Video: Snoop Dogg's AZ Bowl to Be 1st CFB Bowl Game to Offer NIL Money to Players
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVMay 28, 2024
Snoop Dogg is officially a college football pioneer.
As Brett McMurphy of Action Network shared, the rapper revealed Tuesday that his Arizona Bowl will be the first college football bowl game to offer name, image and likeness money to players. The game is Dec. 28 at 4:30 p.m. ET and will feature teams from the Mountain West and MAC.
Brett McMurphy @Brett_McMurphy👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/SnoopDogg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SnoopDogg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/theARIZONABOWL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theARIZONABOWL</a> presented by Gin & Juice by <a href="https://twitter.com/DreAndSnoop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DreandSnoop</a> is 1st bowl to provide NIL deals for all players on both teams from Mountain West & MAC, <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ActionNetwork</a> has learned. Incredible commitment by Snoop for AZ bowl (Dec. 28, 4:30 pm ET)<a href="https://t.co/lrjK5dVaFe">https://t.co/lrjK5dVaFe</a> <a href="https://t.co/tMlmWy4ia9">pic.twitter.com/tMlmWy4ia9</a>
The game will be sponsored by Snoop Dogg's beverage line with Dr. Dre, "Gin & Juice," and ESPN's Adam Rittenberg noted earlier this month it will be the first NCAA-sanctioned bowl game with an alcohol product as the presenting sponsor.
"College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences, so it's time that we get back to the roots of college football," Snoop Dogg said in an announcement.
"When it was focused on the colleges, the players, the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry. Being a fan, coach, supporter of all levels of the game, I've sent many players through my (Snoop Youth Football League) to colleges and the NFL, so it's only fitting that I step up and help get this thing right."
While the Arizona Bowl will be the first one to offer players NIL money to compete, it likely won't be the last.
After all, one issue with the College Football Playoff era is the number of players who have opted out of non-CFP bowl games to focus on preparing for the next level. It makes sense from the players' perspective, as they do not want to risk serious injury ahead of a potential jump to the NFL for a game that is largely meaningless in the race for championships.
However, NIL money will provide further incentives for players to participate in the bowl games even if they aren't part of the playoff picture.
It wouldn't be a surprise if other bowl games and presenting sponsors jump on this idea to make their own games more attractive. Bowl games with the star players participating are more attractive to those who attend and watch on television, and this will also make the time more worthwhile for the players.
Snoop Dogg is making college football history with this move, but it may eventually become the standard during bowl season.