NIL
Name, Image, Likeness
Name, Image, and Likeness
(NIL) activities in college
football encompass a variety
of ways players can profit
from their personal brand
while maintaining their
eligibility.
The main ways college football
players engage in NIL activities:
• Endorsement Deals
• Social Media Promotions
• Appearance and Autograph
signings
• Merchandise Sales
• Camps and Clinics
• NIL Directives
Endorsement
Deals
• Players partner with brands (national or local)
to promote products or services, appearing in
commercials, social media posts, or print ads.
• Examples: Shedeur Sanders signing a NIL deal
with Nike, Quinn Ewers appearing in a Dr.
Pepper "Fansville" ad, players partnering with
Beats by Dre.
Social Media
Promotions
• Players leverage their large social media
followings to promote brands through sponsored
posts, stories, or other engaging content.
• According to one source, social media accounts
for the vast majority of NIL activities for non-
football athletes, but football players are more
likely to have a wider variety of opportunities.
Appearance and
Autograph Signings
• Players are compensated for attending events,
signing autographs, or making public
appearances.
• Example: football players doing appearances
and autograph signings in their local
communities, often managed by a Collective.
• Players can sell
merchandise featuring
Merchandi their name, image, or
likeness.
se Sales • Example: Dontaie
Allen announced his own l
ine of custom merchandis
e
.
Camps and
Clinics
• Athletes can host or participate in camps and
clinics, sharing their skills and earning income.
• Example: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht using NIL
funds to host a free youth football camp.
NIL Directives
• Independent organizations, often founded by alumni or
boosters, pool funds to support athletes through various NIL
deals.
• Collectives commonly facilitate appearances and autograph
signings for football players in their local communities.
• Example: The Clark Field Collective at Texas has been
paying offensive linemen $50,000 each.
NIL Rules and Regulations
• Athletes must comply with state laws where their school is located.
• Colleges and universities often have their own internal NIL policies.
• NIL deals cannot be tied to athletic performance or enrollment at a specific school.
• Certain types of endorsements, such as those promoting gambling, alcohol, or adult
entertainment, may be prohibited by state laws, NCAA rules, or school policies.
• A recent court settlement, approved in June 2025, allows NCAA schools to directly
compensate athletes, creating a "dual-compensation model" where athletes can earn both
institutional pay and external NIL income.
• The College Sports Commission (CSC) now oversees NIL activity and revenue sharing, with
stricter compliance and enforcement.
• NIL contracts require more transparency and disclosure, including outlining deliverables,
payment terms, and contract length.
• NIL earnings are considered taxable income and subject to IRS oversight.
What are the downsides of NIL deals for college
football players?
Give examples of innovative NIL activities by college
football players
How do universities help athletes with NIL
opportunities?
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