The NIL Effect

Opendorse is a technology, data and services platform that powers name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for college athletes, schools, collectives and brands. More than 175,000 athlete influencers use the platform to promote and monetise their personal brands. Its YouTube channel includes The NIL Effect, a short documentary series following individual college athletes.

Each episode of The NIL Effect focuses on one athlete, such as Riley Weigelt, Jack Seidler, Syd McKinney, Mitchell Pehlke, Jon Seaton, Cami Wilson and Matt Koopman, showing how NIL changed their experience. Episodes run between ten and twenty minutes. The channel also includes explainers on real NIL market rates and how deals are completed on the platform.

The series was produced in the early years of NIL, making it a useful record of how athletes first approached the new market.

The NIL Effect belongs on The Shelf because NIL transformed college athletics. Athletes can now earn money from endorsements and appearances, and schools, collectives, brands and agencies have built new departments and businesses around it.

By focusing on individual athletes, the series shows the human side of NIL: how athletes balance sport, study and brand building, and how opportunities differ across sports. The rate card video shows how the market sets prices.

For SPMA readers interested in athlete marketing, compliance or college athletics administration, the series offers practical examples of a market that continues to evolve.

The rate card video is especially useful because it shows how pricing works in an emerging market. Understanding what drives NIL value, such as audience size, engagement and sport, helps anyone advising athletes or brands.

Watch The NIL Effect to understand NIL from the athlete’s perspective. Start with Episode 1, then watch a few more episodes featuring athletes in different sports.

Next, watch the athlete rate card explainer to understand how deals are priced.

As you watch, consider how a school, collective or brand could support each athlete responsibly. Then compare the early NIL era with today’s revenue-sharing landscape, using resources such as ESPN E60’s Paid to Play and Extra Points on The Shelf.

If you work or volunteer in college athletics, consider how your school educates athletes about NIL. Use the series to identify topics athletes might need help with.