• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Ohio State’s $20M NIL Roster Just Won the National Championship

The Buckeyes, who won a national title Monday night, are believed to have one of the highest NIL “payrolls” in all of college sports. 

The Columbus Dispatch

ATLANTA — A common colloquialism states that money doesn’t buy happiness. Ohio State fans might beg to differ.

The Buckeyes, who won the College Football Playoff national title against Notre Dame on Monday night by a score of 34–23, used about $20 million in NIL (name, image, and likeness) funds to build their championship-caliber roster. 

Ohio State is believed to have one of the highest NIL “payrolls” in all of college sports this year, offering more money to their football players than most other schools allotted in NIL earnings to their entire athletic departments combined. 

Among their big guns: “THE Foundation,” a collective of boosters and donors that has both a nonprofit and for-profit arm, as well as the 1870 Society. An athletic department representative previously declined a Front Office Sports request for comment on the collective strategy surrounding the school, but head coach Ryan Day was reportedly deeply involved in fundraising.

The combination of an unregulated transfer portal and NIL earnings have created a new era of “unrestricted free agency” in college football this year, which many teams use to completely rebuild their rosters. Ohio State certainly did that: quarterback Will Howard transferred from Kansas State, and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith arrived fresh out of high school. But the Buckeyes also have plenty of returning players, some of whom opted to stay in Columbus instead of transferring or declaring for the NFL Draft. 

Take defensive end Jack Sawyer, for example. Sawyer was Ryan Day’s first commit in 2019, and has stayed with the team his entire career. As one of the team’s captains, he was reported to be on a mission this past offseason to convince as many of his teammates as possible to return for one more year.

Sawyer, a lifelong Ohio State fan, may not have needed NIL to cement his returnk. But it’s a nice added perk: Sawyer told Front Office Sports over the weekend that the program has provided “great opportunities” all season in terms of NIL.

In addition to what he may be receiving from collective opportunities or other brand deals, he has been earning some passive NIL income this week with a merchandise drop commemorating his “scoop n’ score” play during the Cotton Bowl that helped punch the Buckeyes’ ticket to the national championship. “It’s definitely opened a lot of doors for a lot of us,” Sawyer said Saturday. 

Perhaps a national championship was one of them.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

CBS, NFL Host James Brown Discussing Contract Extension

The 74-year-old Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows.
Tennis

Wimbledon’s Rollout of Automated Line Judges Has Been Rocky

The electronic system briefly went down Sunday, leading to a controversial replay.
Malika Andrews
exclusive

Joe Buck, Malika Andrews to Guest-Host ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’

Elle Duncan and Laura Rutledge have also had discussions.
Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Clark
exclusive

Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Agree to Terms for Contract Extension

Orlovsky had faced possible free agency this summer with his contract ending.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Louis, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Nicholas DeGraves (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston University Terriers during the third period of the Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at Enterprise Center

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State Commitment Cements College Hockey Supremacy

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State decision signals hockey’s rising stars now prefer NCAA.
Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.
July 7, 2025

Felix Ojo’s Agent Says Texas Tech Offered $5.1M At Start of Rev-Share..

Texas Tech secured Ojo with a seven-figure NIL commitment.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
July 7, 2025

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
July 6, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Chaos Begins as Texas Tech Secures Five-Star OT

The Red Raiders spent more than $10 million in the winter transfer portal.
July 3, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About EA’s Return to College Basketball Video..

There hasn’t been a college basketball game in more than 15 years.
Ohio State
July 1, 2025

Collectives Funnel $20 Million to College Athletes on Last Day Before Revenue..

Collectives frontloaded payments just before the revenue sharing era begins July 1.
July 1, 2025

Big Ten Commish Still Pushes for 4 Auto CFP Bids in 16-Team..

The conference wants four guaranteed spots in the Playoff.