Athletes Aren’t Changing the Collegiate Playing Field, NIL Deals Are

Eight million dollars. That’s the mind-bending potential value of an NIL deal recently signed by a 2023 five-star football recruit—a kid still in high school who’s now positioned to join the seven-figure club by the time he’s a college senior.

NIL deals were also front and center during March Madness. Several men’s and women’s basketball players participating in the tournament were endorsing footwear, apparel and the like in exchange for big bucks. (Read More)

NIL + College Athletics = a New Arms Race

The NCAA made big news recently, voting to suspend its rules related to one category of compensation earned by college athletes. The headlines in the wake of the NCAA’s move have touted the ability of these students to benefit (read: cash in) from the use of their names, images and likenesses (NIL).

More than 460,000 football, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse and tennis players, swimmers, gymnasts, and every other collegiate level athlete can now be hired for brand ambassadorships, social media promotion, appearances, sponsorships, autograph signings and the like—some already have. And while this is great news for many, college athletics remains without a long-term solution to its NIL problem given the patchwork of related laws now in effect, not to mention the NCAA’s interim NIL policy. (Read More)

Money Grab: All You Need to Know About the NCAA, Student-Athletes and Their NIL Rights

Late last month, the U.S. Supreme Court made news that echoed through the halls of athletic departments of colleges and universities nationwide. While perhaps not as attention-grabbing as a trip to the Final Four or Bowl Championship Series, the high court’s ruling in NCAA v. Alston is sure to have lasting repercussions, especially to the extent it means that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) can no longer impose strict limits on education-related benefits (read: scholarships and laptops) given to student-athletes. (Read More)

Promoters and Advertisers Beware: “March Madness” is a Trademarked Term

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is underway. As millions of Americans scramble to fill out their brackets and take strategically timed lunch breaks, it is critical that advertisers capitalizing on the frenzy proceed with caution. Just like the “Super Bowl,” “March Madness” is a trademarked term. (Read More)