Below are the top NIL headlines from March 8th-9th:

Steph Curry Steps Up for Davidson with NIL Role

Stephen Curry isn’t just lending his name—he’s reshaping Davidson’s future with NIL at the core. The NBA icon has taken on the role of assistant general manager for Davidson College’s basketball programs, a first for an active U.S. pro athlete in the NCAA, and he’s partnering with Ayesha Curry and the Berman family to launch a fund that leverages NIL to boost the Wildcats. This move signals a new era where alumni use their star power and wallets to keep smaller programs like Davidson competitive in the NIL-driven landscape.

Curry-Berman Fund Pours Eight Figures into NIL

The Curry-Berman Fund is a financial slam dunk, targeting NIL as its game plan. With an eight-figure commitment, the fund will directly support Davidson’s men’s and women’s basketball teams by providing resources for NIL deals, helping players profit from their personal brands in a way that was unimaginable a decade ago. In today’s college sports, where NIL can mean millions for top athletes, this infusion aims to level the playing field for a mid-major program against powerhouses flush with booster cash.

NIL Fuels Recruiting and Retention at Davidson

For Davidson, NIL isn’t just about money—it’s about staying relevant. The fund’s backing could attract and retain talent that might otherwise chase bigger NIL paydays at schools like Duke or Kentucky, where collectives often dole out six-and seven-figure deals. Curry’s involvement adds a mentorship layer, blending his on-court wisdom with off-court NIL opportunities to make Davidson a destination, not a stepping stone.

A Blueprint for Mid-Majors in the NIL Era

Curry’s NIL strategy could rewrite the script for smaller schools. By tying alumni investment to NIL, Davidson is testing a model that others might follow—think Gonzaga —where star graduates funnel resources back to keep their programs punching above their weight. It’s a bold counter to the “Wild West” of NIL, where unregulated cash flows often favor the richest programs, leaving mid-majors scrambling.

Under Armour inks historic NIL basketball deal for March Madness

Six college basketball stars join the global sports brand ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

With March Madness just around the corner, Under Armour has made a major splash in the NIL space. This morning they announced the signings six college basketball stars—three men and three women— to its roster:

• Lauren Betts (UCLA)
• Te-Hina Paopao (South Carolina)
• Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State)
• Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn)
• Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)
• Flory Bidunga (Kansas)

The historic move brings these collegiate athletes into the fold alongside NBA stars like Stephen Curry and De'Aaron Fox, as well as WNBA standouts Kelsey Plum and Nika Mühl. 

“This roster represents not only some of the top college basketball talent in the country but also the diversity of paths that lead to success," said Sean Eggert, Under Armour’s Senior Vice President of Global Sports Marketing. "These athletes have each had their own unique journeys, and we look forward to amplifying their stories and continuing to support their growth, both on and off the court, as they make their mark during March Madness.”

This is the first time Under Armour’s basketball division has assembled an NIL roster of this scale. The group features athletes from both Under Armour-sponsored schools and programs aligned with other apparel brands, a sign of the company's broader investment in NIL partnerships.

Throughout the NCAA Tournament, Under Armour plans to highlight each athlete's journey through storytelling and social media content. As the men's and women's tournaments unfold, fans can expect exclusive insights into the athletes’ experiences, their preparation, and their impact on and off the court.

Selection Sunday on March 16th will determine the official NCAA Tournament seedings for Under Armour’s new NIL roster. With their latest signings, Under Armour is making a strong statement in the NIL space just as college basketball’s biggest stage gets underway.

Utah Law: Athletes Get NIL Cash, Not Employee Status

The Utah Legislature is rewriting the NIL playbook with a clear line in the sand. On Friday, the final day of its session, lawmakers passed HB479, letting universities like Utah and BYU directly pay athletes for their NIL—while explicitly stating they’re not university employees. 

Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, pushed the bill to keep schools competitive in the NIL race, sidestepping debates over employment status clouding college sports.

Direct Payments Greenlit, Settlement or Not

Utah’s schools won’t wait for the NCAA’s blessing. The law, effective May 7 if Gov. Spencer Cox signs it, lets universities pay athletes for NIL regardless of the House v. NCAA settlement’s $20.5 million revenue-sharing proposal, giving programs flexibility in a chaotic NIL landscape. 

It’s a bold move to lock in talent, though it bans using tuition, fees, or state appropriations—keeping the funds’ source a hot topic.

Transparency Takes a Backseat

NIL money’s public status? Good luck figuring it out. While the original bill made payments public under Utah’s GRAMA law, Teuscher stripped that out, leaving disclosure up in the air—schools argue it’s private, despite Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, calling it “public money” once it hits university coffers. 

Fillmore quipped it’s a “clever” workaround to pay athletes outright, spotlighting the murky line between NIL and payroll.

Audits, Agents, and Fewer Rules

The law’s fine print shakes up NIL norms. Starting in 2028, schools face audits every five years to track NIL spending, while athletes can now hire agents without penalty and skip submitting contracts over $600 for review—a rule axed from last year. 

It’s a deregulated twist that could fuel bigger deals, though Fillmore’s push for transparency hints at future clashes over how public Utah’s NIL experiment really is.