Hey there,

Don’t worry… we’re back. I’m sure over the weekend as you sipped punch at the Halloween party, you couldn’t stop thinking: What is going on in the NIL world? We’ve got you covered, as always. So sit back, relax, and catch up on everything you missed this weekend.

Wait! Before you do that, we’d love to hear your feedback about our newsletter. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected].

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Cardinal Virtues

“We won’t be using NIL as a recruiting tool,” Stanford football coach Troy Taylor said not too long ago. His statement tracks with the school’s radically conservative approach to NIL thus far, and probably drives many Stanford alumni mad. But why has Stanford taken this approach?

According to those close to the situation, the reasoning is built on a foundational disagreement on NIL philosophically. “They just don’t like the idea of paying players, so there’s a philosophical objection to begin with,” a source said, also citing caution around Title IX.

“I would say the typical SEC school would look at NIL and say, how can we use this to help us win,” alumnus Ivan Maisel said, “Stanford looks at NIL and says, how can we stay true to our values and see if we can use those to help us.” (More)

An NIL Prototype

There are three things that go into projecting a high NIL valuation: hype, talent, and marketability. Duke point guard Tyrese Proctor has all three.

Proctor came into the 2022-23 season as the #3 ranked player at his position. Hype, check. He could have left for the NBA and been a surefire draft pick last year. Talent, check (he opted to return to school to raise his stock). And now, he’s signed an NIL deal that hones in on his marketability.

Proctor just inked a deal with Podium jewelry, which will include a custom-designed line. It’s the sort of deal that, in an age of athlete fashion, immediately skyrockets his personal brand. With Duke being the preseason #2 team, Proctor’s marketability is set to soar as he becomes a household name. (More)

Professionalism and Women’s Sports

Michael H. LeRoy teaches labor relations at the University of Illinois, and in a recent piece he argued that the slow drift of collegiate athletics to a professional model is hurting women’s sports far more than helping.

Men’s sports are getting cut more often than women’s sports, but men’s football and basketball still reign king financially. Essentially, women’s teams are not being cut, but the dollar-per-athlete for men’s sports is higher.

The crux of his argument is that the resources of each school are supposed to align proportionately with gender ratios on campus. This has not happened, as LeRoy shows through examples in court – with careful attention given to the implications of Johnson v. NCAA. (More)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Ollie Gordon Gains Steam

Ollie Gordon has been rising in NIL value faster than just about anyone in the nation. Check out how his coach, Mike Gundy, is helping him keep his composure as pressure mounts.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Why Shoe Deals are so Rare in NIL

Shoe companies are, and have been for some time, the premiere sponsorship partners for athletes. So then why don’t many college athletes sign NIL deals with shoe brands? Well, because of other deals that their schools already agreed to.

Take Nebraska for example. The school is signed on with Adidas right now as part of a seven year $128M deal, which ensures that Nebraska reps Adidas without exception.

As a result, NIL shoe deals are unlikely to become popular anytime soon. Companies wanting to market their athletic products want consumers to see that product in action, which is functionally barred with school-brand deals in place as they are currently. (More)

What is NIL “Market Value”?

Sports Law attorney and agent J.R. Carroll had some interesting thoughts on where market value is derived in NIL. While many believe that the best players get the most money, he contends that it doesn’t exactly work like that.

Generally speaking, an NIL player’s value is derived from what collective they’re associated with, not necessarily their performance. A high caliber player will likely make money wherever they play, but will make the most at the schools willing to pay the most.

That’s why the transfer portal has become so contentious – it’s the only way student athletes can pursue their true market value by going to a school more willing to pay what they think they deserve. (More)

COLLECTIVE 101

Round ‘Em Up!

Nevada’s New Approach

Nevada’s Friends of the Pack NIL collective wants to shift NIL’s focus from the immediate to the long-term. From the players themselves to community partners, the collective’s mission is to forge deep bonds within the city of Reno, ones that can hopefully last long past an NIL deal. That’s why they hosted a community-wide mixer between athletes, businesses, and fans downtown earlier this month.

“More than football, it's me being able to gain relationships outside of football,” running back Sean Dollars said, “If I ever want to do any job outside of football, I'll be able to have a tremendous amount of connections through meetings and even events like this.” (More)

THE NEXT BIG DEAL

Linking up for Hot Links

Madison Krakower may play soccer for the University of Maryland, but her Jersey blood runs deep. That’s why she linked up for an NIL deal to connect her to one of her home-state’s favorite food: Hot dogs.

“That’s where I’m from. That’s where I grew up,” Krakower said of her home-state New Jersey, “It means a lot, just knowing that where I was from was a big reason that I got my first NIL deal.” (More)

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Harper Smith

Click below to learn about SIUE Track & Field athlete Harper Smith, who’s landed NIL deals with Hey Dude, CVS, Beachwaver and more!

nil_wire

View more on Instagram

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Youngstown State athletes eclipse $500,000 in total NIL deal money

♦️ UCLA hosts an NIL networking event

♦️ Oregon is releasing NIL Air Force 1 Lows

♦️ Shake Shack gets in on NIL

♦️ Michigan tight end gets a fresh NIL deal 

BATTER UP

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will Arizona State adjust to the Big 12’s NIL spending?

• They’ll adjust and find ways to stay competitive - 68%

• They’re in for a rude awakening - 32%