Events at over 25 programs will create premium Learfield Impact NIL content and brand opportunities for over 350 student-athletes

Dallas, TX (June 26, 2025) — Learfield, the leading media and technology company powering college athletics, and Emmy Award-winning Learfield Studios, is scaling its Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Content Day initiative to over 25 of the nation’s most prominent athletic programs including: Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mizzou, NC State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue, SMU, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Washington, Wisconsin, Abilene Christian, Colorado State, Southern Illinois, UAB, and UT Arlington.

Designed to streamline NIL opportunities and reduce in-season demands on student-athletes, NIL Content Days will serve up to 350 athletes, capable of generating 750 pieces of original branded content across 27 schools.

“Learfield Impact NIL services sit at the intersection of content creation, brand integration, and on-campus operations, creating a unique opportunity to turn a single day of access into a season’s worth of NIL value for student-athletes, brand partners, and schools,” said Learfield Senior Vice President & Head of Content, Grant Jones. “These Content Days are built for efficiency, scale and with the full Learfield ecosystem in mind.”

NIL Content Day will feature up to five customized creation stations focused on sponsorship storytelling, equipping student-athletes with premium assets encompassing Learfield’s expansive enterprise, including multimedia rights, digital and social platforms, radio broadcast voiceovers, Paciolan’s ticketing, fundraising, and marketing ambassador program, and CLC’s licensed merchandise marketing.  Learfield’s local sports property teams will tap into their network of extensive partnership relationships and leverage Learfield’s Compass NIL platform to facilitate NIL dealmaking.

“Our student-athletes are balancing more than ever in today’s college landscape. As the first athletic program to pilot Learfield’s NIL Content Day last summer, we saw firsthand how it can give our athletes a focused window of time to create high-quality, brand-ready content that drives real value and opportunities without adding to their in-season demands,” said Ross Bjork, The Ohio State University’s Senior Vice President, and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director.

As part of Learfield Impact, this initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to industry-leading NIL services centered around three foundational pillars: on-campus support, strategic content creation, and technology-powered dealmaking. The culmination of these pillars delivers the greatest NIL opportunities for each organization and its athletes.

“We are the industry leader in delivering real NIL campaigns, which humanize brand partnerships and invoke trust in their university communities,” said Solly Fulp, Executive Vice President of NIL Growth & Development from Learfield. “Student-athletes’ time is a premium and providing dealmaking efficiencies is critical. NIL content days is a creative way to help our schools and student-athletes tap into real NIL opportunities by capturing curated content in a single setting.”

Explore behind-the-scenes footage and photos from recent NIL Content Days here.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

Amos Alonzo Stagg was one of THE established coaches in major college football at the University of Chicago. That university was one of the powerhouse programs in the Western Conference, which became the Big Ten.

In 1927 he published the book “Touchdown” covering the history and challenges of major college football at the time. Almost a century ago, Stagg cited the fear of football being a sport where 80,000 fans would generate a single-game gate of $500,000 (about $9.3 million in today’s money). 

In the first 60 years of college football schools were doing all sorts of things that would seem right in line with the game today. Players were being paid by alumni to go to certain schools. Renegade programs had players that were not even enrolled in the school, or were enrolled but never really attended classes, or were enrolled in “snap” courses that required little or no work. 

The NCAA was established during those first few decades to set national rules for player safety and to curb the excesses of these growing sports “franchises” on their campuses. Stagg’s own football power Chicago ultimately deemphasized football, as did the Ivy League.

Fans, coaches, administrators and media all see the excesses of this new era. And a settlement in one case will not fix what we’re facing.

College sports needs to convene a national constitutional convention that can present an entirely new governing structure. The range of issues goes well beyond just NIL and revenue sharing. 

In the past two weeks I taped podcasts based in the UK and in Hong Kong. Part of the pre-taping conversation was a discussion of the big sports enterprises on our college campuses. The size and scope of college sports was eye-opening to these hosts.

This country has always been unique in that respect.

In 2025 we’ve just seen the latest jolt to the college sports system. Scholarship limits are out, roster size limitations are in. Pay to play is in, NIL is in provided it falls in line with “far market value.”

This system will have a new governing body that will enforce the rules regarding NIL and paying players. Note: the correct euphemism for paying players is “revenue sharing,” and remember the players are NOT employees. 

It will also require athletes (we can drop the pretense of the term “student-athlete” now) to get approval for any NIL deal of $600 or more (a ridiculously low number) through a clearing house. 

The proponents state that this new structure will have enforcement with real teeth. They believe the threat of strong sanctions will keep everyone in line. But we’ve seen this movie before. Rules that were set to level the playing field have been and will always be skirted or ignored by people who are willing to deal in cash and lie. 

And this new structure only holds until future litigation derails it. Title IX lawsuits are on the way. Future athletes who were never part of this settlement will sue to assert their rights. It will face challenges because players may demand to be treated like employees and have collective bargaining.  

What about the player who has exhausted his or her five-year eligibility limit and may be able to make more NIL and revenue sharing money by staying in college rather than playing overseas? How can the NCAA limit their careers; is that not a restraint of trade?

The point is that this thing is a long way from being settled. That’s generally how things end up when leadership allows events to overtake them through litigation rather than by asserting leadership.

The time has come for a true constitutional convention for college sports. 

And this constitutional convention should include not only university presidents, athletic directors and coaches. Presidents, ADs and coaches all have agents, and they jump around every couple of years. Many of them are like NASCAR drivers wearing the team logo that puts the most money in their pockets. 

It is also important to note that their financial interest often runs counter to what is best for a school. After all, management does not allow a union to unilaterally dictate how a company will operate. 

Given the transient nature of these employees, a university’s decision on the foundational values of its athletics department should be decided at the governing board level. The core values of a university should be directed from the top down honoring long established beliefs.

In the Big Ten, television executives, presidents and ADs made the decision to take the league to the West Coast. The governing boards of the universities were informed when it was a fait accompli.

Now many schools may be poised to walk away from the NCAA in football.

Taking a university out of the NCAA is bigger than just the athletics department. At several universities, the shortcuts now being taken to try to rack up success in football and basketball would surprise you. They threaten the integrity of the university.

Anyone who knows my history can tell you that I am no fan of the NCAA. But they do require schools to enforce academic standards and limit eligibility by requiring progress towards graduation. They report Academic Progress Ratings for every school and sport so that potential athletes and their families can make informed decisions.

Indeed, lost in all the NIL/House Settlement/revenue sharing/transfer portal discussions has been any meaningful mention of what this means academically for players and for schools. 

The governing boards of these major universities have been on the sidelines for much of this. None of these decisions have required approval by the governing boards. As we look to define the very core of what these sports entertainment enterprises will become, these are existential questions with answers that will stretch into the future. 

As such, representatives of these governing boards should be part of shaping that future. It is too big to trust people who have a financial interest in winning at any cost.

To be sure, involving trustees in shaping the future is no guarantee that they will ensure the integrity of the mission. Anyone who has ever served on a board can tell that many of them are partially populated by “fan-boy” types who are more interested in winning than academics. Many boards don’t even have a standing committee or subcommittee to oversee an area that can do incalculable damage to the reputation or academic integrity of the school.

But on a national scale, the people who bear the greatest fiduciary responsibility at each university need to be part of the solution.

So why should there be a constitutional convention? 

• The solutions for what is best for all of college athletics should not be dictated by two or three of four conference commissioners alone. 
• To date, waiting on Congress to act has been fruitless. And there does not appear to be any solutions on the horizon.
• An executive order by the president will ultimately result in more litigation.
• It is time that schools across the country faced the issues, came to a consensus and then presented it to move forward. 
• We need to define the academic structures that will govern this new world order. Or we need to decide that the academic part of athletics is not relevant and create a non-academic pro sports apprenticeship program for our players. 
• Most importantly, the universities need to honestly define what exactly it is that we are doing. Are we here to educate our athletes? Or are we here to just entertain alums, fans and friends and hope that while we do that and rake in their money that some of our athletes will leave here with some kind of meaningful education?

In the absence of crafting a new national college sports constitution, there will be laws passed and legislation and litigation coming that will challenge this settlement reality. As such, it is time for a legitimate constitutional convention for college sports that includes all the stakeholders from the schools, and a players’ union.

From that assembly we as the universities that play college sports must issue a consensus that clearly and honestly addresses reality. Until we present a thorough plan for the future, the lingering uncertainty will only invite more litigation and continue the current era where we are overtaken by events rather than leading the way.

The Evolving Landscape of College Football

In an era where college football has transformed into a lucrative enterprise, the question of identity looms large: Are athletes truly students, or have they transitioned into professionals? The advent of six-figure Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has altered the dynamics of collegiate sports, prompting a critical examination of the traditional “student-athlete” label.

As the NCAA grapples with these changes, the implications of NIL agreements have become a focal point in discussions about the future of college athletics. The financial landscape has shifted dramatically, with athletes now positioned to capitalize on their brand presence and marketability. This evolution raises fundamental questions about the role and responsibilities of athletes within the collegiate framework.

The Challenge to Tradition

A prominent college football analyst has taken a stand against the NCAA’s longstanding narrative, urging the organization to abandon the “student-athlete” moniker. This plea reflects a broader sentiment among many who believe that the NCAA is attempting to shield itself from accountability by clinging to outdated terminology. The reality is that with direct revenue sharing becoming part of the NIL framework, the distinction between student and professional is increasingly blurred.

The analyst’s challenge resonates deeply within the college football community, where the pressures to perform and secure lucrative endorsements can overshadow the educational experience. Athletes are now navigating a complex landscape that requires them to balance their academic responsibilities with their burgeoning professional careers. This duality not only affects their personal lives but also raises ethical questions about the true nature of their participation in collegiate sports.

The Impact of NIL on Collegiate Sports

The introduction of NIL has fundamentally altered the financial incentives for college athletes. No longer are they merely participants in an amateur system; they are now key players in a marketplace that values their skills and visibility. The financial rewards associated with NIL deals can be substantial, leading to a reevaluation of what it means to be a college athlete.

Moreover, this shift has implications for recruitment and team dynamics. Programs that can effectively leverage NIL opportunities may have a competitive edge in attracting top talent. As colleges and universities adapt to this new reality, the pressure to perform extends beyond the field, as athletes are now expected to cultivate their personal brands and engage with fans and sponsors.

A Call for Change

The call to rethink the “student-athlete” label is not merely a semantic debate; it represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of college sports. As the NCAA faces increasing scrutiny, the need for transparency and accountability has never been more pronounced. The organization must confront the realities of the current landscape and consider the implications of its policies on the lives of the athletes it governs.

As this conversation unfolds, it is essential to recognize the broader implications of these changes. The future of college athletics hinges on the ability to balance the pursuit of academic excellence with the realities of a professionalized sports environment. By acknowledging the dual roles that athletes play, the NCAA can begin to craft a more equitable framework that honors both the educational mission of its institutions and the professional aspirations of its athletes.

Reflecting on the Future of College Athletics

In conclusion, the transformation of college football in the NIL era presents both challenges and opportunities. As athletes navigate this new landscape, the need for a clear understanding of their roles becomes paramount. The NCAA stands at a crossroads, tasked with redefining its approach to ensure that the interests of athletes are prioritized. The journey ahead will require thoughtful dialogue and a willingness to embrace change, ultimately shaping the future of college athletics for generations to come.