Team Dunkin' Revs Up Collegiate Fan Fervor

Dunkin' and LEARFIELD's 'Team Dunkin'' campaign returns, spotlighting 17 diverse student-athlete stories across six sports, while NCAA faces NIL legal challenges and high school athletes join the NIL game. Plus, a look at the rise of Collectives in NCAA sports.

Author

Jack M
November 16, 2023

Dunkin' and LEARFIELD Brew Up Second Year of Team Dunkin'

  • LEARFIELD and Dunkin' bring back 'Team Dunkin'' campaign to deepen collegiate fan connections and energize the college sports environment.

  • The campaign, brewing with 17 diverse student-athlete stories across six sports, is set to enhance fan experiences nationwide.

  • Dunkin’s commitment extends beyond brand promotion, driving tangible community support, exemplified by a $25,000 donation to UConn’s Husky Harvest, thanks to Paige Bueckers’ participation.

  • LEARFIELD's national sales SVP, Roy Seinfeld, highlights the partnership's focus on amplifying university brands and generating NIL opportunities for student-athletes.

University of Illinois Volleyball Stars Front Tru Western's Latest Campaign

  • NextName and Tru Western lasso something special, channeling the spirit of college athletics into a fragrance campaign featuring University of Illinois Volleyball players.

  • It's a volley of values: grit, family, teamwork, humility, and work ethic served up in engaging short videos, celebrating the tie between the athletes’ stories and Tru Western’s essence.

  • This partnership scents wider nets, inviting college athletes with shared stories to connect, share, and potentially partner up, all while earning NIL remuneration.

⚖️ NCAA Faces Legal Hurdles Amidst NIL Changes

  • Legal Lane Clashes: The NCAA's in hot water with lawsuits from the Bewley twins and a class-action case, both challenging its NIL compensation rules.

  • Bewley Bro Brawl: The twins are taking the NCAA to court, claiming they've been unfairly blocked from playing because of how they got paid for their NIL at Overtime Elite Academy.

  • Class-Action Crunch Time: Over 14,000 current and past college athletes might get money from the NCAA if Judge Wilken, who's ruled against NCAA before, says the org's been unfair with NIL deals and TV money.

🎧 Listen: KQED Forum - Collectives and NIL

  • Mina Kim talks to David Fahrenthold about the rise of Collectives in NCAA

  • The Collectives are third parties and operate separately from the Universities and therefore don’t fall under Title IX

  • Fahrenthold highlights the lack of transparency with NIL deals and any lack of guarantees for the athletes

High School Athletes Step Up in NIL Game

  • High school stars are now scoring NIL deals too, and some are bringing in big bucks, just like the college crew.

  • States let young athletes make bank from their own talent, but unlike those under the bright lights of Hollywood, there are no laws to save their cash until they turn 18.

  • Kids need protection so their money from slam dunks and touchdowns isn't fumbled. States should look at laws like California's Coogan Law to keep young athletes' earnings safe.