Today the Dept of Education stated that NIL funds are financial assistance under Title IX that must be made proportionately available under Title IX to all athletes, i.e., male and female athletes. Where this goes and what it means is not yet clear but this opening salvo from the DOE was unfortunate. It does not reflect the athletes that generated the NIL funds and will likely result in many court actions. Of corse, don’t forget that President-elect Trump has pledged the DOE WILL be gone and his DOGE Advisers have said the same thing. But Title IX is a law passed by Congress (@taknobbe will correct me on this if I’m incorrect) so this statement from DOE could be moot very quickly.
I’ve been concerned if Title IX would be applicable to these funds and am not surprised a progressive administration would take the position they do. Keep tuned for this as it could upset how many NIL dollars can be distributed to football players (men) who are attracting those funds versus spreading it among all athletes. Of course basketball does attract these funds also but football attracts more NIL than any other sport.
This continues to be a mess. Federal legislation needed here not a judicial solution. Ugh.
I’ve been concerned if Title IX would be applicable to these funds and am not surprised a progressive administration would take the position they do. Keep tuned for this as it could upset how many NIL dollars can be distributed to football players (men) who are attracting those funds versus spreading it among all athletes. Of course basketball does attract these funds also but football attracts more NIL than any other sport.
This continues to be a mess. Federal legislation needed here not a judicial solution. Ugh.
