AROUND NIL THIS WEEK | APR 4, 2025
- Golf NIL
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Mar 31, 2025—The Supreme Court’s 2021 NCAA v. Alston ruling is often credited with opening the door for NIL deals—but that’s flat-out wrong. Alston focused solely on education-related benefits for athletes, not NIL or direct pay-for-play. The real legal foundation for NIL is the right of publicity, governed by state laws, not federal antitrust rulings. The timing of Alston, just days before state NIL laws took effect, caused the confusion. But make no mistake—the Supreme Court didn’t create NIL, and its ruling didn’t dismantle amateurism the way many believe. MORE
Apr 1, 2025—The NIL era is reshaping high school sports, with elite athletes cashing in while most struggle for scraps. Juju Watkins set the bar, signing with Nike as a Sierra Canyon senior, proving top-tier talent can land national deals. Meanwhile, Mater Dei inked a $1M-per-year media rights deal with Playfly Sports, not paying athletes directly but boosting exposure. Yet, the reality is stark: less than 1% of high school athletes land major NIL deals, with some earning just $60-$120 per agreement. As states adapt, financial literacy and protection against exploitation are becoming as crucial as game-day performance. MORE
Nike advertisement featuring Southern California Trojans guard Juju Watkins | Image of Sport/Alamy
Apr 3, 2025—As schools gear up to pay athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), leaked contract templates reveal key details. SEC, Big Ten, and multiple schools have drafted 10- to 12-page agreements granting broad NIL usage rights while limiting athletes' control. What’s in it? —Confidentiality clauses last five years, pay can be adjusted at the school’s discretion, and athletes can’t sign deals conflicting with school sponsors. Some contracts even propose buyout fees for transfers.
The $2.8 billion NCAA settlement would greenlight these payments by 2025-26 but, with schools holding most of the power, the real NIL battle is just beginning. MORE
