Chipotle, Bacon, And NIL

Hey there,

Buckle up! Today’s NIL is coming in hot. We’ve got a lot going on… like a ton. Alabama’s got an NIL super-center on the way, meanwhile student-athletes’ employee designations could cause trouble on the immigration front. Oh, and maybe the funniest NIL deal to date, too.

It’s all right here.

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— Cole, Justin and Collin

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When Jim Cavale started Athletes.org in 2017, he saw the writing on the wall. He knew NIL was coming then, and wanted to create an infrastructure for athletes to deal with the money that was about to come down the pipeline. Six years later, he’s got another prediction: Revenue sharing.

“I think revenue sharing is inevitable,” Cavale said to On3, “And if college athletics leaders don’t figure out the best solution for athletes to share in media revenue, I think the government will figure it out for them.” Cavale says that Athletes.org plans to play a part in what he sees as this impending reality, starting with a professional association and local chapters wherein athletes can begin to talk about what they think they deserve in a potential deal. (More)

Porktoberfest

I know you’ve probably had “National Pork Month” circled on your calendar for a long time, but now that it’s almost “Porktober,” the Iowa Pork Producers Association has an NIL deal for you. Using the last names of Iowa State Football players, the IPPA is promoting in-state pork consumption in a creative way. Take a look:

“Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon.” Need we say more? The deal is being praised nationally as one of the best uses of NIL to date, and to be honest, we can’t help but agree. More NIL puns makes for a better world. (More)

Bama’s NIL Wonderland

Alabama may be having a down year in football, but they’re taking a huge step ahead in the NIL space. They just announced the creation of The Advantage Center, which will serve as a physical home for all NIL activities for the Crimson Tide.

The center is located within Bryant-Denny stadium, and will provide support for anything and everything revolving around NIL for ‘Bama athletes – That means podcast studios, green rooms, and educational seminars on various aspects of NIL, like personal branding.

The center will even collaborate with the university’s School of Law, although we’re not quite sure how yet. Nevertheless, it figures to be the first center of its kind, with other schools sure to follow soon. (More)

Crucial Case Captures Class-Action Status

The ruling has massive financial implications. If she certifies the financial damages classes as well, then basically every Division I athlete since 2020 could have a claim on the revenue the NCAA has accrued during that time. And it does seem as though Wilken will do just that, as she has proven sympathetic to the athletes’ side in the past. (More)

NIL’s Impact on Immigration

According to journalist Matt Brown, there could be some unintended consequences if student-athletes were eventually recognized as employees. In his column that calls the Federal government to action, he brings up how student-athlete’s worker designation could cause international students to lose their visa.

Of course, with the recent unionization efforts coming from Dartmouth, some kind of “employee” treatment is a real possibility, and that could further complicate the NIL landscape for international students.”

Of course, with the recent unionization effort coming out of Dartmouth, some kind of “employee” treatment is a real possibility, and that could further complicate the NIL landscape for international students. Even as is, most international students can’t take advantage of NIL because of potential immigration mishaps. (More)

Dunk City’s NIL Upgrade

You might remember Florida Gulf Coast University from their magical NCAA basketball tournament run over a decade ago. Well, times have changed since then, and in order to compete in today’s landscape, you’ve got to get an NIL strategy. They’re doing just that with announcing their very own NIL collective, SWFL Flight Crew.

“Players these days that are on campus doing recruiting are asking things like, ‘What the facilities look like, can I have playing time?’” said Tim Cartwright, SWFL Flight Crew’s chairman, “But now, since 2021, they’re also asking, ‘Do you have an NIL component to my overall scholarship?'”

His testimony rings true for many athletic administrators across the country who are trying desperately to stay competitive in recruiting. Times are changing, and without NIL, schools could get left in the dust. (More)

5,430 Reasons to Donate

By no means is Colorado an NIL failure… It did, however, need an overhaul. While the high-profile athletes like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will be raking in millions, in order for sustained success, Colorado needed an NIL collective to organize the rest of the money efficiently.

That’s where the 5430 Foundation comes in. The collective doesn’t have an official relationship to the university, but its goals to this point have been primarily supporting the football program.  

Imagine trying to overhaul 20 years of declining football donations, just to become the most popular team in the sport immediately. The donor base is interested, yet still skeptical – meaning that Colorado’s football future may hang on their shoulders. If they can build a long-term NIL strategy to combat donor fatigue, maybe the Buffs can become more than a flash in the pan. (More)

Bowl Games and Burrito Bowls

Chipotle has proven to be one of the most aggressive brands to pursue NIL deals as of late. Last week we told you about their deal with Clemson running back Will Shipley, which ended in a store temporarily changing its name to “Shipotle.” Well, less than a week later they’re making waves again for a national ad.

ohiostathletics

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Ohio State – excuse me, THE Ohio State — beat Notre Dame this weekend. Meanwhile, players from the team cashed in on a sweet commercial explaining why “THE” must be said in their name.

There was even speculation from fans in the comments that Chipotle was opening a store in Ohio Stadium. The ad signals the beginning of an audacious NIL advertising campaign from the company, with more national commercials soon to follow. (More)

Chase Griffin

When NIL was first introduced, there were many skeptical of how it might go. After all, giving college kids immense wealth is scary considering, well, they’re just kids. Enter Chase Griffin, who’s trying to change what’s possible with NIL.

Griffin’s resume speaks for itself: He’s on his third degree at UCLA with two years of eligibility left. He’s gotten the opportunity to work with lawmakers at both the state and national level on the best approach to NIL policy. It’s safe to say that Chase Griffin is the ideal representative of who you want NIL money going to.

As if he wasn’t presidential enough, Griffin’s also trying to alter how athletes utilize their NIL for the better. He’s been partnering with the LA Regional Food Bank to raise money in what he calls an “NIL for Good” mindset. “He’s a special young man,” UCLA head coach Chip Kelly said of Griffin, “He’s the model for what NIL is supposed to be.” (More)

♦️ Mississippi St. football coach spills the beans on NIL recruiting

♦️ Georgia QB signs with Zero FG energy drink

♦️ Everyone from Deion’s NIL powerhouse seems to be getting deals

♦️ Carmelo Anthony’s son inks underwear deal

♦️ UW receiver Rome Odunze signs on with Panini America

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will Coach Prime and Colorado bounce back with a win over USC this Saturday?

• Yes - 67%

• No - 33%