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By: Annabelle Purkey, Grace Hunteman, Aaris Moore, and Macy Bair

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov 5, 2024)

A few months ago, Purdue University swimmers Brody Friend and Sam White were finishing up practice when their coach called the team to the side. Their eyes panned back and forth around the room, looks of confusion on everyone’s faces. Although they were unsure of what would be said, they didn’t have any reason to be alarmed. This soon changed. The swimmers were told that because of newly instated laws regarding NIL, the team could only suffice for a roster of thirty next season. Friend and White knew their college athletic career was on the line. 

On the contrary, Indiana University Red Stepper Jaylyn Hogan has seen many positives of the NIL ruling. Although she herself cannot acquire NIL deals because of university rules, many of her peers have done so and found it to be valuable to their athletic career. 

College athletes across the nation are experiencing the game-changing impacts of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in starkly different ways. While some star players rake in lucrative endorsements and expand their personal brands, others struggle to find similar opportunities, widening the financial gap and creating new pressures. This shift is transforming college sports, raising questions about fairness, financial management, and the potential for NIL to either empower athletes or deepen divides among teammates and programs.

NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness and refers to the rights college athletes now have to profit from their personal brand. In a landmark 2021 decision, the NCAA suspended previous restrictions on athletes earning money from their NIL. This ruling allowed college athletes to accept endorsement deals, sponsorships, and other revenue opportunities, such as social media partnerships, merchandise sales, and personal appearances. The decision marked a major shift in college athletics, granting athletes like Friend and White new financial freedoms while also introducing new complexities within the teams. 

For college athletes like friends of Red Stepper Jaylyn Hogan, NIL has been transformative, opening doors to revenue and opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible before. When interviewed about her opinions on NIL and its effect on college athletics, Hogan replied with nothing but positivity. NIL has created a sort of pressure around sports, but nonetheless it is a way for student athletes to gain recognition and compensation for their hard work. 

“I don’t believe there are any negatives to this ruling,” said Hogan. “It highlights their efforts and how much work they put in, in and out of the sport.”

Interviews on the street, asking strangers and students their opinion on the Name Image and Likeness ruling.

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