PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers Athletics will display its commitment to empowering student-athletes to maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities during R NIL Homecoming Weekend.


 
Positioned in the heart of the nation's No. 1 media market, R NIL offers unmatched visibility and access to the world's most influential brands and audiences. Highlighted by several events surrounding Rutgers Homecoming Weekend, the Piscataway campus will be blanketed with t-shirts, buttons, banners, backdrops and signage to show the widespread impact of R NIL.
 
Rutgers Athletics will elevate the R NIL brand through activations at all events over Homecoming Weekend (October 16-19). These efforts will build the R NIL brand and make it central, visible, and unmissable at Rutgers, strengthening awareness and positioning the Scarlet Knights to become a national leader in NIL.
 
More than 120 Fortune 500 companies call the combined New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia footprint home. Spanning industries such as finance, healthcare, technology, media, and consumer brands, this concentration of global enterprises creates a powerful network of partnerships and endorsement opportunities that few regions in the country can rival.
 
For Rutgers student-athletes, this means the ability to build their personal brands on the biggest stage. It presents the chance to connect directly with leading companies and leverage the reach of a market that extends to millions of fans and consumers every day.
 
"Rutgers Nation, let's build something bigger - for New Jersey, for Rutgers, and for your business," said Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn. "When local businesses support our student-athletes, they're not just backing a name - they're investing in dreams, in teams, and in championships. Now is the time to team up with Rutgers student-athletes through R NIL and create a winning partnership that leaves a lasting impact."
 
R NIL is a pathway to capitalize on the extraordinary marketability of the Scarlet Knights. By combining elite athletics with the energy of the largest media market in the country, Rutgers provides a platform for student-athletes to thrive both on and off the field.
 


R NIL Quotes
 
Rutgers Football Head Coach Greg Schiano
"Supporting our players through NIL has never been more important. We are excited about the plan in place to elevate Rutgers to the next level. It will take all of us coming together."
 
Rutgers Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Pikiell
"R NIL will be an unbelievable resource and provides an avenue for our fans to come together to support our student-athletes. I'm proud of the way our administration is finding ways to help us compete in the name, image, and likeness space."
 
Rutgers Women's Basketball Head Coach Coquese Washington
"R NIL gives our community a chance to come together in support of our Scarlet Knights, celebrating their hard work on the court, in the classroom and beyond. I'm excited to see how NIL continues to empower our players and strengthen the bond between our program and Rutgers Nation."


 
Athletic Excellence Fund
 
On October 6, Rutgers Athletics announced the launch of the Athletic Excellence Fund, a bold new initiative that will provide direct support to Scarlet Knight student-athletes, which is now permissible as a result of the NCAA House settlement. Together with Rutgers' Name, Image and Likeness (R NIL) efforts and athletic scholarships, Rutgers will be positioned to thrive in a transformed collegiate athletics landscape.
 
The Athletic Excellence Fund will provide critical support for revenue-sharing with Rutgers student-athletes. The investments will enhance the Scarlet Knights' ability to recruit, retain, and develop top-tier talent across all sports. Gifts to this fund are tax deductible and supporters will receive priority points for their contributions. The Athletic Excellence Fund will also generate the necessary resources to support the infrastructure of R NIL and to continue to build the Rutgers Athletics brand in the Big Ten and nationally.
 
Scholarships

Together with these new initiatives, scholarships remain a vital and foundational way for donors to support student-athletes, continuing to position them for academic success and financial stability. Increased scholarship support contributes to the competitive edge for coaches to recruit and retain elite talent from around the globe. Donors can contribute to the general R Scholarship Fund or via new sport-specific scholarship funds.
 
A Call to Rutgers Nation

Whether through the Athletic Excellence Fund, partnering with R NIL through SAMCO, or supporting scholarships, every gift strengthens the Scarlet Knights and helps build a program that will set the new standard.
 
For more information or to make a gift, please visit ScarletKnights.com/give.