Partnership will streamline NIL and direct athlete payment for 500+ student-athletes, delivering up to $2.4M in annual cost savings
HOUSTON and FRESNO, CALIF. – (July 8, 2025) - TheLinkU, the premier NIL platform focused on simplifying and enhancing opportunities for college athletes and institutions, has announced a first-of-its-kind revenue sharing partnership with Fresno State. Through TheLinkU’s infrastructure and expansive national partnership network all aspects of athlete revenue-sharing for Fresno State athletics will be handled exclusively by TheLinkU. Fresno State athletics will benefit from built-in financial education, audit-ready documentation, and proven cost savings of over seven figures.
“Fresno State is built for the future of college athletics,” said Garrett Klassy, Director of Athletics at Fresno State. “As the House Settlement accelerates change across our industry, we’re not sitting back—we’re designing the next generation of support for student-athletes. Partnering with TheLinkU reflects our willingness to challenge the status quo and team up with innovative, nontraditional thinkers who match our urgency and ambition. This is more than NIL infrastructure—it’s a competitive advantage. From education and onboarding to seamless payments and compliance, TheLinkU helps ensure Fresno State leads with purpose, precision, and sustainability.”
TheLinkU replaces piecemeal solutions with a single platform that automates the full NIL and revenue-sharing lifecycle. The program includes contract creation and deliverable tracking to payment disbursement and reporting.
“When it comes to revenue sharing, Klassy and his entire staff are showing they are taking an athlete-first, offensive position,” said Austin Elrod, founder and president of TheLinkU. “This is a tremendous display of leadership to the rest of the country, and we know that we’ll be able to show that this is the type of infrastructure athletic departments need to thrive in a post-House settlement world.”
The partnership ensures every dollar invested in athletes directly impacts the student-athlete experience rather than being absorbed by manual processes or redundant software systems. It also positions Fresno State as a national leader in adopting scalable, athlete-first solutions at a time when schools across the country are searching for clarity in the post-House settlement landscape.
Fresno State’s partnership with TheLinkU sets a new standard for how athletic departments can navigate NIL and revenue sharing with confidence. As the industry moves from legal uncertainty to operational execution, this model provides a clear framework that is financially responsible, athlete-focused, and built for long-term success. To learn more, visit www.thelinku.com
About TheLinkU
Founded in 2022 by Austin Elrod, TheLinkU is a pioneering NIL platform dedicated to simplifying and enhancing opportunities for college athletes and institutions. With a focus on integrity and compliance, TheLinkU offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower athletes and support colleges in navigating the evolving NIL landscape. For more information, visit www.thelinku.com
