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Western Illinois NIL Market Index | $2.9M 2026

Rankings
School Hub
Western Illinois
#295 Nationally
Ohio Valley
Lower-Tier
Sideline Data Desk

Western Illinois

#294 South Dakota#296 Winthrop

Sideline NIL Market Index

Ohio Valley · Lower-Tier

2026 Roster Market Estimate
$2.9M
Emerging Market
vs #1 Roster Market ($65.4M)4.4%
#295
National
#9
Conference
Top 83%
Nationally
By Sport
TopFootball56%
  • Football$1.6M56%
  • Other Sports$700K25%
  • Men's Basketball$550K19%

The Sideline owns this index.

Sport pools use The Sideline's conference and active-roster base model. This is our best current point estimate, not school payroll or a signed-contract total.

Full methodology

Player NIL values

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Public values match linked publishers; all others use the Sideline school-pool model.
School NIL BriefingUpdated August 10, 2026

Inside the Western Illinois NIL market

Western Illinois competes in the Ohio Valley at the Lower-Tier level. The Sideline's best current estimate for its varsity-athlete market is $2.9M. This is an independent market estimate, not reported school payroll or a sum of signed contracts.

  • Current market estimate: $2.9M, ranking #295 nationally and #9 in the Ohio Valley. The sport pools and active-player allocations reconcile to this one school total.
  • Where the value is concentrated: Football $1.6M, Other Sports $700K, Men's Basketball $550K.
  • Evidence behind this page: The estimate uses active-roster composition, current market evidence, recruiting profile, sport economics, and Ohio Valley market context. ESPN supplies roster biography data, not NIL values.
  • Latest update: Data refreshed August 10, 2026. The Sideline Data Desk owns the estimates, sport allocations, rankings, audits, and corrections. Read the full methodology.
The Sideline Data DeskSchool-specific market briefing

Western Illinois NIL FAQ

What is Western Illinois's estimated NIL roster value?

The Sideline's best current NIL Market Index estimate for Western Illinois is $2.9M. This ranks #295 nationally among Division I programs. Every sport and player pool is reconciled to that school total.

What conference does Western Illinois play in?

Western Illinois competes in the Ohio Valley at the Lower-Tier level.

Which Western Illinois sport has the highest roster value?

Football is Western Illinois's largest estimated NIL roster market at approximately $1.6M in 2026.

How does Western Illinois compare to other Ohio Valley schools?

Western Illinois's $2.9M aggregate roster market can be compared with every Ohio Valley program and all 357 Division I schools on The Sideline's NIL Tracker.

Is Western Illinois's NIL roster value the same as school spending?

No. It is The Sideline's best current estimate of athlete market value across active rosters. Historical disclosed compensation, school-directed benefits, foundation support, third-party NIL, and player market valuation are labeled separately so the same dollar is not counted twice.

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Did You Know?

Barry Sanders rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 1988, not counting his bowl game.

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