June, 2021 will go down in history as the moment the NCAA college athletic landscape would change forever. This was the month when the NCAA, in all its infinite wisdom, thought it would be all right to allow its student athletes to get paid to play. In reality, some already were – just not legally. (Anyone remember the Adidas fiasco?) What could possibly go wrong?
June, 2021 is the month the NCAA approved the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) for college athletes. The NCAA allowed implementation of NIL, allowing student-athletes to make money from their personal brand. Some of these athletes are cleaning up. Others are being taken to the cleaners.
There has been an ongoing argument whether or not student-athletes should be paid more than the opportunity to earn a college education, aka full-ride scholarship, to perform on the field or court of their university. There is no doubt that their performances have and will continue to earn their respective schools big, big money from television contracts, advertising, sponsorships and booster dollars, etc. Some of these programs do very well in the financial department. When you pair with the transfer portal, the NCAA is in a state of chaos and may never return to where it once was.
From the NIL website, it states athletes can engage in NIL activities if they follow their state’s laws where their school is located. Schools must ensure these activities comply with state law.
• Athletes in states without NIL laws can still participate in NIL activities without breaking NCAA rules.
• Athletes are allowed to seek professional service providers for their NIL activities.
• Student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their school.
Student-athletes could now be paid for autographs and memorabilia, camps and clinics, personal appearances, merchandise, affiliate/ambassador roles, blogging, podcasting, public speaking, music, art, etc.
But there has been cracks in the plan large enough for the big schools to crowd in. Schools from the Southeastern Conference and Big 10 have a huge advantage over schools from lesser conferences.
They have NIL inititiatives that make others pale in comparison. They have more money and have the ability to have even more than that. The playing fields and courts will never be level again. Is it fair? evidently it is because that’s the way it is – for now.
Last year Bronny James, son of LeBron, made an estimated $4 million as a role player for USC. Shadeur Sanders, son of Deion Sanders, made an estimated $4.8 million as quarterback of Colorado. That’s more than most NFL guys make in a year. Caitlin Clark was the highest paid female athlete at $3.1 million at Iowa. Her WNBA salary is $76,535 before endorsements.
Then there’s the story of Matthew Sluka. Sluka transferred from Holy Cross to finish his college career at UNLV. He was promised moving expenses and $100,000 to transfer so he did. He lasted three games before walking away from the program because he hadn’t been paid. Thanks to the transfer portal, he’s once again a free agent.
There are rumblings that the same issue of slow or non-payment is emerging as the NCAA basketball practices are ready to begin. Could there be more mid-season transfers.
The problem many envision is that the rich will get richer. The middle-class schools will get weaker and the smaller schools in lesser conferences will be poor. This means that the same schools will be in the FBS playoffs. The same schools, plus a Cinderella, will be the top-seeds in March Madness.
If you are a fan of a big, rich school you are probably in for a fun season. If you’re not, remember you can enter the portal and pick a new school.
— Keith Lippoldt
