Date of Award
Summer 8-4-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Kinesiology and Sport Management
First Advisor
Alexa Rudeen
Second Advisor
Jonathon Becker
Third Advisor
Joshua Pansegrau
Keywords
NIL, NCAA, Amateurism, Student-Athlete, Financial Aid
Subject Categories
Sports Management
Abstract
This paper analyzes the impact that name, image, and likeness (NIL) has affected the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legislation. To answer this question, I reviewed the NCAA’s website on their legislative body and rules that related to financial compensation. I also analyzed court cases about NIL that were brought against the NCAA. What I found was that NIL has been a short and recent change to the NCAA’s operations, but it has been an impactful one nonetheless. Over recent years, the legislation for NCAA has changed in order to accommodate athletes’ name, image, and likeness. A distinct outlook from both the court and the athletic community is the determination of college athletics as its own market. The main arguments in favor of the restraint on student-athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation are that it protects the amateurism component of college athletics, which is a key draw-in for college sports, and that the primary role of college student-athletes is an educational one. What is found in the reality of these cases is that the amateurism standard can still be protected with less restrictive rules. It was also found that NIL has become part of a bigger picture where college athletes are demanding compensation rights for the services they provide in the college athletics market. This has caused the NCAA to change its legislation on NIL rules and provide student-athletes with the rights they have been demanding for years.
Recommended Citation
VerSteeg, Lauren, "HOW NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS HAS AFFECTED NCAA LEGISLATION" (2025). Honors Thesis. 400.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/400