP this year, according to ESPN Analytics. The CFP selection committee comprises 13 humans, though, who don’t always agree with the computers.”

Oklahoma made the list, and according to the numbers, the Sooners have a 36.6 percent chance to make the playoff. That number ranks No. 10 in the country. The percentage for OU to not only get in, but make a run through the playoff, and win a national title is 2.8 percent.

Half of the top 10 teams on the list are in the SEC. The Allstate Playoff Predictor gives the SEC a 53 percent chance for one of their teams to win it all.

Again, these numbers are based on the Football Power Index. That same FPI has predicted that the Sooners will go 8-4 in their first season in the SEC with a 5.1 percent chance at winning the conference. However, that model also has the Sooners as the eighth-best team in the country with a 17.2 FPI rating.

The road will be tough in the SEC but the Sooners won’t take a backseat to anyone. They relish the challenge of football’s strongest conference. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has spent two and a half years preparing the program for this moment and for the ones to come. We’re a few weeks away from seeing if the Sooners are “SEC-ready” or not.

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UConn star Paige Bueckers lands first of its kind NIL deal with Unrivaled

Paige Bueckers becomes the first college athlete with an ownership stake in a professional sports league in first of its kind NIL deal.

Although she likely would have been among the top players selected in the 2024 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers opted to return to UConn and run it back for another season and a chance to win a national championship.

It helps that her earning potential through NIL is significant as one of the faces of college basketball, and already the star guard signed a first-of-its-kind deal with the new Unrivaled Basketball league.

Bueckers’ deal makes her the first college athlete with ownership equity in a professional league, and she is expected to play in the Unrivaled league as well as the WNBA after her college career comes to a close, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Unrivaled is a three-on-three women’s basketball league set to begin play in January of 2025. It features 30 players on six teams and was founded by former UConn teammates Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier as an alternative for WNBA stars to stay in the country and play during the offseason – rather than going overseas.

“It’s the ability for players to stay home, to be in a market like Miami where we can just be the buzz and create that with the best WNBA players,” Stewart told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “We can’t keep fighting [the WNBA’s prioritization rule]. It is a rule that takes away our choices, which should never be a thing, especially as women, but it is still a rule.”

Unrivaled plans to offer the “highest average salary in women’s professional sports league history” and has already received financial investments from the likes of Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe.

Bueckers, a two-time Big East Player of the Year, has led UConn to the Final Four three times with one national championship appearance in 2022.

NCAA to bring new NIL program to bring transparency in the sport

In an attempt to create more transparency in the NIL space, the NCAA is launching the NIL Assist program

NIL has been a polarizing topic across college sports, with players now being paid through their name image and likeness, and more in particularly, NIL collectives around the universities. With these new changes, there have been a lot of debates and uneasiness around the way collectives are run and operate.

With these changes, and in attempt for transparency or any semblance of legislation, the NCAA is unveiling the NIL Assist platform.

Sports Business Journal has all the details on the new program:

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After NCAA settlement agreement, these big changes are coming to college golf

In the past, there were no roster limits while scholarships were 4½ for men and 6 for women.

It won’t happen immediately, but there are major changes coming to college golf soon.

The NCAA, the Power Five conferences and lawyers for the plaintiffs in three antitrust cases concerning the compensation of college athletes on Friday filed documents asking a federal judge in California to provide preliminary approval of a proposed settlement that would include a nearly $2.8 billion damages pool for current and former athletes and dramatically alter other fundamental aspects of how the association’s top level of competition is governed.

Division I schools would be able to start paying athletes directly for use of their name, image and likeness (NIL), subject to a per-school cap that would increase over time.

And while athletes would continue to have the ability to make NIL deals with entities other than their schools, the settlement would allow the NCAA to institute rules designed to give the association greater enforcement oversight of those arrangements. The NCAA also would be allowed to have rules requiring athletes to make progress toward a degree in order to receive the payments proposed under the settlement.

Especially for college golf, another significant change would be roster caps. Scholarship limitations also would go away in all sports, though each sport would now be subject to roster caps. For college men’s and women’s golf, the cap will be nine players, which means schools can fund up to nine full scholarships but cannot have more than nine athletes in any given season.

In the past, there were no roster limits while scholarships were 4½ for men and 6 for women. Looking at specifically the Power 4 Conferences (SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and ACC), Oregon State men’s coach Jon Reehoorn posted on social media those roster caps would result in a reduction of about 65 spots for next year with the current numbers.

Include the rest of Division I, that number rises exponentially.

Another issue is the possible cuts coming down the road. While it may not happen initially, there are likely to be numerous sports at schools across the country to be on the chopping block because of the changes, including college golf programs.

While nothing is likely to happen in the 2024-25 season, Friday’s ruling is likely the tip of the iceberg as it comes to changes down the road in college golf.