NIL Newsletter #127 | Peacock Classic, Mattress Mack, Tshiebwe's Big Week, + ICYMI
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for student athletes, administrators, agents and other sport professionals.
Recapping NIL This Week:
Gonzaga and Baylor Primed for First Ever Peacock Classic
No. 6 Gonzaga will play No. 7 Baylor in the inaugural Peacock Classic, streaming exclusively on NBC’s subscription service on December 2nd.
Participating players from both teams will have the opportunity to partner with the event’s sponsors. NBC Sports Athlete Direct, which is NBC’s NIL program, will facilitate the NIL deals.
“Presenting and sponsoring the first-ever ‘Peacock Classic’ is a historic moment for Peacock, providing fans with a must-see matchup featuring two of college basketball’s premier programs,” Rick Cordella, the president of programming for NBC Sports and Peacock, said in a statement.
One notable athlete participating in the game is Drew Timme, who turned down NBA opportunities last spring in order to return for another year at Gonzaga. NIL played a large role in his decision to return to school, allowing him to earn money at the collegiate level and test out a future career in broadcasting.
The full story is available HERE.
Mattress Mack Joins the World of NIL
Mattress Mack, of furniture store and sports betting fame, has made his first contribution to LinkingCoogs, a Houston focused NIL collective.
Jim “Mack” McIngvale has pledged seven figures to Houston Men’s Basketball Players through his partnership with the collective. The collective has generated an additional $1.6 million in deals since its launch.
McIngvale has previously partnered with Houston’s Men’s Basketball athletes, giving $3,000 to each player for an autograph signing at Gallery Furniture. He also placed a $500,000 bet on the team to win the national championship this season.
“I like that UH has a program for the city,” McIngvale recently said. “I think that’s great for the city, after all they’re named Houston. Backing coach Sampson and the University of Houston men’s basketball program … it seemed like a no brainer to me.”
The full story is available HERE.
Oscar Tshiebwe Uses Kentucky MBB Trip for NIL Deals
Oscar Tshiebwe, the reigning Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year, returned to Kentucky for his senior year, despite drawing attention in the run up to the 2022 NBA draft. Tshiebwe, who hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of many international athletes who struggle to capitalize on NIL deals.
Institutions have recommended that their international student-athletes, who are most often in the United States on F-1 visas, speak to immigration attorney’s before entering NIL deals. Passive income is allowed under the terms of the visa.
Tshiebwe was able to capitalize on the nuances of NIL deals earlier this year, when a seven-day trip to the Bahamas earned him approximately $500,000. He will once again leave the country this week, with Kentucky scheduled to face Michigan at the O2 Arena in London on December 4th.
Tshiebwe and other international student-athletes are able to use their time abroad with their programs to perform the work needed for NIL deals, and consequently reap the rewards through passive income streams.
The full story is available HERE.
ICYMI Ticker
Clemson AD Graham Neff throws his support behind NIL collectives. LINK
Cincy Reigns NIL collective launches to support Cincinnati student-athletes. LINK
EA Sports announces that their new college football video game is delayed until 2024 - NIL related + more. LINK
The Bulldog Initiative is now over 3,000 members after Mississippi State’s AD left for the same position at Auburn. LINK
The Anchor Collective, Vanderbilt’s new NIL collective, will focus on football, basketball, and baseball before expanding to all sports. LINK
Phil Knight says Nike will continue to proceed cautiously. “Some of the athletes you’re seeing right now getting the big money thrown at them? I think there will be some regret. It’s just too early. To me, being choosy is the right approach.’’ LINK
Fordham partnered with Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP to advise the athletic department on NIL. LINK
Miami(FL) reportedly has $5 million in NIL funding waiting to attract athletes from the transfer portal. LINK