Every Texas Longhorn athlete offered NIL deal through Texas One Fund, Ouro partnership

The Texas One Fund, the Longhorn-focused NIL collective, has partnered with global financial services and technology company Ouro to offer an NIL deal for every student-athlete at the University of Texas.

Along with the NIL deal opportunity for all eligible student-athletes across all 21 men’s and women’s sports teams, Texas One said that Ouro will offer financial literacy training and money management programs. Ouro was founded by former UT students and Netspend founders Roy and Bertrand Sosa.

Through the partnership, Texas athletes who register for the X World Wallet, Ouro’s digital multi-currency wallet and payments app, will qualify to earn regular payouts as they promote the product and complete monthly financial training sessions and share their experience with the program across social media and various other marketing activities.

“This is an incredible opportunity for all of our student-athletes,” said Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said in a statement. “Like all young people, they need to build financial skills and judgment, and their unique circumstances make the need especially critical. With Ouro’s willingness to collaborate with Texas One Fund on an initiative that gives every student on every team a financial opportunity now and skills for the future is tremendous.”

This isn’t Ouro’s first agreement with an athletic program. The fintech company also lists Austin FC, the Miami Heat, the Texas Rangers, Real Madrid, the San Antonio Spurs and WWE as partners.

NIL opportunities begin to roll out in spring

The program starts with a two-phased launch, beginning with an initial rollout this spring, and expanding in the fall of 2024 as various sports teams return for their new seasons.

“We believe this partnership with Ouro will be transformative for our student-athletes,” Texas One Fund President Patrick “Wheels” Smith said. “It aligns perfectly with our mission to prepare students for success with integrity in all aspects of their lives – by equipping students with practical money skills and a cutting-edge financial tool, Ouro is investing in their long-term success on and off the field.”

The partnership is another example of collectives working to generate support for athletes through means outside of the recurring subscription model. NIL leaders and school officials have talked openly about concern about donor fatigue throughout the third year of the NIL Era.

It’s no surprise Texas One is pushing the envelope from a creativity standpoint. Smith has received robust support from the Longhorn athletic department. Plus, he’s formulated several innovative partnerships that generate funding. The moves cement Texas One’s spot as one of the most ambitious collectives in the NIL ecosystem.