🏅 Is a Settlement Coming in House v. NCAA?

Teaming up with

Hey there,

Bombshell news dropped this week in the NIL world. The most important legal decision in NIL history is currently being debated in House v. NCAA… but maybe not for long. Apparently, officials are currently negotiating a settlement, which would mean billions of dollars could be changing hands. Read all about it in today’s Kick Off story!

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You should really check out our sponsor today, Teamworks Influencer, they are an industry leading NIL business management platform and have partnered with over 250 schools.

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Settlement Coming in House v. NCAA?

College sports leaders are deep into settlement discussions for House v. NCAA, according to reports this week. The NIL lawsuit, which could demand $4 billion in damages for the NCAA, has been looming over the college sports world for months.

Here’s what we know so far: If a settlement is reached, schools will likely be given the opportunity to opt-in to a revenue-sharing model soon, with a $20M cap currently being proposed. If what’s being reported happens, student-athletes and schools would share revenue up to that figure – $20M, if that’s what the final number ends up being.

However, sports attorney Mit Winter was quick to point out that this is no long-term solution. The settlement deal would only apply to class members, which means current and former athletes are covered, not future ones. According to Winter, collective bargaining is the only long-term solution, which could be on the way soon. (More)

High Risk, High Reward NIL Deals are on the Way

Remember last edition when we told you about the Olympics’ effect on NIL? Well, running brands aren’t the only ones getting in on the action. Piper Enge, a high school swimmer from Washington, just inked a non-profit NIL deal with SPLASHForward to promote aquatics in her home state. The deal comes just months before her Olympic trial run in June.

Deals like these will become more common as the Olympics approach. It’s somewhat unlikely that Enge will actually vie for a gold medal in Paris; nevertheless, if she ends up qualifying, the return on investment for could be huge for SPLASHForward’s brand. For organizations with less capital to work with, long-shot investments may be worth betting on, even if the best outcome is rather unlikely. (More)

NFL Commissioner: Who Runs College Football?

Last weekend podcaster Pat McAfee probed the NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, and got his thoughts on the changing college football landscape. The commissioner’s response echoed confusion more than anything: 

Later on in the interview, Goodell was asked about whether the NFL might combine with college football to create a unified product in the future. “I don’t see that,” he said, “At least as of today. I don’t see that in the future.” (More)

Teaming up with

Teamworks Influencer is a best-in-class platform designed to empower collegiate student-athletes to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of NIL. Serving as a comprehensive NIL solution, Influencer is trusted by over 250 schools and utilized by more than 100,000 student-athletes.

As the industry's leading athlete brand-building and NIL business management platform, Teamworks connects the entire NIL ecosystem and allows student-athletes to easily discover and capitalize on NIL opportunities. By eliminating unnecessary fees and streamlining the process, Influencer empowers student-athletes to take control of their brand and financial future.

Since its inception, Influencer has focused on providing student-athletes with the tools and resources to build their personal brands. As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, Influencer remains committed to supporting both student-athletes and the administrators who champion them in navigating this dynamic environment.

Influencer is part of Teamworks' Operating System for Sports, an integrated ecosystem of 12 best-in-class, purpose-built tools that power elite organizations worldwide. Learn More>>

WHAT’S TRENDING

Ups and Downs

• Former FAU guard Johnell Davis is expected to transfer to Arkansas after being offered an NIL deal valued over $1M 📈

• Colorado QB Sheduer Sanders saw backlash across social media after criticizing his former teammate, Xavier Smith, on Twitter 📉

• South Carolina State became recently launched an NIL program called the S.C. State Bulldogs Exchange, which will allow businesses interested in NIL deals to contact players 📈

DOWN TO BUSINESS

UAB Football Team Signs on to Athletes.org

UAB football’s decision to publicly join Athletes.org (AO) has garnered significant attention within the college sports landscape. AO is a player’s association that aids college athletes in future revenue-sharing discussions. Unlike professional sports leagues, there is no official players association for the NCAA – AO founder Jim Cavale wants to change that.

“We’re building the pipes for the negotiation of the new deal for college athletics – the pipes for the athletes to be in that conversation,” said Cavale.

 2,945 athletes have signed up for AO, which now includes the entire UAB football team. Joining the program is huge for AO – before now, individuals have joined AO… but now entire teams are doing so. AO says they are in conversations to set up visits with several power conference teams to further amplify the voices of the players they represent. (More)

• Hailey Van Lith signed her first NIL deal since forgoing the WNBA draft to transfer to TCU. Van Lith has been one of the faces of women’s basketball, signing deals with companies like Adidas and Fanatics. (More)

• Law Firm Husch Blackwell just released its annual NCAA compliance report, which covers multiple topics around college sports. The report touches on the transfer portal, NIL, gambling in college athletics, and the debate over classifying athletes as employees. (More)

COLLECTIVE 101

Mark Pope says NIL Collective is His Top Priority

The Kentucky Wildcats’ new head basketball coach Mark Pope told fans exactly where his priorities lie for the upcoming season: expanding and promoting Club Blue, the school’s official NIL collective.

“What we’re talking about is the most important thing,” he said in an interview with local radio, “Listen, Club Blue is real. This is the focal point of our whole NIL life right now. We have some amazing people that are helping to run this. There is no overhead with this program. 100% of the money goes exactly where we want it to go.”

Pope’s approach seems to have won over many fans. Considering Calipari’s departure had much to do with a lack of NIL support, Pope is getting right to work by building up the school’s donor base. (More)

• Tennessee fans got creative when sounding off about how they’d disperse their collective’s NIL money. Their suggestions ranged from paying the best player each week to divvying the pot up via revenue generation percentages.

• Missouri’s new AD has a provision in his contract for a force majeure in college sports’ financial modeling. Essentially, if the athletic compensation system is upended, his payment could be completely renegotiated.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Robbie Avila

Meet Robbie Avila, a 6'10" sophomore who's been dominating the game with his success on the court. Averaging an impressive 17.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game last season, Robbie is a force to be reckoned with. He recently announced his decision to transfer from Indiana State following his head coach, Josh Schertz, to St. Louis. 

Using his platform, Robbie has secured NIL deals with the NIL Store, the White Sox, and Home Field Apparel, proving that his influence extends far beyond basketball. So get ready, because when the NCAA tournament rolls around, Robbie Avila will be a real showstopper.

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Dillon Gabriel is using NIL to give back to his high school in Hawaii

♦️ Virginia launches philanthropic Saber Society for NIL funding

♦️ espnW to have NIL discussions at their yearly summit 

♦️ Michigan’s Kris Jenkins advises players to prioritize on-field performance for maximum NIL returns

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Can NC State start competing with big-donor schools in the NIL world?

• Yes, their momentum can compound into NIL success - 38%

• No, their NIL could fall off drastically after a bad season - 32%

• No, North Carolina is too competitive a basketball market - 30%