BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Athletics and Outback Steakhouse are excited to announce a partnership providing NIL opportunities for more than 30 Hilltopper student-athletes through an agreement facilitated by Hilltopper Sports Properties.

The partnership between the Hilltoppers and Outback becomes the largest NIL engagement – based on number of student-athletes signed – in college athletics for the global restaurant chain, which operates over 1,000 locations worldwide with approximately 700 locations in the United States.

“We are proud to partner with these outstanding athletes at Outback Bowling Green,” said Outback Steakhouse General Manager Brian Kinch. “As long-standing supporters of WKU Athletics, we are excited to continue this tradition by enhancing our collaboration to include NIL partnerships, further strengthening our commitment to the WKU community.”

With its 30-plus student-athletes representing 11 Hilltopper different programs, Outback will provide weekly gift cards at varying levels of compensation in exchange for social media promotion of the Bowling Green location on Instagram and TikTok.

“This is a special moment not only for our partnership with Outback but for many of our student-athletes who are receiving a terrific NIL opportunity,” said Collin Stoecker, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Name, Image and Likeness for WKU Athletics. “We’re passionate about continuing to grow the NIL support for our Hilltoppers, and Outback has provided a huge boost to those efforts with their partnership.”

Through the expanded agreement with the Hilltoppers, Outback Steakhouse continues to partner with WKU Athletics for radio broadcast advertisement and loyalty rewards incentives on the Big Red’s Rewards app.

“Outback has been a fantastic partner for several years now, and we’re proud to expand their support beyond just the athletic department and directly to WKU student-athletes,” said Jennifer Starke, General Manager of Hilltopper Sports Properties. “We look forward to working with them well into the future to provide NIL opportunities grow their relationship with the Bowling Green community.”

The NIL partnership between the Hilltoppers and Outback Steakhouse officially kicked off last Friday night with an on-site launch party and NIL contract signing at the local Bowling Green location at 3260 Scottsville Road.

Hilltopper Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Western Kentucky University Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Hilltoppers. Hilltopper Sports Properties does not represent the student-athletes themselves but collaborates with corporate partners to maximize sponsorship agreements with the inclusion of NIL programs and the integration of university marks and logos within those programs.

About WKU Athletics
Western Kentucky University (WKU) Athletics, home of the Hilltoppers, is known for its excellence in collegiate sports. Competing in Conference USA, WKU Athletics offers 16 varsity sport programs. With top-notch facilities, dedicated coaching staffs, and a strong emphasis on academic achievement and community involvement, WKU Athletics is committed to developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. The Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers have combined to win 40 Conference USA championships since 2014-15.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.