Auburn Tigers logo. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Auburn offers fans a unique service to boost NIL funding

By Nic Young | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 3:01 PM ET

In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, Auburn has adopted a creative approach that allows fans to contribute directly to the school's name, image and likeness (NIL) fund.

Auburn athletics announced on Dec. 16 the launch of War Eagle Mobile, a cell phone plan provided by Collegiate Mobile on the T-Mobile 5G network.

Auburn takes unique approach to enhance NIL funding

A portion of the monthly bill will be directed toward Auburn athletics, scholarships or student funds. War Eagle Mobile customers will receive benefits such as free charging stations at home football and basketball games.

Larger incentives, such as the chance to tour facilities and have on-field access on game day, are also available for fans to win.

Introducing War Eagle Mobile

A phone plan built for the Auburn Family — competitive rates, exclusive gameday perks, and every bill helps support Auburn Athletics.

: https://t.co/uBxBQahfVG pic.twitter.com/4ngRc8woi7
— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) December 16, 2025

Like most college programs, NIL funding has become a top priority for the Tigers. One of the most notable instances of this came when Auburn opted to move next season's opener from Jordan Hare Stadium to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to provide NIL opportunities for its players.

While a cell phone plan approach to NIL funding is relatively new, the Tigers are not the first to adopt it. Washington State announced its partnership with Collegiate Mobile in November. If War Eagle Mobile proves successful, it could offer a new model for how colleges support their athletic funding.

Nic Young

Nic Young is a 2024 Master's graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a degree in Communication. After discovering his passion for sports journalism at Auburn, he began covering university athletics for the Auburn Plainsman in 2021. He also gained valuable experience in broadcast journalism, serving as a camera operator and sports reporter for Eagle Eye TV, Auburn's student-run news station

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