In the NIL era, brand recognition is everything. Visibility is massive, no longer just profitable for the program but for its players as well. The Oregon football program — one of the most recognizable in the sport over the last two decades — has no issues in this regard.

And neither do its players.

Opendorse, a pioneer in the NIL space and a company many universities throughout major college athletics partner with to help maximize earnings for student-athletes, says the Ducks have four of the five most marketable players in the Pac-12 and half of the top 10. Those players include Justin Flowe (No. 1), DJ Johnson (No. 2), Bo Nix (No. 3), Noah Sewell (No. 5), and Seven McGee (No. 10).

The calculations are based on a combination of the athlete’s followers across the top social media platforms and engagement across those accounts. Flowe, Johnson, and Nix are all north of 100,000 followers on Instagram.

We’re still early in the NIL era when it comes to available data, so assessing market value can be somewhat of a crapshoot — though On3 has developed its own NIL valuation system that puts actual numbers next to athlete names. But if there’s a company that should be viewed as the leading authority on who’s who in the space, it’s Opendorse.

The Ducks have everything in place to be an NIL powerhouse. It’s a strong program with tremendous financial support and fan engagement. The Division Street collective in Eugene — which includes Nike co-founder Phil Knight — is one of the best in the space.