AUSTIN, Texas — Through a partnership, Nike and the University of Texas announced the addition of 16 student-athletes to Nike’s new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program.
Blue Ribbon Elite, launched in 2025, aims to reimagine the NIL space by providing athletes and universities a level of collaboration that prioritizes athlete identity.
With the news of the collaboration, the Blue Ribbon Elite student-athletes were a part of a SXSW event hosted by Nike and the Longhorns Saturday.
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The event took place at the Yeti Flagship Store on South Congress Ave.
The aim of the partnership was to go back to a significant goal of Nike, which is to listen to athlete voices. The partnership also aims to help athletes be better both on and off the field.
The athletes were selected based on their influence, as well as to represent a wide range of sports.
While the program is in its early stages, it is seen to be continually evolving with the athletes at UT Austin.