A donor family that wishes to remain anonymous pledged $8 million to Mississippi State football to launch the State Excellence Fund, which will pay for things such as recruitment and athlete compensation, the university announced Thursday.

It is the second-largest commitment ever to the Bulldogs’ athletic program, the school said.

“This thoughtful and generous investment in our program is critical to what we are building here in Starkville in this new era of college athletics,” athletic director Zac Selmon said in a statement. “To be an elite-level program, it takes elite-level resources. A gift of this magnitude shows the unwavering drive to establish Mississippi State Football as a premier college football destination for many years to come. I could not be more grateful for the commitment to championing our programs and players.”

The growth of name, image and likeness programs has made it imperative that schools develop the infrastructure to funnel money for player recruitment and retention, especially in highly competitive leagues such as the Southeastern Conference.

“This investment in our program shows that State fans are ‘all-in’ when it comes to helping provide the resources it takes to compete in the toughest conference in the country,” football coach Jeff Lebby said. “Having their support and belief in what we’re building is crucial for us as we continue to move forward.”

The university statement included a comment from the donors.

“We want to ensure we are doing our part to bolster Mississippi State Football. To build a sustained winning culture and program in today’s climate it’s going to take us all coming together to ensure our program has what it needs to recruit, train and keep top talent,” the family said. “With the launch of the State Excellence Fund, it provides the opportunity for fans and supporters to make a direct investment, regardless of the amount, in our future. We firmly believe in what we can accomplish together. We are proud to be Mississippi State Bulldogs.”