Villanova athletic director Eric Roedl is not wearing a green tie this early May morning as an homage to his former employer, the University of Oregon. Even though he might not have intended it this way, it’s more of a symbol of the current money-driven college sports climate.
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Just about every player has an agent, including many high school recruits. There is no denying that the players are profiting. “Some mid-major kids are going to make more during their college careers than they will playing professionally in Europe,” Young says. And there are still NIL opportunities available that allow players to represent companies, make personal appearances, and promote products, all while being compensated.
Cody Wilcoxson, an associate at law firm Blank Rome in Philadelphia, has worked over the past five years to connect schools and athletes with NIL deals.
“Athletes are becoming parts of advertising campaigns for universities and for some of their business partners and sponsors,” Wilcoxson says. “If a school is playing a big neutral-site basketball game, it may ask a football player to promote it on their social media.”
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"In College Sports’ Billion-Dollar Arms Race, Philly Schools Are Being Left Behind," by Michael Bradley was published in Philadelphia Magazine on August 1, 2025.
