COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State touted its nation-leading name, image and likeness revenue opportunities for athletes in the early months of that new frontier in college sports. © Doug Lesmerises/cleveland.com/TNS The Ohio State football headquarters at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in August 2020. The white tent in the back is used for outside team gatherings during coronavirus. Less than a year later, however, the athletic department is concerned about where it stands relative to other major programs. The main issue are the collectives — typically non-profit entities run by boosters or prominent donors that bring in funds to distribute to athletes. As collectives grew in popularity, money flowed into some at a rate that those affiliated with OSU have not been able to match. In short, OSU believes it is losing recruits because competitors can offer larger compensation packages. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith released a statement Thursday…
Continue Reading: Gene Smith asks Ohio State fans to donate more NIL money as Buckeyes face possible recruiting gap
