Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) /College Athlete Compensation Bills Tracker

When the Supreme Court of the United States votes on an issue brought to them… it’s a big deal. When they vote unanimously 9–0, it’s a REALLY big deal. Unfortunately, the result of the decision is as clear as mud.

Last week, SCOTUS upheld the lower court’s decision that the NCAA’s “education-related benefits” for athletes violates anti-trust laws. In everyday jargon, that means athletes should be allowed to earn more than just scholarships. This opens the door for athletes’ ability to earn sponsorship income based on their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) like any other professional athlete, celebrity or person of public persuasion.

Without a national standard, law or governing body to state the new NIL rules, we’re left with the individual states to set the rules. Five states have NIL laws going into effect July 1 but the NCAA Division 1 Council just voted in favor of an interim suspension of amateurism rules to loosen restrictions on a college athletes’ ability to profit from NIL. The NCAA suspension will buy time until Congress passes federal legislation or the NCAA creates new rules. What will the outcome be and how will states respond to the loosening of NCAA NIL rules? How will changes impact non-revenue sports and athletes?

To help you keep track of the constantly changing college sports landscape, please click here to view SIFA’s NIL tracker.