Michigan Collective Launches 'Those Who Stay' NIL Campaign
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game is just a few days away and the Michigan Wolverines are hoping to win their first national championship since 1997.
Win or lose, the work to get ready for 2024 is already underway, as the Champions Circle collective launched a new NIL campaign called “Those Who Stay.”
In just three hours on Friday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter - a Michigan alum - the fund raised more than $100,000.
The end goal of the fund is clear, according to the website:
“We need your help to keep our players.”
Throughout the collectives website and social media creative are big bold white letters on a red background stating "stop our rivals from stealing our players" - alluding to their nemesis Ohio State.
This campaign comes a year after the same collective put together a campaign called the “One More Year Fund,” and the site gives the fund credit for keeping players that have been integral to the Wolverines’ run to the CFP title game against Washington, such as Blake Corum, Trevor Keegan, and Zak Zinter.
Now, the call to action is all about 2024.
“Our rivals are coming after many of our key players, trying to induce them to leave Michigan,” the site says.
Contributions will go to the Champions Circle and 100 percent of the net proceeds will go to players who choose to stay at Michigan next season.
Champions Circle is Michigan’s official NIL collective and is managed by the Valiant Management Group.
The Wolverines are undefeated this season, as they went 12-0 in the regular season, won the Big Ten East Division, defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game and then beat Alabama in overtime in the Rose Bowl, which doubled as one of the CFP semifinals. Washington defeated Texas in the other semifinal game at the Sugar Bowl.
Michigan and Washington face off in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday at 7:30PM ET on ESPN.
