In recent developments, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has seen significant movement in terms of compensation for student-athletes, bringing about a marked departure from its original, hands-off approach to name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The recent shift has been noted by attorneys at Pillsbury, highlighting the monumental change in the landscape of college sports.
In December 2023, the NCAA President Charlie Baker introduced compensation recommendations that included advising member institutions that direct compensation for student-athletes was an impending reality. Baker also provided concrete steps that these institutions could take to prepare for this impending change.
This move signals the NCAA’s effort to permit colleges to directly compensate student-athletes, without categorizing them as employees. The governance and compensation proposal aligns with the modern approach in the NCAA of greater inclusivity and compensation for student-athletes for their NIL deals. These significant progressions in the NCAA’s approach to governance, especially in relation to compensation, could potentially alter the nature of college sports.
Read more on the Law360 article for insightful legal thoughts on the matter as expressed by attorneys at Pillsbury.