Hey there,

What a rollercoaster this past month’s been. With the transfer portal finally dying down, we’re about to enter the latter portion of the college sports calendar. It’s going to be exciting, so make sure you stay tuned in to see what’s going on.

We’re also likely on the cusp of a new compensation model, and everyone’s got a take to get off, including perhaps the most important figure in college football. It’s all coming up right here on NIL Wire. Just keep scrolling!

But before you do, we’d love to hear feedback on how we’re doing. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected] if you have thoughts on how we can improve.

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Semi-Pro Switch Up

As tensions around athlete compensation heat up, college football inches closer toward a professional model. Real speculation started in early December when the NCAA unveiled their new, bold compensation proposal.

That prompted an interesting response from Nick Saban, arguably college football’s biggest celebrity.

The Alabama figurehead said that “decisions are going to be made for business reasons, not traditional reasons,” moving forward.

He also added that “We’re moving in the sort of semi-pro direction in terms of, there’s pay-for-play now. We call it name, image and likeness, but that’s pay-for-play, basically — and I’m all for the players sharing in what’s happening.” (More)

College Commissioner Candidates?

If college football is indeed moving toward a professional model, they’ll likely need a commissioner. It’d likely have to be someone with college sports experience, business negotiation chops, and industry know-how.

No one’s perfect, but the Tampa Bay Times suggested a few hypothetical names that could be considered for the job.

Among their list of potential candidates is current Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione, UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Considering how undefined the hypothetical job is, it’s hard to tell which attributes would be most important for a successful candidate. It’s fun to speculate though. (More)

Why Carson Beck Returned to Georgia

Georgia QB Carson Beck announced his intention to return to the Bulldogs in 2024, but he made it clear that the decision had little to do with NIL.

“[NIL] was not one of the biggest factors of me coming back. Obviously, as the quarterback at Georgia, there’s going to be plenty of opportunities outside of Georgia for me to make NIL and things like that. For now, coming back and trying to win a championship with these guys and this team is so important to me.”

Beck also shot down rumors that he was looking for a $4M payday to return in 2024. “There’s a lot of numbers thrown around,” he said before insisting that he hasn’t talked with Georgia about NIL figures. (More)

WHAT’S TRENDING

Ups and Downs

• Caitlin Clark goes viral after hitting a money-making game winner over Michigan State. She’s holds the 4th most valuable NIL valuation in women’s college hoops 📈

• Drama mounts at Texas A&M after former WR Evan Stewart’s tweet seems to deflate the school’s transfer portal intrigue 📉

• Michigan’s College Football Playoff hero Roman Wilson signs an NIL deal with Crocs 📈

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Building a Brand from Scratch

The nickname is driven by her ambition, which according to him, translates directly into NIL deals. “I need you to want it as much as you wanted to be a Division I, II, III athlete,” Glynn told her, talking about what’s needed to build a brand with NIL, “I need that same level of compete factor and willingness to work hard”

Shanahan’s grind seems to be working. She’s secured deals with huge companies like Adidas and Liquid I.V. despite playing an under-publicized sport for a small school. (More)

Drinkwitz Downplays an Advantage

According to 247Sports, Missouri football boasts the 22^nd best recruiting class in the country for 2024, including a top five player in the country. Many have suggested that the state’s recent NIL law is the reason for this success, but coach Eli Drinkwitz downplayed the law’s importance.

“Really it wasn’t as big a deal as maybe it could’ve been,” he suggested about the policy that lets in-state commits start making money the moment they commit to any Missouri school.

It’s worth noting that very soon after the law was passed, the Tigers signed Williams Nwaneri, the best defensive prospect in the country, and a Missouri native. He picked Missouri over Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Oregon. (More)

COLLECTIVE 101

A Unique Fundraiser

Central Florida’s NIL collective got creative in raising donations despite the team’s end of the year skid. Instead of moving forward with their regularly scheduled donation campaign, the school ran a vote on whether to keep the tradition of singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” on game days.

The tradition is despised by some and adored by others, so they left it up to the fans: whichever side raises more NIL money will have the final say. At the end of the campaign, ending the tradition won out.

The collective had no complaints, however. They finished with $27K from the fundraiser. (More)

Connecticut Coach’s Commitment

“I got a lot of love for Seton Hall,” he said before his squad took on his alma mater in late December, “When I’m done at UConn and out of the Big East, I will give to NIL at Seton Hall.”

Seton Hall’s NIL collective is run by Jerry Walker, one of Hurley’s old teammates. “He might be 70 years old [when he’s done coaching],” Walker said of his former teammate, “But I think it’s noble for him to do something like that, to think about Seton Hall. (More)

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark is rewriting history with over 3,000 career points, 750+ rebounds, and 750+ assists— unmatched numbers in D1 history. Dubbed the 'Steph Curry of women's hoops,' her success on the court earns accolades from legends like Coach Kryzyzweski.

Her star power transcends the court, boasting a $791K NIL valuation and making history as the first college athlete to secure a deal with State Farm, standing shoulder to shoulder with sports icons like Chris Paul and Patrick Mahomes. Clark's impact isn't confined to the game; she's a trailblazer reshaping the narrative of collegiate sports.

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Charlie Baker pens a letter to student athletes

♦️ Florida State’s soccer program makes NIL pitch

♦️ Arkansas Edge names a new Director of Operations

♦️ USC hooper pitches support for the squad

♦️ CSU football coach says they are getting priced out for players

♦️ Penn State sees “passionate” turnout for basketball event

♦️ How NIL plays into G-League decisions for NBA prospects

BATTER UP

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will athletes get paid as part of an employment model in 2024?

• Yes - 61%

• No - 39%