In a recent digital exclusive from *Oklahoma Chronicle*, host Evan Onstot digs into the sweeping changes brought on by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules and the transfer portal in college sports.
He’s joined by Oklahoma State Senator Todd Gollihare, who’s behind some of the state’s NIL legislation, and Bobby Lepak, a professor at OU’s Price College of Business.
The conversation zeroes in on how these changes are shaking up non-big revenue sports and women’s sports, highlighting both fresh opportunities and new headaches.
The NIL Revolution: A Double-Edged Sword
NIL rules have turned college athletics on its head, letting student-athletes finally cash in on their own brands.
That’s opened up a lot of doors, especially for athletes in sports that don’t rake in TV money, and for women’s sports in particular.
Bobby Lepak points out that female athletes are a hot market for NIL deals, partly because they’re seen as role models and tend to have followers with more spending power.
Opportunities for Female Athletes
Female athletes are seeing real benefits in this new NIL world.
Brands want to work with them, recognizing their influence and fanbase, and that’s led to endorsement deals that just weren’t an option before.
Look at the rise in visibility for programs like OU’s women’s softball—their success is starting to pay off in ways that go beyond just wins and losses.
Challenges and Concerns
But it’s not all smooth sailing.
Lepak says female athletes sometimes get the short end of the stick, especially when broad legal settlements don’t fully consider their needs.
There’s also the worry that all this money talk could overshadow what college sports are supposed to be about—learning, growing, and, well, getting a degree.
The Transfer Portal: Freedom or Chaos?
The transfer portal has changed the game again, giving athletes the freedom to jump from one program to another.
This flexibility sounds great, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag—more options, sure, but also more instability and a lot more roster churn.
Increased Mobility and Its Impacts
The portal lets athletes chase better fits or bigger paydays, but it can also make teams feel like revolving doors.
Senator Gollihare thinks we’re losing some of the old-school college spirit, and that too many transfers might chip away at the sense of loyalty and tradition fans love.
Proposed Solutions
Some fixes are floating around, like capping how many times an athlete can transfer.
The SCORE Act, for example, would let athletes enter the portal once, with exceptions for things like coaching changes.
Streamlining the transfer calendar could also make these moves a little less chaotic.
Federal and State Legislation: Striking a Balance
The rules are still evolving, and there’s a tricky balance between what states and the federal government want to do.
Senator Gollihare talks about efforts to make sure NIL and transfer changes don’t wreck the spirit or educational value of college sports.
State-Level Initiatives
Oklahoma’s been out in front, passing NIL laws to give student-athletes a fair shot without tilting the playing field too much.
These local moves could set the tone for what happens nationally.
Federal Legislation and the SCORE Act
The SCORE Act is a big deal at the federal level, aiming to get everyone on the same page with NIL and transfer rules.
It also tries to make sure universities don’t just pour all their resources into football and men’s basketball, but keep a healthy mix of sports alive.
The Future of College Athletics
Honestly, nobody knows exactly where all this is headed, but it’s clear that NIL, the transfer portal, and new laws are going to keep shaking things up.
It’s a tricky balance—how do you keep the good stuff about college sports while letting athletes take advantage of new opportunities?
Ensuring Fairness and Equity
Fairness and equity in how NIL benefits are distributed—and how the transfer portal is managed—are big hurdles right now. It’s up to policymakers and schools to come up with a system that helps every student-athlete, no matter their sport or how much attention they get.
If you’re curious and want to dig deeper, the full conversation is up on the Oklahoma Chronicle website here.
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