NIL Edge Update - 3.21.2025
NIL Edge Update - 3.21.2025
Welcome to The NIL Edge, your go-to source for the latest trends, deals, and insights shaping the ever-evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness. We break down the biggest NIL stories, offer strategic takeaways, and highlight key moves that could impact the future of college sports and athlete branding. Let’s dive in and stay ahead of the game!
In this edition, we’ve outlined public information on several fascinating NIL deals, highlighting the big moves shaping the landscape. But as we all know, when it comes to contracts, the devil is always in the details. It’s easy to focus on the headline-making dollar amounts, but the true impact of these deals comes down to the full contract terms—everything from payment structure and deliverables to exclusivity clauses and long-term implications. A well-structured deal can set an athlete up for lasting success, while a poorly negotiated one can create unexpected challenges.
Top Stories This Week
EA Sports Increases Player Compensation for ‘College Football 26’
EA Sports has announced a significant increase in payments to college football players for their participation in the upcoming College Football 26 video game. Each player will now receive $1,500, up from $600 in the previous installment. Additionally, players will be provided with a Deluxe Edition of the game, and some may earn extra income for featuring in promotional materials. This move reflects EA Sports’ commitment to equitable and voluntary compensation through the OneTeam platform and COMPASS NIL app. More than 11,000 player likenesses are expected to be used again, the same as in College Football 25, which became the top-selling sports video game in the U.S. by December 2024.
🔗Read more: https://www.polygon.com/news/542551/college-football-26-ea-sports-athletes-paid-more
St. John’s University Returns to March Madness with NIL Support
After a 25-year absence, St. John’s University has made a triumphant return to the NCAA Tournament, winning the Big East Tournament under Coach Rick Pitino. This resurgence is partly attributed to significant financial support from alumni like billionaire Mike Repole, who has donated at least seven figures and encouraged others to contribute. These efforts have helped St. John’s establish one of the highest NIL payrolls in college sports, enabling the recruitment of top talent and revitalizing the program.
🔗Read more: https://nypost.com/2025/03/18/sports/how-billionaire-mike-repole-helped-st-johns-to-march-madness
Women’s Teams Receive Performance-Based Payments in March Madness
For the first time, women’s college basketball teams participating in March Madness will receive “performance units” payments based on their progression in the tournament. The NCAA has unanimously decided to provide financial parity with the men’s teams, which have been compensated since 1991. In 2025, $15 million will be awarded, increasing to $25 million by 2027-28. This decision reflects the growing recognition and investment in women’s sports, supported by NIL deals and brand partnerships.
🔗Read more: https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/march-madness-womens-team-pay-49433733
NCAA Allows NIL Deals Before Student-Athlete Enrollment
In a significant policy shift, the NCAA will now permit schools to facilitate NIL deals for prospective student-athletes before they enroll. This change aims to provide more opportunities for athletes to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness rights earlier in their careers, potentially influencing recruitment dynamics and the overall landscape of college athletics.
🔗Read more: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/44294511/ncaa-let-athletes-negotiate-nil-deals-enrollment
NCAA’s NIL Regulations Create Complex State-Level Challenges
As the NCAA attempts to regulate NIL compensation, varying state laws and regulations have created a complex environment resembling a “prisoner’s dilemma.” States are enacting their own NIL policies, leading to inconsistencies and challenges in maintaining a level playing field across college athletics. This situation underscores the need for a unified approach to NIL regulations to ensure fairness and stability in collegiate sports.
🔗Read more: https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/ncaas-nil-regulations-push-states-into-novel-prisoners-dilemma
Spotlight: Cooper Flagg’s NIL Success Influences College Career Decisions
Duke’s standout basketball player, Cooper Flagg, has leveraged NIL opportunities to secure lucrative deals with brands like New Balance and Gatorade, amassing an NIL valuation of $4.8 million. This financial success allows players like Flagg to consider extending their college careers, reducing the urgency to turn professional immediately. The evolving NIL landscape provides athletes with more financial and career flexibility, benefiting both players and institutions.
🔗Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/19/cooper-flagg-looks-like-a-future-nba-superstar-he-may-choose-to-stay-in-college
Quick Hits
•Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League Offers Equity to Players: The new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league is offering players equity in the league, aiming to create an athlete-centric and player-owned environment.
🔗Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrivaled_%28basketball%29
•JuJu Watkins’ NIL Ventures: USC basketball star JuJu Watkins has signed a multi-year contract extension with Nike and invested in the women’s three-on-three basketball league Unrivaled, showcasing the expanding opportunities for female athletes in the NIL space.
🔗Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JuJu_Watkins
NIL Resource of the Week
Understanding the Impact of NIL on College Athletics
For a deeper dive into how NIL is transforming college sports, check out this insightful video discussing the implications and future trends in NIL.
🎥Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp-3x43npGo
Bonus Content
Congrats to the W for placing number number 4 in Boardroom’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies! 🏀
And congrats to the Rose, the Unrivaled League’s first ever championship team! 🏆
Final Thoughts
The NIL landscape continues to evolve rapidly, offering unprecedented opportunities and challenges for athletes, institutions, and brands. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial for navigating this dynamic environment. The NIL Edge is here to provide you with the latest insights and updates to keep you ahead of the game.
Stay connected with us for more updates and in-depth analyses on the NIL landscape. Follow us on social media and visit our website for additional resources.
