NIL
Brent Blum Named Director of NIL Development for Cyclone Sports Properties
Jake Lovell and MaryKate Walling set to join Learfield Impact NIL team at CSP AMES, Iowa – Learfield’s Cyclone Sports Properties, in partnership with Iowa State Athletics and Learfield Impact, Learfield’s industry-leading Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) service combining the power of expert people, award-winning content, and innovative technology, has announced the appointment of Brent […]


Jake Lovell and MaryKate Walling set to join Learfield Impact NIL team at CSP
AMES, Iowa – Learfield’s Cyclone Sports Properties, in partnership with Iowa State Athletics and Learfield Impact, Learfield’s industry-leading Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) service combining the power of expert people, award-winning content, and innovative technology, has announced the appointment of Brent Blum as the new Director of NIL Development, Jake Lovell as NIL Partnerships and Operations Coordinator and MaryKate Walling as NIL Content Producer.
“We are excited to launch this innovative initiative with Learfield as we navigate this new world intercollegiate athletics enters starting July 1,” ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “We believe that these positions are a continued evolution of our long-standing partnership and allow us to create additional opportunities through existing and new corporate partners.”
Learfield Impact integrates the addition of these three on-campus NIL leadership positions, innovative technology in the form of Learfield’s Compass NIL dealmaking platform, and the Emmy Award-winning Learfield Studios content team into an unmatched full-service NIL offering. This powerful combination seamlessly generates authentic dealmaking and creates opportunities for influential storytelling content between student-athletes and brand partners.
In this newly created role, Blum will help oversee the university’s evolving NIL strategy, working closely with student-athletes, coaches and donors, as well as the Iowa State Foundation and corporate partners to build innovative and sustainable support. His work will focus on aligning the athletic department’s NIL vision with national best practices while staying true to the culture and values of Iowa State.
Blum currently serves as Executive Director of the We Will Collective, where he has helped raise over $12 million in support of Iowa State student-athletes, backed by contributions from more than 10,000 individual donors and area businesses.
“Cyclone Nation’s involvement is as important as ever as we tackle this transition in college athletics,” Blum said. “This next chapter gives us the opportunity to build a more unified and long-term NIL infrastructure for Iowa State. In the short term, continued support of We Will is vital as we move forward.”
Lovell, who has been a member of the CSP staff for three years, will assist Blum in fulfilling NIL sponsorships and Walling, who received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Iowa State while working as a content producer for the Cyclone Football program, will produce NIL-related content for CSP sponsors.
With the House settlement approved by Judge Claudia Wilken earlier this month, the Iowa State Athletics Department will now provide direct financial support to Cyclone student-athletes on top of the world-class education and other benefits that they currently receive. Nearly every Cyclone student-athlete will receive a financial payment from the University for their NIL rights beginning on July 1.
Iowa State Athletics will provide the maximum revenue-sharing amount allowed, currently projected to be $20.5M for the 2025-26 fiscal year, by the House settlement to its student-athletes. The We Will Collective will begin transitioning its members to the We Will Fund that will be housed within the ISU Foundation next month. Contributions to the We Will Fund will allow donors to invest in the support of student-athletes while helping ISU ensure future success of its championship-caliber programs.
“The Iowa State fan base has long-been recognized as one of the nation’s most-loyal, and their continued generous support of the We Will Fund will be critical as we move into college athletics’ new era,” Pollard said. “We are grateful for all of our fans who have contributed to the We Will Collective over the last few years and it is our sincere hope they continue that support as we transition to the We Will Fund to ensure that our programs are positioned for greater success in this new era.”
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
NIL
Nick Saban stresses importance of keeping non-revenue sports after President Donald Trump’s executive order
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the intent of ending third-party, pay-for-play payments in college athletics. In the middle of all that, though, Nick Saban wants to ensure the protection of other collegiate sports outside of football and men’s basketball. In an appearance on FOX News on Friday, Saban stressed the […]

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the intent of ending third-party, pay-for-play payments in college athletics. In the middle of all that, though, Nick Saban wants to ensure the protection of other collegiate sports outside of football and men’s basketball.
In an appearance on FOX News on Friday, Saban stressed the need to take care of the non-revenue sports. That’s because of what the profits made in football and men’s basketball have meant to the other sports outside of those two for many years now.
“Well, I think that, you know, I’m for keeping all the sports that we have, as many that we can have. But, you know, there are financial concerns relative to how many sports can you promote that don’t create revenue?” Saban said. “I think one of the things that people need to understand about college sports – they say it’s a business, but it’s really not a business. It’s revenue-producing and two sports have created the revenue to have 20 other sports, and I think that’s why it’s important that we have a system in place.
“And I think, you know, President Trump has made the first step toward that. I think, you know, the SCORE Act in Congress right now would be another step in that direction, would protect the opportunities that we’ve been able to provide for male and female, non-revenue sports because I think it’s everybody’s goal to keep all those opportunities intact.”
Again, of everything to factor into what name, image, and likeness and revenue sharing looks live moving forward, this aspect is of note. That’s with football and men’s basketball making all of the profits as compared to every other sport around college athletics.
Saban reacts to Trump’s executive order relating to college sports
When President Donald Trump initially expressed concern about the current state of collegiate athletics back in May, he turned to Nick Saban for advice, as, after meeting in Tuscaloosa, Trump tabbed the legendary former coach as a co-chair on a yet-to-be-realized presidential commission on college sports. And, while Trump’s proposed presidential commission never went beyond those initial discussion phases, Saban’s input helped create the framework of what would become Trump’s recent executive order, titled “President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports,” which the White House announced Thursday.
A day later, Saban praised the president’s executive order. He called it “a huge step” toward moving college athletics back to an “educational model” after the House v. NCAA settlement effectively ended the NCAA’s “amateur” model and ushered in revenue-sharing with student-athletes beginning July 1st.
“I think President Trump’s executive order is a huge step in providing the educational model which is what we’ve always sort of tried to promote to create opportunities for players, male and female alike, revenue and non-revenue, so they can have development as people, students and develop careers or develop professionally if that’s what they choose to do,” Saban said during a Friday morning appearance on FOX’s Fox and Friends. “I think we need to make a decision here relative to do we want to have an education-based model, which I think the President made a huge step toward that, or do we want to have universities sponsor professional teams. And I think most people would choose the former.”
The “Save College Sports” executive order delivers on multiple agenda items the NCAA and Power Four administrators have lobbied Congress for in recent months. That includes directing key members of his administration — specifically his secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services and the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission — to develop a plan to provide antitrust protections for the NCAA and its conferences so it can properly create and enforce rules governing the future of collegiate athletics.
An executive order streamlines some of the top items on the NCAA’s wishlist. The order “requires the preservation and, where possible, expansion of opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.”
NIL
Report: ESPN sees ‘potential’ for Bill Belichick TV ratings to mirror Deion Sanders impact
In 2023, Deion Sanders brought Prime Time to Colorado. The Buffaloes were a ratings hit, making a near-weekly appearance in the Top 10 most-watched college football games. More Hall of Fame star power is coming to college football in 2025, this time in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is gearing up for his first season at […]

In 2023, Deion Sanders brought Prime Time to Colorado. The Buffaloes were a ratings hit, making a near-weekly appearance in the Top 10 most-watched college football games.
More Hall of Fame star power is coming to college football in 2025, this time in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is gearing up for his first season at North Carolina, bringing plenty of attention to the program along with him. That was apparent at ACC Media Days this week as crowds of reporters listened to what the six-time Super Bowl champion coach had to say.
ESPN is also in position to capitalize with eight – maybe 10 – UNC games on its networks, Front Office Sports reported. As for whether the company is expecting a Coach Prime-like surge, it certainly sees “potential.”
“We have to wait and see. The potential is there,” said Kurt Dargis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions, in an interview with FOS. “There’s definitely interest in him outside the typical college football fan.
“Deion was such a phenomenon. I still can’t believe some of the numbers we got that first year he was there. It’s too early to say.”
ESPN capitalizing early on Bill Belichick at UNC
ESPN’s main channel is set to air North Carolina’s opener against TCU, which will take place in primetime on Monday, Sept. 1 with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff. The network will also broadcast College Football Countdown from Chapel Hill, hosted by Matt Barrie. Analysts Tedy Bruschi, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban will also be in attendance, as will college football insider Pete Thamel.
North Carolina’s Week 2 matchup against Charlotte will be exclusively on ESPN+, and Week 3 against Richmond will be on ACC Network – owned by ESPN. Two other Tar Heels games have already been picked up by ESPN. North Carolina’s Oct. 17 game at Cal will be on ESPN with a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff, and ESPN will air the Oct. 31 matchup at Syracuse.
Of course, TCU was also the season opener for Sanders’ first season at Colorado in 2022. The Buffaloes wound up winning that game 45-42, thrusting the program into the national spotlight as Coach Prime and Co. took down a team fresh off a national championship berth.
Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes previously joked this year’s opener was “bad scheduling” given that recent history. However, at Big 12 Media Days, he told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg he thinks the program is better prepared to deal with such an anticipated matchup.
NIL
Why Hanna Cavinder Is More Than Just an Athlete
Hanna Cavinder turned her college basketball fame into a strong brand and business. With her twin sister Haley, she built a huge social media following and scored major NIL deals. Their TikTok has over 4.5 million followers and 150 million likes. Analysts say their influence rivals top male college stars. The Cavinder twins are now […]

Hanna Cavinder turned her college basketball fame into a strong brand and business. With her twin sister Haley, she built a huge social media following and scored major NIL deals. Their TikTok has over 4.5 million followers and 150 million likes. Analysts say their influence rivals top male college stars. The Cavinder twins are now big names among student-athletes and young business minds.
Hanna Cavinder’s huge online following led to brand deals (Nike, Under Armour), startup investments, and media gigs. Her smart branding shows how college athletes can use their platform for long-term success.
Social Media
Before NIL rules, Hanna and Haley Cavinder became TikTok stars. By March 2021, they had 2.7 million followers, posting dances and basketball clips from Fresno State. Their reach showed that follower count, not stats, could drive earnings. Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said their impact was nearly as big as Trevor Lawrence’s the NFL’s top draft pick that year.
Today, the Cavinders have a massive online following. Their shared TikTok (@cavindertwins) has over 4.5 million followers and 150 million likes. Their Instagram accounts shared and individual total nearly 2 million followers, per SBJ. These numbers rival celebrity influencers, not typical college athletes. Hanna’s team treats these channels as key brand assets. The twins post lifestyle, fitness, and travel content to grow their audience. This steady activity taught Hanna the value of her brand even before NIL rules began.
By July 2021, when NIL rules took effect, Hanna had already shown her market power. Experts said her TikTok presence alone could earn hundreds of thousands a year. Within two years, the Cavinders reported nearly $2 million from NIL and sponsorship deals. They prove daily that social media can turn into real income for athletes.
Branding and Business Ventures
Hanna’s brand play isn’t just about TikTok. She and Haley treat NIL deals like real business. They’ve signed long-term partnerships and taken equity in companies. In July 2024, they landed a three-year exclusive apparel and footwear deal with Under Armour the first for NCAA women’s basketball players. UA even taps them to test and help design new products, using their real fan connection.
The Cavinder twins promote their ventures in a real, relatable way. Their agent says they offer brands a mix of sport, fashion, and wellness influence. Hanna often repeats her dad’s advice: ‘It’s not a four-year plan, it’s a 40-year plan.’ She says NIL taught them to invest, diversify, and think long-term. They work with a trusted attorney and aim to build a lasting business far beyond the norm for college athletes.
Under Armour even ran a playful campaign with the twins, sharing ‘7 easy steps’ to build an NIL empire. The list included ‘be elite,’ ‘sign with Under Armour,’ and ‘star in a Dick’s campaign.’ It was tongue-in-cheek, but Hanna has done it all and more.
NIL Pioneer and Role Model
Hanna Cavinder has become a key voice for college athlete opportunity. She and Haley were among the first to sign an NIL deal partnering with Boost Mobile on July 1, 2021, in a Times Square ad. The deal, reportedly worth five figures each, made headlines and opened doors.
They’ve also pushed for policy change. Both spoke at a U.S. Senate NIL roundtable, backing fair, earned rights for student-athletes.
Their success changed how people view NIL. They started at Fresno State not a sports powerhouse yet out-earned many big-school stars. As one writer said, ‘The twins are proof that NIL benefits go beyond the biggest names in the biggest sports.
In 2024, they were profiled by Sports Business Journal and included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Sports a nod to their pioneering role in the NIL era and their business success off the court.
Building a Lasting Legacy
For student-athletes interested in entrepreneurship and branding, Hanna Cavinder’s journey offers several key takeaways:
1. Invest Early, Think Long-Term
Approach NIL as a long-term opportunity. Hanna treats every deal like an investment, focusing on equity, royalties, and sustainability.
2. Diversify Your Platform
Grow your brand across multiple platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) and use them to authentically support your ventures.
3. Be a Trailblazer
Don’t be afraid to try new things: sign major partnerships, appear in national campaigns, launch your own product lines.
4. Stay Authentic
Hanna’s relatable, humorous, and athletic brand connects with fans. Authenticity builds trust and trust builds influence.
5. Balance Sports and Business
Build a team to help you manage both athletics and business. Hanna has done this well, continuing her NCAA basketball career while growing a business empire.
Conclusion
Hanna Cavinder has become one of the most influential college athletes of the NIL era. Through strategic branding, smart investments, and relentless social media engagement, she has proven that athletic talent is only the beginning. Her story is not just about viral fame or flashy deals it’s about building a business, inspiring future athletes, and showing the world that college athletes can be CEOs in sneakers.
NIL
Dave Aranda draws parallel to ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ when discussing transfer portal
The question was about the negative side-effects of the transfer portal and NIL. The answer was… not about that. At least not at first. Three seconds in, when Baylor head coach Dave Aranda uttered the phrase “they’re throwing midgets,” you realize you’re in for a wild ride. Aranda has a cerebral personality, a deadpan delivery, […]

The question was about the negative side-effects of the transfer portal and NIL. The answer was… not about that. At least not at first.
Three seconds in, when Baylor head coach Dave Aranda uttered the phrase “they’re throwing midgets,” you realize you’re in for a wild ride. Aranda has a cerebral personality, a deadpan delivery, and a diverse set of interests. That means anything is viable to come out of his mouth at any time, and when it does he’ll deliver it with a straight face. Recall last year when he likened calling plays to being a fighter pilot trying to avoid being shot out of the sky.
Aranda was making a point on how too often in college football coaches will make players feel like a part of the proverbial family only to treat them like commodities it’s go time. To make that point, Aranda recalled the scene in The Wolf of Wall Street when Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and company are discussing hiring a little person to throw at a spinning wheel of money. But before they can do that, Hill points out, they must first make the performer feel like one of them.
Here’s how it sounded coming out of Aranda’s mouth.
Is that the best analogy to make that point? Probably not. But also yes, because you’re now going to be thinking about it all day.
NIL
UW football plans to use NIL to enhance community engagement
Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch made it clear at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas this week that his program has everything he needs to make the Huskies a contender on an annual basis. Fisch noted UW athletic director Pat Chun and Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer Erin O’Connell as two vital […]

Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch made it clear at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas this week that his program has everything he needs to make the Huskies a contender on an annual basis.
Fisch noted UW athletic director Pat Chun and Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer Erin O’Connell as two vital people with the university who have helped usher the football program from the old Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten, viewed as a driving force in the new world of college athletics.
This past offseason, Fisch utilized the resources provided by the duo to increase the size of his football staff, including hiring a dedicated special teams coordinator in Chris Petrilli and hiring several other coaches for new positions.
“We are competing at the highest level,” Fisch said. “Whether that be through staff size, staff compensation, staff retention, player development, player rosters, and player compensation.”
Fisch also affirmed the previous stance UW has taken with respect to Name, Image, and Likeness, with community engagement at the forefront.
Under its partnership with Montlake Futures, the football team has heavily partnered with local non-profit organizations, including Girl Scouts of America, American Heart Association, and others, with the aim of having a more authentic, organic relationship for the players as they enter a new compensation world that previously hadn’t existed.
NIL
Virginia Tech is reviewing claim that coach tried to lure NC Central player into transfer portal
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech is looking into an allegation by North Carolina Central’s coach that a Hokies assistant improperly tried to lure running back J’Mari Taylor into the transfer portal last season. Virginia Tech released a statement on Saturday saying it was made aware of the allegation a day earlier. ESPN reported that […]


BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech is looking into an allegation by North Carolina Central’s coach that a Hokies assistant improperly tried to lure running back J’Mari Taylor into the transfer portal last season.
Virginia Tech released a statement on Saturday saying it was made aware of the allegation a day earlier.
ESPN reported that the allegation surfaced when N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver was asked Friday what was the most ridiculous moment he has faced in coaching. Oliver responded that he discovered a Virginia Tech assistant coach on the sideline for one of the Eagles’ games in 2024 and said that assistant was trying to contact his running back. Taylor, a star RB, eventually transferred to Virginia.
WRAL News reported that Oliver told reporters: “Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back. That was pretty bold. I couldn’t believe it.”
Oliver said he was told the Virginia Tech assistant was “just down here visiting.” Added Oliver: “But I knew what it was.”
In its statement provided to The Associated Press, Virginia Tech said: “We were made aware Friday afternoon of a public comment suggesting a potential NCAA rules concern involving a member of our coaching staff. This is the first time the issue has been brought to our attention, and no concern has previously been shared with us through any formal channel.
“Virginia Tech takes all NCAA rules seriously and is committed to conducting our program with integrity. We are reviewing the matter internally and will address any findings appropriately.”
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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