Ohio State collective The 1870 Society announces Ryan Day podcast contest

Ohio State fans could soon get a few minutes one-on-one with head coach Ryan Day.

The Buckeyes-driven NIL collective 1870 Society announced plans Tuesday for a contest with two members gaining access to attend a live-in person filming of the Ryan Day podcast. Included in the giveaway, the fans will be able to have a quick meet and greet and grab a photo with the head coach.

It’s another example of collectives and athletic departments working hand-in-hand to promote NIL. All 1870 Society members have already been entered into the contest. Fans will have until Friday to sign up for the collective to enter their name into the giveaway.

Memberships start at $10 a month to support the NIL venture and range from $25 to $5,000 with a different set of perks at each level. The podcast opportunity also serves as a chance to draw attention to the collective.

Day has backed the 1870 Society since its launch in April, appearing in a promotional video for the organization. Since then, he’s launched a podcast with former Ohio State national champion Michael Bennett serving as a host. It’s one of the few times a head coach has taken such an active role in promoting an NIL collective.

🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨

We've got a great opportunity for 2 lucky 1870 members to meet @ryandaytime & watch a live recording of the Ryan Day pod.

All members will be automatically entered for a chance to win – entry period closes this Friday. Don't wait, join The 1870 Society today! pic.twitter.com/izJc2yNT9L

— The 1870 Society (@the1870society) July 18, 2023

“By offering a tangible ROI, such as exclusive access and contests, personalized experiences, or unique merchandise, we can deepen fan engagement and strengthen their support by giving our supporters a real sense of involvement and connection,” the 1870’s vice president of operations Drew Esler told On3. “We are very fortunate that the football program is eager to help us in any way possible. Without their support and backing of our collective, this would not be possible. This giveaway highlights our ability to be market-differentiators in the space and in this new world of NIL, I believe it is important to create new innovations and offerings to get ahead of the competition.”

1870 Society joins crowded NIL collective market in Columbus

The Ohio State-focused NIL collective launched in April and has backing from a number of boosters, including Jason Priestas and Aidin Aghamiri. While the organization is a registered for-profit, the collective previously stated it does not, “intend to generate profits from running the business.”

The 1870 Society named Todd Markiewicz as its president shortly after its initial announcement. He most recently served as the vice resident and station manager for 97.1 The Fan in Columbus. Former Ohio State safety and national champion Tyvis Powell has his own podcast, too, and serves as the director of player engagement.

NIL collectives have surfaced at nearly every Division I school through the first two years of NIL. And the word collective, which has no ulterior meaning, has become synonymous with college athletics’ new era. The race is to stockpile the most cash to distribute to current players so recruits know what they can make once they enroll at the college.  

The Foundation, started by Cardale Jones and Brian Schottenstein in January 2022, has signed more than 40 athletes across football and basketball. It held its spring festival on April 20 at the Schottenstein Center, hosting a number of coaches and current athletes. The collective merged with the basketball-centric The O Foundation in February.

Cohesion Foundation is the third collective operating with a focus on Ohio State. The nonprofit is an official sponsor of the Buckeyes via an exclusive agreement with LEARFIELD’s Ohio State Sports Properties – the school’s athletics multimedia rightsholder. The collective recently indicated it is preparing to shut down operations by the end of this year due to the recent IRS memo.