The Varsity Collective - Wisconsin Badgers Collective

Wisconsin relaunched its Varsity Collective in September 2022 with a plan to provide NIL opportunities with a focus on life experiences. When the collective initially launched in June 2022, it had plenty of support. Former Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger and mega-donor Ted Kellner were main supporters of the first initiative, and they will be major names on the relaunch. They won’t be the only ones, though. Russell Wilson, JJ Watt, Meghan Duggan, Joe Thomas and Sam Dekker are just a few of the former Wisconsin athletes who have committed to helping the collective in the re-launch. The Varsity Collective will focus on achieving two goals: maximizing NIL opportunities while also equipping Wisconsin student-athletes with lifelong experiences for their post-athletic careers. The collective made a big splash when it celebrated National Signing Day by recognizing the 2023 Wisconsin recruiting class with a 15-minute-long video billboard in Times Square. The collective has also set up The Varsity Collective Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, which allows student-athletes to support charitable partnerships and philanthropic efforts across the Wisconsin community.