Below are the top NIL headlines from Tuesday, March 11th:

San Diego State’s AI-Powered NIL Leap

Aztecs Go High-Tech

San Diego State is stepping into the future with a new partnership that pairs its athletes with an AI-driven NIL platform from Opendorse and Localiti. It’s a tool to track and amplify earnings potential for Aztecs across sports, giving them real-time insights to cash in on their name, image, and likeness. 

How It Works

Picture this: a basketball guard or soccer striker logs in and sees data on their market value, suggested sponsors, and even social media tips—all powered by AI crunching numbers faster than a coach can call a timeout. The platform’s designed to make NIL less of a guessing game, helping athletes build their brands with precision. It’s a far cry from the Wild West days of 2021 when NIL first hit college sports.

Why It Matters

San Diego State isn’t a blue-blood program, but this move could give them an edge in recruiting and retention—think prospects picking SDSU because they’ll get smarter NIL support. With the Mountain West Conference often overshadowed by Power Five cash cows, this tech play levels the field a bit. It’s about empowering athletes to turn hustle into dollars, not just hoping for a lucky break.

The Bigger Trend

SDSU’s not alone—AI’s creeping into the NIL space as schools and collectives look for ways to optimize the chaos. From tracking endorsement deals to predicting fan engagement, this tech could redefine how athletes navigate their newfound earning power. The Aztecs are early adopters, but expect bigger programs to follow once they see the payoff.

March Madness Timing

With the NCAA Tournament tipping off soon, this rollout couldn’t come at a better time—SDSU’s hoping to ride momentum from their 2023 National Championship appearance. When more athletes put on big shows, this platform will help the Aztecs NIL.

Saint Francis’ Makes March Madness With $0 in NIL

A Long Journey to March Madness

Last night, Saint Francis University, a tiny school from Loretto, Pennsylvania, just punched its ticket to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, ending a 34-year drought with an NIL budget of zero dollars. Coach Rob Krimmel, who’s been tied to the Red Flash since reluctantly suiting up as a player in 1996, orchestrated this Cinderella run with nothing but grit and loyalty. Krimmel’s quip about not selling his soul to win sums up this team’s vibe perfectly.

The Anti-NIL Blueprint

In an era where top college programs flaunt NIL war chests—some exceeding $7 million—Saint Francis is a unicorn, thriving without a single dime from collectives or donor deals. Krimmel told CBS he sees a “purity” in their approach, a throwback to when talent and teamwork trumped cash flow. 

As context, St. John’s University has poured around $4 million into its basketball NIL efforts this season, a hefty sum fueled largely by billionaire alum Mike Repole, making it a top-20 spender nationally. Meanwhile, elite power conference teams often flex budgets exceeding $7 million, setting a high bar for consistent contention in today’s NIL-driven college hoops landscape. Some schools have scraped into March Madness with about $2 million, but as the arms race escalates, that lower tier is looking less sustainable

From Reluctant Red Flash to Legend

Krimmel’s path is wild—he didn’t even want to play at Saint Francis back in the day, but a coach’s plea kept him home, and he’s never left. After stints as an assistant, he took the head job in 2012 and slowly built a winner, culminating in Tuesday’s NEC title win over Bryant. That victory, sealed by a clutch Cam Gregory jumper, sent the Red Flash dancing for just the second time ever.

The Bigger Picture

This $0 NIL triumph lands at a crossroads for college sports, where the haves and have-nots are starkly divided. Saint Francis isn’t just a tournament darling; it’s a reminder that the NCAA’s money-soaked landscape hasn’t killed off the underdog yet.

Texas High Schoolers on the Verge of NIL Glory

_{High School NIL Update by Opendorse as of March 2025}

Legislation Lights the Fuse

Texas could soon join the NIL revolution at the high school level, with Reps. Benjamin Bumgarner and David Lowe dropping House Bills 2211 and 3224 to let athletes profit off their name, image, and likeness. These bills, filed for the current session, aim to flip the script in a state that’s banned such deals for years, opening doors for teens to cash in. If passed, Texas would align with over a dozen states already greenlighting high school NIL.

Guardrails and Goals

The proposals come with rules: athletes need solid grades, and they’re barred from promoting stuff like alcohol, tobacco, or gambling. Rep. Lowe calls HB 3224 a “perfect balance,” designed to reward talent without turning Friday night lights into a free-for-all. It’s a nod to fairness while keeping Texas competitive as NIL reshapes sports from top to bottom.

The Pushback

Not everyone’s sold—critics worry about kids burning out under the pressure of sports and sponsorships, or NIL becoming a recruiting loophole despite UIL rules against swaying transfers. There’s a real fear that small-town stars could get lured to bigger programs with better deal prospects. Still, supporters argue it’s about time Texas teens got their shot at the same opportunities college athletes have been banking since 2021.

The National Ripple

If Texas jumps in, it could spark a domino effect—think Oklahoma or Louisiana racing to keep up with the Lone Star State’s talent pool. The UIL’s amateurism stance has held firm, but with college NIL booming and high school rules loosening elsewhere, the pressure’s on. As the legislative session unfolds, all eyes are on whether Texas lawmakers will hand their young athletes a new playbook.