Hey there,

Thanksgiving is officially over, which means that the Christmas season is upon us. What better gift can we give than a fresh, new edition of NIL Wire? Good news — that’s exactly what we’ve got for you today.

Better yet, we’re the gift that keeps on giving — keeping you in the loop on all the latest NIL news three times a week. No “thank you” necessary… we do it because we love NIL — and we do it for FREE.

But we would like something from you. We want your feedback on NIL Wire! If you have any ideas on how to make our newsletter a bit better, or things you’d like to see more of, just hit reply or send us an email at [email protected].

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Division III Dilemmas

At an event hosted by Franklin College, NCAA President Charlie Baker was asked about how Division III schools might navigate NIL. Citing a lack of national exposure, he urged DIII athletes not to chase national deals, but turn toward local businesses for NIL opportunities.

“It may be that you guys are in too soon,” Baker said to a Franklin Softball player asking about how DIII athletes might take advantage of NIL.

He did add that, while there may not be tons of opportunities currently, they may spring up where people least expect them due to changing nature of the NIL landscape. (More)

The Smaller the Market…

Dartmouth’s basketball team made waves earlier this year when they announced their intention to unionize. Well, athletes from the school also have thoughts on the limited NIL opportunities available to them, which they shared in a recent article in The Dartmouth.

“[Doing NIL deals] at Dartmouth is a little different because there are not as many local opportunities as there are at other [universities],” said Macklin Ayers, a football player for Big Green.

Ayers may be on to something. Some people have suggested that a school’s surrounding market is just as important as the school’s brand, and with Dartmouth being hours away from any large metropolitan area, rural-school athletes are scrounging for opportunities. (More)

Trotting out Turkeys

Michigan’s massive win over Ohio State was fueled in large part by running back Blake Corum. But the days prior to the game, Corum’s focus was on helping his community celebrate Thanksgiving.

Using NIL, he hosted his third annual Thanksgiving “BC2 Give Back 2 Give Thanks” event, which involved donating and distributing 600 turkeys to underserved communities in Ypsilanti.

This is the third straight year for Corum’s turkey event, which he has said he wishes to continue even after he gets drafted into the NFL next year. (More)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Arch Manning Takes Over

Arch Manning holds the second highest NIL valuation in college football, but has yet to play a snap for the Longhorns… until this weekend. Check out the $2.8M QB’s debut against Texas Tech.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Perfect Timing

The company started off last season by donating a couple watches to the collective, which Kirby Smart signed the boxes of personally before being sold off for almost $10,000 collectively. From there, the NIL partnership has only grown, with five Bulldogs now signed on as brand ambassadors.

Biden’s Boys

Many saw President Biden’s White House roundtable with former college football players as a potential move towards solidarity with the group’s compensation efforts, including NIL. Well, An Oregon State professor is claiming that the President is leaving women out of the conversation.

“Why in the world would the White House think former football players can speak for all student-athletes, especially the nearly 88,000 women who play Division I sports?” said Susan Shaw of the male-dominated roundtable.

Among her concerns was the conversation, or lack thereof, around Title IX, which some legal experts have pointed out as a possible concern for NIL and other potential compensation solutions. (More)

COLLECTIVE 101

Rick Rollin’ in NIL

Rick Pitino has climbed the pinnacle of college hoops multiple times, and he’s looking to do it again at St. John’s. However, in order to do so this time, he’s becoming an NIL trailblazer.

When St. John’s courted the 71-year-old coach for the school’s head coaching vacancy, they promised him facility renovations. Pitino allegedly reject the offer, asking instead for support in NIL to build his program.

Pitino’s gotten into trouble in years past for paying players illegally. Now, he’s embracing NIL as an alternative, yet similar roster-building strategy, and his confidence is through the roof.

“What’s the difference between St. John’s and Kentucky now [with NIL]?” he said, “Nothing.” (More)

Clemson Ups the Ante

At long last, Clemson has chosen an official NIL partner. The move shows a renewed commitment to NIL that head football coach Dabo Swinney has been reluctant to embrace in the past.

The 110 Society will operate as a “one-stop shop” of sorts, connecting athletes to NIL opportunities across the school. Notably, it will operate as a for-profit entity, opting not to test their luck in regards to the IRS’ memo about non-profit collectives.

The news could not come at a better time. This season has been shaky by usual Clemson standards, and additional efforts toward organizing NIL could be crucial to a bounce-back in 2024. (More)

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Kelsey Carrington

Kelsey Carrington is a volleyball sensation at the University of Oklahoma. Her impact spans far and wide, championing mental health awareness. She’s partnered with Kendra Scott in a special deal focused on this crucial cause.  

She founded Meaningful Mondays at OU, reflecting her business acumen fused with a passion for making a difference. Utilizing The Dubs Group to secure her NIL deals, Kelsey navigates both sports and societal impact seamlessly. Whether dominating in volleyball or using her voice for change, Kelsey Carrington embodies a force for positivity and progress, both on and off the court.

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Sanders brothers featured in Google commercial

♦️ Athletes Org ACC chapter fully launches

♦️ UVA’s CavFutures is supporting women’s hoops

♦️ Ohio State women’s hoops gets a teamwide deal with an injury law firm

♦️ Simple Truth signs two college studs to rep organics

♦️ Penn State partners with MiniJerzeys for some NIL fun

♦️ Andrew Luck and Condoleezza Rice talk the future of College Sports

BATTER UP

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Who was the “Most Thankful” from our Thanksgiving list?

• Bo Nix - 50%

• Jimbo Fisher - 24%

• Arch Manning - 16%

• Mark Emmert - 10%