Given the 2021-22 recruiting chaos created by differing state laws, lack of NCAA enforcement of inducement and extra benefit controls, and the call for common guardrails, what should be the role of Congress? What do H.R. 850, the College Athlete Freedom Act sponsored by Representative Lori Trahan (MA) and other federal NIL bills propose? What is the current status of athletes being able to monetize their names, images and likenesses (NILs) outside their participation in college athletic programs? Now that college athletes are no longer under the onerous restrictions of NCAA “amateur status” rules, what positive outcomes do they now have opportunities to realize? What is happening on the ground with the proliferation of NIL collectives? Does the Supreme Court Alston decision portend opening the door to pay for play? What Title IX questions have been raised concerning NIL developments? Panelists address these questions.
