Four-star USC signee Matai Tagoa’i becomes one of the first high school players to accept NIL earnings in bitcoin

In a groundbreaking development, Matai Tagoa’i, a highly rated linebacker prospect and USC signee, has opted to receive a portion of his NIL compensation in Bitcoin.

This historic move highlights the growing intersection between cryptocurrency and college sports. The arrangement, facilitated through a collaboration with Strike, a leading Bitcoin payment platform, was announced on Dec. 19.

Tagoa’i, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound linebacker who ranks among the top 100 recruits in the 2025 class, chose USC over powerhouse programs such as Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Washington.

House of Victory, USC’s NIL collective, orchestrated the innovative NIL deal, which has played a pivotal role in providing unique financial opportunities for student-athletes.

“This is a game-changer for me,” Tagoa’i said in a statement. “By taking part of my NIL earnings in Bitcoin, I’m setting myself up for long-term financial growth. I’m grateful to Strike, House of Victory and 3Point0 Labs for helping me take this step."

"I’m proud to be part of this innovative collaboration that’s redefining the future of college athletics and finance and hope to set an example for other young athletes to think about their financial future, he added.

Tagoa’i’s deal positions him as a trailblazer in a rapidly evolving NIL landscape.

USC’s 2024 season falls short of expectations; look to Las Vegas Bowl for redemption

USC’s 2024 season fell short of what was expected despite the success in the Vegas Kickoff Classic against LSU. The Trojans ended the regular season with a 6-6 record, a reduction in victories for their coach, Lincoln Riley, who went from 11 to eight and now has only six wins in the last three seasons.

A win over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl will give USC a winning record to end the season. The Trojans' season started and will conclude at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Reflecting on the state of college football, sports analyst Pate discussed the shift in the landscape:

"Let's pretend it's 2010. I come to you, and I give you a vistion of the future of college football. I tell you we will have wide open free agency, there will be no cap on spending, and players will move all over the place at their discretion. I think USC would've terrified you ... USC's gonna dominate."

However, the Trojans got hit when the transfer portal opened on Dec. 9, losing 19 players, including key figures like quarterback Miller Moss and standout wide receivers Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch.

Despite success in recruiting, these efforts haven’t translated into success in the field. As Pate pointed out:

"I know it's very popular in this business to shout in a megaphone and have definitive takes. I don't know that theres a definitive stance to be taken here. I don't think it's guaranteed Lincoln Riley's going to flame out, and it's certainly not a guarantee right now that he's going to pull it out of the ditch, and they'll be fine."

While USC will compete in the Las Vegas Bowl, other schools like Ohio State and Oregon are advancing to the College Football Playoff, with Notre Dame also vying for its first national championship since 1988.