Fresno State eyes partnership in new student-athlete snack venture

Images via Victory Snacks. Photo illustration by Cecilia Lopez

Fresno State is one of several universities discussing joining Victory Campus, a new initiative from Victory Snacks and NIL platform TheLinkU.

The program is designed to support student-athletes by offering school-branded snacks and beverages. A portion of revenue is directed toward name, image, and likeness (NIL) efforts.

Houston University, which recently appeared in the NCAA Basketball Championship Game, was announced as the first official partner, launching a line of “HoustonTX Snacks” that includes jerky, nuts, corn puffs, gummies and more. Products are available online and are expected to roll out at campus stores and sporting venues.

Victory Campus plans to develop similar snack lines designed for each school’s branding. In addition to Fresno State, other schools in talks include Alabama, Florida Atlantic University, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

“Our goal is to create a sustainable revenue stream that supports student-athletes through everyday products,” said Grant Cohen, chief growth officer at Victory Snacks, in a news release.

According to TheLinkU, the program is intended to help universities expand NIL funding opportunities while engaging with alumni and fans.

No formal agreement has been announced yet between Victory Campus and Fresno State. Updates are expected as the program expands later this year.

“By delivering premium, American-produced snacks and beverages that carry the pride of each school’s brand, we are creating a new model for how NIL programs can thrive while celebrating what makes college athletics truly special,” Cohen said.