Multiple media outlets have reported that significant changes coming to Name, Image, and Likeness, known as NIL, could be announced as soon as Monday. Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated and Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic have reported in the last week that guidelines to clarify booster engagement related to recruiting and inducement are in the works. Ohio State AD Gene Smith and Colorado AD Rick George have been leading working groups on new guidelines for NIL. Smith told Auerbach that they “have to begin to crack down on bad actors and behavior that is inappropriate.” Those guidelines, according to Dellenger, could lead to retroactive punishments for schools found to violate NIL policy. Essentially, a NIL deal could have been made since the practice became legal in July of 2021, and if violations are found the NCAA could investigate those schools for possible sanctions.
An NIL subcommittee is hoping to see its new guidelines approved by the NCAA's Division I Board of Directors on Monday.
What does that mean?
Val Ackerman to @TheAthletic: “This is an effort to clarify that a collective run by a donor falls within the meaning of a booster.”
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) May 8, 2022
Nebraska has been at the forefront of this new NIL movement. The athletic department has already launched a website that will allow individuals and businesses to send support directly to Nebraska athletes. Back in early April, we reported that the company behind the NIL website, Athlete Branding & Marketing, announced that since the company’s partnership with the University began in August of 2021, more than 90 Husker athletes in five different sports have received combined payments of $850,000. The Lincoln-based company also announced that they had raised an additional $3.5 million for NIL-related activities. There’s no evidence and talk that Nebraska would be at the center of any investigation or has done anything improper since NIL became legal. However, it’s clear that significant changes are coming to Name, Image, and Likeness, or the NCAA is attempting to make big changes. An announcement could happen as soon as Monday, and everyone is anxiously awaiting.
Officials reveal to @SINow more specifics on new NIL guidelines that are expected to publish next week.
It’s retroactive. Schools with boosters who have communicated/struck deals w/players who haven’t yet signed with schools should be sanctioned, ADs sayhttps://t.co/b0jUB8UPF0
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 6, 2022
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