Let's Talk NIL

So, recently there has been so much change happening in collegiate athletics especially in the NIL space.?

The past few months have made one thing abundantly clear; the NCAA needs congress to step in as it relates to NIL and “pay for play”.?

Amateurism in collegiate sports as we know it may cease to exist. Due to a recent judgment made in Tennessee, the NCAA cannot enforce any NIL restrictions until the case is settled or goes to trial, including its original Interim NIL Policy. And render its “rule of restitution,” which punishes athletes for following interim court decisions that are later reversed, unenforceable.?

Experts, sports enthusiasts, and journalists alike believe the immediate effects of the ruling will happen during the next transfer portal window between April 15 and April 30.

In the first year of NIL activity in college athletics, it was estimated that student-athletes made over $915 million dollars with the most lucrative deals being led by men’s basketball and football stars. Now something that seemed to be a positive yet uncertain thing is morphing into more of an unknown and complex unregulated endeavor that could change college athletics and the NCAA as we know it.?

In the wake of the state of Tennessee winning the injunction vs. the college sports governing body, NCAA President Charlie Baker said, “As you may know, we made clear that the NCAA fully supports the rights of student-athletes to benefit from exercising their NIL rights, but expressed concern that granting this preliminary injunction would make what is currently a chaotic environment worse,” Baker wrote on Monday. “You have many questions, and we know you need to hear from us. But given the significance and sweep of this decision, it’s critical that our guidance to you and your colleagues on this ruling be accurate (Nako, 2024).?

It’s safe to say, and in the words of the NCAA President, we will all have to wait and see.?

What do you think NIL is going to look like by 2025? What effect do you think NIL is going to have on college athletics?

Citation

Nakos, Pete. "Charlie Baker issues letter to NCAA membership following NIL preliminary injunction decision." On3NIL.com February 26, 2024. https://www.on3.com/nil/news/ncaa-president-charlie-baker-sends-letter-membership-nil-preliminary-injunction-tennessee-volunteers/