NIL
Ex-Georgia Guard Kenny Gaines Discusses NIL’s Harsh Reality, Despite Massive Paydays
College sports have changed a lot in the last few years. Now, athletes can earn money from their NIL. Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball player Kenny Gaines recently talked about how this new system is not as simple as it seems. While some players make a lot of money, others face tough choices and new challenges. […]

College sports have changed a lot in the last few years. Now, athletes can earn money from their NIL. Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball player Kenny Gaines recently talked about how this new system is not as simple as it seems.
While some players make a lot of money, others face tough choices and new challenges. Understanding these changes helps us see how college sports are different today and why it matters for players, coaches, and fans.

Ex-Georgia Hooper Kenny Gaines Shares Experiences With NIL Changes
Kenny Gaines, who played for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2012-2016, spoke about the big changes in college sports on the “Dawg Talk” podcast. He was joined by former teammates Marcus Thornton, J Mac, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and NBA player Jabari Smith Jr.
They talked about how college athletes now must think about making money and building their personal brand, not just playing basketball. Gaines said a coach once told him that today’s NIL world is much different from what it was just a few years ago.
Smith, who started college right when NIL rules changed, said, “You missed the NIL era. Mine was the first year of it, but it wasn’t nowhere [sic] near like this.” Smith explained that when he played, he had a car deal, but the deals now are much bigger and more common.
Smith also pointed out that players need to be good if they want to make money. “If you’re not good, you’re not making no [sic] money,” he said. This means that how well you play and how popular you are both matter a lot now.
Thornton added that players today expect to get six-figure deals even before they prove themselves. “Three hundred thousand is like low. That’s what they asking for… and that’s the water boy.”
This shows how much money some college athletes can get now, even if they are not the top stars. According to ESPN, some top college basketball teams spend over $10 million on NIL deals for their players. Some athletes have earned more than $1 million in a single year, especially at big schools.
During the podcast, the group talked about how some coaches struggle to get their players to promote products. One assistant coach told Gaines she could not get her players to do ads because “they’re getting 300 out the gate.” Gaines was surprised by this, saying, “I was like, say listen, I won’t be here.”
Thornton also said, “An eight-point per game player is getting almost a million dollars in college basketball right now.” While not every player earns that much, it is true that NIL deals have grown quickly, and some players who are not superstars can still get big paydays.
RELATED: How EA Sports College Football 2025 Paved the Way for a New College Basketball Game
For Gaines, these changes were hard to believe. He felt that the loyalty and hard work that used to be important in college basketball have been replaced by players looking for the best money.
“Dude, you my age… but still went to the transfer portal. Who got the bag? That’s what it is,” he said. Many players now choose schools that offer the most money, not just the best fit for them.
Since 2021, when the NCAA allowed NIL deals, the number of players transferring to new schools has gone up a lot. In 2025, more than 2,000 men’s college basketball players entered the transfer portal, which is about 35 percent of all Division I players. Many of them are looking for better deals and more chances to play.
The NIL policy was meant to help student-athletes, but it has also made college sports more competitive and focused on money. For former players like Gaines, the game looks very different now. Players, coaches, and fans all have to adjust to this new world, where talent, popularity, and business are all connected.
NIL
Pair of Georgia stars unite for new NIL deal before 2025 college football season
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and tight end Lawson Luckie are teaming up off the field in a new NIL partnership before the 2025 college football season. The Associated Credit Union – a member-owned financial institution in the state of Georgia – revealed its new partnership with Stockton and Luckie on Monday, according to DawgNation. Stockton […]

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and tight end Lawson Luckie are teaming up off the field in a new NIL partnership before the 2025 college football season.
The Associated Credit Union – a member-owned financial institution in the state of Georgia – revealed its new partnership with Stockton and Luckie on Monday, according to DawgNation.
Stockton enters his redshirt junior campaign as a first-year starter after backing up Carson Beck, who transferred to Miami in the offseason. The former four-star out of Tiger, Georgia, helped lead the Bulldogs to a comeback win over Texas in the SEC championship before making his first start against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
Luckie also has a significant season ahead, as the third-year tight end has worked himself into a starter alongside senior Oscar Delp.
Luckie, out of Norcross Georgia, posted career highs in receptions (24), receiving yards (348) and touchdowns (3) as a sophomore last season.
Stockton holds an On3 NIL valuation of $823,000 while Luckie sits at $318,000.
The ACU partnered with former Georgia All-American safety Malaki Starks last season before he was taken by the Baltimore Ravens the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, it’s Stockton and Luckie who will help the institution “engage with younger audiences in a way that feels genuine, aspirational and rooted in shared values.”
ACU is also “exploring ideas” for the pair of Georgia standouts to give back to their communities with football clinics alongside local schools, mentorship-focused events and youth engagement activities, according to the report.
Stockton, Luckie and the Bulldogs will open the 2025 season at home against Marshall on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
NIL
Former North Meck basketball standout hosts youth basketball camp in Concord
Isaiah Evans, a former North Meck High School star and current Duke basketball guard, hosted his first youth camp this morning at Carolina Courts in Concord. The camp, attended by about 80 kids, focused on basketball skills as well as life skills such as discipline and hard work. Evans partnered with the local non-profit ‘Destined […]
Isaiah Evans, a former North Meck High School star and current Duke basketball guard, hosted his first youth camp this morning at Carolina Courts in Concord.
The camp, attended by about 80 kids, focused on basketball skills as well as life skills such as discipline and hard work. Evans partnered with the local non-profit ‘Destined for Greatness’ to organize the event.
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“I’m super thankful, bottom line. This is something special to me, and again, we’re getting bigger and better next year,” said Evans. “I’m just super thankful for all the kids coming out, and all the parents that brought the kids out.”
During the camp, Evans took time to engage with the participants by taking photos and signing shirts and McDonald’s All-American cards.
ALSO READ: NC State basketball team denied lost NIL earnings after court dismisses NCAA lawsuit
The camp is expected to grow in the coming years.
(WATCH BELOW: Legette, Horn return to field as Panthers look past preseason loss)
NIL
Scott Hanson admits he would be open to hosting college football RedZone
With ESPN acquiring the rights of NFL Network, questions have poured in about the future of NFL RedZone. Some have even gone a step further, wondering if college football could get a similar type of show going. Getting everything centralized instead of flipping channels or using multiple screens would help fans across the country. Turns […]

With ESPN acquiring the rights of NFL Network, questions have poured in about the future of NFL RedZone. Some have even gone a step further, wondering if college football could get a similar type of show going. Getting everything centralized instead of flipping channels or using multiple screens would help fans across the country.
Turns out, Scott Hanson would be interested in hosting college football RedZone. He spoke directly to ESPN officials when appearing on The Rich Eisen Show. As hard as it may be to believe, Hanson claims to be just as passionate about college football.
“If Bob Igor, Jimmy Pitaro want to hit me up,” Hanson said. “I love college every bit as much as I love the pros.”
Hanson does admit there might be some challenges with college football RedZone, though. One of which does involve ESPN and other networks. If ESPN is going to host the program, other networks likely will not be willing to allow the Worldwide Leader to broadcast their games. A collaborative effort with the likes of CBS, FOX, and NBC might be required.
Another would be different kickoff times throughout the sport. College football is different than the NFL, where there are really only two time slots during a normal Sunday slate.
“There’s a lot of different dynamics,” Hanson said. “If you were to do a college football RedZone. First of all, ESPN doesn’t have the rights to every contract. Second of all, the kickoffs are not all synchronized. Yeah, you get a good batch kicking off at noon ET but they’re not all synchronized, they’re all at different times.”
Hanson also believes college football not being as popular, when compared to the NFL, might be a problem. No sport in America is consumed more than the NFL throughout the calendar year — even when the season is not ongoing. College football, while still immensely popular, is just not at the same level.
Still, the upcoming Week 1 schedule might be a perfect example of why college football RedZone is needed. Three top-10 matchups are set to take place after the preseason AP poll was released on Monday afternoon. All in different time slots, fans want to watch the big-time matchups while still focusing on their own team.
If ESPN does want to take on the project, it can at least check off one box. Hanson appears more than willing to be the show’s host.
NIL
Tom Brady questions priorities in college football’s NIL era
College football looks different from Tom Brady’s days at Michigan, when the future Hall of Fame quarterback played in an era where athletes couldn’t capitalize off their name, image and likeness. Now, college athletes can make millions of dollars. That, coupled with the frequent use of the transfer portal, has Brady thankful he didn’t need […]

College football looks different from Tom Brady’s days at Michigan, when the future Hall of Fame quarterback played in an era where athletes couldn’t capitalize off their name, image and likeness.
Now, college athletes can make millions of dollars.
That, coupled with the frequent use of the transfer portal, has Brady thankful he didn’t need to deal with some of what athletes do now.
“My college experience was very challenging. It was very competitive,” Brady said on “The Joel Klatt Show.” “Those traits transformed my life as a professional. I was ready to compete against anybody, because the competition in college toughened me up so much that I had a self-belief and self-confidence in myself that whatever I faced, I could overcome that.
“I think if we take that away from a young student athlete, to say, ‘You know what, I know, it’s tough to compete, but what we’re going to do before you have to compete, we’re actually going to put you somewhere else so that you don’t have to compete,’” he continued. “That is absolutely the wrong thing to do to a young child.”
Brady didn’t blame the athletes, but rather challenged their parents to “teach your kid the right values.”
“The value isn’t always about the last dollar,” he said. “We’re valuing the wrong things. I’m not saying it’s not important. It’s one of 10 things that are important, and certainly to me, it’s not the most important. So when kids do go through that the right way, they’re actually learning the right values. When you have the right values in life, that’s going to sustain you as you move on through the rest of your life.”
This isn’t the first time Brady has been critical of where college football is going. During a 2024 appearance on the “Stephen A. Smith Show,” Brady said the current state of the NFL has been “dumbed down” because there are no longer college programs, just college teams.
Brady played at Michigan from 1995-1999. His path to become the Wolverines’ starter was an uphill climb. But things are different now in the college football landscape. Athletes want to go where they’ll have a chance to not only play, but make money during their college years.
And Brady wonders if they’ll prioritize making money over learning sustainable traits.
“Their frontal lobes aren’t even fully developed yet, and now we’re tempting them with real-life, adult situations and their parents, and now they have agents,” Brady said. “I’m sure it’s a very confusing time, and I’m sure a lot of parents are confused. I’m sure a lot of kids are confused, but because we’re just talking about money, money, money, money, like, that’s the only value in college. Is that what we’re saying? That, to me, the priorities are a bit messed up.”
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NIL
NIL is Now Approved for WV High School and Middle Schoolers
CHARLESTON- In the latest episode of things we thought we would never see, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has now been approved for high schoolers and middle school athletes in West Virginia which means players can be paid to play high school–and yes, middle school– sports in the Mountain state. The WVSSAC approved the policy […]


CHARLESTON- In the latest episode of things we thought we would never see, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has now been approved for high schoolers and middle school athletes in West Virginia which means players can be paid to play high school–and yes, middle school– sports in the Mountain state.
The WVSSAC approved the policy last month and went into full effect last Friday.
Things are a little confusing because if a player participates in a local commercial and receives funds from that company or business, they cannot mention their school name or wear any clothing with their school’s logo because THAT would damage their eligibility as an amateur athlete.
Also, no school employees of any kind, including coaches can be involved in the student’s NIL’s use. The WVSSAC encourages students and parents to reach out to the Director of Compliance for eligibility questions and concerns.
How it Started:
NIL began at the college level in 2021 and was actually spearheaded by former WVU running back Shawne Alston. He disagreed that a school could make millions of dollars off an athlete’s name and the athlete received nothing. Well, legally.
When NIL started, it was meant for players to receive a portion of funds for autographs, memorabilia sold, and things like that. However, it has turned into a free-for-all with almost literally no end in sight, although there have been discussions about dollar limits, but that is most likely a few years down the road.
NIL
NIL Oversight Tightens as Athlete Payments Reach New Scale
Last Updated on August 11, 2025 More than $1.6 billion in NIL money is expected to paid out to college athletes this year according to Opendorse, much of it managed by outside parties with little direct supervision. The arrangement has added pressure on athletic departments already dealing with contract disputes, confusing tax requirements, and uneven […]

Last Updated on August 11, 2025
More than $1.6 billion in NIL money is expected to paid out to college athletes this year according to Opendorse, much of it managed by outside parties with little direct supervision. The arrangement has added pressure on athletic departments already dealing with contract disputes, confusing tax requirements, and uneven application of existing rules. Federal agencies may soon be stepping in to reassert control.
An executive order from President Trump has asked the The Department of Education, Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Federal Trade Commission to get involved by providing guidance and clarifications focused on issues ranging from the application of Title IX with regards to revenue sharing to athletes’ status as non-employees.
As athletic departments begin to implement revenue sharing, some compliance departments have started pointing to industries where large sums move cleanly, without delays or extended oversight. According to Esports Insider payout speed insights, top betting platforms now process user withdrawals in minutes through fully automated systems built for simple, secure, and instant payments. With the gap in speed and certainty growing, these differences in infrastructure are reshaping how programs weigh reliability and turnaround speed.
New guidelines put in place by the NCAA this July place direct responsibility on schools to manage funding streams with reporting guidelines in place. Instead of relying on third-party organizations, institutions will soon be required to structure NIL payouts under a regulated cap, with up to $20.5 million annually permitted for direct distribution to athletes.
That figure, which sits outside the scholarship budget, marks the beginning of a phased system expected to reach $33 million per year, per institution, over the next decade. Most of the money will still concentrate on football and men’s basketball, but that may change if there are future Title IX challenges or guidance from the federal government.
In response, several Division I universities have started building their own NIL tracking tools, borrowing from fintech models that show payments as they happen. These systems are still in early stages, but what once felt like a chaotic experiment is settling into a $1 billion system that demands precision, and those adjusting in motion are already setting the pace.
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