Happy Fourth Birthday NIL!

💥 4 Years of NIL — But the Last 12 Months Changed Everything

Today marks the fourth birthday of NIL. And while July 1, 2021 changed college sports forever, the last 12 months have been the most transformative yet.

Schools can now directly pay athletes. Departments are being restructured like pro franchises. And NIL-fueled recruiting battles are happening in courtrooms, not just living rooms.

Here’s a recap of the most important developments from the past year — one that redefined what college sports even is.👇

⚖️ Ruling of the Year: The House Settlement

On June 6th, 2025, a federal judge approved the House v. NCAA settlement, setting off the biggest shift in NCAA history. Four key changes:

• Backpay Fund – The NCAA will pay $2.8B over 10 years to D-I athletes who competed from June 2016 to September 2024. Payouts vary by sport, tenure, and exposure.

• Revenue Sharing – Schools that opt in can share 22.5% of their annual athletic revenue with athletes. In 2025–26, that’s about $20.5M per school. Must meet Title IX standards.

• Roster Limits Replace Scholarship Caps – Instead of capping scholarships, the NCAA is capping roster sizes. This hits non-revenue sports hardest, with many programs cutting slots.

• NIL Oversight via NIL Go – A new College Sports Commission has launched NIL Go, a platform built with Deloitte that requires reporting and approval for all deals over $600.

🏢 Structural Shift of the Year: College Sports Goes Commercial

Before the settlement was finalized, programs were already acting like pro teams.

Schools like LSU and St. Bonaventure hired general managers to run their rosters, recruiting, and budgets.

Others went further — Kentucky spun its athletic department into a for-profit LLC to unlock new funding sources and prep for revenue sharing.

🔁 Recruiting Chaos of the Year: NIL Tampering Gets Real

NIL has completely changed how athletes choose schools — and it’s no longer just about fit or playing time.

• Bryce Underwood, once committed to LSU, flipped to Michigan after landing the (reported) biggest NIL deal ever for a college athlete.

• Xavier Lucas tried to leave Wisconsin. They refused to enter him in the portal. He re-enrolled at Miami — and now Wisconsin is suing Miami for tampering.

💬 Quote of the Year

Charlie Baker, NCAA President, on the House Settlement:
“Blame whoever you wish to blame. But the simple truth is clear: college sports’ collective inability or unwillingness to change years ago put the entire enterprise at risk... It creates a future that comes with choices instead of bankruptcy.”

💡 Insight of the Year

Steve Denton, CEO of Opendorse, on women athletes in NIL:
“Women’s student-athletes are probably the most effective media buy in sports right now — cost, reach, relevancy, and ROI. It’s the great equalizer.”

📊 Data Point of the Year

Projected NIL spending in 2025 is $2.55 billion, up 43.1% from 2024 according to Opendorse's 2024-2025 report.
💸 Collectives are outspending brands 4 to 1, but those deals now face more oversight through NIL Go.

🏀 Event of the Year: New Tournaments, New Money

The NCAA isn’t the only one making money in March.

• In 2025, the College Basketball Crown launched as an alt tournament for teams left out of March Madness — offering serious payouts.

• Coming in 2026: the Players Era Festival, aka “November Madness.” A 32-team bracket with $1 million for participants and NIL exposure built in. Programs like Gonzaga are reportedly in.

💰 Deal of the Year: Crowdsourced NIL

Colorado QB commit Julian Lewis became an owner in Fanstake, an app where fans can directly fund recruits and transfers. The app already has 20,000+ users — giving supporters a new role in recruiting outcomes.

📚 Resource of the Year: The House FAQ

The NCAA published an extensive FAQ on the House Settlement — covering payments, revenue sharing, roster rules, and more. If you work in NIL, it’s required reading.