Charlotte North of Boston College scores a goal against Syracuse in the NCAA championship game. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
What is NIL?
If you’re a fan of college sports you’ve no doubt heard the acronym “NIL” floating around. NIL stands for “Name, Image and Likeness” as it relates to NCAA athletes.
Prior to an NCAA amendment last week, college athletes were not able to profit off of any sort of endorsement of any product, good or service. The punishment for such an act would be for the athlete to potentially lose his/her eligibility and/or the institution be fined or otherwise penalized.
This change seems to have happened fast. However, the roots go all the way back to UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon’s landmark case against the NCAA in 2009.
