💸 Meet the YouTuber Taking a $250,000 Risk on College Football

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Happy Wednesday,

College football is in the middle of a full-blown identity shift.

Realignment, NIL, and media rights have turned tradition into a business model—and content creators are now part of the equation.

This week, Jake and I sat down with Jack Settleman, founder of Snapback Sports, who’s putting that shift on full display. He’s spending $250K this fall to embed his brand across the college football calendar—through content, partnerships, and one headline-grabbing move: offering $100,000 for a jersey patch.

But this episode isn’t just about one stunt. It’s about the new playbook being written for creators, brands, and schools—and who’s actually willing to play the game.

🎧 [Listen to our full episode with Jack Settleman]

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5 Takeaways From Our Conversation With Jack Settleman

1. The first patch is a branding play, not a media buy.

Snapback’s $100K offer to sponsor a jersey wasn’t about impressions or clicks. It was about being first.

“The second that we're second, ECU maybe is a little less interesting,” Jack told us.

2. Schools haven’t priced anything correctly—yet.

There’s no established market for jersey patches or in-game activations, so teams are throwing out numbers:

• Colorado State quoted $250K–$500K

• Baylor pitched a $20K “Player of the Game” co-branded moment

• Snapback’s favorite idea? Helmet stickers that reward player achievements

The early pricing is erratic—but creative brands can win if they move fast.

3. Working with schools is all about finding the ones who ‘get it.’

Some schools say yes, integrate Snapback into content, and help coordinate shots. Others say no without even asking why.

“You can thread the needle,” Jack said, “and find the diamond in the rough.”

4. Snapback is spending $250K on content—with no guaranteed return.

This fall, the team will visit over 20 campuses. Flights, hotels, and travel alone have already cost $63,000.

“YouTube made us $25K last year,” Jack said. “So I’m not doing this for the views.”

Instead, the goal is to build Snapback into the Yelp or TripAdvisor of sports fandom—and use the content to fuel product adoption down the road.

5. Their runway ends in April 2027. And Jack’s okay with that.

Snapback’s partnership with Underdog gives them three more years of stability. After that?

“We’ll either make it—or we won’t,” Jack said.

He’s betting big, moving fast, and building like he’s got one shot to make it work.

Why It Matters:

Snapback’s approach might sound risky—but it reflects a broader shift happening across the creator economy and college sports:

• Content isn’t the end product; it’s the top of the funnel

• Attention is worthless unless it leads to owned distribution

• Institutions are slow—but creators who move fast can outmaneuver them

Jack’s not chasing viral moments—he’s building long-term leverage. And if it works, it won’t just change how brands sponsor college football.

It’ll change how creators build real companies.

🎧 [Listen to our full episode with Jack Settleman]

📩 And don’t forget: Bottom of the Ninth is back this Friday with the top three stories in sports and business from the week.

See you then,
Tyler & Jake