By: Jeremy Brandspiegel
Over the past few years, college athletes have been cashing in on their Name, Image, and Likeness since it was made legal. College athletes have reshaped the way college sports work with so many of them, landing endorsement deals and changing the way the modern student athlete operates. College athletes are no longer just students and athletes, but many of them are owners of brands and responsible for marketing themselves. With these recent changes, many colleges across the country have recognized the importance of providing resources to assist their student athletes navigate this new world.
One of the biggest changes in the college systems is the creation of NIL hubs, which are spaces designed to help student athletes maximize their potential earnings while also balancing the sports they are playing as well as their work as a student. The hubs are providing assistance on branding, marketing, financial literacy, the law, which is allowing college athletes to better understand the opportunities that they are being given and how to make decisions around them.
The NIL hubs also offer a space where athletes can bond with one another and build a community. The connection between these college students is not just about sports, but about branding, marketing, and much more as well. The hubs provide these experiences as they also provide opportunities for collaborations and building networks with each other. Nebraska has taken steps to ensure that college athletes begin forming a larger community through programs. According to Sports Illustrated, Every Nebraska college athlete will participate in the Husker Advantage portion. The program will include lessons on networking and communication as well as brand building. These programs will ensure that players are being educated, but also bonding with each other.
The most recent school to announce the plans for an NIL hub is Alabama. With the recent partnership extension between Alabama and Learfield, the deal included the creation of an NIL center. Alabama and Learfield will also turn the new Advantage Center into a showcase for NIL according to the Sports Business Journal. Alabama is embracing the future of the industry by not only supporting their athletes, but setting them up for greater success.
The creation of NIL hubs has been a significant addition to an already rapidly growing industry. Many colleges are beginning to understand the importance and values of NIL and are supporting their athletes. As NIL continues to grow and the financial earnings for athletes becomes more important, colleges will begin to be expected to provide resources for their athletes to better succeed.