Jackpot! Nebraska could win up to $300,000 in College Basketball Crown
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – In the College Basketball Crown tournament, teams have the opportunity to make up to $300,000 in name, image and likeness endorsements.
The championship team will earn a $300,000 NIL package, with the runner-up earning $100,000 and the remaining $100,000 split between the other two semifinalists.
Blake Lawrence, co-founder of Nebraska NIL business Opendorse, said this tournament changes the world of college basketball for both fans and players.
“The College Basketball Crown is an opportunity for basketball fans and basketball programs to have one more run at being on television, playing together as a team and now, potentially bring in some money for their athletes,” he said. “The College Basketball Crown is exciting for Husker fans and exciting for basketball fans across the country.”
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With the new transfer portal rules, teams can change very quickly.
And Lawrence said this tournament can be very beneficial for recruiting.
“Having these games on television may be a reason that right now, during the portal, a player chooses to go to a team,” he said. “There’s definitely some players out there trying to figure out where to go and by watching Nebraska in this tournament, they see that’s the spot for them.”
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According to Lawrence, these NIL deals will grow Nebraska athletics in the long run.
“Every dollar that they can get from everyone else other than them paying their athletes is now a competitive advantage,” he said. “Tournaments like the College Basketball Crown or any way in which Husker fans and Husker student-athletes can work together to get more money to them creates a competitive edge. So $500,000 may not sound like a lot, but in today’s day and age, that’s going to be a couple really good players that can join the Huskers if they’re able to win this tournament.”
