🏅 Kirby Smart says Georgia is fining players with NIL

Hey there,

There may have been an international power outage, but you know what doesn’t stop? The news — which is why we’ve been cranking to get you all the biggest NIL stories from this past week. College sports may not be happening right now, but too much is going on behind the scenes to ignore.

Please do us a favor and take a look at today’s sponsor, Public Rec. They’re the ones keeping the lights on for us, so check them out later on in today’s edition!

What sort of topics are y’all most interested in us covering? Send your suggestions and thoughts to [email protected] — we love to hear from y’all! Now let’s dive into the news.

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Dept. of Education: Title IX includes Rev-Share

The United States Department of Education just announced that Title IX guidelines will apply to future revenue-sharing models in college sports. However, what exactly that means is still unclear. 

That’s because the department “declined to offer guidance” on how that money should be distributed, according to ESPN’s report. Schools will be left guessing precisely what could get them sued – leaving many athletic directors with more questions than answers. Here’s the official language of the recent statement:

“Schools must provide equal athletic opportunities based on sex, including with respect to benefits, opportunities, publicity, and recruitment, and must not discriminate in the provision of financial aid,” said an official from the Department of Education, “In the new NIL environment, these same principles apply.” (More)

Georgia Collective Doles Fines for Reckless Driving

The Georgia Bulldogs have been dominant on the field, but the team has dealt with off-field issues for a few years now. This problem came to a head in 2023 when three people – two players and a recruiting staff member – were involved in a reckless driving incident that took two of their lives.

It’s understandable, then, why Kirby Smart has decided to buckle down. After two current Bulldogs were arrested on reckless driving charges last week, the head coach admitted that their NIL collective has levied substantial fines against the players they’re paying.

 “The [NIL] collective has fined players – substantially,” he explained, “If you asked any of our players what they would rather have, they want their money. When I say substantial – very substantial – in terms of the hits some guys have taken.” (More)

Top 25 College QBs out-earn Majority of NFL QBs

According to the projections on Opendorse’s newly released NIL report, compensation for the top 25 quarterbacks in college football will, on average, exceed compensation for the majority of NFL quarterbacks in 2025-26. That’s a massive shift from just a few years ago, when college football players were leaving school early for NFL paychecks.  

Let’s break down the numbers: the report says the top 25 college QBs will earn about $1.3 million in compensation – that’s the average total NIL compensation. In the NFL, there are about 120 NFL quarterbacks… and a little under half of them are making more than $1.3M.

QBs like Brock Purdy, Russell Wilson, and more are making less than college quarterbacks. If that fact doesn’t keep some guys in school a year longer, I don’t know what will. (More)

Teaming up with

The Executive Upgrade: Dealmaker Pants That Command Respect and Comfort

You've built a successful career, curated a discerning taste, and earned the right to demand the best. Introducing the Dealmaker Pant, the pinnacle of elevated comfort and effortless style. Crafted with premium, performance-driven materials, these pants seamlessly transition from commanding the boardroom to conquering your day, all while ensuring you feel as confident as you look. Save 15% with code READ15, exclusive to NIL Wire readers.

Elevate Your Everyday

BEST PRACTICES

What Questions to Ask a Potential NIL Agent

In an interview with On3, financial advisor Aaron Ryan was asked a question that every athlete should be interested in: “What are one or two questions that college athletes should ask potential agents as they vet them?” Here’s his answer. 

He started off by emphasizing experience. “Do the agents that you’re contemplating have experience working with young athletes?” Ryan posed, “Do they have experience working with collegiate athletes and specifically those who are navigating this new evolving space called NIL?” 

Next he transitioned to trust. “Ask for references,” he explained, “Talk to people who have experience working with them, and try to uncover style and fit and scope of service and credibility – not credibility as an agent – but credibility in that what they pitch you is what their clients are actually experiencing.” (More)

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Are NIL-Weed Partnerships Coming Soon?

The NCAA took cannabis off its banned substances list last month. Does that open the door for athletes to strike NIL deals with weed companies? According to Professor Noah Henderson… it seems unlikely without a bit of creativity.

We can scratch off the 26 states that have not legalized recreational marijuana – students at those schools won’t be able to endorse it for obvious reasons. Then some states possess “morality” clauses that disallow NIL deals with companies that deal in alcohol, gambling, and other potentially controversial industries.

Schools have been able to get around those clauses with a collective loophole in the past… but even that complicates matters with potentially losing donors. If you can solve that whole issue, you’d then run into issues with social media advertising, where companies like Meta have policies disallowing commercial activity around cannabis products. (More)

• Iowa State’s punter is selling shirts that say “I cheer for the punter”, and then donating his NIL profits to feed local students. What a stud.

• The lawyer representing Houston Christian against the NCAA self-identifies as a religious “heretic” and a “paradox” when it comes to college sports.

COLLECTIVE 101

Collectives Tighten Relationships with Schools

In a slew of under-the-radar news this week, we saw multiple schools attach themselves more intimately to their NIL collectives. One particularly interesting example was between Nebraska and its NIL collective, 1890 Nebraska.

The two struck a deal that may make you yawn on the surface: a “data sharing agreement.” But that agreement may actually have massive ramifications if there were ever litigation brought against the collective, as it seems to bind the two together in multiple ways.

“The further and deeper of a contractual relationship you have with a third-party entity, the closer you get to making the argument that the third party is working directly under the university,” said Jason Belzer, who founded SANIL, “Most universities are still going to want to use third parties to try and circumvent things like Title IX.” (More)

• Much like Nebraska, changes to LSU’s fundraising model bring the collective and school even closer together. Brian Kelly is calling it the “next step” For LSU’s recruiting.

• UC Davis just announced a “podcast room” that will facilitate student-athletes growing their NIL brand through audio media.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Sedona Prince

• School: TCU 

• Position: Center

• Sport: Basketball 

• Class: Freshman

• Accolades: 

  • 2023-24 Lisa Leslie Award Finalist

  • 2023-24 Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List

  • 2023-24 All-Big 12 honorable mention

  • 2023-24 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List

• NIL: In the NIL world, Sedona played a crucial role in helping student-athletes, especially female athletes, profit from their name, image, and likeness. She was part of the class action lawsuit against the NCAA in 2020, a pivotal moment that reshaped the NIL landscape.

NIL BLITZ

♦️ NIL has caused recruiting events – like the “Peach Jam” basketball showcase – to become less stressful

♦️ How college athletes are beginning to look like influencers with NIL

♦️ Illinois State just created a subset within their NIL collective so that fans can directly donate to men’s basketball.

♦️ Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith signs an NIL deal with Battle Sports

Share NIL Wire

Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy NIL Wire? Share with them today!

You currently have 0 referrals.

BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will Oregon outspend everyone in NIL this football season?

• Phil Knight will make it happen - 48%

• Texas, Ohio State, and Alabama might have something to say about that - 52%