🏅 ASU keeps their $3M QB in Tempe

Teaming up with

Hey there,

We got all of our college football out of the way Thursday and Friday, so there’s no games today. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with the NIL news, which there’s tons of, by the way.

First, Arizona State’s star QB just turned down a big payday to return to the Sun Devils. Then, Front Office Sports’ preview of the biggest changes in college sports for 2025. Lastly, the completely uncontroversial suggestion that one Tennessee columnist gave: Instead of travelling to away games, Vols fans should simply give that money to NIL instead. It’s all coming up right now – let’s get into it!

Questions? Concerns? Hit us up at [email protected]. Talk soon.

— Cole, Justin and Collin

The Big 3

Leavitt Returns to ASU Instead of Cashing In 🚨  

After an extremely successful season for the Sun Devils, quarterback Sam Leavitt saw his NIL valuation grow exponentially. He’s played his way into a $1.5 million valuation increase over the last ten weeks, which lands the redshirt freshman at a $3 million valuation – the 15^th highest in the country.

You can imagine, then, why Sun Devil fans were over the moon when they heard the news: Instead of cashing in on his massive earnings potential, Leavitt is returning to ASU at a steep discount. 

Now don’t get me wrong – Leavitt’s likely getting paid a substantial amount of money still. But the fact he’s not hitting the open market, especially at his age, is cause for celebration in Tempe. He’s currently more valuable than Georgia’s Carson Beck, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Michigan commit Bryce Underwood. (More)

The Biggest Changes in College Sports for 2025

Front Office Sports just revealed the biggest changes they see hitting college sports in 2025. Many of the topics they discuss are things we’ve been updating you on for months here at NIL Wire – let’s take a look at some of the highlights. 

Among the topics to look for, they include: the rise of rev-sharing, uncertainty around NIL collectives, and the dwindling chances that college athletes achieve employment status. They also touch on the momentum collective bargaining has picked up in recent months.

We agree with them on nearly every front – college sports will only become more professional in 2025, even if student-athletes aren’t becoming employees. Public consciousness around the business of college sports has never been higher, which forces the NCAA into a tougher position moving forward – at least in terms of managing their public perception. (More)

Should Fans Give to NIL Instead of Travel for Games?

John Adams, a columnist for Knox News, just made a pretty bold suggestion: Instead of spending money to support the team at away games, Tennessee fans should invest that money into the school’s NIL fund. To him, it’s all about math.

“If 40,000 Tennessee fans attended the game in Atlanta (at a conservative estimate of $400 per fan), that would come to $16 million,” he explained, “And if UT’s average SEC road following was 5,000 per game (at $400 per fan), that would be another $8 million for a total of $24 million. Think how many four-star transfers you could buy with that.” 

Of course, he acknowledges the tradeoff here. Having a well-travelled fanbase can be immensely helpful to a road team in a tough environment. Also… isn’t going to the game like, I don’t know, fun? In all, I’m not sure Vols fans will be thrilled with his suggestion. (More)

Teaming up with

Winning Starts Here: Teamworks Personnel Solutions

As collegiate athletics evolves, new challenges like NIL opportunities, the transfer portal, and advanced athlete evaluation methods require a strategic, data-driven approach to roster management. Teamworks offers a unified platform designed to help athletic departments navigate these complexities. From smarter insights and strategic planning to seamless athlete management and compliance, Teamworks empowers you to build and sustain the best team year after year.

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ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Jada Walker 

• School: Baylor 

• Sport: Women's Basketball

• Position: Guard

• Class: Senior

  Accolades: 

• 2024 CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT

•  BIG 12 CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

•  ALL-SEC FRESHMAN TEAM

•  SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

• NIL: Jada has used her platform to secure NIL deals with Athlete Threads, Murry Ave, Draco Slides, and Authentic. 

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ How to save walk-ons? Give NCAA teams practice squads 

♦️ Georgia’s Carson Beck is entering the transfer portal

♦️ The College Football transfer portal is being dominated by the SEC right now

♦️ IMG’s head football coach is joining Bill Belichick’s staff at UNC 

♦️ Quinn Ewers speaks out on why he left Ohio State for Texas after only four months 

♦️ Here’s why arbitrators will have immense power in House Settlement discussions 

♦️ Jaden Rashada is entering the NCAA transfer portal yet again, moving on from the Bulldogs

♦️ Matt Brown clears up that Deloitte’s relationship is with the Power Conferences, not the NCAA

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Are you in favor of the NCAA giving five years of eligibility instead of four?

• Yes - 46%

• No - 54%