Did Ohio State football players receive $20 million in NIL payments last year?

The landscape of college sports has changed dramatically over the last few years. Between a monumental decision taken by the NCAA on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments and a recent ruling that will see the organization paying out some $2.8 billion in damages to student-athletes, it’s been a trying time.

Ohio State players earned big time

According to reports, Ohio State football players received “around $20 million” in name, image and likeness (NIL) money from collectives and brand affiliates this past year. Unsurprisingly, that figure is believed to be the highest seen in the sport so far. Speaking with Yahoo Sports, Ohio State AD Ross Bjork explained that Ohio State athletes are required by the school to disclose their agreements within 30 days of receiving NIL compensation, a stipulation that assists in bringing greater clarity regarding the total amount that athletes are earning.

Now, while that amount of money is understandably significant, it isn’t entirely shocking when considering the caliber of players that are on the Buckeyes’ roster. From wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson, to defensive end Jack Swayer and cornerback Denzel Burke, the team boasts some of the best in college. Indeed, all of those aforementioned players elected to bypass the NFL Draft to return to school for another season. Mention should also be made of high-profile transfers such as former five-star quarterback Julian Sayin, Alabama star safety Caleb Downs, Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, and Kansas State quarterback Will Howard.

Overall, the Buckeyes have the third-ranked recruiting class in 2024, one which is led by the acquisition of five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — the top-ranked player in his class. What’s more, is that by the look of things, the program is set to have one of the best recruiting classes in 2025 as well, following the commitments of blue-chip recruits Tavien St. Clair, Devin Sanchez, and Na’eem Offord. Ultimately, there is now money in the college game and with the previously mentioned ruling against the NCAA, there’s likely a lot more on the way with Power Four programs expected to distribute rougly $20 million to players annually via a new revenue-sharing initiative beginning next fall.

“We all are going to follow Title IX,” Bjork told Yahoo Sports. “It applies to our athletic programs, universities, all of those things. But this is a new pocket of financial aid or compensation, a new bucket that was not contemplated when only financial aid and just grant-in-aids were talked about in the original Title IX legislation. We need a lot of analysis. What does the legal analysis say around this newfound bucket of money?”