Ben Portnoy
@bportnoy15.bsky.social
College sports reporter for Sports Business Journal | Ex-Hoosier
Opendorse has released a new report around positional NIL earnings in college football.
A few highlights:
- QBs account for 18% of P4 football budgets, the largest share of any position
- Just 0.3% of P4 players are making >$1 million, but 10% are making at least $100K
A few highlights:
- QBs account for 18% of P4 football budgets, the largest share of any position
- Just 0.3% of P4 players are making >$1 million, but 10% are making at least $100K
August 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Opendorse has released a new report around positional NIL earnings in college football.
A few highlights:
- QBs account for 18% of P4 football budgets, the largest share of any position
- Just 0.3% of P4 players are making >$1 million, but 10% are making at least $100K
A few highlights:
- QBs account for 18% of P4 football budgets, the largest share of any position
- Just 0.3% of P4 players are making >$1 million, but 10% are making at least $100K
Kentucky has announced an extension of its MMR partnership with JMI Sports “valued at more than $465 million.”
A few nuggets from the release:
A few nuggets from the release:
August 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Kentucky has announced an extension of its MMR partnership with JMI Sports “valued at more than $465 million.”
A few nuggets from the release:
A few nuggets from the release:
New Balance has signed Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love to an endorsement deal, the company announced.
Love joins a client list that includes Chase Young and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Last season, Love helped Notre Dame to the national title with 1,125 yards rushing and 17 TDs.
Love joins a client list that includes Chase Young and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Last season, Love helped Notre Dame to the national title with 1,125 yards rushing and 17 TDs.
August 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
New Balance has signed Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love to an endorsement deal, the company announced.
Love joins a client list that includes Chase Young and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Last season, Love helped Notre Dame to the national title with 1,125 yards rushing and 17 TDs.
Love joins a client list that includes Chase Young and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Last season, Love helped Notre Dame to the national title with 1,125 yards rushing and 17 TDs.
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua tells SBJ he's supportive of the recent executive order issued by Pres. Donald Trump.
Bevacqua has been one of the leading voices in D.C. around federal college sports legislation, played golf with Trump and Greg Sankey earlier this summer, etc.
Bevacqua has been one of the leading voices in D.C. around federal college sports legislation, played golf with Trump and Greg Sankey earlier this summer, etc.
August 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua tells SBJ he's supportive of the recent executive order issued by Pres. Donald Trump.
Bevacqua has been one of the leading voices in D.C. around federal college sports legislation, played golf with Trump and Greg Sankey earlier this summer, etc.
Bevacqua has been one of the leading voices in D.C. around federal college sports legislation, played golf with Trump and Greg Sankey earlier this summer, etc.
The College Sports Commission has issued new guidance around collective payments, essentially walking back its blanket ban on such transactions.
They’ll now be allowed, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and under some scrutiny.
Statement from the CSC below:
They’ll now be allowed, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and under some scrutiny.
Statement from the CSC below:
July 31, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The College Sports Commission has issued new guidance around collective payments, essentially walking back its blanket ban on such transactions.
They’ll now be allowed, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and under some scrutiny.
Statement from the CSC below:
They’ll now be allowed, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and under some scrutiny.
Statement from the CSC below:
Auburn is set to announce a three-year deal with Peachtree Entertainment to bring live music to its venues.
The deal brokered by Elevate will see Peachtree bring at least five shows per year to Neville Arena and one concert to Jordan-Hare Stadium over the life of the agreement.
The deal brokered by Elevate will see Peachtree bring at least five shows per year to Neville Arena and one concert to Jordan-Hare Stadium over the life of the agreement.
July 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Auburn is set to announce a three-year deal with Peachtree Entertainment to bring live music to its venues.
The deal brokered by Elevate will see Peachtree bring at least five shows per year to Neville Arena and one concert to Jordan-Hare Stadium over the life of the agreement.
The deal brokered by Elevate will see Peachtree bring at least five shows per year to Neville Arena and one concert to Jordan-Hare Stadium over the life of the agreement.
The Rose Bowl is set to tab Elevate as its exclusive premium sales partner through a multi-year agreement, sources tell SBJ.
The stadium is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation that includes new premium seating ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
The stadium is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation that includes new premium seating ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
July 22, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The Rose Bowl is set to tab Elevate as its exclusive premium sales partner through a multi-year agreement, sources tell SBJ.
The stadium is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation that includes new premium seating ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
The stadium is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation that includes new premium seating ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
The second annual College Basketball Crown is set for April 1-5 in Las Vegas, sources tell @SBJ.
The event put on by Fox Sports and AEG will also see a host of returning sponsors, including:
- Ghost Energy
- Vivid Seats
- JSX
- Circa Resort & Casino
- MGM Resorts International
The event put on by Fox Sports and AEG will also see a host of returning sponsors, including:
- Ghost Energy
- Vivid Seats
- JSX
- Circa Resort & Casino
- MGM Resorts International
July 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The second annual College Basketball Crown is set for April 1-5 in Las Vegas, sources tell @SBJ.
The event put on by Fox Sports and AEG will also see a host of returning sponsors, including:
- Ghost Energy
- Vivid Seats
- JSX
- Circa Resort & Casino
- MGM Resorts International
The event put on by Fox Sports and AEG will also see a host of returning sponsors, including:
- Ghost Energy
- Vivid Seats
- JSX
- Circa Resort & Casino
- MGM Resorts International
An interesting nugget in this — The Big East would receive a weighted vote on the NCAA men’s basketball oversight committee.
The rationale hinges on the league’s history in the sport and that its investment mirrors that of the P4.
MBB oversight would be structured as follows:
The rationale hinges on the league’s history in the sport and that its investment mirrors that of the P4.
MBB oversight would be structured as follows:
July 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
An interesting nugget in this — The Big East would receive a weighted vote on the NCAA men’s basketball oversight committee.
The rationale hinges on the league’s history in the sport and that its investment mirrors that of the P4.
MBB oversight would be structured as follows:
The rationale hinges on the league’s history in the sport and that its investment mirrors that of the P4.
MBB oversight would be structured as follows:
The recommendation provides, among other things, a breakdown of how the voting percentages on varying NCAA committees would be divvied up:
July 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The recommendation provides, among other things, a breakdown of how the voting percentages on varying NCAA committees would be divvied up:
Iowa and Learfield are set to announce a five-year extension of their current partnership (Official announcement expected Thursday).
The current deal between the two parties was slated to run two more years, while the extension now binds them through 2032.
The current deal between the two parties was slated to run two more years, while the extension now binds them through 2032.
July 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Iowa and Learfield are set to announce a five-year extension of their current partnership (Official announcement expected Thursday).
The current deal between the two parties was slated to run two more years, while the extension now binds them through 2032.
The current deal between the two parties was slated to run two more years, while the extension now binds them through 2032.
The Power Four conferences (plus the Pac-12) have put out a joint-statement related to the mark up of the SCORE Act on Capitol Hill earlier today.
The mark up was conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
The mark up was conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
July 15, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The Power Four conferences (plus the Pac-12) have put out a joint-statement related to the mark up of the SCORE Act on Capitol Hill earlier today.
The mark up was conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
The mark up was conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Some interesting comments from Sankey related to the CFP and whether the SEC will adjust its scheduling from eight league games to nine:
July 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Some interesting comments from Sankey related to the CFP and whether the SEC will adjust its scheduling from eight league games to nine:
Greg Sankey taking the podium here in Atlanta to kick things off at SEC Media Days
July 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Greg Sankey taking the podium here in Atlanta to kick things off at SEC Media Days
BYU men's basketball star AJ Dybantsa has signed a multi-year exclusive deal with Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles centered on trading cards and memorabilia.
The deal "starts immediately and goes beyond Dybantsa’s collegiate career."
(H/T Fanatics)
The deal "starts immediately and goes beyond Dybantsa’s collegiate career."
(H/T Fanatics)
July 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
BYU men's basketball star AJ Dybantsa has signed a multi-year exclusive deal with Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles centered on trading cards and memorabilia.
The deal "starts immediately and goes beyond Dybantsa’s collegiate career."
(H/T Fanatics)
The deal "starts immediately and goes beyond Dybantsa’s collegiate career."
(H/T Fanatics)
Officially official: Utah State AD Diana Sabau is headed to Maryland as a senior deputy AD.
She'll join new AD Jim Smith, who's heading to College Park from the Atlanta Braves.
She'll join new AD Jim Smith, who's heading to College Park from the Atlanta Braves.
July 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Officially official: Utah State AD Diana Sabau is headed to Maryland as a senior deputy AD.
She'll join new AD Jim Smith, who's heading to College Park from the Atlanta Braves.
She'll join new AD Jim Smith, who's heading to College Park from the Atlanta Braves.
The AAC is hiring New York Jets exec Kelli Sargenti as its senior director of partnership marketing, sources tell SBJ.
Sargenti will serve as the main contact for corporate partners within American RISE Ventures, the league's new business division.
Sargenti will serve as the main contact for corporate partners within American RISE Ventures, the league's new business division.
July 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The AAC is hiring New York Jets exec Kelli Sargenti as its senior director of partnership marketing, sources tell SBJ.
Sargenti will serve as the main contact for corporate partners within American RISE Ventures, the league's new business division.
Sargenti will serve as the main contact for corporate partners within American RISE Ventures, the league's new business division.
Fresno State and NIL platform The LinkU have agreed to a three-year partnership around athlete revenue sharing, sources tell SBJ.
The LinkU will serve as the processing platform for rev share payments Fresno State makes to its athletes.
The LinkU will serve as the processing platform for rev share payments Fresno State makes to its athletes.
July 8, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Fresno State and NIL platform The LinkU have agreed to a three-year partnership around athlete revenue sharing, sources tell SBJ.
The LinkU will serve as the processing platform for rev share payments Fresno State makes to its athletes.
The LinkU will serve as the processing platform for rev share payments Fresno State makes to its athletes.
Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione is set to retire during the coming school year, sources confirm to SBJ.
Castiglione is one of the giants of modern college sports and has been a mainstay in Norman since 1998.
Expecting official confirmation shortly (ESPN first on this).
Castiglione is one of the giants of modern college sports and has been a mainstay in Norman since 1998.
Expecting official confirmation shortly (ESPN first on this).
July 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione is set to retire during the coming school year, sources confirm to SBJ.
Castiglione is one of the giants of modern college sports and has been a mainstay in Norman since 1998.
Expecting official confirmation shortly (ESPN first on this).
Castiglione is one of the giants of modern college sports and has been a mainstay in Norman since 1998.
Expecting official confirmation shortly (ESPN first on this).
Ohio State star WR Jeremiah Smith signed with Adidas, per release.
He'll represent the brand via a handful of marketing campaigns, etc.
Smith also joins a couple other Buckeyes on the Adidas roster including Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka.
He'll represent the brand via a handful of marketing campaigns, etc.
Smith also joins a couple other Buckeyes on the Adidas roster including Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka.
July 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Ohio State star WR Jeremiah Smith signed with Adidas, per release.
He'll represent the brand via a handful of marketing campaigns, etc.
Smith also joins a couple other Buckeyes on the Adidas roster including Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka.
He'll represent the brand via a handful of marketing campaigns, etc.
Smith also joins a couple other Buckeyes on the Adidas roster including Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka.
Significant AD news: UNC has extended AD Bubba Cunningham's contract through July 2029 ~and~ hired RFK Racing President Steve Newmark as AD in waiting.
Newmark will serve as executive associate AD in the interim and take over in 2026 (Cunningham will become a senior advisor).
Newmark will serve as executive associate AD in the interim and take over in 2026 (Cunningham will become a senior advisor).
July 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Significant AD news: UNC has extended AD Bubba Cunningham's contract through July 2029 ~and~ hired RFK Racing President Steve Newmark as AD in waiting.
Newmark will serve as executive associate AD in the interim and take over in 2026 (Cunningham will become a senior advisor).
Newmark will serve as executive associate AD in the interim and take over in 2026 (Cunningham will become a senior advisor).
The Big 12 is set to announce an expansion of its deal with Microsoft, sources told SBJ.
The multi-year partnership will see the Big 12 utilize Microsoft’s Copilot technology to enhance business ops.
Big 12 Media Days next week in DFW will also be "powered" by Copilot.
The multi-year partnership will see the Big 12 utilize Microsoft’s Copilot technology to enhance business ops.
Big 12 Media Days next week in DFW will also be "powered" by Copilot.
June 30, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The Big 12 is set to announce an expansion of its deal with Microsoft, sources told SBJ.
The multi-year partnership will see the Big 12 utilize Microsoft’s Copilot technology to enhance business ops.
Big 12 Media Days next week in DFW will also be "powered" by Copilot.
The multi-year partnership will see the Big 12 utilize Microsoft’s Copilot technology to enhance business ops.
Big 12 Media Days next week in DFW will also be "powered" by Copilot.
An interesting House-related announcement this afternoon.
Omaha, which competes largely in the Summit League, will ~not~ be opting into the settlement.
Here’s part of the school’s rationale:
Omaha, which competes largely in the Summit League, will ~not~ be opting into the settlement.
Here’s part of the school’s rationale:
June 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
An interesting House-related announcement this afternoon.
Omaha, which competes largely in the Summit League, will ~not~ be opting into the settlement.
Here’s part of the school’s rationale:
Omaha, which competes largely in the Summit League, will ~not~ be opting into the settlement.
Here’s part of the school’s rationale:
As others have reported, can confirm Texas State has an invitation to join the Pac-12, source tells SBJ.
Wouldn't expect anything official until at least Monday, but this would give the Pac-12 the eighth football-playing member it needs.
(Austin Sports Journal was first on this)
Wouldn't expect anything official until at least Monday, but this would give the Pac-12 the eighth football-playing member it needs.
(Austin Sports Journal was first on this)
June 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
As others have reported, can confirm Texas State has an invitation to join the Pac-12, source tells SBJ.
Wouldn't expect anything official until at least Monday, but this would give the Pac-12 the eighth football-playing member it needs.
(Austin Sports Journal was first on this)
Wouldn't expect anything official until at least Monday, but this would give the Pac-12 the eighth football-playing member it needs.
(Austin Sports Journal was first on this)