The Division I Council, which includes NCAA conference commissioners and athletic directors, recommended Monday that the Board of Directors adopt a temporary name, image, and likeness policy when it meets Wednesday. This is an attempt by NCAA to create a new environment where student-athletes can make money from their fame.
Last Monday, the Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA in a dispute about what compensation schools can offer to students who play for their teams. The NCAA was sued by student-athletes, claiming it violated federal antitrust laws. Its rules are restricting student compensation for education-related benefits. The Supreme Court’s ruling on NIL was not directly relevant, but its impact was felt worldwide. Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the court’s opinion. It stated that the NCAA sought “immunity to the normal operation of antitrust laws,” which was not granted by the Supreme Court. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred in the court’s opinion and stated that the NCAA acted “above the law” by limiting the amount of scholarship money colleges could offer to students at the university’s cost. “Nowhere else can businesses get away from agreeing to not pay their workers fair market rates,” Kavanaugh wrote. He also stated that the NCAA’s business model, which uses unpaid student-athletes to generate billions in college revenue, raises serious antitrust questions. According to a Times report, college sports officials were “unnerved” by the court’s decision.
College athletes don’t waste any time. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin’s quarterback, released a video on Monday announcing his personal trademark. Jordan Bohannon is an Iowa basketball player who has revealed plans to launch an apparel line on Thursday.
This is the total number of states that have passed NIL legislation. Six of these states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas) have laws that will affect Thursday.
