Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Audrey Anderson was quoted by Inside Higher Ed in an article discussing new businesses focused on profiting from the National College Athletic Association’s (NCAA) decision to permit athletes to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL). The association’s division leaders and a working group are exploring new guidance and policies and expect to report their findings to the NCAA Board of Governors in April. However, Audrey explained that the NCAA has directed that the updated guidance be “consistent with the collegiate model,” which suggests the NCAA will not support significant change to the current structure.
Without knowing what future NIL guidance – or state and federal laws – will look like, companies are nonetheless betting on the potential for future profits, Audrey said. “Everybody’s breathless” waiting to see what NCAA leaders will propose, she continued. “The entrepreneurs are obviously going to be entrepreneurial, but it’s still risky to try and figure out how the rules are going to settle,” explained Audrey.
The full article, “Eyeing Future Profits,” was published by Insider Higher Ed on January 14 and is available online.