As the 2025 football season approaches, several credit unions are launching new NIL deals and athletic organization partnerships, or expanding upon existing ones, with goals of giving back to their communities, promoting financial education and building their brand awareness. Here are five new deals encompassing a variety of sports that were announced in recent weeks.
1. Associated CU & Georgia Bulldog Student-Athletes Gunner Stockton and Lawson Luckie
The $2.2 billion Associated Credit Union in Peachtree Corners, Ga., announced Tuesday that it entered NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) agreements with two student-athletes from the University of Georgia’s Georgia Bulldog football team for the 2025-26 school year: Quarterback Gunner Stockton and tight end Lawson Luckie. Both athletes will participate in advertising and community events with the credit union this school year.
Stockton, who is projected as the starting quarterback in 2025, appeared in five Georgia Bulldog games last season, most notably in beating Texas in the SEC Championship Game before starting the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Luckie appeared in all 14 games last season and is expected to play a key role in the team’s offense in 2025.
“Associated Credit Union is excited to expand our Name, Image and Likeness partnerships with student-athletes who attend the University of Georgia,” Associated CU President/CEO C. Lin Hodges said. “We’re particularly excited to work with Gunner from Clayton, Ga., and Lawson from Norcross, Ga. These athletes exemplify the power, passion and leadership that define their sports and inspire their communities.”
2. Keesler Federal & LSU Athletics
The $4.3 billion, Biloxi, Miss.-based Keesler Federal Credit Union announced July 23 that it signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with Louisiana State University and is now a “Proud Partner of LSU Athletics.” The agreement takes effect at the start of the upcoming football season and covers all LSU sports, including football, basketball, baseball and women’s gymnastics.
According to Keesler Federal, the new partnership coincides with the credit union’s upcoming expansion across Louisiana that will result from its merger with Jefferson Financial Federal Credit Union. Once the merger is complete, Keesler Federal will gain 14 branch locations from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, La., the credit union said.
As a result of the partnership, Keesler Federal will be promoted in LSU venues Tiger Stadium, Alex Box Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and across LSU social media.
“We are proud to support LSU Athletics and their student-athletes, and to be associated with their globally-recognized standard of excellence,” Keesler Federal President/CEO Andy Swoger said. “The partnership will serve Keesler Federal well as we significantly expand our brand across the region.”
3. TDECU & Houston Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud (Credit/TDECU)
The $4.8 billion, Lake Jackson, Texas-based TDECU announced July 26 that it has expanded its existing partnership with the Houston Texans by making the NFL team’s quarterback, C.J. Stroud, a brand ambassador for the credit union.
The partnership will kick off during this year’s NFL preseason as Stroud is featured in a new TDECU brand campaign. In addition, TDECU said it has donated $30,000 to the C.J. Stroud Foundation, the athlete’s nonprofit that supports single mothers, low-income families and youths in sports.
“This partnership represents a significant next step for TDECU,” TDECU President/CEO Isaac Johnson said. “As a company, we are dedicated to empowering our members and fostering growth within our communities. Our partnership with C.J. Stroud not only strengthens our connection with our members but also enhances our service to the Houston area and beyond. We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the Houston Texans and align with a player who shares our commitment to excellence, leadership and community impact. Go Texans!”
4. 7 17 CU’s New Akron RubberDucks Visa Credit Card
Like TDECU, the $1.8 billion 7 17 Credit Union announced an expansion of an existing sports team partnership – the Warren, Ohio-based credit union released a co-branded credit card with the Akron RubberDucks, a minor league baseball team and the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. 7 17 CU became the official credit union of the Akron RubberDucks earlier this year.
The Akron RubberDucks Visa Credit Card, which 7 17 CU unveiled July 31 during the RubberDucks’ matchup against the Erie SeaWolves, allows cardholders to give back to their communities every time they use it. With each transaction, the credit union contributes 7.17 cents to local nonprofit programs supported by the RubberDucks. The card has a starting APR of 7.17% and no fees for balance transfers, cash advances or annual use, the credit union said.
“This partnership is about more than branding – it’s about building something meaningful together,” 7 17 CU President/CEO John Demmler. “We’re honored to work alongside the RubberDucks to support initiatives that matter in the community, while offering real financial benefits to the people who live here.”
5. Mission Fed & San Diego Padres Star Jackson Merrill
Finally, the $6.8 billion, San Diego, Calif.-based Mission Federal Credit Union announced Friday that it has launched a collaboration and multi-year agreement with Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball team. Mission Fed is currently in the midst of a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Padres.
Merrill Jackson (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres)
The new partnership will include teaming up with Merrill to give back to the community through initiatives that support the region’s youth, as well as pet and animal welfare. Mission Fed said it also has plans for a financial education series featuring Merrill and autographed giveaways.
Outfielder Merrill’s recent accomplishments include being named a 2024 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up, hitting .292 with 24 home runs, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases during his inaugural season, and signing a nine-year contract extension with the San Diego Padres that begins in 2026.
“This is an exciting time for Mission Fed and our members. We feel this collaboration is built on both performance and integrity, and we wholeheartedly welcome Jackson Merrill to our Mission Fed family,” Mission Fed President/CEO Doug Wright said. “We look forward to working together to support our community and get the word out about financial empowerment.”
If it were up to head coach Charlie Wade, the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team would never start its season this early.
The Rainbow Warriors, who began their preseason practices on Sunday, will officially begin their 2026 campaign on Friday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Although the ‘Bows have routinely started their seasons on the first Friday of the year, that doesn’t mean Wade has to like it.
“I’ve advocated that the first match can’t be before (Martin Luther King Jr. Day),” Wade said on Monday. “Let them actually have a holiday and then come back and practice for a couple of weeks. But how it goes, everybody kind of ramps it up, practices for a few days and then starts playing.”
One of the few positives Wade sees in the compressed preseason schedule is the fact that the Rainbow Warriors are not in class yet, which allows them the time to focus on an intense schedule featuring two practices a day leading up to the opener.
Trips to the practice gym have been frequent in recent days. Inside of it is a collection of world-class athletes, a roster featuring players from seven different countries and four separate states. Although there’s only one senior among the 19 players, the Rainbow Warriors are a team with clear national championship expectations in 2026.
The Rainbow Warriors have played in four national championship matches under Wade, winning it all in 2021 and 2022. The ‘Bows went 27-6 in 2025 and were swept by UCLA in the national semifinals. In 2026, UH returns five of its seven starters in that semifinal match, not counting star opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski, who missed the last eight matches due to an ankle injury.
Despite its losses in personnel, the Rainbow Warriors have reloaded. After losing beloved assistant coach Milan Zarkovic to UCLA, Wade got Maui native and former Ball State head coach Donan Cruz to join the staff. Meanwhile, the void left by former starting libero ‘Eleu Choy will likely be filled by Canadian national teamer Quintin Greenidge, a newcomer in Mānoa who will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
When Grand Canyon University decided to immediately scrap its nationally ranked men’s volleyball program following the 2025 season to focus on other sports, the Rainbow Warriors were able to benefit by signing freshman All-American Trevell Jordan and former GCU commit Thatcher Fahlbusch. Jordan is competing for one of the two starting spots at middle blocker, along with Ofeck Hazan, Justin Todd, Alex Parks and 7-foot freshman Roman Payne.
“None of us saw it coming,” Jordan said of Grand Canyon punting on men’s volleyball. “The team and squad (at UH) has been really inviting. They’ve been working with me to get me more accommodated to here, as it’s a big move from where I originally was from.”
Jordan immediately became one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal upon entering. He was already familiar with a handful of players on the UH roster after playing with them on multiple United States national teams.
“He had offers to go to every top program in the country, and ironically, they were pushing him to make a fast decision, and they pushed him towards us,” Wade recalled. “I was the one saying, ‘Hey, I’m in for the long haul. I want you here. Take your time to figure it out.'”
Running the show for the Rainbow Warriors is Tread Rosenthal, the team’s 6-foot-11 setter who established himself as the team’s unquestioned leader as a sophomore in 2025.
“I think last year we showed that we had the potential to be the best team on any given night, but I think this year we need to be the best team every night no matter what,” Rosenthal said. “I think that just comes with working with together to get it more consistent.”
Added Wade: “It’s year three (for Rosenthal). It’s the payoff year, right? By the third year, you can see there’s just kind of a calm confidence to him that he’s kind of been there, done that. He clearly is the leader of the team. These are his guys. A lot of them are here because of him. Looking for even bigger and better things from him this year for sure.”
Hawai‘i will start off the year as the No. 2 team in the country following the release of the preseason AVCA poll, which had UCLA in the top spot. External expectations are high for the Rainbow Warriors, but internal expectations are higher.
“My freshman year, we didn’t go to the championship. My sophomore year, we lost in the the semis,” junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. “We have to get the championship now. I feel like the whole team knows we could win the championship. We have the team for it, but now we need to be consistent enough to beat every single team every night. And we’re just really, really excited to prove that to everyone.
“We all want to win a national championship. That’s the goal. We won the Big West last year, that was wonderful for sure, but we want that big one.”
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
Setter: Madison Markwardt, Round Top-Carmine, soph.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ana Servin, Sulphur Bluff, sr.
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Professional Volleyball League team Choco Mucho Flying Titans announced four addition to their team, Eya Laure, Jaila Atienza, Alina Bicar, and Caitlin Viray, for 2026 on Wednesday.
“The Choco Mucho Flying Titans welcome 4 new players to the team! They bring the grit, speed, and fire that will make every match unforgettable,” they wrote in their post.
This came after Royse Tubino, Bia General, Cherry Nunag, and Aduke Agunsanya ended their stint with the team. (Instagram/Choco Mucho Flying Titans)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Belmont University student-athletes recorded another remarkable semester in the classroom as 2025 fall semester grades were finalized last week.
For the 2025 fall semester, the departmental grade-point average (GPA) was 3.530, which marked the 56th consecutive semester that Belmont student-athletes have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition, it was the 12th straight semester that the department GPA was over a 3.5.
“Our student-athletes continue to do an amazing job in the classroom,” said Scott Corley, Belmont’s Vice President/Director of Athletics. “That success is a credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff who continue to maintain our department’s commitment to academic excellence.”
Highlights from the fall semester included:
64 percent of student-athletes achieved a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher
85 percent of student-athletes achieved a semester GPA of 3.0 of higher
15 percent of student-athletes earned a perfect 4.00 GPA
9 Bruin teams posted a team GPA of 3.5 or higher for the semester.
About Belmont University
Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries. Nationally ranked and consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for innovation in higher education, the University offers more than 115 areas of undergraduate study, 41 master’s programs and eight doctoral degrees. With a focus on whole-person formation and data-informed social innovation, Belmont is committed to forming diverse leaders of character equipped to solve the world’s complex problems. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
After winning the women’s Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship earlier in the year, Italy crowned a great season with the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title. Turkiye reached a World Championship final for the first time in history and settled for silver, while Brazil completed the podium with bronze. The year’s top event was held in Thailand from August 22 to September 7.
The first World Championship under the new biennial cycle and with an expanded 32-team format marked a breakthrough moment for the sport, with unprecedented audiences across volleyball’s major markets. Volleyball World’s OTT platform, VBTV, added further momentum with more than 7 million views across the championship. The Italy v Brazil semifinal attracted 350 thousand viewers, while the final drew 250 thousand, underscoring the global appetite for premium volleyball coverage beyond traditional broadcast. Social media popularity of the competition was expressed in 7.8 thousand posts and 145 million impressions, as well as 48 million YouTube views.
The 32 participating teams were drawn into eight round-robin pools of four for the first phase of the competition. Reigning Paris 2024 Olympic champions Italy cruised through Pool B undefeated, dropping a set only in their match against Belgium. They went on to sweep their eighthfinal against Germany and their quarterfinal against Poland in straight sets. In a hard-fought semifinal against Brazil, the Italians came back from a set down twice before emerging with a 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22, 15-13) victory. The gold medal showdown in Bangkok was also pushed to five sets. This time Turkiye came back from a set down twice to get closer than ever to the world title, but the trophy went to Italy after they prevailed in the tie-breaker, 3-2 (25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8). It was the second world crown for Italy, after their 2002 triumph. They also won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
“I still can’t believe it,” Italian super-star opposite Paola Egonu said after the gold medal match. “I’m really proud of the team and incredibly happy. This is a moment I’ll never forget. It’s probably the last time for some of our players, too, and my heart is full now.”
Turkiye also reached the final undefeated. They did not lose a single set in Pool E, shut out Slovenia in the eighthfinals and beat USA in four sets in the quarterfinals. Another four-set victory, a 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-18, 27-25) comeback in the semifinal against Japan, propelled Turkiye to their first ever World Championship final and secured them their first ever World Championship medal.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship silver medalists Turkiye
Brazil also won Pool C unbeaten, but only after coming back from two sets down to reverse-sweep their match against France. After a four-set eighthfinal victory over the Dominican Republic and a tight straight-set quarterfinal against France, they lost narrowly to Italy in the semis, but bounced back in the third-place playoff against Japan. A nail-biting 3-2 (25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 27-29, 18-16) win added the sixth medal to their World Championship collection. Brazil now have four silvers and two bronzes.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship bronze medalists Brazil
Japan, USA, the Netherlands, Poland, France, China, Serbia, Belgium, Germany, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Slovenia, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Kenya, Greece, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Czechia, Colombia, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, Egypt, Slovakia, Vietnam and Cameroon, in that order, took the places from fourth to 32nd in the final standings.
Italy’s 27-year-old setter Alessia Orro was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the World Championship. She also headlined the Dream Team, which featured opposite Melissa Vargas (Turkiye), outside hitters Mayu Ishikawa (Japan) and Gabriela Guimaraes (Brazil), middle blockers Anna Danesi (Italy) and Eda Erdem (Turkiye), and libero Monica De Gennaro (Italy).
The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Dream Team
Click here for the official FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship website.
