NIL Power Shift: The Players Defining College Golf’s 2025–26 Season
The 2025–26 college golf season opens with NIL valuations reshaping the sport. Marketability now matters as much as on-course success, and the Golf NIL College Rankings highlight the players setting the pace.
Men’s Leaders
Jackson Koivun (Auburn) enters at No. 1 with a $1.55 million valuation. The junior already holds a PGA Tour card, has two professional top-10 finishes, and is the reigning McCormack Medalist. His endorsements include Titleist, FootJoy, and Betterment.
John Daly II (Arkansas) ranks No. 2 at $625,000 after a summer that included a Southern Amateur win and a U.S. Amateur quarterfinal run. He also commands a large digital audience with 200,000 Instagram followers and partnerships with TaylorMade, Hooters, and more.
Women’s Leaders
Kiara Romero (Oregon) tops the women’s list after winning the McCormack Medal and setting an amateur scoring record at the U.S. Women’s Open. Her deals include Nike and Titleist.
Megha Ganne (Stanford) is No. 2 following her U.S. Women’s Amateur title and Augusta National Women’s Amateur scoring record. She partners with Polo Ralph Lauren, Delta, and TaylorMade.
Rising Talent
Freshman Kihei Akina (BYU) enters the men’s watchlist after winning the Utah Open. On the women’s side, Mackenzie Lee (SMU) and Avery Weed (Mississippi State) headline newcomers to follow.
The Takeaway
NIL valuations are driving new visibility for players and programs. With Koivun, Daly II, Romero, and Ganne leading the way, the 2025–26 season begins with both competitive stakes and commercial influence at an all-time high.
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