• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 5, 2025

Social Partnerships Thrive Despite Financial Woes

  • While departments slash teams, they’ve continued to invest in one specific expense: enhancing athletes’ social media content.
  • Departments know fans want social content, and athletes want to attract more followers in preparation to monetize NIL.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

While departments slash teams, they’ve continued to invest in one specific expense: enhancing athletes’ social media content.

“It can be tedious to find dollars to invest in technology,” Neeta Sreekanth, INFLCR’s chief operating officer, told FOS. But programs and conferences like DePaul and the West Coast Conference have recently signed partnerships with INFLCR, a company that helps athletes boost their social media presence. 

Departments know fans want social content, and athletes want to attract more followers in preparation to monetize NIL.

NIL Can’t Be Stopped

The NCAA’s recent postponement of its vote on uniform NIL regulations doesn’t concern Sreekanth. The company will make minor adjustments when legislation is passed, she said. 

“We’ve always built INFLCR on the thinking that NIL legislation is a matter of when, not if,” Sreekanth said. 

In fact, while some other executives in the NIL marketplace have criticized the postponement, Sreekanth said she personally understands it. “I think the more that they have constructed debate and conversation, the more strengthened the rule can be,” she said.

Part of Pivot to Digital 

Departments are using companies like INFLCR to capitalize on the fact that fans want to hear straight from athletes, Sreekanth said.

“I think what we’re seeing is a rotation into the creator economy,” Sreekanth said. 

Partnerships like these aren’t just providing recruiting advantages for athletes who are looking to monetize their NIL — they’re part of a survival strategy to keep the content for athletes and departments relevant.

In the months ahead, INFLCR will evaluate what kind of content has remained popular among pandemic-weary fans, Sreekanth said. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

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

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Ohio State

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

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

College Sports Revenue-Sharing Underway As More Changes Loom

July 1 marks the first day schools can directly pay players.
Jun 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) drops back to pass during minicamp at their South Side facility.
opinion

Steelers Win-Now Mode Is Good News for NFL Media Partners

The conservative “Steeler Way” has finally adapted—and media partners are happy.

Featured Today

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.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

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.
June 30, 2025

Pac-12 Hits Football Membership Threshold With Texas State Entry

The school is paying $5 million to leave the Sun Belt Conference.
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.
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.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jeremy Roach (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.
June 26, 2025

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work

The agreement stipulates that schools can’t sue to challenge any terms of the settlement.
June 26, 2025

Pac-12 Rebuild Nears Completion With 2026 Texas State Addition

The Sun Belt school is likely joining the Pac-12 in 2026.
Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.
June 25, 2025

Sacramento State ‘Full Steam Ahead’ for FBS Despite Not Receiving NCAA Waiver

The Hornets launched a public campaign to join the FBS last fall.
Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina infielder Jackson Van De Brake (6) and outfielder Carter French (18) celebrate an out during the first inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
June 25, 2025

Most Power Conference Sports Won’t See Revenue-Sharing Dollars

But there is a silver lining for Olympic sports: more scholarships.