Ferris State Becomes First GLIAC School To Announce Partnership With Opendorse, The Nation's Leading NIL Firm

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University has become the first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) institution to partner with Opendorse, the nation's leading Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) firm, as the Bulldogs have announced a multi-year partnership with the professional organization.

Opendorse is the leading athlete marketplace and NIL company, providing technology and services to the athlete endorsement industry, including partnerships with more than 100 collegiate institutions across the country. FSU is the first school in the GLIAC to forge a partnership with Opendorse, giving student-athletes the ability to capitalize on their own name, image and likeness.

"We're excited to partner with the nation's leading NIL firm, Opendorse, to enhance the Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for all of our Bulldog student-athletes," said FSU Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank. "This is an extremely important partnership for us in this day and age as NIL continues to grow in importance at all levels. For us to continue to enjoy championship success we have achieved, it's critical that we move forward and continue to be a leader in this area."

The comprehensive suite of services from Opendorse will teach student-athletes how to build their personal brand and connect with nationally recognized companies; educate them on the tax implications of NIL; and help maintain NCAA compliance and eligibility requirements. The firm's ability to connect with student-athletes on campus and provide them with educational opportunities will maximize the results of the partnership.

"We're thrilled to work with Ferris State Athletics to provide best-in-class NIL opportunities," said Opendorse Co-Founder and President of Collegiate Operations Blake Lawrence. "Whether it's best practices and resources for FSU staff and coaches, deals and education for Bulldog student-athletes, or access and information for supporters, it's all covered. This is a new era of college athletics and Ferris State is continuing to position themselves for excellence – on and off the field."

Through an online hub and mobile app, Opendorse provides the technology and services to cover student-athletes and staff with compliance, content and educational tools that will be used in the developing NIL landscape. Opendorse partners with institutions across all levels of collegiate sports, including Kansas, Oregon, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, UCONN, and more at the NCAA Division I level alone.

Overall, more than 150,000 athletes use Opendorse to build and monetize their name, image, and likeness with support from the world's top brands, colleges, NIL collectives, and partners including Team USA, LEARFIELD, Keller Williams Real Estate, and more.

"Nothing is more important to our administration than providing the best experience to our student-athletes, and this partnership with Opendorse demonstrates our commitment to not only providing our student-athletes with enhanced NIL opportunities, but also ensuring they have the proper education and tools to navigate these opportunities while maintaining full NCAA compliance and eligibility," said FSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Sara Higley.

The Opendorse-powered marketplace is built on a decade of athlete marketing technology and experience. Opendorse has facilitated thousands of NIL deals and endorsements with athletes at every level of sports. The company maximizes NIL opportunities for student-athletes, while delivering security and simplicity for all involved parties.

"We are thrilled to announce this strategic partnership between Ferris State University and Opendorse, uniting two leaders in college athletics and Name Image, & Likeness," said Jake Daugherty, Account Executive. "This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to empowering student-athletes to build and maximize their personal brands while navigating the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness landscape. By combining Ferris State's dedication to athletic and academic excellence with Opendorse's NIL resources, we are equipping Ferris State University student-athletes with the tools to thrive both on and off the field."

In addition to industry-leading NIL content, compliance and education solutions, every Bulldog student-athlete will receive an Opendorse profile, which they can customize and promote to fans on their personal social media channels. Athletes review opportunities, receive deals, accept compensation, and disclose NIL activities to their institution, all within the Opendorse app.

As part of the partnership, Ferris State Athletics will receive a branded marketplace. FSU fans, brands, sponsors and donors will be able to browse, book, pitch and pay any Bulldog student-athlete for NIL activities in one compliant platform, built specifically for the athletes' needs. The marketplace promises to mobilize the fan base and local organizations to best-support its student-athletes.