The On3 guide to NIL collectives around the nation

Donor-led collectives are sweeping the nation, dramatically reshaping the NIL landscape.

The proliferation of donor-driven collectives continues to dominate the Name, Image and Likeness conversation. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities.

Collectives, which are independent of a university, can serve a variety of purposes. Most often, they pool funds from boosters and businesses, help facilitate NIL deals for athletes and also create their own ways for athletes to monetize their brands. Industry sources expect every Power 5 school to be affiliated with at least one NIL-related collective by the end of the year, and industry sources say several dozen yet-to-be-announced collectives are currently in the information-gathering stages. Those programs that fail to be affiliated with a robust collective risk being left in the dust in the ultra-competitive world of football and basketball recruiting. 

This is an up-to-the-minute snapshot of collectives across the country. On3 will be updating this list as more inevitably launch in the coming weeks and months. Available details related to how each collective operates vary greatly. Some are in the developmental stages, while others are starting small with visions to expand to help athletes within other sports programs at the respective university.

Click here to access On3’s complete NIL collective database

Alabama (High Tide Traditions)

Founders: Larry Morris, Paul Register, Tripp Powell, Cole Price.
The buzz: Alabama was a late entry into the NIL collective world. But High Tide Traditions is quickly making up lost time and has established itself as one of the most proactive collectives in college sports. High Tide Traditions takes a high-tech approach by using data analytics and AI to “amplify the exposure for business partners through relatable and authentic content, appearances and other mutually beneficial services.” In a sense, High Tide Traditions is a one-stop shop for businesses hoping to engage in NIL deals with Crimson Tide athletes. Although not officially affiliated with Alabama, High Tide Traditions is working closely with UA compliance and licensing in order to protect its student-athletes and ensure compliance with all NCAA and NIL policies and guidelines. “There’s an opportunity for Alabama to come out of the next 18 to 24 months and be the No. 1 player in the collective business,” HTT Senior Advisor Phillip Stutts said.

Arizona (Friends of Wilbur & Wilma)

Founders: Cole Davis, Humberto S. Lopez
The buzz: The Friends of Wilbur and Wilma is a NIL collective formed in Feb. 2022 that supports the creation and development of NIL business opportunities for all student-athletes of Arizona’s 21 athletic programs. Founded by loyal Wildcat supporters Cole Davis and Humberto Lopez, Friends of Wilbur and Wilma will utilize Blueprint Sports technology to learn more about supporting Arizona student-athletes NIL opportunities and connect with them. Friends of Wilbur & Wilma will initially focus on the Arizona football program while building momentum to support the Wildcat women’s basketball, softball and baseball programs. The collective also has the support of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. “I’m a big believer in empowering our next wave of athletes,” said Agassi, an eight-time grand slam tennis champion. “It’s incredible to see and support this technology. And I know that University of Arizona student-athletes will benefit greatly from this newly organized support.” 

Arizona (Arizona Assist)

Founders: Michael Saffer, Thomas Conran, Adam Lazarus
The buzz: Arizona Assist’s website describes the organization as “an exclusive member-driven marketplace” for men’s basketball. It offers three clubs: the Cats Club for $10/month or $100/year, the Century Cats for $1,000/month or $10,000/year, and the Corporate Cats for businesses and brands. Perks include a T-shirt for members, an NFT commemorating the team’s Sweet 16 and a chance to attend the Maui Invitational.

Arizona State (Sun Angel Collective)

Founders: Jeff Burg, John Dorsey, Scott Harkey, Michael Olsen, Chris Michaels
The buzz: After months of speculation and morsels of details being released in the media, the Sun Angel Collective was officially launched on Aug. 2, 2022. With it, Arizona State became one of the last Power 5 schools to officially have a booster-led collective supporting its student-athletes with NIL initiatives. But Sun Angel Collective directors say it was well worth the wait. The collective says it secured more than $1,000,000 in pre-launch financial commitments from individual boosters and organizations. The group also plans to file an application with the IRS to operate as a 501(c)(3) public charity, mirroring other nonprofit collectives across the country. “We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to support our student-athletes while at the same time helping out local nonprofits,” Sun Angel Collective president Jeff Burg said. The group plans to focus initially on football and men’s basketball.

Arkansas (Athlete Advocate Consortium)

Founders: Bryan Hunt, Mandy Hunt
The buzz: Arkansas natives Bryan and Mandy Hunt – heirs to the global trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Services – launched Athlete Advocate Consortium in January 2022 but paperwork for the organization was filed in October 2022. When they went public, the AAC announced it Razorback basketball player JD Notae as its first signee. The collective is a non-profit organization, and the Hunts describe AAC as operating “in the best interests of the athletes while making a positive impact on the local community.” Mandy Hunt said in addition to giving back to the community, AAC differs from player-management organizations by focusing on the athlete’s future in the long term. “Our interest in these athletes is far greater than how many followers they currently have on social media,” she said. “We care about their success long after they’ve played their final game wearing their team jersey. We also look at players who haven’t always had it easy growing up, those who could use a support system to help them accelerate their journey off the court or playing field.”

Arkansas (Fayetteville NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Fayetteville NIL Club is one of the first-ever player-led collectives in college sports.  Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Player-led collectives like FNC will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Arkansas’ athletes throughout the season via an online membership.

Auburn (NIL-Auburn)

Founder: Rick Davidson
The buzz: Launched in Dec. 2021, NIL-Auburn is the brainchild of former Auburn baseball player Rick Davidson. The Auburn-focused collective prides itself on connecting the Tiger fan base with student-athletes in unique ways. Whether it’s through something as simple as an autographed photo, a video message, exclusive merch drops, player luncheons, tailgate parties or something as big as an exclusive meet-and-greet with a business, NIL-Auburn is big on building connections. “It’s a chance for Auburn people, for the first time ever, to be really organized and take care of their student-athletes and set the market value of what it means to be a student-athlete at Auburn and how we value what those young men and women do for our institution and for our Auburn family,” Davidson said.

Auburn (Plains NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Plains NIL Club is one of the first-ever player-led collectives in college sports. PNC joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like PNC will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. Roughly three-quarters of the Auburn football roster partnered together with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Tigers’ athletes throughout the season via an online membership. Bailey O’Sullivan, one of YOKE’s co-founders and an Auburn alum, told AL.com that “more than 75% of the team” has signed on. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Auburn (On To Victory)

Founders: Mike Arasin, Nick Davis, Steve Fleming, Keith Jones, Ned Sheffield, Wesley Spruill
Buzz: There are now three collectives focused on Auburn University. Launched in July 2022, On To Victory was launched by a group of six longtime supporters that say 90% of proceeds are going directly to Auburn athletes. “It is our Auburn Family and their Auburn Spirit that separates us from all others,” Board member Dr. Wesley Spruill, a physician in Tuscaloosa, told 247Sports. “The goal of On To Victory is to be the voice of our donors and of our Auburn Family and assist them in forever changing the lives of our student-athletes.” Along with the leadership’s no-compensation pledge, they are also promising transparency in the collective’s finances and activities. While individual contract information will remain private, donors will receive donation and expense reports. The plan calls for prudent administrative cost controls to ensure maximum benefits for student-athletes.

Baylor (Waco NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Waco NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Waco NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Waco NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus Baylor football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Oregon athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Bradley (Home of the Brave)

Founders: Steve Cicciarelli, Rick Gaa, Ryan Pierson, Joe Messmore, Matt Wiesner
The buzz: Home of the Brave – a Bradley-focused NIL collective – was a trendsetter when it became the first group that represents a Missouri Valley School. Home of the Brave was founded in June 2022 by Steve Cicciarelli, Rick Gaa, Ryan Pierson, Joe Messmor and Matt Wiesner with an aim to position players for success after their careers have ended along with providing Braves fans the opportunity to collaborate and engage with the student-athletes they support. “We are a member-driven organization that provides exclusive benefits to its members, connecting them to Bradley men’s basketball student-athletes through Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities and allowing those student-athletes to monetize their individual and collective brands – while also providing mentoring, educational, and networking opportunities that will position our student-athletes for success long after their playing careers have ended,” the collective’s website says. Home of the Brave is a membership-driven organization. They aren’t accepting one-time donations. You have to make monthly donations to join them instead. Once you do join, you will get priority access that non-members can’t receive.

Butler (All Good Dawgs)

Founders: Mark McFatridge, Mark Schabel, Rick Donovan, Mark Minner, Matt Howard, Christina Fugate, Jill Robisch, Chris Miskel
The buzz: All Good Dawgs Inc. is a Butler-focused NIL collective. The group said it is a nonprofit collective that receives donations that are paid to Butler athletes for “work performed on behalf of… partner nonprofit organizations.” Athletes apply for membership to All Good Dawgs Inc., and the group’s goal is for more than 90% of donations to go to Butler athletes. Its executive director and board members receive no compensation. Athletes can also receive financial, legal and brand management education from volunteers who support the organization. All Good Dawgs Inc. also says its built on doing things the “Butler Way” and will focus on impact, community engagement, innovation, lifelong success and experiential learning.

BYU (CougConnect)

Founder: Jake Brandon
The buzz: CougConnect, a BYU-focused NIL collective, was launched in November 2021 and it quickly became one of the top booster-driven groups West of the Mississippi. Spearheaded by co-founder Jake Brandon, the group says it bankrolled upward of 25 football players and a handful of basketball players in its first year. According to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune, most prominent athletes, like quarterback Jaren Hall, have made close to $100,000. The role players have made thousands with CougConnect. “I think this has evened the playing field,” Hank Tuipulotu, a former BYU linebacker now committed to helping current players make money told the Tribune. “I’m sure coaches are frustrated. But it is better than it was in my opinion.”

BYU (Provo NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Provo NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Provo NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Provo NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus BYU football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with BYU athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

California (California Legends Collective)

Founder: Kevin Kennedy
The buzz: The California Legends Collective aims to assist Cal Bear student-athletes in their pursuit of Name, Image and Likeness opportunities. The California Legends Collective was created in partnership with Beastmode Marketing – which was launched by former Cal running back turned NFL star Marshawn Lynch. The California Legends Collective says it will connect Cal fans, alums, supporters and brands with Bear student-athletes for various services. The collective also says it will use proprietary PlayBooked technology to manage all aspects of its needs. “We’ve been working hard to create something we could all be proud of,” said Kevin Kennedy, president, founding sponsor, and co-executive director of the California Legends Collective. “It was important to us that this be done the Cal way – in full compliance with NCAA regulations and empowering all our student-athletes to take full advantage of the vast opportunities presented by attending the world’s No. 1 ranked university. We decided the best university in the world deserved the best collective, and that’s what we’ve created.”

Clemson (Dear Old Clemson)

Founders: Robert MacRae, Jason Beaty, Jay Courie
The buzz: Clemson-focused NIL collective, Dear Old Clemson, was founded in June 2022 by Robert MacRae and Jason Beaty with a focus on helping football and an option to support women’s sports. For businesses and fans that just want to contribute to football, they can “hop on the Roy Bus” and have contributions dedicated to football through the Clemson Athletic Club. Donations to the Lady Tiger Club will go exclusively to female student-athletes at Clemson. Club members will have access to exclusive events with student-athletes, and receive early access and discounts on collectibles and other exciting benefits. “Our goal is to maximize the percentage of contributions that go to Clemson student-athletes,” the collective’s website says. “Over 90% of all contributions will go to these Tigers.” Dear Old Clemson includes several former Clemson athletes to generate support and serve as advisers on how funds should be distributed, including former Major League Baseball player Kyle Parker and former softball standout Sam Russ, who’s now a graduate student at the school. “Our mission is to do NIL the ‘Clemson way,’” MacRae said. “Dear Old Clemson was created to benefit the student-athletes, the Clemson business community, and the best fans in the nation.”

Clemson (TigerImpact)

Founders: Rich Davies, Bobby Couch.
The buzz: TigerImpact, founded in April 2022, is one of a growing number of non-profit collectives focused on raising awareness and “doing good” for select community-oriented non-profit organizations. Within months of launch, TI signed 16 student-athletes participating in all of Clemson’s men’s and women’s sports – making it one of the first NIL collectives in the country to achieve this milestone. By July 2022, the purpose-driven collective facilitated nearly 30 deals with student-athletes, who lead as captains for TigerImpact working on behalf of community charities to elevate their impact. “We are thrilled to broaden our group of student-athletes across all Clemson sports to support worthy charitable organizations,” said TigerImpact Executive Director Bobby Couch. “This is the first step toward our goal of expanding the program to Clemson’s 524 student-athletes, giving them the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others through their Name, Image and Likeness. We want everyone who wishes to be a part of this impactful initiative to feel welcome and to know that they can substantially enhance their student-athlete experience by making a meaningful difference in the community.”

East Carolina (Team Boneyard)

Founders: Vern Davenport, Travis Burt, Henry Hinton
The buzz: A group of East Carolina University fans embraced the school’s nickname and mascot when naming the Team Boneyard collective in June 2022. Team Boneyard said 100% of its contributions, which the group will collect via credit card payment at teamboneyard.org, PayPal and Venmo, will go to East Carolina athletes for NIL activities. “Companies can capitalize on this new and unique opportunity by having ECU athletes promote their business through media campaigns, social media campaigns, autograph signings and/or public appearances,” the collective says. “Team Boneyard will facilitate these marketing opportunities for companies and student-athletes.” In the Team Boneyard press release, Vern Davenport, Travis Burt and Henry Hinton are listed as contributors to the collective. Team Boneyard is registered as a limited liability company, or LLC, in North Carolina. “College athletics is rapidly changing and the creation of this collective on behalf of ECU Athletics is critical to our continued competitiveness,” Davenport said in a statement in the press release. “This collective will provide a trusted, compliant marketplace for Pirate Nation to successfully engage with ECU student-athletes.”

FIU (Inside the Cage)

Founders: Jonathan Cyprien
The buzz:

Inside the Cage (ITC), an FIU-focused NIL collective, was founded in March 2022 by Johnathan Cyprien, a former second-round NFL draft pick. At the time of the collective’s launch, the organization outlined a mission “to help Golden Panthers thrive in NIL while also building the foundation for a successful future.” ITC’s athlete-first strategy is built on the core values of integrity, inclusivity, empathy and empowerment. ITC uses these core values to build strategic partnerships with companies and organizations that provide mentorship and employment opportunities to student-athletes during and after college. ITC has also established its own nonprofit, called Panther Territory. This organization focuses on education in financial literacy, mental health, and the betterment of local communities through sports. ITC’s student athletes have the opportunity to host and run sport camps at local schools and organizations, funded through Panther Territory.

Florida (Gator Collective)

Founders: Eddie Rojas, Kelli Rojas, Jen Grosso
The buzz: The Gator Collective is a trailblazer in the collective space. The group was one of the first collectives formed in 2021 to support student-athletes in their Name, Image and Likeness endeavors. The Gator Collective quickly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and facilitated NIL deals with more than 100 Florida student-athletes in its first year. The Gator Collective was also the first NIL collective to sponsor the athletic department it supports, which has given it access to UF athletes that other groups are missing. CEO Eddie Rojas says he’s “on a mission” to help the Gators win national championships in all of the major sports and make Florida “NIL U.”

Florida (Gator Guard)

Founder: Hugh Hathcock
The buzz: Gator Guard was founded by CEO and long-time Florida fan Hugh Hathcock as a “a new, exclusive, very influential group of high-net-worth Gators” that are willing to make donations in the millions. It didn’t take big money boosters long to jump on board. Once the Gator Guard launched on April 21, 2022, the group had $3 million pledged to the cause. That quickly rose to $4 million minutes after the group went public. Then less than 20-minutes after hitting the $4 million mark, the Gator Guard reached $5 million in contributions. Make no mistake, the Gator Guard was formed with the goal of bringing a national championship in football to Gainesville. “For all that Billy Napier does well, we have to give him the rest of what he needs so that we can be competitive with other schools when it comes to NIL deals,” Hathcock said. “We need to be competitive now. This year. And the Gator Guard will help us do that.” Guard Guard has also partnered with fellow Florida collective, Gator Collective, to “ensure Gator athletes have the best opportunities.”

Florida (MarketPryce Florida)

Founders: Jason Bergman, Cady Lowery, Darren Heitner, Brian Levine
The buzz: Launched in Oct. 2021, MarketPryce Florida’s focus is connecting Gator student-athletes to alumni, fans and local businesses through NIL partnerships. The group launched with more than 40-plus Gainesville-based businesses. By partnering with local businesses, MarketPryce Florida says it can disperse the NIL donations on a rolling basis and pay UF student-athletes to promote these local businesses. “At MarketPryce, we believe that every athlete, no matter their gender, background or social media following should have equal access to endorsement deals,” MarketPryce CEO and UF grad Jason Bergman said. “With MarketPryce Florida, every student-athlete at UF is going to be able to have an equal opportunity to promote some really cool local Gainesville businesses.” Fellow UF alum Darren Heitner, who has become a nationally prominent source of NIL news, is an advisor to MarketPryce Florida.

Florida State (Micconope 1851)

Founders: Mike Underwood, James Coleman, Chris Frazier
The buzz: Micconope 1851 was founded in April 2022 by Florida State alum Mike Underwood and fellow alum and former player James Coleman with the purpose of providing financial earning opportunities but also providing developmental opportunities. “Micconope 1851 is supported by former players, alumni, fans and business owners alike whose love and passion for Florida State University is unparalleled,” the collective’s website says. “It is this shared passion that leads to generous contributions of time, resources and financial contributions. These gifts of time and resources committed to Micconope 1851 is what makes us different.” All FSU student-athletes will be provided access to free workshops and seminars hosted by successful alums in areas such as financial literacy, investment strategies for young adults, and the importance of self-branding and entrepreneurship. “These amazing contributions of time is how Micconope 1851 will enhance the lives of student-athletes far beyond the playing field,” the collective’s website says. Additionally, the foundation of Micconope 1851 says it is steeped in reverence for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Florida State (Rising Spear)

Founders: Bob Davis, Alan Flaumenhaft, Matthew Quigley, Will Cowen
The buzz: Rising Spear – a Name, Image and Likeness collective focused on Florida State – was one of the first collectives launched in the country in December 2021. It also became the first known collective to merge with another group when it absorbed Warpath 850 in May 2022. The merger was done to unite the two biggest names in the FSU NIL space. “Once I was named CEO, one of the first things that I wanted to do was clear up the donor confusion in the space,” Rising Spear CEO Matthew Quigley told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I’m sure you saw like on Twitter and social media, I saw numerous people that were like, ‘Well, do I donate to Rising Spear or Warpath? I don’t know what to do.’ It was very important to me to get that cleared up and do this merger.” There are two NIL options as part of Rising Spear. For Gold Standard, Rising Spear finds a booster-owned company and enlists an athlete as a sponsor. For Garnet Spirit, boosters donate to a charity and get a tax write-off. Athletes make charitable appearances to earn compensation. As part of the merger, athletes already working with Rising Spear will have access to the Dreamfield NIL platform.

Georgia (Classic City Collective)

Founders: Matt Hibbs, John Staton IV
The buzz: Founded in March 2022, Classic City Collective aims to be the nation’s foremost NIL platform to position Georgia Bulldog student-athletes from all 21 sports for success. The collective was created “to provide opportunities for all of Dawg Nation to contribute and engage with the athletes they passionately support through a variety of NIL activities, including social media endorsements, in-kind promotional deals, appearances, meet and greets, autographs and digital content.” The group says its main values are being athlete-first, sustainable and education-focused. Former UGA compliance administrator and Classic City Collective CEO Matt Hibbs said the collective has partnered early on with DGD Fund and Icon Source to expand opportunities. The DGD Fund provides Georgia fans a unique opportunity to change the game of charitable giving by supporting causes in the local community. Icon Source is a digital marketplace that brings agents, athletes and brands together.

Georgia (Athens NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Athens NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Athens NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Athens NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus UGA football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with UGA athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Georgia Tech (Jackets for Atlanthropy)

Founders: Dale C. Stapler, Dorsey Levens, Niesha Butler, Jim McLaughlin, Chelsea Dixon
The buzz: Jackets for Atlanthropy was founded in May 2022 by Bo Stapler, a Georgia Tech alum that works as a doctor in Billings, Montana. He formed the charity-minded NIL collective to meet the opportunity presented by local Atlanta charities to involve Georgia Tech student-athletes in their amazing work. “The result was a collaboration among Georgia Tech fans, student-athletes, and Atlanta charities to serve their community and have fun doing it,” Jackets for Atlanthropy’s website says. “Our passion is to promote the growth and development of this unique partnership in order to provide care for more Atlantans in need while ripening the hearts of the fans and athletes lucky enough to engage in such efforts.” Jackets for Atlanthropy’s aim is to provide stipends to Tech athletes for taking part in charitable activities, such as making meals for the homebound or serving at a soup kitchen and promoting participation through social media. The plan is not dissimilar from collectives that have formed at other schools that offer compensation to athletes for supporting charities.

Georgia Tech (Swarm the ATL)
Founders: Stephen Weitzel
The buzz: Swarm The ATL, founded in May 2022, was founded by Georgia Tech alumnus Stephen Weitzel with the support of NIL agency Dreamfield. “The biggest thing now is going to be, we’ve got to see engagement from the fan base,” Weitzel said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re already behind so many of our peers in terms of getting something out there that it’s good that we’re going to have something that’s live and so we’re not going to have that held against us. But we’ve got to have engagement from the fans to make sure that we’re able to compete with the other teams in our division and in our league.” Fees from subscribers will go to Georgia Tech athletes in exchange for their participation in meet-and-greets (in-person and virtual), online chats and youth sports camps and clinics. Price points range from $10 to $500 per month. Other perks, such as fan apparel and opportunities to watch games from suites or courtside, may also be available. Fans can also make a one-time contribution and earmark it for a particular team. “Ultimately, the ability for us to be able to have NIL deals that we do for all Georgia Tech student-athletes is going to be determined by how much participation we have in these collectives,” Weitzel said.

Gonzaga (Friends of Spike)

Founders: Matt Santangelo, Shaniqua Niles
The buzz: Matt Santangelo and Shaniqua Nilles, two former Gonzaga basketball players, launched the Friends of Spike collective in March 2022 to help Bulldogs student-athletes capitalize on their NIL. Friends of Spike said it hopes to be the bedrock to providing a long-term and organized NIL program around GU student-athletes. “Supporters of the men and women who represent Gonzaga athletics as student-athletes now will be able to engage directly with athletes for corporate advertising campaigns, youth sports coaching sessions, brand representation, merchandising programs, speaking appearances and more,” the collective said. The NIL program is sponsored by Spokane-area businesses Gee Automotive, Washington Trust Bank, The Wolff Company and Dealers Auto Auction, along with Santangelo and Nilles. “As former student-athletes here in Spokane, we know firsthand how much of an impact we can have on the community and the world,” Santangelo and Nilles said.

Grambling (The Icon Collective)

Founders: Marc Smith, Marva R. Nichols, David L. Dirks, Lashanda Love
The buzz: The Icon Collective, which was launched in April 2022, is believed to be the first HBCU-affiliated collective. It aids student-athletes at Grambling by cultivating and facilitating NIL opportunities in conjunction with businesses, donors, alumni and fans. “For years, the Black athlete has built wealth with their skills on the field and some have written their way into history via their universities and on the national level,” the group’s website says. “The Icon Collective is a group of Grambling State University alumni made up of former athletes and student ambassadors that love their HBCU. This group will be the catalyst for making sure GSU and other HBCU athletes have every opportunity to be successful both on and off the field.” The Icon Collective also said it will assist and work with any HBCU student-athlete.

Houston (Hoops and Holler)

Founders: Michael Pittman, Jennifer Pittman
The buzz: Hoop And Holler Houston is described as a “micro-collective” with an interest of supporting University of Houston student-athletes through NIL. The collective says its goal is to reach as many UofH student-athletes as financially possible and “provide them with memorable and unique experiences within their fanbase and community.” Hoop And Holler Houston said various NIL opportunities may be made available to Cougar student-athletes, including social media endorsements, traditional media advertisements, in-kind deals for promotional activities, appearances, meet and greets, autographs and digital content.

Illinois (Illini Guardians)

Founders: Adam Fleischer, Tom DiSanto
The buzz: Illini Guardians – a non-profit collective supporting the Illinois Fighting Illini – was founded in Jan. 2022 by Adam Fleischer and Tom DiSanto. Fleischer, an attorney with BatesCarey LLP in Chicago, said the collective’s goal is to form powerful and positive relationships between the student-athletes and the University of Illinois business community by harnessing the opportunities created by Illinois’ NIL legislation. DiSanto, an Illinois alum who owns the bar Joe’s on Weed Street in Chicago, said it was important to form a collective supporting the Illini if they want to win at high levels in football and basketball. “We knew we had to get something going to compete with these other schools because we knew this was going to be the driving force behind keeping up with the Joneses moving forward,” DiSanto said. Since it’s a non-profit, Illini Guardians says it pools money through big-money angel investors, but it also takes contributions from Illini supporters through donations big or small.

Indiana (Hoosiers For Good)

Founder: Pete Yonkman
The buzz: Hoosiers For Good is different than most collectives because it partners with Indiana student-athletes and uses their Name, Image and Likeness to generate exposure and awareness for their respective causes. Hoosiers For Good was also one of the first collectives in the country to receive 501(c)3 status and earn a Federal tax exemption. “This allows us to continue to advance our goal of amplifying the mission of our charitable partners through Indiana University student-athletes’ NIL, platform and influence,” Hoosiers For Good executive director Tyler Harris said. In the spring of 2022, Hoosiers For Good partnered with 14 IU student-athletes to support causes like the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington and Recycle Force. Hoosiers For Good leaders say the class of student-athletes will change each semester. “We partner with student-athletes who have an influential voice and are passionate about becoming community-minded leaders through partnering with a local charitable organization,” the group’s website says. “Our Incubator Program will encourage any student-athlete who is passionate about charitable work and interested in developing their voice to submit a proposal for funding.”

Indiana (Hoosier Hysterics NIL Collective)

Founders: Eric Pankowski, Ward Roberts
The buzz: Eric Pankowski and Ward Roberts, hosts of the popular HoosierHysterics! basketball podcast, launched the Hoosier Hysterics NIL Collective in August 2021 because they “love Indiana” and they “know NIL is a huge deal.” After its launch, the Hoosier Hysterics NIL Collective quickly garnered national attention and the support of notable IU alumni. This includes Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who publicly supported the collective. “Simply put, if current players know there is real opportunity to do well financially in NIL opportunities at IU, they will be less likely to leave early or transfer,” Pankowski said. “And if recruits across the nation know that Indiana is a place where the fanbase as a whole supports them financially with NIL opportunities once they get to IU, then we will win recruitments that we otherwise may have lost.” HHNIL says all contributions are combined into one pot in order to make significant and impactful and meaningful NIL deals. HHNIL has already hosted several fan-favorite events, including the first-ever men’s basketball Fan Fest which drew more than 3,000 in attendance.

Iowa (Iowa City NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Iowa City NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Iowa City NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, the Fayetteville NIL Club and the Manhattan NIL Club, which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like Iowa City NIL Club will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Iowa’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Iowa (The Swarm Collective)

Founder: Brad Heinrichs
Buzz: Iowa was one of the final Power 5 programs to launch a booster-led NIL collective in July 2022. But school administers and coaches said the wait was worth it. The Swarm Collective is led by Brad Heinrichs, a four-year letterman in golf and a 1997 graduate of Iowa who runs an actuary firm in Fort Myers, Florida. Heinrichs, other Iowa Swarm Collective executives and executives from United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties are all heavily involved in the non-profit collective. “As a former student-athlete at the University of Iowa, I am excited to form The Swarm Collective — a non-profit corporation that contracts with Iowa’s student-athletes to serve the community,” Heinrichs said. “NIL is a wonderful tool for student-athletes to be able to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness. Our objective is to use their popularity for the benefit of the Iowa community by raising money or providing services to local charities and other non-profit organizations.” The collective is expected to serve football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Iowa State (We Will Collective)

Founder: Connor Greene
Buzz: Iowa State’s We Will Collective was founded in April 2022 by former football player Connor Greene, along with assistance from former Cyclone football coach Dan McCarney and a host of other ISU greats. “We Will” comes from the “I will” section of Jack Trice’s letter he wrote before Iowa State’s game at Minnesota in 1923, where he sustained severe injuries that eventually led to his death. We Will Collective says for every dollar it gives to athletes, those funds will be tied to some charitable organization for the athlete to work with. The group says it is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As of right now, the collective’s funds are only available to men’s basketball and football players. Connor Greene said they fully intend to scale it up to all sports over time. “With football and men’s basketball, that was just bare bones of, ‘Hey, let’s get this going,’” Greene said.

Iowa State (Ames NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Ames NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Ames NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Ames NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Iowa State football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Iowa State’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Kansas (Mass Strategies)

Founders: Matt Baty, Stephanie Temple
The buzz: Originally founded in 2021 as 6th Man Strategies and 12th Man Strategies, KU boosters rebranded the collective as Mass Strategies in July 2022. Regardless of name, the University of Kansas-based collective quickly became one of the most creative in the space with its focus on personal branding, sales, resources, PR, tax strategy, legal and business advising. Mass Strategies also has a partnership with Opendorse. The partnership also runs in conjunction with Kansas’ on-campus Jayhawks Ascend program, which is a support and guidance arm of KU athletics in the same areas and others as well. “The strength of the Jayhawk brand is one of the most recognizable marks in the entire world,” said Matt Baty, a former Kansas baseball player and Kansas Athletics employee who is now a partner in Mass Strategies. “For the first time, by partnering with an official licensed merchandise provider, we can unite the two brands officially and athletes can be compensated for it.” While they are heavily involved in the management and representation for all things NIL, Mass Man also tries to connect fans with athletes with an exchange of unique access to Kansas players for fundraising and donations. The group also helped launch the nonprofit KU collective Reaching Champions Joining Hearts – which goes by the KU moniker RCJH

Kansas (Reaching Champions Joining Hearts)
Founders: Matt Baty, Stephanie Temple
The buzz: RCJH was formed specifically to create an avenue by which the University of Kansas student-athletes can be empowered to make positive impacts on their communities and charities close to their hearts while utilizing their NIL. The group says it does have non-profit, 501(c)3 organization status. “Our partnership with local organizations facilitates impactful NIL collaborations with student-athletes,” the group’s website says. “Now Kansas fans and athletes can get in the game to make sure Jayhawks are competing not only athletically, but financially in that ecosystem. RCJH is designed to facilitate NIL opportunities for Kansas student-athletes with the community.” The nonprofit collective was founded in July 2022 in partnership with its for-profit brand Mass Strategies. Mass Strategies was originally founded in 2021 as 6th Man Strategies and 12th Man Strategies and became one of the most creative in the space with its focus on personal branding, sales, resources, PR, tax strategy, legal and business advising.

Kansas State (Manhattan NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Manhattan NIL Club is one of the first-ever player-led collectives in college sports. MNC joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club and the Fayetteville NIL Club, which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like The Manhattan NIL Club will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Kansas State’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Kansas State (The Wildcats’ Den)

Founders: Aaron Lockett, Curry Sexton, Brian Morris.
The buzz: Launched in 2021, The Wildcats’ Den was founded by former K-State stars and business leaders Aaron Lockett, Curry Sexton and Brian Morris. “Our goal is to provide an environment where student-athletes can participate in Name, Image, and Likeness by engaging with fans while building long-lasting partnerships with local communities,” The Wildcats Den’s website says. “The Wildcats’ Den brings together like-minded student-athletes that share a common goal of providing excellent customer service within the local community. The ability to build transferrable skills from athletics to life will continue to be one of the main drivers towards identifying long-term success.” While The Wildcats’ Den focuses on football and basketball, people that join the collective can decide what K-State sport they want to donate to.

Kansas State (Wildcat NIL)

Founders: Jesse Ertz, Ryan Henington, Ross Elder, Brad Fulner
The buzz: Wildcat NIL, which was launched in April 2022, is spearheaded by former K-State quarterback Jesse Ertz, former linebacker Ryan Henington, former defensive back Ross Elder, and former player and successful business owner Brad Fulner. “Kansas State is a national brand that embodies the word Family,” Wildcat NIL says on its website. “Wildcat student-athletes are ambassadors for the university and their success matters greatly. This is a cutting-edge opportunity to reward these players for their hard work and dedication to the university.” Unlike some other NIL collectives where fans can engage for as little as $5, Wildcat NIL appears to be targeting higher-end donors. “The most unique opportunity we are presenting is called The Cat Family Club, a nonprofit initiative,” the collective’s website said. “This exclusive group of 100 supporters has each committed to donating $1,000 per month to a fund that is used for NIL opportunities for our players. Our goal with this $1.2 million-dollar annual fund is to remain competitive with what every other college program is doing nationally in NIL opportunities and ensure Kansas State Athletics has the resources to remain competitive.”

Kentucky (The 15)

Founder: Fred Johnson
The buzz: The 15, which derives its name from Kentucky being the 15th state in the Union, is a unique collective because it does not plan to allow boosters to directly contribute to University of Kentucky student-athletes. Instead, The 15 works with its parent company – Athlete Advantage – to allow corporations and businesses of all sizes to partner with student-athletes from UK through multi-year marketing and endorsement programs and increase their brands. Athlete Advantage is an independent company created to help players with NIL opportunities and to facilitate the NIL process. “We build personal brands that drive life-changing opportunities for our athletes,” CEO Fred Johnson said. “Through strategic marketing partnerships, the sky is the limit.” The fund has a board of directors composed of former UK athletes and has a goal of creating a marketplace to support all 29 of the Wildcats’ sports programs. The group has been ultra-creative when it comes to early NIL deals, including partnering UK quarterback Will Lewis with thoroughbred stallion War of Will.

Louisville (502 Circle)

Founder: Marc Spiegel
The buzz: 502Circle, an independent Louisville-focused NIL Collective, was established to provide opportunities for Cardinal student-athletes to “maximize their NIL based on their hard-earned success.” The platform officially launches in August 2022. 502Circle “has been created as a wholly unique and cutting-edge NIL collective, incorporating best-in-class technology. 502Circle will be operated in compliance with state NIL laws and NCAA rules,” the group says. “It will make it easy for supporters to become involved financially, thus translating to monetary gains for UofL student-athletes.” Founded by Marc Spiegel, a technology entrepreneur and University of Louisville alumnus, along with a select group of University of Louisville alumni and fans, 502Circle is all about the UofL community and its support for the student-athletes.

LSU (Baton Rouge NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Baton Rouge NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Baton Rouge NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Baton Rouge NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 70-plus LSU football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with LSU’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Marquette (Be the Difference NIL)

Founders: Travis Diener, Steve Novak, Rob Jackson, Cam Morotta, Kiesha Oliver-Hayes
The buzz: Marquette’s motto is “Be the Difference.” Now that motto will live as part of the Marquette-booster-led NIL Collective – Be the Difference NIL. Travis Diener, Steve Novak, Rob Jackson, and Kiesha Oliver-Hayes are all former Marquette basketball players helping the current Golden Eagles secure NIL opportunities. They launched the collective in May 2022. Plus, they plan to give back to the community. The collective has applied for 501(c)(3) status as a public charity. “The good they can be doing, not just on the basketball court, but in the classroom, on the campus and furthermore in the community,” Diener said. Oliver-Hayes says the collective should help retain athletes at Marquette and prepare them for the future. “Being the difference – I think is something that will make the difference, that’s key for me. I know at some point, your athletic career will end and you as a person, what is that going to live on to be? That’s what we’re able to do and support these players with,” Oliver-Hayes said.

Maryland (Turtle NIL)

Founder: Harry Geller
The buzz: Turtle NIL was formed in August 2021 at the behest of former Maryland basketball coach Mark Turgeon, who insisted the Terps needed to create a way to generate NIL funds to compete with the top powers in college basketball. Harry Geller, a Maryland alum that has founded more than a dozen multi-million-dollar companies, stepped in to fill that void with Turtle NIL. After much anticipation, the collective launched its impressive-looking website and that it had deals with eight Terp men’s basketball players. Geller says the group has big plans for the future. “We have hired a former Maryland basketball manager and graduate and aspiring sports agent to run the daily operations,” Geller told InsideMDSports. “His job is to find opportunities for the student-athletes in the form of meet-and-greet appearances, social media promotions, in-kind promotions, image and apparel sales, NFT and image collectibles, and most recently, charitable work. We have partnered with a UM Startup Shell company, Memento, to produce NFT’s and create innovative digital assets.” Currently, Turtle NIL is entirely focused on men’s basketball, but Geller says the model could by easily duplicated by other sports.

Memphis (901 Fund )

Founders: Bob Byrd, Kent Ritchey, Clay Presley
The buzz: 901 Fund is a non-profit Memphis Tiger-focused collective. Its goal is to “drive awareness of local charities and establish a deeper connection between our city and the student-athletes who represent us by leveraging the new NCAA NIL rules.” The fund is led by a group of Memphis supporters known as Tigers On a Mission. The money will go directly to athletes through Opendorse, a NIL readiness company that many universities, including Memphis, have partnered with to help athletes monetize their brands. The fund establishes a baseline NIL for the football team and both men’s and women’s basketball teams. Bob Byrd, founder and chairman of the Bank of Bartlett and Bartlett Mortgage, said that basketball and football were targeted first due to the great passion surrounding both sports. “The reason to concentrate on these three teams are these are the emotion generators and the sports which give the greatest interests and therefore will most likely motivate the greatest levels of support,” Byrd told the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Miami (Bring Back The U)

Founders: Dan Lambert, Jorge Masvidal
The buzz: Founded in July 2021 by MMA team owner Dan Lambert and MMA fighter Jorge Masvidal, Bring Back the U is focused on returning the Hurricane football program back to greatness. “Every University of Miami football fan is familiar with the rich tradition of excellence the team built between 1983 and 2001,” Bring Back the U’s website says. “Unfortunately, the team has not been successful in living up to those standards since that time. Concurrently, many followers of college football have long been concerned by the fact that an extremely small amount of the money generated by the sport has been allowed to trickle down to the athletes most responsible for the generation of the revenue.” All money received from fundraisers and donations is funneled to players through local businesses. The collective provides a liaison between players and sponsors. The company helps businesses identify the appropriate athlete and advertising campaign. It also hosts events and fundraisers, distributing all proceeds to local small businesses for the purpose of signing endorsement deals with players. 

Miami (Canes Connection)

Founders: Zach Burr, Brian Golmeier
The buzz: “It all begins with U.” That’s the slogan of Canes Connection, a Miami-focused NIL collective that was launched in August 2022. Canes Connection is operated by Co-CEOs Zach Burr and Brian Goldmeier, who are successful fundraising professionals with more than 30 years of experience running business development firms in the Miami-Dade area. “With nearly $500 million in funds raised throughout their careers, Goldmeier and Burr, a University of Miami alumnus, have formed the Canes Connection to leverage their experience and relationships with top-tier content creators and blue-chip brands to facilitate NIL partnerships for current and future Miami student-athletes,” the collective said in a news release. Canes Connection launched with two major partners – Shadow Lion, a sports content creation company, and LifeWallet Sports, which will help provide agreements that comply with all laws and NCAA rules. “We look forward to initiating partnerships for University of Miami student-athletes on a local and national scale and are confident in our $10 million annual goal,” Goldmeier said. “Our dedication to providing the best opportunities will allow the Canes Connection to be the standard in the NIL space.” Canes Connection says it will partner and work with Miami student-athletes in all 17 of the school’s varsity sports.

Michigan State (East Lansing NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The East Lansing NIL Club is the first-ever player-led collective in college sports. ELNC joins groups like Auburn’s Plains NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like ELNC will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. “We got together and just wanted to do something good for us,” Michigan State safety Dillon Tatum told On3. “We can make a little bit of profit for all the entire team. You know, something we can make our own.” A large group of players on the Michigan State roster partnered together with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Michigan State athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Michigan State (This is Sparta!)

Founder: Thomas Dieters
The buzz: Charitable Gift America, a 501(c)(3) organization, is the company behind the Michigan State-focused This is Sparta! NIL collective. This is Sparta! was launched in February 2022 with the goal of allowing Spartan donors at fans to pool contributions to offer student-athletes an “exclusive NIL contract valued at $50,000, beginning in the fall of 2022.” The collective plans to support Michigan State’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics programs. This is Sparta! made headlines in August when it announced it was doing a teamwide deal for members of the MSU gymnastics squad. This is Sparta! says it will give student-athletes the opportunity, via their NIL contracts, to promote charitable life income plans, including fixed and variable payments, that support charitable endeavors around the country and world. Charitable Gift America says its experience in gift planning gives donors the ability to give cash, publicly traded stock, real estate and cryptocurrency. “These contributions can be for immediate use or to fund family legacies through life income plans,” Charitable Gift America says.

Michigan (Champions Circle)

Founder: Jared Wangler
The buzz: Valiant Management, run by former Michigan football player Jared Wangler, launched the Champions Circle collective in June 2022. Valiant Management is a successful Michigan-based sports marketing agency. The group believes it is perfectly positioned to “connect U-M student-athletes with fans and businesses for NIL opportunities.” Champions Circle initially is focusing on football but has plans to expand to other sports in the future. “We believe strongly that it is important to reward University of Michigan student-athletes for the value they bring to the university, but in keeping with Michigan traditions, it is also important to help the athletes develop the personal, leadership and financial skills to succeed far into the future,” Wangler said. “Our coaches recruit the right student-athletes to the University of Michigan, and the Champions Circle will support their efforts by rewarding sustained educational achievement and personal development. We are confident this model can be replicated across all varsity sports at the University of Michigan.” Deals the organization has helped Michigan athletes sign include group licensing apparel deals with the football, basketball and hockey teams, signing events at The MDen, marketing partnerships with local and national brands, media appearances, signed memorabilia, podcast appearances, NFTs and private training sessions. Former U-M hockey athlete Niko Porikos helped launch the collective, but has since left to start a new venture.

Michigan (MGoDAO)

Founders: Reece Kurdyla, David Hayashi
The buzz: Michigan-focused collective MGoDAO is working to create something unlike anything else in the college sports landscape. MGoDAO is creating the first college sports decentralized autonomous organization with the goal to serve as a vehicle to empower Wolverine student-athletes and enhance the Michigan fan experience. The Athletic describes MGoDAO as the combination of a message board, a crowdfunding platform and Bored Ape Yacht Club, the NFT collectors’ space frequented by celebrities and mocked by crypto skeptics. To create this group, MGoDAO partnered with a tech startup called Draftly, which specializes in blockchain technology. MGoDAO works with Draftly to create NFTs that are sold to the general public. When people buy an NFT, they gain access to the MGoDAO and have a say in how it spends the proceeds from these NFT drops. The more NFTs sold, the bigger the group and the more money that can be directed back to Michigan student-athletes in the form of NIL deals. The group recently released a Season 1 NFT Pass for access to the community and the ability to join virtual and in-person events. 

Michigan (Stadium and Main)

Founders: Keith Mitchell, Jamie Morris, James Hall
The buzz: Founded in May 2022, Stadium & Main says it’s a “trusted group of dedicated alumni aiming to raise Name, Image, and Likeness funds and match opportunities for University of Michigan athletes.” In addition to providing a platform with comprehensive resources, Stadium & Main says it also fosters and develops local and national NIL opportunities for the University of Michigan student-athletes in cooperation with sponsors. Stadium & Main will use a high-tech approach to make that happen with its web platform and mobile app that is designed to help college athletes “monetize their years in college sports by leveraging their NIL rights with ease and confidence.” Stadium & Main is powered by PlayBooked, which claims to be the only NIL marketplace that offers fans and brands the opportunity to book student-athletes for video shout-outs and live video chats. PlayBooked was founded by former Wolverine tight end Keith Mitchell. Stadium & Main was founded by Jamie Morris and James Hall.

Michigan (Ann Arbor NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Ann Arbor NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Ann Arbor NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Ann Arbor NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus Michigan football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Michigan athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Minnesota (Minnesota NIL)

Founder: Erick Kriewaldt
The buzz: Minnesota NIL was originally launched as the Gopher Collective in March 2022. Founder Erick Kriewaldt says the group’s focus is to empower athletes to maximize their value through strategic and NCAA-compliant partnerships. Minnesota NIL also hopes to provide businesses, organizations and fans with a platform to connect with Gopher student-athletes through a technology platform that allows them to focus on their education and sport. “We are proud to be from Minnesota and think that there is no better place to learn and grow,” Minnesota NIL’s website says. “Many followers of the athletic teams have championship dreams and spend their hard-earned money to watch athletes go into battle. Unfortunately, very little of that cash goes to the players responsible for the generation of that revenue. Minneapolis is a beautiful city booming with local and international businesses that can help these college athletes receive fair compensation for their hard work and bring our teams to the forefront of college athletics.”

Minnesota (Twin Cities NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: Twin Cities NIL Club is a player-led collective. TCNC joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like TCNC will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. Run by YOKE, a licensing company, the access pass offers fans a way to engage with Golden Gophers athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Mississippi State (The Legacy Group)

Founders: Lee VanHorn, Jackson Parker
The buzz: Some collectives are an open book, have elaborate websites and have a huge social media presence. Others like to do their work behind the scenes and focus almost entirely on the student-athletes. That appears to be the focus of The Legacy Group, a collective focusing on Mississippi State athletics. TLG has a team-first model that promises every MSU student-athlete the opportunity to earn compensation through their NIL. Launched in 2021 by attorney and former MSU compliance staffer Lee VanHorn and business partner Jackson Parker, the group focuses on making it easier for Bulldog student-athletes to profit from NIL. The group’s team-focused approach is different than many other collectives, but TLG does work on individual student-athlete deals. “Our goal is to sign an entire baseball, basketball or football team so we can sign a NIL agreement that includes the entire team,” VanHorn said after TLG’s initial launch. “Of course, when you have a superstar player, he or she is going to have greater earning potential. We want to ensure that the players are making the most money possible, but this model also takes care of the entire roster.” TLG has also a partnership with Athlete Licensing Company to manage payments and royalties for the athletes from NIL activities.

Mississippi State (Starkville NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Starkville NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Starkville NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Starkville NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Mississippi State football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Mississippi State’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Missouri (Advancing Missouri Athletes)

Founders: Greg Steinhoff, Laurence Bowers, Bud Sasser
The buzz: While other collectives grabbed attention with multimillion war chests and splashy deals in the first year of NIL, the founders for Advancing Missouri Athletes – AMA for short – took their time to organize, stockpile seed money and wait for laws to change in the Show-Me State before going public. After Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed new NIL legislation on June 16, 2022, AMA began collecting public funds to complement what was already privately raised. AMA raked in tens of thousands of dollars within hours of the public announcement. CEO Greg Steinhoff said AMA didn’t want to be associated with the nation’s first wave of NIL collectives, which he described as “the Wild West.” AMA primarily focuses on football and men’s basketball and has hired former Mizzou stars Laurence Bowers and Bud Sasser to help with operations. AMA says the money will not be allocated equally among athletes who agree to partner with them, nor can fans earmark which athletes receive their donation. AMA will not disclose the terms of individual contracts. “Higher profile athletes may also receive more than others,” AMA says. “But every deal is individually negotiated and agreed up by the athletes and AMA.”

Montana State (Bobcat Collective)

Founder: Brandon Vancleeve
The buzz: The Bobcat Collective is a Montana State-focused collective. Officially unveiled in August 2022, it is one of the first FCS collectives launched as NIL continues to trickle down from FBS level to smaller – but just as passionate – fan bases. The Bobcats have elevated themselves off the field and on the field as an FCS national title contender, reaching the championship game in 2022. They recently opened a new facility attached to their stadium, called the Bobcat Athletic Complex. Now with the support from the Bobcat Collective additional steps can be taken to further boost the program. “A group of us were talking about this essentially right after the [national championship] game in Frisco,” founder Brandon Vancleeve told HERO Sports. “There was so much momentum and excitement for that game. And it obviously didn’t go how we wanted it to. We started thinking about what do we need to do to take the next step. And we just saw NIL as a potential to do that. When NIL first came about, we were all skeptical. There were a lot of questions and still are a lot of questions. I introduced what we were doing to the team. It was extremely well-received. They had phenomenal questions. They are super excited to know that this is coming. We did all of that a couple of months ago, and we’ve since been getting all of our ducks in a row.”

NC State (Pack of Wolves)

Founder: Scott Wood
The buzz: Pack of Wolves – founded in May 2022 by former NC State basketball player Scott Wood – says 100% of donations from individual members go to student-athletes. In return, members get exclusive content and access to NC State athletics. Individual members donate on a tiered donation system, where the more you pay monthly, the more you get out of being a member. Meanwhile, business members will be able to help guide student-athletes in NIL. Individual donations without membership are allowed as well. “While we’re focusing our efforts today on taking care of our current athletes, our long-term goal is for every NC State student-athlete to be an ambassador for Pack of Wolves,” said Haze Lancaster, Pack of Wolves founding member.

Nebraska (Big Red Fan Club)

Founders: Zach Molzer, Rob Khorram
The buzz: Supported by FanPassU, Big Red Fan Club is a “community-centered around Nebraska football players that exists to bridge the gap between players and fans,” according to the collective’s website. By purchasing a Fan Pass, fans will receive access to meet and greets, tailgates, autograph signings, customized digital content and more. Fan Passes was founded in July 2022. In addition to FanPassU, GSD 14 Events, an eastern Nebraska-based events company, is listed as a company that supports Big Red Fan Club. “Our goal is to deliver memorable experiences to the fans that support our athletes through thick and thin,” Big Red Fan Club’s website says.

Nebraska (N100)

Founders: Gerrod Lambrecht, Jon Bruning
The buzz: Athlete Branding & Marketing LLC, a NIL representation company for student-athletes, rolled out to the public its Husker-focused N100 collective in April 2022. N100 allows businesses and individuals to directly support NIL efforts by Cornhusker student-athletes. ABM states that since its inception in August 2021, it secured payments of more than $2,000,000 to more than 100 student-athletes across five sports. The Lincoln-based collective also announced in August 2022 it raised $5 million for NIL-related activities. “Members will receive access to exclusive content, events and interaction with student-athletes,” Gerrod Lambrecht, ABM’s president, said. “Businesses who participate can utilize ABM clients in marketing campaigns and sponsored events.” ABM has a partnership with Opendorse and Fan Arch, which works with more than 300 pro athletes, enabling them to develop their personal brands. ABM is also rolling out an initiative focusing on Nebraska’s walk-on program. It will allow for the direct support of walk-on student-athletes. Lambrecht expects it to solidify “Nebraska’s place as the best walk-on program in the country.” N100 also has options to donate to the Huskers’ prestigious volleyball program and directly to skill players and linemen on the football team.

Nevada (Friends of the Pack)

Founder: Aaron Ford
The buzz: Launched in June 2022, Friends of the Pack was one of the first Group of 5 collectives focused on basketball. The Nevada Wolfpack-focused collective is a fan-driven, alumni-led supporter group aimed at raising money for NIL deals. Friends of the Pack says it’s a crowdsourcing organization that collects money and doles it out to Nevada athletes via NIL deals while its partner Blueprint Sports seeks deals for individual Wolf Pack players. Blueprint Sports gets 20% of the NIL deals it brokers for Wolf Pack athletes and will help decide who gets what money from the Friends of the Pack program as well. The collective says its focus for 2022 and 2022 is to set a framework for what is basically the minimum salary expected to play for the Wolf Pack.

North Carolina (Heels4Life)

Founder: Shakeel Rashad
The buzz: Founded in February 2022 by former North Carolina linebacker Shakeel Rashad, Heels4Life is designed to “showcase Tar Heels football players and create revenue opportunities.” Fans will donate to become Heels4Life members. Players will receive compensation for delivering exclusive content and experiences to members. All money raised by the company will go back to the players, the collective says. “Fans want to support the football players and learn more about the players, and we’re trying to do something that accomplishes both, and in doing so maximizes their NIL opportunities,” Rashad said. “We’re working with compliance to make sure we’re doing this all the right way. Obviously, this is new territory for everyone and so I spend a lot of time with people in compliance to make sure that what we’re doing fits school policy, NCAA policy and the state of North Carolina’s Executive Order, too.”

North Carolina (Chapel Hill NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Chapel Hill NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Chapel Hill NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Chapel Hill NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus BYU football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with UNC athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

North Texas (Light the Tower Collective)

Founders: Don Lovelace, Rick Villarreal
The buzz: Longtime UNT booster Don Lovelace and Rick Villarreal, the university’s former athletic director, helped organize the Light the Tower Collective in July 2022. UNT’s collective has already formed a board, contacted more than 150 people and hopes to execute NIL deals with UNT athletes across a number of different sports. “This is the No. 1 priority to move the program to where it needs to be,” Villarreal told the Denton Record-Chronicle. “We are going to step into a conference where the competition and the recruiting process are tougher. We need to have every tool we can to attract top student-athletes and retain them.” Villarreal will serve as the CEO of the collective, which has registered as a nonprofit organization. The group has 12 directors who include several prominent boosters and former UNT athletes, including Craig Robertson, a UNT linebacker who went on to play nine seasons in the NFL.

Notre Dame (Friends of the University of Notre Dame – FUND)

Founders: Brady Quinn, Tom Mendoza, Pat Eilers, Jason Sapp
The buzz: Friends of the University of Notre Dame, also known as FUND, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit collective that uses the Name, Image and Likeness of University of Notre Dame student-athletes to help promote charitable organizations that they are passionate about. The collective is being spearheaded by former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn to help push the Fighting Irish forward in the ever-evolving NIL landscape. “The goal is to provide these student-athletes with the opportunity to be able to take a portion of their time and receive compensation for it, but really falling under the guidelines of God, Country, Notre Dame causes that are bigger than yourself,” Quinn told The Athletic. “And that’s what this is all about.” Irish student-athletes are interviewed, selected and approved by FUND’s board of directors, which includes Notre Dame’s business school namesake Tom Mendoza and former Irish football players Pat Eilers and Jason Sapp. Those student-athletes are matched with select charities. They’re compensated for attending fundraising events, participating in social media campaigns and volunteering at charity sites. The charities themselves receive financial donations from FUND.

Notre Dame (Irish Players Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Irish Players Club is a player-led collective. The Irish Players Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Irish Players Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus Notre Dame football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Notre Dame athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Ohio State (Cohesion Foundation)

Founder: Gary Marcinick
The buzz: Ohio State-focused non-profit collective Cohesion Foundation launched in April 2022 with a goal to become a trusted resource to educate, connect and foster opportunities for Buckeye student-athletes to support charities they support. Additionally, the Cohesion Foundation serves as an official sponsor of the Buckeyes via an exclusive agreement with LEARFIELD’s Ohio State Sports Properties – the school’s athletics multimedia rightsholder. The sponsorship enables Cohesion to have exposure through official Buckeye avenues and serve as a sponsor of Buckeyes Care and the Ohio State Four Miler. “Cohesion has developed a strong board of directors, compromised of highly respected and tenured leaders with notable accomplishments in the community. As a board, we look forward to working with student-athletes to support and further empower charities.” The group also has support from Ohio State legends Archie Griffin and Jack Nicklaus. As a non-profit applying for 501(c)3 status, the group pays student-athletes to provide marketing for partner charities.

Ohio State (The Foundation)

Founders: Cardale Jones, Brian Schottenstein
The buzz: A lifelong Ohio State fan and real estate developer, Brian Schottenstein started The Foundation with former Buckeyes quarterback and close friend Cardale Jones. The idea for the crowdsourced, non-profit collective was formulated in 2021 and the 501C3 was established in February of 2022. “We started working on it last fall because I saw all these schools in the south, like Texas A&M, Texas and Tennessee, what they were doing,” Schottenstein said. “If Ohio State doesn’t have something like The Foundation in place, we’re going to get behind. I knew the number was north of $10 million because I could see what they were doing down there.” The Foundation has an impressive board of directors with some of the most well-respected business leaders in Central Ohio. There are also former Ohio State athletes and coaches on the board – including Urban Meyer and J.T. Barrett – who have a pulse on how to capitalize on NIL.

Ohio State (Columbus NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Columbus NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Columbus NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Columbus NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus Ohio State football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Ohio State athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Oklahoma (1Oklahoma)

Founders: Barry Switzer, Scott Williams
The buzz: A group of Oklahoma businessmen, community leaders, alumni and leaders in the faith-based community partnered with Hall of Fame Coach Barry Switzer in early 2022 to form the 1Oklahoma Foundation. 1Oklahoma Foundation is a non-profit organization “committed to collaborating with and serving some of the most impactful non-profits throughout the state of Oklahoma through the Name, Image, and Likeness of OU athletes.” The 1Oklahoma Collective says it will deliver one of the most comprehensive and impactful NIL offerings in the country and will be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. “The spirit of making a difference aligns with the high standards for student-athletes set forth by the OU athletic programs,” the collective’s website says. “It aligns with the statewide ‘Oklahoma Standard’ initiative of preserving and promoting a culture of citizens making a difference through Acts of Service.” 1Oklahoma Foundation says it will partner with OU athletes from the football, men’s basketball and softball programs. According to reports, football players will make between $40,000-$50,000 a year. “We changed the game in 1981 at The University of Oklahoma football by being a pioneer for schools to negotiate their own contracts and generate additional revenue,” Switzer said. “We are changing the game again with 1Oklahoma Collective.”

Oklahoma (Norman NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Norman NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Norman NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Norman NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 70-plus Oklahoma football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Oklahoma’s athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Oklahoma State (Pokes with a Purpose)

Founder: Joe Eastin
The buzz: Pokes with a Purpose was launched in June 2022, and it quickly absorbed fellow Oklahoma State-focused collective Unbridled NIL. Pokes with a Purpose says it is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission of providing NIL opportunities for all Oklahoma State student-athletes as well as fundraising opportunities for charitable organizations. “The charities, chosen by the athletes or teams, will benefit from the media exposure and in turn help Oklahomans in need,” the collective’s website says. “The athletes will receive character-building experiences and partnerships within their community as well as receive compensation for use of their NIL. Pokes with a Purpose will also be serving as a matchmaker for businesses and players.” The program is led by alumni and donors and supported by former OSU greats like and NFL stars Brandon Weeden and Kenyatta Wright. “We’re different than most NIL collectives because we offer opportunities for all OSU recruited and walk-on athletes,” Weeden said. “The fact that this NIL helps all varsity sports, men and women, whether it be a full scholarship, partial scholarship, or a walk-on athlete, sets us apart from any collective out there… and reinforces the culture of family at OSU.”

Ole Miss (The Grove Collective)

Founders: David Nutt, Crymes Pittman, William Liston, Matt McDonald, Lawrence Deas, Paul Hurst
The buzz: The Grove Collective has been one of the most aggressive collectives in the country, striking ambassador deals with double-digit players in football and basketball within the first few months of its launch. Some of the deals included highly coveted players Ole Miss landed in the Transfer Portal. The Grove Collective is a for-profit LLC founded by Jackson-area businessmen David Nutt, Crymes Pittman, William Liston, Matt McDonald, Lawrence Deas and Paul Hurst. “We’ve created an entity that will seek to leverage and capitalize on the commercial value that those student-athletes create by virtue of their participation in athletics at Ole Miss and utilize that value to build a program that really the ultimate No. 1 goal is to just be something that serves the best interests of Ole Miss student-athletes,” Liston said. The Grove Collective started as a football-centric effort but quickly expanded to include basketball. The group says it is available for entry into NIL agreements with student-athletes who participate in any sport at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss (Oxford NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
Buzz: The Oxford NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Oxford NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Oxford NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Ole Miss football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Ole Miss athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Oregon (Division Street)

Founders: Phil Knight, Pat Kilkenny, Ed Maletis, Jim Morse, Rosemary St. Clair, Rudy Chapa, Sabrina Ionescu
The buzz: Nike co-founder Phil Knight joined up with a group of alumni to launch Division Street in the fall of 2021 to help Oregon athletes monetize their NIL brands. The collection of top minds involved is unrivaled. Former Oregon star women’s basketball player Sabrina Ionescu is the chief athlete officer and senior advisor. Rosemary St. Clair, former VP/GM of Nike Women, is the CEO. Rudy Chapa, former VP of sports marketing at Nike, is the chairman of the board. Division Street also enlists a creative company led by former Nike and Jordan brand executives. “They are the model,” a NIL expert told On3. “They are built by the smartest sports marketers, so follow along. Everything they are doing is a lesson everyone can learn from.” Examples of this can be found with Division Street’s launch of an AirBnB house and partnering with Opendorse on a licensed marketplace.

Oregon (Eugene NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Eugene NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Eugene NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Eugene NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 75-plus Oregon football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Oregon athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Penn State (Happy Valley Talent)

Founders: Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau 
The buzz: Happy Valley Talent is a relatively unique approach to the collective world. Happy Valley Talent is a joint effort by the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County and The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, with support from business organizations throughout Centre County and the area, including Downtown Bellefonte Inc., Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce, Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership, East Penns Valley Community and Business Association, Blair County Chamber of Commerce, Patton Township Business Association, the Downtown State College Improvement District and Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation. The group works with Penn State student-athletes to help generate publicity for Nittany Lion fans and those in the State College community to support local businesses. “HappyValleyTalent.com is ushering in exciting opportunities for businesses looking for brand-new marketing ideas,” said CBICC President & CEO Greg Scott. “It’s also an important way for the community to boost the local economy by supporting Penn State’s student-athletes and helping them achieve their NIL goals here at home.” The group agreed to deals in its first year with student-athletes in football, gymnastics and women’s ice hockey. The business-athlete private portion of the website allows for the creation of profiles, searching, communicating, posting of availability and posting confirmed events. The public portion allows fans to create accounts, view confirmed events and receive notifications when an event with an athlete is posted.

Penn State (Nittany Commonwealth)

Founder: Michael Krentzman
The buzz: Founded in March 2022, Nittany Commonwealth leverages an experienced marketing team to create ongoing NIL opportunities for student-athletes with local, regional and national corporate partners. Nittany Commonwealth also offers mentorship and professional development opportunities. “Nittany Commonwealth will give businesses and members the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with athletes, as well as provide the athletes benefits beyond strong financial performance,” said Michael Krentzman, a Pennsylvania attorney who founded the collective. “Nittany Commonwealth will help athletes build their futures through the relationships formed through the collective, and in so doing, the collective will provide benefits that transcend the length of a collegiate athletic career.” Nittany Commonwealth already has an established partnership with the YMCA of Pennsylvania, which will allow it to conduct programs throughout the YMCA network in the state. The collective has partnered with ReKTGlobal and its Xchange Factor platform, which will provide compliance and athletic auditing tools. The platform will also help facilitate the premium insider program, giving members access to student-athletes through virtual and in-person meet-and-greet events, exclusive merchandise, NFTs and more.

Penn State (Success with Honor)

Founder: Ira Lubert
The buzz: Success with Honor is a non-profit collective backed by prominent Nittany Lions alums and power players. The collective aims to “help more than 850 student-athletes at Penn State University navigate and maximize their Name, Image and Likeness.” Success with Honor has partnered with Student Athlete Empowerment to run its day-to-day operations. However, its board of directors is full of heavy hitters in the Penn State universe. Former University Board of Trustees chairman Ira Lubert chairs the Success with Honor board. So, too, is former Penn State Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees member and PAM Health Principal, President & Chief Executive Officer Anthony Misitano. There is also an advisory volunteer board that includes numerous former Penn State athletes and prominent personalities like Lavar Arrington, Todd Blackledge, Calvin Booth, Megan Hodge, Susan Schandel, Lisa Salters and David Taylor. “Success With Honor was created with one mission in mind – to empower Penn State student-athletes to achieve their greatest potential in the classroom, on the playing field and in life,” the collective’s website says.

Pitt (Alliance 412)

Founder: Chris Bickell
The buzz: Founded in April 2022, Alliance 412’s mission is to connect University of Pittsburgh student-athletes, local and national companies, charitable organizations, and the community to create lasting and sustainable relationships that impact and benefit all. The collective was launched by Pitt graduate Chris Bickell, who donated $20 million to Pitt athletics in 2021, and chief creative officer Frances Reimers. “I hope that Pitt student-athletes see this move as a huge moment for them,” Reimers told PittsburghSportsNow. “This is a massive undertaking for them, and I hope that they are excited and rally around this opportunity and see it as a benefit to them as Pitt student-athletes because it’s intended for them. So, I hope that it gets them excited, recruits that are considering Pitt, I hope that that definitely catches their eye and gets them excited. I think this is a huge step forward for the entire institution.”

Pitt (Steel City NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Steel City NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Steel City NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, Steel City NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Pitt football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Pitt athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Purdue (Boilermaker Alliance)

Founder: Jeff McKean
The buzz: Founded in July 2022, Boilermaker Alliance – a non-profit collective – was founded by a group of individuals who have made a long-standing commitment to Purdue University and the athletic department. “Our organization intends to provide a new vehicle to recognize the accomplishments of Purdue student-athletes while elevating the profile and effectiveness of charitable organizations,” the group’s website says. “I’m excited and inspired by this,” Indianapolis-based attorney and Purdue graduate Jeff McKean, a co-founder of the Boilermaker Alliance, told the Star Press. “The more I look at it, the more possibilities exist. Purdue has significant resources. We’re a large university, we’ve got a large passionate alumni base and Purdue can do this really well.” The core group of individuals working with the Boilermaker Alliance is less than 10 but the organization is expected to grow and include a Board of Directors. The Boilermaker Alliance includes members of the Boilermaker Business Exchange, but it’s not affiliated with the organization. Through the Boilermaker Alliance, Purdue student-athletes can engage in special appearances, autograph signings, social media promotions, camps, clinics and charity events and more. Athletes will agree to complete a specific amount of marketing work for charitable organizations to receive compensation.

Purdue (The Boiler Trust)

Founder: N/A
The buzz: Not much is known about the Purdue-focused collective called The Boiler Trust. The collective’s website does not list any founders, board members or people involved in running the day-to-day operations. But the collective plans to operate as a non-profit and is filing for 501(c)3 status. “The Boiler Trust, as the first Purdue NIL collective, aims to support Purdue Athletes by connecting them with opportunities to benefit from the value of their NIL,” the collective’s website says. “Networking and the community of Purdue alumni and fans is at the heart of The Boiler Trust’s vision.” The Boiler Trust hopes to attract member donors large and small. “All Purdue fans and alumni will be welcome to donate up to their level of comfort,” the collective says. “Those at higher levels of membership will have more visibility into inner workings and planning, but an appropriate level of visibility should be kept with all members to maintain trust in the organization.”

Rutgers (Knights of The Raritan)

Founder: Jon Newman
The buzz: Rutgers-focused collective Knights of The Raritan was founded in May 2022 by a group of heavy-hitters with national connections and a specialized focus on NIL. “There are two different boards,” said Knights of the Raritan president Jon Newman said. “There is an executive committee made up of nine of us. There is me, Jeff Towers, John White, Ken Miller, Danny Breslauer, Al Reicheg, Scott White, Jerrold Colton, Russ Nesevich and Ryan Stryker. We partnered with someone who is an expert in this field and that is Jason Belzer. He is a Rutgers grad. He went to Rutgers Law School and is a professor at the business school. He is very involved with business in the NIL space and has worked with other schools launching collectives as well. He has worked with Florida and Penn State, and it was very clear that he was the guy. His group, which is called Student Athlete NIL, will really fulfill that role.” There is also an advisory board that consists of former Rutgers student-athletes in each sport. Quarterback Ryan Hart heads up football while Quincy Douby and Austin Johnson represent men’s basketball. The collective has a subscription-based model that allows people and companies from all walks of life to become involved.

SMU (Boulevard Collective)

Founder: N/A
The buzz: Boulevard Collective, an SMU Mustang booster-led collective, has an impressive pedigree with some of the most influential business leaders in Dallas at its helm. SMU alumni, Chris Kleinert, CEO of Hunt Realty Investments, and Kyle Miller, president and CEO of Silver Hill Energy Partners, led the charge to bring about the formation of the Boulevard Collective. With backing from its network, the Boulevard Collective’s framework is set up in a way that will “offer sustainable, consistent support for its members” with millions reportedly in the bank upon its launch in August 2022. “This is just the beginning. The purpose of the Boulevard Collective is to create opportunities for SMU athletes that enhance their athletic career while preparing them for wherever their professional aspirations might take them at SMU and beyond,” Kleinert said. “Our goal is to ensure this Collective becomes the gold standard for NIL efforts across the country.” Even though details are yet to be officially announced, On3’s Billy Embody reports the collective will support every basketball and football player on the roster through NIL deals. The Boulevard Collective has partnered with Opendorse to provide support for NIL education, disclosures and tax-related preparation.

SMU (Pony Sports DTX)

Founder: N/A
The buzz: Pony Sports DTX, an SMU-focused NIL collective, was founded in October 2021. After being left behind in conference realignment and losing football coach Sonny Dykes to rival TCU, Pony Sports DTX quickly ramped up to become one of the most aggressive and well-funded collectives in the Group of 5. “That was the moment we knew that if the NIL wasn’t going to be something we invested in, then I think we were going to be left behind permanently,” Pony Sports DTX’s managing member, who asked not to be identified, told The Athletic. The group claims to have raised seven figures from collective members through three forms of donations – annual contributions, NIL deal sponsorships and individual contributions. Pony Sports DTX has already a number of deals with players on the Mustangs’ football roster.

South Carolina (Garnet Trust)

Founder: Brian Shoemaker
The buzz: With an official launch in November 2021, Garnet Trust is a pioneer in the collective world. Longtime Gamecock Central publisher Brian Shoemaker founded Garnet Trust, and he said his experience gives the collective an advantage over others. “After 23 years of covering Carolina – and the trust we’ve built in the community – we’re in the unique and fortunate position to take advantage of the new Name, Image and Likeness laws in a way that benefits USC student-athletes, Gamecock fans, and local businesses,” Shoemaker said. Garnett Trust has two distinct focuses. One area of concentration allows supporters to contribute funds that will be used to fund legal and compliant NIL opportunities for student-athletes. Another arm of Garnet Trust is in place to provide media services through the heavily trafficked and GamecockCentral.com platform and social channels to businesses that want to have South Carolina student-athletes feature their products or services in front of a large audience. Garnet Trust also has an advisory board comprised of former South Carolina student-athletes who have gone on to professional success in multiple fields. GT has also partnered with FanJolt to help create “unique NIL experiences.”

South Carolina (Carolina Rise)

Founder: JC Shurburtt
The buzz: Carolina Rise is a South Carolina-focused NIL collective launched in May 2022. “Many collectives around the Southeastern Conference have as much as eight figures pledged annually,” Carolina Rise’s website says. “Clemson, Carolina’s in-state rival, launched a collective that has $5.5 million on hand at launch. To help keep the Gamecocks in the game against the toughest competition in college sports, we need the Gamecock Nation to get behind this. There is power in numbers. No contribution is too small or too large.” Carolina Rise is owned by JC Shurburtt and Cameron Shurburtt. JC Shurburtt is the owner and founder of TheBigSpur.com. The collective says it is an LLC. “The time to run Carolina Rise is donated 100% by the Shurburtt family,” the collective’s website says. “The only money from your membership fees that do not go in the pockets of Carolina athletes are for minor business expenses like credit card fees, site hosting, etc.” Carolina Rise signed its first student-athlete to a NIL deal in August 2022.

Syracuse (315 Foundation)

Founders: Mike Bristol, Tony DeSorbo
The buzz: Details are still yet to be officially released. The 315 Foundation has yet to launch — it’s hoping to have a website up in September. Founded by Mike Bristol and Tony DeSorbo, the long-term hope for the collective is to be able to endow positions at Syracuse. The last thing the two founders have set out to do is reel in top-ranked recruits through NIL incentives. “We have absolutely nothing to do with recruiting,” Bristol said. “And obviously want to be crystal clear about that.”

TCU (Think NIL)

Founders: Guillermo Zamarripa, Brent Cunningham
The buzz: Until June 2022, there were two TCU focused NIL collectives. However, Think NIL, a collective formed earlier in the year, took over operations of KF NIL, LLC. The new company maintained the Think NIL name and focuses exclusively on providing funding for NIL opportunities for student-athletes at TCU. “Acquiring the assets of KF NIL, LLC made sense as we move to consolidate the NIL landscape around TCU and make it easier for the athletes to navigate the plethora of opportunities that have been given to them in a short amount of time,” said Brent Cunningham, Vice President of Think NIL. “We are committed to operating within the vision of TCU Athletics and remain in lockstep with their values.” Think NIL provides TCU athletes with four different opportunities to capitalize on their own NIL – ambassadorships, customized NIL deals, events and content properties. Think NIL also said it is working on a separate 501(c)(3). That designation will allow student-athletes to work with specific nonprofit organizations to promote important causes.

Tennessee (Spyre Sports Group)

Founders: Hunter Baddour, James Clawson, Sheridan Gannon
The buzz: No collective to date has pushed the envelope more – or been bolder and more ambitious – than Tennessee Volunteer-centric Spyre Sports Group. As one industry source told On3 Sports, “Spyre is not messing around. They are big spenders and are smart about it.” Spyre is also not shy about publicizing its grand vision, putting figures behind its ambition. Spyre president and co-founder Hunter Baddour said in February the collective is aiming to generate at least $25 million annually to put into the pockets of student-athletes. In an ultra-competitive landscape in the SEC, this could help lure an increasing number of five-star prospects to Knoxville. The Spyre Sports Group was recently named On3’s No. 1 most ambitious collective.

Tennessee (Knoxville NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Knoxville NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Knoxville NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The Knoxville NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Ole Miss football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Tennessee athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Tennessee (Friends of Smokey)

Founder: TBA
The buzz: Friends of Smokey is a soon-to-be announced Tennessee Volunteers-focused collective that first started out as Friends of BaseVols. Not many details are available at this point, but it appears Friends of Smokey is partnered with Blueprint Sports. Other Blueprint Sports partners have the company seek out NIL deals for student-athletes and the company and keeps a percentage of that. The collectives also operate as through crowdfunding by collecting and distributing money through NIL deals with the student-athlete.

Texas (Austin NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The Austin NIL Club is a player-led collective. ANC joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club and Auburn’s Plains NIL Club which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. Aimed at connecting the athletes directly to fans, it takes out the third party. Often founded by prominent alumni and influential supporters, school-specific collectives pool funds from a wide swath of donors to help create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through an array of activities. Yet, player-led collectives like ANC will allow fans to purchase passes for access to in-person events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a licensing company, to offer fans a way to engage with Texas’ athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Texas (Clark Field Collective)

Founder: Nick Shuley
The buzz: Texas Longhorn donors, former athletes and sports marketer Nick Shuley founded the Clark Field Collective in January 2022 after securing an initial commitment of $10 million for Texas NIL activities. The collective’s ultimate goal? Create the nation’s biggest dedicated NIL fund for Texas Longhorn student-athletes. “The University of Texas at Austin maintains the largest, wealthiest alumni donor base in the entire country,” Shuley said. “It’s time a network like this existed to support our college athletes. The collective is being established to make that happen.” Shuley has experience in both sports and music marketing, including successful efforts for events like Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza. Former Longhorn athletes are helping with the collective, including Texas basketball great TJ Ford and NFL veteran Kenny Vaccaro. Both are board members of the Clark Field Collective. “The best University in the country deserves a NIL program to match,” Ford said. “With Austin now home to some of the biggest businesses in the world, we knew there was an easy way to connect the business community to athletes while creating something that not only facilitates opportunity but also educates and helps prepare them for life after sports.”

Texas (Horns with Heart)

Founder: Rob Blair
The buzz: When telling the story of the proliferation of collectives, Horns with Heart deserves its own chapter. In December 2021, the announcement of Horns with Heart, a nonprofit charity foundation, raised eyebrows throughout the industry because it was specific to a position group and equated to a yearly salary in the eyes of some critics. Each scholarship offensive lineman on the Texas roster receives at least $50,000 annually for making charity appearances and bringing awareness to worthy causes. Rob Blair, one of six co-founders of Horns with Heart, told On3 at the time, “Getting out at the forefront of (NIL) is the biggest thing for us – making sure Texas is not getting left behind.” The announcement of Horns with Heart likely spurred boosters of other elite football programs to begin discussing and forming many of the collectives you see today. Clark Field Collective is a key participating donor to Horns with Heart.

Texas (Occupy Left Field)

Founder: Britt Peterson
The buzz: Founded in January 2022, Texas baseball-focused collective Occupy Left Field Foundation Inc. is a registered 501 (c)(3) in Austin, Texas, that provides monetary contributions and volunteer assistance to other worthy nonprofits in the greater Austin area. “Our initial focus will center around several worthy nonprofits: mental health services for persons dealing with a cancer diagnosis (Flatwater Foundation), homelessness (Mobile Loaves and Fishes), Down Home Ranch, youth outdoor activities in Austin (RBI Austin),” the collective’s website says. “To achieve this purpose, OLFF will contract with ambassadors from the University of Texas Baseball team, who will volunteer and appear at events in order to amplify fundraising efforts. Our ambassadors will strive to raise over 1 million dollars annually for the organizations that have been chosen to receive our support.” With the support, Texas baseball players can earn up to $10,000 per year by appearing at charitable events in an effort to amplify fundraising for various causes.

Texas A&M (The Fund)

Founders: N/A
The buzz: Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban’s highly publicized spat over NIL put the Aggies under the microscope. Yet, Texas A&M’s collective – deemed “The Fund” by organizers and donors to the group – has been operating under the radar since NIL was approved by the NCAA and made acceptable in the Lone Star State. While other collectives have splashy websites and active social media accounts, The Fund operates in obscurity. No founders are listed anywhere. No annual goals are available. In fact, investors in The Fund told The Athletic they didn’t understand why boosters in other collectives feel the need to advertise their groups. As far as publicity goes, The Fund operators told The Athletic they feel word-of-mouth between recruits and players will be plenty to ensure the people they’ll work with know what is available. Amounts raised aren’t publicly available, but insiders say The Fund has generated tens of millions of dollars. Multiple investors in The Fund told The Athletic that several members of the 2022 football recruiting class did secure NIL deals, but the total numbers are in the low single-digit millions.

Texas A&M (College Station NIL Club)

Founders: Bailey O’Sullivan, Mick Assaf
The buzz: The College Station NIL Club is a player-led collective. The Knoxville NIL Club joins groups like Michigan State’s East Lansing NIL Club, Auburn’s Plains NIL Club, Arkansas’ Fayetteville NIL Club and Kansas State’s Manhattan NIL Club and many more which are setting off a new era of collectives in college sports. However, unlike other YOKE-supported clubs, The College Station NIL Club allows fans to donate directly to financially support 100-plus Texas A&M football players and “join the ultimate fan experience” through online communities and digital events with players. Participating players will split the proceeds equally. The players partner with YOKE, a platform that offers business tools to athletes to allow them to launch a paywalled community. This provides fans a way to engage with Texas A&M athletes throughout the season via an online membership. NIL experts are not surprised by players making a move to have a seat at the table. The move also gives student-athletes the opportunity to have the cash funnel directly to them.

Texas Tech (Matador Club)

Founders: Cody Campbell, Tim Culp, Terry Fuller, Marc McDougal, Gary Petersen, John Sellers
The buzz: Texas Tech University donors say they’re empowering student-athletes and the Lubbock community by creating The Matador Club, a non-profit 501(c)3 NIL collective. The Matador Club was organized in February 2022 by six Texas Tech alums: Cody Campbell, Tim Culp, Terry Fuller, Marc McDougal, Gary Petersen and John Sellers. The initial focus of The Matador Club will be on football, men’s basketball and baseball, but other sports will be brought into the fold as the company grows. Fans are encouraged to contribute monthly. Athletes will take part in community service activities and help raise awareness for local charities. The collective also will host events for members, working toward better connecting players with fans. “This is money that will go to every player in the locker room,” McDougal said. “So, it’s not one that will go to one player over another. It’s great for non-profits. It’s a great way for our student-athletes to get into the community, folks to get to know them. So, we’re excited about it.” The group generated national headlines in July 2022 when it announced it signed 100 Texas Tech football players to NIL contracts for $25,000 apiece.

Toledo (Friends of Rocky)

Founders: Kevin Jansen, John Hoover
The buzz: Launched in June 2022, Friends of the Rocky was the first collective at a MAC program. The Toledo Rockets-focused collective is a fan-driven, alumni-led supporter group aimed at raising money for NIL deals. Friends of the Rocky says it’s a crowdsourcing organization that collects money and doles it out to Toledo athletes via NIL deals while its partner Blueprint Sports seeks deals for individual Rocket players. Blueprint Sports gets 20% of the NIL deals it brokers for Toledo athletes and will help decide who gets what money from the Friends of Rocky program as well.

Tulane (FTW Collective Group)

Founders: Kelly Comarda, Jimmy Ordeneaux
The buzz: The FearTheWave collective was launched in January 2022 as a crowd-sourced NIL program for Tulane student-athletes to become spokespeople for FearTheWave and to be featured on FearTheWave’s upcoming podcasts including The Jimmy O Show and FearTheWave Cast. In addition, FearTheWave will partner with Tulane student-athletes to highlight charities and businesses in the New Orleans community. FTW has applied for 501(c)(3) non-profit status with the IRS, but its application is still pending. FTW stated its initial goal is to raise $100,000 for Tulane student-athletes. “Providing a means for supporters to help Tulane’s outstanding student-athletes promote and highlight their favorite charitable causes was a driving force behind the creation of this club,” said co-founder, Jimmy Ordeneaux. “We want everyone to win here – the student-athletes, the donors, as well as the charities and businesses they support.”

UCF (Mission Control)

Founders: Dreamfield
The buzz: Mission Control is the UCF NIL collective that was founded in February 2022. Mission Control’s goal is to improve the UCF fan experience. They’re doing this through NFTs, meet and greets, limited-run apparel, camps, clinics and more. Like many NIL collectives, it is crowdfunded by fans, alumni and other supporters. To join, you can pay a monthly fee of $10, $25, $50, or $200. Mission Control is powered by the NIL company Dreamfield. Dreamfield offers a NIL platform for brands and student-athletes. They also offer advice and support to student-athletes. Importantly, Dreamfield was also co-founded by star UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton. “As UCF prepares to enter the Big IX, we at Dreamfield, where most of us are UCF alumni, did not want to sit back and wait for others so we took matters into our own hands and created Mission Control,” Milton said. “We want to start getting as many compliant deals through Mission Control in the hands of our current UCF athletes as possible, all while creating fun family-friendly fanfare. Our mission is to have UCF athletes use their name, image, and likeness to not just to promote commercial products, but to create something special for UCF fans.”

UCLA (Men of Westwood)

Founders: N/A
The buzz: Men of Westwood was created to “generate a decent annual income” for every UCLA men’s basketball player who’s on scholarship by Bruin Report Online, a website covering UCLA sports on the 247Sports Network. An example provided by Men of Westwood said that if the collective raised $1.3 million annually, then each player would receive $100,000. Donors can contribute one-time gifts or recurring donations. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Additional details about the collective’s founders and board members are not available at this time.

UNLV (Friends of UNILV)

Founders: Lily Turner, Shannon Cottrell
The buzz: Friends of UNILV is a fan-driven and alumni-led NIL program for University of Nevada Las Vegas student-athletes. “When you commit to Friends of UNILV, you’re committing to maximizing opportunities for student-athletes to build their brand and earn compensation,” the collective’s website says. “Plus you gain access to exclusive events, autograph sessions, and more.” Friends of UNILV is partnered with Blueprint Sports. Other Blueprint Sports partners have the company seek out NIL deals for student-athletes and the company keeps a percentage of that. The collectives also operate through crowdfunding by collecting and distributing money through NIL deals with student-athletes. Friends of UNILV says it already has signed nearly 20 student-athletes to NIL agreements.

USC (BLVD LLC)

Founder: Michael Calvin Jones
The buzz: USC made its first steps to play an active role in the NIL landscape. The Trojans athletic department announced in June 2022 it signed media agency Stay Doubted as a third-party NIL option for its student-athletes. This will allow players to go in-house to support their pursuit of NIL opportunities. Stay Doubted has established a subsidiary, named BLVD LLC. This company will operate as an agency and media company exclusively serving USC athletes in their search of partnering with businesses. At least seven full-time Stay Doubted employees will be dedicated to BLVD activities. This unique move by USC and Stay Doubted will position the Trojans to assist student-athletes in NIL ventures on a day-to-day basis while not taking away time from coaching staffs. Only 3% of USC’s student-athletes engaged with professional service providers, per the school press release announcing the partnership. The company also has a major roster of partnerships. The roster includes Amazon, Microsoft, State Farm, Verizon, lululemon — all companies that have yet to make major moves in the NIL space.

USC (Student Body Right)

Founders: N/A
The buzz: Student Body Right, a donor-run NIL collective, was announced in August 2022, with a stated goal of providing a “base salary” to all USC football players. According to the Los Angeles Times, Student Body Right has involvement from Dale Rech, a Florida-based businessman. The report also says Brian Kennedy, who was once one of USC’s top athletic donors and whose name still graces the Trojans’ practice field, is also involved. Rech told the Los Angeles Times the collective’s intent is to provide “the equivalent of a base salary” for every member of the USC football team who is academically eligible. To receive those payments, players would perform community service and take part in charitable work with local organizations. Student Body Right says it has filed for 501(c)(3) status as a charitable organization, which would make certain donations to the group tax-deductible.

USF (Fowler Ave Collective)

Founders: Corey Staniscia, Matt Grothe
The buzz: Fowler Ave Collective is the USF NIL collective founded in August 2022. A homage to where the Bulls’ athletic department resides, the collective’s goal is to improve the USF fan experience through NIL. Like many NIL collectives, it is crowdfunded by fans, alumni and other supporters. To join, you can pay a monthly fee of $10, $25, $56, $100 or $200. Fowler Ave Collective is powered by the NIL company Dreamfield. Dreamfield offers a NIL platform for brands and student-athletes. They also offer advice and support to student-athletes. Importantly, Dreamfield’s Director of External Affairs is Corey Staniscia, who was formerly a student manager at USF. “This support group is so imperative to the future successes of our student-athletes and athletic programs in this new world,” Staniscia said. “Fowler Ave is a perfect way to get to know the faces of USF on all teams, not just football. It is also a perfect opportunity to merge the bold history of USF with the new age.” Baylor transfer and USF quarterback Gerry Bohanon has signed on as the organization’s first ambassador.

Utah (Utah LockerRoom)
Founders: LockerRoom Athletics.
The buzz: The Utah LockerRoom is part of the LockerRoom Athletics NIL platform. Members can receive access to an exclusive message board, one-on-one session reservations, access to NFTs and more. There are six membership categories that range from $25 per month to $6,000 per year, each of which comes with its own set of benefits. The Utah LockerRoom says it has an advisory council of current and former athletes, plus other stakeholders. It brands itself as supporting all athletes. “Our objective is to introduce an awesome new way for fans to engage with and interact with their favorite University of Utah athletes while helping them build their NIL brand,” the collective’s website says.

UTSA (Runners Rising Projet)

Founder: Eddie Benningfield
The buzz: The Runners Rising Project was started in early 2022 with the goal of “helping the University of Texas at San Antonio student-athletes become champions on and off the field by providing direct financial support, personal brand development, career mentorship and other professional opportunities.” The Runners Rising Project is currently operating as a not-for-profit organization and it’s 501(3)(c) non-profit is under review by the Internal Revenue Service. “While our formal federal non-profit status is pending, we operate exactly how most non-profits do,” the collective’s website says. “One hundred percent of our profits are contributed directly to student-athletes, while our staff consists entirely of unpaid volunteers.” At this time UTSA student-athletes are nominated for inclusive by the collective’s volunteer staff. “Our members vote on one male and one female NIL award recipient each month,” the collective’s website says. “These recipients should foremost be excellent ambassadors for the university as well as fierce competitors in their respective sport.”

Virginia (Cavalier Futures)

Founder: Lo Davis
The buzz: Cavalier Futures, a University of Virginia alumni-driven collective, was launched in March 2022 with a focus on supporting UVA student-athletes with career development, marketing and NIL opportunities. Cavalier Futures Executive Director Lo Davis said he’s hopeful all UVA student-athletes will be able to take advantage of the collective. That’s why Cavalier Futures partnered with Locker Room Access, a company started by former star basketball players Ty Jerome and Justin Anderson, to launch “Cav Club,” a fan subscription platform with exclusive content involving UVA student-athletes. The Cav Club launched in the summer of 2022 with features like the UVA linebacker Nick Jackson’s “6 EATS” with local Charlottesville restaurant reviews and linebacker Mike Green’s “4ADE” showcasing his talent as a barber. Cavalier Futures can also help elite student-athletes hire marketing agents and other representatives or service providers to assist them. The collective also says NIL is an opportunity to further strengthen and support the Charlottesville area and university through community and social activism.

Virginia Tech (Commonwealth NIL)

Founders: Nick Rush, Forrest Rush
The buzz: Launched in March 2022, Commonwealth NIL is a local company that is affiliated with Gentry Locke Attorneys, which has multiple locations throughout Virginia. To this point, they have been raising money for NIL contracts in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was founded by Nick and Forrest Rush. “When we started Commonwealth NIL, we knew that in order to be successful we had to engage all of Hokie Nation,” Forrest Rush said. “That’s why we are excited to announce our subscription service which allows all Hokie fans to participate in NIL activities.” The collective has a partnership with Tech Sideline, a Virginia Tech athletics website that has been operating for more than 25 years. Among the charities that Commonwealth NIL is partnering with are Buddy Check 22 and the Gaye Whitaker Memorial Fund. Buddy Check 22 works with veterans. Their primary goal is to give aid to veterans and prevent suicide in them. Meanwhile, the Gaye Whitaker Memorial Fund helps women who are battling cancer.

Virginia Tech (The Hokie Way)

Founders: A nine-member Board of Directors, with Jim Petrine as the president and including Tyrod Taylor
The buzz: The Hokie Way, a non-profit Virginia Tech-focused collective, will raise funds to support charitable organizations in the state by engaging Virginia Tech athletes, according to a press release. The Hokie Way is focused on cause marketing “with the help of aligned collectives focused on NIL opportunities,” suggesting collaborating with other collectives that support the Hokies. The Hokie Way has a nine-member Board of Directors. Jim Petrine is the president, James Pearman is the treasurer and Jim Cowan is the secretary. Other board of directors members include Justin Robinson, Nick Rush, Bridget Ryan Berman, Tyrod Taylor, Jalia Tolbert and Kelly Woolwine. Taylor is a former Hokies quarterback, Robinson is a former guard for the school’s men’s basketball team and Tolbert is a former volleyball player. “The Hokie Nation turns out strong to show its support. When we have a hurricane on a Thursday night [football game], we still show up,” Petrine said in the release. “Our fans are fantastic in that way and support us greatly. We are the school with the lunch pail, which symbolizes how everyone gets involved. That’s the right way to do NIL, and that’s The Hokie Way.”

Virginia Tech (Triumph NIL)

Founders: James Cowan, Kevin Jones
The buzz: Triumph NIL is one of the collectives officially aligned with Virginia Tech athletics. Triumph NIL was founded in April 2022, to create meaningful Name, Image and Likeness partnerships for Hokie student-athletes. “We specialize in curating opportunities that meet all NCAA compliance and State legal criteria,” the collective says. “Triumph seeks to maximize individual, and group earning potential and provide clarity to key stakeholders through creative activations.” The group’s motto is recruit, retain and reward. “Recruit: Assist high-achieving student-athletes to navigate NIL opportunities compliantly,” the group says. “Retain: Provide partnerships and projects that help businesses support student-athletes through NIL. Reward: Enhance the student-athlete experience by leveraging success in the arena into high-profile marketing deals.” The collective has a large group of well-known Hokies alumni and former stars on its board, including former No. 1 recruit and first-round draft pick Kevin Jones. The group recently signed 28 Hokie football players to NIL deals.

Wake Forest (Top Hat Collective)

Founder: Drew Vandemore
The buzz: Top Hat Collective became the first Wake Forest-centric NIL group to launch in April 2022. It was founded by Drew Vandemore, who has a background as a Treasury Services Advisory professional working primarily with large pharmaceutical companies while holding expertise in working capital improvement, banking/finance transformation, and treasury process improvement based in Charlotte, N.C. “Top Hat Collective is a membership collective of fans, sponsors and supporters created to help our athletes monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness in a compliant way,” the collective’s website says. “To do this, Top Hat provides opportunities for our athletes to connect with our members through a variety of methods, including in-person and virtual events, autographs, apparel, NFTs, social media engagement, and more. Prospective members have the option to sign up for a monthly or annual membership, with each level of commitment coming with a varying set of benefits to our members.” The group has a partnership with Athlete Licensing Company for compliance and monetary-related actions such as contracting, payments, tax statements, regulatory compliance, etc.

Washington (Montlake Futures)

Founder: Emmy Armintrout
The buzz: Founded in February 2022, Montlake Futures helps 501(c)(3) organizations work with University of Washington student-athletes to “promote, fundraise and support their missions.” Montlake Futures pairs athletes with non-profits and each pairing features hours, promotions and NIL rights that the non-profit can apply at its discretion. Montlake Futures covers the cost of the packages. There are social, appearance, ambassador and spokesperson packages, each of which offers different term lengths to use an athlete’s NIL, numbers of social media posts and other benefits. “It’s not only important to the ethos on campus and us at Montlake Futures but also to the UW alumni base that NIL looks and feels high integrity here — which of course presents unique challenges, but I think is a pretty great thing to strive for,” Montlake Futures Executive Director and General Manager Emmy Armintrout told the Seattle Times. “So not to say that we’re the only collective going for that, but what makes us unique is what makes UW and the UW alumni base unique. It’s the history that we have, the culture that we have and the access to this amazing city.”

Washington State (Cougar Collective)

Founder: Jed Collins
The buzz: Cougar Collective, which was founded in February 2022, says it’s designed for athletes to engage and connect with boosters, business owners and community members. The collective was founded by Jedidiah Collins, a former All-Pac-10 tight end at Washington State and fullback with the New Orleans Saints. “The Cougar Collective will operate in the full interest of Coug athletes, all while assisting those who seek to realize the benefits of advertising, marketing, philanthropy, exposure and much more,” Clark said. “Whether it’s building a brand, capitalizing on NIL initiatives, or comparing entrepreneurial concepts, the Collective will provide athletes with the resources they need to achieve their full potential.” The website lists buttons for a $6, $150 or custom contribution. Washington State athletes, including football player RJ Stone, are releasing digital playing cards through Cougar Collective. And it put together a financial package totaling $90,000 for transfer quarterback Cameron Ward.

West Virginia (Country Roads Trust)

Founders: Oliver Luck, Ken Kendrick
The buzz: Former West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck and Ken Kendrick, a West Virginia alumnus and general managing partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks established Country Roads Trust in January 2022. The collective connects local businesses and corporations to athletes who provide value to their brands. The athletes will engage in autograph sessions, advertisements and social media campaigns. Country Roads Trust has created an athlete advisory team to provide guidance to the trust. Members of the advisory team include former WVU luminaries like Jerry West, Don Nehlen, Pat White, Darryl Talley and Mike Gansey. Within months of launch, Country Roads Trust says it’s working with more than 100 WVU student-athletes. “Our focus is for them to just take care of the classroom, take care of the weight-room, practice, the games,” Stephen Ford, General Manager, said. “We don’t want them to be bogged down with any of this. That’s not what they’re in school for. What we are here to do is to handle the business side.”

Wichita State (Armchair Strategies)

Founders: Tyler Weber, Tymber Lee, Matt Baty
The buzz: Armchair Strategies, a NIL collective focused on Wichita State student-athletes, was launched in April 2022. Armchair Strategies said one of its biggest goals is to attract higher-profile recruits to the school. Armchair Strategies led by former WSU baseball players Tyler Weber and Tymber Lee, along with former Shocker Assistant Athletic Director of Development Matt Baty. Baty is also involved with 6th Man Strategies, which is the NIL collective for KU. “Wichita State Athletics is fundamental to this community,” Weber told KSN-TV. “It is important that WSU student-athletes are supported with strategic NIL opportunities that financially maximize the brand they have worked hard to develop. One of WSU’s biggest assets is the Wichita Community and dedicated alumni base. We look forward to showing our student-athletes that there is a powerful network that will help them optimize this NIL opportunity.” Armchair Strategies has multiple platforms that will directly impact WSU student-athletes. One of these is the “Century Club,” which will be made up of 100 fans and businesses that want to lead the way in NIL. Another platform will be the “Shocker Exclusive,” an organization that will take tax-deductible contributions.

Wisconsin (The Varsity Collective)

Founders: Brooks Bollinger, Ted Kellner
The buzz: Details are still being hashed out for Wisconsin’s NIL collective known as The Varsity Collective. The collective’s website touts itself as the “premier destination for Wisconsin student-athletes to identify business opportunities” and “establishing the right outlet for Wisconsin Badger student-athletes to participate in NIL deals.” The Varsity Collective allows individuals and businesses to pool money to facilitate NIL deals for UW athletes. The collective has a big supporters in former UW quarterback Brooks Bollinger and UW grad and mega-donor Ted Kellner, but information about who else is involved in the collective is not available at this point. “We have studied the landscape and done our due diligence to establish The Varsity Collective which we believe will be one of the premier collectives in all of college sports,” Kellner said. Bollinger said The Varsity Collective has a driving principle of conducting itself in accordance with NCAA policies. “It’s easy to see for us as alumni and supporters of the university that not only for Wisconsin to continue to compete at the highest level across the board, but also to do it the Wisconsin way and support the student-athletes, both now and into the future, that we’re going to have to come together and do it the right way,” Bollinger told Madison.com.

(Information was gathered from various reports and websites, most notably Sports Business Journal and Business of College Sports, as well as through interviews with numerous industry sources.)