New Proposal for NIL Deals, NC State Cracks Down, NCAA Challenged + ICYMI & More | NIL Newsletter #229
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for athletes, administrators, agencies and other sports professionals.
Major News
Proposed Legislation Allows Schools To Provide Assistance For NIL
The NCAA NIL Working Group has introduced a proposal that would allow colleges to identify NIL opportunities for their student-athletes and facilitate deals with third parties.
Schools would only be able to assist those athletes who have disclosed their contracts.
The goal of this legislation is to bring schools closer together to third-party NIL entities such as booster-led collectives.
Schools cannot indirectly compensate athletes through third-party service providers.
LINK.
NC State Trademark Office Flags Fans Over Counterfeit Merchandise
NC State seeks to protect its intellectual property, stating to be wary of unauthorized appeal, drinkware, decals, or other goods
All profits from authorized merchandise go towards student scholarships at NC State and NIL deals.
Athletes are allowed to make their own Name, Image, and Likeness deals that allow them to gain royalties off licensed merchandise that uses their image
Schools are unable to help athletes defend themselves from intellectual property theft.
Federal lawsuit asks judge to abolish NCAA’s remaining NIL rules
Plaintiffs challenge the legality of NCAA restrictions that prohibit schools and conferences from making NIL deals with athletes under federal antitrust law.
The moving party claims that athletes are entitled to a share of the billions of dollars in college sports TV revenue not only now, but dating back to 2016.
The lawsuit, brought in the Northern District of California, argues that allowing schools to make direct payments to athletes would be good for college sports and improve competitive balance.
LINK.
For Athletes
Deal of the Week
NC State star DJ Burns has made over $100k from NIL deals over the past three weeks.
The forward signed deals with Raising Canes, Barstool Sports, CVS Pharmacy, Intuit Turbo Tax, Daps, and Manscaped.
Burns led the Wolfpack to their first Final Four appearance since 1983.
LINK.
ICYMI
5 Star Quarterback and University of Southern California commit Julian Lewis endorses Travis Scott’s new university collaboration clothing line. LINK.
Three Notre Dame student-athletes ink NIL deal with the Chicago White Sox. LINK.
Purdue center Zach Edey, who is Canadian, speaks out over U.S. law that prevents international players from making NIL money on domestic soil. LINK
UConn Women’s Basketball lands the No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class, Sarah Strong. LINK.
UNC Basketball’s Harrison Ingram inks deal with KFC. LINK.
Have you checked out OSC’s website?
Head to www.OptimumSportsConsulting.com to find important resources and features relating to all things NIL. These resources include State by State Resources for Admins, Agents, and Athletes, including our initial “OSC Summaries” for over a dozen states coming soon.
More to come too, including links to helpful state information- agency laws and information about school policies, as well as seminar/congressional notes, worksheets, and much more!