Paying it Forward: The Utah Utes’ Groundbreaking NIL Deal

The University of Utah football team has scored big with an incredible NIL (Name Image Likeness) deal that’s set to put nearly 100 pickup trucks in the hands of scholarship athletes!

This groundbreaking agreement is a result of the NCAA’s new NIL rules, which grant college athletes the opportunity to profit from their name, image, or likeness. Here are the details you need to know.

A Vehicle for Talents

In a move that’s making waves, every scholarship athlete on the University of Utah football team is set to receive a brand-new 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn pickup truck, complete with the Night Edition package While the NCAA’s new NIL rules are relatively recent, the concept of college athletes receiving new cars as incentives has a much longer history.

Going back to 1979, one of the country’s top football recruits, Eric Dickerson, was highly sought after by Texas A&M. In an astonishing turn of events, Dickerson (who turned down a suitcase filled with $50,000 in cash!) revealed his desire for a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. A&M, eager to secure his talents, delivered a gold-painted Trans Am—an iconic moment in college sports recruitment history.

A New Era of Opportunity

Today, the NCAA allows student-athletes to pursue deals for new vehicles openly and legally, making this historic arrangement with the University of Utah football team possible. ‘For The Win 360’ (FTW360) has decided to offer these pickup trucks as part of the launch of their video app designed for NIL NCAA collectives.

Each truck is provided by a fleet management company and leased to the athletes. Donors are stepping up to cover the costs of the leases and insurance for these vehicles, with the condition that the student-athletes remain on scholarship and maintain their eligibility to play. With each Ram 1500 Big Horn carrying a price tag of just over $50,000, this generous donation by FTW360 represents a total value of well over $5 million!