NIL

What it all means

Published

6 months ago

June 30, 2025

Auburn University and Nike officially kick off their 10-year agreement on July 1, 2025. The agreement was announced on April 9, 2024, in which Director of Athletics John Cohen said this:

“We are excited to enter this new partnership with Nike, a brand that consistently champions athletes and sport around the world. We are appreciative of their strong support throughout this process. (Auburn) believes that our 10-year agreement, beginning in July 2025, will continue to elevate Auburn and best serve our student-athletes and our university moving forward.”

“We are also grateful to Kevin Plank and Under Armour for their 18 years of valued partnership in growing the Auburn brand and serving our student athletes, coaches, and fans. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate this relationship throughout the final year ahead.”

Friend of the site and expert on all things Auburn uniforms, Clint Richardson — who runs auburnuniforms.com — has provided to Auburn Live his thoughts on the Auburn-Nike deal, how it came to be, and why it’s important moving forward.

The Auburn-Nike Era: Why This Change Matters

For the first time in nearly two decades, Auburn will be changing apparel provider partners. After 18 years with Under Armour, the Tigers will now enter the Nike era. A lot has been said about this change since Auburn announced it in April 2024. But what does it truly mean for Auburn and Auburn Athletics. But before we look ahead, it’s important to understand the road Auburn took to get here.

The Under Armour Era: A Complicated Legacy

Auburn made history in 2005 when it became the first Power Five school to sign with Under Armour, launching a partnership that began with the 2006–07 athletic season. At the time, UA was a rising brand—scrappy, ambitious, and ready to challenge the industry giants. The new kids on the block teamed up with the ever-doubted underdog school as Auburn became their flagship school.

There were undeniable highs: the 2010 football national championship and a return trip to the title game in 2013. Men’s basketball’s first-ever Final Four appearance in 2019 and again in 2025, with multiple SEC titles along the way. Softball coming one win shy of a national championship in 2016, in their second consecutive Women’s College World Series appearance. Two trips to the College World Series for the baseball program, with milestones along the way.

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Auburn teams in Under Armour gear consistently delivered moments that defined a generation.

But the partnership also had its lows—on the field, and off it. Multiple coaching changes. Missed postseasons. An unstable athletic department. Under Armour’s own fortunes declined, with the company’s stock plummeting just a few years after awarding Auburn $10 million in stock options as part of the 2015 contract renewal. By mid-2025, that investment would be worth barely $1.2 million. UA faced public legal issues, including SEC (no, not the Southeastern Conference) charges over misleading investors and questionable financial practices. Founder Kevin Plank stepped down as CEO, outside hires failed to immediately right the ship, and Plank returned as CEO in 2024.

A full roadmap could be drawn outlining the circumstances that brought Auburn to this decision point. But in the end, it came down to the leadership of Athletics Director John Cohen and his team. After conversations with student-athletes and administrators at peer institutions, the answer became clear: it was time to move on. And Nike was the best fit.

The Auburn Uniform Database recently published a seven-part series documenting every uniform that Auburn teams have worn during the eighteen-year partnership with Under Armour.

Why the Switch to Nike Matters

Nike is more than just a sportswear company—it’s the most powerful brand in global athletics. From LeBron James to Serena Williams to Victor Wembanyama, the world’s top athletes wear the Swoosh. It dominates not just in product quality, but in cultural capital.

Under Armour had once staked its growth on being the brand of the next generation. And for a time, it worked—young kids wore UA with pride. But research showed those kids weren’t sticking with the brand as they grew up. Their tastes matured, and they shifted to Nike, Adidas, and other legacy brands.

Auburn aligning with Nike elevates the school’s brand. Auburn and Under Armour often embraced the uphill battle to becoming top-tiered brands in a forest of giants. Now, Auburn shifts focus to solidifying a national brand university-wide. Auburn believes to be a top dog – athletically and academically – and now can fully embrace that with a logo on the uniforms and apparel that isn’t concerned with the up-and-comers.

Nike carries weight—on the field, on the sideline, and on store shelves. And Auburn will benefit from this symbiotic relationship.

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Alumni Visibility

Two of Auburn’s most iconic athletes—Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley—are Nike ambassadors. For years, they’ve supported Auburn from afar, aesthetically speaking, often wearing generic orange-and-blue gear, always avoiding the officially licensed Under Armour apparel. Now, likely for the first time since their playing days, they’ll be able to wear official Auburn apparel again – the same items players, coaches, and fans in the stands will be sporting.

It may seem symbolic and mundane, but it matters. Seeing legends proudly wear the same gear as the players builds bridges between generations—and it sells. Having two of the greatest athletes ever fully repping your school – it’s only going to be beneficial.

Student-Athlete’s Experience

Ask any Auburn student-athlete what they’re most excited about, and you’ll hear a common theme: the shoes.

Footwear has long been Under Armour’s weak point, particularly in football and basketball. Now, Auburn athletes will have access to some of the best cleats and court shoes in the world—lighter, faster, more comfortable and supportive.

While each uniform manufacturer has been fighting an arms race in recent years, Nike carries technological developments that the others haven’t been able to replicate.

This switch isn’t just about looking good. It’s about playing better. Auburn’s student-athletes can better trust their cleats will work as advertised, removing even the smallest bit of doubt from their minds.

A New Wave of Merchandise

For fans, the most immediate change will be in the merchandise aisles.

Nike’s supply chain and retail presence dwarf that of Under Armour. Auburn fans will now have more apparel options—both in variety and availability. Auburn fans can expect to see a wider variety of merchandise available in their favorite stores.

Auburn’s partnership with Nike also opens the doors to new product lines or improved items from what Under Armour offered. Like UA, Nike offers team-branded shoes each summer. Between the Pegasus and Air Zoom models – and whatever silhouettes they may utilize in the future – Nike’s fan footwear options outshine previous offerings.

While both companies feature far too many “templated designs” – one base design updated with team-specific logos, colors, and battle cries – Nike’s apparel is often better received and more unique than that of Under Armour. (That could very well just be the critical minority speaking out about Under Armour.)

Though Auburn is not a Jordan Brand-partnered school like Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and North Carolina, there are chances that Jordan releases Auburn colorway sneakers in the future. The Nike Air Trainer SC High shoes first released in 1990 quickly became Bo Jackson’s signature shoe. The orange and blue colorway that unofficially is connected to Auburn was re-released earlier this year.

It won’t be surprising to see more Auburn colorways, official or not, of Nike and Jordan sneakers released in the upcoming years.

What Will Change Uniform-Wise

Auburn has long leaned into tradition—especially in football—and there’s no indication that will be abandoned.

Nike will convert every sport on campus to their latest templates. With that, some minor visual changes may crop up. For example, Nike’s latest football template, the Vapor F.U.S.E., includes a cow-catcher-looking grille on the front of the collar. Many teams have continued to place their primary logo here on the collar. While fans have clamored for the return of the 1990s-era “button” logo on the collar, sources indicate that there will be no design changes to Auburn’s football uniforms.

Baseball and softball will likely jump to the template currently used by MLB teams, the same one that encountered a world of complaints from players and fans alike. Nike has fixed many of those issues, to their credit, but new templates and new manufacturing processes often lead to unintended consequences like these. Design-wise, we may see both diamond sports incorporate classic pullover designs or simplified striping patterns.

Both basketball teams will likely move to the NBA-like template Nike has used for multiple years now. Under Armour had covered the full uniform in a unique mesh pattern since 2015, but Nike has a much simpler fabric with laser-perforated marks on the front underneath the chestmark logo.

Template-wise, Nike presents a different approach to uniform design than Under Armour. Nike gives Auburn’s team sports an opportunity to reset design-wise from what had been solidified during the Under Armour, much like Soccer settling on the striped sash design for the last decade.

What About Alternate Uniforms?

This question is brought up all the time. Will Nike push alternate uniform designs on Auburn and outfit the Tigers in crazy designs like other teams have worn?

Simple answer: no.

It’s important to remember that the team ultimately has final say on what uniform designs they wear. The uniform manufacturer can always pitch new designs, but the program has to agree.

Auburn has long been against alternate uniforms for the football team. The alternate-colored facemasks introduced in 2021 were a big change for this program, and one that required the equipment team going up the ranks to get approval from all parties involved.

While I personally think the facemasks inched open the door to alternate uniforms ever so slightly, the decision makers that have long disapproved change are still in power. As long as Auburn remains Auburn, then the Tigers will likely not make any changes.

Realistically, it takes over a year to fully design, order, and prepare new uniforms for a team, even for just one game. Auburn and Nike have been working to get the basics ready for the 2025-26 season. Anything out of the ordinary is more likely to appear the following season, should they be currently working on it.

Under Armour had long pushed alternate uniforms on Auburn. Remember the 2010 “True Blue” game against Clemson when the navy helmet leaked? Recently, I found a fully prepared and ready to go orange jersey that would’ve appeared in 2008 or so on ebay. These things were made, whether as pitch samples or not, but never saw the gridiron.

Nike may be able to present Auburn with better design options. They may have better sales people to pitch Auburn. But it ultimately comes down to Auburn.

Stepping into a New Era

This switch isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about aligning Auburn Athletics with a brand that can elevate its athletes, its visibility, and its long-term goals.

With Nike, Auburn joins the biggest names in college sports—from Alabama and Georgia to Ohio State, Oregon, and LSU. The Tigers now have the gear, the platform, and the momentum to take the next step—not just on the field, but across the entire athletic department.

And the Auburn Uniform Database will be there every step of the way, covering every detail of every uniform, just as we have for over a decade.

NIL

College football: Four key Gophers coming back in unique NIL campaign

Published

27 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PHOENIX — Four important Gopher football players were part of a unique media campaign on Tuesday.

Offensive linemen Greg Johnson and Nathan Roy, and defensive backs John Nestor and Kerry Brown allowed the Gophers’ NIL collective, Dinkytown Athletes, to share news they will play in the Rate Bowl against New Mexico on Friday, and will return to Minnesota for the 2026 season.

The social media posts were “presented by Cub Foods,” and those players will be recipients of the grocer’s NIL contribution next year. Dinkytown Athletes serves as a subcontractor.

Athletics Director Mark Coyle called Cub Foods a “foundational partner” of Gopher sports.

“That is how we take the next step, with that type of involvement with NIL side of it,” Coyle told the Pioneer Press. “We are so grateful for their support.”

A few more current Gopher players are expected to join the Cub Foods campaign after the bowl game. But if players on the current roster aren’t included in this specific rollout, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are leaving the U to go into the transfer portal.

For instance, quarterback Drake Lindsey said, independently, two weeks ago that he would return to Minnesota for his redshirt sophomore season in 2026. Other current players have shared they will be back with the Gophers next year.

Meanwhile, the futures of defensive end Anthony Smith, safety Koi Perich and running back Darius Taylor have yet to be shared. Smith and Taylor said Wednesday they have not yet made decisions on their plans for 2026; both are in line to play in the bowl game at Chase Field.

“I really haven’t thought about that stuff,” Taylor said. “I’m just worried about the game. I will figure all that out after the game.”

Smith said he hasn’t ruled out entering the transfer portal. “I don’t know,” he said.

Johnson, who started all 12 regular-season games at guard, will return for his senior season next fall. The Prior Lake native played nearly 700 snaps and was Minnesota’s highest-graded starting offensive lineman in 2025 (75.3 overall mark, per Pro Football Focus).

“Being from Minnesota, I personally didn’t have any thoughts of going elsewhere,” Johnson said. “I think Drake really set the tone for the team. This is Drake’s team. He’s our leader and it’s easy to come back and want to play for a guy like that.”

Roy stepped in as the U’s left tackle during his redshirt freshman year with aplomb, playing a team-high 702 snaps with a 69.0 grade from PFF. The Mukwanago, Wis., native will be back for his redshirt sophomore year.

Nestor transferred in from the Iowa Hawkeyes last year, and the Chicago native started 10 of 12 games as Minnesota’s most-reliable corner. He had a team-high five interceptions, adding 47 tackles in 538 total snaps. He will be a senior in 2026.

Brown continued as a linchpin in Minnesota’s defense for second straight season. The safety and nickel back from Naples, Fla., was fourth on team with 55 tackles and added two interceptions in 579 snaps. He will return for his redshirt junior year.

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Three Mizzou staffers following Kirby Moore to Washington State

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

When Kirby Moore got the Washington State head coaching job, Eli Drinkwitz knew a few members of his staff would likely be headed to Pullman soon.

“Moving forward, could lose a couple more people off our staff from analyst roles, as coach Moore finalizes and puts his staff together,” Drinkwitz said on December 16. “It shouldn’t change the dynamic of what we do at all.”

Three of those moves were reported on Wednesday morning by Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz of CBS and 247Sports.

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The first is Tiger tight ends coach Derham Cato. Cato has coached Mizzou’s tight ends for the last three seasons. He spent six years at Washington, including an overlap with Moore when Moore was a graduate assistant for the Huskies. PowerMizzou.com had alerted subscribers to this move being likely a week ago.

The second coach is assistant offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie. Hummer and Zenitz report that Abercrombie will be the full-time offensive line coach for Moore with Washington State. Prior to his time at Mizzou, Abercrombie was on staff at VMI.

The final Mizzou to Washington State move is a front office move. Brad Larrondo, who has served as the CEO of Every True Tiger Brands, which is Missouri’s third-part partner for name, image and likeness deals. In his role, Larrondo helps Mizzou athletes line up NIL deals and also negotiates NIL and revenue sharing contracts for Mizzou football and men’s basketball players. Larrondo came to Missouri as Drinkwitz’s Director of Football External Relations and Recruiting in March of 2023. Prior to that, he had been the Chief of Staff at Auburn.

Larrondo had spent the previous 28 years in the athletic administration at Boise State, which is just 300 miles from Pullman. He still has family in Boise and sources told PowerMizzou.com the move to Washington State is heavily based in family reasons.

Larrondo’s position is technically not a University or a football program hire. However, the position works very closely with both and whoever replaces him will do so with influence and blessing from both of those entities. Missouri plays Virginia in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl on Saturday night. Any personnel moves or replacements will almost certainly not come until after that game.

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Missouri Damon Wilson files countersuit against Georgia in NIL case

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 11:28 a.m. ET

Missouri football defensive end Damon Wilson has sued Georgia athletics, a move that counters a Georgia lawsuit filed against Wilson earlier this year and intensifies what was already a novel and likely first-of-its-kind case over an NIL contract dispute.

A 42-page document reviewed by the Columbia Daily Tribune was filed in Boone County on Tuesday.

Georgia is attempting to take Wilson into arbitration and is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages from the star edge rusher, who transferred to the Tigers in January 2025, over what the university views as an unfulfilled contract with the Bulldogs’ former NIL collective, Classic City Collective.

In response, escalating what was already an attempt at a potentially precedent-setting case, Wilson’s attorneys allege his former team “falsely (told) at least three programs” unnamed Power Four teams that “Wilson would be subject to a $1.2 million buyout.”

The suit also alleges Georgia violated a confidentiality provision in Wilson’s term sheet, which was provided as part of the UGA lawsuit in a public court filing.

Wilson’s suit argues he also was urged to sign the term sheet without legal counsel, and that Georgia did not “immediately submit his name to the transfer portal” but instead “launched an all-out offensive to convince Wilson to remain at Georgia.”

Also of note: The suit argues the term sheet Wilson signed states it would “be used to create a legally binding document” and therefore is not enforceable in its current format, and that he was urged to “seek legal counsel” before the agreement was finalized.

If the document is determined not to be finalized, it is quite likely Wilson will not owe Georgia the $390,000 it seeks.

Per The Athletic, Wilson is seeking “a ‘fair and reasonable amount of damages’ for the ‘financial and reputational harm he has suffered’ along with legal fees” from Georgia.

“Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person,” Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson’s attorneys, said to the Columbia Daily Tribune. “Damon never had a contract with them. I don’t see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts — maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice.”

Multiple Missouri representatives, including a team spokesperson and athletic director Laird Veatch, have declined to comment on Wilson’s lawsuit. The Georgia lawsuit is not against the University of Missouri; it is only against Wilson.

“This matter involves pending litigation, and we have no comment at this time,” Georgia spokesperson Steven Drummond told USA TODAY on Tuesday. “We refer you to our previous statement.”

The previous Georgia statement in question: “When the University of Georgia Athletic Association enters binding agreements with student-athletes, we honor our commitments and expect student-athletes to do the same.”

Georgia has argued Wilson signed a contract — a common practice in the NIL era — with what was then Georgia’s main, but now-shuttered, NIL and marketing arm, Classic City Collective, in December 2024.

That collective has since shut down, as Georgia has partnered with Learfield to negotiate and facilitate NIL deals in the revenue-sharing era.

The report, citing documents attached to Georgia’s legal filings, shows that Wilson signed a 14-month term sheet worth $500,000 with the Bulldogs. He was set to earn monthly payments of $30,000 through the end of the contract, as well as two $40,000 bonus payments.

Before announcing his intention to transfer in January, he reportedly was paid $30,000.

The contract states if Wilson left the team or transferred, as he ultimately did to Missouri, he would owe the collective that issued the payments a lump sum equal to the amount remaining on his deal.

The bonus payments seemingly were not included, which brings that total to the $390,000 that Georgia is now seeking in court.

Wilson was paid only a fraction of that sum, but the university argues he owes the full amount in damages. It’s unclear why Georgia is claiming it is owed the full amount in liquidated damages.

According to documents viewed by the Tribune through the Georgia courts records system, Georgia filed an “application to compel arbitration” on Oct. 17 in the Clarke County Superior Court, which includes Athens and the University of Georgia. Wilson was served with a summons to appear in court, according to documents, on Nov. 19, three days before the Tigers faced Oklahoma.

Wilson spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Georgia. He transferred to Missouri ahead of spring camp in 2025 and has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the SEC.

Per Pro Football Focus, Wilson generated 49 pressures on opposing quarterbacks this season, which was the second-most in the SEC behind only Colin Simmons at Texas. He’s listed at 6-4, 250 pounds and could declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, where he would likely be a Day 1 or 2 pick.

This case marks the first time a school has taken a player to court over an NIL buyout. It also looks likely to be the first time a player has filed suit against a school over NIL.

Missouri has multiple players on two-year contracts. Part of that is in the hope they do not move on after one season.

If Georgia’s arbitration case against Wilson is successful, that would be a groundbreaking ruling in college athletics that could give more weight to liquidated damages clauses in athlete contracts.

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College Football Playoff team loses key starter to NCAA transfer portal

Published

3 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The first round of the College Football Playoff is in the books. Eight teams remain in the hunt to win it all, with Miami and Ohio State kicking off the quarterfinals slate in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on December 31.

There were quite a few memorable games in the opening round of the playoffs, including Miami’s hard-fought victory against Texas A&M and Alabama’s wild comeback to secure a road win over Oklahoma.

The lone blowout came from Ole Miss over Tulane, winning 41-10 over the Green Wave. Both programs are in transition after their head coaches were hired away by other schools. The Green Wave, in particular, has seen some attrition since concluding its season last week.

Another Tulane Starter Enters Transfer Portal

On Wednesday afternoon, redshirt sophomore cornerback Jahiem Johnson announced his plans to move on after three seasons at Tulane, per On3’s Haye Fawcett.

Johnson developed into a productive defender for the Green Wave in 2025, starting in all 14 games. He totaled 42 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 9 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions. Johnson’s 9 pass deflections led the American Conference.

He deflected a pass in 6 different games and recorded a pick in 4 separate outings. In Tulane’s conference championship victory against North Texas, Johnson tied his season-high with 5 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception.

The Louisiana native played the most snaps (834 snaps) of any player on Tulane’s defense. He was the third-highest-graded player on the unit (77.1 overall grade), per Pro Football Focus.

Johnson signed with Tulane as a three-star prospect in the 2023 class, joining the program under former head coach Willie Fritz. He redshirted as a true freshman, sticking with the Green Wave when Jon Sumrall took over.

In 2024, appeared in 14 games as a reserve, totaling 4 tackles and 2 pass deflections. Johnson’s rise this past season resulted in him earning honorable mention conference honors.

Johnson is the fifth starter to transfer from Tulane, joining defensive end Santana Hopper, linebacker Harvey Dyson, defensive tackle Tre’Von McAlpine, and running back Javin Gordon in the portal.

Sumrall was hired away from the Green Wave to be the next head coach of the Florida Gators. Considering Johnson’s breakout campaign, he may want to continue playing for a familiar face if that option is on the table.

Four key Gophers will be back in 2026

Published

4 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PHOENIX — Four important Gopher football players were part of a unique media campaign on Tuesday.

The social media posts were “presented by Cub Foods,” and those players will be recipients of the grocer’s NIL contribution next year. Dinkytown Athletes serves as a subcontractor.

Athletics Director Mark Coyle called Cub Foods a “foundational partner” of Gopher sports.

“That is how we take the next step, with that type of involvement with NIL side of it,” Coyle told the Pioneer Press. “We are so grateful for their support.”

“I really haven’t thought about that stuff,” Taylor said. “I’m just worried about the game. I will figure all that out after the game.”

Smith said he hasn’t ruled out entering the transfer portal. “I don’t know,” he said.

Gophers defensive back John Nestor returns an interception against Northwestern State — Minnesota Gophers defensive back John Nestor (17) returns a interception for a touchdown against the Northwestern State Demons on the very first play from scrimmage in the first quarter of a NCAA football game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Gophers defensive back Kerry Brown breaks up a pass against Wisconsin. — Minnesota Gophers defensive back Kerry Brown (14) disrupts a pass from Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) to wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (2) in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

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Georgia case could determine if schools can get damages from transfers

Published

5 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Are top-drawer college football teams and their name, image and likeness collectives simply trying to protect themselves from willy-nilly transfers or are they bullying players to stay put with threats of lawsuits?

Adding liquidated damage fee clauses to NIL contracts became all the rage in 2025, a year that will be remembered as the first time players have been paid directly by schools. But some experts say such fees cannot be used as a cudgel to punish players that break a contract and transfer.

It’s no surprise that the issue has resulted in a lawsuit — make that two lawsuits — before the calendar flipped to 2026.

Less than a month after Georgia filed a lawsuit against defensive end Damon Wilson II to obtain $390,000 in damages because he transferred to Missouri, Wilson went to court himself, claiming Georgia is misusing the liquidated damages clause to “punish Wilson for entering the portal.”

Wilson’s countersuit in Boone County, Mo., says he was among a small group of Bulldog stars pressured into signing the contract Dec. 21, 2024. The lawsuit also claims that Wilson was misused as an elite pass rusher, that the Georgia defensive scheme called for him to drop back into pass coverage. Wilson, who will be a senior next fall, led Missouri with nine sacks this season.

Georgia paid Wilson $30,000, the first monthly installment of his $500,000 NIL deal, before he entered the transfer portal on Jan. 6, four days after Georgia lost to Notre Dame in a College Football Playoffs quarterfinal.

Bulldogs brass was not pleased. Wilson alleges in his lawsuit that Georgia dragged its feet in putting his name in the portal and spread misinformation to other schools about him and his contractual obligations.

“When the University of Georgia Athletic Association enters binding agreements with student-athletes, we honor our commitments and expect student-athletes to do the same,” Georgia spokesperson Steven Drummond said in a statement after the school filed the lawsuit.

Wilson’s countersuit turned that comment on its head, claiming it injured his reputation because it implies he was dishonest. He is seeking unspecified damages in addition to not owing the Bulldogs anything. Georgia’s lawsuit asked that the dispute be resolved through arbitration.

A liquidated damage fee is a predetermined amount of money written into a contract that one party pays the other for specific breaches. The fee is intended to provide a fair estimate of anticipated losses when actual damages are difficult to calculate, and cannot be used to punish one party for breaking the contract.

Wilson’s case could have far-reaching implications because it is the first that could determine whether schools can enforce liquidated damage clauses. While it could be understandable that schools want to protect themselves from players transferring soon after receiving NIL money, legal experts say liquidated damage fees might not be the proper way to do so.

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