Big news for college sports—there’s fresh data from the College Sports Commission (CSC) about Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. The numbers are up, and not just a little bit.
As of October 31, 2025, the latest update shows a clear jump from where things stood in September. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dig into what’s changed and what it means for student-athletes and schools alike.
Key Findings from the Latest NIL Data
The CSC’s report lays out some eye-catching stats about NIL deals. If you’re following the money and the momentum, there’s a lot to notice.
Increase in Number and Value of NIL Deals
The total number of NIL deals cleared by the CSC has basically doubled. By November 2025, 12,175 deals got the green light—compare that to just 6,090 in September.
That’s not all. The total value of these agreements shot up from $35.4 million to $87.5 million. That’s a lot of new cash flowing into college sports, and it’s hard not to be impressed by how fast things are moving.
Efficiency of the Review Process
It’s not just more deals, either—the CSC is moving faster. Over half of all deals (53%) were resolved within a day, and nearly three-quarters (74%) wrapped up within a week after all the paperwork was in.
Deals in October got sorted out 21% quicker than those in September. For athletes and agents, that’s a big deal. Nobody likes waiting around for approvals, especially when money’s on the line.
Criteria for Evaluating NIL Deals
Not every deal gets rubber-stamped. The CSC has a checklist, especially for deals involving what they call “associated entities.”
They want to make sure the agreements are fair and the compensation makes sense. There’s a bit of fine print here, but it matters.
Definition of Associated Entities
So, what counts as an associated entity? The CSC spells it out:
- An entity known to athletics department staff that mainly exists to support a school’s sports program or its athletes—or to create NIL deals just for that school’s athletes.
- Any group or person the athletics department asks to help recruit or keep athletes on the team.
- Entities owned, controlled, or run by someone tied to another associated entity, unless it’s a big public company.
Deals with these groups have to pass a “valid business purpose” test. Plus, the pay has to be in a reasonable range—not just whatever someone’s willing to offer.
Factors Considered in Compensation Evaluation
How does the CSC decide what’s reasonable? They look at a handful of things:
- What the athlete is actually doing for the deal.
- The athlete’s performance on the field (or court, or wherever).
- How much reach the athlete has on social media.
- The size of the market where the school is based.
They also check that the pay matches up with what similar people are getting—people with the same kind of NIL value, but who aren’t currently on that school’s roster.
Resolution and Arbitration Process
If a deal gets rejected, it’s not the end of the road. The athlete (or their rep) can try again with more info or different terms.
And if things still don’t work out, there’s an arbitration process. That way, disagreements don’t just disappear into a black hole.
Impact on Student-Athletes
Here’s another interesting stat: the number of student-athletes registered for NIL deals went up, too. It climbed from 28,342 in September 2025 to 33,247 in November.
This shows more athletes are jumping in and exploring NIL opportunities. For a lot of them, being able to earn from their name and image is a game-changer—especially when college budgets can be tight.
Conclusion
The newest data from the CSC shows just how fast the NIL marketplace is growing. Deals are popping up everywhere, and both the number and total value have more than doubled. Student-athletes are finally starting to see real rewards for their NIL rights.
The CSC reviews these deals carefully, aiming to keep things fair. Their process helps make sure compensation stays within a reasonable range, which feels like a big step toward transparency for everyone involved.
If you want to dig deeper into the numbers, the full report is over on the Business of College Sports website.
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