NIL

WIAA votes open doors for student

By Andrew Harrington A year after being voted down 219-170, WIAA schools voted 293-108 to approve name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes during an April vote. In addition, expansion to summer coach contact days were approved. “I wasn’t surprised they both passed, but I kind of thought summer contact, maybe start that in […]

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1 month ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Andrew Harrington

A year after being voted down 219-170, WIAA schools voted 293-108 to approve name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes during an April vote. In addition, expansion to summer coach contact days were approved.

“I wasn’t surprised they both passed, but I kind of thought summer contact, maybe start that in 2026,” Prescott Activities Director Matt Smith said. “It was kind of late in the game with coaches already setting schedules, and parents with planning trips and kids with being busy, but I guess you just kind of pull off the Band-Aid and go with it.”

NIL is the right for someone to profit off their name, image and likeness. NIL has become the most discussed topic in college sports since it was approved in July 2021. Collegiate NIL is often referred to as the “Wild West,” with schools being backed by collectives and NIL incentives being used for recruiting. That is not what the WIAA is expected to look like, as students are not allowed to use the school’s logo or branding to make a profit.

An example of a high school NIL opportunity Smith mentioned would be hosting a football camp completely separate from the school and making a profit from it.

“It’s not the NCAA NIL. How much it will impact schools our size or around western Wisconsin is to be determined. I’m sure there will be some instances,” Smith said. “They cannot wear a Prescott jersey and make money off of that. Those rules will stay the same, but now they’re able to represent themselves.”

During a December River Falls Board of Education meeting, River Falls Activities Director David Crail mentioned there was some belief that if the WIAA did not approve NIL policies in the near future, the state legislature would step in and make their own policies.

“There would be strong evidence to support that that would be the case because there’s so many other states that already have it,” Crail said at the meeting. “I think the thought or fear of potential lawsuits by the state not having it is a driving force to say we have to have something.”

Smith said there are also restrictions dealing with businesses sponsoring students if they already sponsor the school.

“I really think it’s going to be a lot of learning for everyone as we first navigate this through,” Smith said. “I know we have great partnerships here with our local businesses, and I know they’re going to be supportive of what our options are.”

What WIAA NIL will look like in five years remains a mystery, but they plan to keep an eye on the policies as the years go by.

“The learning curve will take some time. I’m sure we’ll keep an eye on what other states are doing,” Smith said. “Within Wisconsin, I’m sure we’ll have some [schools] that are kind of the first that really get involved or have these opportunities, and it will be interesting their stories and how they share kind of what you can and can’t do.”

After years of strict guidelines limiting coach interaction with players during the summer months, a vote passed to allow coaches to meet their athletes from June 1-30 and July 7-31 without restrictions with the exception of football, where contact must stop a week prior to fall training.

“I think there’s pros and there’s cons to it,” Smith said. “From a pro standpoint, you get a student-athlete that, say they have a niche that they want to work on, say it’s pitching for baseball, and let’s say they don’t have the monetary means to go to a pitching specialist, to go out during the summer and get a pitching coach.”

On the flip side, Smith said students are encouraged to compete in multiple sports at Prescott, and worries that some may become overworked with weeks filled up with summer practices. He said it will be important for sports to work together to make plans that do not have students practicing all day every day, allowing time to have a summer job or rest up for the school year.

NIL

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is already turning heads before the 2025-26 college basketball season. As the No. 1 player in the country, he’s already projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his moves off the court are just […]

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2 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is already turning heads before the 2025-26 college basketball season. As the No. 1 player in the country, he’s already projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his moves off the court are just as good.

Dybantsa saw a significant jump in his On3 NIL valuation recently. He moved up to $4.1 million and cracked the top five for the first time in his career. As it stands now, the 6-foot-9 power forward is only $200K away from Miami QB Carson Beck at No. 2 ($4.3M) and $100K from Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith ($4.2M). Arch Manning is firmly at the top with a valuation of $6.8 million.

However, Dybantsa is the top college basketball earner after landing deals with Nike and Red Bull. Dybantsa is on a contract with BYU to receive over $7 million this season, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times. An NIL offering he denied at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Related: BYU Basketball Shows Interest in Rising International Star

BYU has picked up the pace on the NIL trail very quickly. One of the biggest contributors is Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith. But underneath it all is Kevin Young. The Cougars coach came to Provo after being an NBA assistant for the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. His detailed guidance and pro-ready approach is why Dybantsa decided to sign with BYU.

Related: BYU Cracks ESPN’s Future Power Rankings Top 25

As the season quickly approaches, Dybantsa will be part of the most hype-filled year in BYU Basketball history. The Cougars projected starting lineup has many national outlets putting them as a national title contender and on a level playing field in the Big 12 with Houston, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss in the National Championship to Florida.

The upcoming season will be fun to watch as Dybantsa has already said he’s one-and-done before turning pro.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.

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The Dirty Nil Drop Urgent Single 'Rock N' Roll Band'

The Dirty Nil have shared the latest taste of upcoming album ‘The Lash’ in the form of urgent single ‘Rock N’ Roll Band’. With ‘The Lash’ set for release on July 25 via Dine Alone Records, it follows recent single ‘Gallop Of The Hounds’. A razor-sharp gut-punch of a track, on ‘Rock N’ Roll Band’ […]

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3 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Dirty Nil Drop Urgent Single 'Rock N' Roll Band'

The Dirty Nil have shared the latest taste of upcoming album ‘The Lash’ in the form of urgent single ‘Rock N’ Roll Band’.

With ‘The Lash’ set for release on July 25 via Dine Alone Records, it follows recent single ‘Gallop Of The Hounds’.

A razor-sharp gut-punch of a track, on ‘Rock N’ Roll Band’ frontman Luke Bentham has shared:

“This is the first song I wrote for The Lash… I don’t remember what particular aspect of the industry had got my goat that day but I’d worked myself up to a fine lather. I blasted out the whole song in 30 minutes and instantly felt better. Though the song is pretty negative, it makes me happy. This one is for all the road dogs, we salute you.”

Take a listen below:

[embedded content]

‘The Lash’ will arrive ahead of the band’s return to the UK when they will play London on October 25 and Leeds on the 26th as part of the Common Thread tour with Hot Water Music, Spanish Love Songs, Comeback Kid and Joyce Manor.

Check out the artwork and tracklisting for the album below:

1) Gallop of the Hounds

2) Fail in Time

3) That Don’t Mean It Won’t Sting

4) Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

5) This Is Me Warning Ya

6) Do You Want Me?

7) Spider Dream

8) They Won’t Beat Us

9) Hero Narrative

10) I Was A Henchman

NIL

Breaking down house settlement and how it could impact UF athletics

Swampcast breaks down Florida softball at WCWS, Florida basketball The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram and Kevin Brockway are joined by Nathan Geise of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal to break down Florida softball, Texas Tech in WCWS. The University of Florida can now pay athletes directly due to the House vs. NCAA settlement. Florida football […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The University of Florida can now pay athletes directly due to the House vs. NCAA settlement.
Florida football and men’s basketball are likely to receive the majority of the $20.5 million allocated for athlete compensation.
NIL deals exceeding $600 will be reviewed for legitimacy by a clearinghouse monitored by Deloitte.

The landmark House vs. NCAA Settlement, approved on June 6 by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, opens the door for athletes to be paid directly by the University of Florida Athletic Association.

According to the settlement, starting on July 1, UF can spend up to $20.5 million on its athletes, which includes funding scholarships and paying them directly. How that money is allocated by sport remains to be seen. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin was unavailable for comment this week and may or may not choose to disclose how the money will be distributed.

UF has the potential to provide financial support to all 21 of its men’s and women’s sports, either by paying athletes directly or funding scholarships. Priority, though, will likely be given to two major revenue producing sports, Florida football and Florida basketball, which is coming off a national championship season. A model prescribed in the preliminary House settlement calls for about 75% to be paid to football players, 15% to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and 5% to other sports.

That’s based on the revenue generated by each sport. Per UF’s latest NCAA financial report, football generated $100,796,971 in revenue in fiscal year 2024, followed by men’s basketball at 14,344,967 and baseball at 4,328,038. Football accounted for 50.4% of UF’s total athletic department revenues ($200,094,587), while basketball accounted for 7.2%.

Stricklin released a statement on June 7, the day after the settlement was reached.

“The University of Florida Athletic Association welcomes the recent court ruling allowing schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes,” Stricklin said in the statement. “This decision marks an important step forward for college athletics, and we remain committed to supporting Gator athletes on and off the field. Beyond financial opportunities, the UAA will continue to provide world-class training, academic support, and career development to help our Gators succeed during their time at UF and beyond.”

Can Florida athletes still receive outside endorsements?

Florida athletes can still receive outsides Name, Image and Likeness endorsements based on the value of their brands. But those deals will undergo more scrutiny.

All NIL deals of more than $600 will pass through a clearinghouse which will determine the legitimacy of the deal based on the athlete’s market value. For example, Cooper Flagg’s multi-million-dollar deal with New Balance would pass the smell test based on coming into college basketball as the nation’s top college recruit playing for one of the sport’s biggest college basketball brands, Duke. But under the new system, the days of promising a five-star offensive lineman a six-figure deal NIL deal out of high school to keep from signing with a rival school are likely over.

The accounting firm Deloitte will monitor the NIL clearinghouse. Athletes will submit NIL deals of more than $600 to an online platform called NIL Go, where they will be reviewed.

The NCAA will no longer be involved in rules enforcement, replaced by the College Sports Commission, which was formed by and has received the full backing from major conference commissioners. The College Sports Commission will hand out punishments to schools who break rules regarding NIL and revenue sharing.

“Our schools want rules,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told a group of national media outlets this week. “We’re providing rules, and we will be governed by those rules. And if you break those rules, the ramifications will be punitive.”.

Mit Witner, a Kansas City-based attorney specializing in sports law and NL legislations, expects more legal challenges to arise due to the NCAA’s inability to secure an antitrust exemption.

“If the College Sports Commission says if an athlete wants to remain eligible, they can’t do this deal to play college sports, it’s acting as a limit on the college athlete’s compensation,” Witner said. “There’s no antitrust exemption now for that, so I definitely think there will be litigation on that issue.”

How Florida football has prepared for paying its players

Florida football coach Billy Napier said he expects revenue share to provide more stability in terms of compensating football players entering the 2025 season.

In Napier’s first three seasons, he relied on funds and NIL deals generated from Florida Victorius and the now defunct Gator Collective. A botched NIL deal by the Gator Collective for five-star quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada resulted in Napier, booster Hugh Hathcock and former UF staff member Marcus Castro-Walker getting sued by Rashada for fraud and vicarious liability.

Last February, Napier made two front office hires to the football program, adding Benjamin Elsner as director of football strategy and Nick Polk as Associate Athletic Director/Football General Manager,

Polk spent 17 seasons as Director of Football Operations for the Atlanta Falcons (2004-21), where he was responsible for salary cap management, including draft negotiations, contract proposals, player contracts, coaches’ contracts, trades and trade value analysis. Those skills will be put to test in the new college sports revenue share era.

“His experience with the cap management, the strategy around contracts, that’s part of the game, right?” Napier said last March. “He’s hit the ground running.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

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Maryland NIL Collective Pushes Back on Ja'Kobi Gillespie Lawsuit

Maryland NIL Collective Pushes Back on Ja’Kobi Gillespie Lawsuit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. What started as a breakout season for Ja’Kobi Gillespie at Maryland has unraveled into a legal battle that could shake the foundation of NIL deals nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillespie, who averaged 14.7 points and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors before […]

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3 hours ago

June 12, 2025

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Maryland NIL Collective Pushes Back on Ja’Kobi Gillespie Lawsuit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

What started as a breakout season for Ja’Kobi Gillespie at Maryland has unraveled into a legal battle that could shake the foundation of NIL deals nationwide.

Gillespie, who averaged 14.7 points and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors before transferring to Tennessee, is suing Blueprint Sports, the operator of Maryland’s NIL collective, over what his father claims is $100,000 in unpaid compensation. But Maryland’s NIL leadership is calling the claims baseless, and they’re not backing down.

“It was always explained to the Gillespie family that if they transferred, the payments would stop, as it’s a year-round commitment,” said Turtle NIL founder Harry Geller, who helped negotiate the original deal before Blueprint took over.

The legal spat hinges on a key detail: whether Gillespie’s contract explicitly stated payments would continue even after entering the transfer portal. According to Geller, every contract he drafted included a transfer clause that nullified payments. However, Gillespie’s final contract, rewritten by Blueprint, apparently omitted that clause.

Still, Geller insists that “strong language in the BPS contract referring to the consequences of transferring” protects the collective from liability.

The stakes are high, not just for Gillespie, but for every player banking on NIL guarantees. If Gillespie’s side prevails, it could set a precedent that forces collectives nationwide to pay more attention to contract continuity and transparency.

Maryland Terrapins forward Julian Reese, center Derik Queen, and guard Ja'Kobi GillespieSteven Bisig-Imagn Images — Maryland Terrapins forward Julian Reese, center Derik Queen, and guard Ja’Kobi GillespieSteven Bisig-Imagn Images

His father, Byron Gillespie, told The Baltimore Sun that the lack of payment reflects broader dysfunction in Maryland’s NIL program.

“When Willard left, they pretty much quit paying all the players… There were players that did get their money and players that didn’t and are still fighting for it.”

Gillespie has since landed a reportedly $2 million NIL package at Tennessee, nearly five times what he earned at Maryland. That success is exactly why Geller questions the lawsuit’s motive.

“Why he is even pursuing this is beyond me,” Geller said. “He made the most of the opportunity and turned it into a major payday.”

Maryland’s program is still reeling from the departure of head coach Kevin Willard, who clashed with administration over NIL support. The Gillespie dispute only adds fuel to the perception that Maryland is lagging in the name, image, and likeness arms race.

For future recruits and current student-athletes, the outcome of this lawsuit could influence how NIL contracts are structured, enforced, and interpreted, especially in cases where athletes transfer.

Whether it’s a cautionary tale or a catalyst for change, Gillespie’s legal battle underscores one truth: NIL money may be flowing, but the rules are far from settled. Collectives, athletes, and universities alike must brace for a more regulated, and litigated future.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

NIL

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner transfers to Baylor after freshman season

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner has transferred to Baylor, she announced June 11. Tanner never publicly announced she was in the transfer portal, but posted her commitment to the Bears on Instagram. She’s the third player transfer out after Tennessee’s run to the Women’s College World Series. Sophomore infielder Ryan Brown and junior infielder Destiny […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner transfers to Baylor after freshman season

Tennessee softball pitcher Peyton Tanner has transferred to Baylor, she announced June 11.

Tanner never publicly announced she was in the transfer portal, but posted her commitment to the Bears on Instagram. She’s the third player transfer out after Tennessee’s run to the Women’s College World Series. Sophomore infielder Ryan Brown and junior infielder Destiny Rodriguez also entered the transfer portal since the season ended in the WCWS semifinals.

Baylor is located about four hours from Tanner’s home town of Lake Jackson, Texas.

The freshman didn’t get a lot of playing time, only starting in two of her nine appearances. She went 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 innings pitched, and threw 16 strikeouts with 12 walks.

Tanner was part of a historic day for Tennessee in March. She threw a perfect game against Delaware State on March 1 and All-American Karlyn Pickens threw a no-hitter on the same day. It was only the third time in program history that Tennessee pitchers threw no-hitters the same day, and the first since 2006.

Tanner’s perfect game made it the first time in program history it was a no-hitter combined with a perfect game. She logged six strikeouts as she retired all 15 hitters she faced in five innings.

Tanner was ranked No. 4 in the 2024 class by Extra Inning Softball and was a 2024 PGF All-American. But Tanner fell to fourth in the rotation behind fellow freshman Erin Nuwer, who started in 11 of her 18 appearances. Nuwer (6-4) threw 57⅓ innings overall with a 2.32 ERA and 65 strikeouts.

Tennessee is bringing in three more pitchers next season. Incoming freshmen Peyton Hardenburger is ranked No. 4 and Kailey Plumlee is ranked No. 22 in the class. Transfer Maddi Rutan, who was at Eastern Kentucky, has two seasons of eligibility left.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

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IU AD Scott Dolson states intent to maintain 24 varsity programs after House settlement – The Daily Hoosier

One of the main questions stemming from the recent approval of the House settlement is whether sports that don’t generate positive cash flow will be impacted. With schools like Indiana now facing a new $20 million annual expense in the form of revenue sharing, cuts have to be made somewhere. Around the nation going back […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

One of the main questions stemming from the recent approval of the House settlement is whether sports that don’t generate positive cash flow will be impacted.

With schools like Indiana now facing a new $20 million annual expense in the form of revenue sharing, cuts have to be made somewhere.

Around the nation going back five years colleges have been eliminating programs to ward off budgetary concerns. Those instances have accelerated over the last year as schools have anticipated the House settlement. Title IX, which requires schools to provide equal opportunities to male and female athletes, puts men’s sports at even greater risk.

Will IU be able to maintain all 24 of its varsity sports? In a statement released Wednesday in response to the House settlement, IU AD Scott Dolson signaled it is Indiana’s intent to do just that. But he also suggested continuing financial support from fans and alumni is critical to holding it all together.

Here’s the full statement Dolson e-mailed:

Dear Hoosier Nation,

Friday was a landmark day for college athletics. The U.S. District Court for Northern California granted final approval for a settlement in the House vs. NCAA litigation, paving the way for a new and exciting era of intercollegiate athletics. Our department has been anticipating and preparing for this settlement for an extended time, and we are excited that we can move forward with a new level of confidence about what our world will look like in the coming years.

As a passionate IU fan, you likely have questions about what the future looks like. While a lot has changed in the last several years, our quest remains the same – to bring you and fellow Hoosier fans to your feet as you cheer on your beloved IU programs as they pursue championships and provide us all with cherished experiences and memories.

With that in mind, I want to highlight a couple of things as we embark on this journey together.

First, IU Athletics’ core principles are our foundation, and they remain as solid as ever. We are committed to supporting student-athletes’ opportunity to excel academically, athletically, and personally. We want to see our students challenge themselves academically and earn their IU degrees. We want them to maximize their athletic abilities and compete for championships. And when their time in Bloomington is done, we want them to be well prepared to succeed in the next chapter of their lives, whether that is in athletics or in any other professional pursuit or journey.

Second, the successes that we can enjoy moving forward are inextricably linked with you, our passionate and dedicated supporters. IU Athletics is excited to support our student-athletes’ opportunities to the fullest in terms of both revenue sharing and NIL. We plan to do that while maintaining a broad-based athletic program that features 24 varsity programs with their own proud traditions. To make all of that happen, we need Hoosier Nation to rally together and propel our programs and student-athletes to the upper echelon in all areas on and off the field.

We can do this, but we need to do it together. Over the course of time, new challenges have always meant new opportunities for IU Athletics, and this is no different. We are Never Daunted, and with your support, we can and will build on our tradition of championship success in this new era of college athletics.

Scott Dolson
Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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