Judge Denies Leonard Hamilton's Motion To Dismiss, An Amended College Sports Bill, ICYMI, & More | NIL Newsletter #344
Today’s Thursday newsletter includes highlights from this week, important news from last week, and what to watch for.
This Thursday’s Newsletter Includes:
1. Former Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton’s Motion to Dismiss Denied by Judge
2. Amended College Sports Bill and the U.S. House
3. Quick Hitters
4. ICYMI: NCAA President Charlie Baker’s Salary and Settlement Messaging Raise Eyebrows
5. What to Watch For
🏆Major News
Former Florida State Head Coach’s Motion to Dismiss Denied by Judge
A Leon County judge denied former Florida State men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by six former players over unfulfilled NIL promises. A tentative trial date has been set for August 2026.
The lawsuit alleges that Hamilton promised each player $250,000 in NIL payments through his “business partners.” The players say they never received any payment from Hamilton, FSU, or third parties.
The six named plaintiffs—Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley—claim they relied on Hamilton’s promises and later staged a team-wide boycott ahead of a game against Duke on February 17, 2024.
The complaint includes text messages between the players and both Hamilton and Will Cowen, an executive tied to one of FSU’s NIL collectives. These messages allegedly show Hamilton reassuring the players they would be paid “next week” following their protest.
The players expressed concerns over financial stress, citing unpaid rent, car notes, and tax obligations as reasons for seeking the promised funds.
By April 2025, three of the original six plaintiffs withdrew from the lawsuit, but the remaining three are continuing with legal action.
None of the six plaintiffs remain with the FSU basketball team. Four entered the transfer portal, and two had exhausted eligibility.
In February, Leonard Hamilton stepped down after 23 seasons with Florida State. Leaving as the winningest coach in program history and the fifth all-time in ACC history.
Amended Federal NIL Bill Expected in U.S. House
A revised version of the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act is expected to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as early as Thursday.
The bill would codify the House v. NCAA settlement and create a federal NIL framework.
It is expected to easily pass the House, but would require seven Democratic votes to pass in the Senate.
Subcommittee markup could begin as early as next Tuesday, with a full committee markup expected by the end of July.
The legislation is led by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), who call it a tri-committee effort to stabilize college sports and NIL policy.
Key provisions in the amended bill include:
Federal preemption of state NIL laws.
Liability protections for institutions.
Anti-employment clause, blocking athletes from being classified as employees.
Regulation of athlete agents.
NIL contracts must serve a “valid business purpose.”
Guthrie stated that NIL presents great opportunities but needs federal structure to reduce volatility for athletes and schools.
Following the House v. NCAA settlement, other bills have also emerged, including the College SPORTS Act, introduced by Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), which focuses on athlete protections and transparency.
Donald Trump has shown interest in NIL reform, previously planning a college sports commission co-chaired by Nick Saban and Cody Campbell, founder of Texas Tech’s NIL collective. The commission has since been put on hold.
Trump also considered issuing an executive order on college sports after a meeting with Saban in May.
📌Quick Hitters:
BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Lands Historic Fanatics NIL Deal – Incoming BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa, who is projected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has signed a multi-year NIL deal with Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles. The agreement includes trading cards, memorabilia, autographs, and marketing features, and extends beyond his college career. Dybantsa, who already has deals with Nike and Red Bull, now holds a $4.1 million NIL valuation per On3. He joins Fanatics' high-profile roster of athletes including JuJu Watkins, Cooper Flagg, and Caitlin Clark. 🔗 LINK
High School Football Player, Brysen Wright, Lands NIL Deal with Wild Card Trading Cards – Brysen Wright, a wide receiver from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville and a Class of 2028 recruit, has signed a five-figure NIL deal with trading card company Wild Card, becoming their first high school athlete partner. The 14-year-old is being compensated at rates comparable to first-round NFL wide receivers for his autographs. Wright holds major offers from top programs like Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia. 🔗 LINK
Women’s Basketball Recruit Signs with Jordan – Top women’s basketball recruit Saniyah Hall, a five-star Class of 2026 player, has signed an NIL deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand, joining stars like UCLA’s Kiki Rice and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams. Recently transferring from Montverde Academy in Florida to SPIRE Academy in Ohio, Hall holds offers from major programs such as USC, South Carolina, and North Carolina. She will also compete for Team USA at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup. 🔗 LINK
ICYMI
NCAA President Charlie Baker’s Salary and Settlement Messaging Raise Eyebrows
NCAA president Charlie Baker earned $3.4 million in his first 10 months, per newly disclosed tax records, exceeding former president Mark Emmert’s final annual earnings.
While much of Baker’s pay is base salary, he also received hundreds of thousands in bonuses and “other reportable compensation.”
The disclosure comes just weeks after Baker issued a letter to member schools framing the House v. NCAA settlement as a “new beginning,” outlining NCAA efforts to cut costs, increase revenue, and continue oversight in areas like eligibility and sports betting.
His remarks also acknowledged the NCAA’s failure to enforce NIL rules over the last several years, highlighting litigation as a key disruptor.
The juxtaposition of high executive pay and calls for financial restraint under the House settlement could intensify scrutiny of NCAA leadership.
It also underscores a deeper issue—whether the NCAA can credibly lead in this new regulatory environment when authority and financial responsibility are increasingly decentralized to conferences and schools.
What To Watch For: USC Athletic Department Makes Strategic Cuts Amid Rising NIL Costs Following House Settlement
Following the recent House v. NCAA settlement, USC has taken significant steps by eliminating 12 positions within its athletic department to better manage the increased financial demands related to NIL compensation.
Among those impacted is Paul Perrier, a longtime senior executive, highlighting the level of adjustment USC is willing to make as it navigates this new landscape.
The settlement allows schools to allocate up to $20.5 million for NIL payments this year, with amounts expected to rise over the next decade, prompting programs like USC to reassess their budgets and staffing.
Despite these cuts, USC’s athletic director Jennifer Cohen has committed to investing the full NIL allowance for 2025-26 and increasing scholarships across all 23 sports, signaling a continued focus on supporting student-athletes.
Unlike some institutions that have opted to cut non-revenue sports, USC plans to maintain and grow its support across all programs.
This move by USC reflects the broader challenges and adjustments athletic departments face as they adapt to the evolving NIL landscape.
It will be interesting to watch how USC and other major programs balance financial pressures with competitive goals in the coming months and years.
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