NIL Reviving College Hoops, LSU's Big-Time Blitz, The Impact of Advanced Metrics on Bracketology, & More | Newsletter #312
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for athletes, administrators, agencies and other sport professionals.
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This Monday's Newsletter Includes:
How NIL is Reviving College Hoops
LSU’s $13M ‘Frontloading’ Blitz for Football
What’s Coming Up for the World of NIL
Legal Updates: Revenue-Sharing Maneuvers & House Hearing
News/Tips for Administrators, Student-Athletes, & Agencies
Major News
How NIL Is (Ironically) Reviving College Hoops
“Roster chaos? Player pay? They’re saving the sport,” writes Will Leitch.
In a Washington Post opinion piece, columnist Will Leitch argues that March Madness is stronger than it has been in years and that paying players via NIL and the transfer portal deserves credit for the turnaround.
Programs are retaining more established talent and attracting top high school and international prospects who might otherwise skip college. The result? A high-profile, excitement-filled 2025 tournament featuring marquee names who renew national interest in the game.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
LSU’s $13M ‘Frontload’ to Keep Pace in NIL Race
“It’s a money game now,” says the Tigers’ AD.
Worried about losing talent to more aggressive programs, LSU has embarked on a mission to raise and spend $13 million in NIL deals before July 1.
The flurry of seven-figure contributions from Tigers backers ensures that LSU stays ahead in the fierce SEC arms race. It also prepares them for next season’s revenue-sharing environment, where programs can directly pay athletes.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Other Notable Stories to Follow
After going viral for brandishing a boombox and hyping the team, McNeese Student Manager Amir “Aura” Khan signed a deal with TickPick. His compensation escalates if McNeese advances in March Madness. - LINK
Buying titles? St. John’s HC Rick Pitino insists the Big East Champs aren’t assembled via massive NIL payouts, calling RJ Luis Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor “very underpaid.” - LINK
Georgia fans can breathe easier knowing the top 2026 quarterback recruit, Jared Curtis, prioritizes fit over bidding wars. - LINK
Iowa WBB hoops star Taylor McCabe’s unique partnership with Formosa Sushi offers fans a custom roll, with a portion of sales donated to charity. - LINK
What’s Coming Up Next For NIL
March 16-17, 2025 | NCAA Men’s & Women’s Tourney Tip-Off
April 7, 2025 | House Settlement Fairness Hearing
June 15, 2025 | House Settlement Opt-In Date
July 1, 2025 | Schools May Begin Direct NIL Payments Under Settlement (Revenue-Sharing Year 1)
Legal Updates
Florida Schools Facing House v. NCAA Reality
With Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas pushing new NIL incentives, Florida’s public universities are anxious to match rival states or risk falling behind. Legislators are currently unwilling to appropriate public funds for NIL, meaning Gators, Seminoles, and Bulls must fundraise on their own.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Editorial: Keep NIL Contracts Transparent
A Colorado editorial board critiques HB 1041 for exempting athlete payments from open-records requests at public universities. They argue that oversight is vital given taxpayer involvement in higher ed athletics.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Optimum Sports Consulting is here to help.
For athletes looking for NIL insight and advisement, administrators and collectives looking for resources and facilitating a best-in-class process, or agents looking to navigate the changing landscape, we’re here to help!
Message us now for a free consultation.
FOR ATHLETES
Notes for the Week
OSU Athletes Learn Tax Prep: With TurboTax workshops, Buckeyes in sports like fencing & dance get crucial insights on 1099 forms and deductions. - LINK
Oregon Women’s Track Reclaims Indoor Title: Non-revenue sports can still attract NIL attention. - LINK
Texas WBB Endorsements: Brands like CAVA & C4 back top March Madness squads. - LINK
Tip of the Week:
Tag your sponsors in real-time social posts during peak March Madness hours. Live content often nets the highest engagement.
FOR ADMINS
Notes for the Week
Advanced Metrics Impact: Tools like KenPom, BPI, and NET shape bracket seeding. Scheduling strong opponents can elevate your analytics profile. - LINK
Five-star LB Tyler Atkinson remains heavily courted by Georgia and others, but Dabo Swinney’s personal development pitch and Clemson’s culture keep the Tigers in the mix. - LINK
VCU AD Ed McLaughlin says direct revenue-sharing is “necessary” for national relevancy as the Rams are set to pay athletes up to $5M. - LINK
KC Smurthwaite on Realignment: Be ready for massive shifts and fresh revenue streams (e.g., jersey auctions). - LINK
Tip of the Week:
Roll out transparent roster-valuation approaches (think “salary cap style”) to maintain donor confidence and player clarity.
FOR AGENCIES
Notes for the Week
Steve Alford’s Critique: The Nevada HC decries a lack of guardrails, noting the portal churn. Agencies can mitigate the chaos by structuring multi-year brand engagements that stabilize a player’s value. - LINK
LSU Preps for a Post-July Era: Boosters contributed millions to “frontload” deals. Agencies can step in to navigate the shift toward direct-pay models and maintain relationships once schools handle official revenue sharing. - LINK
Tip of the Week:
With coaches publicly bemoaning roster turnover, agencies can step in to provide structure and consider negotiating longer NIL partnerships that carry athletes (and programs) through multiple seasons.
Thanks for Reading!
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters and following us on Twitter!