In the age of NIL, you better have some collectives on board, or you’ll get left behind.
NIL has made it legal to pay players for their name, image, and likeness. There isn’t much regulation, so it’s become a tool to lure big-time recruits to campuses.
On3 Sports put out a list of the most ambitious NIL collectives, and one that benefits Oklahoma is ranked in the top 20.
Crimson and Cream came in at No. 17 on the list. It has more than 1,800 members, and more than 300 athletes have signed deals with the collective, including more than 90 female athletes.
In December, Crimson and Cream merged with Strengthening Oklahoma to strengthen its influence.
Crimson & Cream’s initial fundraising campaign resulted in $1.6 million in annual donations. By January, the collective signed or offered a NIL deal to the entire 115-member Sooner football roster. Oklahoma is really just getting started, though. A new state law prohibits the NCAA from coming down on institutions involving protected NIL activities. Athletic departments are now legally allowed to throw their power behind preferred collectives, too. – Pete Nakos On3 Sports
The Oklahoma athletic department is expected to endorse the collective. This makes it so that coaches can openly discuss which collectives fans should donate to.
NIL has taken the college football world by storm and the teams at the top of On3’s list, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oregon, Texas, and Miami, are making the biggest waves in the NIL game. They’ve made splashes on the recruiting trail with the help of their collectives. However, one thing is clear, results on the field will soon matter. Donors aren’t going to be happy giving up their money for recruits and a program that doesn’t win.
Until then, a new age is upon us. You either get behind NIL or watch your team fall behind.
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