From the moment it was announced that college athletes would be able to monetize their name, image and likeness, everyone knew that the landscape of collegiate athletics would change forever. However, it’s hard to imagine anyone predicting that a college football program would start wearing QR codes on their helmets that lead fans to a donation page for the team’s general fund.
With college football stars making exponentially more in the NIL than offensive and defensive linemen, Oklahoma State’s general fund could be very beneficial in helping recruit players at less star-studded positions. Even at Alabama or Georgia, it’s not very likely that an offensive lineman will secure many brand deals, so a team fund distributed to the lesser-known players could be very enticing.
That said, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy insists this will be more impactful for the fans than anyone else.
In an official statement from Oklahoma State football, Gundy said, “This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game.” He continued, “It gives everyday fans around the world a chance to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL effort for Cowboy football.”
College Football News:Georgia, Ohio State start atop college football’s NCAA Re-Rank 1-134
How can fans donate?
There will obviously be tons of college football fans willing to donate to their alma maters to take their football program to the next level. However, Oklahoma State is hoping for great generosity. When you go to the fund online, the cheapest donation option given to fans is $100, and goes as high as $5,000 for a one-time payment. The site allows fans to enter their own figure to donate, but that’s the last option the site offers.
Some fans have joked that certain donations will allow them to have a more direct impact on the show.
How will this help Oklahoma State?
As mentioned earlier, the money from this fund will likely go towards helping non-skill players earn money that they wouldn’t be able to get from NIL deals. This should entice more players at those positions to choose Oklahoma State in the future, but it likely won’t be for a few years, and only if this general fund ends up earning those players serious compensation.
Didn’t Mike Gundy just tell the players not to take NIL money?
Earlier this week, Gundy told the media that with his team’s season opener less than two weeks away, he wants his players to stop negotiating more money and NIL deals and start focusing on the season.
Gundy doesn’t seem to be telling players to stop trying to make money, but that the time to negotiate deals is behind them. “Tell your agent to stop calling us and asking for more money,” he said. “It’s not up for negotiation now. Start again in December.”
Perhaps that’s what sparked the decision to start advertising their team fund. It could be a compromise where players no longer have to ask for money, but can instead earn from the fund. The biggest problem, of course, is the uncertainty of how much each player will earn.
Is the fund only accessible via the QR codes?
No. According to the team’s statement, links to the fund will also be available on the team’s social media channels (X, Instagram, Facebook). The QR codes on the helmets are simply meant to intrigue fans who are unaware of the foundation and willing to tip the team after big games.
When does the college football season start?
The college football season kicks off this weekend, Saturday, August 24, with Florida State taking on Georgia Tech at 12 A.M. Oklahoma State kicks off their season with a home game against South Dakota State on Saturday, August 31 at 7 p.m. 1 p.m. ET. That game will be shown on ESPN. It will also be available for streaming on ESPN+.
Stream the game:Watch college football with ESPN+
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this does not affect our coverage.