🏅West Virginia is legally investigating March Madness snub

Teaming up with

Hey there,

How we doing today after Selection Sunday y’all? Look at you… you’re so full of hope. You actually think that you’re winning the work-league bracket pool this year, don’t you? Well, not to rain on your parade, but everyone around you is also picking that fast-paced 12-seed that throws up a hundred threes a game (looking at you, Liberty). Oh, you have Saint John’s making a deep run because “Pitino’s been here before?” So does my mom.

Once again, I’m not trying to be mean… just trying to properly set expectations for how busted your bracket is going to be by this time next week. Soak in the hope, though, for now.

We’ve got a loaded edition of NIL Wire today – including a March Madness snub lawsuit, a TikTok dance ban at West Virginia, and a small school’s unlikely NIL pursuit of a top-ranked recruit. It’s all coming up now… Let’s go!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

The Big 3

West Virginia Taking Legal Action for March Madness Snub

Nearly everyone thought West Virginia would make the tournament field this season – in fact, 111 out of 111 bracketologists had the Mountaineers in the tournament. Now, from the outside looking in, the state is taking legal action against the NCAA selection committee for the snub.

In a public statement yesterday, the governor asked the state’s attorney general to “launch an investigation… to determine if any back room deals, corruption, bribes, or any nefarious activity occurred during the selection process.” And yes, he is standing at a podium that refers to the NCAA as the “National Corrupt Athletic Association.”

The implication here is clear: North Carolina made the tournament against all odds, and their AD, Bubba Cunningham, is on the selection committee. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, like many fans, seems convinced of a potentially corrupt back-room deal as a result. (More)

No TikTok Dancing on West Virginia’s Football Team

Speaking of West Virginia, the school’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez just banned TikTok dancing from his team. On one hand, I respect how committed to old-school thinking he is – this is like the ultimate dad move. But on the other hand… I’m a bit concerned for how this could affect a player’s NIL earnings.

Here’s the logic. If a player uses TikTok to promote their brand, TikTok is a valuable part of their “business” in a very technical way. With that in mind, if a player’s market capacity is being limited in any way by their coach, that could be a violation of their NIL rights.

“It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever,” said Rodriguez of the decision, “And you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.” The logic is sound… but the legality is questionable. (More)

Could Sacramento State Land a Big Fish Recruit?

Sacramento State is one of my favorite stories in college sports. The school currently competes in the FCS, but they’ve been making a push for FBS, which has included new stadium plans, hiring a legit coach, and raising over $35 million in NIL funds. Yes, thirty-five million – for reference, Oregon spent somewhere in the $23 million range last year.

Some experts have dismissed the Sac State story altogether, but one very important person didn’t: Ryder Lyons, the #4 QB in the 2026 class, who visited the school last week. The five-star QB is reportedly considering Sac State alongside schools like USC, Michigan, Oregon, and Ole Miss — and it seems like the school is trying to entice Lyons with an elite left tackle:

This is how Sacramento State potentially takes their program to the next level… but of course, that’s only happening if the NIL money actually comes through. We won’t know if that’s the case unless Lyons actually commits there. (More)

Teaming up with

Microtech Patch That Could End Your Pain In Seconds

When you experience pain, it’s typically the result of electrical signals being sent from the location of the pain to your brain.

The worse the pain, the stronger the signal.

Kailo’s patented technology uses micro capacitors to “turn off” these pain signals like a light switch – providing natural relief, anywhere on your body, in seconds.

It’s one of the first products on the market to use microtechnology for pain relief, and it’s available at an affordable price.

Stick it on your knee, back, neck—wherever you’re experiencing pain. 

• 100% Chemical Free

• Reusable

• Waterproof

Want to see it in action? Watch the video here. 

Available for 50% off today!

NIL BLITZ

♦️ This McNeese student manager just signed three massive NIL deals ahead of March Madness

♦️ ACC basketball coach says a top 25 team will cost $6 million next year

♦️ Kirby Smart doesn’t want a GM because he wants to stay “heavily” involved with football decisions

♦️ Texas’ coach Sark on Arch Manning’s priorities: “It’s not about the money necessarily.”

♦️ Ad spending on women’s sports more than doubled last year

♦️ Oregon is releasing NIL-backed Nike Air Max sneakers, which will continue fund the school’s quest for a national title 

♦️ We have some more info on the cover for College Football 26

♦️ Nick Saban returned to D.C. to take part in a closed-door NIL roundtable with lawmakers

♦️ Schools could drop to the NCAA minimum of 16 sports under an employment model

♦️ Regents are questioning how UNLV’s athletics department is being funded

♦️ LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson partners with Invisalign for an NIL deal

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:

Where's Steph Curry got the most value as Assistant GM at Davidson?

• Basketball Roster Building - 29%

• Business Connections for NIL - 37%

•  Giving Tons of Money to the Program - 34%