Kentucky's Otega Oweh Inks NIL Deal with Buffalo Wild Wings

The agreement celebrates Oweh's game-tying shot against Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:58pm

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Following his wild game-tying shot against Santa Clara on Friday, Kentucky guard Otega Oweh landed an NIL deal with Buffalo Wild Wings. The agreement celebrates the highlight-reel shot in the Round of 64 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the top sponsors of March Madness, and the company has celebrated some of the tournament's biggest stars in recent years through NIL deals. This agreement with Oweh continues that trend and highlights the growing importance of NIL partnerships for college athletes.

The details

Oweh's 32-foot shot came as the buzzer sounded in St. Louis on Friday and capped off a wild sequence. He brought the game to a 70-70 tie before Santa Clara's Allen Graves hit a three-pointer on the other end to put the Bulldogs ahead, 73-70. Although Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek tried to call timeout afterward, play continued and Oweh banked in a shot for the ages to send the game to overtime. All told, he had 35 points while leading Kentucky to a thrilling 89-84 win in the first round.

  • Oweh's game-tying shot occurred on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament Round of 64 game between Kentucky and Santa Clara took place on March 21, 2026.

The players

Otega Oweh

A guard for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team who hit a game-tying shot against Santa Clara in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Allen Graves

A player for the Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team who hit a three-pointer to put Santa Clara ahead 73-70 late in the game against Kentucky.

Herb Sendek

The head coach of the Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team who tried to call a timeout after Graves' three-pointer, but play continued.

Buffalo Wild Wings

A major sponsor of the NCAA March Madness tournament that has signed NIL deals with other notable college basketball players in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“I sent the game to overtime, so Buffalo Wild Wings hooked me up with their Ultimate Sampler where you can mix and match 4 different apps. I picked King's Hawaiian Cheeseburger Sliders, Mozzarella sticks, Chicken dippers and Onion rings in mine.”

— Otega Oweh

What’s next

This story will be updated.

The takeaway

Otega Oweh's game-tying shot against Santa Clara in the 2026 NCAA Tournament has earned him a lucrative NIL deal with Buffalo Wild Wings, one of the top sponsors of March Madness. This agreement highlights the growing importance of NIL partnerships for college athletes and the ability of standout tournament performances to drive these opportunities.