NIL

As College Athletics Grow, NIL Collectives Are Fighting Back Against Buyouts

How would you feel if, after donating a good amount of money towards an NIL collective for a particular player, that athlete then decided to take the money and transfer without playing a down? Now, imagine you’re running an NIL collective where the sole purpose was to make sure the team you represent was paying […]

Published

1 month ago

April 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As College Athletics Grow, NIL Collectives Are Fighting Back Against Buyouts

As the college athletics world continues to change, with revenue-sharing on the way, and NIL contracts are being front-loaded so that they can stay off the books when the House settlement is approved, we are starting to see a small shift in how collectives could be going about their business.

Right now, the most intriguing story centers around the Iamaleava family. One brother (Nico) left Tennessee as spring practice was ending, while the other brother (Madden) decided that he was ‘homesick’, so he followed his family to UCLA. So, you now have two different players in the SEC that signed NIL agreements with collectives, with money still on the table.

What would you do in this situation? Let it slide, not go after the money that has already been paid for services still to be rendered, or go after the financial sum that’s still left on a contract signed by all parties? In this current era of NIL and upcoming contracts that are negotiated with each school, we are at a crossroads when it comes to holding athletes accountable for the money that’s been spent, or scheduled to be paid.

Mind you, all of this comes with the job of being a college athlete. These are no longer just ‘kids’ on a scholarship, who used to be paid under the cover of darkness. It’s time that schools stop acting like these men and women are student athletes, which I understand is hard to do without them being labeled ‘employees’.

NIL Is A Business, Not A Charity. Parking Lot Deals Are In The Past

The days of getting the $500 handshakes or bags left at the high school field-house are over. Whether they want to say the important part out loud is up to the schools, but these athletes are now professionals, and it’s time they started being treated that way. If you’re being paid a few million per year to play for a school, while also doing your part to live up to the contract by appearing at events to sign autographs or getting out into the community to complete your ‘obligations’. This is a professional marketing deal, whether you like it or not.

What we witnessed earlier this week from Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek with his social media post about supporting the Razorbacks collective in their fight to recoup money from certain athletes was a test for public opinion. Yurachek knew that the ‘Edge’ collective was going after Madden Iamaleava for NIL money that had already been paid, along with what the company thought they could make off his name, image and likeness during his contract period.

And, judging by the reaction on social media, it looks as though the school will have plenty of support in their quest to recoup some of that money. But, the reason why so many schools have not gone after players for breaking an agreement is based off the reaction they could receive from future recruits or transfer portal prospects.

“If we put our marketing budget together, after already paying an athlete a few hundred-thousand dollars, and the athlete decides to leave after not even playing a snap, wouldn’t you try to recoup some of that money?” one NIL collective representative told OutKick. “Think about all the money we’ve spent on merchandise, events, their apartment, vehicle and monthly salary.”

Does every school have buyout language in their contracts? No. But there are plenty of collectives in college sports that have included this type of writing in case a player decides to bolt after cashing a few checks and heading off into the abyss, also known as the transfer portal. If these schools are going to spend massive amounts of money on a player, only to then see them leave four or five months later, it’s reasonable to think that they would like to get some of the money back.

This is a business, and return on investment is a gamble many are willing to take in hopes of a player reaching their full potential. Does it always work out? Absolutely not. But again, that’s the risk you take by agreeing to pay players an exorbitant amount of money to play for the school you represent.

Do These NIL Collectives Have A Case When Trying To Recoup Money?

All the chatter around players being held to their contracts, or having to pay a buyout if they plan on leaving one school for another is a part of this chapter that comes down to language.

Sure, there are plenty of NIL collectives that include buyout language in the deals they present to potential clients. But, there are also counter-offers that would force the collective to either agree to the terms or move on to the next player.

The problem with these contracts is that there is a gray area about what’s actually enforceable. Obviously, these athletes are being paid to play sports, as the marketing aspect of this is just a small equation in the entire situation. Sure, players are asked to appear at events, show up for fundraisers, shake hands and smile at the boosters that are helping finance these contracts.

But, how else are the collectives supposed to actually make enough money to prove that it was worth the negotiated amount that the player was paid?

“We cannot just keep taking it on the chin because the public might have a differing opinion. I’m sorry, but I am running a business, and I have boosters who want a return on investment, in the form of wins,” another NIL collective rep told OutKick. So, when that person who donates a lot of money on a yearly basis then sees a player enter the portal without contributing much on the field, if any, I can’t just tell them that we struck out. Sure, it’s a gamble.

“But we have to start holding them to their signature, and if it doesn’t legally hold up, then we did a poor job putting the contract together. I’m not implying everyone has this type of language with a buyout included.”

Josh Heupel and Tennessee are trying to move on from Nico Iamaleava divorce

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – OCTOBER 05: Head Coach Josh Heupel talks with Nico Iamaleava #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers on the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 19-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Do you think showing up once every two months for a Boys & Girls club appearance is enough? A majority of the time, these athletes show up for an hour, sign a few autographs and go on their way. Obviously, this is just one example, but I think you understand where I’m going here.

If the two sides agree to a deal, and one side doesn’t live up to their promises, it’s pretty easy to understand why these companies would go after potential future financial losses.

If a player decides after being on campus for a few months that they want to explore their options, after already being paid a decent amount of money, it’s not an easy pill for these NIL collectives to swallow.

NIL

NIL Deals Led To A Lot Of Business Opportunities For College Players, But Anthony Davis Says ‘It Takes Away From The Integrity’

Anthony Davis has mixed feelings about NIL deals. What Is NIL? In June 2021, NCAA college athletes were given the opportunity to benefit financially from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time. This change came after governance bodies across all three NCAA divisions suspended NIL restrictions for current and incoming student-athletes in […]

Published

23 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Anthony Davis has mixed feelings about NIL deals.

What Is NIL?

In June 2021, NCAA college athletes were given the opportunity to benefit financially from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time. This change came after governance bodies across all three NCAA divisions suspended NIL restrictions for current and incoming student-athletes in all sports, according to the NCAA.

However, it was clarified that despite the changes to the NIL landscape, “pay-for-play” arrangements and improper inducements would still not be permitted.

“This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said at the time, per the NCAA. “With the variety of state laws adopted across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity on a national level. The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve.”

Anthony Davis’ Concerns Around NIL Deals Explained

The NCAA’s point about clarity was also recently flagged by Davis, a current Dallas Mavericks forward who believes NIL deals have impacted the sport in ways that are not all positive.

“It’s tough, because obviously they didn’t have that when I was in college,” Davis told Sports Illustrated. “It kinda takes away from the game a little bit because of—and I’m not hating—it takes away from the integrity in the sense of players are only going to certain schools because of the money.”

Recently PJ Haggerty transferred to Kansas State University after playing for the University of Memphis and withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft. He will now be receiving an NIL deal valued at $2.5 million, securing a $2 million base salary and $500,000 in performance incentives, notes Athlon Sports. Haggerty was reportedly seeking at least $4 million in NIL deals for the 2025–26 season after entering the transfer portal in April and was looking to play point guard rather than shooting guard, per Commercial Appeal.

This move led University of Memphis Head Coach Penny Hardaway to rebuild the team’s roster signing 12 new players. This reinforces additional concerns Davis had about NIL deals and their influence over the transfer portal, whether intentional or not.

“College basketball is still competitive, but the recruitment of it has kinda gotten a little wacky, especially when player can leave and enter the (transfer) portal and go anywhere. It just gets a little tricky,” Davis said, according to Sports Illustrated. “The coaches either a) have to be more strategic with their recruiting, or b) if you don’t have a lot of money for NIL, that kind of takes away your school, your program, as far as being a top recruiter for some of these players.”

He added, “Because one guy can leave the next year, transfer—it gets tough, when you start talking about culture. That kind of goes out the window, in my opinion.”

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NIL

Inside the Program: Players To Return as Texas Football Awaits Key Decisions from SEC and Courts

The decisions of the conferences and ongoing legal battles could redefine College Football’s trajectory. With high stakes on and off the field, the future of college football’s most iconic teams hangs in the balance. [Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!] Shop Academy Sports + Outdoors for top brands and […]

Published

26 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!]

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Joe and Eric go over the latest happenings from SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla. The future of the College Football Playoff, the structure of NIL and the House settlement, and other aspects involved with Texas football like conference schedule were hot topics in Destin. A major thing Texas will have to contend with as it tries to remain competitive in the future is to figure out ways to get corporate sponsorships for “real” NIL to help players get paid above the revenue sharing number.

They then go over the nine-game schedule topic, which Texas wants to see. The future structure of the College Football Playoff will determine whether the league goes to nine games as it does not want to see extra competitive losses cost playoff spots like many in the league believe happened to Alabama in 2024.

They conclude with some of Sarkisian’s comments on linebacker made at Spring Meetings.

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Candace Parker Tag Teams With adidas To Mentor Female Student

It’s Time To Celebrate As AfroTech previously told you, adidas pledged to welcome 50,000 student-athletes to join its network and become paid affiliates. Now, the vision is becoming a reality because adidas has signed its first group of 15 student-athletes, which includes Izzy Redmond, Erin Moss, Jameese Joseph, among others. The announcement was made during […]

Published

41 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Candace Parker Tag Teams With adidas To Mentor Female Student

It’s Time To Celebrate

As AfroTech previously told you, adidas pledged to welcome 50,000 student-athletes to join its network and become paid affiliates. Now, the vision is becoming a reality because adidas has signed its first group of 15 student-athletes, which includes Izzy Redmond, Erin Moss, Jameese Joseph, among others.

The announcement was made during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

“As a leading global sports brand, we’re focused on creating long-term equity in sport. That means both investing in the next generation of athletes today and also supporting them in the future,” said Rupert Campbell, president of adidas North America, in a statement. “We welcome this group of powerful student-athletes to the adidas family and look forward to working alongside them to define what is possible for the future of sport.”

The athletes will enter into name, image, and likeness (NIL) endorsement agreements with adidas that will include brand marketing campaigns highlighting their latest apparel and footwear.

“This is just above and beyond what I even thought. Joining adidas means so much. I mean, it’s a global brand that reaches so many people, and the fact that we’re here for Title IX just shows that they have these amazing standards that I am so honored to represent here,” said Moss, who is a volleyball player and honor roll student at Georgia Tech, according to a press release. “I feel like this is the right fit for me, and I can’t wait for the future with adidas.”

Mentorship From Candace Parker

As adidas aims to set a new precedence for NIL opportunities, the company will utilize the momentum to launch equality initiatives for greater representation and opportunity in sports.

adidas is working alongside Candace Parker to mentor the new collegiate-athlete signees and help them navigate the new terrains of NIL deals.

“I have the incredible opportunity to pay it forward with the next generation of athletes,” said Candace Parker in a press release. “I am so happy to be partnered with adidas who is aligned with my commitment to developing this mentorship program which will set these extraordinary student-athletes up for greatness in sport and life.”

NIL

Adidas Signs NIL Deals With Eight High School Basketball Recruits

According to On3’s Nick Schultz, eight athletes with locations ranging from Arizona, California, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Washington have signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with sporting goods giant Adidas which are set to take affect during the next high school basketball season. The eight athletes now on board are rising junior guard […]

Published

53 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The eight athletes now on board are rising junior guard Kaleena Smith from Ontario Christian High School and rising senior Adam Oumiddoch from Overtime Elite, who have already signed their agreements with Adidas.

Top 2026 boys basketball recruits such as Grayson (Georgia) five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt, Overtime Elite five-star point guard Tay Kinney, and five-star small forward Anthony Thompson are on board. On the girls’ side, five-star power forward Oliviyah Edwards and five-star shooting guard Kate Harpring have also signed their NIL agreements with Adidas. Five-star rising junior guard Bruce Branch III, out of Perry High School in Arizona has also agreed to the deal.

The new crew of athletes are part of Adidas’ plan to support young athletes with resources, opportunities and a platform to reach their full potential. Additionally, the company is further investing in the NIL space after making multiple splashes last year.

Holt, is rated as the No. 5 ranked player in the nation, the No. 2 shooting guard, and the No. 1 overall ranked player in the state of Georgia for the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports. Holt has had heavy interest from Houston and Kentucky as well as already taken an official visit to Ole Miss.

Thompson, is rated as the No. 11 ranked player in the nation, the No. 3 small forward, and the No. 1 overall ranked player in the state of Ohio for the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports. Thompson is currently hearing from Auburn, BYU, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, and several others.

Branch, is rated as the No. 10 ranked player in the nation, the No. 5 small forward, and the No. 2 overall ranked player in the state of Arizona for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. He is currently holding offers from Arizona State, California, Fresno State, Houston, Indiana, Kansas State, Louisville, and several others.

Kinney, is rated as the No. 16 ranked player in the nation, the No. 4 point guard, and the No. 2 overall ranked player in the state of Georgia for the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports. Kinney is hearing from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisville, Oregon, Purdue, and several others.

Harpring, is rated as the No. 2 ranked player in the nation, the No. 1 point guard, and the No. 1 overall ranked player in the state of Georgia for the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports. She currently holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, LSU, and several others.

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Former Journal Star player of the year among nine Bradley baseball transfers

AI-assisted summaryEaston Harris, Beau Durbin, and Travis Lutz are among nine Bradley baseball players to enter the transfer portal.The players cited the retirement of longtime coach Elvis Dominguez as the reason for their departure.Other transfers include all-MVC second-team outfielder Bobby Atkinson and several pitchers.Two-time Journal Star baseball player of the year Easton Harris has entered […]

Published

57 minutes ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Former Journal Star player of the year among nine Bradley baseball transfers

The Washington product along with Peoria-area players Beau Durbin (Morton, infielder) and Travis Lutz (Limestone, pitcher) are among at least nine BU players having put their names in transfer portal over the last eight days.

Several of these players cited on social media the coaching change as the reason. Longtime Braves head coach Elvis Dominguez announced his retirement last Friday.

Harris, a right-handed pitcher, didn’t make any appearances during the 2025 campaign as he was still recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery. His remaining eligibility includes two years and a potential third season. He made three appearances in 2024, pitching 4.1 innings with three strikeouts, two walks and a 6.23 ERA.

Durbin, who has a year of eligibility remaining, is a two-year starter from Illinois Central College, having hit .264 on 47 hits with 11 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 26 RBIs. He scored 30 runs, walked 27 times and stole 11 bases, while posting a .951 fielding percentage.

Lutz made eight appearances over 41.1 innings this past season. The senior, who has a year of eligibility left, went 1-7, struck out 45, walked 30 and recorded an 8.27 ERA. He’s also an ICC transfer.

Also in the portal is senior outfielder Bobby Atkinson, an all-Missouri Valley Conference second-team selection. He batted a team-best .332 on 61 hits with 19 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 42 RBIs. The Coastal Carolina transfer also scored 45 runs, was walked 32 times and stole a pair of bases.

Other transfers include Jackson Horras (junior, RHP), Jake Pemble (junior, LHP), Isaac Sobieszczyk (sophomore, infielder), Brayden Marks (junior, RHP) and Reece Clapp (junior, RHP).

Bradley finished the 2025 season at 16-35 overall and 12-15 in MVC play. The Braves made the MVC tournament as the No. 7 seed, losing their first-round game 11-7 to sixth-seed Belmont.

Dominguez spent 17 seasons with the Braves, retiring as the program’s second winningest coach (364 victories) and leading BU to the 2015 NCAA tournament as an at-large bid.

NIL

Kirby Smart details major NIL issue impacting pursuit of National Championship

The NIL era has changed college football forever. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up for debate, but in reality there are both positives and negatives from NIL taking over college football. Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart recently spoke with the media, and he detailed one reason why he thinks NIL is […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NIL era has changed college football forever. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up for debate, but in reality there are both positives and negatives from NIL taking over college football.

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart recently spoke with the media, and he detailed one reason why he thinks NIL is a bad thing for college football.

“You could end up with some haves and have-nots out there and ultimately a team could drive prices and go buy a championship, like you’re talking about with super teams,” Smart shared via ugawire.usatoday.com.

Kirby Smart believes teams will buy championships with NIL

One of the best things about the “old” version of college football, the version before hundreds of players transferred every offseason chasing better NIL deals, was being able to watch players grow up within one program. Watching a true freshman come in and struggle during their first season before ultimately becoming one of the best players on the team as an upperclassmen was always a joy to watch.

But that happens less and less now in today’s college football world, and NIL is to blame. This is what Smart is describing in the above quote as he detailed how there are programs who have a lot of NIL money and programs that do not. So it’s quite obvious that the teams with a lot of money are going to do much better than the teams who do not.

Georgia is one of the programs that has a lot of money, but that isn’t really what bothers Smart. The thing that Smart is afraid of is a program going out and buying a championship. Instead of developing their own players, Smart thinks a school will just go out and buy all the best players across the country and win a championship that way.

Sure that will still count as a championship just as much as any other title, but it does feel a little less impressive. So hopefully changes will come to how NIL is structure so teams are unable to buy championships and have to resort to developing their own recruits like the good ole days.

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