The Money Game

Rated 13+ • Prime Video

In the last few years, college sports has undergone massive upheaval, much of it brought on by the 2021 court case that ruled the National Collegiate Athletic Association couldn’t prevent student athletes from profiting from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Overnight, thousands of young people suddenly had the opportunity to make money without turning pro.

The Money Game is a six-part documentary series that examines how the student athletes at Louisiana State University are navigating a sports landscape reshaped by NIL deals.

The documentary begins with a breakdown of the economics behind college athletics. NIL threw the old system into chaos.

LSU, seeking to get a leg up on its competitors, created a special NIL office to help students get paid. Their goal is to teach athletes “how to ­hustle.” These athletes aren’t just ­students—now they’re running their own businesses.

The stars of the series, which takes place over the 2023-24 school year, are gymnast Olivia Dunne, basketball star Angel Reese, and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Each has a different approach to building a brand, and while football generates the lion’s share of profits for the school, it’s the Lady Tigers that are running away with all the money.

Reese has plenty of traditional endorsements from companies like Reebok, but Dunne relies on her social media presence. With 15 million followers, she can command up to $125,000 for a single post.

NIL riches don’t rain down ­equitably or as expected. Some stars ­struggle to get any attention, and some obscure athletes manage to build profitable businesses.

The series doesn’t shy away from the dark side of NIL. These young people face various struggles in this new cash-infused reality, and they mourn the loss of a normal life. NIL has become one more thing to worry about for kids who are already under too much pressure to perform.