LSU athletes have agreed to almost 2,000 name, image, and likeness deals since the NCAA allowed college athletes to receive endorsements. The NIL era began in July of 2021 and LSU associate athletics director, Taylor Jacobs, says the athletes are using their NIL money in a variety of ways.
“A handful of our baseball student-athletes who actually give back a percentage of their money to charities in the area, we have several football players who are supporting their families solely and sending their money back home,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs says Tiger athletes have inked deals with Nike, Puma. Raising Canes and Taco Bell to name a few.
In January, a collective called Bayou Traditions was formed. Bayou Traditions raises funds to provide NIL deals with athletes. For over 30 years, the Tiger Athletic Foundation has raised money for facilities. Jacobs says some LSU donors have a tough choice to make.
“We’re starting to see impacts in the realm of donors being conflicted, but also who do I support, what do I support, what is more necessary,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs says the next big thing to possibly come is revenue sharing. Under a revenue sharing model, schools would share TV profits with athletes. She’s concerned about the future of Olympic sports that are not showcased on television.
“That will be crazy,” said Jacobs. “As a former women’s tennis player it hurts my heart a little bit, because I feel like we are going to see the loss of sports, we are going to see smaller colleges not be able to sustain that model.”
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