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How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL in 2027?

📖 2,315 words🗓️ Published Jun 22, 2026 · Updated Jun 21, 2026

Direct Answer

A Youngstown State football player earns far less than the Power Four headlines, because the Penguins are an FCS program in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) without a media-rights windfall or a nine-figure collective. Realistically, the starting quarterback sits at the top of the roster in a range that can reach the low five figures across all sources, proven starters and key skill players land roughly in the mid four figures to low five figures, and depth and developmental players earn amounts that are often in trade or local-business deals rather than cash. A smaller number of standout veterans on a playoff run can push toward the high end. The economics run through two layers: modest third-party NIL (collectives, local Youngstown businesses, social content) and a limited House v. NCAA revenue-share capability that most FCS schools, including Youngstown State, fund only partially. The result is a real but bootstrapped market built on community ties, not bidding wars.

1. Why Youngstown State Football NIL Sits Where It Does

Youngstown State's NIL ceiling is shaped by its FCS status and its Missouri Valley Football Conference home, one of the strongest leagues in the subdivision but without FBS-level television money. Several structural facts set the value:

No major media-rights check. FCS programs receive a fraction of the broadcast revenue that funds Power Four collectives, so there is no large pool to redistribute.
Regional, not national, brand. The Penguins draw a loyal Mahoning Valley following and a proud history under the late Jim Tressel, but national exposure is limited to occasional ESPN+ and playoff windows.
Local-business economy. Most deals come from Youngstown-area sponsors — auto dealers, restaurants, healthcare groups — rather than national brands.
Roster size of ~100. Football money spreads thin across a large roster, holding down per-player averages.

These factors keep Youngstown State a modest, community-anchored NIL market rather than a high-dollar one.

2. The Two Layers of Earnings

Layer one — direct revenue sharing. The House v. NCAA settlement, effective for 2025–26, lets schools pay athletes directly under a cap that is department-wide. That cap is a ceiling, not a mandate, and most FCS programs opt in only partially or not at all because they cannot afford it. Youngstown State, like most MVFC peers, funds a limited revenue-share line if any, weighted toward football's most important roster spots.

Layer two — third-party NIL. This is where most Penguin earnings live: collective payments, local endorsements, autograph and appearance deals, camps, and social content. Deals meeting a certain threshold route through the NIL Go clearinghouse (run with Deloitte) for fair-market-value review.

A player's total is the sum of both layers, but at Youngstown State layer two dominates.

3. What Different Positions and Roles Earn

Football NIL is steeply tiered, and that gap is even sharper at an FCS budget:

Starting quarterback (QB1): The QB1 is the face of the program and commands the top of the market, potentially reaching the low five figures.
Proven starters / top skill players (RB, WR, edge): Earnings are driven by production and local visibility.
Offensive and defensive line starters: Less marketable but valued by collectives for retention.
Rotation and special-teams players: Often appearance and social deals.
Depth and developmental players: Frequently in trade or product form (meals, gear, services).

These bands move with playoff runs, standout individual seasons, and how aggressively the collective fundraises in a given year.

4. Real Earners and What They Prove

Youngstown State has not produced the seven-figure NIL valuations that define the Power Four, and that absence is itself the point: FCS earnings are measured in thousands, not millions. The Penguins' most marketable players tend to be veteran quarterbacks and skill-position leaders who anchor the offense and appear regularly in local Youngstown advertising — car dealerships, regional restaurants, and Mahoning Valley healthcare and trade sponsors. A standout starter on a deep FCS playoff run can stack appearance fees, autograph signings, youth-camp work, and a collective stipend into a five-figure year, which is a meaningful sum for a college athlete even if it would be a rounding error at Ohio State an hour up the road.

What these cases prove is that value at Youngstown State is earned through role and community engagement, not recruiting hype. Unlike a blue-blood freshman who arrives already famous, a Penguin builds NIL income by starting, producing, and becoming a recognizable local figure — the market rewards the players fans actually see on Saturdays and around town.

5. How The House Settlement Reshaped the Math

Before 2025, every dollar a Youngstown State player earned came from collectives and local businesses; the school could not pay athletes. The House v. NCAA settlement, approved in June 2025 and effective for 2025–26, created direct revenue sharing under a cap that is department-wide. At Power Four schools, football typically claims the largest slice of the shared pool. But that full cap is an FBS-scale number; an FCS department like Youngstown State's simply does not generate the revenue to fund it.

In practice, the settlement's biggest effect on the Penguins is competitive, not financial: it widened the gap between FCS programs and the FBS schools that now openly pay rosters, accelerating transfer-portal departures of FCS stars chasing bigger checks. The settlement also created the NIL Go clearinghouse, operated with Deloitte, reviewing third-party deals above a certain threshold for fair-market value — a rule that applies to Penguins just as it does to SEC stars, even though the dollar figures are far smaller.

6. The Organizations in Youngstown State's NIL Economy

Penguin-affiliated collective(s) pool donor and booster money into player deals and retention stipends.
Local Youngstown / Mahoning Valley businesses supply the bulk of endorsement and appearance deals.
Opendorse and similar platforms manage, disclose, and process deals for many FCS athletes.
NIL Go / Deloitte clearinghouse reviews third-party deals above a certain threshold for fair-market value.
YSU compliance and the athletic department guide players through disclosure and eligibility.

A savvy Penguin treats NIL like a small business — disclosure workflow, taxes, and a steady cadence of local appearances and social content.

7. How a Youngstown State Player Maximizes Earnings

Win the starting job, especially at quarterback — the QB1 commands the top of the local market.
Engage the Mahoning Valley community — appearances, camps, and charity work convert into recurring local deals.
Build a real social following — even regional reach attracts sponsors paying for engagement.
Make a deep FCS playoff run — postseason visibility lifts every earning lever at once.
Get organized representation that understands clearinghouse rules and manage taxes on every deal.

Because the dollars are modest, consistency and community presence matter more than any single big swing.

8. How Youngstown State Stacks Up Against Peer Programs

Within the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State competes with NIL heavyweights of the FCS world. North Dakota State and South Dakota State set the subdivision's ceiling, pairing perennial national-title contention with the strongest FCS collectives, so their starters can out-earn Penguins at comparable positions. South Dakota, Northern Iowa, and Illinois State round out a league where collective fundraising and playoff pedigree are the real differentiators, not media money — none of these schools has FBS-level revenue. Against this field, Youngstown State's edge is its deep tradition, devoted local fan base, and tight-knit Mahoning Valley sponsor network, which give its top players a reliable floor of community deals.

The larger gap, though, is with the FBS programs that now pay rosters openly under the House settlement. A mid-tier Group of Five quarterback can earn several times what a Penguin star makes, which fuels transfer-portal pressure on Youngstown State's best players. The program's NIL strategy is therefore as much about retention — keeping rising stars with collective stipends and a strong local platform — as it is about recruiting.

9. How NIL Deals Are Structured at Youngstown State

Unlike the large, centralized collectives found at many FBS programs, Youngstown State's NIL ecosystem operates through a more decentralized, relationship-driven model. The primary vehicle is a fan-funded collective that pools donations from local businesses and alumni to facilitate modest compensation for athletes. However, the collective's budget is substantially smaller than those at Power Four schools, meaning most deals are one-off or short-term rather than multi-year guarantees.

Beyond the collective, deals come from local Youngstown businesses—car dealerships, restaurants, and service providers—that offer compensation in exchange for appearances, social media posts, or autograph sessions. These are often trade-based (free meals, merchandise, or services) rather than cash. Additionally, players can earn through platform-based opportunities like Cameo, Fanatics autograph signings, or brand partnerships via Opendorse, though the volume of such deals is limited by the program's regional fanbase size.

10. The Role of Performance and Position in Earnings

Earnings at Youngstown State are heavily skewed by position and on-field role. The starting quarterback is the clear top earner, as that player is the most visible face of the program and the primary draw for local media and fan engagement. Other positions that tend to see higher NIL value include running backs, wide receivers, and defensive linemen who produce highlight-reel plays or have strong local ties (e.g., from Ohio high schools).

Conversely, offensive linemen, special teams players, and true freshmen typically earn the least, as their direct marketability is lower. However, a player who becomes a national FCS award finalist or leads the team on a deep FCS playoff run can see a temporary spike in NIL interest, often from regional brands looking to capitalize on the team's momentum.

11. What the Future Holds for Youngstown State NIL

Looking ahead, Youngstown State's NIL ceiling will likely remain modest unless the broader FCS market changes. The House v. NCAA settlement could eventually allow schools to directly share revenue with athletes, but for FCS programs, the per-athlete share is expected to be small and may not significantly alter the current market.

The most realistic growth path is through expanded local business partnerships and improved collective fundraising driven by sustained on-field success. If Youngstown State consistently competes for MVFC titles and FCS playoff berths, fan engagement and donor interest could increase, gradually raising the program's NIL floor. However, the program will never compete with FBS schools for top-tier recruits solely on NIL dollars; instead, it will continue to rely on its tradition, coaching, and regional appeal as primary recruiting advantages.

FAQ

Do Youngstown State football players get NIL money from the university directly? No, NIL deals are not paid by the university. They come from third parties like local businesses, collectives, and social media sponsorships. Youngstown State itself does not fund NIL compensation.

How does NIL at Youngstown State compare to FBS schools? It is significantly lower. FCS programs like Youngstown State lack the media-rights revenue and large collectives that Power Four schools have. The top earners at Youngstown State make a small fraction of what even mid-level FBS players receive.

Can a Youngstown State player earn enough to cover tuition and living expenses? For most players, NIL earnings are modest and not enough to cover full costs. Only a few top starters may earn enough to meaningfully offset expenses, but the majority receive amounts that are supplemental rather than life-changing.

What kinds of NIL deals are common at Youngstown State? Local businesses, autograph signings, social media promotions, and trade-for-service deals are typical. Cash payments are less common than in larger programs, and many deals involve product or service exchanges rather than direct money.

Does the House v. NCAA settlement affect Youngstown State NIL? Yes, but the impact is limited. The settlement allows schools to share revenue with athletes, but most FCS schools, including Youngstown State, are expected to fund only a partial share. This adds a small additional layer to NIL income for some players.

Are there any Youngstown State players earning six figures from NIL? No, that is highly unlikely. The maximum realistic range for the top player is modest compared to FBS programs, and six-figure deals are reserved for top FBS or celebrity athletes. Youngstown State's market and program status do not support that level.

Sources

House v. NCAA settlement terms and revenue-sharing cap documentation (effective 2025–26)
NIL Go clearinghouse (Deloitte) fair-market-value review documentation
On3 and 247Sports NIL valuation and collective reporting for FCS football
Opendorse NIL marketplace data and athlete-earnings reporting
NCAA and Missouri Valley Football Conference revenue-sharing implementation guidance
ESPN and Sportico reporting on FCS NIL, collectives, and transfer-portal economics

flowchart TD A[Youngstown State FB Player] --> B[Revenue Share from YSU] A --> C["Collective / Local NIL Deals"] A --> D["Regional Brand & Social Deals"] B --> E["Partial / limited FCS funding"] C --> F[Penguin-affiliated collective] D --> G[Mahoning Valley businesses] E --> H[Total Compensation] F --> H G --> H

flowchart LR POOL[YSU Football NIL Sources] --> QB[Starting QB] POOL --> SKILL[Top Skill Starters] POOL --> LINE["Line & Defense Starters"] POOL --> DEPTH["Rotation & Depth"] QB --> CLEAR[NIL Go Clearinghouse 600+] SKILL --> CLEAR LINE --> CLEAR DEPTH --> CLEAR

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![How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL in 2027?](https://image.pollinations.ai/prompt/high%20quality%20editorial%20professional%20editorial%20business%20photography%20photograph%20illustrating%20How%20much%20do%20Youngstown%20State%20football%20players%20earn%20from%20NIL%20in%202027%3F%2C%20realistic%20magazine%20style%2C%20warm%20light%2C%20no%20text%2C%20no%20watermark%2C%20no%20words?width=1200&height=675&nologo=true&model=flux&seed=53327)

# How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL?

![How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL?](https://image.pollinations.ai/prompt/high%20quality%20editorial%20professional%20editorial%20business%20photography%20photograph%20illustrating%20How%20much%20do%20Youngstown%20State%20football%20players%20earn%20from%20NIL%3F%2C%20realistic%20magazine%20style%2C%20warm%20light%2C%20no%20text%2C%20no%20watermark%2C%20no%20words?width=1200&height=675&nologo=true&model=flux&seed=53327)

## Direct Answer

A **Youngstown State football** player earns far less than the Power Four headlines, because the Penguins are an **FCS program in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)** without a media-rights windfall or a nine-figure collective. Realistically, the **starting quarterback** sits at the top of the roster in a range that can reach the low five figures across all sources, **proven starters and key skill players** land roughly in the mid four figures to low five figures, and **depth and developmental players** earn amounts that are often in trade or local-business deals rather than cash. A smaller number of standout veterans on a playoff run can push toward the high end. The economics run through two layers: modest **third-party NIL** (collectives, local Youngstown businesses, social content) and a limited **House v. NCAA revenue-share** capability that most FCS schools, including Youngstown State, fund only partially. The result is a real but bootstrapped market built on community ties, not bidding wars.

## 1. Why Youngstown State Football NIL Sits Where It Does

![How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL in 202 — 1. Why Youngstown State Football NIL Sits Where It Does](https://image.pollinations.ai/prompt/high%20quality%20editorial%20business%20professional%20office%20photograph%20illustrating%201.%20Why%20Youngstown%20State%20Football%20NIL%20Sits%20Where%20It%20Does%20How%20much%20do%20Youngstown%20S%2C%20realistic%20magazine%20style%2C%20warm%20light%2C%20no%20text%2C%20no%20watermark?width=1200&height=675&nologo=true&model=flux&seed=31108)


Youngstown State's NIL ceiling is shaped by its **FCS status** and its **Missouri Valley Football Conference** home, one of the strongest leagues in the subdivision but without FBS-level television money. Several structural facts set the value:

- **No major media-rights check.** FCS programs receive a fraction of the broadcast revenue that funds Power Four collectives, so there is **no large pool to redistribute**.
- **Regional, not national, brand.** The Penguins draw a loyal **Mahoning Valley** following and a proud history under the late Jim Tressel, but national exposure is limited to occasional ESPN+ and playoff windows.
- **Local-business economy.** Most deals come from **Youngstown-area sponsors** — auto dealers, restaurants, healthcare groups — rather than national brands.
- **Roster size of ~100.** Football money spreads thin across a large roster, holding down per-player averages.

These factors keep Youngstown State a **modest, community-anchored NIL market** rather than a high-dollar one.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
  A[Youngstown State FB Player] --> B[Revenue Share from YSU]
  A --> C[Collective / Local NIL Deals]
  A --> D[Regional Brand & Social Deals]
  B --> E[Partial / limited FCS funding]
  C --> F[Penguin-affiliated collective]
  D --> G[Mahoning Valley businesses]
  E --> H[Total Compensation]
  F --> H
  G --> H
```

## 2. The Two Layers of Earnings

![How much do Youngstown State football players earn from NIL in 202 — 2. The Two Layers of Earnings](https://image.pollinations.ai/prompt/high%20quality%20editorial%20business%20professional%20office%20photograph%20illustrating%202.%20The%20Two%20Layers%20of%20Earnings%20How%20much%20do%20Youngstown%20State%20football%20players%20earn%2C%20realistic%20magazine%20style%2C%20warm%20light%2C%20no%20text%2C%20no%20watermark?width=1200&height=675&nologo=true&model=flux&seed=24826)


**Layer one — direct revenue sharing.** The **House v. NCAA settlement**, effective for 2025–26, lets schools pay athletes directly under a cap that is department-wide. That cap is a ceiling, not a mandate, and most **FCS programs opt in only partially or not at all** because they cannot afford it. Youngstown State, like most MVFC peers, funds a **limited revenue-share line** if any, weighted toward football's most important roster spots.

**Layer two — third-party NIL.** This is where most Penguin earnings live: **collective payments, local endorsements, autograph and appearance deals, camps, and social content**. Deals meeting a certain threshold route through the **NIL Go clearinghouse (run with Deloitte)** for fair-market-value review.

A player's total is the sum of both layers, but at Youngstown State **layer two dominates**.

## 3. What Different Positions and Roles Earn

Football NIL is steeply tiered, and that gap is even sharper at an FCS budget:

- **Starting quarterback (QB1):** The QB1 is the face of the program and commands the top of the market, potentially reaching the low five figures.
- **Proven starters / top skill players (RB, WR, edge):** Earnings are driven by production and local visibility.
- **Offensive and defensive line starters:** Less marketable but valued by collectives for retention.
- **Rotation and special-teams players:** Often appearance and social deals.
- **Depth and developmental players:** Frequently in **trade or product** form (meals, gear, services).

These bands move with **playoff runs**, standout individual seasons, and how aggressively the collective fundraises in a given year.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  POOL[YSU Football NIL Sources] --> QB[Starting QB]
  POOL --> SKILL[Top Skill Starters]
  POOL --> LINE[Line & Defense Starters]
  POOL --> DEPTH[Rotation & Depth]
  QB --> CLEAR[NIL Go Clearinghouse 600+]
  SKILL --> CLEAR
  LINE --> CLEAR
  DEPTH --> CLEAR
```

## 4. Real Earners and What They Prove

Youngstown State has not produced the seven-figure NIL valuations that define the Power Four, and that absence is itself the point: **FCS earnings are measured in thousands, not millions**. The Penguins' most marketable players tend to be **veteran quarterbacks and skill-position leaders** who anchor the offense and appear regularly in **local Youngstown advertising** — car dealerships, regional restaurants, and Mahoning Valley healthcare and trade sponsors. A standout starter on a deep **FCS playoff run** can stack appearance fees, autograph signings, youth-camp work, and a collective stipend into a five-figure year, which is a meaningful sum for a college athlete even if it would be a rounding error at Ohio State an hour up the road.

What these cases prove is that **value at Youngstown State is earned through role and community engagement**, not recruiting hype. Unlike a blue-blood freshman who arrives already famous, a Penguin builds NIL income by **starting, producing, and becoming a recognizable local figure** — the market rewards the players fans actually see on Saturdays and around town.

## 5. How The House Settlement Reshaped the Math

Before 2025, every dollar a Youngstown State player earned came from **collectives and local businesses**; the school could not pay athletes. The **House v. NCAA settlement**, approved in June 2025 and effective for 2025–26, created **direct revenue sharing** under a cap that is department-wide. At **Power Four** schools, **football typically claims the largest slice** of the shared pool. But that full cap is an **FBS-scale number**; an FCS department like Youngstown State's simply does not generate the revenue to fund it.

In practice, the settlement's biggest effect on the Penguins is **competitive, not financial**: it widened the gap between FCS programs and the FBS schools that now openly pay rosters, accelerating transfer-portal departures of FCS stars chasing bigger checks. The settlement also created the **NIL Go clearinghouse**, operated with **Deloitte**, reviewing third-party deals above a certain threshold for fair-market value — a rule that applies to Penguins just as it does to SEC stars, even though the dollar figures are far smaller.

## 6. The Organizations in Youngstown State's NIL Economy

- **Penguin-affiliated collective(s)** pool donor and booster money into player deals and retention stipends.
- **Local Youngstown / Mahoning Valley businesses** supply the bulk of endorsement and appearance deals.
- **Opendorse** and similar platforms manage, disclose, and process deals for many FCS athletes.
- **NIL Go / Deloitte** clearinghouse reviews third-party deals above a certain threshold for fair-market value.
- **YSU compliance and the athletic department** guide players through disclosure and eligibility.

A savvy Penguin treats NIL like a small business — disclosure workflow, taxes, and a steady cadence of local appearances and social content.

## 7. How a Youngstown State Player Maximizes Earnings

1. **Win the starting job**, especially at **quarterback** — the QB1 commands the top of the local market.
2. **Engage the Mahoning Valley community** — appearances, camps, and charity work convert into recurring local deals.
3. **Build a real social following** — even regional reach attracts sponsors paying for engagement.
4. **Make a deep FCS playoff run** — postseason visibility lifts every earning lever at once.
5. **Get organized representation** that understands clearinghouse rules and **manage taxes** on every deal.

Because the dollars are modest, **consistency and community presence** matter more than any single big swing.

## 8. How Youngstown State Stacks Up Against Peer Programs

Within the **Missouri Valley Football Conference**, Youngstown State competes with NIL heavyweights of the FCS world. **North Dakota State** and **South Dakota State** set the subdivision's ceiling, pairing perennial national-title contention with the strongest FCS collectives, so their starters can out-earn Penguins at comparable positions. **South Dakota**, **Northern Iowa**, and **Illinois State** round out a league where **collective fundraising and playoff pedigree** are the real differentiators, not media money — none of these schools has FBS-level revenue. Against this field, Youngstown State's edge is its **deep tradition, devoted local fan base, and tight-knit Mahoning Valley sponsor network**, which give its top players a reliable floor of community deals.

The larger gap, though, is with the **FBS programs** that now pay rosters openly under the House settlement. A mid-tier Group of Five quarterback can earn several times what a Penguin star makes, which fuels **transfer-portal pressure** on Youngstown State's best players. The program's NIL strategy is therefore as much about **retention** — keeping rising stars with collective stipends and a strong local platform — as it is about recruiting.

## 9. How NIL Deals Are Structured at Youngstown State

Unlike the large, centralized collectives found at many FBS programs, Youngstown State's NIL ecosystem operates through a more decentralized, relationship-driven model. The primary vehicle is a **fan-funded collective** that pools donations from local businesses and alumni to facilitate modest compensation for athletes. However, the collective's budget is substantially smaller than those at Power Four schools, meaning most deals are one-off or short-term rather than multi-year guarantees.

Beyond the collective, deals come from **local Youngstown businesses**—car dealerships, restaurants, and service providers—that offer compensation in exchange for appearances, social media posts, or autograph sessions. These are often trade-based (free meals, merchandise, or services) rather than cash. Additionally, players can earn through **platform-based opportunities** like Cameo, Fanatics autograph signings, or brand partnerships via Opendorse, though the volume of such deals is limited by the program's regional fanbase size.

## 10. The Role of Performance and Position in Earnings

Earnings at Youngstown State are heavily skewed by position and on-field role. The **starting quarterback** is the clear top earner, as that player is the most visible face of the program and the primary draw for local media and fan engagement. Other positions that tend to see higher NIL value include **running backs, wide receivers, and defensive linemen** who produce highlight-reel plays or have strong local ties (e.g., from Ohio high schools).

Conversely, offensive linemen, special teams players, and true freshmen typically earn the least, as their direct marketability is lower. However, a player who becomes a **national FCS award finalist** or leads the team on a deep FCS playoff run can see a temporary spike in NIL interest, often from regional brands looking to capitalize on the team's momentum.

## 11. What the Future Holds for Youngstown State NIL

Looking ahead, Youngstown State's NIL ceiling will likely remain modest unless the broader FCS market changes. The **House v. NCAA settlement** could eventually allow schools to directly share revenue with athletes, but for FCS programs, the per-athlete share is expected to be small and may not significantly alter the current market.

The most realistic growth path is through **expanded local business partnerships** and **improved collective fundraising** driven by sustained on-field success. If Youngstown State consistently competes for MVFC titles and FCS playoff berths, fan engagement and donor interest could increase, gradually raising the program's NIL floor. However, the program will never compete with FBS schools for top-tier recruits solely on NIL dollars; instead, it will continue to rely on its tradition, coaching, and regional appeal as primary recruiting advantages.

## FAQ

**Do Youngstown State football players get NIL money from the university directly?**  
No, NIL deals are not paid by the university. They come from third parties like local businesses, collectives, and social media sponsorships. Youngstown State itself does not fund NIL compensation.

**How does NIL at Youngstown State compare to FBS schools?**  
It is significantly lower. FCS programs like Youngstown State lack the media-rights revenue and large collectives that Power Four schools have. The top earners at Youngstown State make a small fraction of what even mid-level FBS players receive.

**Can a Youngstown State player earn enough to cover tuition and living expenses?**  
For most players, NIL earnings are modest and not enough to cover full costs. Only a few top starters may earn enough to meaningfully offset expenses, but the majority receive amounts that are supplemental rather than life-changing.

**What kinds of NIL deals are common at Youngstown State?**  
Local businesses, autograph signings, social media promotions, and trade-for-service deals are typical. Cash payments are less common than in larger programs, and many deals involve product or service exchanges rather than direct money.

**Does the House v. NCAA settlement affect Youngstown State NIL?**  
Yes, but the impact is limited. The settlement allows schools to share revenue with athletes, but most FCS schools, including Youngstown State, are expected to fund only a partial share. This adds a small additional layer to NIL income for some players.

**Are there any Youngstown State players earning six figures from NIL?**  
No, that is highly unlikely. The maximum realistic range for the top player is modest compared to FBS programs, and six-figure deals are reserved for top FBS or celebrity athletes. Youngstown State's market and program status do not support that level.

## Sources

- House v. NCAA settlement terms and revenue-sharing cap documentation (effective 2025–26)
- NIL Go clearinghouse (Deloitte) fair-market-value review documentation
- On3 and 247Sports NIL valuation and collective reporting for FCS football
- Opendorse NIL marketplace data and athlete-earnings reporting
- NCAA and Missouri Valley Football Conference revenue-sharing implementation guidance
- ESPN and Sportico reporting on FCS NIL, collectives, and transfer-portal economics

<!--pillar-weave-->
## Related on PULSE

- [What data sources are most effective for training AI models to predict next best action in complex enterprise deals?](/knowledge/q16721)
- [How does the expanding size of B2B buying committees increase the risk of vendor consolidation paralysis?](/knowledge/q16720)
- [Which vendor consolidation strategies are failing most often when integrating AI sales tools into existing stacks?](/knowledge/q16719)
- [Why are longer sales cycles now correlating with a shift from pipeline velocity to deal value predictability?](/knowledge/q16718)
- [What specific metrics are B2B RevOps teams using to measure AI's impact on lead quality in the top-of-funnel?](/knowledge/q16717)

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