BREAKING: SMU's new Boulevard Collective will quickly become one of the biggest players in the NIL space.

The collective is set to pay players on both the football and basketball teams $36,000 a year, sources tell On3.

From @BillyEmbody + @Pete_Nakos96: https://t.co/0g9xgX72nV pic.twitter.com/WThK8cjOvD

— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) August 8, 2022

That is some pretty good beer money.

I have a feeling it's going to be hard to get those players to go to class lol

Wait, they are still required to go to class?

Isn't that what Bill Clements wanted to do and it got them the death penalty?

It would never happen in Austin, South Bend, Norman or Tuscaloosa, but SMU was getting uppity with the blue bloods then.

Any Trans-Ams in this deal?

Damn.

UTExan said:

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Isn't that what Bill Clements wanted to do and it got them the death penalty?

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In principle, no. But in effect, yes.

The NCAA's NIL bylaws are very specific that boosters can't legally agree to pay money for a certain recruit/transfer to commit to a school for money or a guaranteed NIL deal. So the brown paper bags SMU was pushing to recruits under the table in the 80's would still be illegal today.

But it's a squiggly line. If I advertise that every player gets $35,000 under our NIL collective, and you know there are also untold opportunities to generate NIL revenue on top of that just because you're 18 and you're alive, I don't have to directly offer you money. I've already baited the hook.

When Nick Saban publicly says Bryce Young got $1 million+ his first year in college in NIL money, he's recruiting. He's skirting the laws. Yeah, he can't go into a 5* QB's living room and say, "We will get you seven figures your first 12 months with us," but he can certainly pull out a bullhorn and essentially tell every 5* QB that information without technically breaking any rules.

So they just "one upped" Texas Tech. Crazy times!!

I'm not sure how long the current NIL world will last, but SMU's deep pockets could make it a big player for star recruits at least among Texas XII teams.

This will all end up in court . How can this not be descrimination. with all other sports and players ? This in not individual NIL, but a base salary arrangement

BEAR 45 said:

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This will all end up in court . How can this not be descrimination. with all other sports and players ? This in not individual NIL, but a base salary arrangement

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I have not figured out why Title IX has not been invoked around NIL. This seems like something Sleepy Joe would prioritize as a key national issue.

They should "NIL" a Camaro to the top recruit every year.

Watching desperate alums all over the nation throw money at players will be entertaining for a while. The blue bloods will still outspend these small schools I think, over the next 20 years, but there will be years where some small schools part with serious cash.