Story by Alex Spielman, Emma Pearce and Lily Hagedorn

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024) – The crowd screams. Beer cans are airborne, sprinkling the student section with alcohol. Everyone is on their feet. The Indiana Hoosiers just beat Nebraska with a score of 56 to 7. The win against the Cornhuskers was the Hoosiers’ seventh of the season. They have not lost a game. 

The 2024 game against Nebraska was the first IU football game to sell out since the Ohio State game in 2021. Indiana would go on to sell out the rest of their home games. The Hoosiers’ winning season was drawing national attention, bringing the FOX “Big Noon Kickoff” show one weekend and ESPN’s “College Gameday” the next. Indiana became a nationally ranked football team. 

“At the end of the day college athletic departments and their teams and the coaches that control those teams, they want to win, and they have a limited amount of resources,” Director of the National Sports Journalism Center Galen Clavio said. “Whatever small positive effect you might have from a really popular high school athlete coming in is going to be a drop in the bucket compared to the effects of having a winning team. I mean, look at IU football. Look at the attention on IU football. They’re going to sell out maybe four games this year. They’re not doing it because they have popular NIL players on their team, they’re doing it because they’ve got good players that are winning games.”   

In 2021 the Supreme Court ruled that college athletes could hold NIL (name, image and likeness) deals, which would allow them to profit off the use of their name or photo. After the ruling went into effect, the amount of money a university could offer an athlete started to affect the recruiting process, changing collegiate athletic departments.  

“What recruitment revolves around now is NIL. If you go to a big school like Indiana, there are going to be a lot of NIL deals, and it doesn’t really matter if you’re the most talented on the team or not…Most players don’t even look at the system that best fits them, they look at the amount of money that they’re going to get. It’s kind of a sad change, but it’s a change that we have to make,” Indiana University Athletics Intern Logan Krzykowski said. 

The transfer portal is being used more often for athletes who are not satisfied with their current deal or team. To convince athletes to transfer, schools can offer NIL deals. Eight players on the 2024-25 Indiana University men’s basketball team roster transferred from other schools.  

“I think NIL has impacted mid to major transfers more than anywhere else. It also kind of shortens the patience of the backup. A lot of people were willing to stick it out to wait for their chance to break into the starting lineup before. Now it’s like ‘it’s been a year. You haven’t started me. I’m transferring, and I can get paid to do it. I might transfer to a school that’s not as good at this sport as yours, but they’re going to let me play right away, so, I’m going to go do that,’” Indiana University Senior Associate Athletic Director and Cuban Center Director Jeremy Gray said. 

Sometimes, the transfer portal does not work out for athletes. In 2024, the University of Nevada Las Vegas verbally offered quarterback Matthew Sluka $100,000 to transfer from Holy Cross. The agreement was not in writing, however, and UNLV did not have the promised NIL money for Sluka. 

“Right now colleges and universities have been steadfast above all else in arguing that athletes aren’t employees, that they can’t be considered employees, and there’s a longstanding set of legislative approaches that the NCAA has taken that have tried to make that commonplace. I would have told the quarterback who ended up transferring this is why you don’t take a verbal promise about anything involving money,” Clavio said.  

The rise in NIL deals is causing large financial effects for athletic departments. In recruiting players this past year, IU men’s basketball reportedly spent around $4 million Indiana University Men’s Basketball allegedly spent around $4 million in NIL money to recruit players this past year. Other schools are struggling to keep up, and their programs are starting to show it.  

“I think one of the problems with the NCAA circumstance that we have right now is that there are too many teams in the mix who don’t have the financial resources to compete… I do think that college athletics has had a gradual separation financially between the universities that are fully invested in their athletics programs and the ones that, for whatever reason, just can’t hit that level. I think we’re seeing that in higher education in general,” Clavio said. 

Athletes are drawn to better programs, especially with the influx of money that programs can now offer players. The ruling has made it possible for athletes to be rewarded for their contributions to their schools. 

“This is not a case of new rights being granted to college athletes, it is instead the removal of restrictions that were being imposed by college athletic departments upon college athletes, essentially telling those people ‘You do not get the same rights as the other people that are college students,’” Clavio said.   

https://youtu.be/JKraVa6PAyw

Bloomington residents speak on how the 2021 NIL ruling has affected college athletic departments. The ruling made it legal for college athletes to profit off of the use of their name, image, and likeness.

Featured image by Emma Pearce

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By Ava DeSena, Peyton Giesler and Chris Zajac

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024)- As humans, we often try to differentiate between selfless and selfish. This concept daunts people as they always attempt to be their best selves. Being selfless in most situations is morally the correct path, but when does life call for us to be selfish? Is it always okay? Is it never okay? Does being selfish overshadow others?

NIL was passed by the Supreme Court in 2021, allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. Since then, the public has seen a plethora of college athletes emerge from the field or court and onto our screens; between social media, commercials and brand deals the opportunities for these athletes are endless. Dr. Galen Clavio, a Professor of Sports Media and the Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University said, “rights to publicity is a right that everyone has.” But does that mean all college athletes gain the same or a fraction of the opportunities? 

College freshman Lucy Mineo from a small town in New Jersey decided to commit to Marquette University, continuing her lacrosse career as Midfielder for a D1 athletic program. “NIL did not play a role in my decision process because I feel lacrosse lacks NIL deals, especially women’s lacrosse,” she said. About 34% of women sports athletes are paid through college NIL deals according to www.bestcolleges.com, splitting that scarce percentage to over 20 official women’s college sports teams makes you realize how little women’s opportunities can become.

For Mineo, her decision was more based on the “school, the facilities, coaching staff and the people who go to the school.” As Mineo comes from a legacy of D1 athletes within her family she has seen and developed her opinions of the difference between college athletes before and after NIL. NIL has definitely taken over the world of college sports. NIL has created ideals and an atmosphere where it’s not that you love the game, it’s more of, okay you’re good at it so we [the brands] are rewarding you with something not you rewarding yourself with self-enjoyment for the game.” Mineo explains how NIL can overshadow the joy and camaraderie once felt by college athletes. This change creates an environment where sport feels more transactional instead of focusing on the essence of sports.

Prior to NIL, athletes in the power four conferences such as the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference already had a platform to gain attention on their name. Clavio provided his input on how NIL has affected the athletics department. “Indiana has an athletic budget of 135-140 million dollars,” said Clavio. “The Big 10 school will be pulling in 100 million dollars from [TV deal] revenue shares.” How the money is divided is up to the school’s discretion and how the athletics department will see it best fit. Indiana has newfound success in a sport they have the most losses among power four schools in, football. Dr. Cavio explained the impact of NIL on Indiana Football’s success. “IU football is going to sell out potentially 4 games this year, that’s not because they have popular players,” said Clavio. “It’s because they are winning and have good players.” NIL is making a direct impact on the success of Indiana University sports.

NIL has provided various opportunities for many different athletes across the country. Ohio State University’s football Safety, Jaylen McClain shared the impact NIL made on his commitment decision and his life thus far as a college freshman. “[NIL] did play a factor into my decision, but it wasn’t the main thing I was worried about in my recruitment,” said McClain. Schools such as Ohio State University can gain and maintain large-scale NIL deals for their athletes, with benefits many other schools don’t have the resources for. “I get the luxury of having certain things that other people wouldn’t as a college student,” said McClain. “I am able to have my own car and apartment so I am able to pay the rent for it, pay for gas on a consistent basis and in the future.” Such amazing opportunities could make people grateful, but also it could be a crack, where selfishness could seep in. “You can just tell between people from different schools and how people would rather go to a school for the money, or would rather just do things for the money rather than for themselves and their development. You can just tell certain people are thinking, “I’m trying to get paid rather than I’m trying to get better,” McClain said.

Mineo and McClain are in different positions in their college careers, but they can agree on one important idea: NIL is beginning to overshadow the revolving world of college sports. “Rights to publicity is a right that everyone has,” said Clavio, but it is essential that college athletes along with grasping well-earned opportunities of gaining profit and exposure do not lose sight of how they got there and who helped them along the way. The desire to be great, to excel in one’s game and to contribute to a team should be the driving cause of an athlete’s college career, not the amount of attention or money. 

https://youtu.be/XKEabqmMIMA

Justin Molander, Magnuson Larslott and Michael Drebes, students at Indiana University were interviewed on the impact of NIL. Their responses show their support of NIL’s impact on the success of Indiana University athletics. 

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By Mason Jones, Kamryn Eskew, and Elizabeth Conley

Just imagine this. You play college soccer for the Indiana Hoosiers and are in the middle of the championship match. You are a forward. It is a cool, autumn Thursday evening at Indiana University and you and your team are playing against the Clemson Tigers. The smell of the damp ground fills the air as you breathe deeply. The score is tied at 1-1, and you are up to take the game-winning penalty kick. The stadium is filled with students, families, and children screaming and shouting, but in your mind, it is silent. Nothing is more important than this moment. A deep inhale of oxygen is taken, followed by a slow exhale. After taking three steps backward, your cleats dig into the grass, and your eyes are glued to the soccer ball on the ground. You then run towards the ball and kick it. The ball goes left towards the goal, but the goalie leaps to the right, missing it. The crowd roars and your teammates are running towards you. The Indiana Hoosier’s soccer team just won the championship game because you made the penalty kick. Ever since that moment on that night, your name and face have been everywhere. As a sophomore athlete at Indiana University, you have been the best player on the team and have had many outstanding performances during games. Still, after you made the championship game-winning penalty kick, your image has soared through the media. You are no longer one of the most famous college athletes in the country, but now the most famous athlete. Growing up, being a professional soccer player was your dream, but you never imagined being this big in the NCAA. Stress and anxiety begin to overtake you as you think about how much pressure you have gotten from being all over the internet, and you worry about how it will affect you. A question lingers in your mind: “Is there a way to handle my image without the stress and pressure?”

In June 2021, the Supreme Court allowed college athletes to finally benefit from their name, image, and likeness, also known as NIL, which changed college sports. In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision that NCAA restrictions on “educated-related benefits” for college athletes violated the antitrust laws. 

When former high school cross country runner and baseball player Gunner Jones was asked about his general thoughts on NIL in the NCAA, he expressed that there are positive benefits from it, while also being mishandled. “NIL in today’s college sports is a good thing, but it has just been mishandled,” he said. “I do believe that student athletes are entitled to make money off of their name, image and likeness, but I also believe that there has to be regulations and rules set in place in order to protect the student athlete.” 

“I do believe that more successful athletes do have a right to negotiate better terms and have larger NIL,” Jones said. 

It was also important to know what a college athlete’s thoughts on the topic were. Jackson Kelsey, a former high school soccer player, track runner, swimmer, and football player, played soccer for Manchester University, located in Indiana. He transferred from Manchester University to Indiana University but does not play for the Hoosiers’ soccer team. The financial aspect of NIL is a big part of what keeps them going. “I think NIL is a great way for athletes to receive compensation beyond scholarships,” Kelsey said. “It gives student athletes an opportunity to profit from their own personal grants… Money can get in the way of college sports spirit, and I think, to an extent, it takes away the element of amateurism that is college sports.”

Kelsey also talked about his thoughts on how to better manage an athlete’s NIL. “I think there needs to be clear guidelines on the rules around NIL to ensure fairness and compliance,” he said. “While the management is sort of all over the place right now, I do think with the NCAA v. House Case, we will start to see a more uniformed system.” 

Indiana University’s Media School Associate Dean, Galen Clavio is an expert at NIL and when it comes to athletes earning money from other companies besides the university. “The NCAA is trying very much to put legal protections in that would allow them to essentially operate a financial monopoly…by making them the sole distributor of money,” Clavio said. So, there is always competition for colleges with a talented athlete who is getting many brand deals. 

Overall, NIL has improved the lives of many college athletes. It gives them a sense of belonging in their sport, while giving them financial benefits.

On the topic of NIL, we asked a couple members of the IU community their opinion. They shared their thoughts on the topic of managing NIL in a better way.

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By Caitlin Givand, Aaralyn Mills, Stella Abodeely

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (November 5, 2024)

College athletics is undergoing major changes following NCAA legislation recently passed. The impact on former and current collegiate athletes with regard to name, image and likeness (NIL) leaves many athletes unfairly compensated.

Over the past few years, the sphere of college athletics has undergone transformations surrounding NIL, sparking debate concerning whether former athletes deserve payment for their contributions to their athletic departments. For example, Skip Mills, a former Ball State basketball player, aided the department in significant growth averaging 18.6 points per game in the 2005-2006 season. However, no financial compensation was awarded to Mills as he was considered an “amateur athlete” during his collegiate career. Some current players with similar, or less impressive statistics are being compensated handsomely for their efforts, which some see as unjust.

Indiana sports media professor Dr. Galen Clavio discusses the impact that a social media presence can have on an athlete’s value both in college and beyond. “Well now, if you’re a female athlete and you have some juice in the marketplace because you have a large social media following, you have the ability to capitalize on that yourself,” Clavio said.

This shift has brought many cases to light in the new era of NIL. Caitlin Clark, was a top recruit coming from the University of Iowa is a good example. Her stats paired with her social media presence allowed her to gain exposure through advertisements. Notably, her campaigns with Nike, Statefarm and Gatorade resulted in large payouts for Clark, something unfathomable for a college athlete years ago. A current senior on the Indiana University rowing team, Phoebe Inall, discusses the competitiveness between athletes and how those with large NIL deals behave. “The ones who are making a lot of money- they think they are so much better than the ones who are not, which is leading to a divide between student-athletes as well,” Inall said.

Even though many see this implementation of NIL strictly as a benefit for student-athletes, a majority of non-revenue sports athletes are facing negative repercussions in this transition. Indiana University senior rowing coxswain Lilly Gintert has experienced this firsthand. “I think that with all the changes that happened too, like Tobias and everything, the ones who are making NIL don’t even care about it because they don’t need to but it is impacting the sports that don’t make as much money,” Gintert said.

At Indiana University, Tobias Nutrition Center (TNC) is the exclusive athlete dining hall located at Memorial Stadium, offering a variety of nutrition options and to-go containers for the typical student-athlete in a rush from practice. In years prior, athletes were able to eat breakfast in TNC for free, giving them the ability to perform better throughout the day with easier access to a satisfying breakfast. However, starting this year, to pay funds to the NCAA for NIL settlements, IU Athletics has started charging student-athletes for meals, with breakfast increasing $10 from before. Due to this, many athletes do not use the nutrition center anymore and struggle to fuel after workouts.

Clavio mentions the importance and urgency of the NCAA passing this significant piece of legislature. “One of the reasons why the NCAA is trying to get this settlement put in the books is they lock out previous potential classes of athletes from being able to sue for lost funds or lost compensation,” Clavio said.

NIL has reshaped the college sports landscape, allowing athletes to profit from their talents unlike before. For athletes like Skip Mills, a former All-MAC Ball State University basketball player from 2003-2006, this opportunity to profit from personal branding was non-existent. “My dad used to tell me, if I could get a hit, he would give me five or ten dollars. Knowing that, if NIL was there when I was in college, it definitely would have made me more motivated,” Mills said.

One of Mills’ standout performances came during a game against Buffalo, where he scored 38 points–a feat that would draw NIL attention today. As a Division I star, Mills contrasts with Jaxson Robinson, ranked in under the top 100 on the College Basketball NIL list for today. His career average stands at 8.7 points per game, yet his NIL valuation is $255,000 thanks to his huge following going over 100,000 on social media platforms. For players like Mills, the opportunity to leverage NIL in their peak college years was missed and could have added incentive to push their performance even further.

By Catherine Hattery, Ginger Jia and Brianna Rudnet

BLOOMINGTON, IN (Nov. 5, 2024)

The stadium erupted with loud cheers as the football forcefully soared to the other end of the field. Marlboro ‘Cignetti’ towels waved from the side lines to the nose bleeds. The large number of fans crammed into Memorial stadium is a stark contrast from attendance last year, as Indiana Football has had a considerably better season this fall, still undefeated well into the season.  

 The crowd, a sea of red, exploded as Freshman kicker Quinn Warren successfully punted the ball to the opposing team, Washington, to begin the game. 

Warren’s life has changed in more ways than one since signing to IU’s football team back in February- not just in terms of athletics. Because of the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2021, declaring that the NCAA could not prohibit student athletes from benefiting from their name, image, and likeness, Warren is able to monetize his brand; establishing sponsorships, brand partnerships, and growing his social media presence.  

Warren has stressed the importance of establishing his brand. “To build a personal brand is fairly important. You want to create an account that is marketable, and one that companies are willing to give a deal to and market their product through,” Warren said. 

Although around 10 companies have reached out to him, Quinn has only partnered with the popular clothing brand Hollister and Max Caffeine Gum and has been compensated through the form of products and payments. “They sent me clothes and I had to post two Instagram posts, three photos, and then a reel, and made $200. It was that simple.” Warren said.  He described using the app Postgame to become a Hollister Ambassador. “The app evaluates people who have applied and select a handful to market the brand through our social media platforms.” Warren said.  

While the NIL ruling has provided collegiate athletes with countless opportunities like the ability to profit from brand partnerships and the many connections that social media can create, others have wondered if the ability to make a profit would affect the legitimacy of a player’s recruitment.  

For Quinn, the NIL benefits were simply that- a benefit. “Although the opportunities some schools gave for NIL were intriguing, I played football at Indiana University because of the sport itself not because of the NIL aspect.” 

Galen Clavio, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education for Indiana University’s Media School, an NIL expert, agreed. “Look at the attention on IU football. They are not selling out games because they have popular NIL players on their team. They are doing it because they have got good players that are winning games.” Dr. Clavio said. 

Clavio also highlighted the Cavinder twins, popular basketball players who transferred from Fresno State to Miami University, illustrating there was no correlation between recruitment and one’s name, image, and likeness. “Maimi did not take them because of their NIL capabilities. They [the Cavinder twins] chose Miami because of the possibilities of the marketplace there.” Clavio believes that although a player may equate more NIL benefits to certain schools, like the Cavinder twins did, a school’s drive to recruit a player does not lie in their social media presence, nor their ability to market themselves- only in their talent.

Clavio continued, adding that when considering professional sports, a team would not sign a player based on their ability to market themselves, but their capability to perform. “For the most part, at the professional level, you do not see professional sports teams going and signing athletes solely because they are popular on social media.” Clavio argues that the relationship between NIL and college athletes should mirror professional sports and the profitability they get to experience in regards to the recruitment process. 

Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications, Jeremy Gray, emphasized the importance of marketing through social media. “How do you advertise to someone under the age of 25? You don’t read newspapers. You don’t watch traditional television. You don’t listen to radio.” Gray contended that college athletes are major influences among college students, citing Sydney Parish, a member of the IU Women’s Basketball team who has amassed many followers, as a major influence among students in Bloomington.

“The best way to reach that group [18 to 25-year-olds] is by paying social media influencers to market your products, businesses, restaurants, and the like. They [college athletes] are valuable to the community to market to businesses,” Gray said.  

Gray illustrates the major incentive for companies and brands to create relationships among college athletes, as a majority of their followings are made up of college students who are influenced  to purchase products from certain brands if prompted to. Without NIL, companies would lack the benefits college athletes provide their brands through social media, emphasizing the important role athletes play in the scope of marketing. 

As Indiana University’s football team continues to win, so do the players financially. With more attention on the teams success, the players continue to reap the benefits as companies reach out for brand deals and partnerships due to their popularity. Athletes like Quinn Warren emphasized the role of NIL in his college career so far. “NIL has changed my view of playing college football. I have gained so much from simply being a college athlete because of the courts ruling in 2021.”

On Friday Oct. 18. both students, staff, and residents of Bloomington were interviewed about their thoughts on the growing opportunities provided to athletes through NIL. Those interviewed believed NIL granted college athletes numerous opportunities to market themselves through brand deals and partnerships, providing them the ability to profit through their name, image, and likeness.

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By Emily Hunter, Matthew Brenner and Malachi Williams

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (November 5, 2024)

With college right around the corner for high school recruits, where they decide to play is a major decision. An even bigger decision for some: can they make a profit? As college athletics progresses, introducing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for student-athletes has created a new world.

This adopted policy allows athletes to profit from NIL activities. It plays a tremendous role in the decision-making for striving athletes, affecting their recruitment process at universities across the country, including Indiana University. Ian Stephens, a second-year basketball player for the Indiana Hoosiers, credits the policy adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2021 to his decision-making in his choice of university. “It’s definitely made me look at things from a financial perspective. There’s definitely not just an athletic side to things because you’re getting paid to do something.” A perspective on the money side of athletics highlights how NIL has prioritized financial considerations for many athletes when choosing schools post-2021 policy change. NIL has opened opportunities for athletes at IU that have not been offered before, placing IU on the radar for aspiring collegiate athletes. Creating an environment where young students can strive as athletes and have financial freedom was a factor in choosing the right school for Stephens and fellow teammates.

In 2021, a Supreme Court ruling allowed student-athletes, recruits and their family members to engage in NIL activities in compliance with state laws. The ruling provides resources and guidance, answers questions, and allows athletes who attend schools without NIL laws to participate without violating NCAA rules (NCAA). 

A correlation exists between students wanting to profit off their play and interests in attending Indiana University, found by Luke Bosso, Director of Athletics at Indiana University Indianapolis. “The athletes that we are recruiting, it’s one of their first two questions, is do you have a NIL program.” Bosso, a former football player himself, says he has seen an influx of student enrollment now that IU supports NIL activities. Students who enter a transfer portal will even search for NIL-positive programs at various levels of college, looking for a sufficient amount of money.

A study conducted by Mark Owens, working in the Department of Economics and Finance at Penn State University found elite programs that offer NIL activities statistically have the largest NIL deals, high recruiting and most players to be drafted into the NFL. The NIL ruling has enticed students like Stephens to be a part of a program where they can strive academically but also financially, “It’s just opened up many financial doors for me.” Stephens was aware of his opportunities when looking into IU’s basketball program. “There’s a lot of NIL events through Hoosiers for Good which is one of our philanthropy companies that’s doing a lot of good work around the community. It takes a bunch of student-athletes and we go into the community building homes, it’s really good.”

Dr Galen Clavio, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at IU, describes this process in two categories, being a good athlete and utilizing your resources, “a lot of it is what market are you bringing to the table.” These partnerships are reaching an audience of supporters and place pressure on big names and those striving for a platform. The rise of women’s sports credits this NIL policy change. Over ten years, the rise of digital media and growing revenue allowed female athletes to profit not only at the college level but professional and Olympic levels. Although Bosso saw positive feedback from athletes regarding their newfound opportunities, being paid, is not everything, “Winning entices athletes more than anything to go to a school, not money.” With three hundred sixty-three Division 1 basketball programs, almost all of them offer NIL activities.

Looking towards the future, there are ongoing advancements to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for athletes. The question, “Can I profit at a place I also want to play?” is something high school recruits think about when applying for schools. With NIL activities being allowed, there are resources available at all Indiana University campuses for athletes regarding signing contracts and taxes. As more and more marketing opportunities come up for athletes, the work they put into their financial decisions can become tricky. Without a proper understanding of NIL, student-athletes can prioritize money over play time, something Bosso looks out for. Playtime should always be prioritized over financial gain. Stephens recognizes this trade-off as well, “It’s okay to point out that you are getting paid if that’s what you want to do with your life then go be serious about it and go get paid as much as you want, but you still have to perform and be able to do your job at the highest level.”

https://youtu.be/SIIQjcfaAlo

Emily Hunter, Matthew Brenner and Malachi Williams interviewed individuals on Indiana Univerity’s campus on IU’s NIL opportunities. Interviewees’ feedback gave insight into what the average person thinks about IU’s offered NIL opportunities. 

With support from top universities like Indiana University aiding potential students in their profitable opportunities, athletes across every sport have incentives to become a Hoosier. 

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By Audrey Pfeiffer, Katie Newett and Ryan Beauregard

BLOOMINGTON, IN (Nov. 5, 2024)

When Mya Ayro attended Greenwood Community High School as the outside hitter on the volleyball team, she never would have imagined the tumultuous path that NIL would pave in her collegiate career.  

Ayro is a four-year letterwinner and holds the record for the most kills in program history at Greenwood Community High School along with competing in the AAU National Championships with her club volleyball team in 2021 

The 19-year-old was driven by the power and initiative that volleyball provided and knew that she wanted to find the right fit in a college—a perfect combination of athletics, academics, and the ability to provide a successful career. 

As she chose her school, she reflected on the values that really matter to her.  

“At the end of the day, I’m focused on my performance and education,” Ayro said. 

For her freshman year, Ayro excitingly committed to University of Connecticut. Throughout her time there, she was very successful—playing 27 matches for the team and recording a career-best kill count of 16 against Yale last September. 

But there was always something missing at UConn for Ayro. She entered the transfer portal for her spring semester and chose Wright State University, another Division 1 school, where she has continued to attend through the 2024-2025 school year.  

This season, Ayro is a successful athlete at Wright State, and is projected to continue her career there.  

Ayro is not alone in her decision to transfer schools, but some may do it for the wrong reasons. Transfer athletes could be motivated to transfer for a variety of reasons—relationships, location, education, or in our research, NIL. Many believe that NIL can be a selfish or immoral reason to transfer, including Ayro. 

“As a transfer athlete myself, transferring for personal pay ruins the whole point of sports,” Ayro said. 

Professor of Sports Media and Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University Dr. Galen Clavio describes the experience that athletes have and the expectation that they’re incapable of balancing all the components that come with being a collegiate athlete. 

“A lot of how we approach athletes is we almost infantilize them. We treat them like they’re incapable of making their own sense of priority,” Clavio said. “We don’t do that for other college students, do we?” 

First year IU thrower Seth Brosseau also picked his university based on the academic performance, as opposed to NIL money. More uncommon sports like throwing or tennis are less likely to make as much money comparatively to basketball or football, simply based off the amount of viewership and popularity the sport has. 

“I know that, personally, as a male track athlete, my opportunities with NIL and making money from them are more slim than other athletes in other sports,” Brosseau said. 

Ayro has found similar issues in relation to gender bias in sports. Men’s sports tend to gain a bigger viewership and, therefore, more money. 

Similarly to Ayro, Brosseau believes that NIL is secondary to sports and academic performance, and it would be immoral to transfer simply for the money. He thinks that there should be some restrictions set on the amount that athletes are allowed to make on top of the amount for transferring, for the sake of the team dynamic.  

“I think that it is fair that athletes have their school fully compensated for, as athletes bring a specialized skill to their college,” Brosseau said. “I do think that there should be some better devised limits on the amount of money that athletes are able to make outside of having their school paid for.” 

Ayro believes that NIL is secondary to performance and practice time, since it is not one of the main factors that she put into the consideration of picking her school.

“NIL is just an opportunity to network. My program isn’t focused on the fame and money. We are focused on how we perform; NIL is just something that may happen for us,” Ayro said. 

Clavio also included that it is extremely important as an organization to educate athletes on the importance of how to use social media and handling their affairs correctly. Many times, athletes don’t realize how much they can capitalize off their careers and end up losing out on opportunities. 

“I would strongly recommend that we start teaching about social media, branding, and the utilization of digital media at the high school level for everybody because that is where most people are communicating these days,” Clavio said.

 Sex is a factor that may play into NIL as well. Ayro thinks that men are more likely to talk about their deals and get bigger deals, since viewership is typically biased toward males.  

“NIL is a bigger aspect in male sports. That’s where it generally becomes an issue,” Ayro said, “They want all of the benefits they can get and if a school offers more benefits compared to another, it tends to sway their choice.” 

Despite the idea that male sports have a larger viewership in general, Clavio acknowledges the growth that women’s sports have had since the rise of popularity in women’s basketball, starting with Caitlyn Clark. 

“It’s nowhere near the amount of money that men’s revenue sport athletes are getting just for existing in many cases, but it has meant that there are some female athletes who have been able to capitalize at the college level,” Clavio said. “Now that they are more known commodities, which might open up additional commercial possibilities that weren’t there before.” 

NIL is an ever-growing and evolving idea, but the foundations for first year and transfer athletes will remain the same—performance and education come before any type of compensation. 

We headed to campus to ask students and fans about their opinions on NIL deals.

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By Adelyn Rabbitt, Maddie Greenberg and Nicole Dettmer

BLOOMINGTON, IN (Nov. 5, 2024)

Under bright fluorescent flood lights, the Indiana University men’s soccer team gathered to smile for a group picture after defeating Northwestern. Junior Jack Wagoner grinned along with his teammates as they celebrated the 6-1 win, which earned them their share of the Big Ten regular season title. This was monumental for the team, as it clinched their near-perfect October record.

As the crowd cheered, photos were taken by media personnel covering the big win. Media has played a huge part in college athletics ever since the Supreme Court ruled against the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) attempt to limit education-related payments to student athletes. This ruling became known as name, image and likeness, or NIL. The ruling went into effect on July 1, 2021, and allowed college athletes to use their public name, image and likeness to gain sponsorships and increase their financial gain from their sport. Deciding whether or not to implement NIL is a choice given to colleges, meaning some colleges have no NIL rules while others have widespread NIL rules. Though most athletes seemed to appreciate the ruling, controversy quickly arose with claims of the ruling’s unfairness and inequality.

A third-year law student and J.D. candidate well-versed in NIL, Amelia Taylor, explained how NIL works. “The law basically says the NCAA can’t require or stop student athletes from doing something that is not for the purpose of the NCAA,” Taylor said. This means the NCAA cannot control the name, image and likeness of individual players. The NIL ruling gives student athletes the legal right to use their image in the media for financial gain. As for public controversy, Taylor said, “Even since this started, there’s been just as much backlash as public optimism about it.”

IU heavily implements NIL rules. Men’s basketball and football are the most popular sports overall at IU, and the athletes’ pay shows that. In less popularized sports, such as men’s soccer or any women’s sport, the pay is generally lower. This is often because less popular sports get less television time, making them much less likely to be spotted by brands. Additionally, more popular players on a team receive better NIL deals than less well-known players. Jack Wagoner, an IU men’s soccer player, commented on NIL, expressing his support for the ruling. “I believe it is the right way to handle paying college athletes,” Wagoner wrote in an email.

Though men’s soccer NIL deals are commonly much less financially fulfilling than the NIL deals of more popularized sports, NIL still provides beneficial finances to many athletes. Wagoner has a few NIL deals, including one called ‘Hoosiers for Good’ and other local partnerships. Wagoner highlighted his appreciation for local NIL partnerships, including the example of athletes receiving deals from Everbowl, a popular acai bowl shop on Kirkwood, in return for promoting Everbowl on social media. “These mean much more to me than just being paid upfront,” Wagoner wrote. “I feel like I am more effectively giving back to the community around me.” Wagoner is aware that he is paid less than other male athletes at IU, and he highlighted IU men’s soccer and swimming in his response. “Both programs have a very rich history and are the powerhouses in their relative sports, so deserve to have more NIL opportunities,” Wagoner wrote. However, Wagoner understands that basketball and football are more central in media coverage and therefore thinks NIL is fair, as many players have built their success and image throughout the years.

Opposingly, other student athletes do not share the same sentiments. Jeremy Gray, IU Athletic Director, commented on the unseen NIL disparities between IU student athletes in an online press conference. Gray said sports psychologists have seen mental health struggles in IU student athletes skyrocket post-NIL ruling as the players scramble to acquire the same deals as their teammates. “Teaching them how to accentuate their own brand is really really important,” Gray said. Regarding teammate relationships, Gray said NIL can “change the dynamic” between teammates, as NIL has turned finances into a competitive playing field. Taylor also expressed the sentiment of changed dynamics due to the NIL ruling. “The issue was… is it going to ruin teamwork and ruin locker room situations and dynamics because now a player is mad that their teammate is making much more money but not doing anything different?” said Taylor.

When NIL began, it became clear that the ruling was unfair to women. Though women’s pay was already unequal to men’s pay, NIL showed that women’s sports are often less popularized than men’s sports. “This (NIL) is just going to continue making the disparity between especially gender even wider,” Taylor said. Taylor brought up the struggles less popular teams are having with recruiting athletes as a result of NIL, saying the teams could cease to exist as a result of the athletes’ pay disparities between schools. Of course, there are exceptions to this. IU women’s basketball players are likely to make much more money than men’s soccer or tennis players due to basketball being more popularized than soccer or tennis. However, within specific sports, such as basketball or soccer, men are paid more. There are athletes like Caitlin Clark who take the media by storm and end up landing NIL deals that are more than some men’s deals within the same sport, but it is extremely uncommon.

People walking on Kirkwood comment on their perception of NIL. The topic of NIL is generally well-known by IU students and residents of Bloomington.

By Chloe Epstein, Mike Badrov

BLOOMINGTON, IN (Nov. 5, 2024)

Feature Photo by Mike Badrov

Bloomington residents and visitors give their insights on the pressure high school athletes already face, and what could crack while NIL spreads its reach.

A droplet of sweat drips off her face, tightly gripping the basketball. The high school gymnasium is filled with eager faces of families latching onto the bleachers as she releases the ball. She scores the buzzer-beater basket as the clock ticks with ten seconds left and a tied game. The team ran onto the court as champions. The crowd jumps in the stands, their fists pumping, as their exhilarated smiles light up the room.

Beams of light appearing from the photographer’s camera add to the team holding up their new trophy. The essence of triumph from the team is enhanced by their frozen stillness on the camera’s screen. Amongst the joyous cheers, reality hits the high school team. The new Supreme Court ruling of the NCAA allows athletes to make a profit off of their name, image, and likeness. For some team members, a major endorsement is near, for others, an immense amount of pressure forms.

High school athletes are under a vast amount of pressure to brand themselves early in their athletic pursuits due to the implementation of NIL. What once was a competitive game of basketball is now heightened by the recognition and awareness of the players. Adding to the pressure of NIL, Indiana Public Media says, “It’s those deals that inflate what the average athlete makes, which is around $3,700, according to Opendorse, a leading NIL collective. It expects total NIL earnings to exceed $1 billion dollars in this year.” With NIL’s role in their careers, students must develop a compelling personal image to gain acceptance and appeal to athletic supportive brands and endorsement deals.

Cooper Komsthoeft, a Lyons Township High School Football Captain, shares his insight on how NIL affects the minds of high school athletes when deciding where to take their athletic careers next. He says, “NIL added a whole new idea into what colleges I would even consider. Schools like Oregon and Colorado show players making millions of dollars in college.” High school athletes now have to consider potential endorsements when deciding their futures. The growth of NIL changes the perspective of choosing a school for a student athlete in hopes to grow their personal brands. Komsthoeft continues to emphasize the struggles NIL brings into the athletic industry by saying, “I had older players telling me how hard it was to get NIL if you weren’t one of the ” “million dollar players” so it sort of stopped having me pursue it.” If you aren’t on the radar of major athletics, your chances of getting NIL are lower than those who have a name and reputation for themselves. For those who feel NIL won’t help grow their personal brand, it adds to the pressure put on their athletic careers. They unfortunately look towards a different direction for their future career paths.

NIL is not just focused on student athlete views, others have opinions on the topic such as Jeremy Gray. Gray is the  Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communicator for the IU Cuban Center. He says, “And I don’t think the average kid on let’s say the Bloomington South, and the Carmel High School, or the Munster High School, or the Schenectady North High School team you know is expecting to get [NIL] money.” High school athletes are strategic when creating their personal brand and image early in hopes they will one day be endorsed and profit off of themselves, which adds to the crippling pressure put on them. For others, they know they won’t benefit from NIL because they are not on top of the radar, making them a known player. Gray then says, “Parents on recruiting visits will ask, like, what kind of NIL opportunities are there at Indiana? And so it’s something top of the mind that way.” Students consider playing professionally. It’s important to gather information about financial decisions. Parents are enthralled in the idea of how NIL can shape their children when choosing a college. This has become a crucial factor in the decision making process.

High school athletes have to manage staying on top of their academics while taking part in their sport. Keeping academics high contributes to the pressure put on them to spread awareness about themselves through social media platforms and networking. Dr. Galen Clavio says, “If you’re an okay athlete and you’re trying to develop a media presence at the high school level with the idea that it will carry over into the college level, yeah, that is extra pressure, just like it’s pressure, if you’re a college athlete with a social media following to maintain your audience and build upon your audience.” High school athletes who aren’t as known for their athletic ability feel the pressure of NIL to obtain a prevalent online presence. Having a strong personal brand helps set oneself apart. Clavio compares how college athletes need to keep their audiences, while high school athletes need to have compelling profiles of themselves for branding purposes.

High school athletes focus on their sport while utilizing NIL to draw awareness to themselves. The pressure of branding lies in how they curate their personal image. The influence of NIL is shown not only on the field or court, but online. The NCAA’s ruling of NIL pushes these young athletes to go further in their careers while still remaining to represent themselves for new opportunities that arise.

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