Earlier this year, the NCAA and Power 5 Conferences reached a historic college sports settlement known as the House Settlement. The House Settlement has resulted in sweeping changes in the college sports landscape. For the first time, Divsion I colleges and universities are allowed to share revenue with their atheletes. The NCAA and Power 5 conferences agreed to pay $2.8 billion in damages to foremer and current college athletes. The settlement also requires college athletes to submit their NIL deals that have an aggregate value of $600.00 or more to the new NIL deal clearinhouse NIL Go for reveiew. Once the deals are sumbitted. the College Sports Commission (CSC) review the deals to ensure that the deals are based on "true market value" for a valid business purpose and not "pay-for-play".

Since the settlement was approved, the focus has been on college athletes as the settlement and the case that led to the settlement invloved current and former college atheltes. However, the settlement could soon have a direct impact on high school athletes. The NCAA is considering a rule that would require incoming Division I athletes to disclose all NIL deals entered during their junior and senior years of high school. The NCAA would also extend this rule to require junior college athletes who transfer for to play for a Division I school to disclose their NIL deals entered while attending junior college. This type of rule would almost certainly face legal challenges. How fair would it be for a college athlete to have their elgibility put in jepordy for a deal they did in high school while not under the purview of the NCAA, the CSC, or NIL Go?

College and high school athletes have been granted the right to profit from their name, image, and likeness! Yayyyyyy!!! College and high school athletes can now enter NIL Deals. This is an exciting opportunity for college and high school athletes. However, there are certain topics that college and high school athletes and their parents need to know before entering any NIL Deal. Download by free NIL Contract Checklist for 5 contract terms to know! For more on college athletes' name, image, and likeness rights follow me on X @esquire_coach and on Instagram and TikTok @the_esquirecoach. To receive updates from The Esquire Coach Blog directly to your email please subscribe below.