NIL Basics
What does NIL Stand for
Name, Image, and Likeness
Who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and EA Sports in 2009?
Ed O'Bannon
What was the full name of the case that challenged the NCAA in 2021?
NCAA v. Alston
What date did NIL officially become legal in the United States?
July 1, 2021
What types of deals can college athletes now sign under NIL rules?
Endorsements, sponsorships, social media promotions, personal appearances
Before NIL became legal, what rule stopped athletes from being paid?
Amateurism
What video game featured O’Bannon’s likeness without his permission or pay?
NCAA Basketball (and NCAA Football)
What type of benefits did the NCAA ban that were challenged in this case?
Education-related benefits (like paid internships or postgraduate scholarships)
What two major court cases led directly to NIL reform?
O’Bannon (2014) and Alston (2021)
Give one example of a famous college athlete who has benefited from NIL deals.
Livvy Dunne, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, Bronny James, etc...
What year did NIL officially become legal for college athletes?
2021
What year was the court’s ruling in the O’Bannon case?
2014
What year did the U.S. Supreme Court rule against the NCAA?
2021
What does “education-related compensation” mean?
Benefits like laptops, tutoring, internships, and scholarships related to academics
What’s one risk or challenge schools face under NIL?
Unequal opportunities or unfair recruiting advantages
What does the NCAA stand for?
National Collegiate Athletic Association
What type of laws did the NCAA violate according to the court?
Antitrust laws
What did Justice Kavanaugh say about the NCAA?
“The NCAA is not above the law.”
How did the courts describe the NCAA’s limits on education-related benefits?
Unfair and anti-competitive
What does NIL mean for high school athletes in some states?
Some states now allow them to profit off NIL as well.
Why was the NCAA’s “amateurism” rule controversial?
It prevented athletes from profiting while schools made millions from their image and play.
Why was the O’Bannon case important to the future of NIL?
It opened the door for athletes to profit from their own image.
What did the Alston decision lead to?
It set the stage for nationwide NIL reform.
What did the legalization of NIL allow athletes to do?
Earn money from endorsements, social media, autographs, and other personal branding.
Why is NIL considered a major change in sports marketing?
It allows athletes to become personal brands and manage real marketing deals.