Jay Jacobs on Auburn facilities, NIL pressure and what still sets the Tigers apart
Former Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs joined The Auburn Undercover Podcast for his biweekly show for a deep dive into how Auburn built some of the SEC’s best facilities—and why staying competitive now requires more than just bricks and mortar. Jacobs, who led Auburn Athletics from 2005 to 2018, said the evolution of facilities is a story […]
Former Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs joined The Auburn Undercover Podcast for his biweekly show for a deep dive into how Auburn built some of the SEC’s best facilities—and why staying competitive now requires more than just bricks and mortar.
Jacobs, who led Auburn Athletics from 2005 to 2018, said the evolution of facilities is a story of constant adaptation. “Auburn was the first school in the SEC to have a football building,” he said. “We built that athletic complex in 1989, and at the time nobody else had one. That set the tone for how we’d separate ourselves.”
But in today’s NIL-driven world, Jacobs believes facilities still play a crucial role. “There may be a mindset at some schools that you don’t need to build anymore, just pay NIL and figure it out. But if everyone’s paying NIL, you still need something to separate yourself. That’s where facilities matter.”
Jacobs said recent improvements—from Plainsman Park to Neville Arena—are about more than recruiting athletes. “We’ve all turned our attention to fans. If the fans aren’t there, it’s an empty, hollow place. That atmosphere has to be there for everyone.”
Still, progress isn’t easy. Jacobs recalled pushing for a north end zone project that didn’t gain traction during his tenure. “Obviously I didn’t do a good enough job painting the vision. But thank goodness they’re moving forward with it now.”
When asked about the pressures of NIL, Jacobs didn’t mince words. “I’ve never had a student-athlete demand more money. It’s always been a parent, guardian, or handler. I’ve seen cases where the student-athlete didn’t even know someone was negotiating on their behalf.”
Despite the financial changes in college sports, Jacobs says the Auburn spirit still shines through. “These kids still act like kids. They’re having fun, they’re dancing in the dugout, hanging off the bench. They’re not thinking, ‘How can I get $25,000 more?’ They just love to play.”
Looking ahead, Jacobs acknowledged the challenge of funding athletics once schools begin paying athletes directly as part of the expected House v. NCAA settlement. “Every school is going to have to come up with $20.5 million more, and then it goes up from there. That’s real.”
Yet Jacobs remains optimistic about Auburn’s donor base and approach. “We may not have one mega-donor, but we have a lot of people who care. That’s the Auburn way. Everyone pitches in.”
He closed with a recommendation: a book that’s helped him stay grounded. “It’s called Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio. Whether you’re a Christian or not, it helps you catch those negative thoughts and think clearly.”
Listen to this episode elsewhere using these links.
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are part of the new generation of women’s basketball stars who have been able to profit off their name in college and build brands that have helped them excel off the court in the WNBA. All three players had national star power before stepping foot in the pros. […]
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are part of the new generation of women’s basketball stars who have been able to profit off their name in college and build brands that have helped them excel off the court in the WNBA.
All three players had national star power before stepping foot in the pros. Clark and Reese have made the All-Star Game in each of their first two seasons and are two of the most popular players in the league.
Bueckers was voted a starter in her first All-Star Game this weekend.
The next group up in college that is led by Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, Olivia Miles and JuJu Watkins has already benefitted from the name, likeness and image. According to On3, Johnson’s NIL valuation is $1.5 million.
“NIL, man, it is beautiful,” Johnson said. “This year in March Madness, I had about five commercials running and you know it was so cool watching the game, then seeing myself come on. It’s just a great opportunity.”
Johnson is a guard at LSU, one of the top schools for NIL in a variety of sports from football to women’s gymnastics to women’s basketball. Johnson, who also has a music career, has gained from the exposure the school has given her, doing national media campaigns with Experian and Powerade.
Hildago, who will be entering her junior year at Notre Dame, is happy that players can finally profit off their own images as opposed to the school getting it all.
“It’s a blessing. Schools for decades have been able to make money off of college players’ names. So for now, for student athletes to be able to make money off of how they carry themselves, you know, we’re a brand ourselves,” she said. “I’m a brand myself and so be able to make money off of my name is honestly truly a blessing and just taking advantage of it is the biggest thing.”
Johnson, Hidalgo and Miles, who helped the U.S. qualify for the World Cup next year by winning gold at the AmeriCup earlier this month, all said that they don’t let the NIL deals they have get in the way of their sport. They credit having a strong support system around them as well as people who handle the deals for them.
“I really dedicate one or two times a week to kind of get all my stuff done,” Miles said. “My agent is very good at scheduling that, but most of my money comes from the collective deal, so for that I really don’t have to do much, which is nice. But any other of the other side deals, my agent will send a videographer out to help me or have her edit stuff or whatever it may be.”
Getting deals and earning money hasn’t just helped the players financially. Some have given back to their communities, including Johnson.
“I just want to be one of those people that uses NIL the right way,” she said. “This year I did a campaign with Experian and we relieved $5 million in debt right for families in Louisiana and then every game we won we added $100,000 to the pot.”
Johnson said it was really touching and emotional when she would receive videos on Instagram from people she helped.
“I’m really using my platform for impact for real. So I think that’s the best part of NIL and just making it better for the young girls that’s coming behind us,” she said.
Colin Cowherd calls out growing NIL imbalance in college football
During a recent segment on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Cowherd sparked discussion by drawing attention to what he sees as a growing imbalance in college football, caused by the controversial Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals. From Cowherd’s perspective, the NIL era has not leveled the playing field, but rather tilted things in favor […]
During a recent segment on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Cowherd sparked discussion by drawing attention to what he sees as a growing imbalance in college football, caused by the controversial Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.
From Cowherd’s perspective, the NIL era has not leveled the playing field, but rather tilted things in favor of well-funded programs that can now dominate the recruiting landscape.
“Texas is the most well-funded program right now in the country. They’ve got more money than anybody,” Cowherd said.
Cowherd pointed to a school like Texas, which has great donor backing and a massive alumni network, as an example of a program that can essentially buy its way into national recruiting battles by outspending other programs.
While the NIL model was initially envisioned as a way to give student-athletes more control over their financial future, Cowherd believes it has now become a tool for wealthier programs to load their rosters with top-end recruits and transfers.
He notes that this financial power has completely reshaped the recruiting process. Recruiting has become largely about who can offer the most attractive payment packages.
“Alabama’s economy is not Texas’s economy. Go look up their GDP’s, gross domestic product, there’s a lot more money in Texas than Bama. And Nick Saban saw it and got out.” Cowherd stated.
This economic disparity, Cowherd argues, is the major deciding factor as to who wins recruiting battles. But it is not just about recruiting, either; it’s about who will dominate college football for years to come.
Programs like Texas, Ohio State, and recently, Texas Tech, have aggressively embraced NIL, whereas other schools struggle to keep up due to a lack of resources. Even Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledges the shift; however, he offers an interesting perspective on how NIL is used in recruiting.
“One of the first things we do… we don’t talk about NIL or revenue sharing or publicity rights until the very end,” Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days. “And that may hurt us on some kids, but if a kid is coming to Texas for that reason, we don’t want them anyway.”
Still, Cowherd’s larger points remain the same: NIL is creating an imbalance in recruiting, and this is having a direct impact on who ultimately dominates the sport.
Whether you are in favor of NIL or not, one thing is very clear: the sport needs stronger regulations. College football should not be a sport dictated by money; instead, it should be driven by great programs recruiting players who want to play for that coach, or that brand, or in that stadium, rather than for the money.
House Settlement Provides Level NIL Playing Field in SEC, Says Arkansas Coach
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month has leveled the college football playing field in a good way. Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other SEC powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said at SEC media […]
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month has leveled the college football playing field in a good way.
Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other SEC powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said at SEC media days that his program had previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022.
According to the terms of the House settlement, each school can now share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.
“Financially, with revenue sharing, I think we are finally back on [an] even keel with everybody, which we weren’t,” said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. “If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well. … But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming.”
Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred.
Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but that many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, “Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught.”
“That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances.”
The House settlement era began on July 1.
The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission informed athletic directors in letters last week that it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for NIL.
Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL.
“I would most definitely say so,” Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. “Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. … With the transfer portal, if you don’t have [a necessarily good] opportunity at this place you’re at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start.
“It wasn’t necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I’ve seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it’s good for the players.”
When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, “Listen, we all love our players, whether they’re one year in our program, six months, or four years.”
Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta. “Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness,” Lovett said. “But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money.”
Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia.
“It’s the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff,” Lovett said. “I love football. … I still haven’t, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia’s one of my goals.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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LOTTO Signs 14-Year-Old Soccer Star Loradana Paletta of Syosset, N.Y. to Brand’s First U.S. Amateur NIL Partnership
14-Year-Old Phenom Joins LOTTO’s Roster of U.S. Soccer Partners Including Pros Sofia Huerta, Kellyn Acosta & Tim Parker, Plus Legend Stu Holden NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LOTTO, premier Italian sports brand, announced today its first-ever U.S. name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership with soccer phenom Loradana Paletta – 14-year-old from Syosset, N.Y. Paletta […]
14-Year-Old Phenom Joins LOTTO’s Roster of U.S. Soccer Partners Including Pros Sofia Huerta, Kellyn Acosta & Tim Parker, Plus Legend Stu Holden
NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LOTTO, premier Italian sports brand, announced today its first-ever U.S. name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership with soccer phenom Loradana Paletta – 14-year-old from Syosset, N.Y. Paletta is a standout member of the U.S. Soccer Under-16 Girls National Team and the NYCFC Youth U14 Academy Boys Team. Paletta stands beside a roster of more than 500 professional athletes around the world who are partnered with LOTTO – including NWSL star Sofia Huerta, MLS stars Kellyn Acosta and Tim Parker, plus legendary soccer player and broadcaster Stu Holden.
LOTTO
“I’m honored to be the first NIL partner for such an iconic soccer brand like LOTTO,” said Loradana Paletta. “As I continue to develop my game, having gear I trust makes a huge difference—LOTTO’s Solista and Stadio cleats give me confidence and comfort every time I step on the field. I’m excited to help grow the brand in the U.S. alongside amazing athletes like Sofia, Kellyn, Tim, and Stu. Off the field, I also love LOTTO’s lifestyle pieces—especially the Brasil Select shoes and their unique, stylish apparel. Everything I wear from LOTTO stands out and lets me express who I am, and I am so excited to be their partner.”
LOTTO, premier Italian sports brand established in 1973, is world-renowned for its innovative performance-driven footwear. The brand has a long and storied history in soccer and tennis, and recently expanded into pickleball. In 2023, LOTTO launched a partnership with DICK’s Sporting Goods to serve as the U.S. anchor retail partner for LOTTO’s soccer and racquet sport products.
“LOTTO has a great fifty-plus year heritage in soccer and adding Loradana as our first NIL partner in the U.S. is the latest example of our dedication to the future of the sport and our continued growth in market as the country’s soccer participation and interest is skyrocketing,” said Jameel Spencer, Chief Marketing Officer, Fashion & Athletic Verticals, at WHP Global, which owns the LOTTO brand. “At only 14 years-old, Loradana Paletta is everything LOTTO stands for. Fearless, authentic, and driven by passion. She’s a dynamic leader on the pitch and rewriting the story for young female athletes in this country, and we’re proud to be a part of that. Her energy and attitude mirror our DNA, and she’s already leading the next generation by example.”
Paletta, a standout midfielder has been turning heads for her role on the U.S. Soccer Under-16 Girls National Team where her 19 teammates were born in 2009, while she is 14 years-old, born in 2011.
Former MLS MVP and LOTTO’s first-ever Head of Talent for U.S. soccer, Mike Magee, played a key role in bringing the partnership to life.
Fans are invited to check out the LOTTO soccer footwear and equipment Paletta is wearing on and off the pitch at DICK’s Sporting Goods stores or online at www.dicks.com/lotto.
High-resolution images of LOTTO x Loradana Paletta can be found here.
About LOTTO LOTTO, a premier Italian sports brand established in 1973, is world-renowned for its innovative, performance-driven footwear, apparel, and accessories, which feature its iconic logo of a tennis court over a soccer field. Rich in soccer history, LOTTO has been worn by professional soccer teams A.C. Milan and Juventus F.C., elite soccer players Dino Zoff, Ruud Gullit, and Andriy Shevchenko, and top athletes including tennis Grand Slam champions Martina Navratilova, Francesca Schiavone, Marion Bartoli and Boris Becker. Today, LOTTO is distributed in over 100 countries and is currently worn by more than 40 soccer teams, over 300 professional soccer players, and more than 200 professional tennis players. For more information, visit: www.lottosport.com and follow @lottosportus.
About WHP Global WHP Global is a leading brand management platform founded in 2019 to acquire and grow consumer brands. Its portfolio includes 12+ powerful brands across fashion, sports, and hardgoods, generating over $7 billion in annual retail sales across 80+ countries. Headquartered in New York with offices worldwide, WHP Global partners with more than 200 leading operators and drives strategic value through proprietary initiatives, including an internal AI Taskforce. For brand news and updates, follow WHP Global on Instagram and LinkedIn.
LOTTO Signs 14-Year-Old Soccer Star Loradana Paletta.
Cision
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Arkansas coach Sam Pittman says House settlement provides level NIL playing field in competitive SEC
ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college… ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team. Pittman said Arkansas now […]
ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college…
ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team.
Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said Thursday at SEC media days his program previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against the schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022.
According to the terms of the House settlement, each school now can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.
“Financially with revenue sharing I think we are finally back on even keel with everybody, which we weren’t,” said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. “If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well. … But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming.”
Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded on Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred.
Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, “Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught.”
“That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances.”
The House settlement era began on July 1.
The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission has informed athletic directors in letters last week it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for name, likeness and image.
Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL.
“I would most definitely say so,” Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. “Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. … With the transfer portal, if you don’t have a necessarily a good opportunity at this place you’re at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. It wasn’t necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I’ve seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it’s good for the players.”
When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, “Listen, we all love our players, whether they’re one year in our program, six months, or four years.”
Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta.
“Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness,” Lovett said. “But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money.”
Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia.
“It’s the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff,” Lovett said. “I love football. … I still haven’t, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia’s one of my goals.”
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman says House settlement provides level NIL playing field in competitive SEC
By CHARLES ODUM ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team. Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama […]
ATLANTA (AP) — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team.
Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said Thursday at SEC media days his program previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against the schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022.
According to the terms of the House settlement, each school now can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.
“Financially with revenue sharing I think we are finally back on even keel with everybody, which we weren’t,” said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. “If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well. … But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming.”
Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded on Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred.
Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, “Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught.”
“That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances.”
The House settlement era began on July 1.
The enforcement of the House settlement is still being worked out as the new College Sports Commission has informed athletic directors in letters last week it was rejecting payments to players from collectives created only to pay players instead of as payment for name, likeness and image.
Some seniors at SEC media days said NIL payments and the transfer portal have contributed to their decisions to complete their eligibility instead of leaving school early to pursue opportunities in the NFL.
“I would most definitely say so,” Missouri offensive lineman Connor Tollison said. “Obviously, you know, you have a chance to make some money these days. … With the transfer portal, if you don’t have a necessarily a good opportunity at this place you’re at, you have the chance to go somewhere else and get a fresh start. It wasn’t necessarily something I experienced to my college career, but I’ve seen it. You know, it works for plenty of players. So yeah, I think it’s good for the players.”
When asked if NIL makes it easier for players to complete their eligibility, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, coming off a 4-8 season, said, “Listen, we all love our players, whether they’re one year in our program, six months, or four years.”
Linebacker Alex Afari, defensive back Jordan Lovett and tight end Josh Kattus were the seniors who accompanied Stoops to Atlanta.
“Of course I love making money from name, image and likeness,” Lovett said. “But I love football first. You know, football was my first love. So I play for the game, not for money.”
Lovett added his primary motivation for returning was to earn his first win over Georgia.
“It’s the big part of college football now because some dudes just make decisions off, you know, the financial stuff,” Lovett said. “I love football. … I still haven’t, you know, beat Georgia yet. You know, Georgia’s one of my goals.”
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football