Alabama and its NIL woes are no secret. Remember how last year, Athletic Director Greg Bryne penned a letter to the fans, “time for the Bama Nation to fight back,” asking Bama fans and alumni alike to donate money to help the program compete in the NIL competition. Well, add another marketing trick up their sleeve, a sly move which has left one ESPN host clearly impressed.

This year’s groundbreaking change, the $20.5 million revenue-sharing saga, is no respite to the programs; the NIL wings are continuously churning out measures and strategies to remain the most lucrative destination. Bama’s NIL collective, ‘Yea Alabama,’ has rolled out another marketing plan. “You give $18, we’ll get $19,” it said on the pamphlet. Launched in 2023, the collective aims to connect fans and donors to student-athletes, facilitating NIL opportunities.

With the latest marketing strategy, ESPN’s Molly McGrath is impressed. “Genius marketing from Alabama’s NIL collective.”McGrath presently serves as the sideline reporter for ESPN/ABC  Saturday college football games. She has worked across Fox Sports, NESN, and WHDH-TV Boston throughout her career.

Back when the platform was launched, AD Byrne had said. “Having one platform that allows supporters, subscribers, and businesses a place to engage is so beneficial.” Bama fans are eager to reclaim their lost glory, which Kalen DeBoer’s stint has made them too hungry for. Out with the biting criticism that poured in towards DeBoer’s post-season opener, the Crimson Tide punched right back, finding their footing. The recent? Defeating Kirby Smart’s Georgia, and fans are eagerly rooting for their ascent once again. “Yea Alabama is in alignment,” Kalen DeBoer said per Yea Alabama, “with our goals and the way we represent ourselves.”

To make sure that the program lands elite talent on the roster, Crimson fans would be more than eager to chip in financial aid for NIL, so as to make sure that the Tide remains in their favor. Nick Saban had said, “The Alabama brand is one of the most powerful in sports.” And the fanbase would want it to continue that way.

After Alabama’s heartbreaking loss to Thomas Castellanos’ Florida State, criticism sliced across Tuscaloosa, with Bama’s financial woes as one of the culprits as well. After Saban departed, more than 20 players left the program. A.J. McCarron, a former Bama QB, who played from 2009-2013, left the stadium during the season-opener and talked about the Tide’s NIL issues. “You look at these other teams that have $40-50 million in NIL,” he said on the McCready and Siskey Podcast. “Alabama, and I know this for a fact, talking to multiple people in the program, Alabama has less than $20 million in their NIL.”

Presently, Bama is 3-1 in the season, going against Vanderbilt.

Bama Faces off against Vanderbilt on Saturday

With the Tide’s gained momentum into the season, Yea Alabama mirrors those sentiments for the program. On Saturday, if you visit the collective’s site, you will find “Alabama is looking for revenge over the Commodores” text sprawled across. Defeating Diego Pavia’s Vanderbilt is paramount to revenge for last season’s 35-40 loss.

Over the historical matchups that stretched back to 1903, Bama dominated the turf. A home record of 32-5-2. Vanderbilt hadn’t beaten Bama in over 40 years, but last year’s 40-35 score broke that streak. DeBoer’s response? “We’re going to find out really how much we care about each other and what it looks like moving forward,” he had said post-game.

He continued. “We’ve been tested in different ways, really a lot of the games here this season, and this is a different type of test now in our response.” Three years ago, Clark Lea had said Vanderbilt to be the “best football program in the country.” This season, Pavia’s roster is coming off a 5-0 streak. Will Ty Simpson’s offense steal the victory this time?