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The highly sought-after rookie trading card used to commemorate an athlete’s first year in professional sports. Soon, that real estate will also be occupied by college freshmen.
Fanatics Collectibles and Topps announced a line of college physical and digital trading cards with more than 100 colleges and universities nationwide. The deal will include both current college athletes and former college athletes playing in the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Already one of the biggest sports memorabilia retailers in the United States, Fanatics secured a multi-year deal for the exclusive rights to create official trading cards for more than 35 colleges. The deal includes college powerhouses Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami and Texas A&M.
© Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports Topps has secured NIL deals for trading card rights for nearly 200 athletes across college football and basketball, including Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
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Also, Topps will begin the design, manufacturing and distribution of trading cards for college football and basketball players at more than 100 additional schools, including Oklahoma, Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse. The agreements will begin as early as 2023.
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“Fanatics has been closely monitoring the ever-evolving NIL (name, image and likeness) landscape, and we felt this was the perfect time to launch multiple, strategic college trading card programs that will allow schools and current student-athletes to create new levels of direct engagement with fans across hundreds of the top programs nationwide,” said Derek Eiler, executive vice president of Fanatics College. “There are tremendous opportunities for this untapped area of the hobby and to expand further across the collegiate sports landscape.”
Topps also secured separate NIL deals for the trading card rights for nearly 200 athletes across college football and basketball. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Stetson Bennett of national champion Georgia, and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, the women’s basketball tournament’s most outstanding player, are among the players signed.
Fanatics acquired Topps trading card company in January. The move was forecast after Fanatics secured the exclusive rights to produce cards for Major League Baseball and MLB Players’ Association from Topps, which had produced baseball trading cards since the 1950s. Fanatics now holds trading card rights for the MLB, NFL and NBA in addition to the new college deal.
1/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett kisses the national championship trophy after the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide.
2/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after defeating Alabama.
3/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia players wave a championship flag after defeating Alabama.
4/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia linebacker John Staton IV celebrates after defeating Alabama in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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5/61 SLIDES © Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News Alabama offensive lineman Chris Owens (79) and quarterback Bryce Young (9) leave the field after losing to Georgia, 33-18.
6/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is hugged by a Bulldogs assistant coach during the fourth quarter.
7/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) makes an interception during the fourth quarter against Alabama. Ringo returned the interception for a touchdown.
8/61 SLIDES © Carmen Mandato, Getty Images Kelee Ringo celebrates his pick-six against Alabama.
9/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown.
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10/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against Alabama.
11/61 SLIDES © Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) runs the ball against Georgia.
12/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) catches a touchdown pass over Alabama defensive back Khyree Jackson in the fourth quarter.
13/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Alabama tight end Cameron Latu (81) catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
14/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett fumbles the ball as he is hit by Alabama linebacker Christian Harris.
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15/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia Bulldogs running back Zamir White (3) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against Alabama in the third quarter.
16/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia running back Zamir White (3) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against Alabama in the third quarter.
17/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia running back Zamir White runs into the endzone for a touchdown during the third quarter.
18/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia running back James Cook runs downfield during a 67-yard rush during the third quarter.
19/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) runs the ball against Alabama in the third quarter.
20/61 SLIDES © Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Sports Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after the Bulldogs blocked a field goal in the third quarter.
21/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter blocks a field goal attempt by Alabama kicker Will Reichard (16) in the third quarter.
22/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) is tackled by Georgia linebacker Quay Walker (7) after a run in the third quarter.
23/61 SLIDES © Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports Alabama quarterback Bryce Young reacts after a big play during the third quarter.
24/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) runs the ball against Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) during the third quarter.
25/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh (6) runs the ball against Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (1) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the third quarter.
26/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia running back Zamir White (3) runs the ball against Alabama in the third quarter.
27/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith (29) celebrates with defensive back Lewis Cine (16) after an interception against Alabama in the third quarter.
28/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) reaches to pull down a catch against Alabama defensive back Khyree Jackson (6) in the second quarter.
29/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, center, talks to his team in the second quarter.
30/61 SLIDES © Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Sports Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) gets credit for a sack after tripping up Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) during the second quarter.
31/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Alabama kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks his third field goal of the game during the second quarter.
32/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Agiye Hall (84) runs the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs in the second quarter.
33/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) catches a 40-yard pass against Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith (29) during the second quarter.
34/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Alabama tight end Cameron Latu runs during a 61-yard catch in the second quarter.
35/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall (41) sacks Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second quarter.
36/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Georgia wide receiver George Pickens catches a 52-yard pass against Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry during the first quarter.
37/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs the ball after a catch as Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) makes the tackle in the first quarter.
38/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports The Georgia Bulldogs prepare to hike the ball during first quarter of the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 10, 2021.
39/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Alabama kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks a 37-yard field goal from the hold of punter James Burnip (86) to give the Crimson Tide a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
40/61 SLIDES © Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) tries to jumps over Georgia defensive back Derion Kendrick (11) during the first quarter.
41/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Slade Bolden (18) runs the ball after a catch as Georgia defensive back William Poole (31) gives chase during the first quarter.
42/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Alabama quarterback Bryce Young escapes the pressure from Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) in the first quarter.
43/61 SLIDES © Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks (7) runs the ball against Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith (29) during the first quarter.
44/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) recovers his own fumble as he is tackled by Alabama defensive back Khyree Jackson (6) in the first quarter.
45/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) tackles Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) during the first quarter.
46/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) waits for the opening snap against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff national championshp game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Jan. 10.
47/61 SLIDES © Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports The Alabama Crimson Tide runs on to the field before the start of the College Football Playoff championshp game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
48/61 SLIDES © Joshua Bickel, USA TODAY Sports The Georgia Bulldogs band performs before the start of the College Football Playoff championship game.
49/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Recording artist Natalie Young performs before the start of the College Football Playoff championship game.
50/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports The Georgia Bulldogs mascot cheers before the start of the College Football Playoff championshp game.
51/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports The Alabama Crimson Tide marching band performs before the start of the College Football Playoff championship game.
52/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Georgia Bulldogs cheerleaders perform before the start of the College Football Playoff championshp game.
53/61 SLIDES © Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Sports Young Alabama and Georgia fans wait for the College Football Playoff championship game to start.
54/61 SLIDES © Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Sports Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) gathers with teammates before the Colleg Football Playoff championshp game.
55/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett warms up before playing the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff championship game.
56/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) walks to the field to warm up before the College Football Playoff championship game.
57/61 SLIDES © Marc Lebryk, USA TODAY Sports Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban runs off the field before the start of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
58/61 SLIDES © Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart walks on field before the start of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fanatics, Topps announce trading card deal with schools, college athletes in NIL milestone