Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia HC Kirby Smart makes joke about Oregon's NIL funding

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 16, 2024 5:12 PM ET

At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart revealed why he envies Oregon's Dan Lanning.

Smart discussed how his team met with Nike co-founder Phil Knight as part of a series where it studies successful organizations. He then quipped about the billionaire's relationship with his alma mater.

"I wish I could get some of that NIL money that [Knight is] sharing with Dan Lanning," Smart said, per CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah. "But that's another note."

It's no secret that Knight is one of the most powerful boosters in college sports. In 2021, The Oregonian's Jeff Manning reported the 86-year-old's donations to the University of Oregon are "approaching the $1B mark."

Per Forbes' Kristi Dosh, he and other alumni launched a NIL collective — Division Street, Inc. — that same year.

Thus, it's fair to assume Oregon has much more NIL funding than other programs, giving it an edge in recruiting.

247 Sports rated the Ducks' 2024 recruiting class No. 3 in the country behind Georgia and Alabama. This offseason, they landed former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel — the Heisman Trophy favorite (+700), per FanDuel Sportsbook — in the transfer portal. Unsurprisingly, he has already signed new NIL deals.

Through a new NIL deal, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel helped his teammates get "iced out" with school-themed jewelry featuring Oregon's O logo and the Duck mascot with a huge Nike Swoosh.

Gabriel has a $1.2 million On3 NIL Valuation.https://t.co/1ZmCRA2QEw pic.twitter.com/9DVThwY9bY
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) July 16, 2024

Of course, Georgia isn't struggling. The Bulldogs have won two national championships over the past three seasons. Smart noted their NIL system is "competitive," which should help them add elite players and vie for more titles.

Still, Smart's comment about Oregon's deep pockets shows it's in a position to compete for national championships in the new era of college football. Moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten should also aid the Ducks' recruiting efforts.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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