By Kyle Golik
It is often said that the best investors do not target return. Investors focus first on risk, and only then decide whether the projected return justifies taking each particular risk. That is how those involved in NIL have to assess each deal, what does bringing in this player do as a reward and what are the risks of not ponying up the cash.
According to Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork, when the final tally came in for NIL in the previous year, the figure was “around $20 million.” Bjork then mentioned as opportunities grow, so does the money.
“Something overshadowed is this money goes up,” Bjork said. “Right now, we’re talking $21.5 million, but the second year, it goes up to $24 million and then it goes up, like, $1 million a year. We keep using a $22 million number, but we should really be talking $24-25 million.”
Why do Ohio State football players command that much money? It is all because of the big games Ohio State usually plays and wins. Saturday will be no different in Autzen Stadium as Ohio State makes its first visit to Eugene since 1967.
Yes, Ohio State has a 9-1 advantage over Oregon. This includes a pair of Rose Bowl triumphs and the inaugural College Football Playoff national championship in 2014. It is that number one in the loss column that stings the most as Oregon won the last matchup in Ohio Stadium where Oregon outmuscled and held off a ferocious comeback by Ohio State in a 35-28 win in 2021.
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That loss is Ryan Day’s only defeat to a team not named Michigan in the regular season. Day will also put his undefeated mark against Big Ten teams not named Michigan to the test, as Day possesses a 40-0 mark.
For the transfers where NIL had to play a factor, it is games like this where investors feel the risk is small because they will be able to produce.
Quarterback Will Howard has been the steady hand, similar to how he helped guide Kansas State to a 2022 Big XII championship, completing 71.5% of his passes with a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio.
Running back Quinshon Judkins, who was ranked in the Top 5 all-time in SEC history for most rushing yards in a freshman and sophomore season, had shared the load with incumbent TreVeyon Henderson. The duo has averaged over eight yards per carry and a combined 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
2023 SEC Freshman of the Year safety Caleb Downs continues his excellent play at Ohio State. Downs’ versatility to make plays at the line of scrimmage and in coverage has led him to be ranked near the top in PFF Focus grades amongst Buckeye defenders with Downs tied for second in tackles for loss at 3.5.
The results thus far on the investments have been fantastic. Ohio State is amongst the nation’s leaders in total offense at (510.2), yards per play (7.7), scoring offense (46.0), scoring defense (6.8) total defense (202.4), and yards per play allowed (3.6). The schedule has been favorable for Ohio State to rack these stats up, but none has provided the test investors look for.
That test will finally occur on Saturday in Eugene. In a lot of ways, Ohio State is simply expected to beat the rest of the schedule and gets graded on the tough assignments: Oregon, Penn State, Michigan. Day has a Michigan problem that he will get an opportunity to address soon enough, but it is Ohio State’s proclivity to win major games that make the investment worth it. The pressure is on Day and the players to continue to make that investment all worthwhile.
