NIL

Boston College's Apparel Deal With New Balance Celebrates Significant Moment

Published

7 months ago

June 19, 2025

Boston College's Apparel Deal With New Balance Celebrates Significant Moment

KC Smurthwaite is a consultant for Athletics Admin, specializing in revenue generation, licensing, marketing, and higher education. He has almost two decades of experience in collegiate athletics and the sports and entertainment industry. Smurthwaite is a fractional employee of several athletic departments across the country. He also teaches sports management and journalism as an adjunct professor. Follow him on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn. Smurthwaite can also be reached at [email protected].

In a world of swooshes, stripes, and shrinking commitments, New Balance is quietly — but confidently — rewriting the playbook. That playbook is expanding quickly, too.

On June 18, the Boston-based brand celebrated a significant moment in its evolution with a football re-launch party in its hometown. At the center of it all: Boston College. The Eagles’ new uniforms made their public debut, but what’s more symbolic is what they represent — a full-circle expansion of the New Balance and Boston College partnership that started in 2021 and now officially includes football.

Via the official press release from earlier this month: “Boston College is thrilled to grow in its relationship with New Balance,” said Blake James, the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics. “Since 2021, BC has been proud to align with New Balance — a Boston-based company that is a premium, world-class athletic brand. Serving as their flagship school in the collegiate athletics space, New Balance has demonstrated their commitment to Boston College by providing significant resources and the highest quality product lines to all of our teams and student-athletes. Our local connection to New Balance’s global brand serves to strengthen the foundation of this relationship.”

With the addition of football beginning in the 2025 season, New Balance will outfit all 31 of BC’s varsity programs, making this the brand’s first full Power Conference department-wide deal. It also signals a new chapter in college athletics for a company that never really left … it just waited for the right moment.

“New Balance launched Team Sports 20 years ago,” said Mike Schenbeck, Senior Sales Manager at New Balance. “We’ve had collegiate affiliations with a multitude of institutions through the years. In the D1 space, we’ve had two Sweet 16 men’s basketball programs, several bowl game appearances, and a national championship in baseball. Maine has been our longest-standing partner for 12 years. BC is our first major conference all-school deal, with football now on board.”

While the brand’s public presence in the college space may have seemed quiet compared to its industry giants, it was never dormant. Strategic, deliberate, and values-driven — that’s how New Balance operates. They don’t just sign schools; they have been very strategic, per Schenbeck, who takes on a large role in relationship building with colleges and universities.

“We look for true partners, not just sponsorships,” Schenbeck added. “The schools we partner with need to align with our values — they become an extension of our brand. We white glove treat each program and develop deep relationships with administrators and equipment staffs.”

It’s that “boutique” approach, as they call it, that defines the New Balance difference.

If you’ve noticed a wave of rising athletes signing with New Balance, it’s no coincidence. From Shohei Ohtani to Tyrese Maxey, Coco Gauff to Marvin Harrison Jr., the company has rapidly expanded its athlete portfolio — but only with those who share the brand’s ethos.

“We don’t just look at who they are on the field, court, or track, but who they are as people,” Schenbeck explained. “Chris Davis and the Sports Marketing team have done an incredible job of identifying athletes who match our culture. It takes a special kind of athlete to be with New Balance.”

That same care is applied when entering new sports categories. The relaunch into American football was anything but rushed.

“Our entry into football was a four-year process,” Schenbeck said. “We’ve always focused on comfort and fit, and football is no different. Our wear-test program spans dozens of collegiate and high school partners. BC has been at the center of this, helping test everything from footwear to uniforms and practice gear.”

Over the past decade, the college athletics apparel market has undergone significant changes. Gone are the days of brands handing out oversized checks or massive promotional credit lines. Nike dominates professional sports and has gradually pulled back from college commitments. Adidas and Under Armour have both been restructured. Many schools are finding their so-called “cash deals” are more air quotes than actual dollars.

Enter New Balance

With major players stepping back, New Balance is stepping in — and they’re doing so with intention.

“We are committed to a brand-first approach,” Schenbeck said. “We want to be the best, not the biggest. But that means offering real value — not just a logo on a jersey, but a true partnership.”

It’s why schools across the country — especially those looking for more than just a standard vendor — may want to take a second look when their next apparel deal comes up.

“Mr. Davis told us 20 years ago when he started the team division that he built New Balance on consistent quality growth and working with people you enjoy,” Schenbeck said. “We operate daily with that as our focus. At the end of the day… we’re proud to do things the NB way.”

As Boston College takes the field in 2025 dressed head-to-toe in New Balance, it may mark a turning point. For the brand. For the school. And maybe for the industry.

Because in a space dominated by legacy labels, New Balance just might be the challenger brand collegiate athletics has been waiting for. So all in, your school might become the next member of the New Balance family.

NIL

IU football picks up commitment from Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman – The Daily Hoosier

Published

6 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman is headed to Indiana according to multiple Sunday reports.

The 6-foot-1 and 212-pound Zachman will be entering his seventh and final season of college football in 2026.

He has played in 35 career games (20 starts, nearly 1,500 snaps), all with Wisconsin, and has 130 tackles and seven interceptions.

Zachman will help fill the void to be left by starters Louis Moore and Devan Boykin.

In 2025 Zachman played in three games and had 12 tackles and two interceptions. He missed the final nine games of 2025 due to a leg injury. Both of the takeaways came in the second half of the season opener against Miami (Ohio). Zachman was named Big Ten defensive player of the week.

Zachman is seeking a medical hardship waiver to play the seventh season in 2026. After only playing three games, he should qualify.

In 2024 he started all 12 games at safety for the Badgers and made a career-high 58 tackles (39 solos), two interceptions, three TFLs and four pass breakups.

In 2023 Zachman played in all 13 games, making five starts. He totaled 49 tackles and two interceptions.

In 2022 Zachman played in six games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. He had 11 tackles and 0.5 TFLs, and grabbed his first career interception in the season opener vs. Illinois State.

In the 2020 season that did not count against eligibility, Zachman played one game. He didn’t play at all in 2021 and took a redshirt season.

Out of Southern Columbia H.S. in Elysburg, Pa., Zachman was a three-star high school recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals in the class of 2020.

More transfer portal information:

For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

Link

NIL

Under Armour announces first ‘Click-Clack’ class of NIL deals

Published

60 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Following this weekend’s Under Armour All-America Game, the brand announced its first “Click Clack” NIL class. Under Armour signed six highly rated recruits to NIL deals.

Notre Dame safety signee Joey O’Brien, BYU quarterback signee Ryder Lyons, Maryland EDGE signee Zion Elee and Alabama safety signee Jireh Edwards are all part of the group, Under Armour announced Sunday. Two touted 2027 recruits – Texas wide receiver commit Easton Royal and four-star wide receiver Eric McFarland – are also on board.

SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter

All six players competed in the Under Armour All-America Game on Saturday. O’Brien and Royal were two of Rivals’ top performers in the game, which took place at Spec Martin Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

“I think you hear us coming,” Under Armour wrote in its Instagram post. “Meet the inaugural Click-Clack Class — Under Armour’s first NIL squad.”

Under Armour capitalizing on star power

Ryder Lyons previously announced an NIL deal with Under Armour in September 2025 after committing to BYU. The four-star quarterback signed with BYU, but will embark on a one-year mission and will not enroll at school until the following January. He is the No. 5-ranked quarterback from the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

As a whole, Under Armour’s Click-Clack NIL class features four of the top 50 players in the nation out of the 2026 cycle. With Easton Royal and Eric McFarland, the brand also has two of the top 25 prospects in 2027.

The group includes some of the highest-profile high school football players, as well. Zion Elee’s $687,000 On3 NIL Valuation is the highest of the group and ranks No. 11 in the high school football NIL rankings. Lyons also sits at No. 13 with a $656,000 On3 NIL Valuation.

The On3 NIL Valuation is calculated by combining Roster Value and personal NIL. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. NIL in an athlete’s name, image and likeness and the value it could bring to regional and national brands.

Link

NIL

The NCAA further fails high schoolers with G League Rulings

Published

2 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Link

NIL

Player of the Year Star QB Bolts College Football Playoff Team for Big 12

Published

3 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Getty

The college football transfer portal is heating up with a wave of early moves.

One star quarterback from the College Football Playoff has already found a new home after entering the transfer portal. As the final four teams battle for the national championship, the rest of the country is focused on the college football transfer portal.

Fresh off a career season, former James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett entered the portal and found a new team in a matter of days. Barnett is headed to the Big 12 announcing his decision to join UCF where the dual-threat signal-caller is the early favorite to be the Knights starter. The quarterback is expected to replace Tayven Jackson.

Barnett threw for 2,806 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 58.4% of his passes in 14 appearances for JMU in 2025. The quarterback also added 589 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground as well.

Beyond impressive stats, Barnett led James Madison to a Sun Belt championship as JMU crashed the College Football Playoff party. Barnett was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2025.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest college football news.

New UCF QB Alonza Barnett Is Projected to Have a $321,000 NIL Value

NIL deals are not made public, but Barnett’s value is projected at $321,000, per On3. During Scott Frost’s first season in his second stint at UCF, the Knights struggled with volatility at quarterback. After transferring from Indiana, Jackson failed to provide consistent play at the position in 2025.

“Quarterback is no different than other positions,” Frost said on December 10, 2025, per On3’s Brandon Helwig. “In a perfect world, we’re developing them all in-house. We didn’t have the opportunity to do that much last year because I got here after Signing Day. So this is really our first step in trying to recruit some building blocks at several positions, quarterback certainly being one.

“If you were experiencing this every day and seeing the drama and the price tags that go along with transfer quarterbacks, it’d certainly benefit us to have a homegrown one. I love the two guys that we got. We’re going to pour into them and try to build somebody that we can keep for a while.”

Transfer Portal Rumors: Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt & Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby Among the Top QBs Searching for New Teams

Amid star quarterbacks like Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Cincinnati Brendan Sorsby in the portal generating buzz, Barnett has flown a bit under the radar. Barnett gives UCF a dynamic dual-threat quarterback that Frost covets in addition to having College Football Playoff experience, even if James Madison’s CFP game against Oregon did not go as planned.

The quarterback may not have consistently played elite competition at James Madison, but the signal-caller performed well against the best team’s on JMU’s schedule. Barnett threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon in the College Football Playoff. The dual-threat quarterback also added 45 rushing yards and TD on the ground.

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports contributor covering the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams

Link

NIL

Notre Dame’s Joey O’Brien Joins Under Armour’s First NIL Squad

Published

4 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Notre Dame safety signee Joey O’Brien is one of six members of Under Armour’s first NIL squad, the athletic apparel brand announced on Instagram on Sunday.

O’Brien represents one of four players in the incoming Fighting Irish class who earned five-star status, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound defensive back will arrive in South Bend, Ind., as the No. 31 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the country.

Last fall, he suited up for La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, Penn., where he dominated on both sides of the ball. He had snagged 86 receptions for 1,247 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.

On defense, O’Brien had registered 49 tackles (1.0 for a loss), four interceptions, including a 94-yard pick-six, 11 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Additionally, he blocked a punt on special teams.

“We’ve continued to add size at the defensive back position,” Notre Dame general manager Mike Martin said about the position group. “We talked about some [like] Joey O’Brien’s just long, rangy, unique ability to sort of get his hands on the ball and take the ball away…

“Not to backtrack, but Joey O’Brien [played] receiver and setting records on the offensive side. I think [he] recently broke Marvin Harrison’s receiving record, something crazy like that.”

Notre Dame has had its own partnership with UA since 2014, which will continue at least until the 2030s. The University finalized a 10-year contract extension with the brand in August 2023.

“10 more years of partnering with the Fighting Irish and supporting student-athletes both on AND off the field,” Under Armour wrote on social media at the time.

O’Brien isn’t the only Fighting Irish football player whose had his own apparel deal.

In 2025, Notre Dame Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love signed a deal with New Balance. Recently, Jordan Faison, Kyle Hamilton, Michael Mayer, Audric Estimè, Benjamin Morrison and Riley Leonard have all inked contracts with Rhoback.

UA signed five other players to its first NIL squad:

Ryder Lyons, BYU QB Signee

Zion Lee, Maryland EDGE Signee

Jireh Edwards, Alabama S Signee

Easton Royal, 2027 Texas Tech WR Commit

Eric McFarland, 2027 Four-Star WR Prospect

Link

NIL

Nebraska predicted to land defensive player from transfer portal

Published

5 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Former San Diego State linebacker Owen Chambliss visited Nebraska on Saturday and it sounds like that could be the only trip he takes.

I mentioned on Friday that there was a good chance Chambliss would be one and done and could commit to the Huskers shortly after his visit.

I continue to hear that’s the case and went ahead and put in a commit prediction for Nebraska to land the talented linebacker. Texas is one school to watch for but in talking to a source close to his recruitment, a commitment to the Huskers is now imminent.

Chambliss is one of the top linebackers available in the transfer portal. He’s currently rated the No. 130 player overall and the No. 6 linebacker in the transfer portal rating.

Chambliss is coming off a big year for the Aztecs where he totaled 109 tackles, 10 for loss, four sacks, one interception and five passes defended.

He has developed in to the, ‘jack of all trades,’ kind of player we saw in high school where he routinely lined up as an edge rusher, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and safety and was recruited all three positions.

Chambliss has his former defensive coordinator from San Diego State, Rob Aurich, now at Nebraska and thats huge for him.

He has a strong comfort level with Aurich, knows the defense and feels he’s the coach who can continue to develop him and get him to the NFL.

Link