AROUND NIL THIS WEEK | MAR 17, 2025
- Golf NIL
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Mar 17, 2025—The NCAA just scrapped its rule barring recruits from negotiating NIL deals before enrollment and locking in a legal settlement with state attorneys general. The move follows a federal injunction letting collectives and schools make direct offers over the past year. Now, it's official. Schools can now pay athletes directly, with each program set to dish out $20.5M next year under the House settlement. MORE
Top high school recruit and BYU commit Kihei Akina at the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur | USGA
Mar 17, 2025—Tennessee lawmakers are pushing to keep public university athlete payments secret. While NIL deals are already private, schools will soon start paying athletes directly from TV deals and sponsorships. Every SEC school, including Tennessee, must share revenue with all athletes. The bill, backed by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and UT officials, would keep individual earnings hidden while allowing total NIL payments to be public. UT’s NIL program, run by Spyre Sports Group, has landed deals like quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s contract with Beats by Dre. Lawmakers say this move helps Tennessee stay competitive and protects athlete privacy. MORE
Mar 18, 2025—After initially offering college football players $600 to appear in its blockbuster game, EA has now raised the payment to $1,500 per athlete—an eye-popping 150% increase. Negotiations are ongoing for additional royalties and select players will earn even more as game ambassadors.Â
This marks a full-circle moment in the NIL saga. A decade ago, EA pulled the plug on its NCAA franchise after the Ed O’Bannon case exposed the NCAA’s ban on player compensation. Now, in the NIL era, the same game is the highest-selling U.S. sports title ever, proving just how much the landscape has changed. MORE
