This Week on ICYMI NIL
Welcome to ICYMI NIL - our weekly curated newsletter that provides our take on interesting stories in the world of NIL.
Let's jump into it!
Friday Focus: The Fragmentation of Sports Is Creating New Opportunities
The principles of the player-driven NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) era reflect this evolution.
Athletes are no longer confined to their sport—they are entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers.
The power to craft your destiny and build the best version of yourself lies squarely in your hands.
Let’s focus on equipping today’s athletes with the life skills, confidence, and tools to pursue their dreams and thrive in this new landscape.
Welcome to a future where the players lead the way! Shoutout to Andrew Petcash and his Profluence+ Community for illuminating how sports are breaking into niches.
How are you shaping your journey in this era of individual empowerment?
Happy Friday, everyone!
The NIL Era Meets the Transfer Portal: Navigating the New Chaos in College Football
TPNIL founder Mark R. Koesterer stirred up a hornet's nest earlier this week with his thoughts about the transfer portal.
We saw an interesting back-and-forth in the comments. Feel free to share your thoughts via the link below.
Here is the entirety of Mark's comments ⬇️
As the December 9, 2024, transfer portal opening looms, college football programs are bracing for an unprecedented collision of NIL opportunities and player mobility.
This represents a seismic shift, and the ripple effects are reshaping recruiting, team dynamics, and college sports at large.
"Free Agency Without Limits": The NIL era has effectively turned college football into a marketplace where players aren’t just transferring for playing time—they’re pursuing the best NIL offers, making loyalty to programs increasingly fleeting.
"December 9: A Feeding Frenzy Ahead": With the transfer portal opening, expect a wave of high-profile players to test the waters, not necessarily for better competition but for better paydays. Will this lead to a "bidding war" culture?
"Winners and Losers in the NIL-Portal Collision":
"Recruiting in Reverse": Coaching staffs are now spending as much time re-recruiting their current rosters to stay as they are recruiting high school talent—a trend that’s stretching resources and changing priorities.
"Player Empowerment or Chaos?": While players now have greater control over their futures, the lack of structure or regulation around NIL deals tied to transfers is creating instability and inequity.
"Impact on Team Chemistry and Development": Constant roster churn disrupts team building, player development, and continuity, leaving programs scrambling to adapt year over year.
Ideas for What to Expect with the Portal Opening:
Flood of Announcements: Expect social media to light up with players entering the portal within hours of the December 9 opening. High-profile players will make headlines, potentially destabilizing even top programs.
Surprise Departures: Unexpected names will jump into the portal, blindsiding coaches and fans as players seek better NIL opportunities elsewhere.
NIL-Driven Transfers: Some athletes will enter the portal purely to gauge their NIL value and use that leverage to renegotiate deals with their current school or secure lucrative offers from new programs.
Aggressive Pursuits: Programs with significant NIL backing will operate like pro franchises, aggressively pursuing top talent from rival schools.
Increased competition for High School Recruits: High school athletes may feel sidelined as programs prioritize proven college players over incoming freshmen.
The collision of NIL and the transfer portal isn’t just a challenge—it’s an opportunity to rethink college sports and build sustainable strategies that empower athletes while preserving the integrity of the game.
As December 9 approaches, one thing is certain: college football will never be the same.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Is Financial Literacy the Hidden Superpower of NIL?
Because when athletes truly understand the power of money, less can be more in the long run.
Consider this scenario:
Athlete "A": Offered $300K, but no financial guidance
💡 If they invested that $45K at age 22, with an 8% average annual return, it could grow to $230K by age 40. Not bad, but it could be better.
Athlete "B": Offered $200K, with a financial advisor and a plan
The Result?
Athlete "A" may have been offered a bigger NIL deal initially, but Athlete "B" is set up for far greater long-term financial success.
The Takeaway?
Smaller schools with less NIL money can still offer a bigger upside by prioritizing financial education for their athletes. When we teach young talent how to manage and invest their earnings wisely, we empower them with a skill set that pays dividends for life.
Let's make financial literacy a priority in the NIL era. It's the real game-changer.
Ohio Approves Direct NIL Payments to Athletes
Ohio has officially joined the growing list of states allowing schools to make direct NIL payments to college athletes.
Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order this week, signaling a significant shift in how schools engage with student-athletes.
This move underscores a growing reality: schools understand that directly compensating their athletes is the future. They’re no longer waiting for the federal House settlement to materialize—states are taking the lead, and schools are adapting to stay competitive.
Key Takeaways:
For Schools Nationwide: It’s time to seriously consider funding NIL payments directly. Delaying action could mean falling behind in the new era of athlete empowerment.
Impact of the House Settlement: With states stepping in, its primary function may no longer be to enable NIL payments but rather to set caps on how much schools can pay athletes moving forward.
The Bigger Picture: The NIL revolution is happening state by state, making it clear that college sports are entering a new era of direct athlete compensation.
This evolution in NIL policy is reshaping the landscape of college athletics—and fast. Schools need to decide: adapt to this new norm or risk being left behind.
Let us know your thoughts on this development?
The Playbook Series Podcast
On this episode of Industry Insiders, TPNIL founder Mark R. Koesterer chatted with Eddie Capobianco , the Emmy Award-winning VP of Influencer & Talent Marketing at the National Football League (NFL) .
With over 20 years of experience in sports and entertainment, Eddie shares an insider's perspective on what it takes to drive cultural relevance, engage diverse audiences, and build unforgettable marketing campaigns.
We Want to Hear From You!
Would you like to be featured on the podcast? Send an email to markk@theplayersnil.com.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - or connect with Mark Koesterer on LinkedIn.
Have a great weekend!