NIL Nuggets of the Week - (3/3-3/9)
In an attempt to stay tapped into all things NIL, I've sorted through and gathered seven interesting NIL-centered news items today, the title of each section will redirect you to the initial article, as I did not translate all of the columns into this page. Just the best cliff notes.
Here is an "Ten Piece, with Ranch" to get the week's recap underway, just as two weeks ago's debut column - I will continue adding more news as the week unfolds!
Please feel free to link any informative or interesting NIL articles in this thread!
Cheers,
1. Texas Tech breaks even on expected lower athletics budget in fiscal 2024
The Texas Tech athletics department budget for fiscal year 2024 that ended on Aug. 31 returned, as expected, to a more normal range after a one-year outlier related to the major Texas Tech football facilities project.
In its annual revenue-and-expense report filed to the NCAA in January, Tech showed total operating revenues of $126,783,038 and total operating expenses of $126,712,428. The surplus was $70,610.
In the same categories the year before, Tech reported total operating revenues of $146,807,939, a record for the department, and total operating expenses of $136,364,850 for a surplus $10,443,089.
The biggest reason for the sharp increase came in contributions the department realized — $56.25 million in fiscal 2023 compared to $28.75 million in fiscal 2022 and $32.28 in fiscal 2024. That stemmed largely from Tech rolling multiple years of contributions placed into interest-bearing accounts into the 2023 fiscal year to pay down debt.
Tech's biggest sources of operating revenue in fiscal year 2024 included $36.859 million in media rights, NCAA distributions, conference distributions and conference distributions of football bowl revenue; $32.283 million in contributions; $17.059 million in royalties, licensing and advertising/sponsorships; and $16.753 million in ticket sales.
2. Oregon NIL Bill Marks Latest State Challenge to House Settlement
On the heels of West Virginia lawmakers introducing a bill that would conflict with revenue-sharing limitations in the NCAA’s pending settlement of the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations, Oregon Rep. John Lively this week introduced a bill that would conflict with the settlement’s NIL disclosure provisions.
- The House settlement contains a provision instructing that college athletes’ NIL deals with third parties worth more than $600 are subject to independent review. The review would ensure the deals aren’t disguising pay-for-play arrangements—which remain prohibited by NCAA rules—as NIL contracts.
- HB 3694 is another reminder for the NCAA that it might need to sue states to ensure the House settlement establishes a new, national arrangement for college sports.
- The Oregon and West Virginia bills aren’t unique in presenting state-based hurdles for the settlement, which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken could approve as soon as April. Other states, including Texas and Oklahoma, have laws that guarantee legal rights that pose potential conflicts with the settlement. As Wilken’s April 7 fairness hearing for the settlement nears, expect to see additional states weigh legislation designed to enhance college athletes’ economic rights in ways that go beyond, if not cut through, the settlement.
3. Senate committee approves update to Kentucky name, image likeness bill
- The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Thursday that would update Kentucky’s name, image and likeness law in response to issues that have cropped up since it was first adopted for college athletes.
- Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, a Republican from Campbellsville, seeks to tackle new issues that have emerged in the “constantly evolving” NIL landscape. Wise said the legislation would allow Kentucky to remain prepared and competitive in the new era of college sports.
- “It’s a time for us to act, and it’s a time for us to update to make sure that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our universities are not left behind when it comes to college athletics,” he said.
- SB 3 would align Kentucky’s law with national standards, allowing state universities to participate in the emerging revenue sharing model. It would also establish legal protections by providing clear guidelines that ensure fair compensation and protect the student-athletes and the institutions.
https://linknky.com/politics/frankf...il&utm_term=0_a479a5b849-7cbb4e504a-620222690
- Mitch Barnhart, athletics director at the University of Kentucky, testified that times have changed regarding NIL, and institutions are facing “choppy waters” now. He said there are 50 different states that are doing 50 different things, and continuity in laws or rules is important.
4. NCAA Trailblazer Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt Selects Athletez PR for NIL Representation
- Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia – the reigning SEC Newcomer of the Year, who led the Commodores to a historic season in 2024 – has signed with AthleteZ PR for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) representation.
- Founded by sports marketing veteran Megan Curry, AthleteZ PR is an agency built for the Gen Z athlete, elevating clients’ personal brands, unlocking exclusive opportunities and maximizing their impact across partnerships, media and events. Nashville-based Curry and team will exclusively represent Pavia for all NIL endeavors.
- “This past year has definitely been a whirlwind for me and I am blessed for another season with my teammates at Vanderbilt,” Pavia said. “As I look to continue to share my story and connect with brands and media, it was an easy decision to partner with Megan and AthleteZ PR to help me navigate the space. Football and my studies are still the priorities, but in regards to building my brand, I am open for business!”
- “We designed AthleteZ specifically to move the Name, Image, and Likeness era forward,” Curry added. “There is no better student-athlete to collaborate with than Diego, a polarizing force both on and off the field. While there’s no doubt that his impact on college sports has broken barriers, he also brings a complex and genuine personality that is impossible not to love. We look forward to supporting him in all of his passions as he prepares for his final season at Vanderbilt and beyond. The landscape truly isn’t ready for what is to come from this trailblazer.”
5. Ole Miss’ new, fancy $5M Founders Suites available in 2027
- Ole Miss Athletics is set to elevate the fan experience at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the introduction of Founders Suites, a high-end premium seating option priced at $5 million per suite.
- After an email was sent out recently explaining about the new Founders Suites, the news spread quickly on social media about Ole Miss’ new initiative to generate additional revenue in response to the impending revenue-sharing model with student-athletes.
- The Founders Suites require an initial payment of $2.5 million upfront, with the remaining balance due before the 2027 football season kicks off. Each suite offers 24 seats—16 outdoor and eight indoor—with the option to purchase up to eight standing-room-only tickets, bringing the maximum capacity to 32
- Denson Hollis, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Chief Executive Officer, said the new suite options will help generate revenue. “College athletics is changing every day, and with revenue sharing coming soon, athletic departments nationwide are looking for new ways to generate revenue,” he said. “Other schools have introduced similar luxury options—Southern Cal built 20 suites at $10 million each, Texas A&M priced theirs at $12 million, and Alabama’s suites go for $5 million.”
- Hollis said there is currently a 100-person waiting list for premium seating.
6. What would 2025 NFL draft prospects change about college football?
- This year’s NFL draft prospects have experienced seismic shifts in college football during their careers
- “I don’t have a problem with NIL and the transfer portal and whatnot, but probably just figure out a way to make it more organized,” former Michigan edge Josaiah Stewart said at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “Not just guys leaving left or right and getting paid out of high school, but just (finding) a way to keep it organized.”
- “I do think the NIL thing is kind of getting a little out of hand,” said tight end CJ Dippre, who played his first two years at Maryland before transferring to Alabama for his final two seasons. “I was in the portal. I got NIL money, but I think it’s kind of getting away from the main focus of football. There’s people making too much money. How do you look at somebody getting more money and then you’re playing more? I think it’s leveling the playing field, but there still needs to be a lot more restrictions than there are now.”
- “I would say it’s kind of like a free fall right now with all the portal and the money and stuff,” Alabama safety Malachi Moore said. “But I feel like that might be a question for somebody else. I really don’t have too much insight on that.”
- Michigan tight end Colston Loveland suggested adding restrictions to the portal. “Find out somehow to put a limit on the portal, how many times people can enter the portal,” he said. “But I believe the portal is good for some situations. People thrive off hitting the portal, going to a team and having a successful career. But I feel like sometimes people kind of lose sight of what it is. I feel like it’s good to kind of stick it out sometimes and learn from those experiences.”
- “Maybe just have the playoff games a little sooner so we have more opportunity, for the guys who go on the national championship runs, to prepare for the combine and stuff like that,” OSU safety Lathan Ransom said. “But other than that, I had an amazing amount of fun this year.”
- Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong would like to see the NCAA adapt a gameplay rule from the NFL. In college, a player is automatically ruled down if any part of their body other than their hands or feet touches the ground, regardless of contact from an opponent. That isn’t the case in the NFL. “If you slip and fall down and nobody is around you, you can get up and run,” Armstrong suggested.
7. South Carolina Hosts Gamecock NIL Summit
- Local businesses took in a “NIL 101” Monday night as South Carolina Athletics held its first Gamecock NIL Summit at the Cockaboose Club inside Williams-Brice Stadium. The event gave area businesses an opportunity to learn more about maximizing their opportunities in partnering with student-athletes as well as what may be occurring in the near future as it pertains to Name, Image, and Likeness.
- “We’ve been having a lot of conversations about how we start to introduce this concept of commercial NIL to our ecosystem with what will be a post-House Settlement world,” said Executive Associate Athletics Director Hilary Cox, who oversees South Carolina’s NIL efforts. The House vs. NCAA settlement is an agreement that compensates former student-athletes and establishes a revenue-sharing model between schools and current student-athletes. The final ruling is set to come down on April 7. “We want them to leave here with some plans on how to work with our student-athletes in the future. We want the businesses to understand the importance of it and have some ideas as they move forward on how to do it.”
- “We want to drum up business on the commercial NIL side for businesses that may have been thinking about it, but haven’t done it yet,” Cox said. “We also want them to reach out to their friends and other businesses to tell them how they found success with this and how it worked for them.”
8. How (Austin Native and) LSU’s Trace Young navigates the NIL game
- You’re from Austin, Texas, and started college at Colorado State University. What went into your decision to transfer to LSU?
"When I took that leap of faith and entered the portal, I knew I was going to sacrifice all the playing time I earned at Colorado State. But that was something that I was OK with because I didn’t really see myself pursuing basketball long after college. I just wanted to go somewhere where I could be the best version of myself. When Coach (Matt) McMahon was telling me all about the culture and the fan base, that was really appealing to me. I love basketball and it’s a big part of my life, but there are so many other things I love doing. As I’ve matured and grown in my walk with Christ, I’ve realized that basketball really is a small part of who I am."
- What is your process like when you get a branding or NIL opportunity?
"At first when the NIL laws changed, I was trying to handle everything on my own. It was kind of overwhelming because I had a lot of people reaching out with different deliverables and contracts. The biggest thing for me was remaining true to who I am. I’ve had to turn down a lot of things. If the money is really, really good, but I’m promoting vaping or nicotine or something like that, it’s not worth me sacrificing the platform and the followers to promote something I don’t believe in. I’ve also accepted deals that are not even close to my going rates, or even do some promotions for free, if it’s something like a startup or aligns with my values."
9. Nevada athletics posts an almost $600,000 deficit in FY24; UNLV digs a $20.9 million hole
- Nevada Sports Net obtained the Wolf Pack's 2024 fiscal year financial report through a public records request, which shows the Wolf Pack producing $53,329,304 in revenue against $53,916,557 in expenses. That marks the largest budget in program history, more than $4.4 million higher than the prior year. However, Nevada turned a deficit of $587,253 in fiscal year 2024. It is the sixth time since 2010 that Nevada athletics has run a deficit of $500,000 or more.
- However, Nevada's 2024 fiscal year deficit is tame compared to that of UNLV, which is expected to report to the Board of Regents this week a $20.891 million deficit in 2024. The Rebels annual fiscal year report included revenue of $50,796,087 against expenses of $71,687,510 in fiscal year 2024, creating a $20,891,423 deficit. UNLV began the year with a $6,023,848 self-reported deficit from the previous fiscal year, building a two-year deficit of almost $27 million.
- We were $110,000 away from hitting rev share this year (through Learfield). So, that's a huge positive. The expectation next year is we hit rev share so anything above what they sell we will get more revenue, which is a positive. And then royalties. This year, we had a check for one quarter of $70,000 for the EA Sports game, which was fun. And royalties are up because of all of our local partnerships."
10. NIL contracts have employment and pay-for-play all over them, experts say
- NCAA schools are going to contractual extremes when it comes to the name, image and likeness deals that they are now signing in the expected new era of direct college payments to athletes. The deals, which could become effective this summer, are designed to be generous enough so athletes will commit to a school but also stringent enough to stop the constant churn of transfers that has introduced upheaval in college sports.
- Along the way, school lawyers are constructing NIL contracts to exert control over athletes without making them official college employees. But experts who reviewed a sampling of more than a dozen NIL contracts obtained by ESPN said the deals bear the hallmarks of employment contracts.
- The contracts "cross those red lines very clearly," said Michael LeRoy, a law professor at the University of Illinois who has researched employment law in the context of college sports for more than a decade. "It's employment on its face. There's no masking it."
- The documents ESPN obtained include full contracts, memorandums of understanding and templates that the Big Ten and SEC, the country's two most powerful and wealthy leagues, provided to their members as suggestions for how to craft deals with their players
- In bold letters, the contract states the arrangement is not "pay for play," but it also states that the school may reduce or increase an athlete's payment depending on the athlete's playing time or performance.
- The schools argue that the value of athletes' NIL -- that is, the product sold in this transaction -- is impacted by their performance on the field, according to people familiar with the schools' contract-drafting process. In other words, the athletes must be playing -- and in some cases playing at a certain standard -- for their NIL rights to be worth the school's payment offer.
- Many of the contracts reviewed by ESPN create financial penalties if players move to break a deal early, yet they allow the schools wide discretion to change the terms of a deal or cancel it fully without penalty.
- The implication is that a player deemed healthy and eligible may not opt out of participating. Such provisions, Heitner said, make it clear that athletes are being paid to play or could suffer financial consequences for failure to play.
- In NFL contracts, players also sign over the right for teams and leagues to use their name, image and likeness in any material promoting the sport. Unlike the college contracts, NFL contracts do not allow the teams to sublicense a player's NIL for use in any promotions for a commercial product. Unlike college athletes, NFL players are employees with collective bargaining rights.
Cody's Thoughts: MUST READ COLUMN
11. Ohio State faces an unprecedented recruiting battle for Chris Henry Jr. as West Coast schools offer 'stipend' to lure him away
- The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a commitment from Chris Henry Jr. for the last year and a half, and he's been steadfast in saying that he's locked in with the program as long as Brian Hartline is with the team. Hartline was promoted to play-calling offensive coordinator this offseason, but Henry has been receiving continued attention from Oregon, USC, Georgia, and Miami.
- Living an hour and a half from USC, OSU Inside Jeremy Birmingham has heard that "some schools are already offering to pay a monthly stipend to Chris Henry now to get ahead of NIL."
- Birmingham noted this isn't legal, but California has rules that are different from those of other states, namely Florida. Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes' current freak phenom at receiver, came from Florida before the 2024 season.
- "There are probably loopholes that make it legal. It's illegal to use NIL as a recruiting inducement, but the high school athletes can be paid in California."
- While the Buckeyes can promise the world to Henry, he still has to wait eight months before cashing in. That's a long time for Ohio State to be forced to sit tight while USC or others make up ground.
12. South Carolina Football Coach Shane Beamer testified yesterday on Capitol Hill alongside Justin Falcinelli (VP of College Football Players Association)
In an attempt to stay tapped into all things NIL, I've sorted through and gathered seven interesting NIL-centered news items today, the title of each section will redirect you to the initial article, as I did not translate all of the columns into this page. Just the best cliff notes.
Here is an "Ten Piece, with Ranch" to get the week's recap underway, just as two weeks ago's debut column - I will continue adding more news as the week unfolds!
Please feel free to link any informative or interesting NIL articles in this thread!
Cheers,
1. Texas Tech breaks even on expected lower athletics budget in fiscal 2024
The Texas Tech athletics department budget for fiscal year 2024 that ended on Aug. 31 returned, as expected, to a more normal range after a one-year outlier related to the major Texas Tech football facilities project.
In its annual revenue-and-expense report filed to the NCAA in January, Tech showed total operating revenues of $126,783,038 and total operating expenses of $126,712,428. The surplus was $70,610.
In the same categories the year before, Tech reported total operating revenues of $146,807,939, a record for the department, and total operating expenses of $136,364,850 for a surplus $10,443,089.
The biggest reason for the sharp increase came in contributions the department realized — $56.25 million in fiscal 2023 compared to $28.75 million in fiscal 2022 and $32.28 in fiscal 2024. That stemmed largely from Tech rolling multiple years of contributions placed into interest-bearing accounts into the 2023 fiscal year to pay down debt.
Tech's biggest sources of operating revenue in fiscal year 2024 included $36.859 million in media rights, NCAA distributions, conference distributions and conference distributions of football bowl revenue; $32.283 million in contributions; $17.059 million in royalties, licensing and advertising/sponsorships; and $16.753 million in ticket sales.
2. Oregon NIL Bill Marks Latest State Challenge to House Settlement
On the heels of West Virginia lawmakers introducing a bill that would conflict with revenue-sharing limitations in the NCAA’s pending settlement of the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations, Oregon Rep. John Lively this week introduced a bill that would conflict with the settlement’s NIL disclosure provisions.
- The House settlement contains a provision instructing that college athletes’ NIL deals with third parties worth more than $600 are subject to independent review. The review would ensure the deals aren’t disguising pay-for-play arrangements—which remain prohibited by NCAA rules—as NIL contracts.
- HB 3694 is another reminder for the NCAA that it might need to sue states to ensure the House settlement establishes a new, national arrangement for college sports.
- The Oregon and West Virginia bills aren’t unique in presenting state-based hurdles for the settlement, which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken could approve as soon as April. Other states, including Texas and Oklahoma, have laws that guarantee legal rights that pose potential conflicts with the settlement. As Wilken’s April 7 fairness hearing for the settlement nears, expect to see additional states weigh legislation designed to enhance college athletes’ economic rights in ways that go beyond, if not cut through, the settlement.
3. Senate committee approves update to Kentucky name, image likeness bill
- The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Thursday that would update Kentucky’s name, image and likeness law in response to issues that have cropped up since it was first adopted for college athletes.
- Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, a Republican from Campbellsville, seeks to tackle new issues that have emerged in the “constantly evolving” NIL landscape. Wise said the legislation would allow Kentucky to remain prepared and competitive in the new era of college sports.
- “It’s a time for us to act, and it’s a time for us to update to make sure that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our universities are not left behind when it comes to college athletics,” he said.
- SB 3 would align Kentucky’s law with national standards, allowing state universities to participate in the emerging revenue sharing model. It would also establish legal protections by providing clear guidelines that ensure fair compensation and protect the student-athletes and the institutions.
https://linknky.com/politics/frankf...il&utm_term=0_a479a5b849-7cbb4e504a-620222690
- Mitch Barnhart, athletics director at the University of Kentucky, testified that times have changed regarding NIL, and institutions are facing “choppy waters” now. He said there are 50 different states that are doing 50 different things, and continuity in laws or rules is important.
4. NCAA Trailblazer Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt Selects Athletez PR for NIL Representation
- Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia – the reigning SEC Newcomer of the Year, who led the Commodores to a historic season in 2024 – has signed with AthleteZ PR for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) representation.
- Founded by sports marketing veteran Megan Curry, AthleteZ PR is an agency built for the Gen Z athlete, elevating clients’ personal brands, unlocking exclusive opportunities and maximizing their impact across partnerships, media and events. Nashville-based Curry and team will exclusively represent Pavia for all NIL endeavors.
- “This past year has definitely been a whirlwind for me and I am blessed for another season with my teammates at Vanderbilt,” Pavia said. “As I look to continue to share my story and connect with brands and media, it was an easy decision to partner with Megan and AthleteZ PR to help me navigate the space. Football and my studies are still the priorities, but in regards to building my brand, I am open for business!”
- “We designed AthleteZ specifically to move the Name, Image, and Likeness era forward,” Curry added. “There is no better student-athlete to collaborate with than Diego, a polarizing force both on and off the field. While there’s no doubt that his impact on college sports has broken barriers, he also brings a complex and genuine personality that is impossible not to love. We look forward to supporting him in all of his passions as he prepares for his final season at Vanderbilt and beyond. The landscape truly isn’t ready for what is to come from this trailblazer.”
5. Ole Miss’ new, fancy $5M Founders Suites available in 2027
- Ole Miss Athletics is set to elevate the fan experience at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the introduction of Founders Suites, a high-end premium seating option priced at $5 million per suite.
- After an email was sent out recently explaining about the new Founders Suites, the news spread quickly on social media about Ole Miss’ new initiative to generate additional revenue in response to the impending revenue-sharing model with student-athletes.
- The Founders Suites require an initial payment of $2.5 million upfront, with the remaining balance due before the 2027 football season kicks off. Each suite offers 24 seats—16 outdoor and eight indoor—with the option to purchase up to eight standing-room-only tickets, bringing the maximum capacity to 32
- Denson Hollis, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Chief Executive Officer, said the new suite options will help generate revenue. “College athletics is changing every day, and with revenue sharing coming soon, athletic departments nationwide are looking for new ways to generate revenue,” he said. “Other schools have introduced similar luxury options—Southern Cal built 20 suites at $10 million each, Texas A&M priced theirs at $12 million, and Alabama’s suites go for $5 million.”
- Hollis said there is currently a 100-person waiting list for premium seating.
6. What would 2025 NFL draft prospects change about college football?
- This year’s NFL draft prospects have experienced seismic shifts in college football during their careers
- “I don’t have a problem with NIL and the transfer portal and whatnot, but probably just figure out a way to make it more organized,” former Michigan edge Josaiah Stewart said at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “Not just guys leaving left or right and getting paid out of high school, but just (finding) a way to keep it organized.”
- “I do think the NIL thing is kind of getting a little out of hand,” said tight end CJ Dippre, who played his first two years at Maryland before transferring to Alabama for his final two seasons. “I was in the portal. I got NIL money, but I think it’s kind of getting away from the main focus of football. There’s people making too much money. How do you look at somebody getting more money and then you’re playing more? I think it’s leveling the playing field, but there still needs to be a lot more restrictions than there are now.”
- “I would say it’s kind of like a free fall right now with all the portal and the money and stuff,” Alabama safety Malachi Moore said. “But I feel like that might be a question for somebody else. I really don’t have too much insight on that.”
- Michigan tight end Colston Loveland suggested adding restrictions to the portal. “Find out somehow to put a limit on the portal, how many times people can enter the portal,” he said. “But I believe the portal is good for some situations. People thrive off hitting the portal, going to a team and having a successful career. But I feel like sometimes people kind of lose sight of what it is. I feel like it’s good to kind of stick it out sometimes and learn from those experiences.”
- “Maybe just have the playoff games a little sooner so we have more opportunity, for the guys who go on the national championship runs, to prepare for the combine and stuff like that,” OSU safety Lathan Ransom said. “But other than that, I had an amazing amount of fun this year.”
- Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong would like to see the NCAA adapt a gameplay rule from the NFL. In college, a player is automatically ruled down if any part of their body other than their hands or feet touches the ground, regardless of contact from an opponent. That isn’t the case in the NFL. “If you slip and fall down and nobody is around you, you can get up and run,” Armstrong suggested.
7. South Carolina Hosts Gamecock NIL Summit
- Local businesses took in a “NIL 101” Monday night as South Carolina Athletics held its first Gamecock NIL Summit at the Cockaboose Club inside Williams-Brice Stadium. The event gave area businesses an opportunity to learn more about maximizing their opportunities in partnering with student-athletes as well as what may be occurring in the near future as it pertains to Name, Image, and Likeness.
- “We’ve been having a lot of conversations about how we start to introduce this concept of commercial NIL to our ecosystem with what will be a post-House Settlement world,” said Executive Associate Athletics Director Hilary Cox, who oversees South Carolina’s NIL efforts. The House vs. NCAA settlement is an agreement that compensates former student-athletes and establishes a revenue-sharing model between schools and current student-athletes. The final ruling is set to come down on April 7. “We want them to leave here with some plans on how to work with our student-athletes in the future. We want the businesses to understand the importance of it and have some ideas as they move forward on how to do it.”
- “We want to drum up business on the commercial NIL side for businesses that may have been thinking about it, but haven’t done it yet,” Cox said. “We also want them to reach out to their friends and other businesses to tell them how they found success with this and how it worked for them.”
8. How (Austin Native and) LSU’s Trace Young navigates the NIL game
- You’re from Austin, Texas, and started college at Colorado State University. What went into your decision to transfer to LSU?
"When I took that leap of faith and entered the portal, I knew I was going to sacrifice all the playing time I earned at Colorado State. But that was something that I was OK with because I didn’t really see myself pursuing basketball long after college. I just wanted to go somewhere where I could be the best version of myself. When Coach (Matt) McMahon was telling me all about the culture and the fan base, that was really appealing to me. I love basketball and it’s a big part of my life, but there are so many other things I love doing. As I’ve matured and grown in my walk with Christ, I’ve realized that basketball really is a small part of who I am."
- What is your process like when you get a branding or NIL opportunity?
"At first when the NIL laws changed, I was trying to handle everything on my own. It was kind of overwhelming because I had a lot of people reaching out with different deliverables and contracts. The biggest thing for me was remaining true to who I am. I’ve had to turn down a lot of things. If the money is really, really good, but I’m promoting vaping or nicotine or something like that, it’s not worth me sacrificing the platform and the followers to promote something I don’t believe in. I’ve also accepted deals that are not even close to my going rates, or even do some promotions for free, if it’s something like a startup or aligns with my values."
9. Nevada athletics posts an almost $600,000 deficit in FY24; UNLV digs a $20.9 million hole
- Nevada Sports Net obtained the Wolf Pack's 2024 fiscal year financial report through a public records request, which shows the Wolf Pack producing $53,329,304 in revenue against $53,916,557 in expenses. That marks the largest budget in program history, more than $4.4 million higher than the prior year. However, Nevada turned a deficit of $587,253 in fiscal year 2024. It is the sixth time since 2010 that Nevada athletics has run a deficit of $500,000 or more.
- However, Nevada's 2024 fiscal year deficit is tame compared to that of UNLV, which is expected to report to the Board of Regents this week a $20.891 million deficit in 2024. The Rebels annual fiscal year report included revenue of $50,796,087 against expenses of $71,687,510 in fiscal year 2024, creating a $20,891,423 deficit. UNLV began the year with a $6,023,848 self-reported deficit from the previous fiscal year, building a two-year deficit of almost $27 million.
- We were $110,000 away from hitting rev share this year (through Learfield). So, that's a huge positive. The expectation next year is we hit rev share so anything above what they sell we will get more revenue, which is a positive. And then royalties. This year, we had a check for one quarter of $70,000 for the EA Sports game, which was fun. And royalties are up because of all of our local partnerships."
10. NIL contracts have employment and pay-for-play all over them, experts say
- NCAA schools are going to contractual extremes when it comes to the name, image and likeness deals that they are now signing in the expected new era of direct college payments to athletes. The deals, which could become effective this summer, are designed to be generous enough so athletes will commit to a school but also stringent enough to stop the constant churn of transfers that has introduced upheaval in college sports.
- Along the way, school lawyers are constructing NIL contracts to exert control over athletes without making them official college employees. But experts who reviewed a sampling of more than a dozen NIL contracts obtained by ESPN said the deals bear the hallmarks of employment contracts.
- The contracts "cross those red lines very clearly," said Michael LeRoy, a law professor at the University of Illinois who has researched employment law in the context of college sports for more than a decade. "It's employment on its face. There's no masking it."
- The documents ESPN obtained include full contracts, memorandums of understanding and templates that the Big Ten and SEC, the country's two most powerful and wealthy leagues, provided to their members as suggestions for how to craft deals with their players
- In bold letters, the contract states the arrangement is not "pay for play," but it also states that the school may reduce or increase an athlete's payment depending on the athlete's playing time or performance.
- The schools argue that the value of athletes' NIL -- that is, the product sold in this transaction -- is impacted by their performance on the field, according to people familiar with the schools' contract-drafting process. In other words, the athletes must be playing -- and in some cases playing at a certain standard -- for their NIL rights to be worth the school's payment offer.
- Many of the contracts reviewed by ESPN create financial penalties if players move to break a deal early, yet they allow the schools wide discretion to change the terms of a deal or cancel it fully without penalty.
- The implication is that a player deemed healthy and eligible may not opt out of participating. Such provisions, Heitner said, make it clear that athletes are being paid to play or could suffer financial consequences for failure to play.
- In NFL contracts, players also sign over the right for teams and leagues to use their name, image and likeness in any material promoting the sport. Unlike the college contracts, NFL contracts do not allow the teams to sublicense a player's NIL for use in any promotions for a commercial product. Unlike college athletes, NFL players are employees with collective bargaining rights.
Cody's Thoughts: MUST READ COLUMN
11. Ohio State faces an unprecedented recruiting battle for Chris Henry Jr. as West Coast schools offer 'stipend' to lure him away
- The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a commitment from Chris Henry Jr. for the last year and a half, and he's been steadfast in saying that he's locked in with the program as long as Brian Hartline is with the team. Hartline was promoted to play-calling offensive coordinator this offseason, but Henry has been receiving continued attention from Oregon, USC, Georgia, and Miami.
- Living an hour and a half from USC, OSU Inside Jeremy Birmingham has heard that "some schools are already offering to pay a monthly stipend to Chris Henry now to get ahead of NIL."
- Birmingham noted this isn't legal, but California has rules that are different from those of other states, namely Florida. Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes' current freak phenom at receiver, came from Florida before the 2024 season.
- "There are probably loopholes that make it legal. It's illegal to use NIL as a recruiting inducement, but the high school athletes can be paid in California."
- While the Buckeyes can promise the world to Henry, he still has to wait eight months before cashing in. That's a long time for Ohio State to be forced to sit tight while USC or others make up ground.
12. South Carolina Football Coach Shane Beamer testified yesterday on Capitol Hill alongside Justin Falcinelli (VP of College Football Players Association)
Last edited:
