NIL Edge

When a football team underperforms, should the athletic director spend millions to replace the coach or put more money into the roster? FOX Sports college sports writer Ben Portnoy joins Sterling Randle to explain how athlete pay is changing that decision. They discuss the distinction between NIL deals and direct athlete compensation, the time athletic departments spend getting deals through NIL Go, and why Portnoy wants athletes more directly involved in federal policy discussions. They also look at what declining enrollment could mean for athletics budgets at schools that rely on university support.NIL Edge is produced by HPL Digital Sport in partnership with NILNewsstand.

What does an NIL strategy look like when Olympic sports are part of the plan? Jack Liechtung, co-founder and CEO of Canopy, joins NIL Edge to discuss how female athletes can build brands around their interests, personalities and lives beyond competition.We explore what brands should consider beyond follower count, how team NIL deals can connect sponsors with campus communities, and how athletic departments can support opportunities in sports beyond football and basketball. Jack also explains how Canopy coordinates with multimedia rights partners and helps athletes build a brand that can outlast their college careers.NIL Edge is produced by HPL Digital Sport in partnership with NILNewsstand

Grayson Wagner, senior director of NIL and revenue share operations at Colorado State, joins Sterling Randle to discuss how the Rams help athletes build content portfolios, pursue brand partnerships and understand the difference between NIL and revenue sharing.Grayson shares how a freshman basketball player’s content attracted a bank partnership, what Colorado State’s work with Facebook and Vuori looked like and why local businesses value athletes with Colorado roots. He also explains how he sets expectations with athletes and families, builds individual development plans and evaluates success through athlete retention and returning brand partners.NIL Edge is a podcast from HPL Digital Sport, produced in partnership with NILNewsstand. Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more conversations about the business of college sports.

What makes an NIL partnership work for both the athlete andthe brand?Diadora’s U.S. chief marketing officer, Ryan Eckel, joinsSterling Randle to share how the company selects and supports its athletes.From Marco Langon’s initial pitch to the brand’s relationship with Simeon Birnbaum, Ryan explains why shared values, access to company resources and planning beyond college matter.The conversation also covers how athletes can build aconnection with fans alongside their school’s apparel agreement, what Diadora looks at when evaluating partnerships and how Ryan’s experience as a parentshapes its social media expectations.NIL Edge is produced by HPL Digital Sport in partnershipwith NIL Newsstand. Follow the show for more conversations about the businessof NIL.

Brenden Hill, assistant athletic director of student-athlete development and NIL at San Diego State, joins Sterling Randle to discuss how the Aztecs are creating opportunities for athletes in an increasingly complex college sports landscape.Hill explains why San Diego State treats NIL as its own sport, how storytelling has generated new business opportunities and why athletes must be patient when building their brands. He also breaks down the difference between “true NIL” and revenue sharing, the challenges facing international student-athletes, San Diego State’s move to the Pac-12 and his concerns about the escalating cost of college athletics.NIL Edge is produced by Digital Sport by Hot Paper Lantern in partnership with NILNewsstand.