Mississippi State football receives $8 million gift, launches State Excellence Fund

Mississippi State football has received the second-largest financial commitment in the athletic department’s history.

An $8 million pledge, donated by an anonymous family, will kick start the State Excellence fund. The school told On3 that the gift will help jumpstart Mississippi State investment in the new era of college sports and future revenue sharing.

The House v. NCAA settlement is currently going through the approval process. If approved, the 10-year settlement agreement would allow schools to share $20 to $23 million annually in revenue to athletes. The $8 million gift gives the Bulldogs strong footing as they prepare for the revenue-sharing era.

“This thoughtful and generous investment in our program is critical to what we are building here in Starkville in this new era of college athletics,” Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon said in a statement. “To be an elite-level program, it takes elite-level resources. A gift of this magnitude shows the unwavering drive to establish Mississippi State Football as a premier college football destination for many years to come. I could not be more grateful for the commitment to championing our programs and players.”

Mississippi State football preparing for rev share era

The settlement would also pay $2.8 billion in back damages to former athletes. Since the summer of 2021, NIL collectives have become integral for football and men’s basketball programs to recruit and retain top talent. More than 80% of the dollars distributed to athletes in NIL come from booster-funded entities. A February preliminary injunction in Tennessee forced the NCAA to halt all ongoing investigations into collectives.

Raising dollars for collectives has been crucial. Now the focus will switch to funding revenue sharing and collectives. The donor-driven organizations will remain imperative to creating a competitive advantage.

Mississippi State currently backs and works closely with The Bulldog Initiative NIL collective. The collective has spent significant dollars on football, men’s basketball and baseball. The organization was founded by lifelong Bulldog supporter and 1994 graduate Charlie Winfield.

“This investment in our program shows that State fans are ‘all-in’ when it comes to helping provide the resources it takes to compete in the toughest conference in the country,” Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby said. “Having their support and belief in what we’re building is crucial for us as we continue to move forward. There are truly no words that can describe how thankful I am for the commitment to the program I am blessed to lead.”