Runners Rising was founded in 2022 to directly provide financial support and opportunities to student-athletes. The program is an independent nonprofit that is not affiliated with UTSA.
A statement from Runners Risings explains its mission is to “provide UTSA student-athletes with direct payments in exchange for content.”
In 2021, Texas passed the name, image and likeness law, giving student-athletes the legal right to profit off of themselves through sponsorships and ads. In other states that don’t have NIL laws, the NCAA turns it over to the universities to make these decisions.
Student-athletes deserve fair compensation, and the NCAA shouldn’t be able to defy antitrust laws. The NCAA should be doing more to protect athletes from exploitation, and the organization should be able to provide student-athletes basic necessities.
According to ESPN, “In college, student-athletes have long been prohibited from making deals to profit from their fame, so they forfeited their NIL rights by signing on with college sports teams.”
The law has the potential to give student-athletes more financial opportunities just like any other students. The legislation is not just about fair compensation. It is about empowering athletes to take control of their futures and allowing them to make decisions for themselves.
There has been pushback from schools like Texas Tech University that argue it is unfair and that it puts the university at a disadvantage when recruiting athletes for the 2025 fall season as it stops them from paying athletes directly.
For years, the NCAA has been able to profit off of athletes — generating billions of dollars from streaming, merchandise and ticket sales — while the athletes receive none of the revenue. Even though there have been numerous hearings and proposed bills over the matter from all over the U.S., no progress or change has been made.
On the Runners Rising website, it tracks the activity of athletes and deals that they have made. As of 2024, there were 22 Roadrunners signed to the nonprofit. Most recently, it signed 13 members of the women’s basketball team — including standout senior forward Jordyn Jenkins.
In order for UTSA students to be selected for the program, they must be nominated by the volunteer staff each month. From there they pick one female and male athlete to award.
As an extension of the program, the nonprofit has created “Runners Rising Hoops,” which is aimed at elevating the men’s basketball team. The donations for Runners Rising and Runners Rising Hoops are separate.
In spite of this, the nonprofit does emphasize that they cover all sports, saying, “We firmly believe that a championship mindset is contagious. Student-athletes across all sports will receive NIL opportunities through the Runners Rising Project. This support will help UTSA recruit and retain talent and bring top level college athletics to San Antonio.”
While challenges persist, especially around the divide between larger and smaller schools, it’s clear that this is a step toward fairness in college sports. As the NCAA continues to profit off athletes, it is important that they adapt and prioritize protections, ensuring that student-athletes receive the fair compensation and contracts they deserve.
Runners Rising empowers student-athletes at UTSA by providing both financial support and opportunities. By supporting athletes across all sports, the nonprofit enhances both the personal and athletic development of the Roadrunners, helping UTSA recruit and retain top talent while building a competitive edge in college athletics.
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