🏅Kirby Smart just got PAID

Hey there,

Thanks for starting your day with NIL Wire. We’re talking money moves today — Kirby Smart just signed an extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football, New Mexico State is asking their state government for an $137M endowment to save women’s sports, and Vanderbilt’s QB just made a very public NIL mix-up. It’s all coming at you right here, right now!

Before we do that though, give us a shout at [email protected] — We love your feedback. Now, to the news!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

The Big 3

Smart Money 💰️ 

Kirby Smart just signed a contract extension with Georgia what will see him make over $13M per year in compensation. In case you were wondering, that’s the most in all of college football.

That’s well above market rate – even at the professional level. The Detroit Lions are fresh off an NFC championship appearance, and their head coach Dan Campbell is only making $11M per year. After this extension, Smart is actually making more than NFL coaches.

That money doesn’t magically appear though. With school’s preparing to House settlement payments, Georgia will likely have to reallocate some funding to make up for the behemoth contract. (More)

NMSU wants $137M to Support Women’s Sports

As budgets tighten, New Mexico State is trying to keep women’s sports afloat. That’s why they recently asked the state legislature for an $137M endowment to fund the school’s ten women’s sports teams.

"There's just a fear with a school like ours that is really living paycheck to paycheck,” said NMSU athletic director Mario Moccia, “Women's sports might get left behind…We wanted to be a little proactive.”

If the endowment passes, we could see cascading effects across the college sports landscape. If it doesn’t pass, Moccia has a backup plan wherein he will request $27.5M annually for women’s sports until 2030. (More)

Vanderbilt QB has an NIL Mix-Up

Vanderbilt is riding high after beating Alabama in perhaps the greatest football moment in school history. A huge part of that success can be attributed to Vandy’s QB, Diego Pavia… but after the game, Pavia was caught in an NIL licensing misunderstanding.

Here’s what happened: Sports apparel company BreakingT released a shirt with Pavia’s viral quote on it, “Vandy we turnt.” Pavia then tweeted, in response to the shirt, “This is not me.. WE HAVENT WORKED OUT A DEAL! DO NOT ORDER.”

Well, it turns out he had actually worked out a deal. The shirts, according to BreakingT, were “Approved and licensed by Vanderbilt and yourself (via One Team Partners), and you’re receiving a royalty on all sales.” Pavia just didn’t know that he’d signed the standard licensing agreement in the past. Awkward. (More)

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ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Bailey Moody

• School: Alabama 

• Sport: Wheelchair Basketball

• Position: Guard

• Class: Graduate Student 

 Accolades: 

• 4-time member of Team USA

• World Championships Team

• Parapan American Team (Silver)

• U25 World Championships Team (Gold)

NIL: Bailey has landed deals with Reese's, Tervis, and Marriott Bonvoy

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Why Pitt parted ways with their former AD? NIL, of course.

♦️ The Ivy League won a legal challenge which allows them to keep their prohibition on scholarships

♦️Ex-Penn State offensive lineman sets up fund for walk-on kicker

♦️ The SEC and Big Ten are vehemently opposed to private equity in college sports

♦️ New NIL GM software is about to take over college athletics

♦️ Lane Kiffin doesn’t think he owes his NIL collective answers about how he coaches the game

♦️ Florida and Miami QBs released NIL trading cards to benefit Hurricane Milton relief

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Would "Project Rudy" be a good solution to fix college football?

• Yes - 43%

• No - 57%