Student-athletes today expect more than just nice facilities and a scholarship. They want education, support, and real opportunities to grow their personal brands. They understand the need to build their future.
That’s where Opendorse comes in—helping schools, athletes, and collectives build programs that deliver real results. From education and content to payments and disclosures, here’s how schools are putting their NIL partner to work.
Strategy & Education
Student-athletes today need more than an opportunity. They need the knowledge to take full advantage of it. That’s why education is a core part of the Opendorse experience.
From the NIL Masterclass to interactive Movember MindMoves lessons, Opendorse delivers education in formats that make sense. Athletes can learn about contracts, taxes, personal branding, and more through real-world, on-demand lessons.
The impact isn’t limited to digital tools. Opendorse also shows up on campus, leading in-person sessions that educate entire athletic departments. Each session helps programs stay informed, aligned, and ready to make the most of every opportunity.
Whether they’re just getting started or preparing for graduation, student-athletes are learning how to succeed in life, not just in sports.
Explore the full suite of Opendorse education tools.
Content Sharing
Over the past two years, Oregon Athletics has uploaded more than 500,000 pieces of content to Opendorse, leading all partner schools in both media uploads and downloads. That kind of scale is equally impressive and strategic.
By making high-quality content readily available, Oregon gives its athletes the tools they need to post consistently and professionally, helping them build stronger personal brands and a larger follower count.
Marketplace
With more than 150,000 athletes and tens of thousands of brand transactions, Opendorse is the world’s largest athlete media network.
The marketplace gives athletes a simple way to monetize their personal brands, connecting directly with businesses and fans through shoutouts, appearances, and more.
Hundreds of athletic departments have launched branded marketplaces through Opendorse, giving supporters a single place to discover and connect with their student-athletes.
The work doesn’t stop with the athletic department. Athletes are sharing their marketplace profiles on social media, making it easier than ever for fans and brands to support them.
And they’re not alone.
In the past year alone, partner schools have uploaded more than 4.3 million pieces of content to Opendorse. That’s millions of game-day moments, behind-the-scenes clips, and branded visuals delivered straight to athletes’ fingertips.
East Texas Baptist University proves that content success isn’t limited by division. As Opendorse’s first non-NCAA Division I partner, ETBU has uploaded over 250,000 media assets, helping every athlete on campus stand out and build a presence online.
Opendorse On-Campus
Schools leading the way have one thing in common, dedicated athlete support built into their departments.
At Colorado State, Grayson Wagner leads that effort. As Senior Director, NIL & Revenue Share Operations, he brings experience from Maryland, Kansas, and four years at Opendorse to his on-campus role. He uses tools like Market Intel and Team Builder to guide athletes, administrators, and donors through every step of the process.
Having an expert on-site means faster decisions, stronger results, and a more consistent experience for every athlete.
Team Builder and Market Intel
Team Builder gives schools one place to set, manage, and track NIL budgets by sport, position, or player. Paired with Market Intel, departments have the ability to compare their offers against verified transactions across the country.
Schools using Team Builder and Market Intel are making smarter, faster decisions. As one Division I NIL GM said, “Market Intel data is nearly identical to what we are seeing in the market.”
Contracts & Payments
Marketing agencies like Every True Tiger Brands (Mizzou) and NIL collectives like The Central Stable (Central Missouri) are using Opendorse to manage brand deals, direct payments, and ensure financial transparency. Every transaction, campaign, and payout is tracked in one place.
It’s more than just paying athletes. It’s about maintaining trust with donors, sponsors, and everyone who supports the program. With everything in one place, collectives can operate more efficiently and scale their payments without losing control.
Disclosures
Compliance doesn’t need to be complicated. Opendorse makes it easy with automatic deal tracking and real-time disclosures. Every brand deal submitted through the platform is automatically logged, giving your compliance staff peace of mind and saving time across the board.
Tax season has also become easier. Every deal processed through Opendorse is combined into a single 1099, so athletes have less time to manage when it’s time to file.
From compliance to tax prep, the right tools remove the guesswork and help athletes, and staff, stay focused on what matters most.
The Best is Still Ahead
What you don’t see in the headlines is the day-to-day work schools are doing to help athletes succeed. From budgeting tools and content libraries to education and compliance, these programs are putting the right pieces in place to help their athletes succeed.
And with Opendorse at the center, they aren’t just keeping up. They’re setting the standard. Because when athletes have the tools, support, and confidence to grow their brand, they win.
The future of college athletics is being built right now. And the best is still ahead.
