Well, well, well. Look who joined the money grab.

College sports money has completely flipped the script. NIL deals and revenue sharing have poured millions into student-athletes’ pockets, but they’ve also created serious locker room problems. After this summer’s House v. NCAA settlement, schools can now pay up to $20.5 million annually. That’s great for players until uneven paychecks start breeding tension between teammates.

Maryland football’s 2024 meltdown showed exactly how bad it can get when NIL money divides a team. Dawn Staley already has one solution, and two college basketball analysts think it’s brilliant.

How Does Dawn Staley’s NDA Strategy Keep Her Team United?

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley appeared on former First Lady Michelle Obama’s podcast to discuss the current NIL landscape. Staley made it clear she supports NIL deals for players.

“Five years ago, it was all the NCAA benefiting, and it didn’t trickle down to players. And now, it’s a waterfall down to the players,” Staley said. However, she also admitted that the system is “out of control” and needs better balance.

Staley’s program at South Carolina has something unique in place to maintain team chemistry.

“I do make them sign NDAs about what they get,” Staley revealed. Every Gamecock player signs a non-disclosure agreement about their NIL earnings. While some players still get frustrated and transfer, this system creates a foundation for managing potential conflicts.

Meanwhile, Front Office Sports’ Baker Machado sees the NDAs as essential to “keep locker room harmony.” So far, Machado says, it hasn’t been an issue, “knock on wood.”

Staley handles NIL negotiations directly with agents and takes time to explain to players why some teammates earn more than others. Co-host and analyst Renee Washington praised this hands-on approach.

Catch up on Thursday’s show:

0:15 – Goodell on ESPN-NFL
1:34 – Dawn Staley on NIL NDAs
2:51 – Venus Williams at the US Open
4:34 – The Brewers recent success
9:27 – Premier League season preview
17:32 – Rise in popularity around country clubs
20:51 – Taylor Swift on New Heights pic.twitter.com/z5Khk1xBAE
— Front Office Sports Today (@FOS_Today) August 14, 2025

“We’re talking about the highest-paid women’s basketball coach across college sports, and she’s this hands-on,” Washington noted.

Initially, Washington found the approach surprising. But then she pointed to Maryland football’s complete collapse, where NIL deals split the roster into haves and have-nots and cost Mike Locksley control of his locker room.

Why Did Maryland Football’s NIL Strategy Backfire So Dramatically?

Maryland’s situation became a cautionary tale about NIL money gone wrong. Newcomers pulled in massive payouts while veteran players felt left behind. The result was open tension throughout the team, poor chemistry on the field, and a disappointing 4-8 season that derailed the program’s momentum.

The NIL troubles weren’t just a team-wide issue at Maryland. They directly affected the star returning quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa. After the 2022 season, Tagovailoa received a substantial offer from an SEC program but made it clear to Mike Locksley he wanted to stay with the Terrapins.

The tense standoff dragged through spring practice, with even offensive coordinator Josh Gattis feeling external pressure from the situation.

Washington believes Staley’s approach “separates the business from the basketball” and helps her players focus on competing together rather than resenting each other’s bank accounts.

RELATED: Dawn Staley Admits to Using Legal Tool to Control NIL Arguments in Gamecocks Locker Room

“She’s also one of the only coaches, if not the only one, out of South Carolina that is directly involved in all of her players’ NIL revenue-sharing conversations,” Washington added. However, Staley acknowledges that her system isn’t completely bulletproof.

Players who transfer could still reveal what they were making during their time with the program. But Staley doesn’t overpromise to recruits, sticks to her established budget, and finds creative ways to boost NIL funds like entering tournaments where winnings go directly to the players.

It’s a controlled, transparent method that sidesteps the chaos NIL has brought to other programs across college basketball.

In a landscape where big money can tear teams apart, Staley’s NDA rule might be the difference between maintaining a united roster and experiencing a Maryland-style implosion that destroys team chemistry.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Watch “ABC7 Sports Overtime with Dionne Miller” live on Fridays at 5:30 and 8 p.m., and Saturday mornings at 4:30 a.m. on ABC7’s 24/7 stream.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The Chicago Bears are hosting joint practices with the Buffalo Bills in Lake Forest before they host the Bills Sunday night at Soldier Field.

Dionne caught up with NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales. She became the first female in history to call a Bears game when she called their preseason game against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Dionne did a one-on-one interview with Bears rookie linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, who had a standout game against the Dolphins. The Maryland alum talked about getting acclimated to a new defense and a new city, where he proclaims his love for Chicago Italian restaurants.

Dionne and Marquee Network reporter Andy Martinez discussed how the Chicago Cubs have gone from looking like a contender to a pretender in the wildcard playoff picture thanks to a struggling offense, and the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers won’t lose is not helping.

NCAA college football is just around the corner. NIU Huskies head football coach Thomas Hammock talked about the state of college football and how limitless transfers and NIL money is hurting the collegiate game.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini football program named six captains for the 2025 football season: Luke Altmyer, Tanner Arkin, Gabe Jacas, Josh Kreutz, Dylan Rosiek, and Miles Scott. The six captains were determined by a team vote.

QB Luke Altmyer 

Altmyer will serve as a team captain for the first time in his career. One of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation, Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, while leading Illinois to its first 10-win season since 2001.

TE Tanner Arkin

Arkin was named a team captain for the second consecutive season. A Mackey Award watch list selection, Arkin enters his senior season with five touchdowns during his first two seasons in Champaign. 

OLB Gabe Jacas

Jacas will serve as a team captain for the first time in his career. The senior is a preseason All-American by numerous outlets and one of the top returning defenders in all of college football. 

C Josh Kreutz

Kreutz was named a team captain for the second consecutive season. Kreutz anchors the Fighting Illini offensive line, returning for his third season as the team’s starting center in 2025 after earning two straight All-Big Ten selections. 

LB Dylan Rosiek

Rosiek was named a team captain for the second consecutive season. He is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and enters his third season as the team’s starting middle linebacker after earning two straight All-Big Ten selections. 

DB Miles Scott

Scott was named a team captain for the second consecutive season. The senior has started 24 games at free safety over the last two seasons, totaling 118 tackles, two interceptions, and two touchdowns.

With Tennessee’s NIL-triggered Adidas deal and the University of Kansas receiving a record-setting $300 million athletics gift spotlighting escalating stakes in college football, Sportsmo has launched—bringing game-day micro-donations directly into live college football action, giving fan communities a chance to support their favorite teams in real time and with collective impact. on game day

One-sheeter explainer graphic

Live Game in stadium view of app

Dallas, Aug. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the college football world reacts to Tennessee’s groundbreaking apparel deal with Adidas (complete with embedded NIL opportunities) and spending on athlete compensation continues to reshape the game, Sportsmo has emerged as a timely new tool for athletic departments and fans alike.

Launched in time for the new season beginning in two weeks, Sportsmo is the first app to turn live college football action into real-time, fan-funded support for their favorite teams. The app’s debut comes on the heels of a landmark federal NIL ruling and amidst seeminly now daily news of how schools are racing to adapt to new challenges they face to remain competitive on and off the field.

“Sportsmo launched at the exact moment NIL strategy is evolving to large-scale, school-driven programs,” said Chaitan Fahnestock, founder and CEO of Sportsmo. “Now fans can be part of the financial playbook — one micro-donation at a time — rewarding big plays in real-time.”

Unlike traditional fundraising platforms, Sportsmo is built for speed, stats, and Saturdays. The app converts game-day hype into direct support for college athletic departments backed by secure payments and tax-deductible donations.
Using live in-app data powered by Stats Perform, Sportsmo lets fans:

• Set pledges for key moments (e.g., every touchdown = $5)

• Donate in real time during games as moments unfold

• Create and join fan groups and track your collective impact

• Boost friends’ donations – and egg-on rivals

• React to plays with GIFs and emojis during the game

• View impact with live and post-game leaderboards and donation totals

Fans preload a secure wallet (minimum $10) and can give as little as $1 per play. Schools promoting the app can receive up to 87% of every donation, funneling fan passion directly into their athletic programs.

Why the Timing Matters

From schools reporting NIL earnings to coaches navigating revenue-sharing models ahead of the 2025 season, NIL economics are moving faster than ever. Tennessee’s Adidas partnership signals a broader shift in how schools and brands structure NIL at scale.

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