Tuesday, October 6, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

NIL Earnings Make Some College Athletes Millionaires

Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

As of July 1, college athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness. 

Less than a month after the landmark ruling, the NIL millionaire club has emerged, and it’s growing.

  • Nick Saban says Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has already made nearly $1 million off his NIL.
  • Incoming Tennessee State University basketball player Hercy Miller, the son of Master P, signed a $2 million endorsement deal with technology company Web Apps America. 
  • With over 5 million social followers, high school hoops sensation Mikey Williams signed a contract with Excel Sports Management that’s expected to earn him millions.
  • LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has yet to sign a contract, but entertainment lawyer Roy Maughan Jr. estimates she could strike a deal worth $4 million-$5 million.

The NIL landscape has drawn both praise and criticism from high school and college coaches. Saban said he knows that things will likely be unequal. Kirby Smart, Georgia’s football coach, warned elite players to be selective about the brands they work with.

North Carolina became the first college athletics program to organize group licensing deals with third parties.

Michigan football players were the first to cash in on jersey sales featuring their names. The deal is with The M Den, Michigan’s officially licensed retailer, not the school.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Northwestern Stadium Developer Explains Empty Seats

The 35,000-seat stadium was officially sold out in its first game.
Opinion

Tony Romo Had an Enormous Impact on NFL TV

The “Romo Effect” will be felt for years to come.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Gronk about Sports Betting, Tom Brady & More

0:00

Featured Today

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.
Aug 9, 2026; Bedminster, New Jersey, USA; President Donald Trump walks out of the clubhouse during the final round of the LIV Golf New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster.
September 25, 2026

Trump’s Year of Sports Gets Busier With CFB, Presidents Cup

The impact of Trump’s attendance varies across each sporting event.
A Bar of Their Own
September 25, 2026

Women’s Sports Bars: Novelty Has Worn Off, ‘That’s a Good Thing’

They’re leveling up, but sustainability remains the first consideration.
Hot & Social/Mets
September 18, 2026

Sports Teams Are Playing a New Role: Matchmaker

The latest promotion at the stadium? Love.
Exclusive

Portnoy on Fox ‘Big Noon’ Exit: Ryan Day Thinks I ‘Doxxed’ Him

Portnoy tells FOS that Ohio State pushed for his removal.
October 3, 2026

NCAA Defers to ACC on Controversial Pitt–Virginia Tech Ending

The ACC declined to comment on the play call.
October 3, 2026

New-Look Pac-12 Returns for First Week of Conference Play

It’s a milestone many thought unlikely just three years ago.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Arizona State hockey head coach Greg Powers watches his team as they play UMass-Lowell at Oceanside Ice Arena on Jan. 12, 2018, in Tempe.
October 2, 2026

ASU Commissions Independent Investigation of Hockey Workout

Coach Greg Powers was placed on leave earlier this week.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks with New York Yankees president Randy Levine as they attend a roundtable event on collegiate sports at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 6, 2026.
Exclusive
October 2, 2026

SEC and Big Ten Don’t Want to Expand: Randy Levine

Levine argued amending the conference realignment provision would be unnecessary.
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detail view of an NCAA basketball in the hoop during the second half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament between the UConn Huskies and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
October 2, 2026

Ohio Court Reverses Grandfathering of Athletes Into NCAA Eligibility

Parallel litigation remains ongoing in several states.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; A detailed view of the College Football Playoff logo on the pylon during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
October 2, 2026

ESPN’s Exclusive Window Closes Next Week As 24-Team CFP Looms

The College Football Playoff has until Dec. 1 to expand for 2027.