While NIL certainly played a role in this year’s championship, the Buckeyes also showed there was much more to this team. “It does make it a little more competitive now for the collectives and just for the schools to now go and get the players they want,” said Richardson, expanding on his NIL prediction. “There’s […]
While NIL certainly played a role in this year’s championship, the Buckeyes also showed there was much more to this team.
“It does make it a little more competitive now for the collectives and just for the schools to now go and get the players they want,” said Richardson, expanding on his NIL prediction. “There’s going to be a salary cap, almost like in professional football of somewhere between -22 million per club and I assume teams will be hiring GMs just like NFL teams do.”
He’s been watching this evolution closely, not just as a football analyst, but as a former player who understands the intricacies of a “pro-style model.”
“NIL is here to stay,” he says. “So, you can either not get involved and get left behind or get involved and win.”
“Now that Ohio State has won the College Football Championship, there will be even more attention on these athletes and more sponsorship deals,” said Rep. Mathews.
Collectives like THE Foundation support OSU athletes using NIL while also promoting charitable causes. The effort has already made a difference by uniting Buckeye Nation in raising the money needed to stay competitive.
‘Name, Image and Likeness’ payments have already proven to be a game changer for collegiate sports.
Buckeye supporters plan to try.
“This is now transitioning to essentially a pro-style model in college football,” said Jay Richardson, a former Ohio State Buckeye and Oakland Raider.
“We’d love to win it again,” said Brian Schottenstein. “We’re going to see if we can try to pull together a nice roster and make that happen for next year. But, the ultimate goal has been accomplished – winning this year.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even though it’s only been a couple of weeks since the Buckeyes won the College Football Playoff National Championship, there are already fans wondering if they can do it again next year.
Rep. Mathews was part of introducing legislation to make that happen. H.B. 315, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine and soon to take effect, allows universities to pay players directly, without using state funds.
He acknowledges there is criticism about the way that NIL is changing the game. Some fans accuse teams of “buying rosters” with NIL money. Schottenstein is undeterred.
But there are questions about what role could NIL play in that possibility. ‘Name, Image and Likeness’ payments have already proven to be a game changer for collegiate sports. Its continued evolution is even getting lawmakers involved at the Ohio Statehouse.
“All they talked about was their faith. All they talked about was their togetherness. All they talked about was wanting to do it for each other,” said Jay Richardson. “That is a rare thing in sports, especially in today’s climate — to see a team so bonded and so together, and I’ll be honest with you — I think that’s hard to replicate.”
Fans and analysts see the need to make room for that growth.
“We want to make sure that our universities could be in a position to support the student athletes, so they can be successful on and off the field, without getting into legal trouble in this Wild West of college sports,” said State Representative Adam Mathews, (R-Lebanon).
“Might get more expensive,” said Brian Schottenstein, co-founder of THE Foundation. “But, I think obviously it’s really great, because now businesses and donors and the community is going to buy in even more because they see that the dollars went to good use, because of the National Championship.”
