https://www.on3.com/nil/news/on3-top-20-most-ambitious-nil-collectives-year-2-tennessee-texas-am-oregon/?fbclid=IwAR0VPzKCE8JGNsjGXbKmRgMLE0oay9fqBa4bBQnf7cOo9wnWM4Vvd37pzSsOn3 is analyzing the most pressing issues nationally with an eye on Year 3 of college athletics’ modern athlete compensation model. Here are On3’s rankings of the top 20 most ambitious NIL collectives through two years. There are new names since the list released last August. These all play a unique role in helping to shape this category in real-time. All are impactful.
1. Spyre Sports Group (Tennessee)
2. 12th Man+ Fund (Texas A&M)
3. Division St. (Oregon)
4. Texas One Fund (Texas)
5. John Ruiz/Canes Connection (Miami)
6. The Battle’s End (Florida State)
7. House of Victory (USC)
8. OneArkansas NIL (Arkansas)
9. The Grove Collective (Ole Miss)
10. Country Roads Trust (West Virginia)
11. Matador Club (Texas Tech)
12. On To Victory (Auburn)
13. Valiant/Champions Circle (Michigan)
14. Classic City (Georgia)
15. Montlake Futures (Washington)
16. Garnet Trust (South Carolina)
17. Crimson and Cream (Oklahoma)
18. Mass St. (Kansas)
19. The 1890 Initiative
(Nebraska) Dollars are not hard to come by at Nebraska with The 1890 Initiative. Former Husker great Matt Davison partnered with Nebraska businessman Tom Peed and Shawn Peed to form The 1890 Initiative. As part of the launch in October, the group took over Athlete Branding & Marketing.
Since the announcement, the collective has worked with a number of football and volleyball athletes. Matt Rhule held a camp earlier this month in the Dallas. The 1890 Initiative held a fundraising event that night for Nebraska boosters in the area. They also have hosted booster events in Phoenix and Denver.
Yet, athletic director Trev Alberts has not come out in support of the collective on NU’s official channels. The 1890 collective has made a public push, however, to get in front of fans. They have done TV commercials, radio ad and bill boards around the state. According to a source at Nebraska, more than 85 football players have signed with the collective.
Whenever industry sources talk about the NIL landscape in the Big Ten, Nebraska is one of the first collectives brought up. Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Dylan Raiola committed to Georgia last month. A Nebraska legacy, his father played for the Huskers and his uncle is currently Nebraska’s offensive line coach. Multiple sources have indicated to On3 that if NIL had been a major factor in his decision, he would be a Nebraska commit.
20. Boulevard Collective (SMU)
