• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Aquinas College Volleyball Player First to Capitalize on NIL Deal

  • Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at Aquinas College, is one of the first college athletes to monetize their brand on social media.
  • This article was first published in the FOS AM Newsletter. Subscribe here.
Aquinas College Volleyball

Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., has become one of the first college athletes to monetize their brand on social media. 

Mitchell’s success comes after the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics began allowing athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness in October. 

Mitchell’s Business Moves: Mitchell has more than 2.6 million TikTok followers and a growing audience on Instagram and YouTube.

She also co-founded Playbooked, an app to connect college athletes with paid opportunities, leading to her first piece of sponsored content with advertisers Bloodline Golf and Delta Putt. 

Mitchell is projected to make between $15,000 and $20,000 in NIL earnings for her work.

NIL Outlook: Beginning on Aug. 1, 2021, college athletes could have more opportunities to make money. 

Recently proposed rule changes will be voted on by the NCAA Division I Council in January. Updated rules would let athletes:

  • Earn money from signing autographs and providing lessons
  • Use their NIL to promote products and personal appearances

A typical athlete could be able to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 annually from their NIL, while ESPN estimates that All-Americans in high-profile sports could generate between $500,000 and $2 million per year. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Football Transfer Portal Chaos Continues Despite New Rules

The NCAA eliminated the spring portal window, leaving just one in January.

Miami’s CFP Run Nets $14M So Far—and Canes Keep It All

The CFP awards these funds to conferences, which distribute them to schools.
The participants in the first Content Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass after Grant Horvat (with trophy) won with a birdie putt at the par-3 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 12.

The Year of YouTube Golf: How the PGA Tour and LIV Golf..

Organized competitions for golf influencers exploded in 2025.
Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive end Damon Wilson II (8) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Georgia, Ex-Football Player Suing Each Other in NIL Dispute

Star DE Damon Wilson transferred to Missouri after two years at Georgia.

Featured Today

Hockey in Florida Was Once a Risk. Now It’s Thriving

The state of Florida has become a traditional—and highly lucrative—market.
Dec 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Crypto.com Arena
January 4, 2026

Why Pro Sports Team Valuations Will Keep Climbing in 2026

Asset scarcity and increasing media-rights deals underpin soaring valuations.
Imagn Images/Front Office Sports
January 2, 2026

FOS Crystal Ball: Predictions for the Business of Sports in 2026

Here’s what FOS journalists think could be on the horizon.
Heated Rivalry (L to R) - Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 104 of Heated Rivalry. Cr. Sabrina Lantos © 2025
December 24, 2025

Hockey Needed Some Virality. Then Came ‘Heated Rivalry’

No one was prepared for the Canadian show’s smash success.
Nov 1, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) warms up before the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
January 5, 2026

Million-Dollar QBs Dominate College Football’s Transfer Portal Window

A single transfer portal window is running Jan. 2–16.
Sep 13, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) passes in the first half against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Michigan Stadium.
January 6, 2026

Bryce Underwood to Stay at Michigan for Sophomore Season

Underwood led the Wolverines to 9–4 as a true freshman.
Sponsored

ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025: Inside the Technology Shaping the Future of..

At ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025, ESPN showcased how AI, immersive tech, and a rebuilt direct-to-consumer platform are redefining the future of sports media.
Charlie Weis Jr
January 5, 2026

Charlie Weis Jr. Could Leave LSU for NFL With No Buyout

Weis won’t owe LSU a buyout if he lands certain NFL roles.
January 4, 2026

As Ole Miss Advances in CFP, Kiffin Collects Bonuses—and Its Staff

Several assistant coaches are now expected to stay with LSU.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on before the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
January 2, 2026

Cignetti Triggers ‘Good Faith Market Review’ With Rose Bowl Win

The blowout of Alabama will likely mean a $1 million raise.
Dec 13, 2025; Inglewood, CA, USA; Boise State Broncos punter Oscar Doyle (37), long snapper Mason Hutton (42) and place kicker Canaan Moore (48) on the bench prior to the LA Bowl Game against the Washington Huskies at SoFi Stadium.
January 2, 2026

The Pac-12 Comes Back in 2026

The league was decimated in 2023 during a vicious round of realignment.