On the first of July, the new name, image and likeness (NIL) policy came into effect throughout all college sports. This rule enables collegiate athletes to have the ability to make money through sponsorships. All athletes, no matter how big their name, could now make a profit.

The ruling comes after the United States Supreme Court decided 9-0 that college athletes can receive unlimited benefits. 

For years, the NCAA has enforced strict guidelines on the profit of college athletes, and athletes found making money would receive punishments and possible suspensions. One harsh example was when 2004 Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush was stripped of his award and his team was forced to relinquish their national title.

While the athletes themselves couldn’t profit off of their own name, the schools and coaching staffs made millions. 

In 29 states, college coaches are the highest earning state employees. 

Meanwhile, collegiate athletes could not profit off their name or even hold a job. Instead, athletes were required to rely on booster club donations.

Many athletes found this to be unfair as others were profiting off of the hours of work they put into their sport while they themselves didn’t receive a dime from their own work. 

The NIL policy was installed after a long legal battle with the NCAA. 

Now athletes can profit from the work they put in and begin building their financial careers at a younger age.

As soon as the rule was put into place, sponsorships were being made. Jackson State defensive end Antwan Owens was the first athletes to receive an endorsement, doing so 

the day the NIL rule was announced.

“I was really surprised when they did this,” said linebacker Taylor Behl, who is a second-year player for the ULM football team. “It’s a cool way to build your own brand and get your name out there”. 

Alabama football head coach Nick Saban stated that star players on his teams potentially made in excess of one million dollars within the first week of the ruling.

Although the NIL rule can bring many good things for young college athletes, it can also introduce the factor of corruption into an athlete.

With athletes now having the ability to make career money at a young age, some worry they can become corrupt with their money and some could make unwise choices with the money they can now make at 18 years old. Skeptics push for better education of finance and budgeting among athletes.

Overall, the NIL rule produces mostly positive results for collegiate athletes and introduces fairness between athletes and the schools they represent.