When Arch Manning signed a $50,000 deal with EA Sports for NCAA College Football 25, it felt like a turning point. NIL was no longer just a concept on paper. It had become real, with top college athletes stepping into deals that once seemed reserved for professionals.
In just a few years, NIL has grown into a full marketplace. Athletes are not waiting around for opportunities anymore. NIL Clubs are giving athletes control of brand deals and fan communities where memberships and exclusive content open up new revenue streams.
In 2025, these companies are shaping how NIL works on a national level. Here is a closer look at five of the most influential platforms helping athletes turn talent into opportunity.
NIL Club (Best Overall)
NIL Club has become the fastest-growing platform in the space. In 2025 it serves more than 650,000 athletes across 20,000 teams, making it the largest community of student-athletes anywhere in NIL. What makes it stand out is the design. Athletes run their own pages, create content, and interact with fans directly. It feels less like a top-down marketplace and more like an ecosystem built by and for students.
The big story for NIL Club in 2025 is the rollout of its Brand Deals feature. Athletes can now see real offers, talk directly with companies, and chase partnerships that make sense for them. Early interest has already come from major brands, including Amazon, SoFi, Gatorade, and Ulta Beauty.
This combines a subscription model, where fans pay to join athlete-run clubs and get access to exclusive content. That combination is what makes the platform stand out. It gives players a way to grow their own communities while also connecting with national sponsors. The result is a system that works at every level, from small-school athletes looking to earn a little extra to stars with huge followings who want to maximize their reach.
Opendorse
Opendorse has been around since the start of NIL and is still one of the biggest names in the space. By 2023 it had already passed one billion dollars in facilitated deals, and in 2025 it continues to work with hundreds of schools and major brands like Nike and Gatorade.
The platform is built for structure. It handles disclosures, compliance, and deal tracking, which makes it useful for schools that want to stay on the safe side. Big-name athletes such as Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins have worked with Opendorse, but the platform is often better suited for stars than for everyday players.
INFLCR (Teamworks)
INFLCR, part of Teamworks, has built its reputation on compliance and education. The platform currently supports more than 200 schools and collectives and is used by athletes across Power Five and Group of Five conferences.
Its tools are designed to help athletes monetize their social media, manage content, and vet deals while staying compliant with NCAA rules. In 2025, INFLCR has facilitated deals for stars like Flau’jae Johnson and Quinn Ewers, giving them both the resources and the education needed to navigate the market.
Icon Source
Icon Source has kept things simple, and that’s what makes it work. The platform still does what it was built to do to connect athletes directly with brands. That means endorsements, social media posts, local appearances, and even some merchandise collaborations.
It’s not limited to the biggest names in college sports either. Sure, stars like Olivia Dunne have landed deals through the platform, but plenty of mid-major athletes are using it to pick up lifestyle partnerships that fit their audience.
In 2025, Icon Source is still active across the country, lining up everything from apparel campaigns to digital ads. For athletes who may not have the following to land Nike or Gatorade, Icon Source offers a realistic and accessible way to start building NIL income.
The Brandr Group
The Brandr Group specializes in group licensing, which makes it different from the rest of the field. Instead of focusing only on individual deals, it creates opportunities for athletes to participate in co-branded campaigns that use school logos and trademarks.
By 2024 it had facilitated deals for more than 10,000 athletes, and in 2025 it continues to grow. Its work with EA Sports on NCAA College Football 25 has been a highlight, ensuring athletes are represented while earning a share of licensing revenue.
Final Take
The NIL market in 2025 doesn’t look like the chaotic experiment it once was. It’s settling into a system with real players setting the pace. Opendorse and INFLCR provide the structure. Icon Source makes deals accessible to more athletes. Brandr has carved out its lane with licensing. And NIL Club has quickly become the most exciting platform to watch, thanks to its student-run communities and the new Brand Deals feature.
