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MSU Athletics teams up with The Brandr Group to bring NIL licensing opportunities to student-athletes

August 27, 2021
<p>Senior tight end Trenton Gillison at MSU football&#x27;s &quot;Meet the Spartans&quot; event on Monday, August 23, 2021.</p>

Senior tight end Trenton Gillison at MSU football's "Meet the Spartans" event on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Photo by Chloe Trofatter | The State News

Michigan State's Athletics announced today that they will team up with The Brandr Group, or TBG, to bring student-athletes on campus the opportunity to combine their name, image and likeness, or NIL, with the official Spartan trademarks.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Spartan student-athletes to combine their Name, Image and Likeness with Michigan State trademarks and logos," Michigan State Executive Athletic Director and External Operations Paul Schager said in an official release. “NIL continues to evolve, but this is an opportunity for Michigan State Athletics to support its student-athletes as they navigate this new landscape."

Spartan student-athletes will have the choice to opt into the Group Licensing Program. Upon acceptance, athletes will be marketed in groups of three or more in a specific sport or in groups of six or more in the case of multiple sports, in combination with official Spartan trademarks.

Acceptance of the program does not restrict the student-athletes individual NIL rights — the university has stated that they will still be permitted to enter agreements outside of the program, regardless.

TBG is responsible for managing the program on behalf of MSU student-athletes and their sole role is towards finding sponsors and licensees to support both it and its participants. In addition to a partnership with MSU athletics, TBG is also in partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Athletics as well as multiple professional athlete player association's.

“We are proud to collaborate with Michigan State University and to bring this program to an institution with such a stellar reputation in college athletics as well as for such a loyal, passionate fan base.” CEO of TBG Wesley Haynes said in the release. “This is a great step for Michigan State University to create for their student-athletes and to provide a viable path for cobranding. No doubt, this will be beneficial for all of their student-athletes who opt into the program.”




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