As the NIL era grows, so do the creative ideas to use a student-athlete's NIL to leverage a particular issue, financial gain or even a political advantage. It was reported about two weeks ago that a Montana political group by the name of “Montana Together” had contacted two University of Montana student-athletes by offering NIL compensation to politically endorse via social media incumbent Democratic senator Jon Tester. The two student-athletes are women’s soccer players Taij’a Anderson and Riley Carolan. It is stated that these athletes were offered NIL deals ranging from $400 to $2400. These deals were dependent on services provided to produce social media videos supporting Tester and campaign policies. Both Anderson and Carolan created Instagram videos supporting Tester and the videos have been marked as paid promotions. The political group known as “Montana Together” has no affiliation with the Jon Tester campaign and the Tester campaign stated they were not aware of any such NIL deals with these student-athletes. Currently, Tester trails his opponent Republican candidate Tim Sheehy.
The Montana Together NIL campaign was actively shared with other University of Montana student-athletes through their athletic department. This was made through a representative at Opendorce.com, which is a platform used as a marketplace to help student-athletes secure NIL deals. According to the university, this same practice has been used on previous NIL deals. University of Montana athletics official Jean Gee stated to a local newspaper that she is not responsible in verifying the legitimacy of an
organization providing NIL opportunities and added, “This is part of the new NIL world for our student-athletes, that you have to become an informed person.” Some student- athletes, such as women’s track and field athlete Lily Meskers, voiced her displeasure regarding the NIL deal. Meskers raised issues with Tester’s policies and stance around biological men competing in women’s sports. According to Meskers, “This vote is a gateway to biological men taking away scholarships, medals, and roster spots from female athletes. Many female athletes on my team shared this frustration.”
This trend of NIL deals continue show the impact of how these deals can have beyond the playing field. As campaigns, groups and corporations continue to utilize NIL deals it is important to remember that these deals don't only concern “just” student-athletes and their sport but can impact a wide arrange of issues from the economy, the financial world and even a senatorial race in the state of Montana.