On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum talks with Matt Brown from Extra Points. 

As the college football season heats up, we are talking about the politics of college athletics, from NIL and conference realignment to even video games. Will politicians intervene? 

We tackle it all with the founder and publisher of Extra Points, which tackles all things college sports off the field.

About the Podcast

With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.

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On July 1, 2025, the Villanova Athletic Department’s operations transformed, seemingly overnight.

Federal approval of the House v. NCAA settlement on June 8 legalized direct revenue sharing between universities and student-athletes. As a result, university athletic programs nationwide now have the ability to directly pay student athletes for their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). At Villanova, the new Strategic Excellence Fund (VASE) will funnel donor contributions to programs and student-athletes.

University Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl spent the summer establishing his priorities in the wake of the House settlement and strategizing how to make the most of Villanova’s athletic revenue. While it is a concerning time for many coaches and players navigating the new system, Roedl sees a realm of new opportunity to build Villanova’s brand.

Roedl, who started at Villanova in January, had been preparing for the waves of change in the NCAA since he was in his previous role at the University of Oregon.

“There’s a lot more financial pressure on how we operate because of all the new permissible benefits that we can provide to student-athletes,” Roedl said in an interview with The Villanovan. “The challenge we have is that we’ve got a broad-based 24-sport program, and we don’t have unlimited resources, so we have to try to figure out what those levers are that we’re going to pull.”

The settlement’s impact extends beyond revenue sharing, as the NCAA no longer regulates athletic scholarships and instead limits roster sizes in specific sports. Most significantly, the settlement requires back-pay damages for former athletes who were unable to profit from NIL. According to the VASE website, Villanova will have a $500,000 per year reduction in NCAA revenues from 2016 to 2021. 

Since 2021, NIL opportunities for Villanova student-athletes stemmed from its external collective, Friends of Nova, managed by former basketball player Randy Foye and current assistant coach Ashley Howard. The organization will continue to work with the Athletic Department, while its role has evolved.

“Friends of Nova has done a great job with community engagement and personal development opportunities for our student-athletes, whether it’s financial literacy or leadership development,” Roedl said. “They’re really like an NIL maximization partner. They’re still involved with a lot of donor cultivation and relationships that we have, and trying to help raise money for the University.”

VASE, meanwhile, will primarily benefit Villanova’s highest-revenue programs: men’s and women’s basketball. 

The University determines how to distribute its resources based on which athletic programs generate the most revenue and how much funding is required to ensure that Villanova can remain competitive when it comes to recruiting and retaining talented players.

Many of Villanova’s competitors must now split up to $20.5 million — the NCAA’s cap on revenue sharing — between large football and basketball programs. But according to Roedl, the University is in a unique position in which its Division-I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program does not demand the same level of funding as FBS programs. This allows Villanova to channel more of its resources toward basketball.

“Football is going to be a really big priority for us,” Roedl said. “There are not a lot of programs out there that are committed to winning championships in basketball that are also supporting FCS-level football at a high level.”

While basketball tends to dominate Villanova’s campus culture around athletics, Roedl sees Villanova’s football program as a major area of growth in terms of marketing and community engagement. 

Bringing his experience from managing Oregon’s Big 10 football powerhouse, Roedl hopes to continue cultivating a game-day atmosphere that will galvanize students, alumni, and local fans alike. The Athletic Department’s efforts will surround the marketing and promotion of football games, in addition to improving the tailgate experience.

“I want students to wake up on a Saturday morning and know that [football] is a big part of what it means to be a Villanovan,” Roedl said. “We need to continue to do a better job of building excitement and energy around our football program.”

As Villanova competes with the most well-funded athletic programs in the country, Roedl is not concerned so much with falling behind as he is with getting ahead of the new demands that the House settlement places on top collegiate athletic departments.

“We’re going to be aggressive, proactive and bold with how we try to position our programs to be successful,” Roedl said. “You can see why Villanova is a national-caliber program that’s won national championships, because we’ve got great alignment here from the campus community.”

The landscape of college football has transformed, particularly for wide receivers, with top earners securing impressive NIL salaries. At least five players command over $1 million, with Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State leading at $5-4 million. The compensation figures reflect earnings from schools or NIL collectives, excluding performance incentives. Notable mentions include Ryan Williams at Alabama with over $1.8 million and Carnell Tate at Ohio State with figures surpassing $1.5 million. This financial boom highlights the increasing importance of wide receivers in the evolving college football ecosystem.

By the Numbers

• Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: $5-4 million
• Ryan Williams, Alabama: Over $1.8 million
• Carnell Tate, Ohio State: Over $1.5 million
• Four other top receivers are earning over $1 million each this fall.

State of Play

• The NIL compensation levels are reshaping recruitment strategies and player decisions.
• Wide receivers are now among the highest-paid positions in college football.
• Schools and collectives are actively competing to attract top talents through lucrative offers.

What’s Next

The trend of rising NIL salaries is expected to continue, as colleges seek to leverage top talent for competitive advantage. We may see more strategic recruitments emphasizing NIL potential, influencing player transfers and commitments. As regulations around NIL evolve, this space could become even more lucrative for athletes.

Bottom Line

The surge in NIL salaries for wide receivers signifies a fundamental shift in college athletics. Players are beginning to reap substantial financial benefits, which not only impacts recruitment but also sets a new standard for compensation in college sports. The landscape is changing, and the financial stakes are higher than ever.

Penn State made national headlines a week ago after signing a 10-year apparel deal with adidas starting in 2026, leaving Nike for the first time since 1993. The Nittany Lions signed with Nike as Joe Paterno and CEO and founder Phil Knight became close friends in the late 1980s. As a result, the pair created one of college football’s and one of sports’ most recognized brands.

Yet, with the name of the game of college football now majorly focused on NIL, Penn State switched over to adidas. Adidas will supply footwear, uniform, and apparel for the Nittany Lions as part of the 10-year deal.

Adidas already made multiple investments in other big-name college football programs. The German company snagged Tennessee back from Nike in early August. Other Big Ten teams signed to adidas include Rutgers and Indiana.

“This agreement sets a new industry standard, fueling championship performances, empowering our student-athletes to grow their personal brands, and creating unmatched platforms for them to shine on the national and global stage. Together, we’re building something that will transform what’s possible for Penn State Athletics and for every student-athlete who wears the Blue & White,” Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft said in a statement.

The move has polarized the Penn State community, to say the least. Some see dollar signs, others see a departure from tradition. Two of our staffers debated whether or not they agree with and support the adidas deal for Penn State.

Oscar Orellana: Adidas Is The Way To Go

Nobody likes being the little brother.

That’s exactly what Penn State is at Nike. The company has so much stock and attention centered towards Oregon, which is understandable. But when push comes to shove, Penn State wants to expand its reach and brand to heights that have never been reached before. The school and program is obviously one of the most recognizable brands in college football, but what good does that do if its own supplier doesn’t think of it as the top of the pack?

Adidas is providing Penn State unprecedented NIL opportunities and an automatic spot to the front of the line in the college football sphere. Penn State football is a team with national championship aspirations, folks, and there’s no way to achieve that objective without money in today’s day and age. NIL is a necessity and is now the lifeline of a college football program.

Penn State immediately is the poster child for adidas, and with that comes so many possibilities from a financial standpoint. Everybody wants to win, and who can be mad at the university administration for seizing the opportunity and winning representation with one of the world’s top brands?

On top of the financial aspect, superstars and world icons are signed to adidas. Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time Lionel Messi and arguably the best current football player Patrick Mahomes are both signed to adidas. Getting Penn State in the ranks and associated with a brand that represents greatness across the board is a huge plus to this deal. It’s time for Penn State to take the reigns of its own destiny and truly rule what it wants without being an afterthought.

However, I will concede that I didn’t have a connection with Penn State as a school or as a football program before becoming a student. I don’t feel any sort of attachment to the traditional way of things around State College and the program’s representation across the country. I just think this will propel Penn State to a new level and take a step that’s necessary to take if the program is serious about its drive to win.

CJ Gill: Where Does Penn State Draw The NIL Line?

It’s understandable for fans to be skeptical of the Penn State Athletics-adidas deal post its official announcement last Friday. I am one of those fans who is skeptical with the incoming change away from Nike. The reported money adidas is throwing at Penn State is a lot! It’s an insane amount of cash heading toward Happy Valley, but Tennessee said the same thing last month when they announced their signing with adidas. Who is to say this will stay as the largest brand deal in college athletics for very long. Adidas could be eyeing other big names in the college world, and Penn State might end up where they were with Nike, and that’s in the middle of the pack. It’s probably true that Nike was not giving Penn State what it deserved, but after over 30 years with Nike, Penn State Athletics is entering a partnership with a partner is knows very little about, and what adidas’ goals are in the college space.

Money aside and a straight comparison of Nike to adidas, Nike clears and its not particular close. From an apparel and equipment standpoint Nike is lightyears ahead of adidas in most peoples opinions. After the report came out of the pending switch to adidas, many current Penn State athletes took to social media to voice their displeasure with the change. Most athletes prefer Nike, not only its style but some say its much safer to be wearing Nike gear compared to adidas gear. That’s a big deal and player safety is something that can’t be overlooked despite the large check. Its unclear how the switch away from Phil Knight’s nike will impact current and future athletes in their decision to wear the blue and white, but in an era where margins matter, it could be a serious factor.

In this new era of college sports, its important to find a leg up on your competition wherever you can, I won’t deny that fact. And Pat Kraft and Penn State has made a lot of changes in recent years to earn some extra cash, with this deal, selling the naming rights to iconic Beaver Stadium to adding on field sponsors at football games. There has been a lot and I think to a degree its needed. But my question is where is the line? When does Penn State say no, tradition and history is more important because at the end of the day that’s still the biggest appeal to what makes Penn State great. At first I really hated this deal with adidas, because when you think Penn State you see Nike and the combination of the iconic swoosh and Penn State’s perfect jersey. I don’t hate it a week later but I still have a lot of questions if this was the right move.