Oklahoma St. linking helmet QR code to NIL fund

• Jake Trotter, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 20, 2024, 12:37 PM ET Close Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy stated last week that he hopes his players can concentrate on football now instead of the “service side” of name, image and likeness with the season opener simply a couple of days away.But Gundy

is likewise hoping that an innovative ploy can earn his players more NIL money during the season.The school announced Tuesday that the Cowboys will sport QR codes on their helmets linking to a donation page for the school’s NIL fund, believed to be a first in college football.The QR codes on the back of each helmet will be 1.5 square inches.

The school stated that while the codes will not show up from the stands on game day, fans enjoying throughout television broadcasts will be able to catch them on their phones. Oklahoma State thinks this will assist raise the team’s NIL value throughout the year. The Cowboys will wear QR codes linking to the group’s NIL fund on their helmets this season. Coach Mike Gundy called it”a revolutionary advance.”Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics “This is a revolutionary action forward to assist keep Oklahoma State

football ahead of the game, “Gundy said.” It provides an opportunity for daily fans throughout the world to have a real effect when it concerns supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I’m thrilled about this opportunity for our players. “Recently, Gundy regreted the haggling and interruptions of the

NIL age, which now includes representatives for college players.Editor’s Picks”We have to have those discussions with [the gamers]’Tell your representative to stop calling

us and asking for more money.’It’s non-negotiable now. It’ll start once again in December,”Gundy said.”So now we have the ability to direct ourselves just in football, and that part is fun. “The Cowboys open the season Aug. 31 against protecting FCS nationwide champ South Dakota State. Oklahoma State is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN preseason rankings, headlined by star running back Ollie Gordon II, who led the nation with 1,732 hurrying lawns last season.”The good news is, the next 5 months we can simply play football,”Gundy said. “There’s no working out now. The website’s over. All the negotiation’s history.

Now we’re playing football.”