Rival NIL collectives at Pitt, West Virginia teaming up for a good cause

Pitt and West Virginia are fierce competitors on the field. They’re also competitive in the NIL space with two of the most successful collectives — Alliance 412 at Pitt and Country Roads Trust at West Virginia. But now the rivals are teaming up for a good cause.

The collectives announced they’re teaming up to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

The Two Teams, One Cause fundraiser, which runs through, Sept. 1, will generate donations for RMHC – an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. The initial goal is to raise $5,000.

“The winning collective will receive the Big Red Shoe trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights,” the fundraiser’s website says. “But the biggest winners are the children and families at RMHC Pittsburgh and Morgantown who will benefit from your generosity.”

Donations can be made online.

Additionally, on Sept. 1 a portion of sales at Primanti Bros. Restaurants in the Pittsburgh and Morgan area will go to the RMHC. Here’s a link to the participating locations.

Collectives and NIL have become lightning rods in college athletics over the last year. Coaches and NCAA leaders say NIL often disguises “pay-for-play” deals choreographed by collectives. They say groups are using money to persuade recruits before they sign binding letters of intent. Per NCAA rules, boosters are not allowed to pay players directly or be part of the recruiting process.

Yet, there are collectives — like this example with Alliance 412 and Country Roads Trust — that are going out of their way to support charitable causes. Other collectives like Hoosiers For Good at Indiana, The Foundation at Ohio State and TigerImpact at Clemson actively support charities in their communities.