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Actual NIL nowhere to be found after Ohio State's title run

National championship memorabilia still extremely limited even though NIL should open possibilities

Cover Image for Actual NIL nowhere to be found after Ohio State's title run
A signed football from Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was one of the only official items available for fans to buy Tuesday morning. (Credit: Getty Images)

Ohio State won its ninth national championship Monday night, overwhelming Notre Dame 34-23 in Atlanta to conclude college football's first 12-team playoff.

If NIL were really about "name, image and likeness," Buckeyes fans would have all the collectible memorabilia options that professional fans have available: pre-orders for signed footballs, autographed photos from the game’s best moments, a caricature shirt of all the players, and official name and number jerseys with national champions' patches.

Yet Tuesday morning, the only real sign of NIL in the memorabilia market was an autographed Will Howard football with the inscripition "CFP MVP."

If Buckeyes fans want a signed helmet from running back Quinshon Judkins, they might need to acquire the signature in person. (Credit: Getty Images)
If Buckeyes fans want a signed helmet from running back Quinshon Judkins, they might need to acquire the signature in person. (Credit: Getty Images)

It’s not that the players' rights aren’t aggregated. They are under the Brandr Group. It’s more like there has been little effort to create the items fans want.

Why? Because collectible items and merchandise aren't the focus of NIL. The discussion about giving players a percentage of their jersey sales opened the NIL door, but once it did, it just became one big cover.

It’s why despite all the agreements with college players, the array of items available is still underwhelming and hasn't changed much from the pre-NIL days.

Come next season, when schools can acknowledge a formal payroll, with a general manager and a capologist, the rouse will be up. But let’s be clear: Ohio State’s $20 million payroll is exactly that.

Don’t get me wrong, fans have gotten something. They got names in EA Sports' College Football video game, and Ohio State fans in Columbus can get Caleb Downs, Jack Sawyer and Jeremiah Smith jerseys.

But the fast turnaround on championship gear, in what they call the “Hot Market,” is not there.

Insiders told us licensees can easily make team and national champs items, and put players in team colors, but currently it’s not possible to put players in team colors on national championship items. Why? Shouldn’t the NCAA encourage real NIL that goes beyond pay-for-play?

It’s time to give fans who pushed for athletes to get paid in this manner what they want, and the players certainly won’t revolt from getting more pocket change.

Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.