🏅 Dennis Rodman. Crocs. NIL.

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Hey there,

In today’s newsletter, we’ve got updates on Utah’s privacy case, Title IX at Oregon, and Freddy’s Custard’s NIL roster. Read up on the latest news from around the NIL world.

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KICK-OFF

Utah Schools Win NIL Contract Privacy Case

Despite a full court press by Deseret News to stop the bill’s passage, Utah’s state Senate just passed a law that will keep NIL contract records out of the public eye. The news organization, who tried to obtain NIL contracts in last Fall, calls the legislation “Utah’s first attempt to regulate NIL in college sports.”

The law will demand that NIL contracts over $600 be submitted to the school the athlete attends, however, those documents would now be protected from the state’s Government Records and Management Act (GRAMA) – a contract transparency policy within the state.

“We’re at a big competitive disadvantage if other states aren’t required to release the terms of those contracts,” Governor Spencer Cox said, “And as much as I’d like to get rid [NIL], I do support the bill. I think it’s the right thing to do, put us on a level playing field and, especially because it involves young people and minors, I think it’s OK.” (More)

Dennis Rodman’s Son Signs Crocs Deal 🐊 

Dennis Rodman’s son DJ just upped his NIL game by signing with everyone’s favorite rubber clog brand, Crocs. Never one to shy away from personal expression, the USC basketball player was a perfect brand fit for Crocs’ NIL program.

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“As a brand that’s not afraid to push boundaries, Crocs has chosen six athletes who are not only authentic brand fans but also push themselves to the limit inside and outside of their sport," the Crocs said of their 2024 roster, which includes Duke’s Jared McCain, Indiana’s Mackenzie Mgbako, and more. (More)

Is College Basketball Getting an NIL Video Game?

Now that a college football video game is officially in the works, is a college basketball game coming down the pipe? It would likely be a cheaper venture, but the uncertain financials still make profitability hard to predict.  

A lot of the problems come down to licensing. Whereas the college football game has many more players-per-roster to pay, they don’t have to pay as many schools – only 134 FBS teams as opposed to all 364 Division I schools for basketball. Plus, in all likelihood there would be women’s teams added to the game as well, which could double the cost. If EA were to adjust the $600 NIL deal offer for college football down a few hundred bucks, it could come out to less than the college football payout, but not by much.  

But if they can get those licensing prices down, then what’s the holdup? Well, simply put, people like football more as a whole. EA’s college football game consistently outsold their college basketball game, so it’s far from certain that the final product would be worth the money. (More)

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BEST PRACTICES

12 Steps to Land an NIL Deal

Here are 12 essential steps to securing an NIL deal with brands. Begin by identifying potential partners based on shared values, demographics, or product appreciation. Leverage your network to secure a meeting and focus on understanding the brand's challenges and needs. Then, craft a compelling value proposition by showcasing your social media influence.

Next, present a tailored solution. Address potential objections around time, cost, and reputation. Negotiate terms, ensuring clarity on compromises and deal-breakers. If necessary, you can offer a demo or trial period to build trust. Once terms are finalized, execute the agreed-upon strategy while maintaining open communication.

After completion, debrief with the brand to assess goal achievements, areas for improvement, and future collaboration possibilities. (More) 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Oregon’s Title IX Case Defense

NIL’s latest legal battle is happening in Eugene, where the University of Oregon is trying to convince the court that they’re not violating Title IX. The argument goes like this: NIL collectives disproportionately give payments to men, and because the collective is a functional extension of the school, the school is Title IX noncompliant because there’s not equal treatment in NIL funding opportunities.

The university just pushed back on that last part pretty strongly. In the latest updates, they’re arguing that the school and collective are completely separate entities, which mean the collective is not subject to Title IX compliance.

Expect to hear more about this case as time goes on – we’ve been talking about how Title IX and NIL have been on a collision course since last fall. It finally may be happening in Oregon. (More)

• ADVANCE just launched an online NIL academy to teach student athletes financial literacy. One spokesperson said that “we no longer hear negative stories about athletes being taken advantage of,”

• DraftKings, one of the biggest sportsbook companies in the country, says women’s college basketball betting is up 13x this year.

COLLECTIVE 101

OU Hires Sooner Legend as Collective Head

Oklahoma just hired a Sooner legend as their new collective head. Softball superstar Lauren Chamberlain is taking over operations at the Crimson and Cream collective as General Manager for the NIL collective. Chamberlain won a Women’s College World Series with the Sooners in 2013.

Over the course of Chamberlain’s playing career at Oklahoma, she amassed an NCAA record 95 home runs and a .960 slugging percentage. Chamberlain last served as commissioner of the women’s fastpitch softball league, a role she stepped down from in the fall of 2023.

The hiring shows that NIL remains a young person’s industry. At only 30 years old, Chamberlain is taking over one of the biggest NIL operations in the country. (More)

• The University of Tennessee just approved a non-profit NIL collective plan that could turn into a fund to pay athletes when NCAA rules change.

• Northwestern’s NIL collective is ramping up a news initiative as a way to gain members. The news source will feature stories about NIL community impact, highlights, and more for donors.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Jackson Shelstad

Jackson Shelstad is a rising star in the basketball world, recognized as one of the top freshman point guards nationwide. His impressive accolades include playing for Team USA, earning two-time player of the year honors in Oregon, and clinching a state championship in football. Under the mentorship of NBA guard and former Oregon Duck, Payton Pritchard, Jackson has honed his skills and grown both as an athlete and a leader. 

Guided by his brand manager at Hartland Creative and represented by Klutch Sports, Jackson has embarked on a unique journey of partnerships and endorsements, with Settlemiers Jackets standing out as a particularly meaningful collaboration. Located in his hometown of Portland, Settlemiers has allowed Jackson to express his passion for fashion while giving back to his community.

Through his partnership, Jackson has designed custom letterman jackets, commemorating key moments in his basketball journey and gifting them to his Oregon basketball team and past inspirations like Payton Pritchard and Sabrina. With a commitment to making a difference both on and off the court, Jackson Shelstad is poised to continue inspiring others through his talent on the court, and NIL partnerships.

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Creighton collective partners with NIL store for retro Kyle Korver promo

♦️ Freddy’s signs 12 athletes to NIL roster

♦️ Ohio State starts NIL inclusion series 

♦️ Oklahoma State launches first installment of NIL athlete journal video series

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Is the NCAA halting all NIL related investigations a good thing or a bad thing?

• Good thing — the NCAA has lost my trust - 53%

• Bad thing — there needs to be some oversight - 47%