NIL
Football, basketball players score most NIL deals
March Madness may be over, but brands aren’t done with college hoops. The five women’s college athletes with the most NIL deals from March 2024 to March 2025 were all basketball players, and athletes from that sport filled two of the top five spots on the men’s side, too, according to sponsorship intelligence platform SponsorUnited’s […]
March Madness may be over, but brands aren’t done with college hoops.
The five women’s college athletes with the most NIL deals from March 2024 to March 2025 were all basketball players, and athletes from that sport filled two of the top five spots on the men’s side, too, according to sponsorship intelligence platform SponsorUnited’s 2024-25 NIL report, which analyzed 3,000 deals across more than 1,700 brands.
While tech and non-alcoholic beverage brands increased their NIL activity in the past year, apparel and retail brands pulled back, meaning there was relatively little change in the total number of NIL deals year over year. That suggests a “quality-over-quantity approach” to the space, SponsorUnited wrote.
Queens of the court: JuJu Watkins, the sophomore basketball sensation out of the University of Southern California who tore her ACL during March Madness, had 20 NIL deals, including Nike, Fanatics, and Taco Bell, the most of any women’s college athlete, per the report.
- Twin hoopers Haley and Hanna Cavinder from the University of Miami followed Watkins with 18 combined deals with brands like Under Armour and Boost Mobile.
- Paige Bueckers, the projected No. 1 WNBA draft pick who led UConn to the NCAA championship and the first college athlete to ink a deal with Gatorade, had 16 deals, as does the University of Oregon’s Deja Kelly.
- Louisiana State University’s Flau’jae Johnson rounded out the top five, with 15 deals across brands including Powerade, Experian, and Puma.
The most-endorsed male college athletes included two basketball stars: UNC’s RJ Davis, who led with 25 deals, and LSU’s Trace Young, who had 17 deals. Football players rounded out the rest of the top five: Cash Peterman from the University of Arizona had 21 deals, University of Colorado junior Travis Hunter had 19, and University of Texas senior Quinn Ewers had 17.
Get marketing news you’ll actually want to read
Marketing Brew informs marketing pros of the latest on brand strategy, social media, and ad tech via our weekday newsletter, virtual events, marketing conferences, and digital guides.
In and out: Apparel and accessory brands accounted for the most NIL deals, per SponsorUnited, with more than 400 across the category. Still, that number was down 20%, with 100 brands moving out of the college athletics space in the past year, SponsorUnited found. On the other hand, about 60 new apparel and accessory brands got into NIL, as major players like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour “refined their approach…with longer-term deals,” according to the report.
The technology category had the second-highest number of NIL deals at more than 350, a share that increased by 29% year over year. Gaming companies like EA Sports, Nintendo, and Epic Games, as well as Amazon, helped support that growth.
Non-alcoholic beverage brands upped their collective number of NIL deals by 19% to more than 275, while retail brand NIL deals saw a 9% decline.
Clock is ticking: Instagram had the highest percentage of branded posts from college athletes, per SponsorUnited, which analyzed 4,000 posts, though TikTok drove the highest percentage of engagements with those posts for categories like food and consumer products. Instagram posts accounted for the largest share of engagements across apparel and accessories, non-alcoholic beverages, and consumer electronics, but SponsorUnited still found that TikTok, whose future in the US remains uncertain, “remains underutilized despite its potential for engagement.”
NIL
UNC Baseball lands its shortstop of the future with this transfer portal addition
Featuring a veteran team during the 2025 season, it was well-known that the UNC baseball program had some work to do in the transfer portal this offseason. With a handful of roster voids due to players exhausting their eligibility (and potential MLB Draft picks), Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels need to replenish that talent […]
Featuring a veteran team during the 2025 season, it was well-known that the UNC baseball program had some work to do in the transfer portal this offseason.
With a handful of roster voids due to players exhausting their eligibility (and potential MLB Draft picks), Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels need to replenish that talent by bringing in some transfers who can help that objective.
The shortstop position is a major need for North Carolina, given Alex Madera has exhausted his eligibility. Looking for its third starting shortstop in as many seasons, Forbes seems to have found his guy, securing a commitment from North Dakota State transfer Jake Schaffner.
NEW COMMIT: @DiamondHeels snagging North Dakota State’s Jake Schaffner out of the portal is a nice get for Scott Forbes and the #TarHeels. Schaffner hit .364 last season, was a base-stealing threat and was steady defensively.
Profile: https://t.co/NtiHS3o7mG
Portal:… pic.twitter.com/w7TswxLbWD
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) June 13, 2025
A top-of-the-order caliber bat, Schaffner put together two very strong seasons at North Dakota State. Over 108 games played, the Janesville, Wisconsin native posted a .353 batting average, swiping 34 bases. Along with his elite ability to get on base (and eventually steal them), Schaffner provides a steady presence at shortstop, a defensive position that is extremely important for any baseball team.
North Carolina has now landed four transfers to help bolster next year’s squad. While the names aren’t necessarily ones that you often hear about, the Tar Heels have done a nice job in identifying talent that can transition to Chapel Hill nicely.
Let’s remember: guys like Alex Madera, Kane Kepley, and Tyson Bass (among others) are some of the transfer portal additions that made big-time noise for the Diamond Heels over the last few seasons.
The UNC baseball program isn’t looking to rebuild: they are looking to reload. Coming up just short of a trip to Omaha, the Diamond Heels are motivated to get back there, as Forbes and his staff will ensure that they field the best everyday lineup in order to accomplish that goal.
Adding Schaffner is an underrated move that has the potential of being a big-time addition for the UNC baseball program.
NIL
Oregon Ducks’ Dante Moore Shares His Journey, Donates NIL Money To Hometown
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is preparing to lead as the team’s starter in 2025. Before the season begins, Moore is demonstrating his leadership off the field, returning to his hometown in Detroit. One of the ways Moore sought to help is by using his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings to help his alma […]
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is preparing to lead as the team’s starter in 2025. Before the season begins, Moore is demonstrating his leadership off the field, returning to his hometown in Detroit.
One of the ways Moore sought to help is by using his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings to help his alma mater. Moore returned to Martin Luther King High School and donated a $10,000 check to the football team.
The Oregon quarterback also hosted a book signing for his children’s book, “From Journey to Dream.” The book is about Moore’s journey from childhood to playing college football. Moore spent a season with the UCLA Bruins before transferring to Oregon where he sat for a season behind Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Moore hopes his book can help inspire those pursuing their dreams. He recounted his mistakes and that while things may not go as expected, it is a learning experience.
“I feel like this book will be good for kids just to read and understand,” Moore said at the book signing.
Moore was originally committed to Oregon before flipping to UCLA. The flip was just another step in his journey to becoming the Ducks’ starter.
In Moore’s one season with UCLA, he passed for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He finished the season with a 53.5 completion percentage and entered the portal. Both Moore and Gabriel transferred to Oregon following the 2023 season. Gabriel became the starter, causing Moore to sit for a season.
MORE: Five-Star Quarterback Ryder Lyons Visiting Oregon: Ducks Trending For Commitment?
MORE: Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles Makes Bold Statement On Rookie Tez Johnson’s Speed, Playing Time
MORE: Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett Reveals First Impression Of ‘Composed’ Dillon Gabriel
Instead of holding a grudge and entering the portal again, Moore embraced the season as a learning experience.
“If you have a dream, chase it. Many people think the sky’s the limit, but I say reach for the stars,” Moore continued. “Many things don’t happen to go your way, I feel like you just learn from them. My freshman year at UCLA, a lot of mistakes happened there, but overall, I learned from them.”
“All these expectations and things like that, my work will show that any expectation or anything people expect me to do, I know I can do it,” Moore said.
There are high expectations for taking over as Oregon’s starting quarterback. Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist and was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ducks have produced two first-round quarterbacks since Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. After Herbert in 2020, the Denver Broncos selected former Ducks quarterback Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Oregon is coming off an undefeated regular season and was ranked the No. 1 team in the nation. Although the postseason did not go as Oregon would have wanted, losing against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the Ducks are expected to be back in the College Football Playoff in 2025.
“This year has been a learning year for me,” Moore told On3’s Pete Nakos. “Transferring in with Dillon was probably one of the best things I ever did. Coming to Oregon and competing with Dillon and standing behind him. I learned a lot from him. He’s been in college for quite some time, and I’m glad that the Browns picked him up.”
NIL
Why female athletes are challenging the NCAA’s $2.8bn settlement | College sports
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair. Eight female […]
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair.
Eight female athletes filed an appeal this week, arguing the agreement violates Title IX, the US law banning sex-based discrimination in education. They say the way the money is divided, largely favoring football and men’s basketball players, shortchanges women by more than $1bn.
Their appeal has paused all back payments, potentially delaying them for more than a year. However, the NCAA’s new plan to allow schools to pay current players directly starting 1 July will still go ahead.
So what does this all mean for athletes as well as the future of college sports? Here’s what’s going on …
What is the NCAA settlement about?
The NCAA agreed to pay $2.8bn to compensate athletes who were previously barred from earning income off their name, image, and likeness (NIL), including things like video game appearances, jersey sales, or social media sponsorships. The settlement covers athletes going back to 2016.
It also clears the way for a major change: beginning 1 July 2025, colleges will be allowed to directly share revenue with current players, up to $20.5 million per school per year.
It’s a major shift from the NCAA’s traditional amateurism model, which argued that athletes should only be compensated with scholarships, not salaries or endorsement income.
Who’s appealing the deal and why?
Eight female athletes who competed in soccer, volleyball, and track have filed an appeal. Their names include Kacie Breeding (Vanderbilt) and Kate Johnson (Virginia), along with six athletes from the College of Charleston.
They argue the deal violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. Specifically, they say the settlement gives up to 90% of the money to men in football and basketball, depriving women of $1.1bn in rightful compensation.
What is Title IX and how does it apply here?
Title IX is a 1972 US law requiring equal access and treatment for men and women in federally funded education programs, including athletics. Colleges must offer comparable resources, scholarships and participation opportunities across men’s and women’s sports.
The female athletes argue that since NIL bans affected both genders equally, compensation for those bans must also be equitable, and that using historical TV revenue (which favors men’s sports) ignores systemic barriers women have faced in marketing and media exposure.
What did the judge say about the Title IX argument?
US district judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week and rejected Title IX-based objections, saying they fell outside the scope of the antitrust case. The female athletes disagree and are now asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene.
What happens to the money in the meantime?
Because of the appeal, no back pay will be distributed until the court rules. That delay could last several months or longer. According to the NCAA’s lead attorney, the organization will continue funding the settlement pool, but the money will sit untouched until the case is resolved.
The current payout formula is based on historical media revenue and licensing data. Because football and men’s basketball generated the majority of money for schools – especially through TV contracts – those athletes stand to receive the most compensation.
Critics say that approach bakes in decades of inequality, because women were denied the same marketing exposure and investment in the first place.
What are the broader concerns about this settlement?
Some worry that schools will cut so-called “non-revenue” sports – like wrestling, swimming or gymnastics – to fund revenue-sharing with top athletes. Others fear this pushes college sports closer to a professional minor league system, undermining education and competitive balance. Still others say that without clear Title IX guidance, women may continue to be marginalized even in a post-amateurism era.
What happens next?
The Ninth Circuit will now review the appeal. Briefs are due by 3 October, and while both sides say they’ll push for speed, appeals in this court have been known to take 12 to 18 months.
Until the case is resolved, no back payments will be made to athletes who played between 2016 and 2021. But the revenue-sharing era is coming, whether or not the NCAA is ready for it.
NIL
Why female athletes are challenging the NCAA's $2.8bn settlement
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair. Eight female […]
College athletes spent decades fighting for the right to make money from their name, image and likeness (NIL). In 2021, they won. Now, a $2.8bn NCAA settlement is set to compensate hundreds of thousands of current and former athletes who missed out on those earnings. But not everyone thinks the deal is fair.
Eight female athletes filed an appeal this week, arguing the agreement violates Title IX, the US law banning sex-based discrimination in education. They say the way the money is divided, largely favoring football and men’s basketball players, shortchanges women by more than $1bn.
Their appeal has paused all back payments, potentially delaying them for more than a year. However, the NCAA’s new plan to allow schools to pay current players directly starting 1 July will still go ahead.
So what does this all mean for athletes as well as the future of college sports? Here’s what’s going on …
What is the NCAA settlement about?
The NCAA agreed to pay $2.8bn to compensate athletes who were previously barred from earning income off their name, image, and likeness (NIL), including things like video game appearances, jersey sales, or social media sponsorships. The settlement covers athletes going back to 2016.
It also clears the way for a major change: beginning 1 July 2025, colleges will be allowed to directly share revenue with current players, up to $20.5 million per school per year.
It’s a major shift from the NCAA’s traditional amateurism model, which argued that athletes should only be compensated with scholarships, not salaries or endorsement income.
Who’s appealing the deal and why?
Eight female athletes who competed in soccer, volleyball, and track have filed an appeal. Their names include Kacie Breeding (Vanderbilt) and Kate Johnson (Virginia), along with six athletes from the College of Charleston.
They argue the deal violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. Specifically, they say the settlement gives up to 90% of the money to men in football and basketball, depriving women of $1.1bn in rightful compensation.
What is Title IX and how does it apply here?
Title IX is a 1972 US law requiring equal access and treatment for men and women in federally funded education programs, including athletics. Colleges must offer comparable resources, scholarships and participation opportunities across men’s and women’s sports.
The female athletes argue that since NIL bans affected both genders equally, compensation for those bans must also be equitable, and that using historical TV revenue (which favors men’s sports) ignores systemic barriers women have faced in marketing and media exposure.
What did the judge say about the Title IX argument?
US district judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week and rejected Title IX-based objections, saying they fell outside the scope of the antitrust case. The female athletes disagree and are now asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene.
What happens to the money in the meantime?
Because of the appeal, no back pay will be distributed until the court rules. That delay could last several months or longer. According to the NCAA’s lead attorney, the organization will continue funding the settlement pool, but the money will sit untouched until the case is resolved.
Why is most of the money going to men’s football and basketball players?
The current payout formula is based on historical media revenue and licensing data. Because football and men’s basketball generated the majority of money for schools – especially through TV contracts – those athletes stand to receive the most compensation.
Critics say that approach bakes in decades of inequality, because women were denied the same marketing exposure and investment in the first place.
What are the broader concerns about this settlement?
Some worry that schools will cut so-called “non-revenue” sports – like wrestling, swimming or gymnastics – to fund revenue-sharing with top athletes. Others fear this pushes college sports closer to a professional minor league system, undermining education and competitive balance. Still others say that without clear Title IX guidance, women may continue to be marginalized even in a post-amateurism era.
What happens next?
The Ninth Circuit will now review the appeal. Briefs are due by 3 October, and while both sides say they’ll push for speed, appeals in this court have been known to take 12 to 18 months.
Until the case is resolved, no back payments will be made to athletes who played between 2016 and 2021. But the revenue-sharing era is coming, whether or not the NCAA is ready for it.
NIL
Everyone will soon know who Bryan Seeley is and what the College Sports Commission does
The Kentucky athletic department has started a Champions Blue LLC. to help them transition into the new era of college athletics. Revenue-sharing will arrive on July 1 and all participating universities must participate in “NIL Go” which will serve as a clearinghouse for any third-party deals. Schools will be paying out of pocket but they […]
The Kentucky athletic department has started a Champions Blue LLC. to help them transition into the new era of college athletics. Revenue-sharing will arrive on July 1 and all participating universities must participate in “NIL Go” which will serve as a clearinghouse for any third-party deals. Schools will be paying out of pocket but they will be also involved in making sure athletics are being paid within the rules of a new system.
Who will they report to? We now know the answer.
Major League Baseball (MLB) executive Bryan Seeley has been named as the CEO of the College Sports Commission (CSC). The MLB vice president of legal and operations will now be tasked with making sure that college athletes and schools are following the rules that have been established in the House v. NCAA settlement.
“I am honored to serve as the first CEO of the College Sports Commission at this pivotal moment in the history of collegiate athletics,” Seeley said in a statement last week. “I look forward to implementing a system that prioritizes fairness, integrity, and opportunity, while preserving the values that make college sports unique. I am energized by the work ahead and excited to begin building out our team.”
“Bryan brings unwavering integrity and a wealth of relevant experience to his new role leading the College Sports Commission and working to ensure a smooth implementation of this new system,” power conference commissioners said in a joint statement. “We’re grateful to have an individual with his credentials and expertise at the helm, and we look forward to his leadership as we transition into this new era of college sports.”
Bryan Seeley will be asked to help form the CSC’s investigative and enforcement teams. This commission will play an integral role in enforcing the settlement’s terms and working hand-in-hand with “NIL Go” and Deloitte. His main job will be to enforce revenue-sharing and roster limits rules and regulations. The NCAA is officially ceding power to the CSC to enforce rules upon those participating in revenue-share. Seeley and the CSC are essentially the governing body of power conference athletics now.
You will be hearing his name a lot moving forward.
The CSC’s new leader is expected to make a seven-figure salary and will quickly become one of the most important individuals in college athletics. A former attorney, Seeley brings investigative experience and will be someone that power conference leaders rely on heavily to help run the new system that they have created.
Lawsuits are still expected — the NCAA is still looking for Congressional assistance on Capitol Hill — but Bryan Seeley will become an important face for the new era of college athletics. Expect to see the new hire do multiple interviews as the CSC becomes the new policing agency for the revenue-sharing era. Whenever a school gets in trouble, they will have to deal with Seeley for any violations regarding salary cap management.
The new day is here.
NIL
Kentucky baseball receives two more transfer portal commitments
Nick Mingione is putting in work with the transfer portal once again. Kentucky baseball landed a pair of portal commits on Friday, bringing the number of transfer additions this offseason up to seven. Indiana junior infielder Tyler Cerny was the first to join the Bat Cats, with Grand Canyon sophomore pitcher Connor Mattison announcing his […]
Nick Mingione is putting in work with the transfer portal once again.
Kentucky baseball landed a pair of portal commits on Friday, bringing the number of transfer additions this offseason up to seven. Indiana junior infielder Tyler Cerny was the first to join the Bat Cats, with Grand Canyon sophomore pitcher Connor Mattison announcing his decision to follow suit less than an hour later. Both rank among the top 40 players (Cerney at No. 37, Mattison at No. 11) to enter the portal this offseason, according to 64Analytics.
With the Hoosiers in 2025, Cerny hit for a .281 average with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 32 RBI. After amassing 173 games played at IU, he’ll have one year of eligibility remaining with Kentucky. Meanwhile, Mattison posted a 5.40 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 33.1 innings pitched with the Lopes this past season. The righty, who tossed a no-hitter as a freshman in 2024, will have two years of eligibility left upon his arrival in Lexington.
After making the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season in 2025 — the first such streak in program history — Mingione is again doing a terrific job in the portal. Kentucky is losing 12 players to exhausted eligibility and has lost 13 more as outgoing transfers. But the ‘Cats have already brought in seven new faces via the portal (six of them right-handed pitchers), including Friday’s new additions. More are expected to come soon.
Below is Kentucky’s current incoming portal class for 2026. Note that Echeman, Bennett, and Cerny are all eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft.
Mingione is also bringing in a 13-man high school class and returns a key group of core pieces from last season’s roster, headlined by Tyler Bell, a Freshman All-American from the 2025 campaign. The likes of RF Ryan Schwartz, RHP Nate Harris, and LHP Ben Cleaver will also come back to Lexington for next season. Several more Wildcats, such as 2B Luke Lawrence and OF Carson Hansen, are eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft but can return for another college season.
Derek Terry of Bat Cats Central reports that another portal commitment is expected to come on Saturday. Let Mingione cook.
NCAA Track And Field Championships 2025 Results & Men’s Finals Scores
Tyrese Haliburton getting crafty on the break
Junior golf — He is him: California native, Morehead’s Singh win Bluegrass Junior | Youth Sports
USC men earn share of NCAA outdoor track and field title – Daily Breeze
UNC Baseball lands its shortstop of the future with this transfer portal addition
Stephen A. and JWill say the Cavs are DONE 
+ NBA draft lottery is CRUCIAL for 76ers 
| First Take
Everything is a game if you’re competitive enough 
Cumbrians aged 60 and over invited to Carlisle sports day
Kurjak Earns High Jump All-America Honors At NCAAs
Gen Z, Personal Training Drive Continued Growth for HVLP Gyms
Oregon Ducks’ Dante Moore Shares His Journey, Donates NIL Money To Hometown
Sanchez signs with NMJC track and field – www.hobbsnews.com
OKC WITH A BIG GAME 4 TO EVEN THE NBA FINALS 2-2.
Photos: Day Three of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Midway High School reacts to Water Polo becoming UIL
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
This is poetry in motion.
-
Health1 week agoOregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
-
Professional Sports1 week ago'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
-
College Sports2 weeks agoIU basketball recruiting
-
NIL3 weeks ago2025 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Women’s College World Series bracket, schedule set
-
Professional Sports1 week agoUFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoScott Barker named to lead CCS basketball • SSentinel.com
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoJ.W. Craft: Investing in Community Through Sports
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRockingham Speedway listed for sale after NASCAR return
-
NIL3 weeks agoGreg Sankey: ‘I have people in my room asking, why are we still in the NCAA?’
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR Penalty Report: Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 2025)