NBC Sports has launched a new name, image and likeness (NIL) platform, NBC Sports Athlete Direct, which links college student-athletes and advertisers through a trusted marketplace.

The platform will be available as pilot program for athletes at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University and Temple University, with NIL opportunities being available for those who opt-in to the program.

Additionally, NBC Sports will collaborate with the universities to create content focused on NIL practices, as well as collaborating with CNBC, to provide personal finance resources.

Commenting on the announcement, NBC Sports senior vice president of strategic initiatives, Damon Phillips, said: “We’re excited to launch NBC Sports Athlete Direct, which will add significant value to the NIL ecosystem by connecting student-athletes and advertises through a trusted marketplace that will have real scale.”

“We look forward to growing NBC Sports Athlete Direct by working with additional institutions moving forward.

Notre Dame associate athletics director, Claire VeNard, added: “Our student-athletes are at the heart of every decision we make at Notre Dame and the chance to partner with NBC Sports to provide them another opportunity in the NIL space is exciting.”

“Being first movers in any category is a powerful statement to our student-athletes and the chance to work with one of the leaders in the media space is one we couldn’t pass up,” she said.

The announcement comes after Opendorse released a report on their NIL compensation findings.