NIL Newsletter #135 | NCAA Memo, New Mexico NIL Bill, Athletes Surveyed, + ICYMI
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for student athletes, administrators, agents and other sport professionals.
Recapping NIL This Week:
NCAA Releases New Memo on NIL
This week, the NCAA released a new memo regarding the enforcement and investigation of NIL infractions.
Moving forward, the NCAA will presume an NIL infraction when the “available information supports that the behaviors leading up to, surrounding and/or related to an NIL agreement or activity” were contrary to their interim NIL policy.
This places the burden on the University to dispute this presumption of an infraction.
Impermissible contacts, offers, and benefits are outlined in the memo. They primarily pertain to the university or a representative discussing NIL opportunities, or entering into an NIL agreement, before the student-athlete enrolls at the university.
The full memo is available HERE.
New Mexico Senate Introduces New NIL Bill
This past Wednesday, three members of the New Mexico House and Senate introduced a bi-partisan bill which would amend the current state law.
The proposed amendment would remove the current prohibition on universities which restricts them from arranging NIL compensation for their student-athletes.
The bill further removes restrictions on professional representation for student-athletes. Under the new proposed bill, professional representatives of student-athletes would be allowed to be affiliated with collegiate institutions.
New Mexico is looking to join states such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, and more who have recently amended their NIL laws.
The full story is available HERE.
Student-Athletes Share Their Thoughts on NIL
Student-Athlete Insights conducted a survey of over 1,000 student-athletes, including 415 D1 football athletes, releasing results this past week.
Key highlights include:
Merely 8% of athletes say that NIL has caused “locker room issues”
76% of athletes share NIL earnings
78% of athletes have shared NIL earning information with teammates after being asked
Bill Carter, who conducted the survey, was pleasantly surprised by the results: “So, when I saw the number 8%, I don’t know if there is a difference between zero and 10%. To me, it just feels like it’s a rarity. Not that it can’t happen. Not that there can’t be a kid, who is, frankly, a jerk about it. But it just doesn’t sound like it’s really happening that much. It doesn’t sound like a problem to me.”
More results are available HERE.
ICYMI Ticker
Washington has a new collective, the 1861 NIL foundation. LINK
Miami (FL) basketball athlete Nijel Pack discussed his NIL deal becoming public knowledge: “I see it as a blessing. It’s getting me prepared for the next level. When you make it to the next level, people are going to know how much money you make and they’re going to have a certain expectation of you, especially when they know how much money you’re making.” LINK
Siena alumni launched the Saints March On Collective, with an opening goal of $100,000. LINK
INFLCR announced a partnership with TurboTax to provide financial education and tax information to INFLCR student-athletes. LINK
The Iowa State NIL store in partnership with Campus Ink launched this week. LINK
The Texas One Fund Collective will serve as the presenting sponsor of Texas Football’s spring game. LINK