Name, image, and likeness (NIL) continue to be a hot topic when it comes to agreeing on uniformed legislation, and the commissioner of one of the Power Five conferences is the latest to chime in on the matter.
While speaking to the SEC Network during Sunday’s SEC Tournament Championship Game between Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, commissioner Greg Sankey once again reiterated his stance on state-by-state NIL laws while calling for uniformity by way of federal legislation:
“What’s happening at the state level is hurting college athletics.”
His comments on Sunday echo his message from the day prior, as Sankey partook in an interview on the SEC Radio Network to highlight the flaws of state-by-state legislation:
“We cannot do this on a state-by-state basis any longer.”
Sankey’s comments come at an interesting time with a new NIL bill making its way through the Texas legislature, currently on the governor’s desk to sign, and on the eve of SEC Spring meetings.
While the eight versus nine-game conference model and realignment will be on the agenda for the spring meetings, continued discussion on NIL legislation will, and should, continue to be a hot topic. With a lack of oversight within the current structure, leaving NIL legislation up to the states only supplements the issue of no uniformity.
No consistency leads to poor policing of bad actors within the space, hurting collegiate athletics. Fans may be divided regarding Sankey’s leadership, but most agree that the issue will persist until someone steps up as a governing body.
As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, so will the debate around how and who should regulate it more accurately. Time will tell whether Sankey’s recent comments further any progress.
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