Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has recently signed a bill into law that allows schools in the state to directly pay college athletes for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. This legislation, effective from July 1st, makes it illegal for the NCAA to penalize schools for compensating athletes in this way.
Prior to this law’s passing, the NCAA prohibited schools from signing NIL deals with their student-athletes, leading to the creation of NIL collectives. These collectives served as separate entities that paid players for their NIL rights. With the new law in place, schools in Virginia will have the freedom to directly sign athletes to NIL deals, eliminating the need for separate collectives.
The impact of this law could be substantial for college athletics not only in Virginia but across the country as well. Schools in Virginia will now have an advantage in recruiting student-athletes by offering them NIL compensation, something that schools in other states cannot do at present. This advantage may push the NCAA to expedite changes to NIL rules nationwide.
NCAA president Charlie Baker has proposed possible changes to allow all schools to pay athletes through NIL deals; however, these changes require a vote from Division I athletics members. With Virginia’s law now in effect, it is likely that these members will be more inclined to address the issue sooner rather than later. Until a decision is made on a national level, schools in Virginia will enjoy the benefits of offering NIL compensation to their student-athletes.
