Utah’s NIL collective gifts 85 football players new trucks
SALT LAKE CITY (BVM) – Utah‘s NIL collective may have just upped the ante in the name, image and likeness space with its recent announcement.
Thanks in part to the program’s “Crimson Collective,” the school was able to gift all 85 of its scholarship football players a Dodge Ram 1500.
Crazy opportunity for our guys today thanks to @UtahCrimson 🙌 pic.twitter.com/neK5D0bEAv
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 4, 2023
The new truck, which retails at about $60,000, comes with a few requirements for players on the team. The lease on each Dodge Ram expires when the player runs out of eligibility or transfers to a new program and can only be obtained by having a good driving record and a willingness to promote awareness of the collective.
“The three biggest needs of every student are education, housing and transportation. No one has addressed this transportation need comprehensively before today. We’re here to enable change by celebrating the Crimson Collective, the athletes, and everyone who loves their school,” Derek Mattsson, CEO at FTW360, told Forbes. “Today’s action of addressing student transportation needs cannot be overstated. #KeysFortheWin is just one example of how FTW360 is working with the Crimson Collective to create new opportunities to benefit every student-athlete.”
The newest addition to the NIL space comes at a higher scale than what past car deals have looked like. Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud famously inked a six-figure deal with a local dealership where he was able to swap out vehicles every 45 days. While the structure has remained for plenty of singular partnerships, the recent move from the Crimson Collective is a step in a different direction.
The @UtahCrimson and @Utah_Football announcing today that every scholarship football player is eligible to receive a brand new 2024 Dodge 1500 Big Horn Night Edition truck through a new NIL partnership with FTW 360. pic.twitter.com/qb693i4gL7
— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) October 4, 2023
All the trucks that have been delivered to athletes are leased and managed by United Fleet Management, which has an arrangement with the collective. The plan is that the team will support the new app, For The Win 360°- Utah, by developing inside content that can be seen with player interviews, behind-the-scenes videos and scores.
With the Utes already off to a 4-1 start, and a ranking in the AP Top 25, the momentum off the field is certainly matching their success on it.
