Content has become one of the most effective ways for schools to engage fans, support student-athletes, and deliver value to partners. Through Learfield Impact’s industry-leading NIL services, athletic programs gain on-campus support, strategic content creation, and technology-powered dealmaking resources needed to create professional content that strengthens those connections.
To expand this impact, Learfield Studios developed the Creator Model, a scalable solution designed to help schools build consistent content pipelines without adding significant cost or staff. The model equips athletic departments with equipment, training, tools, and ongoing support so they can tell their stories, grow their audiences, and generate new opportunities for revenue and engagement.
Eight schools are already using the Creator Model, producing content that ranges from game-day features to student-athlete storytelling and sponsor activations. The results are clear: more authentic NIL opportunities, stronger fan engagement, and measurable value for partners.
What Is the Creator Model?
The Creator Model was designed to help athletic departments of any size produce authentic, brand-ready content at scale. It combines:
- On-campus production toolkits including cameras, lighting and audio gear ready for everyday use.
- Centralized post-production services from Learfield Studios’ Emmy Award-winning team.
- Data-driven strategy tools like SLATE, Zoomph, and Airtable to measure and optimize performance.
It’s a complete content ecosystem designed to put control directly into the hands of athletics programs, helping them create fast, affordable, quality content that resonates with their fans and drives incremental revenue.
How Schools Are Using the Model
The Creator Model is designed for flexibility. Schools can tailor it to fit their unique goals. Here are some examples of how Learfield partners are already putting it to work:
Colorado State University – Elevating Program Storytelling
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Colorado State Men’s Basketball launched Season 1: A Basketball Story, a new original content series that follows Head Coach Ali Farokhmanesh in his first year leading the Rams. Presented by Pedersen Toyota, the series offers fans an authentic, cinematic look at the program’s evolution and culture-building journey.
St. John’s University – Turning Mindset Into a Movement
At St. John’s, the Creator Model powers PHD: Passionate, Hungry, Driven, a four-part docuseries presented by Maspeth Federal Savings. The series takes Johnnies Nation inside the mindset of the men’s basketball team as they prepare for another defining season. Through personal stories and all-access moments, each athlete embodies what it means to have a “PHD”—transforming team values into powerful fan storytelling.
Southern Illinois University – Empowering Student-Athlete Voices
At Southern Illinois University, Salukis in Chevies, presented by Ron Ward Chevrolet, turns everyday commutes into meaningful conversations. In this student-athlete–driven series, Salukis from basketball, volleyball, and football take fans along for a ride, sharing insights into their lives on and off the court.
“The creator model to me was quite frankly, a godsend when it came to us… with organic posts alone, we’ve already had over 50,000 views,” Jonathan Ihrig, General Manager of Saluki Sports Properties, Learfield’s locally based team at Southern Illinois.
Across these schools, the results speak for themselves. Each property saw five-figure increases in content-driven revenue and a higher share of total revenue attributed to content initiatives. By giving athletic departments the infrastructure and support to own their storytelling, the Creator Model helps student-athletes grow their personal brands, strengthens fan engagement, and delivers measurable value for partners.
The Creator Model has proven its value in unlocking new revenue streams and elevating fan engagement. This milestone marks a significant step forward in empowering collegiate partners to take control of their content creation and monetization strategies.
As more schools adopt the Creator Model, it’s clear how scalable content solutions can transform athletics programs. For schools, it extends reach without adding overhead. For brands, it creates new opportunities for authentic connection. And for fans, it delivers the stories they want—where and how they want them.
Want to learn more about how the Creator Model can impact your school? Contact Julian Sterbick-Myers at Julian.Sterbick-Myers@learfield.com.