This change was destined to come.
On June 30, the NCAA announced changes to athletes NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rights that would allow them to profit off of their name, image, and likeness. These changes took effect on July 1. They will allow athletes to profit off of social media, endorsements, and they may hire agents to help them with the process.
Prior to the Change
Prior to this change coming into play, the NCAA had very strict rules against athletes profiting off of their name, image, or likeness. There have been many athletes that have been punished before this change due to the fact that they have earned additional profits that went against NCAA rules before. For example, former UCF Football kicker Donald De La Haye lost his NCAA eligibility in 2017 when it was discovered that he was profiting off of his YouTube channel, Deestroying. The NCAA then have him an ultimatum: Demonetize his YouTube channel or lose his NCAA eligibility. He ultimately chose to continue his YouTube channel.
Former USC star running back Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005. The Heisman Trophy was vacated from him in 2010 after an investigation concluded that Bush and his family had received improper benefits while he was at USC.
In 2019, the State of California passed the "Fair Pay to Play" act. The act would allow schools in California to let their athletes make money off of their name, image, and likeness. I was scheduled to start in 2023. It is also worth noting that the act was signed by California Gov. Gavin Newson with LeBron James at his side. Along with California, other states such as Arkansas, Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee will enact similar laws in 2022. Colorado, Maryland, and Montana will enact laws in 2023 with California and New Jersey will do the same in 2025.
Recent Aftermath Developments
One recent development that occurred after this change was the debate on if former USC star and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner (Vacated) Reggie Bush should have his Heisman Trophy reinstated. Recent developments have told that Reggie Bush himself has reached out to the NCAA and the Heisman Trust about his Heisman Trophy and his records at USC being reinstated after the NIL rule change.
After the change was announced, many fans of the NCAA Football video game series have began to ask when a new game from the series would be released if the series were to come back. The NCAA Football video game series has become somewhat of a cult classic among fans. The last game from the series was NCAA Football 14, released in 2013.
College athletes began letting it known on their social media accounts that they are available for endorsement deals if some were to come by. Sports and pop culture website/blog Barstool Sports created Barstool Athletes, Inc., which Barstool founder Dave Portnoy has called "the most powerful student athlete organization in the country" but at the same time they said were still figuring things out.
This change did not come without criticism. Clemson Football head coach Dabo Swinney has stated before that he would resign his position as Clemson head football coach if players ever got paid. While Dabo Swinney has not resigned from his position, many fans commented asking when he would resign.
What This Means For the Future of College Athletics
This type of change in the NCAA was inevitable. It is a good change because athletes are now able to make profit off of their name, image, and likeness. One of the main arguments for this change has been if universities can make millions of dollars off of their sports teams, then why can't the athletes receive a portion of that money?
With us being in the social media era, it will be easy for the top college athletes to obtain endorsements fast. Some college athletes, such as LSU Gymnast Olivia Dunne, have large social media followings that they can promote to if they obtain endorsements.
With college athletics always evolving, this was a monumental change that was inevitable. Many in the sports world were happy about this rule change and now athletes will rightfully so get to profit off of their name, image, and likeness without consequences.
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