NIL Academy

New Mexico was a pioneer state with Senate Bill 94, the Student Athlete Approval Act (2021), which included unique provisions, including a “Shoe Clause” that allowed athletes to wear their…

Nebraska has constructed one of the most aggressive NIL environments in the United States. The state pioneered NIL legislation with the Nebraska Fair Pay to Play Act (LB 962) in…

West Virginia’s NIL Evolution West Virginia has moved from passive enablement to active protectionism—the 2025 legislative session built a legal fortress designed to insulate athletic assets from external interference. West…

Wisconsin’s NIL Evolution Wisconsin’s strategy is characterized by deliberate legislative silence—relying on constitutional sovereign immunity rather than reactive statutes. This creates institutional flexibility while shielding the University from litigation. Wisconsin…

Arkansas’s NIL Evolution Arkansas has systematically dismantled regulatory barriers through “emergency” legislation, weaponizing state law as a recruiting tool against wealthier SEC rivals. Arkansas has positioned itself as a bellwether…

South Carolina’s NIL Evolution South Carolina’s NIL landscape is defined by aggressive collegiate professionalization combined with a strict legislative ban on high school NIL—creating the widest gap between college and…

Colorado’s NIL Evolution Colorado’s legislative journey reflects a shift from athlete rights and transparency to institutional security and competitive advantage—when athlete rights conflict with institutional competitiveness, the state protects the…

Mississippi’s NIL Evolution Mississippi has transitioned from tentative compliance to “aggressive protectionism,” constructing a legal fortress that allows universities to recruit, compensate, and retain talent with minimal external interference. Mississippi…

New York’s NIL Evolution New York’s NIL landscape is defined by a “sovereign shield” protecting collegiate institutions, a fragmented high school “patchwork,” and the nation’s most aggressive income tax enforcement…

Utah’s NIL Evolution Utah’s NIL landscape is defined by aggressive state legislation creating a “sovereign shield,” unprecedented private equity financing, and three divergent institutional strategies at Utah, BYU, and Utah…