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NIL Platform Opendorse to Sponsor Division III Bowl Series

Football teams from four Division III conferences will participate in Opendorse Bowl Series

Nick Messineo

NIL Platform Opendorse to Sponsor Division III Bowl Series
NIL Platform Opendorse to Sponsor Division III Bowl Series /

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Hall of Fame Village, located in Canton, Ohio, will host the inaugural Opendorse Bowl Series, set to take place on November 23, 2024.

Four Division III conferences – the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Presidents' Athletic Conference – will each be represented by its highest ranked football team that misses out on the NCAA Division III playoffs. The tournament will last one day and consist of a two-game series. 

Opendorse - the leading athlete marketplace and name, image, and likeness company in college athletics - will sponsor the series and provide NIL services to the participating conferences. 

The event will also receive support from regional tourism arm, VisitCanton.

In a released statement, OAC Commissioner Sarah Otey expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, "I think I speak for all four conferences in expressing my excitement for this event. The four leagues been considering bowl options for several years, but wanted to make sure we were able to deliver a special student-athlete experience and do so in a way that invests in our local communities. The opportunity to host an event like this at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium – and provide Division III student-athletes a chance to play in such an incredible venue – will be great for our conferences, the sport, and all of Division III. This would not have been possible without the support of Opendorse."

Student-athletes from the participating Division III conferences will be able to receive valuable NIL education and opportunities from Opendorse, enabling them to capitalize on this exciting new era in college athletics. 

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Nick Messineo
NICK MESSINEO

Nick Messineo graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a minor in Political Science. Following his undergraduate studies, Nick went on to achieve his Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2023, graduating cum laude. He served as a Notes Editor on the Michigan State Law Review. During his time in school, Nick held jobs in student-athlete academic services at WVU and MSU, ensuring that student-athletes received the assistance they needed to excel in the classroom. He also worked as a compliance intern at the University of Louisville's Office of Athletic Compliance during the summer between his second and third year of law school. If you have any questions or comments, he can be reached via email at nmessineo01@gmail.com.

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