The NCAA’s unleashing of NIL (name, image, likeness) legalization a couple years back created a new, Wild West-esque era in college sports that revolutionized the way players are enticed to schools and stay there.

It’s easy to think the tiers below the highest levels of college athletics, especially in money-driven college football, are getting left out in the cold. However, plenty of examples down the pecking order have proven that’s not the case.

Sure, programs that play in the FCS level of college football – and the string-pullers behind the scenes who are fans of them – may not be able to stand up financially to an Alabama or a Texas or a USC, a fact that was true long before NIL was a thing. 

But opportunities to benefit and maximize growth potential as a college football player aren’t limited to just those who play for the best programs or get the most exposure on Saturday afternoons. Ways to make money beyond on-field performance or instant name recognition do exist, and plenty of players are taking advantage.

So, with all of that being said, what types of NIL opportunities are available for FCS players, and how can programs compete with the massive, seemingly-unlimited budgets some of the schools with the wealthiest boosters are alleged to be throwing around to names they want playing for them? 

There actually are more opportunities for FCS players to capitalize on their NIL than you might think, and much of it simply is about making opportunities for yourself and emphasizing your strengths.

What Is NIL? What Is The FCS?

NIL is the acronym used by the NCAA to describe the ways an athlete playing a sport in their organization can monetize and receive compensation for their services. 

Officially approved via an interim policy in the summer of 2021 by the NCAA in response to years of advocacy by those in favor of wanting college athletes compensated for their NIL, the landscape of college athletics has been drastically changed since, as state laws, outside influence and various other factors have created a world where it isn’t just college athletes getting (legally) paid for the first time. In some cases, it also has seen athletes earn incredible amounts of money and various other gifts and services as a result. 

The FCS (which stands for the Football Championship Subdivision) – is the second-highest level of college football the NCAA offers in Division I, right below the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where many of the most-known names in the sport play. 

It’s a level generally meant for football-playing schools that are bigger than those in Divisions II and Division III aren’t quite the size and stature of those in the FBS, though the football itself – particularly as a result of its long-running and always-exciting playoff system – frequently is a blast to watch.

Can Players From FCS Teams Receive NIL?

Short answer: Yes. 

The NCAA’s interim policy permitted athletes of all of its member schools, regardless of level, to be able to earn compensation from NIL. 

There is no NCAA rule that restricts FCS teams from doing so, either. However, that does not mean that the types of deals coming to schools are created equal. 

FBS schools – based on their size, fanbases, levels of sponsorship, etc. – generally have much more NIL earning potential for players than FCS schools, and there have been claims (such as by former South Dakota State tight end and third-round NFL Draft pick Tucker Kraft, who said he turned down hefty NIL offers from elsewhere to transfer from the Jackrabbits) that the bigger schools are dipping their hands into the cookie jar and enticing some of the top talent in the FCS to move up and play for them with the allures of added exposure and monetary gain. 

Considering that a record 8,699 NCAA football players (including 3,284 at the FBS level) entered the transfer portal between Aug. 1, 2022 and May 1 of this year, per ESPN reporting, it’s almost certain that some players made the switch, especially with relaxed rules on first-time transfers being enacted by the NCAA in recent years, to maximize their earning potential. 

For those who are earning enough for it to make a major difference, however – especially if it’s being used to provide for loved ones or other life expenses – such a move could be life-changing and too good to pass up.

Do NIL Collectives For FCS Teams Exist?

Yes, and in the world of FCS, collectives can act as a very important tool to ensure a school’s athletes receive as much compensation as possible. 

Collectives usually are founded/run by alumni and supporters of the school (though are entirely independent from the school itself), and those boosters pool money together to explore NIL opportunities for the school’s athletes, including by helping them set up deals and find unique ways to monetize their personal brands. 

They’re also frequently the source of the types of NIL “mega deals” at the highest levels of the sport, especially in the early days of the policy when there was more vagueness than there is now, prompting the NCAA to attempt to crack down on collectives and limit their influence in a May 2022 update to its NIL language by noting they can’t be involved in recruiting. 

At the FCS level, NIL collectives exist for schools all over the success spectrum, ranging from the recently announced The Green and the Gold Collective at powerhouse North Dakota State to the Crossroad of Champions collective benefitting Indiana State athletes, among many other examples.

Which FCS Players Make The Most In NIL Deals?

It’s tough to tell who the top NIL earners in the FCS are as, though it certainly doesn’t hurt, the absolute best or most well-known players aren’t always the ones making the most money from their NIL deals. 

For example, per On3’s NIL 100 rankings, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne is the highest-earning women’s college athlete anywhere in the country and the No. 3 earner overall, and though she undoubtedly is a talented gymnast as an All-American, much of that can be attributed to her massive social media presence across various platforms totaling around 12 million followers. 

No FCS player cracks that top 100 list, though players at that level have made headlines for their unique ways in going about NIL. 

Former Norfolk State running back Rayquan Smith was the self-proclaimed “King of NIL” after negotiating over 80 deals for himself for a variety of companies and entities, for example.

Appreciate you Coach! https://t.co/HPlEXgXTI7

— Jon Seaton (@sea76n) June 4, 2023

Current Elon defensive lineman Jon Seaton leverages his 1.8 million TikTok followers into partnerships ranging from Outback Steakhouse to breast cancer support organizations and more, despite only playing in four career games with the Phoenix entering the 2023 season. 

So, yes, while being a five-star prospect or the relative of someone famous may get you some sweet compensation, there’s nothing stopping FCS players from getting their own sizable slices of the NIL pie.