Sports

Tax-free NIL payments to college athletes? One state hopes it will give its schools an edge.

Published

7 months ago

May 1, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Weston Blasi

A bill exempting name, image and likeness earnings from state income tax has been signed into law in Arkansas

The fight in recruiting college athletes will now include taxes.

Colleges across the nation are locked in a constant battle over high school and college transfers to improve their sports teams, particularly in big revenue-generating sports like football and men’s basketball. Recruiting athletes is a tough endeavor, but colleges in Arkansas were just given a big edge.

Arkansas became the first state in the U.S. to enact a law that exempts name, image and likeness payments (NIL) from its state income tax. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, signed the bill into law in April, and it will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 as part of the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act.

Under the new law, all NIL and university revenue-sharing funds received by student athletes will be exempt from state income tax. The legislation also mandates that financial details concerning payments to athletes will be kept confidential and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

“Income received by a student athlete from an institution of higher education as compensation for the use of his or her name, image, or likeness or as a percentage of institutional athletic revenue permitted by the institution of higher education’s governing athletic association or conference under this subchapter is exempt from state income tax,” the law states.

The top state income-tax rate in Arkansas for individuals is 3.9%.

Of course, this is a state-only law, and any income an athlete earns from NIL deals are still subject federal income tax.

See: Here’s how much money Shedeur Sanders lost out on by falling to the fifth round of the NFL draft

What will the implementation of this new law actually do? Experts said it’s mainly about recruiting players.

“A state would do this to really prioritize college athletics,” Daniel S. Greene, an attorney who specializes in business and NIL, told MarketWatch. “It’s all about recruiting and giving your schools the best chance to bring in the best kids any way you can.”

No state income tax could could help coaches and NIL collectives in their recruiting process, particularly to athletes who care most about maximizing earnings.

“I’ve followed state legislatures closely, and the states down south really care about college athletics, and they really want their football teams to be super competitive,” Greene said. “They can say to their kids, ‘Hey come here, there’s also no taxes.'”

Tim Frith, a sports attorney at WLJ Sports Law, said this new regulation could be a “major recruiting tool for schools in Arkansas.”

But one lawmaker in Arkansas said that the new law won’t give Arkansas an unfair advantage over rivals – instead it will even the playing field. That’s because some nearby states that Arkansas competes with for top college athletes don’t have any state income tax at all.

The tax exemption will assist Arkansas schools in attracting athletes that bring “a significant amount of revenue to the state,” Arkansas Senate President Bart Hester said. And it also will help Arkansas schools “keep up with Tennessee and Texas and other states that do not have a state income tax,” he added.

In other states, such as Alabama, Georgia, Illinois and Louisiana, similar bills have been introduced but have not yet been signed into law.

Read on: Gen Z workers want to make $100,000 in their first job out of college. Four tips from experts on how to get there.

The move by Arkansas comes as the the NIL system surrounding college athletics is being stressed.

Top college football players are now earning millions annually through NIL deals. For instance, University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck’s NIL value is $4.3 million, and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s is $4 million, according to On3.

The NCAA recently approved rule changes in April that could significantly alter college sports. These proposals involve revising NIL guidelines and establishing a revenue-sharing model where schools could distribute $20.5 million across all athletes in all sports.

In an unprecedented event this month, a college quarterback effectively held out for a better NIL contract, a tactic usually seen in professional sports. Former University of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava missed practice and subsequently transferred to UCLA due to discontent with his NIL earnings and his situation with the team.

“I’m not certain that this is going to become very common, as collectives have become wiser and craftier in the creation of their contracts, which tend to seek to avoid situations like this,” Darren Heitner, a lawyer who brokers NIL deals for student athletes, told MarketWatch about the holdout. “I have seen many such arrangements where collectives seek to claw back monies paid out or even receive liquidated damages, but I wonder whether athletes will be deterred unless/until a major action is initiated to enforce such language.”

See: Some Americans are stockpiling $220 sneakers before Trump’s tariffs raise prices even higher

Read on: Here’s how much money Paige Bueckers and the other WNBA 2025 draft picks will earn

-Weston Blasi

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.


  (END) Dow Jones Newswires

  04-30-25 1316ET
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Link

Sports

CAA Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards – Dec. 9

Published

11 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CAA Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards – Dec. 9

12/9/2025 1:00:00 PM

Ben Kane

RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 9, 2025) –North Carolina A&T junior Hayleigh Bryant, Northeastern senior Leila Curtis N.C. A&T senior Dyimond Walker, and Hampton sophomore Joseph Ernest earned CAA indoor track and field weekly award recognition for their performances last weekend.

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Hayleigh Bryant, N.C. A&T

Junior | Sprinter | Greensboro, N.C. / Northwest Guilford

Bryant took first place in the 200m at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-off. The junior’s 24.03 time marked an indoor personal record and was the eighth-fastest time in the country. Bryant also helped the Aggies produce a CAA-best 3:45.85 race in the 4x400m relay.

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Leila Curtis, Northeastern

Senior | Throws | Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollows Hills High School East

Curtis placed second at the HBCU and Ivy Challenge with her performance in the shot put. With a mark of 15.24m, the Dix Hills, N.Y. resident has the ninth longest throw in the nation, and second best in Northeastern history.

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Dyimond Walker, N.C. A&T

Senior | Mid-Distance | Kansas City, Mo. / Hogan Preparatory Academy

Walker led a strong Aggies grouping in the 800m hurdles, winning the race and becoming one of five A&T athletes to finish in the top-10. With a time of 1:52.68, the senior ranked first in the CAA and ninth nationally. Walker also joined the men’s 4×400-meter relay, finishing at 3:12.29.

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Joseph Ernest, Hampton

Sophomore | Jumps | Sterling, Va. / Potomac Falls HS

Ernest won the triple jump at the Penn Open with a personal best finish. The sophomore jumper earned a mark of 15.38m (50” 5.5′), which was his first over 15m indoors and is the sixth best in the nation currently.

2025-26 CAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week

Dec. 9: Hayleigh Bryant, N.C. A&T

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week

Dec. 9: Leila Curtis, Northeastern

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week

Dec.9 : Dyimond Walker, N.C. A&T

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week

Dec. 9: Joseph Ernest, Hampton

Follow the CAA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about all CAA member institutions and their teams.

Link

Sports

Burns Named To AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention For Women’s Volleyball

Published

12 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Women’s Volleyball | 12/9/2025 11:03:00 AM

Korrin Burns (Clarion, Pa/Clarion Area) was named to 2025 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-Region honorable mention.

Burns is only the second player in Saint Francis University’s women’s volleyball history to achieve this award in program history. Madi Tyus received this in 2021 after being named NEC Player of the Year.

Burns earned this achievement after being named NEC Player of the Year and All-NEC first team after finishing her season with 588 kills, 254 digs, 40 blocks, and 28 service aces. The senior outside hitter played all 27 matches and 103 sets. Burns leads the NEC in kills per set (5.26) and points per set (5.72). She is currently third in total kills, fourth in kills per set, total points, and fifth in points per set in the nation. This is the third year in a row that she earned All-NEC first team and dating back to 2010, she is the first women’s volleyball player to earn this distinction three years in a row.

Throughout the season, Burns has registered 10 Prime Performers and eight NEC/Molten Player of the Week awards. She recorded 15 games with 20+ kills including a 30-kill home match against Siena that broke the home program record. Burns also has 12 games where she dug up a double-double in kills and digs.

Burns surpassed the 1,000-kill milestone earlier this season and continued to add program records to her resume. She is sitting in first place in Red Flash history with the most kills in a single season with 542. She passes Roosevelt, who previously held the record in 2006 with 486 kills. Burns also sits in second place with the most total attacks in a season with 1,209. She passed Roosevelt who held the third spot with 1,134 (2004) and Miller with 1,159 (2009). Burns sits only 85 attacks away from taking another first-place program record. Overall, in her career, she is only 20 kills away from being the all-time leader in kills in program history. Kristin Buter (2005-08) currently holds the most kills in a career with 1,427.

Link

Sports

Anyia, McLellan Named Alvernia Athletes of the Week

Published

27 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Reading, Pa. (Dec. 9, 2025) – Alvernia Women’s Track and Field sophomore Britney Anyia and Men’s Wrestling sophomore Hayden McLellan were named Alvernia Athletes of the week for their performances during the week of December 1 – December 7, 2025. This week’s Alvernia Athletes of the Week are presented by MailShark.

Britney Anyia had two first place finishes at the Alvernia Rust Buster on Saturday. Anyia took first place in both the high jump and long jump on Saturday. She was also a member of Alvernia’s second place finishing 4x200m relay team. Anyia took first place in the high jump with a mark of 1.55m and took first in the long jump with a mark of 5.18m. Both marks were third best in the MAC this weekend

Hayden McLellan took first place at 184 pounds this weekend at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational. McLellan started out with back-to-back 15-0 technical fall wins to move into the quarterfinals. He then secured a fall in 2:19 over NYU’s Dmitry Derbedyenyev in the quarters and followed that with a 5-2 decision over NYU’s Justin Mayes in the semis. McLellan secured a first place finish with a 2:42 fall over Springfield’s Matthew Hoxie in the championship bout.

Women’s Track and Field is off until the Alvernia Winter Invitational on Saturday, January 17th. Men’s Wrestling is back in action this Saturday at the King’s College Duals.

Link

Sports

Three From Volleyball Earn AVCA All-Region Honors

Published

28 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, KY. – UNC Volleyball had three players earn AVCA All-Region honors for the East Coast Region. Safi Hampton and Maddy May were named to the All-Region Team and Chelsea Thorpe was named an All-Region Honorable Mention.

This is the first such honor in all three of their careers. It is the first time three Tar Heels earn All-Region honors since 2021 and the first time multiple Tar Heels are on the All-Region team since 2016.

Hampton earns the honor after being named to the AVCA Player Of The Year Watchlist. Hampton led the team in points (404.5), points per set (3.86), kills (399) and kills per set (3.50). Hampton was also named ACC Offensive Player of the Week after sweeping Duke in the beginning of October. Hampton totaled 28 kills on a .509 hitting percentage with only one error. Her 16-kill, zero-error performance against Duke saw her hit a career-best .615 guiding the Tar Heels to a sweep on the road.

May has been the definition of reliable for Carolina and closes her career out with All-Region honors. She played in every set (445) of every single match (118) over her four-year career. May sits in third all-time in program history with 1,622 digs.

Thorpe had an impressive 2025 campaign racking up a single season career-high in kills (318), kills per set (2.72), blocks (90), blocks per set (0.77), digs (76), digs per set (0.65), assists (13), points (365.5), and points per set (3.12).

Link

Sports

Seven Sun Belt Volleyball Players Recognized with 2025 AVCA All-Region Honors

Published

44 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time in the last decade, seven Sun Belt volleyball student-athletes earned All-Region recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the organization announced Tuesday. This marks the third consecutive year the league has earned at least five selections with a league-best five First Team honors this year.

Coastal Carolina’s Jalyn Stout earned the third honor of her career as she was named to the midseason Player of the Year Watchlist. Georgia Southern’s Reagan Barth and App State’s Maya Winterhoff each earn the honor for a second consecutive year.

Sun Belt Player of the Year Kennedy Louisell from James Madison also earned First Team All-Region honors after being named the AVCA Division I Player of the Week in late October. Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament Most Outstanding Player Daedrianna Cail from Arkansas State earned First Team honors as well. Sun Belt Libero of the Year Marta Lazzarin from Georgia State earned Honorable Mention honors as the league earned three athletes recognized in the Southeast Region.

Fourteen student-athletes from each of the 10 AVCA regions earned All-Region Team honors with 6-8 honorable mention selections. The 213 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 109 different schools.

From the All-Region selections, the All-American Teams will be determined and announced.

2025 AVCA Division I Volleyball All-Region Selections

Central Region
First Team | Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State | Sr. | MB

East Coast Region
First Team | Kennedy Louisell, James Madison | Jr. | OH
First Team | Maya Winterhoff, App State | SR. | MB

Southeast Region
First Team | Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern | Jr. | OH
First Team | Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina | Jr. | S
Honorable Mention | Marta Lazzarin, Georgia State | Fr. | L

Southwest Region
Honorable Mention | Jade Defraeye, Texas State | Sr. | MB

Link

Sports

Kansas Volleyball Places Three on AVCA All-Region Teams for 2025 Season

Published

1 hour ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas Volleyball continued its momentum from a standout 2025 campaign as three Jayhawks earned recognition on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Central Teams, the organization announced Tuesday. Middle blocker Reese Ptacek and pin hitter Jovana Zelenovic were named to the AVCA All-Region First Team, while pin hitter Rhian Swanson earned Honorable Mention honors. Zelenovic was additionally selected as the region’s Freshman of the Year.

The announcement comes on the heels of one of the program’s most impressive postseason runs in recent years. The No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks defeated Miami, 3–1, in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament inside Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 on Dec. 5. Kansas (24–10, 13–5 Big 12) reached the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2021, adding to previous runs in 2013 (Sweet 16), 2015 (NCAA Semifinals) and 2021 (Sweet 16). The Jayhawks will now face Nebraska in Lincoln on Dec. 12 at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Ptacek emerged as one of the Big 12’s most dominant middles this season, totaling 325 kills, a .317 hitting percentage, and 2.54 kills per set across 128 sets played. She anchored Kansas’ blocking unit with 136 total blocks (1.06 per set) and added 27 service aces, showcasing her expanded offensive range and reliability. Her steady presence at the net was central to Kansas’s out-blocking opponents 320.5–253 this season.

Zelenovic delivered one of the most complete freshman seasons in the country. She led Kansas with 479.5 total points, tallying 369 kills at a .284 hitting clip, averaging 2.88 kills per set, and recording a team-high 46 service aces. Defensively, she was equally impactful, posting 123 total blocks—nearly one per set. Her production and maturity earned her a spot on the All-Region First Team as well as the region’s Freshman of the Year recognition.

Swanson capped her Kansas career with her first AVCA All-Region honor after leading the Jayhawks with 346 kills and 3.09 kills per set, hitting .257 on nearly 1,000 attempts. The senior pin added 50 blocks, 58 digs, and 371.5 points, serving as a steady, experienced presence in all six rotations throughout KU’s postseason surge.

The AVCA recognized 14 First Team honorees and additional Honorable Mention selections across its 10 Division I regions. Regional Player, Freshman, and Coach of the Year awards were also announced, with Kansas’ Zelenovic taking home Freshman of the Year distinction. More than 200 student-athletes representing 109 schools were honored nationwide.

The 2025 AVCA All-America Teams will be released on Wednesday, Dec. 17, as the Jayhawks look to add national recognition to one of the strongest seasons in recent program history

Link