🏅 Dartmouth Makes History

Teaming up with

Hey there,

NIL is just like college football: each week, there’s winners and losers. For example, winners of the week included Dartmouth’s union effort, Pizza franchise owners, and Jeopardy. On the other hand, losers of the week included Charlie Baker, Arch Manning fans, and the NCAA’s historic amateurism arguments. If you’re confused — that’s okay. Keep reading and you’ll get all caught up.

While we have you, you should really check out our sponsor today, Influxer. If you love what we do here, please go see for yourself how they’re changing the NIL game.

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Questions? Comments? Concerns? Hit us up at [email protected] to give us feedback. Now for the news!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Dartmouth Basketball votes on Union

After a months-long battle for the right to do so, Dartmouth’s men’s basketball team officially voted to unionize on Tuesday. The vote, which was supervised by the NLRB, passed with a 13-2 count. The school has five days to file an objection. 

The vote represents an important shift in the grand narrative surrounding student-athlete compensation. If the union is officially established, which seems very likely, it will be the first collegiate athlete union in the country’s history. 

The union’s organizers, Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil, have also expressed their desire to form an Ivy League Players Association. “The Ivy League is where the whole scandalous model of nearly free labor in college sports was born,” said SEIU Union president Mary Kay Henry about the vote, “And that is where it is going to die.” (More)

Arch Manning Opts Out

EA sports announced that over 10,000 student-athletes have accepted NIL offers to appear in this summer’s new college football video game. However, one notable name declined the offer: Texas second-string QB Arch Manning.

According to a report, Manning declined the offer so that he could channel his focus onto the field for Texas this season. The Longhorns’ starting QB Quinn Ewers opted in, along with other college football stars like Jalen Milroe, Travis Hunter, and Jaxson Dart.

It’s unlikely Manning will be the only holdout, however. Caleb Williams floated that he may opt out earlier this fall, suggesting that the more talented players should receive more money. “It’s like if you go to school and you are a straight-A student and there’s another kid whose gets B’s or B-minuses,” the Heisman winner explained, “How fair would it be if you get the same grade as him?... That’s how I look at that [EA] game.” (More)

Charlie Baker Halts NIL Investigations

NCAA President Charlie Baker was forced to pause all investigations into NIL collectives as a result of the Tennessee/Virginia lawsuit’s preliminary injunction ruling. He sent a memo to schools late last week notifying them of the development. 

“In response to this latest order, the Division I Board of Directors directed NCAA enforcement staff to pause and not begin investigations involving third-party participation in NIL-related activities,” the memo said, “There will be no penalty for conduct that occurs consistent with the injunction while the injunction is in place.”

He then pleaded schools not to outsource their solutions to the courts, saying “A D-I meeting room, not a courtroom, is the best place to change NCAA policy.” (More)

Teaming up with

Influxer has emerged as the a leader in the realm of NIL merchandise. 

With an impressive roster of over 250 universities and a 7,800 student-athletes, the team is revolutionizing the co-branded NIL gear market. From tees and hoodies to long sleeves and comfortable crewnecks, Influxer has it all. And that's not all - they are soon set to unveil an exciting addition to their collection: jerseys!

But Influxer's commitment to student-athletes goes beyond just merchandise. They are dedicated to providing additional opportunities, evident in their employment of over 70 student-athletes for internships.

Simultaneously, the team is working on an app that will serve as the ultimate NIL portal. This game-changing platform will offer live sales and royalty tracking for both student-athletes and administration, a dynamic marketplace for student-athletes and brands to collaborate, comprehensive NIL education, and even career placement capabilities.

In 2024, Influxer is taking things to the next level. They are focusing on expanded rollouts, enticing sponsorship opportunities, strategic bookstore partnerships, captivating pop-up shops, and a plethora of other exciting ventures. The possibilities are endless!

If you're eager to learn more about what Influxer can offer, click here and reach out today. The future of NIL merchandise and student-athlete empowerment awaits!

WHAT’S TRENDING

Ups and Downs

• Jeopardy had an NIL section in it’s Tournament of Champions, and the contestants got 4 out of 5 right. Can you do better? Click here to play along with the questions! 📈

• Deion Sanders drove a 51% jump in Colorado’s multimedia revenue, according to a new report. Prime Time Madness is here to stay. 📈

• Rob Dillingham just signed a deal with basketball apparel brand Crossover Culture. The Kentucky hooper seems primed to leap even higher from his current top 10 NIL valuation in college basketball. 📈

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Caitlin is Printing Cash

Nike, a longtime supporter of Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark, decided to pay tribute to her all-time scoring record by releasing a video and merchandise to celebrate the milestone. The video, which you can see below, runs through a laundry list of accomplishments that have made her a college hoops legend.

The NIL merchandise they’re selling will likely make Clark a lot of money as well. Shirts, which feature Clark shooting a long-range jumper, say “This was never a long shot” on the front. They’re currently selling for just under $35 on the Nike website.

Nike isn’t the only one getting in on Caitlin Clark mania. She just signed a deal with Gainbridge, who just so happens to be a key sponsor for the Indiana Fever. For those not plugged into the WNBA, the Fever currently hold the #1 pick in the WNBA draft — the pick that will be used on Caitlin. (More)

• The NIL Store launched “campus edition” basketball jerseys for thirteen teams across the country. The current jersey roster includes schools from multiple conferences, including last year’s March Madness champions LSU and UConn.

• EA Sports’ NIL deals could spell trouble for the NCAA in court, as it undermines a key piece of their argument for amateurism. Until now, amateurism was said to “protect” student-athletes from exploitation, but the ease of EA’s NIL deals weakens that case greatly.

COLLECTIVE 101

Florida Taps Pizza Man for Collective Help

Florida’s NIL efforts likely rank among the ten best in the country, but with a tradition as deep as the Gators, that’s seen a disappointment. “Top 10 in NIL isn’t good enough,” said Nate Barbera, who serves as CEO of the Florida Victorious collective, “Just like anything less than a national championship in football is unacceptable…We should be No. 1 in NIL.”

That’s why Florida Victorious hired business guru Freddie Wehbe to handle corporate donations for the Gators. Wehbe is a relative stranger to the NIL world – his success has come primarily in the food industry until now. He notably transformed a Gainesville Domino’s franchise from underperforming to the busiest Domino’s in the entire nation. 

Wehbe’s first order of business? Increasing brand awareness. Florida residents can expect plenty of billboards and digital advertising for Florida Victorious in the near future as the collective tries to get on top of the NIL world. (More)

• Kansas’ new collective director is targeting “the common fan” with their NIL strategy. A former Kansas football player himself, Keon Stowers thinks a strong grassroots donor base is the best fight against donor fatigue.

• Cincinnati is throwing an “In Her Likeness” event to support and promote women’s participation in NIL. The panel will include industry insiders and legal experts from across the country.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Malik Mack

Malik Mack is a rising star in the world of college basketball, making waves as the highest scoring freshman with an average of 18.8 points per game and a 39% shooting accuracy from the three-point line.

As a crafty lefty shotmaker, Malik's playmaking abilities off the dribble have caught the attention of NBA scouts, who are closely watching his journey. His talent was recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2023, solidifying his status as a basketball prospect. With his popularity soaring and his NIL valuation on the rise, Malik's future is bright both on and off the court. 

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Iowa State wide receiver signs with Sporting Kansas City’s NIL program

♦️ Akron hooper signs NIL deal with PSI

♦️ South Carolina collective membership now includes free subscription to storytelling platform 

♦️ Syracuse rower is using NIL to bring awareness to Diabetes 

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