College athletes will someday soon be permitted to be paid sponsors, social media influencers and product endorsers. Change is imminent, but not everyone in college sports believes it is for the better as athletes get closer to earning money from third parties for use of their name, image or likeness (NIL).
In an Associated Press survey of Division I athletic directors, nearly 73% said allowing athletes to be compensated for NIL use will decrease the number of schools that have a chance to be competitive in college sports.
Nearly 28% said many fewer schools would be competitive. “NIL will be a game changer for all,” one respondent said. “Many will get out of college athletics as this is not what they signed up for.