TicketsWhat is NIL? That is the billion-dollar question I hope to shed some light on.
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) refers to the ability of a student-athlete to profit from their name, image and likeness. Simple, right? So why is it such a hot-button issue? While the list of court cases is too lengthy to cover in detail here, it's important to know that NIL has been a long time coming.
July 1, 2021, marked Day 1 of NIL rights for athletes igniting a new era of college sports.
Who's ready to hop on the sticks?
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) July 16, 2024
Drop usernames below 🎮⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GpZt8IUwa7
The primary goal of NIL is to create a level playing field for student-athletes and the general public. There is nothing prohibiting any of you reading this from building a platform and endorsing a product or service. The ability to leverage your own personal platform may not have ever crossed your mind, but it's the mere possibility that distinguishes you and I from student-athletes. For the longest time, student-athletes were unable to do such a thing, so NIL, as it was written, was intended to simply level the playing field.
Think about all the behind-the-scenes content that you love to see: the personalities of the student-athletes, what their interested in, how they interact and their hobbies or favorite things. Catching a glimpse inside their lives outside of the game is what we fans love. NIL is the athlete's ability to take all those things and capitalize on them.
Mainstream media often depicts NIL as athletes earning millions of dollars. Money is a part of NIL, yes, but do any of us work for free? If you work hard to build up your personal brand and/or have an influential social platform – compensation is an earned plus.
Contrary to popular belief, most athletes average around $50-100 per deal; a drastically different number than the headlines you have probably seen. Most athletes aren't receiving millions of dollars in cash, but they are gaining significant value that cannot be simply quantified.
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At the heart of NIL is entrepreneurship, social media, general marketing, sales, content creation, graphics, videos, pitch decks, networking, I could go on. The student-athletes who choose to engage in NIL (because not all athletes do) through our Impact NIL department get a full suite of education. The system is formatted for student-athletes to learn more about skills, business and life in general than I think could ever be taught in a classroom. The magic lies in understanding the how and the why, and then being able to immediately apply that knowledge to something that directly benefits you.
"In my freshman year, I learned that NIL plays a role in every college athlete's experience. NIL starts slow and as you work at it, it gets easier and easier, and stuff starts to come your way. The better a person you are and how much you put into it is what you'll get out of it."
Evan Tengesdahl, Football, Sophomore, @EvanTengesdahl_
As previously mentioned, NIL is more than just money. Evan Tengesdahl joined the FC Cincinnati College Ambassador Program. FCC launched this program aimed at providing students with professional development opportunities and allowing them to learn from industry professionals. Aside from being an ambassador with FCC, Evan's platform has led him to work with a variety of brands such as Playa Bowls, G Fuel and more.
Most athletes don't have the luxury of picking the most extensive majors because of their sports workload, travel, etc., thus NIL helps student-athletes potentially solve the "identity crisis" they may face after graduating. NIL helps athletes identify their interests and passions outside of sports, which then creates opportunities for not just NIL deals but also for jobs, co-ops, internships, etc. The pathways are unlimited.
"In my freshman year in NIL, I learned to express myself not just as an athlete but as my true self. It empowered me to understand the value of my personal brand and the opportunities and friendships it continues to bring me"
Gabby Guenther, Women's Tennis, Sophomore @Gabby.guenther
This summer, Gabby Guenther was invited to the third-annual NIL Summit. The NIL Awards is an event where student-athletes, brands and creators gather to recognize excellence and equip athletes with the resources they need to maximize their NIL opportunities. Gabby has efficiently grown her personal brand, which has opened doors for her to collaborate with companies such as The Hub, Circle K, Better Blend, Currito and Liquid IV.
The billion-dollar question, "What is NIL?" can be answered by acknowledging that NIL allows student-athletes to become more than just athletes. It allows them to leverage their skills, interests and platforms to become the best versions of themselves, creating greater impact for their brands and communities. NIL is the opportunity for student-athletes to create opportunities for today and the rest of their lives.