Slam Dunkers, Trash Talkers, and a Class-Action Lawsuit

Hey there,

Saturday at last. Not only do we have college football in full swing — we’ve also been blessed with the beginning of college hoops. It begs the question: What are you doing on Saturday if you’re not taking in college sports?

Of course, that routine includes NIL Wire’s Saturday edition. We’re here to catch you up on the week’s latest NIL news, and this one is loaded. Just keep scrolling.

Before you do though, let us know what you think about our newsletter. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected].

— Cole, Justin and Collin

October’s Top Ten NIL Store Sellers

The NIL Store just released their top ten selling school stores for October. We don’t want to spoil the whole thing, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least give you a bit of a sneak-peek.

The list may shock you a bit – there’s not a single school listed that currently plays in the Big 12, and the #6 school isn’t even in a Power Five conference. It may also come as a bit of a surprise to see that the list was more or less dominated by basketball programs, even though the college hoops season officially started in early November, not October. Coach Prime’s Colorado Buffs made the list, but not at the #1 spot. Like I said, it’s a pretty wild top ten.

Okay, enough teasing. Read the entire top 10 by clicking the following link. (More)

Staying Classy

As the nation eagerly awaits news in the House v. NCAA case, a federal judge just made a decision that could cost the NCAA billions of dollars.

Judge Claudia Wilken of California officially granted class-action status in the lawsuit’s damages portion – that means thousands of athletes could be legally entitled to compensation from college sports’ governing body.

In some cases, athletes could be entitled to a share of the TV revenue from the last few years. It’s a massive development in one of the most important cases in NCAA history – one that could change the course of how college sports operate forever. (More)

Dart’s Dagger

NIL has taken trash talk to an entirely new level, which Texas A&M is learning the hard way after their loss to Ole Miss last week. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart took a shot at A&M’s all-in NIL strategy on a live post-game video:

“Money don’t win you ball games!” Dart said repeatedly, pointing his finger at the camera. He’s referring to A&M’s wild NIL shopping spree that saw the football team spend about $8.5M on NIL last year alone. (More)

How to Get plugged into NIL Marketplaces

A few editions ago, we gave student-athletes a step-by-step on how to secure a local brand deal. Now, we’re going to go through how to get plugged into one of the many digital NIL marketplaces that exist.

First, if your school has an NIL director, talk to them about any resources the school may already provide. If you’re not sure whether such a person exists at your school, check the athletic department’s directory.

Next, figure out which service provider fits your needs best. Don’t worry if you’re having trouble – here’s an excellent resource to find potential marketplaces where you can find a fit.

Lastly, Be thorough in your personal representation. In many cases, these brands rely heavily on the specific marketplace for recommendations, so make sure you have a strong profile. Connect with representatives at these marketplaces for additional recommendations.

Not-So-Confidential

“With the word ‘student’ so strongly highlighted as the primary identity of the college athlete, it’s understandable that a decision requiring the release of a student’s contract would incite strong opinions,” the committee said in the written decision.

“However, we underscore the fact that these contracts aren’t entered into by high school or junior high athletes. The NIL contracts being requested are signed by legal adults who play sports for a public institution and agree to share the contract with a governmental entity.” (More)

Growing Up Quick

Caleb Odom is more than just a four-star tight end recruit; he’s a brand unto himself. At least that’s what his representation, The Network Advisory, is saying. The top-30 recruit signed with the LA-based marketing firm last week, which is becoming more common now that high school NIL has exploded in places like his home-state Georgia.

thenetworkadvisory

View more on Instagram

NIL’s expansion to high school has kids growing up earlier than ever before, and becoming business-brained before they even finish Algebra II. (More)

She’s a Slam Dunk(er)

Like many universities, Marquette recently hired a General Manager to manage all things NIL for the school. Her name is Madison Dunker, and in a recent story, she talked about what goes into being an NIL GM.

“We discuss personal branding and brand alignment quite a bit with the athletes,” she said, “so they are picking brands to work with that align with their personal values and mission.”

While she helps them manage their NIL “ambitions,” Dunker is not allowed to suggest who they work with. It’s a fine line to walk, and one that administrators around the country are still learning to do effectively. (More)

Willard’s Wishes

Many college basketball coaches have spoken out about NIL to this point, but few have been as specific in their complaints as Maryland’s Kevin Willard. His ideas include revenue sharing and abolishing collectives.

“The NCAA Tournament [revenue] should be split up and given back to the college kids,” he explained, “It should not be given to the schools. It should be given to the kids. And I don't think there should be collectives.”

Few coaches have taken such a direct approach to addressing NIL, and even fewer have taken direct fire at collectives themselves. (More)

Makena Brocki

Meet Makena Brock, a talented third baseman who’s made a significant impact both on the field and off. As a two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2021 and 2022, she’s committed to excellence in both sports and academics. 

During her sophomore season in 2022, she solidified her presence as a rock solid third baseman, starting in 43 games and playing in 48. With a batting average of .275, she contributed 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored, showcasing her skills both defensively and offensively. Brock excelled during both the Fresno State series and a series sweep against San Jose State, where she logged three runs, a stolen base, and five RBIs.

With a strong family legacy in softball and baseball, including her father's background in the Seattle Mariners organization and her sister's success in the Pac-12 Conference and Team USA, Makena Brock continues to carve her own path at San Diego State.

nil_wire

View more on Instagram

♦️ Kansas hoopers start a vintage clothes company

♦️ UMass picks an official collective partner

♦️ Kiyan Anthony, son of Carmelo, is modeling for Kobe Bryant’s foundation

♦️ Bowling Green athletes join forces with nonprofits in NIL efforts

♦️ New Nike commercial features two top college hoops prospects: DJ Wagner and JuJu Watkins

♦️ South Carolina duel-sport athlete signs a deal with Currex Insoles

♦️ Drake Maye gets his linemen involved in NIL deal

Todays Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Will Nascar’s NIL investment pay off in attracting younger fans?

• Yes - 76%

• No - 24%