Hey there,

The New Year is off to a great start, and we’re thankful you’ve decided to spend it with us. We’re here to deliver you updates from around the NIL world — like how Alabama’s bouncing back from their semi-finals loss, and whether there really is truth to some of these wild NIL valuations. It’s all coming up now.

Before that though… we think we’re pretty great, but we’re not perfect. We’d love to hear feedback on anything and everything about our newsletter. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected].

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Pump the Breaks

Because of how hard it is to find real data on the current NIL market, it’s becoming increasingly important to keep tabs on what’s true and untrue within the NIL valuation rumor mill. Many industry leaders are casting doubt on some reports that have made news this year.

Jason Belzar, head of Student Athlete NIL, recently called the alleged $20M price tag for Marvin Harrison Jr. “Absolute bull––”. A Power 5 collective operator shot down Matt Rhule’s notion that QBs cost a couple million dollars in the portal, saying that Rhule’s words were “completely made up.”

The reality is that valuation figures are highly subjective. There’s a ton of factors that go into the actual value of someone’s NIL, and with very few publicly available data sources, industry leaders are trying more than ever to reign in the hype. (More)

New Lobbyist Joins Collectives

To this point, collectives have been more or less shut out of the legal conversations around Name, Image, and Likeness.

That’s why The Collective Association (TCA) – a trade organization comprised of NIL collectives from across the country – recently chose former Nike lobbyist Jesse McCollum to advocate for them in the nation’s capital.

McCollum was brought on just before the NCAA unveiled their new compensation model, which would lessen the power of NIL collectives. (More)

Athenian Athlete Signs with New Balance

Track and Field is emerging as a profitable investment market for brands, which is why NIL is exploding at the college level. Take Graham Blanks as an example, who just signed a deal with New Balance.

The reigning cross country champion currently attends Harvard. For New Year’s Eve, Blanks and his new sponsorship partner hosted a three-mile run in the runner’s hometown of Athens, Georgia.

Graham, the first Ivy Leaguer to win the NCAA Cross Country championship. has his eyes set on the Olympics now. (More)

BEST PRACTICES

Building a Brand Identity

Deciding on how to brand yourself as an NIL athlete can be challenging. There are literally endless possibilities for how to present yourself to potential sponsors, so here’s a few things to keep in mind when building your brand.

1. Be yourself, but more

   • Brands want to see the real you. At the same time, they want to see a lot of the real you. Whatever non-sports interests you have, be open to making that part of your brand identity.

2. Pick deals you’re proud of

   • Don’t force yourself into a sponsorship. If you don’t believe in a product or service, simply don’t take the deal. It’ll be better for everyone in the long run if you’re excited about who you’re partnering with!

3. Brand Continuity

   • Some NIL deals make a player look tough. Others, fun-loving. On and off of the field/court, you’re developing a public persona, so try to create continuity between your public perception and the brands you work with.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Is Arch’s Valuation Off?

“I'm not involved with my NIL,” he said “You would have to ask my dad about that.” He quickly added that he does not think he’s making more than NFL quarterbacks, countering a rumor that’s been swirling around.

“All this NIL stuff is BS,” Arch’s father Cooper said of his son, “People just make up numbers… Don’t believe what you read.” (More)

Campus Ink-ing a Deal

The brain-trust behind the NIL Store just made an industry shaking move. Campus Ink, which runs school-specific NIL shops around the country, has partnered with OnIt Athlete to launch NIL trading cards. The goal is to launch trading cards for players at each school.

 “Campus Ink is committed to providing a diverse array of NIL revenue opportunities for athletes while continuing to contribute significant royalties on every sale,” CEO & Co-Founder of Campus Ink Steven Farag said about the deal, “OnIt has proven to be NIL’s leader in trading card collectibles.” (More)

COLLECTIVE 101

Rallying the Troops

After a heartbreaking loss to Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals, it didn’t take long for Alabama to revamp their NIL efforts. The school’s NIL collective, Yea Alabama, posted a video urging fans to donate and restore the Tide to the top of the college football totem pole.

“Take that bitter disappointment you have and let’s move into using it for good for NIL,” said Aaron Suttles, director of content for the collective.

If Alabama’s fanbase is anything like Florida State’s, they can capitalize on their late-season letdown by turning that raw emotion into NIL donations. (More)

Demon Deacon Drinkin’

NIL collectives across the country continue to partner with alcohol companies for an NIL boost, making it one of the most effective NIL strategies to date. Wake Forest hasn’t exactly been an NIL giant to date, so the initiative seeks to set the school up for success in the ACC. (More)

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Eve Doudican

Eve Doudican, the Cheer and Stunt Star at Dallas Baptist University, isn't just captivating audiences with her breathtaking flips—she's forging a new path. Leveraging her platform, Eve has secured meaningful NIL deals with brands like Chicken N Pickle, Hally Hair, and Fluid Nutrition.

Using Opendorse Marketplace as her launchpad, Eve's partnerships reflect her values, inspiring others to embrace their dreams alongside her.

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Five-star wideout sticks with Ohio State despite NIL push from rivals

♦️ Caitlin Clark stars in State Farm commercial

♦️ Pitt coach tries not to talk NIL during player recruitment

♦️ Wisconsin’s chancellor doesn’t want to pay college athletes

♦️ How will NIL look in the 12-team playoff era?

♦️ Maryland basketball coach talks about how the portal has changed his job

♦️ Ole Miss AD thinks they’ve done better on NIL than their peers

BATTER UP

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Taking all factors into account (money, fandom, ect...) which of the newly formed Power Four conferences is the best for maximizing a player's NIL?

• Big 12 - 26%

• Big 10 - 28%

• SEC - 31%

• ACC - 15%