A few weeks back, Electronic Arts announced its beloved college football video game series will make a triumphant return to the shelves. Go back a few weeks earlier this month, and you’ll find athletic departments’ social media teams working tirelessly to produce creative graphics to usher in new recruiting classes on National Signing Day.
Branding is a massive aspect of college sports, and its significance has only skyrocketed in the social media era. Especially with NIL (name, image, likeness) legislation inevitably in the works, student-athletes’ brands are now able to go beyond the rushing yards they achieved on Saturdays or the number of tackles for loss they racked up on Thursday night.