While it seems like a win for student-athletes, NIL’s impact on college sports is far from black and white. You might’ve heard the cheers for NIL, hailing it as a groundbreaking shift towards fairness. But have you considered the consequences?

May 23, 2022 · Almost a year ago, the NCAA created new rules that allow college athletes to earn money by selling access to their “name, image, and likeness”. Since then, we’ve been inundated with stories of...

Jun 7, 2023 · Now, two years into the NIL reality, heavy hitters in the college sports world are descending on Washington to push Congress to provide guidelines to keep NIL from becoming an arms race that will empower top athletic programs and conferences while leaving others behind.

Mar 20, 2025 · The negatives of NIL include the potential for unequal compensation among athletes, increased pressure to perform, and the risk of exploiting young athletes for profit. Many college athletes, particularly those from smaller programs, may struggle to secure lucrative deals compared to their more prominent peers.

Mar 29, 2024 · While NIL deals promise newfound opportunities for athletes, they also risk exacerbating disparities and distractions within collegiate athletics. Of the top 100 athletes in NIL rankings, 98 are either football or basketball players. There is also a clear imbalance between men’s and women’s sports.

Jun 25, 2024 · But what impact will the NIL revolution have on college sports as a whole? Temple University professor Thilo Kunkel answers the most pressing questions about NIL. Caitlin Clark took the sports world by storm during the 2023–2024 season with the University of Iowa women’s basketball team.

Jul 29, 2024 · Since January, the IRS has released three rulings denying tax-exempt status for specific, but unnamed, organizations offering NIL contracts with college players. Some nonprofit NIL collectives continue to operate, though others have closed.

Jan 31, 2024 · New developments by courts and the NCAA have made it possible for the NCAA to begin cracking down on violations of NIL, such as the ongoing investigation into Tennessee and their collectives, according to ESPN.

Jan 31, 2024 · Even though NIL deals are a net negative for the sport of college football, there is a way to fix it. Instead of having NIL deals go through the school, the NCAA should enforce that student-athletes need to get their deals from actual brands that they support.

Mar 25, 2024 · While NIL was intended to support athletes and allow them to gain off of their own identities, the introduction of NIL has sparked controversy throughout college athletics, with many arguing that it is changing college sports for the worse.