Biggest NIL Deals In College Sports: Who's Raking It In?

The evolution of NIL partnerships has reshaped college athletics, empowering student-athletes to monetize their personal brands. Some have landed the most lucrative NIL deals, earning jaw-dropping amounts through endorsements and collaborations. Let's dive into the stories of these remarkable athletes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Biggest NIL Deals
  • 21. Dylan Raiola | $1.1M
  • 20. Miller Moss | $1.2M
  • 19. Noah Fifita | $1.2M
  • 18. Flau'jae Johnson | $1.2M
  • 17. Hansel Emmanuel | $1.2M
  • 16. Garrett Nussmeier | $1.3M
  • 15. Evan Stewart | $1.3M
  • 14. Will Howard | $1.3M
  • 13. Paige Bueckers | $1.4M
  • 12. Cooper Flagg | $1.4M
  • 11. Dillon Gabriel | $1.6M
  • 10. Cam Ward | $1.7M
  • 9. Nico Iamaleava | $1.9M
  • 8. Jaxson Dart | $2M
  • 7. Carson Beck | $2M
  • 6. Jalen Milroe | $2M
  • 5. Quinn Ewers | $2M
  • 4. Travis Hunter | $2.7M
  • 3. Arch Manning | $3.1M
  • 2. Livvy Dunne | $3.9M
  • 1. Shedeur Sanders | $5.4M
• Frequently Asked Questions

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The world of college sports has undergone a seismic shift thanks to the advent of NIL deals. These athletes have leveraged their fame, skills, and unique personal brands to secure massive sponsorship deals and collaborations. Let's explore how they're making waves in the sports world.

Biggest NIL Deals

Back in 2019, California's Fair Pay to Play Act set the stage for a monumental change in collegiate athletics, pushing the NCAA to allow athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Spencer Wadsworth, a senior vice president at Wasserman, a global sports, music, and entertainment firm, told Business Insider that NIL has helped reduce some athletes' temptation to jump into the professional ranks too early.

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There are different pressures each person goes through, and knowing that you can still earn a living, get paid for your sport, and continue your studies is extremely positive because everyone does have their own journey.

In 2021, the NCAA introduced an interim policy allowing student-athletes to benefit from NIL opportunities. Some of these deals have reached staggering amounts. We've analyzed various sources, with On3 being our primary reference. The social media follower counts are accurate as of September 9, 2024. Here’s a detailed look at the college athletes with the highest valuations.

Rank	Player Name	NIL Earnings (in Millions)
21	Dylan Raiola	$1.1
20	Miller Moss	$1.2
19	Noah Fifita	$1.2
18	Flau'jae Johnson	$1.2
17	Hansel Emmanuel	$1.2
16	Garrett Nussmeier	$1.3
15	Evan Stewart	$1.3
14	Will Howard	$1.3
13	Paige Bueckers	$1.4
12	Cooper Flagg	$1.4
11	Dillon Gabriel	$1.6
10	Cam Ward	$1.7
9	Nico Iamaleava	$1.9
8	Jaxson Dart	$2
7	Carson Beck	$2
6	Jalen Milroe	$2
5	Quinn Ewers	$2
4	Travis Hunter	$2.7
3	Arch Manning	$3.1
2	Livvy Dunne	$3.9
1	Shedeur Sanders	$5.4

While high school students like Bryce Underwood and LeBron James' son Bryce James have impressive NIL earnings, this list focuses exclusively on college athletes. Here’s a closer look