At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart revealed why he envies Oregon’s Dan Lanning.
Smart discussed how his team met with Nike co-founder Phil Knight as part of a series where it studies successful organizations. He then quipped about the billionaire’s relationship with his alma mater.
“I wish I could get some of that NIL money that [Knight is] sharing with Dan Lanning,” Smart said, per CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah. “But that’s another note.”
It’s no secret that Knight is one of the most powerful boosters in college sports. In 2021, The Oregonian’s Jeff Manning reported the 86-year-old’s donations to the University of Oregon are “approaching the $1B mark.”
Per Forbes’ Kristi Dosh, he and other alumni launched a NIL collective — Division Street, Inc. — that same year.
Thus, it’s fair to assume Oregon has much more NIL funding than other programs, giving it an edge in recruiting.
247 Sports rated the Ducks’ 2024 recruiting class No. 3 in the country behind Georgia and Alabama. This offseason, they landed former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel — the Heisman Trophy favorite (+700), per FanDuel Sportsbook — in the transfer portal. Unsurprisingly, he has already signed new NIL deals.