NCAA's NIL subcommittee to review proposals allowing institutional involvement

A week after the NCAA’s Division I Council unanimously voted to introduce four NIL proposals, a subcommittee will gather to review proposals surrounding institutional involvement in the name, image and likeness space.

According to ESPN‘s Dan Murphy, the subcommittee designated to review and craft NIL rules will meet Thursday to discuss four proposed changes that would allow for schools to play a larger role. This comes after months-long discussions centered around institutions being more involved in the NIL process. Last month, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith laid out a framework to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger that would overhaul the scholarship rules to permit more revenue to funnel to athletes.

While the proposed changes would not go as far as revenue sharing, they would allow significantly more involvement than has been allowed in the last 26 months. Many college sports leaders believe more involvement would lead to a safer marketplace for athletes. It is unclear if these changes will be adopted or how quickly they’ll be pushed through, though.

Among the proposed changes from the notes ESPN obtained:

• Proactively assist in the development/creation of NIL activity.
• Provide services such as tax preparation and contract review.
• Provide access to equipment (such as cameras, podcast studios, etc.) for NIL activity.
• Communicate with school sponsors about NIL opportunities for their athletes, “including securing specific opportunities.”

An NCAA spokesperson confirmed to On3 that the NIL subcommittee is meeting on Thursday and reaffirmed no immediate action is anticipated.

Proposed NIL changes come without revenue sharing

Most Power 5 athletic departments have paid service providers to come in and assist with NIL education to athletes. Those roles would be revamped if these changes ultimately came to be. Current NCAA policies prohibit athletic departments from representing athletes in NIL deals. However, institutions are allowed to provide educational resources. States have crafted their own laws in the last 12 months, reshaping each school’s relationship with the athlete. The NCAA has yet to come down with an NIL infraction against a school.

While the topic of revenue sharing remains the elephant in the room, an increasing number of college sports leaders, privately and publicly, acknowledge that it’s time to start modeling out what it would entail. Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione, Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco are among those who have told On3 that now is the time to explore what a revenue-sharing model would look like.

These possible changes come as the NCAA keeps fighting the athlete employment battle in the courtrooms throughout the country. Plus, NCAA president Charlie Baker has been lobbying Congress for a federal NIL mandate since the spring.