Clemson University in South Carolina, home of the Tigers, is setting the bar for excellence in today’s college sports landscape. Donors to IPTAY, Clemson’s athletic fundraising program that began in 1934, helped to fund the department’s excellence with $78 million in giving in the 2024 fiscal year alone. In just five years, Clemson Athletics opened three newly constructed athletic facilities for softball, lacrosse, and gymnastics. It also made multimillion-dollar investments in others among its 13 facilities. The Tigers have 12 women’s sports teams, which set a home attendance record in the 2023–2024 academic year of 150,000 fans. As for mental health, 100% of college athletes have utilized the department’s comprehensive mental health services in some way. And when it comes to NIL, the department has dedicated advisers on deck to help young athletes crack the rule through one-on-one services, from helping to build personal brands to auditing deal contracts. Clemson Athletics also collaborated with academic departments like its business school and partnered with the full-stack content platform INFLCR to provide even more monetization training and tools. Throw in that Clemson invested in the nation's first facility dedicated to brand-building, with studios for podcasting, video capture, and photography, and it’s clear that empowering college athletes to maximize NIL opportunities is a top priority.

Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference

The University of South Florida (USF) is making its mark in college athletics as part of Division I, with its football and basketball programs leading attendance in the American Athletic Conference. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, USF raised a record-breaking $42 million, which supports its athletes through the Bulls Club Annual Fund, Enhancing U, and the Selmon Mentoring Institute. Over the past five years, USF has invested heavily in its athletic facilities, including recent additions to nine different sports complexes and the construction of a new 35,000-seat stadium and sports performance center. The athletic department offers a unique set of college athlete resources, including the Selmon Mentoring Institute for career development, the LinkUp weekly dinner for college athletes, and the Building Better Bulls peer-to-peer mental health support group. The NIL department has also become a priority, offering dedicated support through the Fowler Avenue Collective—the official collective of USF—for college athletes to tell their stories and evaluate local and national opportunities. USF is one of the few schools in the country to have a GM and assistant GM focused solely on supporting the college athlete NIL journey.

Conference: American Athletic Conference

The University of Oregon Athletics is a leader in collegiate sports, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities, including Hayward Field, which was rebuilt in 2020, and the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for football operations. For the 2023 fiscal year, the UO Athletic Department raised more than $40 million to support a wide range of college athlete services. The department is committed to enhancing the college athlete experience through robust NIL programs offered by Opendorse, along with access to legal clinics and comprehensive media resources. Mental health is a top priority, with services that include individual therapy, crisis intervention, and digital wellness tools designed to support overall well-being. The Ducks Go Pro program focuses on career readiness, providing internships, networking opportunities, and professional development workshops for college athletes. In addition, Oregon Athletics boasts an advanced athletic medicine program that emphasizes injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. With a dedicated team of health-care professionals, the department ensures college athletes receive exceptional care and support for their athletic and academic journeys. Oregon Athletics is committed to fostering success both on the field and in life.

Conference: Big Ten Conference

The University of Oklahoma (OU) continues to lead in athletic excellence. In recent years, OU has completed several facility upgrades, including cosmetic renovations in 2024 for its baseball, soccer, and rowing complexes, and ongoing projects for men’s and women’s gymnastics, golf, and tennis, expected to be completed by 2025. New softball and basketball training facilities were also completed this year. These improvements contribute to OU’s goal of fostering athletic and personal success for its college athletes. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, OU raised $41 million, including $7 million for its Champions Fund, further enhancing college athlete experiences. OU’s NIL program is robust, featuring partnerships with Opendorse and INFLCR, and offering enhanced financial literacy education through local MidFirst Bank. The university is also recognized for its dedication to mental health through its PROS program, which provides comprehensive counseling and performance psychology services. OU has also implemented unique strategies to bolster general student attendance at athletic events, including hosting student-only games, field trips with the teams, and implementing the Sooner Rewards incentive program. In the 2023–2024 athletic season, nine sports saw the highest average season attendance in school history, with volleyball, men’s basketball, and baseball setting their respective records for highest single-event student attendance.

Conference: Southeastern Conference

Fairfield University, a Division I institution, is elevating its athletic profile with key investments in both facilities and college athlete development. In 2022, Fairfield unveiled the $52 million Leo D. Mahoney Arena, a centerpiece of its athletics program. The university also raised $2.5 million in the last fiscal year to support its athletes. Fairfield's "Built for Life" program exemplifies its commitment to holistic development, offering educational programs that cover NIL topics such as financial literacy, personal branding, tax preparation, and mentorship for more than 500 college athletes. NIL support is a priority at Fairfield, with administrators in marketing and compliance helping athletes navigate opportunities. The university is partnered with INFLCR, and its official collective Red Sea, powered by SANIL, provides additional educational resources. Fairfield also collaborates with Athlete’s Thread, allowing college athletes to profit from their custom apparel lines. On the mental health front, Fairfield Athletics has a "Stags Care" team to support college athletes through counseling, therapy, and peer mentorship programs. The university has full-service sports medicine facilities, a modern student health center, and close access to an orthopedic specialist.

Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Old Dominion University (ODU) continues to make strides in enhancing its athletic facilities and supporting its college athletes. In 2023, ODU completed renovations to its women's soccer locker room and updated football locker rooms at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex. Additionally, the university is currently undergoing a significant renovation of its baseball stadium. ODU raised $18 million in the last fiscal year, which helps fund these projects and provides support to its athletes. ODU is dedicated to assisting college athletes in the NIL space, partnering with organizations like Athlete’s Threads, INFLCR, and Teamworks. These partnerships further the university’s commitment to support athletes to build their personal brands and monetize opportunities. The university also emphasizes mental health, offering one-on-one counseling, therapy, peer mentorship, and sports-specific psychology through two on-staff athletics counselors.

Conference: Sun Belt Conference

Wake Forest University is a powerhouse in the ACC, continually enhancing its athletic programs and facilities. In 2024, the university invested more than $32 million into athletic initiatives, contributing to a "World Class Student-Athlete Experience." These efforts are supported by a strong partnership with Opendorse for NIL education; The Brandr Group, which allows more than 400 college athletes across 18 varsity sports to benefit from NIL opportunities; and the official collective Roll the Quad. Additionally, Wake Forest fosters mental health and wellness through innovative partnerships with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, which provide advanced medical care for athletes. Through a partnership with Truist, college athletes gain financial education and leadership development, and captains receive leadership training at the Truist Leadership Institute. Wake Forest Athletics’ commitment to college athlete development is evident in its robust financial literacy programs, leadership initiatives, and career preparation efforts. New traditions like “Wake The Demons” extended the excitement to the night before football games and contributed to sellout crowds for multiple home games during the 2023–2024 academic year.

Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference