Out2Win

DERIK QUEEN MEETS DAIRY QUEEN AFTER MARCH MADNESS MAGIC ?? ?? Right after hitting the game-winning shot to send Maryland to the Sweet 16, Derik Queen landed a perfectly timed NIL deal—with none other than Dairy Queen. ?? Why it matters: ????????-?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????? – The “Queen x Queen” pairing is one of the most natural (and clever) brand plays we’ve seen all tourney. ???????????? ?????????????????????? = ?????????????? ???????????????????? – Queen’s buzzer-beater made him a breakout star—and brands are moving fast to capitalize. ?????? & ??????-????????????????– Expect light-hearted content featuring Blizzards, buzzers, and a big dose of personality. #MarchMadness #NIL #DerikQueen #DairyQueen #CollegeBasketball #AthleteMarketing #SweetSixteen #BrandPartnerships

Stanley 1913 TAPS INTO MARCH MADNESS—FEATURING STARS FROM UCLA, TEXAS & MARYLAND ?? ?? Stanley just launched a fresh March Madness NIL campaign, partnering with 15 men’s and women’s basketball players to promote its new Quencher ProTour bottle. ?? Why it matters: ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? – With March Madness in full swing, Stanley is locking in talent while fan attention peaks. ????????-???????????? ?????????? – A growing trend: brands are investing in both men’s and women’s players equally. ???????????????? ?????????? ???????????? – Product-focused storytelling that’s authentic to athletes and appealing to fans. #MarchMadness #Stanley1913 #NIL #AthleteMarketing #CollegeBasketball #BrandPartnerships #SportsBusiness

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan TAPS TOP ATHLETES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GEN ?? ?? In a powerful new campaign built by Yellow Dot Sports Marketing and powered by Out2Win, Blue Cross Blue Shield is spotlighting hard work, leadership, and inspiration—through the voices of some of the most marketable athletes in Michigan college hoops. ?? Featuring: ???????????????? ??????????: Grace VanSlooten & Theryn Hallock ????????????????: Olivia Olson & Mila Holloway ?? The Impact: ??????????????-???????????? ???????????????????????? – Focused on empowering young female athletes through personal stories and advice. ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? – Selected for their marketability and impact, these players deliver a message that resonates far beyond the court. ??????????????????-?????????? ?????? – A campaign that shows how brands can use NIL not just for reach—but for real cultural connection. #NIL #BlueCrossBlueShield #YellowDotSports #PoweredByOut2Win #WomensBasketball #AthleteMarketing #Leadership #Inspiration #CollegeSports #BrandPartnerships

BYU'S SWEET SIXTEEN RUN JUST GOT A LOT TASTIER ?? ?? As BYU punches its ticket to the Sweet Sixteen, one of its stars is cashing in—with a campaign as creative as they come. Richie Saunders has teamed up with Ore-Ida, the brand founded by his great-grandfather (yes, the inventor of the Tater Tot), in a March Madness NIL deal that blends family legacy and fan engagement. ?? Why it matters: ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? – A full-circle moment that turns Saunders’ family story into a national activation. ?????? ???????????????? – After each BYU win, fans can claim free Tater Tots during a 30-minute “Tot Clock” via Ore-Ida’s Instagram. ???????????????? ?????????????? – With BYU still dancing, this deal keeps gaining exposure. #MarchMadness #NIL #RichieSaunders #OreIda #BYU #SweetSixteen #TaterTots #AthleteMarketing #BrandPartnerships

The first couple years of NIL were all about testing the waters. In Year 3, brands are diving in headfirst. ???? The graphic below highlights the surge in brand sponsorship activations with college basketball players during this past regular season. For more college basketball NIL insights, check out our March Madness Marketability Report, linked in the comments!

EA Sports announced they'll be raising payments to $1,500 for players appearing in College Football 26. This means EA will spent upwards of $16.5 million for the NIL rights of players.

Chipotle Mexican Grill unveiled a new digital menu featuring the favorite orders of USC Women's Basketball players—just in time for March Madness! ???? This is the first time the company has launched a digital menu inspired by an entire team, which includes 15 menu options available exclusively on the Chipotle app. Already making history this March, and the tournament hasn't even started yet!

CAVA JOINS MARCH MADNESS WITH A STACKED ATHLETE LINEUP ?? ?? ?? Built by?Yellow Dot Sports Marketing?and?Powered by Out2Win, CAVA is rolling out a?March Madness campaign?featuring some of college basketball’s?most marketable athletes—selected with?strategy and impact in mind. ?? Why these athletes? - ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????– Maximizing local engagement. - ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????– More games = more visibility. - ???????????? ?????????????????????????? & ?????????????????????– Athletes with real influence. - ?????? & ?????????????? ???????????– Key brand markets with high-performing teams. ?? Athlete Roster: ???????? ?????????? (??????????????) & ?????????????? ???????????? (??????) – Captains creating their own CAVA bowls and going head-to-head in a friendly rivalry. ?????????????? ???????????? (??????????), ?????????????? ?????????? (??????????), ???????? ???????????? (??????????????????), & ???????????? ???????????????????????? (????????????????) – Showcasing their go-to CAVA orders through UGC & in-person content. #CAVA #MarchMadness #NIL #AthleteMarketing #YellowDotSports #PoweredByOut2Win #CollegeBasketball #BrandPartnerships

POWERADE TAPS FLAU'JAE JOHNSON FOR ITS MARCH MADNESS CAMPAIGN ?? ?? Powerade is going big for March Madness, rolling out its "It Takes More to Get This Far" campaign—and they just brought in Flau’jae Johnson to take it to the next level. ?? Why it matters: ?????????????? + ???????????? = ????????-?????????? ?????????????????? – Johnson isn’t just a star for LSU—she’s also a rising rapper, making her NIL partnership stand out. ?????? ?? ?????????????????? – Powerade is leaning into social-first content, teaming up with Lyrical Lemonade to help Johnson create a custom track for the campaign. ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????– This isn’t just another March Madness spot—Powerade is using NIL to connect directly with younger audiences. #Powerade #FlaujaeJohnson #MarchMadness #NIL #AthleteMarketing #GenZMarketing #SportsBusiness

RITZ & CHIPS AHOY LAUNCH MARCH MADNESS NIL CAMPAIGN ?? ?? With March Madness tipping off, RITZ and Chips Ahoy! are getting in the game, partnering with Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Caleb Love (Arizona), and JuJu Watkins (USC) in their latest NIL campaign. The brands—part of Mondelēz International—are bringing big-time names from both men’s and women’s hoops into the mix. ?? Why it matters: ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????-???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? – Expect NIL campaigns to ramp up as brands look to capture tournament buzz. ??????????’?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? – With JuJu Watkins, Flau’jae Johnson, and Chloe Kitts involved, this is another major investment in the women’s game. ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? – RITZ and Chips Ahoy! will have activations at both the men’s and women’s Final Four, giving fans interactive experiences and exclusive giveaways. #MarchMadness #NIL #Mondelez #RITZ #ChipsAhoy #AthleteMarketing #CollegeBasketball #BrandPartnerships