Advertisements on Uniforms Could Happen in College Football This Fall
Greg Burks, the Big 12 Coordinator of Officials, said Thursday that there is now a gray area in the NCAA rules that could allow for a player to place an endorsement on their uniform.
"The NCAA has now OK'd a 16-square-inch patch, four inches by four inches, for any sentiment that you want to hold on to," Burks said after his rules presentation at Big 12 Media Days. "So unity, whatever it may be, and the individual player can wear that. Not everyone has to wear that.
"So when you ask me about NIL, if (a player) wants to put (a sponsor), does he have that right? Who screens whether or not that's valid? I don't have those answers."
Burks acknowledged how appetizing such a deal would be for each athlete, as it's something he would consider himself if he were in that position.
"I do know that if I could put a patch on (my jersey), and you pay me 100 grand for that patch, I'd look at it," he said. "But the rules are pretty specific as to what can go on the uniform."
For now, Burks said that determination could be at the discretion of the on-field referee, who may have to radio in to Burks himself at the Big 12 replay center. Calls may even go higher up the chain on a game day, Burks said, to the Big 12 Commissioner's office, illustrating just how broad all of the NIL rules are at this point.
I know this was brought up by GGC on the other thread, but this is probably worth its own topic. As was said earlier, it was only a matter of time.
Comments
Can the uniform patches play defense? If so, might improve the viewing quality of that conference
I wouldn't waste my time getting a sponsor and just put my Venmo ID.
Plenty of cash coming in when someone does well and lots of charges to ignore when someone stinks. /s
Still one of the all time best College GameDay signs...
In my opinion, save the endorsements for off the field.
We already have the template for this, who saved the Wild Turkey uniform concept?
Hardee's logo is gonna look odd on the hokie unis this fall
Yes finally ads on jerseys.
I don't like the idea of personal sponsors for athletes on the uniform - but I think the team should be able to sell ad space on jerseys like soccer does.
Man I don't like this. A player having the ability to make money off their likeness is one thing. This would allow them to control the university and the league. Only a matter of time before a superstar player selects a school/conference based on which one lets them put their sponsor on the jersey.
What are the odds someone from oklahoma gets a sponsor whos logo is horns down just to stick it to the weak ass conference who wants to call horns down a taunting penalty?
I actually would love to see this actually happen. I'd love the a&m boosters to be so petty they get the saw em off brand to sponsor every team who plays Texas over the course of a season with this on their jerseys
Lamest conference wide rule change I've ever seen. Texas is weak.
I used to think, "Even 'Murica can't ruin college football."
Now...? I'm not so sure...
From my short-sighted perspective, I'd argue Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and ESPN have ruined college football.
At the same time, some programs have always dominated, and Tech games wouldn't be on TV nearly as much.
I do wish college football was more localized again though. The upper-echelon of college football has been barreling towards being a minor league for a long time before NIL became a huge topic.
Expanded playoff will help a little bit with something relatively attainable for that middle tier, but I doubt a team outside the top 6 will be in the final four more than 5% of the time, if that.
Based on that criteria, as much as we don't want to include him, Dabo should be on that list.
That's fair, but I look at him as more following the blueprint than a pioneer in running a football program.
I'm in full support of this, especially if it's at the conference level.
Shoot SEC will get BMW and we will end up with spurtles on our jerseys.
I mean, the Spurtle is great and all, but we all know what the best option is.
Not me. If the player needs game day exposure (of the ad) to specifically be marketable, he isn't marketable.