NIL collectives have become one of the most important aspects of college football, as they heavily influence the success a team can have not only in recruiting but in keeping players on the roster.
On3’s Pete Nakos recently ranked the top 20 most ambitious NIL collectives, which “analyzes the most pressing issues nationally with an eye on Year 3 of college athletics’ modern athlete compensation model.”
The Longhorns’ collective came in at No. 4 behind Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Oregon. Nakos cited that the two Texas schools are taking advantage and maximizing the state laws in place.
Similar to Texas A&M, they have embraced the new state law. The Texas athletic department announced earlier this month that current members of the Longhorn Foundation will earn loyalty points for any donations to the NIL collective starting July 1. With donor fatigue remaining an ever-present issue for collectives, this will give boosters a tangible return on investment.
If there’s any questions remaining about viability, look at the collectives that came together to form the Texas One Fund. Clark Field Collective announced an initial commitment of $10 million at its launch. Horns with Heart generated headlines with its plan to pay each offensive lineman $50,000 a year. Everyone is in unison in Austin, including the donors.
Texas’ success off the field has clearly helped translate to on-field success, and as Longhorn fans are well aware, the 2023 season could be the year everything comes together on the field.