Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I'm guessing a 30 second ad on the LHN is affordable to more folks than on ESPN or ESPN2

could be a price point that gets some dollars that otherwise might not be available.  maybe not

But I'm not seeing the mechanism where this puts money into a college athlete's pocket?

It's much easier just to have any large donor or corporation give a college athlete an "endorsement deal" where they pay $X for the rights to use that athlete's likeness/image for Y period of time.

The key here, is that the likeness doesn't ever have to be used. The money has already changed hands for the rights to use the likeness.  It's absolutely immaterial whether or not that likeness ever gets used.

In some cases, the donor or corporation will have a legitimate use for the likeness, and that's fine.  That's all above-board.

What people are talking about here, though, is the ability to game the system and buy up players, outbid other schools' donors and supporting corporations, etc.  To do that, you never need to actually use the likeness/image.  You just have to pay the player for the rights.

I could definitely see donors buying up a portfolio of players-- some will hit and be stars, many will miss. Those that hit, could command even larger "licensing fees" else threaten to leave through the portal.  Those that miss, will be processed out of getting payments, same way they're processed off the team.

Yup, the amount of "abuse" will be epic as boosters figure out the angles, and they almost certainly are doing that now, and have likely finished.

The total amount of liberties taken will vary depending on the specific legislation in each state.

But the states with legislators that care the most about seeing their teams have success in college athletics, are no doubt working to have the most... open.... terms possible.

of course the likeness doesn't have to be used, but it certainly could be used to advertise something in a 60 second time slot on the LHN.

most legislators in Nebraska's unicameral State Senate understand University Sports programs are a major asset to the state.

I mean it could, but why?  The point isn't to actually use the likeness.  The point is to find a way to funnel money to athletes.

If a booster really wants to get some mileage out of that likeness, then they're going to use it to advertise on platforms that reach their desired audiences.  For UT that might include the LHN, but there's nothing stopping Alabama from doing the same thing on SECN, or Ohio State from doing the same thing on BTN.  ESPN isn't going to give those timeslots away for free, so the LHN isn't going to provide any unique advantage over what other schools can access.

And in reality, a booster that wants to get some mileage out of... say... Sam Ehlinger, is probably more likely to buy spots on local stations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, where the reach is greater than is LHN.

I don't expect the use of an athlete's image/likess-- or lack thereof-- to change fundamentally the amount of money given to that athlete.  The going rate will be determined on the free market-- how much it takes to convince a player to come to your university, over the alternatives.  A prized 5* QB will command a much higher price than a 3* free safety.  A 4* running back will receive higher bids than a punter. And the more desired players will also command better terms-- they may want a 4-year deal to provide security.  Or they may want 1-year deals so that they can increase their required salary over time.  I'd imagine that the lower-tier players will likely get 1-year deals so they can be cut if they don't pan out.

And of course lots of players won't get any offers of payment at all.

well, it's illegal to promise a recruit $$$

Well, it was, anyway.

Welcome to the Brave New World.

ed zachery

and any player in a P5 conference gets much more than the wannabees

talk about slanting the field and killing competition

the stark difference between Texas and Kansas is going to grow exponentially 

ed zachery

and any player in a P5 conference gets much more than the wannabees

talk about slanting the field and killing competition

the stark difference between Texas and Kansas is going to grow exponentially

Is it though? Does Kansas have any players right now that Texas would take? How could the gap be any bigger?

Is it though? Does Kansas have any players right now that Texas would take? How could the gap be any bigger?

That's where I'm at. I don't worry too much about what players OSU is getting... As if Purdue was ever in the running for any of them? 

Guys like Rondale Moore, David Bell, George Karlaftis could go to a helmet team and be a depth piece... Or they can come to Purdue and be freakin' superstars. 

they might have one or two

they won't have going forward

Maybe, maybe not...

It depends... Is there any NIL value in being a deep bench player on a helmet team? Would some of those players actually choose to be stars at lesser programs? 

What about the QB position? It's HARD to see the field, even as a 5*, at the big helmet teams. A player like that would be an immediate starter at some lower school and would be THE face of the program... With the $$$ that comes with it. 

It won't help the G5 much, but the payoff for being a superstar at a mid-level P5 might be more compelling than being an also-ran at a helmet...