Ethan preferred the back left quadrant of lecture halls.Not the back row — that was Liam’s stage. But two rows up, slightly off-center? That was strategic. Clear view of the board. Clean acoustics. Fewer distractions.Government 101.Required. Foundational. Manageable.Beside him, Liam dropped into the chair like he’d just claimed territory.“Over/under,” Liam murmured, glancing at his phone. “Two minutes before she clocks us?”Ethan didn’t look up from his laptop. “You’re assuming she cares.”“She’ll care.”Their faces were everywhere. Campus posters. Athletics promo reels. An NCAA feature praising Bastian’s “freshman twin pitchers poised to reclaim championship glory.” Four seasons without a title had turned into a narrative. And thanks to NIL — the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness policy — that narrative now came with contracts.Athletes could monetize their personal brand. Appearances. Sponsorships. Social media partnerships. It was marketed as empowerment. In practice, it meant
Last Updated : 2026-02-26 Read more