Which schools have the most NIL?

The schools with the most NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money are consistently the powerhouse football programs like Texas, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Alabama, with significant funding coming from powerful NIL collectives like the 12 Man + Fund (Texas A&M), Spyre Sports Group (Tennessee), Division Street (Oregon), and The Bama NIL Collective (Alabama). While exact figures vary and are often estimates, programs in the SEC and Big Ten, especially those with strong alumni networks and Nike/Adidas ties, lead the spending, often exceeding tens of millions annually, with Texas often cited as having the highest overall roster value.

What college athlete has the highest NIL?

The highest-paid NCAA athletes in 2025-2026 are predominantly football quarterbacks like Arch Manning (Texas), leading with estimated NIL earnings around $6.8 million, followed by Carson Beck (Miami) and Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), with Basketball's AJ Dybantsa (BYU) also featuring prominently, highlighting that top-tier college football and basketball stars dominate the lucrative NIL landscape, with figures shifting constantly based on endorsements and performance.
 

What NCAA schools have the most money?

The NCAA schools with the most money, based on recent 2025 valuations, are led by the University of Texas (Longhorns), followed by Ohio State (Buckeyes), Texas A&M (Aggies), Georgia (Bulldogs), and Michigan (Wolverines), with all being valued over $1 billion, primarily driven by football and media deals, with the Big Ten and SEC dominating the top spots. 

Where does most NIL money come from?

Most NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money for college athletes comes from NIL collectives (donor-funded groups) and brand endorsements, with a significant portion from alumni, boosters, and companies paying for promotions, appearances, and merchandise, not directly from the schools themselves. Athletes also earn through their own ventures, like selling merchandise or running camps, but collectives and brands are major drivers, often using funds to attract recruits. 

How many colleges have NIL deals?

Summary of NIL Collectives:

There are 364 NCAA I member schools of which 213 currently have NIL collectives and 151 do not.

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Which states do not allow NIL?

According to the Business of College Sports, 30 state associations plus the District of Columbia allow NIL deals.

• Allowed. Alaska. California. Colorado. Connecticut. District of Columbia. Georgia. Idaho. Illinois. ...
• Not allowed. Alabama. Arkansas. Delaware. Florida. Indiana. Kentucky. Michigan. Mississippi. ...
• Unclear. Arizona. Hawaii. Vermont.

What is the average NIL salary?

There's no single "average NIL salary" because earnings vary wildly, from a few thousand dollars for many athletes ($1,000 - $10,000 range) to millions for top stars in popular sports like football and basketball, with top-tier athletes earning millions annually through endorsements and deals, while some teams see average NIL payouts well over $100k per player through revenue sharing. 

What school spends the most on NIL?

While exact figures vary by source and time, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas A&M consistently rank as the top colleges for NIL spending, with Texas often cited as #1 with budgets potentially exceeding $23 million for the transfer portal alone, backed by strong donor support and alumni networks, though reports suggest some Texas programs might even hit $40M+ in total football spending.
 

Who actually pays the NIL money?

"NIL" money (Name, Image, Likeness) is paid to college athletes by third parties like brands, companies, and NIL collectives, not directly by the universities for playing, though new revenue sharing will involve schools separately. These payments come from endorsement deals, social media promotions, appearances, and merchandise, funded by boosters, alumni, and businesses wanting to support athletes and gain exposure, with collectives pooling donor money for these deals. 

How much did Caitlin Clark make in NIL?

Caitlin Clark's 11 known NIL deals are worth a combined estimate of $3.1 million, according to ON3.

What is the richest school in college?

In 2025, Harvard University ranked No. 1, overtaking Princeton University, which dropped two places to No. 3 after leading last year's ranking. Harvard now holds $6.94 million in endowment assets per student, with a total endowment of $50.75 billion, making it the richest university in America by this measure.

Who makes more money, Big Ten or SEC?

The Big Ten is currently making more money than the SEC, leading in total revenue and per-school payouts for the 2023-24 fiscal year, primarily due to lucrative media deals and strategic conference expansion into major markets like Los Angeles and Seattle. While the SEC has historically been dominant, the Big Ten pulled ahead with nearly $928 million in revenue (around $63 million per school) compared to the SEC's $840 million (around $52 million per school) for that period, with projections showing the Big Ten could surpass $1 billion soon. 

Is D1 or D2 bigger?

D1 schools are typically the largest colleges ranging from 2,000 to 70,000 students in the student body. Division 2 schools are typically small to mid-sized colleges ranging between 1,500 to 10,000 students while D3 schools are the smallest, typically with about 2,000 students.

Is there a limit on NIL money?

Yes, there are caps on certain types of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments, specifically a new $20.5 million annual cap on direct revenue sharing from schools to athletes as part of the NCAA's recent settlement, but there's no hard cap on total NIL earnings from third-party endorsements and deals, allowing top athletes to earn unlimited amounts outside of school funds. Schools are essentially becoming agents to help secure these outside deals, while a new clearinghouse (NIL GO) aims to regulate third-party deals over $600. 

How much is Arch Manning worth NIL?

Arch Manning has one of the highest NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) valuations in college sports, projected around $5.3 to $6.8 million, making him a top-earning athlete despite initially signing few public deals; his valuation fluctuates but consistently places him at or near the top, with major partners like Red Bull, Panini, Uber, and Vuori adding to his substantial earnings, per On3 and MySA.
 

Who is the highest paid college player?

The highest-paid college athlete is generally considered to be Arch Manning, the quarterback for the University of Texas, with estimated Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) valuations ranging from $5.3 million to over $7 million, followed closely by basketball phenom AJ Dybantsa and other top football quarterbacks like Carson Beck, due to significant endorsement deals with brands like Red Bull, Uber, and Nike. 

Who is the highest NIL earner?

The highest-paid college athlete by NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals is currently Arch Manning, the Texas quarterback, with estimated earnings around $6.8 to $7.1 million for the 2025-26 season, followed by basketball players like AJ Dybantsa and football players such as Carson Beck, with rankings fluctuating based on the tracking service and time. While Manning leads, other top earners include Jeremiah Smith, Bronny James, and Shedeur Sanders, leveraging their high profiles as sons of famous athletes and their own performance.
 

What is the 40-60-80 rule?

The 40/60/80 Rule is an NCAA standard for Division I student-athlete academic eligibility, requiring them to complete specific percentages of their degree by set times: 40% of degree requirements by the start of their third year (end of sophomore year), 60% by the start of their fourth year (end of junior year), and 80% by the start of their fifth year (end of senior year) to remain eligible for competition. This rule ensures athletes make steady academic progress toward graduation, preventing last-minute rushes to finish coursework. 

Can high school athletes receive NIL money?

For example, most NIL-permitting states, including California, Florida and New York, do not specify that athletes or their guardians must notify athletic, school or state administrators of entering an NIL agreement.

Does NIL hurt smaller schools?

Because of this, NIL takes away talent from smaller schools because often the athletes are going to the schools that can offer the most money.

What college has the richest football program?

The University of Texas Longhorns consistently ranks as the college football program with the most money, valued at around $2.38 billion by The Athletic in 2025, leading due to massive revenues from media rights and a strong brand, though Ohio State University and Georgia Bulldogs are close contenders in overall athletic program valuation. 

What is Cooper Flagg's NIL value?

Cooper Flagg's NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) value was exceptionally high during his time at Duke, with estimates placing it in the millions, potentially over $28 million from major deals with brands like New Balance (reportedly $13M) and Fanatics (reportedly $15M) alone, making him a leader in college athlete earnings before even entering the NBA Draft. On3 estimated his value at around $4.8 million at one point, but this was dwarfed by actual disclosed contract figures.
 

How is NIL money paid out?

NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money is paid out through various methods like direct deposits, checks, or apps for endorsements, social media, appearances, and merchandise, often facilitated by collectives (alumni groups) or agencies, with new direct payments from schools also beginning, all typically treated as independent contractor income subject to taxes, and governed by evolving NCAA and state rules. Payments can be upfront, milestone-based, or performance bonuses, but must reflect fair market value for services, not just for playing.
 

Do D1 athletes get free food?

According to the legislation, Division I and Division II universities require that all student-athletes receive “unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation.” This flexibility allows for tailored support to fit the needs of an individual and team.

What is Bryce Underwood's NIL valuation?

Bryce Underwood's NIL value is estimated around $3 million annually by On3, but his reported multi-year deal with Michigan, which secured his commitment, is widely believed to be in the $10-$12 million range over four years, making it one of the largest ever for a high school recruit. Key figures like Tom Brady and billionaire booster Jolene Zoo (wife of Larry Ellison) helped facilitate this landmark deal, which included substantial financial incentives and long-term brand opportunities through Michigan's collectives, establishing a new benchmark for player compensation in college football.